Advaxis, the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) immunotherapy company, is advancing the clinical development of its lead prostate cancer immunotherapeutic toward clinical trials.
The company is collaborating with Dr. Chandan Guha at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center to develop ADXS31-142 in human trials. Following the completion of manufacturing trials, the company intends to conduct a Phase 1 study with Dr. Guha.
Regarding Advaxis' prostate initiative, Dr. John Rothman, Executive VP of Science and Operations said, "Prostate cancer is an excellent target for immunotherapy. We believe our approach compares favorably with the recently approved Provenge treatment. Advaxis' vaccine is simple and less expensive, as it is comprised of three (3) vaccinations, which attack all prostate cancer without the need to be patient specific."
Advaxis' prostate cancer vaccine generates a strong immunologic response that attacks and kills cells that secrete prostate specific antigen (PSA), a commonly used clinical indicator of prostate cancer. The company has published preclinical work demonstrating the ability of ADXS31-142, its live Listeria vaccine directed against PSA (Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy. 2008, 57:1301--1313; Clinical & Vaccine Immunology, 2009, 16(1):96--103).
"The approval of Dendreon Corporation's /quotes/comstock/15*!dndn/quotes/nls/dndn (DNDN 52.89, -2.54, -4.58%) Provenge by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an exciting development in the study of cancer immunotherapy. Our collaboration with Dr. Guha, coupled with our recent success in raising funds and some very promising new preclinical research has led us to commit to moving forward immediately on a prostate program with our proprietary live Listeria technology platform," commented Advaxis Chairman/CEO Thomas A. Moore. "If human results approach our animal results, we may be able to offer an immunotherapy that is less expensive, more effective and suitable for use prior to the induction of chemical castration of prostate cancer patients."
About Dr. Chandan Guha
Dr. Guha is Professor of Radiation Oncology and Professor of Pathology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Vice-Chairman of Radio-oncology at the Montefiore Medical Center. He is a member of the National Cancer Institute's Radio-Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). Dr. Guha has received numerous awards and grants in support of his work.
About Advaxis, Inc.
Advaxis is a biotechnology company developing proprietary, live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) immunotherapeutics that deliver engineered tumor antigens, which stimulate multiple, simultaneous, immunological mechanisms to fight cancer. Today, the Company has nine (9) distinct, cancer-fighting constructs in various stages of development, directly and through strategic collaborations with such recognized sites of excellence as the City of Hope, the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the National Cancer Institute, the University of Pittsburgh and Cancer Research -- UK. The Company's technology was developed by Dr. Yvonne Paterson, professor of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania and chairperson of Advaxis' scientific advisory board.