PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advaxis, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADXS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, today pointed to research published in the journal Cancer which underscores the need for more access to screenings, improved clinical care and new therapeutic options for all women with cervical cancer.
These important research findings were covered by leading news outlets including The New York Times and CNN, as these data indicate that mortality rates of this deadly form of cancer are significantly higher in the United States than previously reported due to the inclusion of women who have had hysterectomies, highlighting racial and socioeconomic disparities. According to the research, the data revealed a U.S. cervical cancer mortality rate among women without hysterectomies of 10.1 per 100,000 black women and 4.7 per 100,000 white women, up from mortality rates of 5.7 and 3.2, respectively, which were previously reported in research among all women, including those who have had hysterectomies.
The publication of these data coincides with Cervical Health Awareness Month, a national effort designed to promote the need for cervical health education and screenings, which can lead to early detection of cervical cancer when therapies may be most effective.
Advaxis is the only biopharmaceutical company sponsoring global, phase 3 clinical research for advance stage cervical cancer. Last year, the company initiated its Phase 3 AIM2CERV (Advaxis IMmunotherapy 2 prevent CERVical recurrence) trial in high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer (HRLACC). The company also announced positive, top-line data from the GOG-0265 Phase 2 trial that supports pursuing a global phase 3 study in metastatic recurrent cervical cancer.
“This research highlights disparities in outcomes in the cervical cancer community and underscores the need to work together with policy-makers, providers, academic institutions and the biopharmaceutical industry to raise awareness among minority groups about current treatment options and bring new treatment options forward,” said Tamika Felder, Founder of Cervivor. “In doing so, hopefully we can close this gap.”
Invasive cervical cancer occurs in women who have been infected by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and is the most common HPV-associated cancer in women. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 12,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2017. While vaccines to prevent HPV infection may help prevent cervical cancer if given before exposure, only one-third of the U.S. population has been vaccinated against the virus and the vaccination rate is lower worldwide, which is the main cause of the nearly 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Cervical cancer largely affects women who have not received preventative vaccines or regular screenings.
About Cervivor
Cervivor is a not-for-profit organization that provides community support, education and resources for women who have or have survived cervical cancer. Launched in 2013, Cervivor is a project of Tamika and Friends, Inc. led by Tamika Felder, a cervical cancer survivor and advocate, which features, Cervivor School, an initiative bringing cervical cancer patients together from across the country to gain a better understanding of the science behind cervical cancer and empowers them to tell their stories in an impactful and meaningful way.
About Cervical Health Awareness Month
January was designated Cervical Health Awareness Month by the United States Congress to raise awareness about HPV prevention and cervical cancer. The nationwide initiative aims to decrease the amount of cervical cancer diagnoses each year by educating women about HPV vaccines, cancer screenings, and follow-up care. For more information about cervical cancer and Cervical Health Awareness Month, visit the National Cervical Cancer Coalition.
About Advaxis, Inc.
Located in Princeton, N.J., Advaxis, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing multiple cancer immunotherapies based on its proprietary Lm Technology™. The Lm Technology, using bioengineered live attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) bacteria, is the only known cancer immunotherapy agent shown in preclinical studies to both generate cancer fighting T cells directed against cancer antigens and neutralize Tregs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that protect the tumor microenvironment from immunologic attack and contribute to tumor growth. Advaxis’ lead Lm Technology immunotherapy, axalimogene filolisbac, targets HPV-associated cancers and is in clinical trials for three potential indications: Phase 3 in invasive cervical cancer, Phase 2 in head and neck cancer, and Phase 2 in anal cancer. The FDA has granted axalimogene filolisbac orphan drug designation for each of these three clinical settings, as well as Fast Track designation for adjuvant therapy for HRLACC patients and a SPA for the Phase 3 AIM2CERV trial in HRLACC patients. Axalimogene filolisbac has also been classified as an advanced therapy medicinal product for the treatment of cervical cancer by the EMA’s CAT. Advaxis has two additional immunotherapy products: ADXS-PSA in prostate cancer and ADXS-HER2 in HER2 expressing solid tumors, in human clinical development. In addition, Advaxis and Amgen are developing ADXS-NEO, a preclinical investigational cancer immunotherapy treatment designed to activate a patient’s immune system to respond against the unique mutations, or neoepitopes, contained in and identified from each individual patient’s tumor, with plans to enter the clinic in 2017.
For additional information on Advaxis, visit www.advaxis.com and connect on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Google+.
Advaxis Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Advaxis’ ability to develop the next generation of cancer immunotherapies, and the safety and efficacy of Advaxis’ proprietary immunotherapy, axalimogene filolisbac. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks including the risk factors set forth from time to time in Advaxis’ SEC filings including, but not limited to, its report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, which is available at http://www.sec.gov.
Any forward-looking statements set forth in this presentation speak only as of the date of this presentation. We do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof other than as required by law.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
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David Connolly
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