Advaxis, Inc. Provides A Clinical Development Update For Its Immunotherapy, ADXS-HPV, For The Treatment Of Cervical Cancer
PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 9, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADXS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, announced the completion of an End-of-Phase 2 (EOP2) Meeting with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for its lead Lm-LLO cancer immunotherapy, ADXS-HPV, for the treatment of recurrent cervical cancer in women.
The purpose of the EOP2 meeting was to discuss ADXS-HPV's preclinical data, Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) and clinical program prior to moving ADXS-HPV forward into the next phase of clinical development in cervical cancer. At the meeting, the FDA provided guidance on the Company's CMC activities and clinical development plan. The Company is in dialogue with the FDA to incorporate this valuable guidance into its planned registration program and the Company plans to submit a Phase 3 protocol for a special protocol assessment (SPA). The Company is planning to initiate an adequate and well-controlled clinical trial in cervical cancer in 2015 to support a Biologics License Application (BLA) submission in the U.S.
The adequate and well-controlled Phase 3 clinical trial that the Company is planning to conduct will compare repeating cycles of ADXS-HPV to physician's choice of chemotherapy, in women with recurrent or persistent cervical cancer who have progressed after receiving prior approved therapy. This population has an unmet medical need because no available treatment has been shown to improve their survival. The goal of the study would be to provide clinically relevant life extension to these patients. The Company has entered into a Master Services Agreement with inVentiv Clinical Health to serve as its global contract research organization for this study.
About cervical cancer
There are 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer caused by HPV worldwide every year according to the WHO Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers in the World Summary Report 2010. Current preventative vaccines cannot protect the 20 million women who are already infected with HPV; and of the high risk oncogenic strains, only HPV 16 and 18 are present in these vaccines. Challenges with acceptance, accessibility, and compliance have resulted in only a third of young women being vaccinated in the United States and even less in other countries around the world.
About ADXS-HPV
ADXS-HPV is Advaxis's lead Lm-LLO immunotherapy product candidate for the treatment of HPV-associated cancers. It is currently under investigation in three HPV-associated cancers: invasive cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, and anal cancer. In cervical cancer, a recently completed Phase 2 study of ADXS-HPV demonstrated improved survival and a manageable safety profile alone or in combination with chemotherapy, which warrants further development of the molecule. Clinical trials in head and neck cancer and in anal cancer are ongoing. Advaxis has received Orphan Drug Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for ADXS-HPV for HPV-associated Stage II-IV cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, and anal cancer.
About Advaxis, Inc.
Advaxis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing multiple cancer immunotherapies based on its proprietary platform intended to redirect the immune system to kill cancer. The Advaxis Lm-LLO technology, using bioengineered live attenuated Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, is the only known cancer immunotherapy agent shown in preclinical studies to both generate cancer fighting T-cells directed against a cancer antigen and neutralize Tregs and MSDCs, that protect the tumor microenvironment from immunologic attack and contribute to tumor growth. Advaxis's lead immunotherapy, ADXS-HPV, targets human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers and is in clinical trials for three indications: Phase 2 in invasive cervical cancer, Phase 1/2 in head and neck cancer, and Phase 1/2 in anal cancer. The FDA has granted Advaxis orphan drug designation for each of these three indications. The Company plans to initiate a registration clinical program for cervical cancer in 2015 and has established licensing partners in India and Asia for commercialization in those regions. Advaxis is planning to evaluate the combination of ADXS-HPV with an anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor in HPV-associated cervical cancer and head and neck cancer.
Advaxis's second Lm-LLO immunotherapy candidate in clinical testing will be ADXS-PSA, which is being developed to address prostate cancer. Advaxis is planning to file an IND with the FDA and initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical study with ADXS-PSA alone and in combination with a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor. Advaxis is also developing Lm-LLO immunotherapy ADXS-cHER2, to target the Her2 receptor overexpressing cancers. Her2 is overexpressed in certain solid-tumor cancers, including pediatric bone cancer (or osteosarcoma), breast cancer, esophageal, and gastric cancer. Advaxis is developing ADXS-cHER2 for both human and animal-health, and has seen promising results in canine osteosarcoma, which is considered a model for human osteosarcoma. Advaxis is planning to file an IND for ADXS-cHER2 in Her2 overexpressing cancers and to conduct a clinical program in pediatric osteosarcoma. Advaxis has licensed ADXS-cHER2 and three other immunotherapy constructs to Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: statements regarding Advaxis's ability to develop the next generation of cancer immunotherapies; the safety and efficacy of Advaxis's proprietary immunotherapy, ADXS HPV; whether Advaxis immunotherapies can redirect the powerful immune response all human beings have to the bacterium to cancers. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, including the risk factors set forth from time to time in Advaxis's SEC filings, including but not limited to its report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013, which is available at http://www.sec.gov. Advaxis undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect the events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Advaxis Contact: Lisa Caperelli Senior Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Advaxis, Inc. caperelli@advaxis.com 215.206.1822 Media Contact: Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Amy S. Wheeler awheeler@tiberend.com 646.362.5750 