Advantagene is a privately held biotechnology company developing therapies to increase efficacy and reduce morbidity from the treatment of cancer. Advantagene’s strategy is to combine its oncology biotherapeutics with existing standard of care.  This strategy leads to lower clinical trial costs since third party payers cover the standard of care.  Administration in addition to standard therapies also facilitates patient accrual and allows evaluation early in the disease process, when benefits are most likely to occur.  Advantagene’s adjuvant-product approach results in decreased development costs, good acceptance by patients and physicians, and rapid patient enrollment.

 

Advantagene’s drugs are designed to work with radiation, chemotherapy and surgery to eradicate residual tumor cells that could lead to recurrence or metastases. The products are based on a technology called Gene Mediated Cytotoxic Immunotherapy (GMCI™), which is a unique and highly effective method of inducing a tumor-specific systemic immune response. The products are stable with regular refrigeration, come as a vialed product and are simple to administer with minimal or no toxicity. The whole process can be carried out in an outpatient setting.  GMCI™ is a very attractive approach to add to standard of care because it is specific and non-toxic.

 

Cancer Immunotherapy is an approach with proven validity. Recent clinical and business events with a number of products and companies show that active induction of anti-tumor immunity has clinical reality and attraction for investment. 

 

Advantagene’s two lead products are in advanced stages of clinical development. ProstAtak™, for prostate cancer, has completed a Phase II study with positive results and received Fast-Track designation from the FDA.  GliAtak™, a malignant glioma product, has completed a Phase I dose finding study with highly encouraging results, received funding from the National Institutes of Health for further development and has received Orphan Drug designation from the FDA.  A follow-on Phase Ib/randomized Phase II study is in progress. In addition the company has a Phase I study open for its pancreatic cancer product, PancAtak™.

 

Advantagene also has a full pipeline of preclinical products that target major cancers at the initial removal of primary tumors to prevent local and metastatic recurrence. The company has exclusive worldwide rights to intellectual property related to this novel cancer immunotherapy.  A successful outcome with any of these agents will provide a very marketable product and a company valuation in the hundreds of millions of dollars.