Advaxis Provides 2015 Half-Year Review and Outlook

On June 25, 2015 Advaxis reported it will hold a business update conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET highlighting year-to-date accomplishments and key near-term goals (Press release, Advaxis, JUN 25, 2015, View Source [SID:1234505803]). The call is intended to provide Advaxis investors and stakeholders with a recap of the Company’s achievements in the first half of 2015 and an overview of milestones anticipated throughout the remainder of the year and into 2016.

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A live broadcast of the conference call will be available by direct dial at 1-888-401-4669 in the U.S. or 1-719-325-2458 outside of the U.S.; Conference Passcode 7209396, or by live webcast available online at this URL: View Source

The call will be recorded and available for playback through July 9 by dialing 1-877-870-5176 in the U.S. and 1-858-384-5517 outside of the U.S.; Replay Passcode 7209396. In addition, the webcast will be available for replay at the URL above.

"We are pleased with our accomplishments during the past six months as we continue to strengthen our proprietary immunotherapy platform," said Daniel J. O’Connor, President and CEO of Advaxis. "In addition to the significant progress in R&D, we are financially strong and now have the resources to fully execute on and expand our clinical development programs."

UPCOMING MILESTONES

Advaxis anticipates the following operational milestones throughout the remainder of 2015 and into 2016.

Lm Technology Immunotherapy Clinical Programs:

ADXS-HPV

Commence enrollment in the Phase 3, registration quality trial, AIM2CERV.

Complete enrollment in Stage 2 of the ongoing GOG-0265 Phase 2 trial of ADXS-HPV in persistent or recurrent cervical cancer being conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), anticipating up to 38 patients enrolled by June 30, 2016 with Final Stage 1 safety and efficacy data to be presented at an upcoming major medical meeting in 2015. Final study data (Stage 1 and 2) to be available in the first half of 2017.

Enroll the first patient this summer in a collaborative Phase 1/2 study of ADXS-HPV in combination with AstraZeneca/MedImmune’s MEDI4736 in cervical cancer and HPV-associated head and neck cancer in second half of 2015 with data available in the first half of 2016.

Complete enrollment in Part A (dose escalation) of our Phase 1 study evaluating higher doses of ADXS-HPV immunotherapy and repeat cycles of treatment with data available from Part A in 2016.

Complete enrollment of the Mount Sinai investigator-sponsored Phase 1/2 study of ADXS-HPV in patients with HPV-associated head and neck cancer. Data to be available in the first half of 2016.

Commence enrollment in a Phase 2 study in patients with HPV-associated metastatic anal cancer by year’s end with data available in the second half of 2016.

Commence enrollment in the second half of 2015 on the Phase 1/2 combination study with Incyte Corporation’s (Incyte) IDO-1 inhibitor.

ADXS-PSA

Complete enrollment in Part A (dose escalation) in the first half of 2016 in the Phase 1/2 study of ADXS-PSA as a monotherapy or in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Data to be available in second half of 2016.

ADXS-HER2

Enroll the first patient in a Phase 1 first-in-human trial of ADXS-HER2 in metastatic HER2 expressing solid tumors in the second half of 2015 with data to be available in the second half of 2016.
Initiate a clinical study of ADXS-HER2 in pediatric osteosarcoma in partnership with the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) in 2016.
Secure conditional license for ADXS-HER2 (also known as AT-014) for the treatment of canine osteosarcoma from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2016.

Business:

Advaxis continues to seek partnerships for its Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) Technology that will enable additional research in combination with other cancer therapies and novel immunotherapies. Advaxis currently retains full commercial rights to its programs.
Advaxis continues to explore options for retaining a Latin American partner for ADXS-HPV to collaborate on co-development and registration in this important region.

FIRST HALF 2015 REVIEW

Since issuing its previous business update in January 2015, Advaxis achieved several regulatory, clinical, business and operational milestones during the first half of 2015.

Lm Technology Immunotherapy Clinical Programs:

ADXS-HPV

GOG’s Phase 2 Study of ADXS-HPV for the Treatment of Persistent or Recurrent Cervical Cancer Achieved Stage 1 Safety and Efficacy Criteria; GOG Began Enrolling Patients in Stage 2 of the Study
On January 28, Advaxis announced that GOG-0265 Phase 2 open-label clinical study of ADXS-HPV in patients with persistent or recurrent cervical cancer with documented disease progression being conducted by the GOG, has completed its first stage and has met the predetermined safety and efficacy criteria required to proceed into the second stage of patient enrollment. The GOG began enrolling patients in Stage 2 of the ongoing Phase 2 trial and expects the study to be fully enrolled by the end of 2015.

