News
April 17, 2008
Advaxis to Collaborate with City of Hope, a Leading Cancer Research and Treatment Center
Research Focus: New Listeria Monocytogenes Construct
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advaxis Inc., (OTCBB: ADXS, http://www.advaxis.com), a developmental biotechnology company, will collaborate its research efforts with City of Hope, located in Southern California, on a newly created Listeria-based vaccine.
Advaxis has successfully created a new live Listeria-based vaccine that combines the immune activation of Advaxis’ Listeria platform with the antigen p53 tumor target (Adxs-LmddA159). Adxs-LmddA159 is an attenuated live Listeria, which can deliver the fusion protein LLO-p53 into the cells of the immune system for antigen presentation.
P53 is a transcriptional factor found at low levels in most normal tissues. Although the wild type p53 functions as a tumor suppressor, upon mutation it often loses its suppressor property leading to uncontrolled cell growth. In animals that are bioengineered to lack this protein, the animals succumb to cancer rapidly. Similarly, people with some mutated forms of p53 have a higher than normal proclivity for cancer.
In approximately 50% of cancers p53 mutates into non-functional forms that are abundantly produced by tumor cells. A considerable amount of work in many laboratories has shown that vaccines directed at p53 have anti-tumor activity and potential therapeutic utility. Advaxis’ unique approach using Listeria as an antigen delivery system provides a method to efficiently deliver p53 into antigen processing pathways in immune cells resulting in strong T cell responses, which ultimately will cause the eradication of tumors expressing abnormally high levels of the targeted p53 protein.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with such a distinguished cancer research institute,” said Advaxis Chairman and CEO Thomas Moore. “We hope this research will lead to an important new cancer immunotherapy.”
Dr. Joshua Ellenhorn, director of the Department of General & Oncologic Surgery at City of Hope, who will be researching the effectiveness of this new vaccine added, “If it proves effective in preliminary testing, we plan to move forward to human trials. This has the potential to be an immunotherapy effective in a very broad range of cancers.”
About City of Hope
City of Hope is a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, CA, just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer and urology by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org.
About Advaxis, Inc.
Based in North Brunswick, New Jersey, Advaxis is developing proprietary Listeria monocytogenes (“Lm”) cancer vaccines based on technology developed by Dr. Yvonne Paterson, professor of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania and Chairperson of Advaxis’ Scientific Advisory Board. Advaxis is developing therapeutic cancer vaccines that enhance the immune system’s cancer-fighting abilities through its proprietary Lm based system, which utilizes multiple simultaneous immunological mechanisms to fight cancer safely.
Advaxis’ lead Lm vaccine candidate, Lovaxin C, targets HPV-associated cervical/head and neck cancers. Current Lm vaccines in development target prostate, breast, ovarian and lung cancers. Recently, Advaxis completed a Phase I/II clinical trial. A Phase II clinical trial is planned for patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The company intends to start this study in CIN I/II patients in the summer of 2008.. The Lm platform will also have applications in the fields of infectious disease and autoimmune disorders.
For further information on the Company, please visit: http://www.advaxis.com.
About Lovaxin C Vaccine
Advaxis’ Listeria technology platform uses modified Listeria monocytogenes to deliver a tumor-specific antigen fusion protein. Lm, combined with Advaxis’ proprietary fusion protein, has the ability to generate a robust immune response and produce an unusually strong and effective multi-level therapeutic immune response to existing cancers and other diseases.
Advaxis’ Lm-based technology is mostly based on Dr. Yvonne Paterson’s decade worth of work in her laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania. The Company’s proprietary antigen fusion protein technology, also suppresses regulatory T cells that inhibit many vaccines in the generation of activated tumor-killing cells.
Lovaxin C was designed to treat women who have already developed cervical cancer as a result of contracting a human papilloma virus (“HPV”) infection, which is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the US. Current prophylactic products on the market are ineffective in treating HPV-infected women.
For further information on Lovaxin C, please visit: http://www.advaxis.com/lc.htm.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained herein that are not purely historical are forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements deal with the Company’s current plans, intentions, beliefs and expectations and statements of future economic performance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from what is currently anticipated. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those discussed from time to time in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cannot guarantee its future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.
Company Contact:
Advaxis, Inc.
Thomas A. Moore
732-545-1590
moore@advaxis.com