Novel cancer vaccine to be manufactured from live bacterium

29 July 2003. Cobra Biomanufacturing signs long-term supply agreement to manufacture active ingredient for Advaxis’ novel cancer treatment

Keele, UK: Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc, the International manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals, today announced an agreement with Advaxis, Inc. to supply clinical trials and, potentially, commercial supplies of the active ingredient for its Listeria monocytogenes-based cancer vaccine. This is Advaxis’ leading product due to start clinical trials as a cervical cancer treatment within the next twelve months.

Research done in the laboratory of Yvonne Paterson PhD, scientific founder of Advaxis, demonstrates that an attenuated form of the bacterium Listeria can effectively induce the body’s immune system to fight cancer. 

J Todd Derbin, Chief Executive of Advaxis, said: “We selected Cobra after a thorough evaluation of all aspects of their capabilities in GMP biologics manufacturing to the highest quality standards. It is very important to Advaxis to be working with a CMO that manufactures to US and European regulatory standards, and offers us multiple options in the planning of future clinical trials in a range of indications. Cobra will support our manufacturing needs throughout this trial and in other projects. We look forward to working with them long-term as our manufacturing partner.”

Cobra, with its world leading technologies and capabilities in the manufacture of DNA, viruses and proteins, is already using its expertise for the production of L. monocytogenes for the pre-clinical studies being undertaken by Advaxis. This production will increase significantly as L. monocytogenes moves into the clinic - with Phase I trials anticipated to last 12 months.

David Thatcher, Chief Executive of Cobra Biomanufacturing, added: “We are delighted that Advaxis has chosen Cobra as manufacturing partner for its lead product. Advaxis is an exciting young company with a clear focus on developing safer and more effective cancer therapies. We intend for this to be a long-term commitment, providing material from pre-clinical to commercial supply. This contract is one of several won through our new North American office this year and demonstrates the real benefits we can deliver to our International partners.”

– ENDS –

Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc
David Thatcher, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +44 (0) 1782 714 181
Andy Lewin, Director of Business Development

Advaxis, Inc
J. Todd Derbin, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 609 497 7555

Financial press, please contact
Buchanan Communications
Rebecca Dietrich Tel: +44 (0) 207 466 5000 

Scientific and technical press, please contact
Northbank Communications
Peter Colley Tel: +44 (0) 1260 296500

Notes to Editors:
Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc is a leading international manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals to the lifescience industry. Founded in 1992, Cobra has leading capabilities in DNA, virus and protein contract manufacture. It was the first company to develop GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standard DNA manufacture in Europe, with specific expertise in DNA medicines. A range of unique, patented technologies, the most advanced of which are ORT and UCOE, underpins this revenue generating business.

ORT: avoids the use of antibiotics/antibiotic resistant genes in the production of microbial products.

UCOE: a mammalian cell protein expression technology that enables the rapid isolation of stable, high producing strains for commercial production.

Cobra floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in June 2002 raising £7 million.

Advaxis, Inc., based in Princeton, New Jersey is a biotechnology company focused on commercialising the innovative vaccine technology developed by Dr Yvonne Paterson in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania. The company is developing products that enhance the immune system’s cancer-fighting abilities. Advaxis is utilising two immunological mechanisms (Innate and Classical Immunity) to develop safer and more effective cancer vaccines. The Company is the exclusive licensee of a broadly enabling innate immunity platform technology that, when combined with classical antibody and cellular immune mechanisms, can elicit more effective anti-tumour responses. The innate immunity platform will also have applications in the fields of infectious disease and autoimmune disorders. Advaxis’ initial disease focus is in cervical, head and neck, breast, ovarian and lung cancers.