Xencor Reports Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results

On August 6, 2018 Xencor, Inc. (NASDAQ:XNCR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune disease, asthma and allergic diseases, and cancer, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 and provided a review of recent business and clinical highlights (Press release, Xencor, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528631]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Our recent activities and upcoming milestones reflect our commitment to building a broad pipeline of antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune disorders and cancer," said Bassil Dahiyat, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer at Xencor. "In 2018, we are focused on advancing multiple oncology programs, all built from our XmAb bispecific technology, to potentially produce a new generation of targeted immunotherapies. In addition to initiating DUET-2, the first-in-human trial of our lead TME activator, we remain on track to announce Phase 1 data from our lead bispecific oncology candidate, XmAb14045, and to file IND applications for our next two TME activators by year-end. In parallel, we continue to advance our autoimmune disease candidate, XmAb5871, toward Phase 3 development."

Recent Business Highlights and Upcoming Clinical Plans

XmAb5871: XmAb5871 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody that targets CD19 with its variable domain and uses Xencor’s XmAb immune inhibitor Fc domain to target FcyRIIb, a receptor that inhibits B-cell function.

·Initiation of Phase 3 trial in IgG4-RD expected in 2H18.

·Topline data from Phase 2 trial in SLE expected in 4Q18.

Bispecific Oncology Pipeline: Xencor’s initial bispecific antibody programs are tumor-targeted antibodies that contain both a tumor antigen binding domain and a cytotoxic T-cell binding domain (CD3). These bispecific antibodies activate T cells for highly potent and targeted killing of malignant cells. Their XmAb Fc domains confer long circulating half-lives, stability and ease of manufacture.

· Initial data from Phase 1 study of XmAb14045 for the treatment of AML and other CD123-expressing hematologic malignancies expected in 2018, pending alignment on timing with Novartis.

·Initial data from Phase 1 study of XmAb13676 for the treatment of B-cell malignancies expected in 2019, pending alignment on timing with Novartis.

·Initial data from Phase 1 study of XmAb18087 for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and gastrointestinal stromal tumors expected in 2019.

Xencor’s bispecific pipeline also includes a suite of TME activators that engage multiple targets, such as T-cell checkpoints or agonists.

In July 2018, Xencor dosed the first patient in DUET-2, a Phase 1 study of XmAb20717, a PD-1 x CTLA-4 dual checkpoint inhibitor. The trial is a multiple ascending dose study to determine the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity and preliminary anti-tumor activity of intravenous administration of XmAb20717 in patients with advanced solid tumors.

· IND filing for XmAb23104, a PD-1 x ICOS bispecific antibody for the treatment of multiple oncology indications, expected in 2018 and initiation of Phase 1 trial expected in 2019.

· IND filing for XmAb22841, a CTLA-4 x LAG-3 dual checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of multiple oncology indications, expected in 2018 and initiation of Phase 1 trial expected in 2019.

·IND filing for XmAb24306, an IL15/IL15Rα-Fc bispecific antibody for the treatment of multiple oncology indications, expected in 2019.

XmAb7195: XmAb7195 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody that targets IgE with its variable domain and uses Xencor’s XmAb immune inhibitor Fc domain to target FcyRIIb, resulting in three distinct mechanisms of action for reducing IgE. In a Phase 1b study, subcutaneously-administered XmAb7195 induced potent IgE reduction with improved tolerability. Xencor is currently seeking a development partner for XmAb7195.

Partnered XmAb Programs: Eight pharmaceutical companies and the National Institutes of Health are advancing novel drug candidates either discovered at Xencor or that rely on Xencor’s proprietary XmAb technology. Four such programs are currently undergoing clinical testing, including MOR208, which is in Phase 3 development as a combination agent for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. In addition, regulatory submissions have been filed in the U.S. and EU for Alexion’s ravulizumab (formerly ALXN1210) for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Corporate: In July 2018, Xencor announced the resignation of Edgardo Baracchini, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer, effective August 15, 2018. Xencor has initiated a search to appoint a new Chief Business Officer.

Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2018 Financial Results:

Effective January 1, 2018, Xencor adopted the new revenue recognition standard, Accounting Standard Codification 606 (ASC606). In addition to adopting the standard for 2018, revenue reported for the prior period ending June 30, 2017 has been revised to reflect the new standard.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $555.4 million as of June 30, 2018, compared to $363.3 million at December 31, 2017. The increase reflects net proceeds of $245.5 million from Xencor’s sale of additional stock in March 2018, offset by cash used to fund operating activities in the six months ended June 30, 2018.

