The Next Big Biotech?

Dendreon's much anticipated cancer vaccine Provenge received approval from the FDA this morning.  Provenge is a first-of-its-kind prostate cancer vaccine expected to be priced at  ~$90,000 or more per patient ($31k per an infusion, 3 infusions per patient). 

For some time now, Big Pharma had eyed the Seattle-based company as an acquisition target but Dendreon might now have the legs to make it big on its own.  With the FDA's approval, Dendreon's stock is up 15% on the day (75% YTD), and the company is poised to make the rare jump into the biotech elite. 

This should be a real interesting story to follow as it is almost unheard of these days for a small biotech or pharma to grow organically and independently.  Without an approved product until today, Dendreon now has a market cap of ~$6B, roughly half the size of Biogen.  Are they still an acquisition target or are they going to go at it alone?  It should be an interesting story to follow. Dendreon Press Release