20-F – Annual and transition report of foreign private issuers [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

argenx has filed a 20-F – Annual and transition report of foreign private issuers [Sections 13 or 15(d)] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Filing, 20-F, argenx, 2018, MAR 26, 2018, View Source [SID1234525001]).

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20-F – Annual and transition report of foreign private issuers [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

Ablynx has filed a 20-F – Annual and transition report of foreign private issuers [Sections 13 or 15(d)] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Filing, 20-F, Ablynx, 2018, MAR 26, 2018, View Source [SID1234524997]).

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ADI?PEG 20 and PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade Lead to Strong Anti-tumor Activity in ASS1- and PD-L1-negative Fibrosarcoma Murine Model

On March 26, 2018 Polaris Group reported that its lead product ADI‑PEG 20 modulates PD-L1 expression via stimulating the release of IFN-α and -ß in several tumor cell lines and the combination of ADI‑PEG 20 and PD-1/PD-L1 blockade abrogated tumorigenesis in a murine model according to research presented by a group from Barts Cancer Institute, London at the 2018 Cancer Immunotherapy Keystone Symposia held in Montreal, Canada (Press release, Polaris Pharmaceuticals, MAR 26, 2018, View Source [SID1234526245]). These findings suggest that ADI‑PEG 20 could potentially enhance the anti-tumor activity of checkpoint inhibitors.

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Anti-PD1/anti-PD-L1 agents belong to a group of drugs called checkpoint inhibitors and work by disrupting the interaction between PD-1 on immune cells and PD-L1 on cancer cells, thereby unleashing the body’s own immune system to fight cancers. ADI‑PEG 20 converts the amino acid arginine in body’s circulation to citrulline and ammonia. Normal cells are able to synthesize arginine through the urea cycle. Certain cancer cells are deficient in argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1), a key enzyme in the urea cycle, thereby rendered entirely dependent on arginine in the circulation for their survival and growth. These ASS1-deficient cancer cells are more sensitive to arginine depletion by ADI‑PEG 20.

In several mesothelioma and uveal melanoma cell lines, overexpression of ASS1 by transfection or prolonged treatment with ADI-PEG 20 was found to induce type I interferon genes and PD-L1 gene expression. In addition, the researchers also noted a statistically significant correlation between constitutive expressions of ASS1 and PD-L1 genes in primary mesothelioma and uveal melanoma tumor samples. Finally the combination of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade with ADI‑PEG 20 abrogated tumorigenesis in an immunocompetent ASS1 negative and PD-L1 negative fibrosarcoma murine model in which PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition alone had limited efficacy.

"The immunometabolic link between ADI‑PEG 20 and PD-1/PD-L1 is very intriguing," said John Bomalaski, M.D., Executive Vice President, Medical Affairs at Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "To explore this in the clinic, we are currently conducting a clinical study combining ADI‑PEG 20 with Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, in solid tumors to investigate the potential of combining ADI‑PEG 20 with checkpoint inhibitors."

About ADI‑PEG 20

ADI‑PEG 20 is a biologic being developed by Polaris Group to treat cancers carrying a major metabolic defect that renders them unable to internally synthesize arginine. Because arginine is essential for protein synthesis and survival of cells, these cancer cells become dependent upon the external supply of arginine to survive and grow. ADI‑PEG 20 is designed to deplete the external supply of arginine, causing arginine-dependent cancer cells to die while leaving the patient’s normal cells unharmed. Multiple cancers have been reported to have a high degree of arginine-dependency and can potentially be treated with ADI‑PEG 20.

Bayer announces completion of rolling submission of New Drug Application in the U.S. for larotrectinib for the treatment of TRK fusion cancer (for specialized target groups only)

On March 26, 2018 Bayer reported that its collaboration partner Loxo Oncology, Inc., (NASDAQ: LOXO) has completed the rolling submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for larotrectinib for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring a neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusion (Press release, Bayer, MAR 26, 2018, View Source [SID1234525481]). The rolling submission was initiated in December 2017. NTRK gene fusions are genetic alterations present across a wide range of tumors resulting in uncontrolled tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) signaling and tumor growth.