No revenues were reported for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, compared to $12.5 million and $16.0 million of income reported for the same periods in 2017. Revenues in the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 were primary milestones received from the Company’s MorphoSys and CSL collaborations. Revenue reported for both periods was affected by the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018. Under historic revenue recognition methods, the Company would have recognized $0.6 million and $13.3 million of revenue for the three-month periods, and $7.5 million and $17.7 million of revenue for the six-month periods, ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017, respectively.

Research and development expenditures for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 were $23.3 million, compared to $16.9 million for the same period in 2017. Total research and development expenditures for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 were $49.4 million, compared to $32.0 million for the same period in 2017. The increased research and development spending for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 reflects additional spending on Xencor’s pipeline of bispecific oncology candidates.

General and administrative expenses for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 were $5.0 million, compared to $4.1 million in the same period in 2017. Total general and administrative expenditures for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 were $9.5 million, compared to $8.9 million for the same period in 2017. The increased spending on general and administration for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 reflects additional facility costs resulting from the expansion of space under lease at Xencor’s Monrovia and San Diego locations and increased stock- based compensation charges.

Non-cash, share based compensation expense for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $9.4 million, compared to $6.6 million for same period in 2017.

Net loss for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $25.9 million, or $(0.46) on a fully diluted per share basis, compared to a net loss of $7.7 million, or $(0.17) on a fully diluted per share basis, for the same period in 2017. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, net loss was $55.4 million, or $(1.07) on a fully diluted per share basis, compared to a net loss of $23.2 million, or $(0.50) on a fully diluted per share basis, for the same period in 2017. The increased loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 over the same periods in 2017 is primarily due to lower revenue and increased research and development spending in the 2018 periods.

The total shares outstanding were 55,821,310 as of June 30, 2018, compared to 46,854,762 as of June 30, 2017. The additional shares outstanding at June 30, 2018 reflect the 8,395,000 shares sold in Xencor’s March financing.

Financial Guidance:

Based on current operating plans, Xencor expects to have cash to fund research and development programs and operations into 2023. Xencor expects to end 2018 with approximately $500 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

Conference Call and Webcast:

Xencor will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) to discuss these second quarter 2018 financial results and provide a corporate update.

The live call may be accessed by dialing (877) 359-9508 for domestic callers or (224) 357-2393 for international callers and referencing conference ID number 6399929. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.xencor.com. The webcast will be archived on the company’s website for 90 days.

OncoSec Enters Research Collaboration Agreement with UCLA and Roger S. Lo, M.D., Ph.D.

On August 6, 2018 OncoSec Medical Incorporated (OncoSec) (NASDAQ:ONCS), a company developing intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, reported that it has entered into a research collaboration agreement with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on behalf of Roger S. Lo, M.D., Ph.D. and his research team (Press release, OncoSec Medical, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528629]). Dr. Roger S. Lo, Professor of Medicine and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology in the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Associate Chief of Dermatology and a member of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, is a preeminent physician-scientist widely recognized for his work in understanding treatment-resistant melanoma.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Under the research collaboration, Dr. Lo and his research team will perform genetic, transcriptomic and methylomic analyses of patients in OncoSec’s PISCES/KEYNOTE-695 Phase 2b clinical trial, which is evaluating TAVO (tavokinogene telseplasmid) in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) for the treatment of metastatic melanoma in patients that have progress after receiving all available treatments including anti PD-L1 checkpoint immunotherapy.

"UCLA and Dr. Lo represent an ideal collaborator for OncoSec to augment our ongoing PISCES/KEYNOTE-695 Phase 2b clinical program with specialized research designed to pinpoint the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that correspond to specific clinical outcomes in the treatment of metastatic melanoma with TAVO in combination with pembrolizumab," said Christopher G. Twitty, Chief Scientific Officer of OncoSec. "The PISCES/KEYNOTE-695 Phase 2b study continues to progress as planned with enrollment in Stage 1 expected to be complete in the third quarter 2018 and topline data anticipated prior to year-end. Our collaboration with Lo Lab has the potential to not only offer important insights into the mechanism of action of TAVO in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, but could be applicable across our clinical pipeline, including the ongoing KEYNOTE-890 Phase 2b trial of TAVO in combination with pembrolizumab in triple negative breast cancer."

Under Dr. Lo’s direction, his research team focuses on genomic, epigenomic and immunologic factors that shape the cancer’s evolution on molecularly targeted therapies and/or immune checkpoint inhibitors. Dr. Lo’s research has received funding from the National Cancer Institute, American Skin Association, Melanoma Research Alliance, The Melanoma Research Foundation, Ressler Family Foundation, and Steven C. Gordon Family Foundation.

