Avax Technologies

Avax Technologies, Inc is a Philadelphia-based biotechnology company whose most advanced product candidate is MVax for melanoma. MVax is a cancer vaccine that received a Special Protocol Assessment agreement with the FDA in October 2006, and subsequently began a Phase III registration clinical trial in November 2007. In previous studies, MVax demonstrated a 5-year overall survival rate (OS)of 44% and response rate of 35% (13% CR, 22% PR).[1]

Avax Technologies
TypePublic
Expert Market: AVXT
IndustryBiomedicine
Headquarters
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
United States
Key people
 Richard Rainey (Chairman and CEO)
ProductsAC Vaccine
ServicesCancer vaccines
SubsidiariesGenopoietic SA

AC Vaccine

Method

A tumor sample is removed from a patient, then treated with the hapten 2,4-Dinitrophenol. When reinjected back into the patient, the hapten will cause an enhanced immune response against the cancer cells.

MVax

Started May 2007. Currently in a Phase III trial for Stage IV Melanoma.

MVax’s Phase II response rate of 35% (CR + PR) in combination with low-dose IL-2 compares favorably to the Phase II results of other melanoma cancer vaccines such as Vical’s Allovectin-7 (11% CR + PR)[2] and BioVex’s OncoVex (28% CR + PR),[3] both of which are given as stand alone therapy.

Due to the Financial crisis of 2007–2010 and recent cancer vaccine failures in other companies like Favrille and Cell Genesys, Avax has had trouble attracting investors. In an effort to conserve cash, enrollment for the Phase III trial was suspended on March 26, 2009,[4] but the trial itself is still ongoing. However on December 16, 2009, the company obtained bridge financing in the amount of $1,400,000. This will be used to conduct an interim analysis of the Phase III data for MVax. CEO John Prendergast notes: "Recent and anticipated news by companies involved with cancer vaccines and immunotherapies has resulted in renewed interest in the sector by institutional investors, larger pharma, biotechnology companies and the medical and scientific communities at large.".[5]

LVax

Started February 2006. Currently in a Phase I/II trial for NSCLC. No new patient enrollment until more funding is obtained.

OVax

Started April 2008, a Phase I/II trial for ovarian cancer. Encouraging results reported Feb 2016.[6] Median survival was 22.7 months with no treatment-related serious adverse events.[6]

Genopoietic SA

Based in Lyon, France, has a GMP facility that manufactures the vaccines for Avax. The facility is certified by the French government for commercial and clinical vaccine production for the European markets.[1]

See also

Notes
  1. "Avax fact sheet Phase II data" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-06.
  2. "Allovectin-7 Phase II data". Archived from the original on 2010-03-12.
  3. "OncoVex Phase II data" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-10-26. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  4. "Enrollment Suspension".
  5. "December 16, 2009 news". Archived from the original on 2013-05-01.
  6. Advanced Ovarian Cancer Treatment Showing Promise in Clinical Trial. Feb 2016
  • Business data for Avax Technologies:
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