Advaxis and GOG to Collaborate on Phase 3 Study of ADXS-HPV in High Risk, Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer; Filed a SPA
On January 7, Advaxis announced a clinical trial collaboration agreement with the GOG for a planned Phase 3 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of ADXS-HPV in high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer. On June 15, Advaxis announced the submission of a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Phase 3 study and plans to initiate the study by the end of 2015, depending on the length of the SPA process.

Advaxis Treated First Patient in Phase 1/2 Study of ADXS-HPV for Recurrent Cervical Cancer
On March 19, Advaxis announced that the first patient was dosed in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating higher doses and repeat cycles of ADXS-HPV in persistent, metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer, based on encouraging survival data seen previously with a lower dose in this patient population.

FDA Cleared IND for Phase 2 Study of ADXS-HPV and Incyte’s epacadostat for HPV-Associated Early Stage Cervical Cancer
On June 1, Advaxis announced the clearance of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the FDA to conduct a Phase 2 study of ADXS-HPV alone or in combination with Incyte’s investigational oral indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitor, epacadostat, for the treatment of early stage HPV-associated cervical cancer. The trial is expected to begin patient enrollment in the second half of 2015.

Advaxis and RTOG Foundation to Collaborate on a Pivotal Phase 2/3 Study of ADXS-HPV in Anal Cancer
On April 6, Advaxis announced entering into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Foundation to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ADXS-HPV in a pivotal Phase 2/3 anal cancer trial, which will be run by NRG Oncology.

Preliminary Data from a Phase 1/2 Study of ADXS-HPV in HPV-Associated Anal Cancer Presented at the 2015 IANS Scientific Meeting
On March 16, Advaxis announced that preliminary data from an ongoing Brown University Oncology Research Group investigator-sponsored Phase 1/2 clinical study investigating ADXS-HPV in combination with chemoradiation in HPV-associated locally advanced anal cancer were presented at the International Anal Neoplasia Society (IANS) 2015 Scientific Meeting. Based upon these preliminary data, this study has the potential to transition to a Phase 2/3 registration quality study to be conducted by RTOG.

ADXS-PSA

Advaxis and Merck Initiated Enrollment in the Phase 1/2 Study of ADXS-PSA in Combination with Anti-PD-1 Therapy KEYTRUDA, in Advanced Prostate Cancer
On April 8, Advaxis and Merck announced enrollment has commenced in the Phase 1/2 KEYNOTE-046 clinical trial evaluating ADXS-PSA as a monotherapy and in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), in previously treated mCRPC.

ADXS-HER2

FDA Accepted IND for First-in-Human Trial of ADXS-HER2; Advaxis to Initiate Phase 1b Study in Patients with Metastatic HER2 Expressing Solid Tumors
On January 22, Advaxis announced the FDA cleared its IND to conduct a Phase 1b clinical study evaluating the safety and tolerability of ADXS-HER2 as a monotherapy in patients with metastatic HER2 expressing solid tumors. The clinical trial will be the first-in-human study of ADXS-HER2 and is expected to begin patient enrollment in the summer of 2015.

Preliminary Data from Phase 1 Study of ADXS-HER2 in Canine Osteosarcoma Presented at the 2015 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Meeting
On April 20, preliminary data from one clinical and two preclinical studies demonstrating the survival outcomes and anti-tumor effects of Advaxis’s Lm Technology immunotherapies in various settings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2015. Data from the ongoing Phase 1 clinical study of ADXS-HER2 in combination with palliative radiation suggested that ADXS-HER2 delayed tumor progression and prolonged overall survival in 10 pet dogs with spontaneous osteosarcoma that were not candidates for primary tumor removal (amputation). The commercial rights to the veterinary indications for ADXS-HER2 have been licensed to Aratana Therapeutics.

Business & Operations:

Advaxis Completed Two Successful Rounds of Financing
Advaxis has raised approximately $140 million in fewer than two years and has approximately $100 million in cash on the balance sheet.

Advaxis Completed Leadership Hires In Core Business Functions
Advaxis’s new hires secured leadership positions in manufacturing, regulatory affairs and clinical operations. The industry experience and caliber of these executives highlights that Advaxis has become a company able to attract premier staff from the industry.

Advaxis and Sorrento Formed a Collaboration to Evaluate Combinations of Advaxis’s Lm Technology Product Candidates and Sorrento’s Immunomodulatory Antibodies
Advaxis entered into a non-exclusive research and clinical trial collaboration agreement with Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (Sorrento) to evaluate combinations of the company’s immunotherapy candidates, including ADXS-HPV, ADXS-PSA and ADXS-HER2, with Sorrento’s fully human antibodies targeting immune checkpoints, including GITR, OX40, LAG-3 and TIM-3.

