Advaxis Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, has received notice of allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on two patents covering the composition and methods of use for ADXS-cHER2 (Patent Numbers 12/945,386 and 13/210,696). Advaxis is developing ADXS-cHER2 to target the Her2 receptor, which is overexpressed in certain solid-tumor cancers, including bone cancer (or osteosarcoma), breast cancer, esophageal, and gastric cancer. Advaxis plans to initiate a Phase 1 trial with ADXS-cHER2 in pediatric osteosarcoma, for which it received Orphan Drug Designation, and is pursuing early development clinical collaborations for breast, esophageal and gastric cancers.

 

The first patent covers composition for ADXS-cHER2, as well as methods of composition use for preventing or eliciting an immune response against, or treating, tumors that express Her2/neu in humans. This patent also covers ADXS-cHER2 use within the tumor, specifically: increasing the ratio of CD8 T cells to regulatory T cells (Tregs) and decreasing the frequency of Tregs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Additionally, the patent covers ADXS-cHER2 use for preventing an escape mutation in the treatment of Her2/neu over-expressing tumors in a subject.

 

The second patent covers methods of ADXS-cHER2 use for preventing, eliciting an immune response against, or treating Her-2/neu-expressing tumors, such as osteosarcoma, in non-human animals, particularly pet dogs. The allowed method claims also cover ADXS-cHER2 use for preventing an escape mutation in the treatment of Her2/neu over-expressing tumors in non-human animals, particularly dogs.

 

“These two patents cover the ways in which our ADXS-cHER2 immunotherapy product candidate increases anti-cancer immune response in the tumor microenvironment in both humans and animals,” said Daniel O’Connor, president and CEO of Advaxis. “Allowance of these patents further expands an already robust IP portfolio for our ADXS-cHER2 asset as we move forward with the clinical trial program.”

 

Date: June 23, 2014

Source: Advaxis