PRINCETON, N.J., March 3, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADXS ), a biotechnology company developing the next generation of cancer immunotherapies, announced that ADXS-cHER2, its proprietary immunotherapy designed to treat women with breast cancer, was featured on CNN in a segment focused on its success in treating dogs with osteosarcoma (bone cancer). The segment includes an interview with Dr. Nicola Mason, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, who is the principle investigator of the featured study, funded by Advaxis, to evaluate ADXS-cHER2 in companion dogs with bone cancer.
The story can be viewed here: http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/healt...s.cnn.html
In the CNN interview, Dr. Mason states that the Advaxis immunotherapy is safe and effective in treating canine osteosarcoma, with treated pets living significantly longer than pets that do not receive treatment. The immunotherapy was originally developed to target the Her2-Neu gene, which is overexpressed in some breast cancers and in some cases of pediatric osteosarcoma. Dr. Mason identified the potential veterinary application and designed this trial to confirm its usefulness in treating animals.
"We are thrilled with the tremendous results that Dr. Mason is seeing in treating companion dogs with osteosarcoma," commented Daniel J. O'Connor, Chief Executive Officer of Advaxis. "The use of our immunotherapy to address canine osteosarcoma has created significant awareness about the potential of Advaxis's cancer immunotherapies to treat human cancers. We are looking forward to advancing the development of ADXS-cHER2 into Phase 1 clinical trials for breast cancer this year. In addition, we will evaluate the potential to develop ADXS-cHER2 for pediatric osteosarcoma."
About ADXS-cHER2
ADXS-cHER2 is an Lm -LLO immunotherapy for HER2 overexpressing cancers (such as breast, gastric, and other cancers in humans and for osteosarcoma in canines). ADXS-cHER2 secretes the cHER2 antigen, fused to LLO, directly inside the APC that are capable of driving a cellular immune response to HER2 overexpressing cells. In preclinical analysis, localized effect is the inhibition of the Treg and MDSC cells that we believe may promote immunologic tolerance of the HER2 overexpressing cancer cells of the tumor.
About Canine Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in dogs, accounting for roughly 85% of tumors on the canine skeleton. Approximately 8,000-10,000 dogs a year (predominantly middle to older-aged dogs and larger breeds) are diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the United States. This cancer initially presents as lameness and, oftentimes, visible swelling on the leg. Current standard of care treatment is amputation immediately after diagnosis, followed by chemotherapy and sometimes radiation. Invariably, the cancer metastasizes to the lungs, eventually leading to death.
About Advaxis, Inc.
Advaxis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the next generation of cancer immunotherapies. Advaxis's immunotherapies are based on a novel platform technology using live, attenuated bacteria to stimulate the immune system to selectively target cancer cells while reducing tumor defenses.
ADXS-HPV, Advaxis's lead immunotherapy for the treatment of HPV-associated cancers, has demonstrated improved survival and objective tumor responses in a Phase 2 trial in 110 patients with recurrent cervical cancer. Advaxis is now planning the registrational program for ADXS-HPV. ADXS-HPV is also being evaluated in other HPV-associated cancers including a Phase 2 in advanced cervical cancer, a Phase 1/2 in head and neck cancer, and a Phase 1/2 in anal cancer. ADXS-HPV has orphan drug status for both anal and head and neck cancers. As part of its global commercialization strategy to enter into regional licensing deals with other market dominant biopharmaceutical companies in territories where there is a high prevalence of HPV-associated cancers, Advaxis has granted exclusive licenses for the development and commercialization of ADXS-HPV in Asia and India.
ADXS-cHER2 is an immunotherapy for the treatment of HER2 overexpressing cancers (such as breast, gastric, esophageal, and other cancers in humans and for osteosarcoma in canines). Advaxis's lead animal-health immunotherapy, ADXS-cHER2, has demonstrated encouraging survival data in a Phase 1 trial in canine osteosarcoma. These data provide the rationale to advance this same immunotherapy into a Phase 1 clinical trial in women with HER2-positive breast cancer. The Company is preparing an IND submission for ADXS-cHER2 in breast cancer in 2014.
Advaxis has created more than 20 distinct immunotherapies based on its platform, either directly or through strategic collaborations with recognized cancer centers of excellence. We have clinical research collaborations with the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, the Georgia Regents University Cancer Center, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and others.
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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.
Advaxis Contact: Lisa Caperelli Senior Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Advaxis, Inc. 215.206.1822 Media Contact: Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Andrew Mielach 212.375.2694
