Jul 8 2011
Advaxis, Inc. (OTCBB: ADXS), a leader in developing the next generation of immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases, announces that the first dog has entered a dose-ranging in canine osteosarcoma at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
“There is an especially high unmet need for safe, effective and reasonably priced cancer therapy in the companion animal market”
Canine Osteosarcoma is a cancer of long (leg) bones that is a leading killer of large dogs over the age of 10 years. Standard treatment is amputation immediately after diagnosis, followed by chemotherapy. Invariably, however, the cancer metastasizes to the lungs. With chemotherapy, dogs survive about 18 months compared to 6-12 months, without treatment. The HER2 antigen is believed to be present in up to 50% of osteosarcoma. ADXS-HER2 creates an immune attack on cells expressing this antigen and has been developed to treat human breast cancer. The Company plans to file an IND later this year for this indication.
In 2010, Advaxis contracted with the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine to conduct a canine clinical program to determine the safety and efficacy of ADXS-HER2 in osteosarcoma. Positive results may lead to research in humans, as well.
"There is an especially high unmet need for safe, effective and reasonably priced cancer therapy in the companion animal market," commented Thomas A Moore, Chairman and CEO of Advaxis, Inc. "This early study gets us started."
SOURCE Advaxis Incorporated