Advaxis, Inc. (OTCBB: ADXS and ADXSD) (the “Company”), a
leader in developing the next generation of immunotherapies for cancer
and infectious diseases, announced an updated business outlook for 2013,
which includes the development of its clinical strategy to advance its
lead product candidate, ADXS-HPV, to registrational trials. The Company
has also generated additional encouraging data and continues to
strengthen its financial position.
Thomas A. Moore, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Advaxis,
stated, “Earlier in the year, Advaxis stated that it would provide
periodic updates to its business outlook and announced two overarching
objectives for 2013: one, to advance our lead product candidate,
ADXS-HPV, toward a registration development program and, two, to
continue to significantly strengthen our financial position. We have
outlined the progress the Company has made on these two goals, as well
as anticipated 2013 milestone events.”
Anticipated 2013 Milestone Events
-
A determination with respect to the Company’s three applications for
Orphan Drug Designations with the FDA for ADXS-HPV in three human
papillomavirus (HPV)-associated indications: invasive cervical cancer,
anal cancer, and head and neck cancer;
-
Initiate dialogue with the FDA to discuss ADXS-HPV clinical
development plans for the treatment of cervical cancer;
-
Complete the elements required to file an Investigational New Drug
(IND) application with the FDA for ADXS-PSA for the treatment of
prostate cancer in the first half of 2014;
-
Advance the canine osteosarcoma study into Phase 2 and expand to
additional collaborative academic centers; and
-
File an initial listing application for the NASDAQ Capital Market or
NYSE AMEX.
2013 Clinical Program Update
-
Final 12-month survival data from the Phase 2 cervical cancer trial
announced at the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago in June;
-
GOG 0265 safety run-in completed and study opened to the GOG
group-wide;
-
16 patients enrolled in REALISTIC head and neck cancer trial;
-
3 patients enrolled and dosed in BrUOG 276 anal cancer study; and
-
Third dose cohort underway in the canine osteosarcoma study.
Phase 2 Cervical Cancer Program
In June 2013, the Company submitted an Application for Orphan Drug
Designation with the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development for
ADXS-HPV for the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated
invasive cervical cancer.
In June 2013, the final 12-month survival and updated safety data from
the ongoing Phase 2 study that is being conducted in India in 110
patients with recurrent cervical cancer were presented at the 2013
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Preliminary
efficacy data continue to show apparent prolonged survival, durable
complete and partial tumor reductions, as well as stable disease with
ADXS-HPV alone or in combination with cisplatin. 41% (45/110) of
patients experienced 104 mild-moderate Grade 1-2 adverse events. 2%
(2/110) of patients experienced a Grade 3 serious adverse event,
compared to a rate of 130% or more in published studies of active
chemotherapy regimens in this disease setting.
The Company has made substantial progress in analyzing the Phase 2 data
and is planning a study to determine the best dose and dosing regimen to
enhance efficacy without compromising the encouraging preliminary safety
profile already observed.
In July, the Company’s clinical team met with global thought leaders in
cervical cancer and, under their advisement, are developing the
regulatory strategy for the Phase 3 registration approval most
clinically relevant to the use of ADXS-HPV and how it can best fit among
the treatment options for women with cervical cancer.
The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) of the National Cancer Institute
(NCI) continues to conduct a single arm Phase 2 study of ADXS-HPV in 67
patients with recurrent/refractory cervical cancer. As of July 2013, 10
patients have been enrolled in the safety run-in portion of the study.
Head and Neck Cancer Program
In June 2013, the Company submitted an Application for Orphan Drug
Designation with the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development for
ADXS-HPV for the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head
and neck cancer.
Cancer Research UK (CRUK) is funding a Phase 1/2 to evaluate the use of
ADXS-HPV for the treatment of 27 patients with HPV positive head and
neck cancer. This trial is being conducted at the Aintree Hospital at
the University of Liverpool, the Royal Marsden Hospital at the
University of London, and the Cardiff Hospital at the University of
Wales. As of July 2013, 16 patients have been enrolled in the study.
Anal Cancer Program
In June 2013, the Company submitted an Application for Orphan Drug
Designation with the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development for
ADXS-HPV for the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated anal
cancer.
The Brown University Oncology Group (BrUOG) is funding and coordinating
a Phase 1/2 study of ADXS-HPV in 25 patients with HPV-associated anal
cancer. The trial is being conducted at the Rhode Island Hospital and
The Miriam Hospital (the main teaching hospitals of The Warren Alpert
Medical School of Brown University). As of July 2013, 3 patients have
been enrolled in the study. Multiple institutions will collaborate.
Prostate Cancer Program
The Company expects to file an IND with the FDA for ADXS-PSA in the
treatment of prostate cancer in the first half of 2014. In June 2011,
the Company conducted a pre-IND meeting with the FDA to discuss the CMC,
pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical plans for ADXS-PSA. The required
toxicology studies have been completed and data analyses are ongoing.