Kura Oncology Reports Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

On August 6, 2018 Kura Oncology, Inc., (Nasdaq: KURA) a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of precision medicines for oncology, reported second quarter 2018 financial results and provided a corporate update (Press release, Kura Oncology, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528626]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"I am very pleased with the continued progress we made over the past quarter, with a particular focus on operational execution," said Troy Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Kura Oncology. "We have enhanced our leadership team, improved our ability to screen and identify patients with HRAS mutations, positioned our pipeline to create additional opportunities and strengthened our balance sheet through a successful public offering. We believe the proceeds from this offering along with our existing funds give us the resources to advance our pipeline through a series of potential milestones, including data from a registration-directed trial of our lead drug candidate tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC."

Corporate Update

Updated data from RUN-HN at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) – An abstract relating to Kura’s ongoing Phase 2 trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC has been accepted for oral presentation at the upcoming European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2018 Congress in Munich in October. The update will also include patients from an exploratory cohort in other HRAS mutant squamous cell carcinomas. Approximately 25 clinical sites are now open for enrollment worldwide and RUN-HN is currently enrolling at a rate of approximately two patients per month.

Screening collaboration to support enrollment – The company has signed an agreement with OncoDNA, an oncology-focused healthcare technology company based in Belgium, to support patient enrollment for Kura’s ongoing Phase 2 trial of tipifarnib in patients with HRAS mutant HNSCC. OncoDNA provides physicians internationally with next-generation sequencing for HNSCC oncogenic mutations, including HRAS, for patients who may be eligible to enroll in RUN-HN.

Registration-directed trial anticipated to initiate by year end – Kura has initiated startup activities for its upcoming registration-directed trial of tipifarnib in at least 59 recurrent or metastatic patients with HRAS mutant HNSCC. The company anticipates that the trial will be conducted at approximately 100 clinical sites worldwide and will take approximately two years to enroll. Based on feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Kura believes that the single-arm trial, if positive, could support an application for accelerated approval.

HRAS mutant lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) – An investigator-sponsored trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant LSCC has been initiated and is now open for enrollment. The proof-of-concept trial is being conducted in collaboration with the Spanish Lung Cancer Group, a cooperative group consisting of more than 150 public and private oncology centers in Spain.

Biomarker-enriched data in hematologic malignances – Kura is prospectively investigating the CXCL12 pathway and bone marrow homing as potential biomarkers of activity for tipifarnib in its three ongoing Phase 2 trials in hematologic malignancies. The PTCL trial was the first of the three to begin and is actively enrolling into two cohorts: 1) Patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and 2) patients with PTCL who have the absence of a single nucleotide variation in the 3’ untranslated region of the CXCL12 gene. The company expects to have biomarker-enriched data from PTCL and potentially other indications by the end of 2018.

Strengthened management team – Kura expanded its leadership team with the additions of Marc Grasso, M.D., and John Farnam. Dr. Grasso will join the company as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer on August 21, 2018, after 20 years in healthcare investment banking. Mr. Farnam joined Kura in the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer on July 1, 2018, from Celgene Receptos. The company has also added industry veterans Bridget Martell, M.D., and Blake Tomkinson, Ph.D., as Vice Presidents of Clinical Development.

Public offering of common stock – On July 2, 2018, Kura completed a public offering in which the company sold an aggregate of 4,600,000 shares of common stock at a price of $16.75 per share. Net proceeds from the public offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses, were approximately $74.5 million.

Upcoming Milestones

Update from ongoingPhase 2 trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) in October 2018

Initiation of registration-directed trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC by the end of 2018

Dosing of first patient in investigator-sponsored study of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant LSCC

Biomarker-enriched data from Phase 2 trial of tipifarnib in PTCL by the end of 2018

Submission of an investigational new drug application for KO-539, a potent and selective menin-MLL inhibitor, in late 2018 or early 2019

Financial Results

Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2018 were $11.5 million, compared to $5.7 million for the second quarter of 2017.

General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2018 were $3.8 million, compared to $2.3 million for the second quarter of 2017.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2018 was $14.7 million, or $0.45 per share, compared to $7.8 million, or $0.40 per share, for the second quarter of 2017.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $125.9 million as of June 30, 2018, compared with $93.1 million as of December 31, 2017.

As adjusted for the $74.5 million in net proceeds resulting from the company’s public offering of common stock that closed on July 2, 2018, Kura had, on a pro forma basis, $200.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at June 30, 2018.

Management expects that current cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund its current operations through 2021.

