On June 28, 2017 Aduro Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADRO), a biopharmaceutical company with three distinct immunotherapy technologies, reported that the first patient has been dosed in the company’s Phase 2 clinical trial in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) (Press release, Aduro Biotech, JUN 28, 2017, View Source [SID1234519704]). The trial, which will involve approximately 35 patients, will evaluate the tolerability, safety and efficacy of CRS-207, Aduro’s LADD (live, attenuated double-deleted) based immunotherapy, in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), an anti-PD-1 therapy marketed by Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), for the treatment of patients with MPM whose disease progressed following prior treatment. Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! "We are excited to initiate this Phase 2 trial to evaluate the combination of CRS-207 and pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 therapy, which we believe has the potential to be a synergistic combination therapy for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma," said Natalie Sacks, M.D., chief medical officer at Aduro. "Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options; currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies indicated for second- or third-line treatment. We have received Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and E.U. for CRS-207 for this indication, and we are committed to doing all that we can to bring new treatment options to patients facing this difficult disease."
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The multicenter, single-arm, open-label Phase 2 study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CRS-207 with pembrolizumab in adults with previously treated MPM. The trial will be conducted at up to 10 sites and will enroll approximately 35 patients who have failed one to two prior treatments. The primary efficacy endpoint is objective response rate, defined as the proportion of patients with either complete or partial responses. For additional information about the study, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03175172).
Earlier this year, Aduro announced a clinical collaboration with Merck, through a subsidiary, relating to the investigation of CRS-207 used in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of MPM. This is the second clinical collaboration formed this year between the two companies, with the first announced in January 2017 relating to the investigation of CRS-207 used in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of gastric cancer.
Previously Reported Clinical Data with CRS-207 in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
In June 2016, data from a Phase 1b study evaluating CRS-207 alone and in combination with standard chemotherapy in patients with newly-diagnosed MPM were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper). Data from this study demonstrated that CRS-207 induced encouraging anti-tumor responses. Following treatment with the combination of CRS-207 and standard chemotherapy, disease control was observed in 94 percent of the 36 patients evaluated, including 3 percent with a complete response, 56 percent with partial responses, and 36 percent experiencing stable disease. Prior to receiving chemotherapy, patients received two doses of CRS-207 alone. During this period, 31 percent of patients experienced some tumor shrinkage, supporting the clinical activity of single-agent CRS-207. Additionally, paired pre- and on-treatment tumor biopsies demonstrated CRS-207 induced important changes in the tumor microenvironment, including an increase in infiltrating CD8+ T cells and other immune cell types that are thought to be essential for immunotherapy, including dendritic cells and natural killer cells.
About Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the smooth layer of mesothelial cells that surround the chest, lungs, heart and abdomen. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), which affects the thin balloon-shaped lining of the lungs, is the most common form of this disease and accounts for approximately 3,000 cases a year in the United States. MPM is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Most MPM patients are not candidates for surgical resection. The tumor-associated antigen mesothelin is overexpressed on the majority of mesothelioma tumors. Currently, there is no U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy for second- or third-line treatment of MPM.
About LADD and CRS-207
LADD is Aduro’s proprietary platform of live, attenuated double-deleted Listeria monocytogenes strains that have been engineered to generate an innate immune response and to express tumor-associated antigens to induce tumor-specific T cell-mediated immunity. CRS-207, the company’s lead LADD product candidate, has been engineered to express the tumor-associated antigen mesothelin, which is over-expressed in many cancers including mesothelioma and pancreatic, non-small cell lung, ovarian, endometrial and gastric cancers.
Month: June 2017
Affimed Presents Preclinical Data on AFM24 and AFM26 at EACR-AACR-SIC 2017
On June 27, 2017 Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing highly targeted cancer immunotherapies, reported the presentation of preclinical data for the Company’s AFM24 and AFM26 programs at the EACR-AACR-SIC 2017 Special Conference in Florence, Italy (Press release, Affimed, JUN 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234519711]).
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"With our NK-cell engagers AFM24 and AFM26 we are pursuing two preclinical programs which we believe are ideally suited to exploit NK-cell mediated cytotoxicity to fight cancer," said Dr. Martin Treder, Chief Scientific Officer of Affimed. "Our data for both programs show a well-differentiated profile from competitor products, addressing the need for higher efficacy and better safety."
AFM24 and AFM26 are two first-in-class tetravalent, bispecific NK-cell engagers targeting CD16A, a dominant activating receptor on NK-cells. In addition, AFM24 targets EGFR, while AFM26 binds to BCMA. Corroborating the Company’s earlier data, the studies presented at EACR-AACR-SIC 2017 provided further evidence of favorable safety profiles for both NK-cell engagers and also confirmed their ability to potently and effectively lyse tumor cells, even those with very low target expression. Furthermore, the high affinity to CD16A on NK-cells, resulting in long cell retention binding to NK-cells, and the minimal influence of serum IgG on tumor cell lysis are important differentiating factors of Affimed’s NK-cell platform compared to IgG-based monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
In detail, AFM24 was shown to be distinguished from cetuximab in vitro and in vivo through higher potency at both high and low EGFR expression levels and in RAS mutant cells, while offering a more favorable safety profile. Single and repeat dose toxicology studies in cynomolgus monkeys demonstrated that AFM24 was well-tolerated at high doses. Further differentiating AFM24 from other therapies, no evidence of skin toxicity, a side effect commonly seen for other anti-EGFR antibodies and for tyrosine kinase inhibitors, was observed.
