PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advaxis, Inc . (NASDAQ: ADXS ), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, today announced that it has added two more patents to its growing patent portfolio. The first patent, European Patent No. 1804831, expands the composition of matter claims covering HER-2 tumor antigens. The second patent, U.S. Patent No. 9,226,958, expands the use of the Company's Lm Technology™ beyond oncology, specifically to induce an immune response in parasitically infected patients.
"These patents broaden our protection in HER2 and expand our reach beyond oncology, into parasitically infected patients," said Daniel J. O'Connor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Advaxis. "We are continuing to work diligently on our patent portfolio, currently with 90 granted patents and 111 pending applications, worldwide."
Advaxis is the exclusive licensee of both of these patents. European Patent No. 1804831 will expire on September 14, 2025 and U.S. Patent 9,226,958 will expire on October 3, 2031. The company has an extensive patent portfolio that protects its product candidates and Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) based immunotherapy technology. The Company currently owns or has rights to more than 200 patents and applications globally, which are owned, licensed from, or co-owned with the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Merck, Sharpe & Dohme BV, the National Institutes of Health, the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc., and Georgia Regents University. Its patents currently extend protection through 2032.
About HER2 Expressing Solid Tumor Cancers
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in a percentage of solid tumors such as breast, gastric, bladder, brain, pancreatic, ovarian and pediatric bone cancer (osteosarcoma). The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2015 in the United States alone there will be 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer; 24,590 new cases of gastric cancer; 74,000 new cases of bladder cancer; 22,850 new cases of brain/spinal cancer; 48,960 new cases of pancreatic cancer; 21,290 new cases of ovarian cancer; and 207 new cases of pediatric osteosarcoma. HER2 expression is associated with more aggressive disease, increased risk of relapse and decreased overall survival, and is an important target for immunotherapy.
About ADXS-HER2
ADXS-HER2 is an Lm Technology™ immunotherapy product candidate being developed by Advaxis to target HER2 expressing cancers. ADXS-HER2 has received orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of osteosarcoma. Advaxis is developing ADXS-HER2 for both human and animal health, and has seen encouraging data in canine osteosarcoma, which is considered a model for human osteosarcoma. Advaxis has licensed ADXS-HER2 and three other immunotherapy constructs to Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. for the development of pet therapeutics.
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 a cancer antigen 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 human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers and is in clinical trials for three potential indications: Phase 2 in invasive cervical cancer, Phase 1/2 in head and neck cancer, and Phase 1/2 in anal cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted axalimogene filolisbac orphan drug designation for each of these three clinical settings. Advaxis has two additional immunotherapy products: ADXS-PSA in prostate cancer and ADXS-HER2 in HER2 expressing solid tumors, in human clinical development.
For additional information on Advaxis, visit www.advaxis.com and connect on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , YouTube and Google+ .
Forward-Looking Statements
This media statement 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 immunotherapies. 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, 2014, 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.
CONTACTS:
Company: Advaxis, Inc. Greg Mayes, Executive Vice President and COO mayes@advaxis.com 609.452.9813 ext. 102
Media Contact: JPA Health Communications Cory Tromblee cory@jpa.com