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"This NDA submission in the U.S. marks an important milestone in bringing us one step closer to providing larotrectinib as a potential treatment option for patients with TRK fusion cancer," said Scott Fields, MD, Bayer’s senior vice president and head of Oncology Development at Bayer’s Pharmaceutical Division. "NTRK gene fusions, while rare, are present in various pediatric and adult cancers. We are committed to working with the FDA and the oncology community to bring larotrectinib to patients as soon as possible."

Bayer and Loxo Oncology are jointly developing larotrectinib, an investigational compound being studied globally for the treatment of patients across a wide range of cancers that harbor a NTRK gene fusion. Bayer plans to submit a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) in the European Union in 2018.

About Larotrectinib (LOXO-101)
Larotrectinib (LOXO-101) is an investigational oral and selective drug in clinical development for the treatment of patients across a wide range of cancers that harbor a neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusion. Growing research suggests that the NTRK genes, which encode for tropomyosin receptor kinases (TRKs), can become abnormally fused to other genes, resulting in growth signals that can lead to cancer in many sites of the body.

Larotrectinib has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For additional information about the larotrectinib clinical trials, please refer to www.clinicaltrials.gov or visit www.loxooncologytrials.com. Larotrectinib has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency or any other health authority.

In November 2017, Bayer and Loxo Oncology entered into an exclusive global collaboration for the development and commercialization of larotrectinib and LOXO-195, a next-generation TRK inhibitor in clinical development. Bayer and Loxo Oncology will jointly develop the two products with Loxo Oncology leading the ongoing clinical studies as well as the filing in the U.S., and Bayer leading ex-U.S. regulatory activities and worldwide commercial activities. In the U.S., Bayer and Loxo Oncology will co-promote the products.

About Oncology at Bayer
Bayer is committed to delivering science for a better life by advancing a portfolio of innovative treatments. The oncology franchise at Bayer now includes four oncology products and several other compounds in various stages of clinical development. Together, these products reflect the company’s approach to research, which prioritizes targets and pathways with the potential to impact the way that cancer is treated.

BioLineRx Announces Notice of Allowance From USPTO for Patent Covering AGI-134 – a Novel Immunotherapy for Treating Solid Tumors

On March 26, 2018 BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ: BLRX) (TASE: BLRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology and immunology, reported that a Notice of Allowance has been issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a patent application claiming the use of AGI-134, a novel immunotherapy compound, for the treatment of solid cancer tumors (Press release, BioLineRx, MAR 26, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2339626 [SID1234525477]).

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This patent, when issued, will be valid until May 2035 with a possibility of up to five years patent term extension. Additional corresponding patent applications for AGI-134 are pending in Europe, Japan, China, Canada, Australia and Israel.

"We are extremely pleased at receiving this important notice of allowance from the USPTO for the patent application covering AGI-134, and believe this represents significant progress in the development of our second oncology asset," stated Philip A. Serlin, Chief Executive Officer of BioLineRx. "We have recently presented very encouraging preclinical data demonstrating complete tumor regression of primary tumors following intratumoral injection of AGI-134, and are looking forward to commencing a Phase 1/2a study for this compound in several solid tumor indications in mid-2018."

About AGI-134

AGI-134 is a synthetic alpha-Gal immunotherapy in development for solid tumors. AGI-134 harnesses the body’s pre-existing, highly abundant anti-alpha-Gal antibodies to induce a systemic, specific anti-tumor response to the patient’s own tumor neo-antigens. This response not only kills the tumor cells at the site of injection, but also brings about a durable, follow-on, anti-metastatic immune response. AGI-134 has completed numerous pre-clinical studies, demonstrating complete tumor regression of primary tumors following intratumoral injection, as well as robust protection against the development of secondary tumors in a model of melanoma with a single dose only. Synergy has also been demonstrated in additional pre-clinical studies when combined with a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, offering the potential to broaden the utility of such immunotherapies, and improve the rate and duration of responses in multiple cancer types. AGI-134 was obtained by BioLineRx through the acquisition of Agalimmune Ltd.