Update on the Phase III EAGLE trial of Imfinzi and tremelimumab in advanced head and neck cancer

On December 7, 2018 AstraZeneca and MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, reported overall survival (OS) results for the Phase III EAGLE trial. EAGLE is a randomised, open-label, multi-centre trial evaluating Imfinzi (durvalumab) monotherapy or Imfinzi in combination with tremelimumab, an anti-CTLA4 antibody, versus standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who experienced disease progression following platinum-based chemotherapy, regardless of their PD-L1 tumour status (Press release, AstraZeneca, DEC 7, 2018, View Source [SID1234531946]).

Imfinzi monotherapy and the combination of Imfinzi plus tremelimumab did not meet the primary endpoints of improving OS compared to SoC chemotherapy in these hard-to-treat patients. The safety and tolerability profiles for Imfinzi and the combination with tremelimumab were consistent with previous experience.

Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer, said: "The prognosis for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer is very poor and new treatments for this group of cancers are urgently needed. While these results are disappointing, we remain committed to evaluating the potential of Imfinzi and other innovative medicines for patients with head and neck cancer. We look forward to seeing the results of the Phase III KESTREL trial of Imfinzi and tremelimumab in patients who have not received prior chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the first half of 2019."

AstraZeneca will submit the results from the Phase III EAGLE trial for presentation at a forthcoming medical meeting.

About EAGLE
The EAGLE trial is a randomised, open-label, multi-centre, global, Phase III trial of Imfinzi (durvalumab) monotherapy or Imfinzi in combination with tremelimumab compared to standard-of-care chemotherapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC who experienced progression following platinum-based chemotherapy, regardless of their PD-L1 tumour status.

The trial was conducted at 169 centres across 24 countries including the US, Europe, South America, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Israel and Australia. The primary endpoint of the trial was OS, and secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, landmark OS, objective response rate and duration of response.

About HNSCC
Approximately 880,000 patients were diagnosed with head and neck cancer around the world in 2018. Two-thirds of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer are in advanced stages (Stage III or IV), while the remaining one third are in the early stages of disease (Stage I or II). More than 90% of all head and neck cancers start in the squamous cells that line the mouth, nose and throat called head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

About Imfinzi
Imfinzi (durvalumab) is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to PD-L1 and blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and CD80, countering the tumour’s immune-evading tactics and releasing the inhibition of immune responses.

Imfinzi is approved for unresectable, Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in more than 40 countries including the US, EU, and Japan based on the Phase III PACIFIC trial. Imfinzi is also approved for previously-treated patients with advanced bladder cancer in the US, Canada, Brazil, Israel, India, United Arab Emirates, Australia and Hong Kong.

As part of a broad development programme, Imfinzi is also being tested as a monotherapy and in combination with tremelimumab, an anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody and potential new medicine, as a treatment for patients with NSCLC, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), bladder cancer, head and neck cancer and other solid tumours.

About tremelimumab
Tremelimumab is a human monoclonal antibody and potential new medicine that targets the activity of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4). Tremelimumab blocks the activity of CTLA-4, contributing to T-cell activation and boosting the immune response to cancer. Tremelimumab is being tested in a clinical trial programme in combination with Imfinzi in NSCLC, SCLC, bladder cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, liver cancer and blood cancers.

About AstraZeneca’s approach to immuno-oncology
IO is a therapeutic approach designed to stimulate the body’s immune system to attack tumours. At AstraZeneca and MedImmune, our biologics research and development arm, our IO portfolio is anchored by immunotherapies that have been designed to overcome anti-tumour immune suppression. We believe that IO-based therapies offer the potential for life-changing cancer treatments for the clear majority of patients.

We are pursuing a comprehensive clinical-trial programme that includes Imfinzi (anti-PDL1) as monotherapy and in combination with tremelimumab (anti-CTLA4) in multiple tumour types, stages of disease, and lines of therapy, using the PD-L1 biomarker as a decision-making tool to define the best potential treatment path for a patient. In addition, the ability to combine our IO portfolio with small, targeted molecules from across our Oncology pipeline, and from our research partners, may provide new treatment options across a broad range of tumours.

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Site Visit Planned for December 19, 2018 to Initiate Phase 2 Trial of ProscaVax for Early-Stage Prostate Cancer

On December 7, 2018 OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB:OBMP) ("OncBioMune" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of a proprietary therapeutic cancer vaccine immunotherapy and targeted cancer therapies, is reported to provide an update on the Phase 2 clinical trial of ProscaVax being hosted at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), a teaching hospital of Harvard University (Press release, Oncbiomune, DEC 7, 2018, View Source [SID1234531944]). In the clinical trial, ProscaVax, the Company’s lead immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine consisting of a combination of prostate cancer associated prostate specific antigen (PSA) with the biological adjuvants interleukin-2 (IL-2) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), is being evaluated for safety and efficacy in patients with low-risk localized prostate cancer compared to patients in "Active Surveillance."

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OncBioMune has confirmed that a site visit is scheduled for December 19, 2018. This is the check-off meeting before beginning enrollment in the clinical trial, which is expected to transpire in the coming weeks.

"I’m very pleased to say that we are now staring down a major milestone for our company with the site visit to be followed by patient enrollment," commented Dr. Jonathan Head, Chief Executive Officer at OncBioMune. "Enrollment of the first patient in the study is not only a watershed moment for our company and stakeholders, but for the oncology community as a whole. This is the first Phase 2 clinical trial of its type evaluating a therapeutic immunotherapy vaccine in early stage prostate cancer, a stage in disease where patients are left with no options other than to wait for disease progression. We are optimistic that ProscaVax will demonstrate a meaningful benefit to these patients in great need and that ProscaVax will set a new benchmark as a front-line treatment for prostate cancer."