In addition, the Company presented further data highlighting the preclinical progress of AFM26. The NK-cell engager was able to elicit efficient tumor cell lysis in both cell lines and primary cells, even at very low BCMA expression levels. In addition, the amount of inflammatory cytokines released in vitro by cells treated with AFM26 was markedly lower than those of cells treated with a BCMA/CD3 T-cell engager. Furthermore, in contrast to approved mAb therapies such as daratumumab and elotuzumab, AFM26 did not induce NK-cell depletion in vitro.
Taken together, the results presented at EACR-AACR-SIC 2017 support the therapeutic rationale of redirecting NK-cells to tumors through bispecific tetravalent NK-cell engagers, which offers a novel mode of action addressing limitations of other therapies.
ABLYNX ACHIEVES SECOND MILESTONE IN IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY COLLABORATION
WITH MERCK & CO., INC., KENILWORTH, NEW JERSEY, USA
On June 27, 2017 Ablynx [Euronext Brussels: ABLX; OTC: ABYLY] reported that Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has started an IND-enabling toxicology study with a bi-specific Nanobody as part of the immuno-oncology collaboration between the companies (Press release, Ablynx, JUN 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234519710]). This milestone triggers a €2.5 million payment to Ablynx.
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This Nanobody is a bi-specific molecule that selectively binds to two different immune modulators, believed to be key targets for the development of potent immunotherapies. Upon successful completion of the IND package, this bi-specific Nanobody could be the first candidate to enter clinical studies as part of this collaboration.
Dr Edwin Moses, CEO of Ablynx, commented: "We are very pleased with the progress made in this collaboration. We believe that the combination of Ablynx’s Nanobody expertise with the world-leading position of our partner in the immuno-oncology area has the potential to develop important new medicines for diseases with a high unmet need. We look forward to further milestones as product candidates progress through pre-clinical and clinical development."
About the immuno-oncology collaboration between Ablynx and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA In February 2014, Ablynx entered into a research collaboration and licensing agreement with a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA. This exclusive collaboration and licensing agreement is focused on the discovery and development of several Nanobody candidates (including mono-, bi-and trispecifics) directed toward so-called immune checkpoint modulators. In July 2015, Ablynx announced an expansion of this immuno-oncology collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA to address an increased number of immune checkpoint modulator targets. The collaboration now includes up to 17 Nanobody programmes against individual protein targets and target combinations (monospecific and multi-specific Nanobodies). Ablynx has received €33 million in upfront payments and is eligible to receive research funding plus development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to €340 million per programme, as well as tiered royalties on annual net sales upon commercialisation of any Nanobody products.
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA, through a subsidiary, and Ablynx have a separate collaboration in the field of ion channel drug development, announced in October 2012, with a €6.5 million upfront payment, €2 million research funding and up to €448 million in research, regulatory and commercial milestone payments associated with the progress of multiple candidates as well as tiered royalties on any products derived from the collaboration. An initial extension of this ion channel research collaboration was announced in March 2015 and a second extension in October 2016, the latter triggering a €1 million payment to Ablynx and additional research funding to September 2018.
Merck Provides Update on REVEAL Outcomes Study of Anacetrapib
On June 27, 2017 Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, reported that the REVEAL (Randomized EValuation of the Effects of Anacetrapib through Lipid modification) outcomes study of anacetrapib met its primary endpoint, significantly reducing major coronary events (defined as the composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization) compared to placebo in patients at risk for cardiac events who are already receiving an effective LDL-C lowering regimen. The safety profile of anacetrapib in the early analysis was generally consistent with that demonstrated in previous studies of the drug, including accumulation of anacetrapib in adipose tissue, as has been previously reported. Merck plans to review the results of the trial with external experts, and will consider whether to file new drug applications with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies. The results of the REVEAL study will be presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting on Aug. 29, 2017.
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Anacetrapib is Merck’s investigational cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor. The REVEAL study is a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of adding anacetrapib to effective LDL-lowering treatment with atorvastatin for a median duration of at least 4 years among approximately 30,000 patients at high risk of cardiovascular events. REVEAL was designed and independently conducted by investigators at the Clinical Trial Service Unit (CTSU) at the University of Oxford, the trial’s regulatory sponsor, in collaboration with the TIMI Study Group based at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and Merck. Merck provided funding for REVEAL. Details on the REVEAL study design are available at clinicaltrials.gov: View Source
NantCell, a NantWorks Company, to Acquire Altor BioScience
On June 27, 2017 NantCell, Inc., a member of the ecosystem of NantWorks companies, reported that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Altor BioScience Corporation (Press release, NantCell, JUN 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234519702]). Under the terms of the merger agreement, each share of Altor BioScience capital stock will be converted into the right to receive an upfront payment of $2.00 (payable in cash and/or NantCell common stock at the election of each Altor BioScience stockholder). The upfront payment alone represents over a 20 percent premium to Altor BioScience’s most recent equity financing completed in March 2017 and a 33 percent premium to equity financings in 2016. Each share will also receive two Contingent Value Rights (CVR), which entitle its holder to receive payments of up to an additional $4.00 per share (payable in cash and/or NantCell common stock at the election of each Altor BioScience stockholder) upon achievement of a regulatory milestone and a sales milestone.
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The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies, including the independent directors of Altor BioScience, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the acquisition by shareholders of Altor BioScience. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2017.