Advaxis Might Make a Drug for Cancer

STATES CHRONICLE – Now that the FDA has finally lifted their hold on the drug developing company, people expect Advaxis might make a drug for cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration has put a hold on the therapies produced by Advaxis, after a subject of one of the therapies died. The patient was being treated with axalimogene, a drug made by Advaxis, of course and although the company claimed the patient died because the cervical cancer was too advanced, the trial was put on hold. Moreover, other three therapies produced by the company were also put on hold by the FDA.

Advaxis is a company based in New Jersey that focuses on creating immunotherapies. They are using a form of the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria on which they start developing drugs that could potentially improve our immune systems and make us less vulnerable to cancer or that can even help us fight the disease that’s already in our bodies.

The treatments are specifically designed to target one particular substance, an antigen found in cancer cells. So far, the company has developed about 15 products which are in different stages of development, either approved, or experimental or trial.

The hold affected the patients in trial and also affected the company’s finances. Ever since the hold had been announced, the company’s shares have been down by 19 percent. However, along with the hold being lifted, shares skyrocketed to 38 percent, reaching $10.57 per share.

But leaving money aside, what is more important is that the studies will be resumed and the company might be successful in developing a drug for cancer. All of their studies are conducted to discover a treatment for cancer. The treatment should work by making the immune system more aware of the presence of the disease and more ‘willing’ to fight it off.

In order to avoid future problems with the FDA, Advaxis will install risk mitigation measures. These measures will include revising the design of the study, increase surveillance of patients and implement criteria for patient inclusion.

All in all, if trials are resumed and no other problems appear, Advaxis could be successful in finding a cure for cancer, through their immunotherapies.

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