On July 21, 2016 Advaxis, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADXS), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated the Company’s lead immunotherapy candidate, axalimogene filolisbac (AXAL), as a Fast Track product for adjuvant therapy for high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer patients (Press release, Advaxis, JUL 21, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513981]). The investigation of AXAL in this under-served population will be conducted in accordance with the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) recently granted by the FDA. Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! "This Fast Track designation for AXAL comes on the heels of the SPA agreement and underscores the collaborative efforts of Advaxis and the FDA in expediting a medically significant clinical program. This designation brings us one step closer to achieving our goal with the AIM2CERV trial, which aims to extend disease free survival for this serious and life-threatening condition and prevent disease recurrence," said Daniel J. O’Connor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Advaxis.
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In 2014, AXAL was granted FDA Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of invasive cervical cancer.
AXAL is a targeted immunotherapy which attacks human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers by altering a live strain of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) bacteria to generate cancer fighting T cells directed against the specific cancer antigen and neutralizing factors that protect the tumor microenvironment from immunologic attack and contribute to tumor growth.
The FDA established the Fast Track Drug Development Program under the FDA Modernization Act of 1997. The program is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of therapies intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and that demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs. The advantages of Fast Track designation include actions to help expedite development, including opportunities for frequent interactions with the FDA to discuss all aspects of development to support approval, eligibility for priority review at the time of Biologics License Application (BLA) submission and early review of portions of the application before submitting a complete application.
About Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer 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 (AXAL) is Advaxis’ 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, AXAL 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. AXAL has Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. for the treatment of anal cancer.