PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 1, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADXS ), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, announced that Dr. Robert Petit, its Chief Scientific Officer, moderated a panel discussion at the Pharmaceutical Strategy Conference on September 30, 2014 in New York.
The panel discussion entitled, Combination Therapies as Deal Drivers : The Oncology Model, Past, Present and Future, explored how developments in genetics, cellular biology and immunology have resulted in several new classes of agents including TKIs, monoclonal antibodies, immune-regulatory cytokines, checkpoint inhibitors and co-stimulatory agents, therapeutic vaccines of various designs and adoptive and engineered cellular therapies. This wealth of understanding has increased the need for evaluation of combination therapies exponentially. The need to meet this challenge, along with competitive pressure to capture a share of the dynamic future in Oncology, has driven the development of combination regimens into the pre-approval, clinical development space spawning an un-precedented number of commercial collaborations.
The panel included Dr. Clifford Hudis, Chief, Breast Cancer Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and outgoing President of ASCO; Jeb Keiper, VP, Oncology Business Development at GlaxoSmithKline; and Dr. David Mauro, Executive Director, Oncology at Merck. Each panelist represented their particular perspective with Dr. Petit representing Biotech R&D.
Dr. Petit commented, "The panelists all found common ground in the development of combination regimens based on a deep understanding of the biology of the disease, and seek-out combination regimens based on what would be best for the patient. We all shared the hope that advances in the laboratory can be moved quickly into clinical trials such that patients can ultimately benefit from these combination regimens in the future. Combinations like the Advaxis Lm -LLO immunotherapies combined with checkpoint inhibitors, are based on shared knowledge of the strengths of each agent along with an understanding of how they can synergize to bring the most potential benefit to the patient. It was an honor to moderate this esteemed panel of experts and represent the perspective of Biotech in the rapidly advancing field of immune-oncology."
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.
Advaxis Contact: Lisa Caperelli Senior Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Advaxis, Inc. 215.206.1822 Media Contact: Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Amy S. Wheeler 646.362.5750
