PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 31, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advaxis, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADXS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, today announced that final clinical data from Stage 1 of the ongoing two-stage Phase 2 study (GOG-0265) of Advaxis's lead Lm Technology™ immunotherapy, axalimogene filolisbac (ADXS-HPV), in patients with persistent or recurrent metastatic (squamous or non-squamous cell) carcinoma of the cervix (PRmCC), will be presented at the American Gynecological & Obstetrical Society (AGOS) annual meeting in Half Moon Bay, Calif. by Tom Hertzog, M.D., Clinical Director at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute, on September 17, 2015, at 11:15 a.m. PDT.
"There are limited therapies available in metastatic cervical cancer, particularly for patients who have failed at least one line of therapy," said Dr. Hertzog. "We see the potential for axalimogene filolisbac to fill a significant unmet need in the treatment of this disease and look forward to presenting these Stage 1 data at the AGOS annual meeting."
GOG-0265 is an open-label, single-arm, two-stage Phase 2 study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of axalimogene filolisbac in approximately 67 patients with PRmCC who have received at least one prior line of systemic therapy. The primary efficacy endpoint is 12-month overall survival rate, with secondary efficacy endpoints of progression-free survival, overall survival and objective tumor response. The primary safety endpoints are the number of patients with dose-limiting toxicities and the frequency and severity of adverse effects.
The trial is being conducted in the United States by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), now part of NRG Oncology, under the sponsorship of the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Further information about the study can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov, using Identifier NCT01266460.
About Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the most common cause of mortality in women worldwide. In the United States, nearly 13,000 new cases are diagnosed and approximately 4,100 deaths are reported because of cervical cancer. According to the WHO/ICO Information Centre on HPV and Cervical Cancer, about 3.9 percent of women in the U.S. are estimated to harbor high-risk cervical HPV infection at a given time, and 71.7 percent of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to high-risk HPV strains.
About Axalimogene Filolisbac
Axalimogene filolisbac (ADXS-HPV) is Advaxis's lead Lm Technology™ immunotherapy candidate for the treatment of HPV-associated cancers and is in clinical trials for three potential indications: invasive cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, and anal cancer. In a completed randomized Phase 2 study in recurrent/refractory cervical cancer, axalimogene filolisbac showed apparent prolonged survival, objective tumor responses, and a manageable safety profile alone or in combination with chemotherapy, supporting further development of the company's Lm Technology™.
About the American Gynecological & Obstetrical Society
The American Gynecological & Obstetrical Society (AGOS) advances the health of women by providing dedicated leadership and promoting excellence in research, education and medical practice. The AGOS is an organization composed of individuals attaining national prominence in scholarship in the discipline of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health.
About the Gynecologic Oncology Group
The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), now part of NRG Oncology, is a non-profit international organization with the purpose of promoting excellence in the quality and integrity of clinical and basic scientific research in the field of gynecologic malignancies. The GOG is committed to maintaining the highest standards in clinical trials development, execution, analysis and distribution of results. Continuous evaluation of its processes is utilized in order to constantly improve the quality of patient care. The GOG conducts clinical trials for patients with a variety of gynecologic malignancies, including cancers that arise from the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina and vulva. General information on many of these trials for medical professionals and the lay public can be obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov.
NRG Oncology is one of four adult cooperative groups funded under the newly structured NCI National Clinical Trials Network. NRG Oncology is comprised of three legacy cooperative groups, the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG).
About Advaxis, Inc.
Located in Princeton, N.J., Advaxis, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing multiple cancer immunotherapies based on its proprietary Lm Technology™. The Lm Technology™, using bioengineered live attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) bacteria, is the only known cancer immunotherapy agent shown in preclinical studies to both generate cancer fighting T-cells directed against a cancer antigen and neutralize Tregs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that protect the tumor microenvironment from immunologic attack and contribute to tumor growth. Advaxis's lead Lm Technology™ immunotherapy, axalimogene filolisbac, targets human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers and is in clinical trials for three potential indications: Phase 2 in invasive cervical cancer, Phase 1/2 in head and neck cancer, and Phase 1/2 in anal cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted axalimogene filolisbac orphan drug designation for each of these three clinical settings. For additional information on Advaxis, visit www.advaxis.com and connect on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Google+.
Forward-Looking Statements
This media statement contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: statements regarding Advaxis's ability to develop the next generation of cancer immunotherapies; and the safety and efficacy of Advaxis's proprietary immunotherapy, axalimogene filolisbac. 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, 2014, 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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