Canine Osteosarcoma Program
The Company recently announced preliminary data from a Phase 1/2 study
that is being conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of
Veterinary Medicine evaluating ADXS-cHER2 for the treatment of dogs with
osteosarcoma. Canine osteosarcoma is a leading killer of large breed
dogs that causes tumors to form on long leg bones. The standard of care
(SOC) is immediate limb amputation followed by chemotherapy and
sometimes radiation, however, the cancer typically metastasizes to the
lungs, causing death in 6-12 months. In this trial, dogs that have
undergone SOC for osteosarcoma, and over-express HER-2/neu in their
tumors, are treated with ADXS-cHER2.
Updated preliminary data show a significant survival advantage for 9
dogs that received SOC plus ADXS-cHER2 compared to 11 dogs, whose owners
elected not to participate in the trial, but who were followed for
survival (p=0.04). At this point in the study, 8 of 9 dogs treated with
ADXS-cHER2 are alive (mean survival undefined), compared with 5 of 11
dogs in the control group (mean survival 265 days).
Plans are to expand the study into Phase 2 and to open the study to
additional collaborative academic centers.
Regulatory Outlook
The Company has assembled and met with an advisory board of key thought
leaders in cervical cancer and is in the process of developing the
regulatory strategy and Phase 3 clinical protocols necessary to support
a request for an FDA meeting to discuss the clinical development plan
for ADXS-HPV.
The Company is compiling the elements required to file an
Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for ADXS-PSA for the treatment of prostate cancer
in the first half of 2014.
Corporate Development Update
In July 2013, David Sidransky, MD, was appointed to the Board of
Directors of the Company. Dr. Sidransky has a very strong background in
both the business and science of oncology, with a specialty in head and
neck cancer. Dr. Sidransky is the Director of the Head and Neck Cancer
Research Division and Professor of Oncology, Otolaryngology, Genetics,
and Pathology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and has
served on the board of directors and as an employee of numerous
biotechnology companies.
Business Development Outlook
Advaxis has entered into several confidentiality agreements with
biopharmaceutical companies for the license of ADXS-HPV in the U.S.,
Asia, and India. So far, these discussions have resulted in one
memorandum of understanding and a proposed non-binding term sheet with
major regional pharmaceutical companies for Asia and India. These
preliminary terms establish the commercial parameters of a potential
licensing deal. The Company plans to pursue these negotiations to
closure in the coming months.
Advaxis has also entered into a confidentiality agreement with the
animal health division of a major pharmaceutical company for the license
of ADXS-cHER2. The Company plans to pursue discussions with the goal of
entering into a licensing agreement. Discussions with other companies
are ongoing.
Corporate Outlook
At the annual meeting of stockholders in June, stockholders approved the
effect of a reverse stock split and a decrease in authorized shares of
the Company at the discretion of the Board of Directors. In July,
Advaxis executed the reverse stock split at a ratio of 1-for-125 and
decreased the number of authorized shares from 1,000,000,000 to
25,000,000.
The Company intends to seek an uplisting to a national exchange in the
near term. We have explained in our recent SEC filings why uplisting to
a national market is important to our overall business strategy and
financial viability. The Company strongly believes that the combination
of completing the reverse stock split and the contemplated uplisting
could heighten the interest of the financial community in Advaxis, as
well as potentially broaden the pool of investors that may consider
investing in the Company, while strengthening its financial health.
About Advaxis, Inc.
Advaxis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the next
generation of immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases.
Advaxis immunotherapies are based on a novel platform technology using
live, attenuated bacteria that are bio-engineered to secrete an
antigen/adjuvant fusion protein(s) that is designed to redirect the
powerful immune response all human beings have to the bacterium to
the cancer itself.
ADXS-HPV is currently being evaluated in four clinical trials for human
papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers: recurrent/refractory cervical
cancer (India), locally advanced cervical cancer (GOG/NCI U.S. study,
Clinical Trials.gov Identifier NCT01266460), head & neck cancer
(CRUK study, Clinical Trials.gov Identifier NCT01598792), and anal
cancer (BrUOG study, Clinical Trials.gov Identifier NCT01671488).
Advaxis has over 15 distinct immunotherapies in various stages of
development, developed directly by Advaxis and through strategic
collaborations with recognized centers of excellence such as: the National
Cancer Institute, Cancer
Research – UK, the Wistar
Institute, the University
of Pennsylvania, the University
of British Columbia, the Karolinska
Institutet, and others.
For more information please visit: www.advaxis.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including,
but not limited to: statements as to the anticipated timing of clinical
studies and other business developments, statements as to the
development of new constructs, expectations as to the adequacy of our
cash balances to support our operations for specified periods of time
and as to the nature and level of cash expenditures, expectations as to
market opportunities, our ability to take advantage of those
opportunities, and 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, 2012, which is available at www.sec.gov.
The Company 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.
Copyright Business Wire 2013