Antigenics was founded in March 1994 by Doctors Garo H. Armen and Pramod K. Srivastava. Its first Investigational New Drug application was filed with the FDA for Oncophage® in cancer in November 1997 which received Fast Track designation for the treatment of kidney cancer in October 2001. In April of 2001, Antigenics acquired Aronex Pharmaceuticals and in 2002, Oncophage® was granted orphan drug status in metastatic melanoma by the FDA. Antigenics' mission is to enhance and extend lives through the development of superior health care products for a wide range of cancers, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. Antigenics has made two acquisitions that fit in well with its overall strategy: Aronex Pharmaceuticals, a company with products that treat cancer using novel drug formulations designed to reduce toxicity and increase efficacy, and Aquila Biopharmaceuticals, with products built on an immunology technology platform.