Pacira Pharmaceuticals to Present at the 2018 BMO Capital Markets Prescriptions for Success Healthcare Conference

On December 7, 2018 Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PCRX) reported that it will present at the 2018 BMO Capital Markets Prescriptions for Success Healthcare Conference at 1:20 PM ET on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. Live audio of the presentation can be accessed by visiting the "Events" page of the company’s website at investor.pacira.com. A replay of the webcast will also be available for two weeks following the event (Press release, Pacira Pharmaceuticals, DEC 7, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2379929 [SID1234531942]).

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PULSE BIOSCIENCES, INC. ANNOUNCES OVERSUBSCRIPTION, PRICING AND PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR ITS $45 MILLION RIGHTS OFFERING

On December 7, 2018 Pulse Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLSE) ("Pulse Biosciences" or the "Company"), a novel medical therapy company bringing to market its proprietary CellFX Nano-Pulse Stimulation (NPS) platform, reported reported the completion of its rights offering, which expired at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 6, 2018 (the "Expiration Date") (Press release, Pulse Biosciences, DEC 7, 2018, View Source [SID1234531940]).

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In accordance with the pricing structure of the rights offering described in the prospectus relating to the offering, Pulse Biosciences has determined that the final subscription price per share for the shares offered in the rights offering is $12.5658 per share, which is the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock as calculated for the five-trading day period through and including the Expiration Date.

Based on a preliminary tabulation by Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. (the "Subscription Agent"), as of the Expiration Date, the Company had received basic subscriptions and over-subscriptions for a total of 4,023,779 shares, exceeding the 3,581,148 shares offered in the rights offering, subject to adjustment upon expiration of the guaranteed delivery period. Available shares will be distributed proportionately among rights holders who exercised their over-subscription right based on the number of shares each rights holder subscribed for under the basic subscription right, in accordance with the procedures described in the prospectus relating to the rights offering. The Company expects the Subscription Agent to distribute the shares and the sale proceeds on or about December 14, 2018.

"We are pleased with the results of the rights offering," said Darrin Uecker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pulse Biosciences. "The rights offering offered our stockholders an opportunity to participate in this important financing that will enable us to continue progress towards our goal of commercializing our proprietary CellFX Nano-Pulse Stimulation platform, initially in aesthetic dermatology. We remain committed to building a viable company and to stockholder value, and look forward to updating you on our progress as we continue to generate important results in the future."

The Company will receive aggregate gross proceeds from the rights offering of $45 million. The results of the rights offering, including the allocation of shares to be issued in the rights offering, are preliminary and subject to change pending the expiration of the guaranteed delivery period under the offering and finalization of subscription procedures by the Subscription Agent.

A registration statement relating to the shares of common stock was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and declared effective on November 6, 2018. A prospectus relating to the offering was filed with the SEC on November 19, 2018 and is available on the SEC’s website. Subscription rights that were not exercised by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 6, 2018 have expired.

Xspray Pharma has carried out a directed share issue raising gross proceeds of approximately SEK 92 million

On December 6, 2018 Xspray Pharma AB (publ) ("Xspray" or the "Company") reported the company has successfully carried out a directed share issue at a subscription price of SEK 67 per share (Press release, Xspray, DEC 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234650105]). The subscription price corresponds to a discount of approximately 3 percent compared with today’s VWAP, 6 December 2018. The subscription price has been determined through an accelerated book-building procedure.

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A group of Swedish and international institutional investors, among others Unionen, Third Swedish National Pension Fund and Forth Swedish National Pension Fund, have subscribed for shares in the directed share issue. The Company believes that the flexibility of a placing without pre-emption right for existing shareholders is the most appropriate way to diversify the shareholder base among institutional investors prior to the planned list change of the Company’s share to Nasdaq Stockholm’s main list during 2019, and at the same time raise capital in a time efficient manner.

Following the positive data announced on 10 October 2018 for the Company’s lead product, HyNap-Dasa, the Company intends to use the proceeds from the directed share issue to i) continue development of its product portfolio; ii) develop its product candidates through registration; and iii) accelerate the development of product candidate HyNap-Nilo in order to be ready to launch the product earlier than previously planned.

Per Andersson, CEO, Xspray Pharma, comments:

"As a result of the positive results for the product candidate HyNap-Dasa, presented earlier this fall, we are in a strong position to bring our unique HyNap compositions, comprising a number of protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs), to the market. This is an important step towards becoming a powerhouse for PKIs where we address relevant medical needs and more accessible pharmaceuticals to the cancer market."

The directed share issue is expected to raise proceeds for the Company of approximately SEK 92 million before transaction costs. The subscription price has been determined through an accelerated book-building procedure. The directed share issue will result in an increase of the number of shares in Xspray of 1,370,000, from 13,706,460 to 15,076,460, and an increase in the share capital by SEK 1,370,000, from SEK 13,706,460 to SEK 15,076,460, resulting in a dilution of approximately 9.1 percent.

In connection with the directed share issue, the Company has, with customary exceptions, agreed to a lock-up undertaking on future share issuances for a period of 90 days after the directed share issue. In addition, the management and board of directors have undertaken not to sell any shares in Xspray during the same period, subject to customary exceptions.

Advisers

In conjunction with the capital raising, the Company has engaged Carnegie Investment Bank as bookrunner and adviser, Zonda Partners as adviser and Vinge as legal adviser.