Advaxis Formed a Clinical Trial Collaboration With Incyte to Evaluate Investigational Combination of Two Novel Cancer Immunotherapies for Early Stage Cervical Cancer
Advaxis established an agreement with Incyte to investigate the combination of ADXS-HPV together with Incyte’s investigational IDO1 inhibitor, epacadostat. The recently accepted IND for the Phase 2 study evaluating ADXS-HPV as a monotherapy and in combination with epacadostat in patients with early stage HPV-associated cervical cancers is expected to start in the second half of 2015.

Provectus Biopharmaceuticals’ Poster Presentation Displayed on Phase 3 Study of PV-10 at 5th European Post-Chicago Melanoma / Skin Cancer Meeting

On June 25, 2015 Provectus Biopharmaceuticals reported that its poster presentation titled "Trials in Progress: Intralesional Rose Bengal vs Systemic Chemotherapy for Treatment of Locally Advanced Cutaneous Melanoma" is on display at the 5th European Post-Chicago Melanoma / Skin Cancer Meeting in Munich, Germany (Press release, Provectus Pharmaceuticals, JUN 25, 2015, http://www.pvct.com/pressrelease.html?article=20150625.1 [SID:1234505801]).

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The poster presentation will be open in the Royal Ballroom of the Leonardo Royal Hotel, in Munich, Germany throughout the entirety of the conference. The conference will run June 25-26, 2015.

Additionally, Dr. Vernon Sondak (Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA) will present on PV-10 during "Symposium III – New Drugs and Trials I: Immunotherapy" to be held Thursday, June 25, from 17:40 – 17:48 (5:40PM – 5:48PM local time), also in the Royal Ballroom.

To access the poster, visit: http://www.pvct.com/publications/Post-Chicago-Munich-2015.pdf

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Granted Key European Patent for Its Lead Clinical Drug Candidate Bavituximab

On June 25, 2015 Peregrine Pharmaceuticals reported that the European Patent Office (EPO) has granted Patent Number 2,269,656, titled "Selected Antibodies Binding to Aminophospholipids and their Use in Treatment, Such as Cancer" (Press release, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, JUN 25, 2015, View Source [SID:1234505806]). This important patent covers bavituximab as a composition of matter and for use in treating cancer including in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, such as with docetaxel.

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The new patent covers bavituximab as a composition of matter, a range of related antibodies, including humanized and chain-shuffled antibodies and other sequence variations and their broad use in any diagnosis or therapy. The new patent also covers antibody drug conjugates, diagnostic and imaging constructs, liposomal and pharmaceutical combinations of bavituximab and related antibodies.

Know more, wherever you are:
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"This is a key part to our European patent strategy for bavituximab and an important addition to our intellectual property portfolio, which now numbers more than 140 worldwide issued patents and pending applications for our bavituximab oncology program," said Shelley Fussey, vice president of intellectual property at Peregrine. "The granting of this patent enhances the ongoing expansion and strengthening of the company’s intellectual property portfolio surrounding its immuno-oncology pipeline and our commitment to executing future global strategic collaborations and partnerships."

This patent currently provides intellectual property rights in validated European countries through July, 2023 and could be eligible for extension of patent term under the European Union’s Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) process. This patent was granted to The University of Texas System and is exclusively licensed to Peregrine Pharmaceuticals.

Peregrine’s lead immunotherapy candidate, bavituximab, is in Phase III development for the treatment of second-line non-small cell lung cancer (the SUNRISE trial) along with several investigator-sponsored trials evaluating additional oncology indications. The Company is also advancing its plans to initiate additional bavituximab clinical trials, including a Phase II trial in non-small cell lung cancer in combination with Opdivo (Nivolumab) and a Phase II/III trial in locally advanced or metastatic HER2 negative breast cancer in combination with either docetaxel or paclitaxel.

Peregrine’s antibodies target and bind to phosphatidylserine (PS), a highly immunosuppressive molecule normally located on the interior of cellular membranes, but, following stresses in the tumor environment, becomes exposed on tumor cells and cells that line tumor blood vessels, helping tumors to evade immune detection. PS-targeting antibodies block this immunosuppressive signal, thereby enabling the immune system to better recognize and fight the tumor. Preclinical data show that the combination of bavituximab and inhibitors of immune checkpoints reduce tumor-suppressive factors including myeloid-derived suppressor cells and confer increased tumor-specific immunity when compared to either treatment alone.

U.S. FDA Grants Priority Review for MM-398 New Drug Application

On June 25, 2015 Merrimack and Baxalta Incorporated, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baxter International reported that the New Drug Application (NDA) for MM-398 (irinotecan liposome injection), also known as "nal-IRI," has been accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Press release, Merrimack, JUN 25, 2015, View Source [SID:1234505800]). Merrimack is seeking U.S. marketing approval of MM-398 for the treatment of patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas who have been previously treated with gemcitabine-based therapy.

