Advaxis's Scientific Founder, Dr. Yvonne Paterson, Named One of the PharmaVOICE 100 Most Inspiring People in Life Sciences

Inventor of Advaxis's Lm-LLO Cancer Immunotherapy Recognized for "Being on the Leading Edge of Cancer Research"


PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 11, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADXS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, announced that its scientific founder, Yvonne Paterson, Ph.D., was recognized as one of the 100 most inspiring people in the life sciences industry in 2014 PharmaVOICE. Dr. Paterson's research of Listeria monocytogenes led to the development of Advaxis's Lm-LLO cancer immunotherapy, which is the foundation of the company's pipeline of immunotherapy technologies targeting human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers (cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, and anal cancer), prostate cancer, and Her2-overexpressing cancers (osteosarcoma, breast, gastric and others).

Currently a Professor of Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine and Associate Dean for Research and Professor with the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Dr. Paterson's laboratory was dedicated to harnessing the immune system to provide cures for, or protection against, neoplastic and infectious disease. Driven by her own diagnosis with breast cancer, Dr. Paterson became one of the early pioneers of tumor immunology through her groundbreaking work involving Listeria monocytogenes and CD8+ T-cells. Based on her research, Dr. Paterson founded Advaxis, which today has multiple clinical programs built upon her discoveries. Dr. Paterson serves as a consultant to Advaxis and remains actively involved in research and teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. She is dedicated to developing immunotherapeutics that target "women's cancer", specifically cervical cancer and breast cancer. 

"I am very honored to be one of the 2014 PharmaVOICE 100 and to be recognized among such esteemed leaders in science and pharmaceuticals," remarked Dr. Paterson. "Seeing my early research blossom into a multifaceted immunotherapy platform that offers the potential to treat a host of cancers is truly humbling. I am thankful for the University of Pennsylvania for the support I've been afforded over the years and to the team at Advaxis who continues to advance the simple, yet very profound goal I set when I began my research – to find a cure for cancer."

Featured in the July/August 2014 issue of PharmaVOICE (http://www.pharmavoice.com/content/digitaledition.html), Dr. Paterson was selected from a group of nominations submitted by industry peers. A panel of PharmaVOICE editors evaluated the submissions based on nominees' ability to inspire, motivate and influence corporate leadership, research and development, technology, creativity, marketing and strategy.

"There are not many more inspiring people in the field of life sciences than Dr. Paterson," commented Daniel J. O'Connor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Advaxis. "Her dedication to finding a cure for cancer motivates Advaxis everyday as we continue to pursue the clinical programs that her research launched and grow the company that her vision founded."

About Advaxis, Inc.

Advaxis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing multiple cancer immunotherapies based on its proprietary platform intended to redirect the immune system to kill cancer. The Advaxis Lm-LLO technology, using bioengineered live attenuated Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, is the only known cancer immunotherapy shown in preclinical studies to neutralize Tregs and MSDCs, that protect the tumor microenvironment from immunologic attack and contribute to tumor growth. Advaxis's lead immunotherapy, ADXS-HPV, targets human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers and is in clinical trials for three indications: Phase 2 in invasive cervical cancer, Phase 1/2 in head and neck cancer, and Phase 1/2 in anal cancer. The FDA has granted Advaxis orphan drug designation for each of these three indications. The Company plans to initiate a registrational clinical program for cervical cancer in 2014 and has established licensing partners in India and Asia for commercialization in those regions. Advaxis is planning to evaluate the combination of ADXS-HPV with an anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor in HPV-associated cancers.

Advaxis's second immunotherapy candidate in clinical testing will be ADXS-PSA, which is being developed to address prostate cancer. Advaxis is planning to file an IND with the FDA and initiate a Phase 1 clinical study with ADXS-PSA in 2014. Advaxis is also developing ADXS-cHER2, to target the Her2 receptor overexpressing cancers. Her2 is overexpressed in certain solid-tumor cancers, including pediatric bone cancer (or osteosarcoma), breast cancer, esophageal, and gastric cancer. Advaxis is developing ADXS-cHER2 for both human and animal-health, and has seen promising results in canine osteosarcoma, which is considered a model for human bone cancer. Advaxis is pursuing a clinical program in pediatric osteosarcoma and has licensed ADXS-cHER2 and three other immunotherapy constructs to a major animal-health company. Advaxis is planning to file an IND for ADXS-cHER2 in Her2 overexpressing cancers.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: statements regarding Advaxis's ability to develop the next generation of cancer immunotherapies; the safety and efficacy of Advaxis's proprietary immunotherapy, ADXS HPV; whether Advaxis immunotherapies can redirect the powerful immune response all human beings have to the bacterium to cancers. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, including the risk factors set forth from time to time in Advaxis's SEC filings, including but not limited to its report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013, 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.



            

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