Conference Call and Webcast

Kura’s management will host a webcast and conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT today, August 6, 2018, to discuss the financial results for the second quarter of 2018 and provide a corporate update. The live call may be accessed by dialing (877) 516-3514 for domestic callers and (281) 973-6129 for international callers

and entering the conference code: 1588245. A live webcast of the call will be available from the Investors and Media section of the company website at www.kuraoncology.com, and will be archived there for 30 days.

Vericel Reports Record Second Quarter Revenues of $19.0 Million and Raises Full Year 2018 Revenue Guidance

On August 6, 2018 Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL), a leader in advanced cell therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets, reported financial results and business highlights for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Press release, Vericel, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528625]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Second Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights

Total net revenues of $19.0 million compared to $17.0 million in the second quarter of 2017; second quarter 2017 revenues included a favorable $1.4 million reversal of a revenue reserve for Carticel and MACI related to a contractual dispute between one of the Company’s pharmacy providers and a third-party payer;

Gross margins of 59% compared to gross margins of 55% on a GAAP basis and 51% on a non-GAAP basis excluding the impact of the revenue reserve reversal in the second quarter of 2017;

Net loss of $4.7 million, or $0.12 loss per share, compared to net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.07 per share on a GAAP basis and $3.7 million, or $0.11 per share, on a non-GAAP basis excluding the impact of the revenue reserve reversal, in the second quarter of 2017;

Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA loss of $1.4 million compared to a loss of $2.7 million in the second quarter of 2017;

As of June 30, 2018, the company had $95.0 million in cash compared to $26.9 million in cash at December 31, 2017; and

Full year 2018 revenue guidance raised to $80 to $83 million compared to previous full year revenue guidance of $73 to $78 million.
Recent Business Highlights
During and since the second quarter of 2018, the company:

Reported record second quarter revenues marking the fifth consecutive quarter with record revenues for the reported quarter;

Deployed the expanded MACI sales force, which increased from 28 to 40 sales representatives;

Completed an expansion of MACI manufacturing capacity to support expected growth in MACI demand;
Implemented an expanded pharmacy distribution network to continue expansion of MACI payer access;

Closed a $74.8 million public offering; and

Joined the Russell 3000 Index.
"We continued our strong start to 2018 with solid revenue growth and expanding margins in the second quarter, and we believe that key performance indicators point to continued robust growth for MACI in the second half of the year," said Nick Colangelo, president and CEO of Vericel. "Moreover, based on our strengthened financial position, we are well positioned to execute on our business and strategic plans."

Second Quarter 2018 Results
Total net revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 were $19.0 million, which included $14.1 million of MACI (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) net revenue and $4.9 million of Epicel (cultured epidermal autografts) net revenue, compared to $12.9 million of Carticel (autologous cultured chondrocytes) and MACI net revenue and $4.0 million of Epicel net revenue, respectively, in the second quarter of 2017. Total net revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 included a favorable $1.4 million reversal of a revenue reserve for Carticel and MACI related to a contractual dispute between one of the Company’s pharmacy providers and a third-party payer.
Gross profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $11.3 million, or 59% of net revenues, compared to $9.3 million, or 55% of net revenues on a GAAP basis and 51% on a non-GAAP basis excluding the impact of the revenue reserve reversal, for the second quarter of 2017. See table reconciling non-GAAP measures for more details.
Total operating expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 were $15.5 million compared to $11.8 million for the same period in 2017. The increase in operating expenses was due primarily to a $1.7 million increase in stock-based compensation expense, a $1.6 million increase in MACI related sales and marketing activities, and $0.7 million increase in R&D expense related to the preparations for a MACI pediatric clinical study in the U.S.
Loss from operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $4.2 million, compared to a loss of $2.5 million on a GAAP basis and $3.9 million on a non-GAAP basis excluding the impact of the revenue reserve reversal for the second quarter of 2017. Material non-cash items impacting the operating loss for the quarter in the current year included $2.5 million of stock-based compensation expense and $0.4 million in depreciation expense, compared to $0.8 million of