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In addition, the FDA has classified the NDA as having Priority Review status. A Priority Review designation is for drugs that treat serious conditions and, if approved, would provide significant improvements in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment of serious conditions compared to available therapies. The FDA has set a goal of October 24, 2015 to take action under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA).

"The rapid timeline associated with Priority Review designation brings Merrimack closer to our goal of making MM-398 available to patients with pancreatic cancer who have been previously treated with gemcitabine and are in significant need of treatment options," said Robert Mulroy, President and CEO at Merrimack. "We look forward to working with the FDA as they review the application over the next several months."

Merrimack’s application is based upon the results of an international Phase 3 study (NAPOLI-1) conducted in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who previously received gemcitabine-based therapy. MM-398 in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin achieved its primary and secondary endpoints by demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in overall survival, progression free survival and overall response rate compared to the control group of patients who received a combination of 5-FU and leucovorin. The most common Grade 3 or higher adverse events in patients receiving MM-398 and 5-FU/LV were neutropenia, fatigue and gastrointestinal effects. This was the first global Phase 3 study in a post-gemcitabine setting to show a survival benefit in this aggressive disease. Data for the study were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (ESMO GI) in June 2014 and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2015 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI) in January 2015.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also accepted for review a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for MM-398 for the treatment of patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas who have been previously treated with gemcitabine-based therapy. The acceptance of the MAA marks the beginning of the review process in the European Union for MM-398 in this indication.

"The acceptance of our Marketing Authorization Application for review by the European Medicines Agency is a positive indicator of the promise of this treatment to address a significant unmet need for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and the support for innovative new options," said David Meek, head of Oncology at Baxalta. "We are actively advancing our plans to introduce nal-IRI following approval and look forward to extending the utility of the treatment to patients around the world."

The FDA and EMA have granted MM-398 orphan drug designation for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. MM-398 was granted Fast Track designation by the FDA in November 2014.

Merrimack and Baxalta have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement to develop and commercialize MM-398 outside of the United States. PharmaEngine, Inc. (Taipei, Taiwan) holds the rights to commercialize MM-398 in Taiwan.

About MM-398

MM-398 (irinotecan liposome injection), also known as "nal-IRI," is a novel encapsulation of irinotecan in a long-circulating liposomal formulation. The activated form of irinotecan is SN-38, which functions by inhibiting topoisomerase I (an essential enzyme involved in DNA transcription and replication) and promoting cell death.

About Pancreatic Cancer 1,2

Pancreatic cancer is rare and deadly, accounting for only three percent of all cancer cases worldwide but is the fourth leading cause of cancer death. An estimated 140,000 new cases are diagnosed every year around the world, two-thirds of which are among people aged 65 or older.

Because the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer are non-specific and may not appear until the disease has spread to other sites, approximately 80% of patients are diagnosed with late stage disease. These patients are not candidates for surgery, instead receiving chemotherapy as the mainstay of their therapy. This contributes to the five year survival rate for all patients being less than six percent; fewer than 20 percent of newly diagnosed patients survive more than two years. There is no consensus on the standard of care for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer previously treated with a gemcitabine-based therapy.

Provectus Biopharmaceuticals Announces Abstract Available on PV-10 for Chemoablation of Liver Cancers at ESMO 17th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer

On June 24, 2015 Provectus Biopharmaceuticals reported that the abstract titled, "Phase 1 Study of PV-10 for Chemoablation of Hepatocellular Cancer and Cancer Metastatic to the Liver" to be presented at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 17th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer is now available online at:

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View Source

The abstract concludes "Preliminary efficacy in treatment of liver tumors with PV-10 was observed (Press release, Provectus Pharmaceuticals, JUN 24, 2015, http://www.pvct.com/pressrelease.html?article=20150624.2 [SID:1234505802]). Toxicity was transient, and treatment had acceptable tolerability. The study is continuing at three study centers with two expansion cohorts to assess response in hepatocellular carcinoma and other cancers metastatic to the liver."

Eric Wachter, PhD, Chief Technology Officer of Provectus, will be the presenter, and is scheduled to make the presentation twice during the Congress. Both presentations are scheduled for Thursday, July 2, 2015; the first is from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. and the second from 4:55 to 5:25 p.m. local time.

Once the poster has been presented at the Congress, Provectus will provide full details of its contents to the public.

About ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 17th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer

The ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 17th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer is the premier global event in the field, encompassing malignancies affecting every component of the gastrointestinal tract and aspects related to the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancer, including screening, diagnosis and the latest management options for common and uncommon tumours. It has been endorsed by leading professional societies and organizations. View Source