In 1998, Health Canada approved Xeloda in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The approval was based on a clinical trial of 162 women across Canada. The trial found that one in five had a 50 percent or greater reduction in their tumors. 20 percent was enough to gain regulator approval suggesting a 80 percent failure rate. In the trial the drug did not extend the patients lives.

IDM Pharma lead product mifamurtide, is a family of macrophage activators. The macrophage activators is a L-MTP-PE activates macrophages in the body to kill cancer cells.

Dendreon is creating a new class of cancer therapy known as Active Cellular Immunotherapies. ACI goal is to turn the immune system against cancer.