Partners
CLINICAL COLLABORATIONS
Preclinical evidence suggests that Lm Technology™ immunotherapies are well-equipped to demonstrate a synergistic anti-tumor response with checkpoint inhibitors (eg, PD-1 and PD-L1 antibodies) and costimulatory molecules (eg, OX40 and GITR agonists).
Advaxis has embraced strategic collaborations with other major biopharmaceutical companies for the development and commercialization of its proprietary cancer immunotherapies in countries outside the U.S. and for the global animal-health oncology market. In addition, Advaxis is developing more than 20 distinct immunotherapies directly or in partnership with recognized cancer centers of excellence and with support from advocacy foundations.
Merck & Co., Inc.
Advaxis entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Merck to evaluate the combination of Advaxis’ ADXS-PSA with Merck’s PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab). The ongoing clinical trial evaluates the safety and efficacy of ADXS-PSA as monotherapy and in combination with KEYTRUDA® in a Phase 1/2 study of patients with previously treated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
LICENSING AGREEMENTS
Advaxis has licensed certain constructs of its Lm Technology™ proprietary immunotherapies to the following biopharmaceutical industry leaders for both human and animal therapeutics:
OS Therapies
Advaxis granted an exclusive license to OS Therapies for the use of ADXS31-164, also known as ADXS-HER2, for evaluation in the treatment of osteosarcoma in humans. OS Therapies will work with the Children's Oncology Group to conduct and fund a clinical study evaluating ADXS-HER2 in recurrent, completely resected osteosarcoma. OS Therapies was founded by concerned parents and friends of children with osteosarcoma, and is innovatively funded by public, non-profit, and private funding.
Biocon
Advaxis granted Biocon an exclusive license for the development and commercialization of axalimogene filolisbac for the treatment of cervical cancer in India and key emerging markets. Biocon is responsible for all regulatory and commercial cost and activities associated with axalimogene filolisbac in India and key territories. Biocon is India’s largest and Asia’s leading biotechnology company with a strategic focus on biopharmaceuticals and research services.
Knight Therapeutics Inc.
Advaxis entered into a licensing agreement with Knight Therapeutics Inc., a Canadian-based specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, in-licensing, selling and marketing innovative prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, to commercialize in Canada Advaxis's product portfolio including its three lead drug candidates: axalimogene filolisbac (ADXS-HPV) for human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated cancers, ADXS-PSA for prostate cancer and ADXS-HER2 for HER2 expressing solid tumors.
Global BioPharma
Advaxis granted Global BioPharma an exclusive license for the development and commercialization of axalimogene filolisbac for the treatment of cervical cancer in Asia. Global BioPharma is responsible for all development and commercial costs and activities associated with the licensed product in Asian territories. Global BioPharma is a Taiwanese biotechnology company funded by a group of investors led by Taiwan Biotech Co., Ltd., a top five pharmaceutical company in Taiwan.
Aratana Therapeutics
Advaxis granted Aratana an exclusive license for the development and commercialization of ADXS-HER2 for osteosarcoma and three other Lm Technology™ constructs in animals. Aratana is responsible for all manufacturing, clinical development, regulatory and commercial costs.
Aratana is a pet therapeutics company focused on the licensing, development, and commercialization of innovative biopharmaceutical products for cats, dogs, and other companion animals.
PARTNERS WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS
Over the last several years Advaxis has also fostered strong partners with the following academic institutions and foundations for the development of its clinical pipeline:
NRG Oncology
Advaxis entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with NRG Oncology to evaluate the safety and efficacy of axalimogene filolisbac in a pivotal Phase 2/3 anal cancer trial, which will be run by NRG Oncology.
GOG Foundation, Inc. / NRG Oncology / Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) / National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Advaxis entered into a collaboration with the GOG Foundation, Inc. (GOG), now part of NRG Oncology, on a two-stage Phase 2 study of axalimogene filolisbac in patients with persistent or recurrent metastatic cervical cancer (PRmCC) who had progressed on at least one prior line of systemic therapy. The trial is being conducted in the U.S. by GOG, under the sponsorship of the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Advaxis has a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) and Fast Track Designation by the FDA for the Phase 3 AIM2CERV study, conducted in collaboration with the GOG Foundation, Inc, evaluating the safety and efficacy of axalimogene filolisbac in high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer.
Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy
Advaxis joined the TESLA (Tumor Neoantigen Selection Alliance) collaboration with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Cancer Research Institute, along with 30 leading academia and industry partners, to further cancer neoantigen research.
Children’s Oncology Group (COG)
Advaxis entered into a collaboration agreement with the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) to initiate a clinical study of ADXS-HER2 in pediatric osteosarcoma. COG is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) supported clinical trials group.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Advaxis entered into a collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai on a Phase 2 study investigating the effects of axalimogene filolisbac in patients newly diagnosed with HPV-positive head and neck cancer during the “window of time” between initial diagnosis and prior to receiving any treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
City of Hope
Advaxis entered a partnership with investigators at City of Hope in the development of a vaccine for the treatment of certain forms of leukemia and lymphoma based upon Advaxis’ proprietary Lm Technology™ platform.
Baylor College of Medicine
Advaxis is collaborating with Baylor College of Medicine on a Phase 2 trial of axalimogene filolisbac in HPV-associated oropharynx (throat) cancer, a type of head and neck cancer. In September 2015, the trial was awarded a grant totaling $1.1 million over three years from the FDA’s Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD).
Movember Foundation / Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) / Thomas Jefferson University
Two Phase 1/2 research projects involving ADXS-PSA in metastatic, treatment-resistant prostate cancer were selected as 2015 Movember Foundation-PCF Challenge Awards, sponsored by the Movember Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF). Grants amounting to $1 million each have been awarded to the two ADXS-PSA teams conducting the trials. Both ADXS-PSA projects involve principal investigator Adam P. Dicker, MD, Ph.D., from the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University.
UCSF Medical Center
Advaxis entered into a collaboration agreement with University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center on the evaluation of several Lm Technology™ immunotherapy constructs, including ADXS-PSA.
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Advaxis entered into a research collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), a premier cancer center committed to patient care and innovative research, to evaluate the immunologic and anti-tumor activity of patient tumor-specific, neoepitope-based immunotherapy. The collaboration will use Advaxis’ Lm Technology™ to develop neoepitope immunotherapies based on an individual patient’s tumor (ADXS-NEO) and potentially bring about a next generation of truly individualized cancer immunotherapies.
Partners
Advaxis is actively seeking commercialization partners for the license and development of its proprietary investigational Lm Technology™ immunotherapies.
Advaxis has created more than 20 distinct immunotherapy candidates based on its proprietary platform that are available for partnering in anti-PD-1 combination therapy, recurrent cervical cancer, HPV-associated head and neck cancer, HPV-associated anal cancer, prostate cancer, HER2 expressing tumors, and others.