stock-based compensation expense and $0.4 million in depreciation expense in the second quarter of 2017.
Other expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $0.4 million compared to other income of $0.1 million for the second quarter of 2017.
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA loss was $1.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 compared to a loss of $2.7 million in the second quarter of 2017.
Vericel’s net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $4.7 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.07 per share on a GAAP basis and $3.7 million, or $0.11 per share on a non-GAAP basis excluding the impact of the revenue reserve reversal, for the second quarter of 2017.
As of June 30, 2018, the company had $95.0 million in cash compared to $26.9 million in cash at December 31, 2017.
Full Year 2018 Financial Guidance
The company now expects total net product revenues for the full year 2018 to be in the range of $80 to $83 million, compared to the previous full year revenue guidance of $73 to $78 million.
Conference Call Information
Today’s conference call will be available live at 4:30pm Eastern time in the Investor Relations section of the Vericel website at View Source." target="_blank" title="View Source." rel="nofollow">View Source Please access the site at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to download the required audio software if necessary. To participate in the live call by telephone, please call (877) 312-5881 and reference Vericel Corporation’s second-quarter 2018 investor conference call. If calling from outside the U.S., please use the international phone number (253) 237-1173.
If you are unable to participate in the live call, the webcast will be available at View Source until August 6, 2019. A replay of the call will also be available until 7:30pm (EDT) on August 11, 2018 by calling (855) 859-2056, or from outside the U.S. (404) 537-3406. The conference ID is 9699288.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals and MD Anderson Cancer Center Collaborate to Evaluate Potential Treatment Options for Hematologic Malignancies

On August 6, 2018 Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported a five-year collaboration agreement with a goal of evaluating therapies for multiple hematologic malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (Press release, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, AUG 6, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2362297 [SID1234528511]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The joint effort brings together MD Anderson’s translational medicine and clinical research capabilities with Jazz’s hematology/oncology portfolio, including its FDA-approved medicines as well as current and potential future investigational therapies.

"This collaboration represents a significant opportunity to efficiently develop innovative therapies and therapeutic combinations," said Tapan Kadia, M.D., associate professor of Leukemia at MD Anderson. "Our aim is to always provide leading-edge care for our leukemia patients, and it is our hope that this joint effort will result in new treatment solutions."

Jazz and MD Anderson will pursue research opportunities in areas of high unmet need. The initial focus of the collaboration is to evaluate and generate additional data for Vyxeos (daunorubicin and cytarabine) liposome for injection, in new patient populations and in combination with other therapies.

"Jazz is committed to providing meaningful medicines for people with hematologic cancers, particularly those with serious unmet clinical needs," said Allen Yang, M.D., Ph.D., vice president and acting chief medical officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. "We look forward to collaborating with MD Anderson to help advance treatment options for patients as part of our growing hematology oncology therapeutic area."

Vyxeos received FDA approval in August 2017 for the treatment of adults with newly-diagnosed therapy-related (t-AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC), which represents part of high-risk or secondary AML populations. AML-MRC is more common in older patients who often do not respond well to intensive chemotherapy; while t-AML can occur as a result of previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

About Vyxeos
Vyxeos is a liposome formulation of a fixed combination of daunorubicin and cytarabine for intravenous infusion. Vyxeos is indicated for the treatment of adults with newly-diagnosed t-AML or AML-MRC. For more information about Vyxeos in the United States, please visit View Source

Important Safety Information
Vyxeos has different dosage recommendations from other medications that contain daunorubicin and/or cytarabine. Do not substitute Vyxeos for other daunorubicin- and/or cytarabine- containing products.

Vyxeos should not be given to patients who have a history of serious allergic reaction to daunorubicin, cytarabine or any of its ingredients.

Vyxeos can cause a severe decrease in blood cells (red and white blood cells and cells that prevent bleeding, called platelets) which can result in serious infection or bleeding and possibly lead to death. Your doctor will monitor your blood counts during treatment with Vyxeos. Patients should tell the doctor about new onset fever or symptoms of infection or if they notice signs of bruising or bleeding.

Vyxeos can cause heart-related side effects. Tell your doctor about any history of heart disease, radiation to the chest, or previous chemotherapy. Inform your doctor if you develop symptoms of heart failure such as:

shortness of breath or trouble breathing
swelling or fluid retention, especially in the feet, ankles or legs
unusual tiredness
Vyxeos may cause allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis such as:

trouble breathing
severe itching
skin rash or hives
swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue
Vyxeos contains copper and may cause copper overload in patients with Wilson’s disease or other copper-processing disorders.

Vyxeos can damage the skin if it leaks out of the vein. Tell your doctor right away if you experience symptoms of burning, stinging, or blisters and skin sores at the injection site. Vyxeos can harm your unborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing. Do not breastfeed while receiving Vyxeos. Females and males of reproductive potential should use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months following the last dose of Vyxeos.

The most common side effects were bleeding events, fever, rash, swelling, nausea, sores in the mouth or throat, diarrhea, constipation, muscle pain, tiredness, stomach pain, difficulty breathing, headache, cough, decreased appetite, irregular heartbeat, pneumonia, blood infection, chills, sleep disorders, and vomiting.

Please see full Prescribing Information for Vyxeos including BOXED Warning at View Source