On March 19, 2019 Omeros Corporation (Nasdaq: OMER) reported an upcoming educational event at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation to be held in Frankfurt, Germany on March 24-27, 2019 (Press release, Omeros, MAR 19, 2019, View Source [SID1234534469]). Sponsored by Omeros, the educational session entitled "How Do I … Diagnose HSCT-TMA" will be held on Tuesday, March 26, at 2:00-3:30 PM local time. There is growing recognition that hematopoietic stem-cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA), a potentially lethal complication of stem-cell transplants, is underdiagnosed in the U.S. and worldwide. A study from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute reported that, while 39% of patients receiving allogeneic HSCT developed TMA, the disorder was often unrecognized during clinical care.

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The session, conducted by an international panel of experts, will focus on the diagnosis of HSCT-TMA and on the relationship between HSCT-TMA and the broader syndrome of disorders caused by endothelial injury. In addition to TMA, endothelial injury is associated with several complications of HSCT, including graft-versus-host disease, veno-occlusive disease, and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Narsoplimab, Omeros’ antibody to inhibit the lectin pathway of complement, has received breakthrough therapy designation from FDA and is in Phase 3 development for the treatment of HSCT-TMA.

About Omeros’ MASP Programs

Omeros controls the worldwide rights to MASP-2 and all therapeutics targeting MASP-2, a novel pro-inflammatory protein target involved in activation of the complement system, which is an important component of the immune system. The complement system plays a role in the inflammatory response and becomes activated as a result of tissue damage or microbial infection. MASP-2 is the effector enzyme of the lectin pathway, one of the principal complement activation pathways. Importantly, inhibition of MASP-2 does not appear to interfere with the antibody-dependent classical complement activation pathway, which is a critical component of the acquired immune response to infection, and its abnormal function is associated with a wide range of autoimmune disorders. MASP-2 is generated by the liver and is then released into circulation. Gene-targeted MASP-2-deficient mice and humans with MASP-2 gene polymorphisms that affect MASP-2 serum levels and MASP-2 functional activity are generally healthy with no obvious adverse phenotype.

Phase 3 clinical programs are in progress for narsoplimab, Omeros’ lead MASP-2 inhibitor also referred to as "OMS721," in hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA), in immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, and in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Narsoplimab can be administered both intravenously and subcutaneously, and Omeros expects to commercialize each formulation of narsoplimab for different therapeutic indications. In parallel, Omeros is developing small-molecule inhibitors of MASP-2. Based on requests from treating physicians, Omeros has established a compassionate-use program for narsoplimab, which is active in both the U.S. and Europe. The FDA has granted narsoplimab breakthrough therapy designation for IgA nephropathy and for HSCT-TMA, orphan drug status for the prevention (inhibition) of complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathies, for the treatment of IgA nephropathy, for the treatment of HSCT-TMA, and fast track designation for the treatment of patients with aHUS. The European Medicines Agency has granted orphan drug designation to narsoplimab for treatment of primary IgA nephropathy and for treatment in HSCT.

Omeros also has identified MASP-3 as responsible for the conversion of pro-factor D to factor D and as a critical activator of the human complement system’s alternative pathway. The alternative pathway is linked to a wide range of immune-related disorders. In addition to its lectin pathway inhibitors, the company is advancing its development of antibodies and small-molecule inhibitors against MASP-3 to block activation of the alternative pathway. Omeros has initiated the manufacturing scale-up process of its MASP-3 antibodies in preparation for clinical trials.

On March 19, 2019 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug candidates targeting highly resistant tumors, reported that the first two patients have been enrolled in its European clinical trial of WP1220 for the topical treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) (Press release, Moleculin, MAR 19, 2019, View Source [SID1234534468]).

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"This now marks four clinical trials with patients enrolled," commented Walter Klemp, Moleculin’s Chairman and CEO. "In this case, we are targeting CTCL with a topical p-STAT3 inhibitor in light of the significant role that STAT3 appears to play in CTCL skin lesions. Our intent is to take an early read on the first five patients in this trial to assess whether we think topical delivery is viable, so we expect preliminary data to be available during 2019."

On March 19, 2019 VBL Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VBLT), reported the presentation of human data indicating that the viral anti-cancer investigational therapy VB-111 has potential to stimulate the immune system to induce a strong and durable response against ovarian tumors (Press release, VBL Therapeutics, MAR 19, 2019, View Source [SID1234534461]). Administration of VB-111 was associated with an infiltration of immune cells within the tumor, which was followed by tumor necrosis and sustained clinical response. VBL’s study entitled "VB-111, an anti-cancer gene therapy, induces immunotherapeutic effect in platinum resistant ovarian cancer" was presented last evening at the SGO 50th Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The presentation was delivered by Dr. Ronnie Shapira-Frommer from Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv and Dr. Richard Penson from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

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Ofranergene obadenovec (VB-111) is a targeted anti-cancer investigational gene therapy with a dual mechanism: disruption of the tumor vasculature and induction of an anti-tumor directed immune response. In a Phase 2 clinical trial, VB-111 in combination with chemotherapy (paclitaxel) prolonged survival in patients with recurrent platinum resistant ovarian cancer (median OS 498 days for therapeutic dose VB-111 + paclitaxel combination therapy, compared to 172 days for low dose VB-111 + paclitaxel (p=0.03)). OVAL, VBL’s ongoing pivotal Phase 3 trial, is designed to repeat the successful Phase 2 protocol, with the primary endpoint of improvement in overall survival. An interim analysis of the OVAL study is expected at year-end 2019.

"Cancer cells utilize various mechanisms to proliferate and survive, including silencing of, and escape from, the immune system. We believe that treatment strategies should therefore aim both to target the cancer cells and to stimulate the immune system to attack the tumor," said Dror Harats, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of VBL Therapeutics. "While we initially designed VB-111 as anti-tumor therapy targeting tumor blood supply, it is now evident that VB-111 can also drive immune cells into immunologically `cold` tumors turning the tumors ‘hot,` enabling the immune system to fight the tumor. These clinical findings provide encouraging evidence of the therapeutic potential of VB-111, as we continue to advance our clinical program in ovarian cancer and additional indications."

For a link to VBL’s poster at the SGO 50th Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer refer to: SGO Poster

About Ofranergene Obadenovec (VB-111)
VB-111, a potential first-in-class anticancer therapeutic candidate, is the Company’s lead oncology product currently being studied in the OVAL potential-registration Phase 3 pivotal trial for ovarian cancer (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03398655). VB-111 has received orphan drug designation in both the US and Europe, and fast track designation in the US for prolongation of survival in patients with rGBM. In addition, VB-111 successfully demonstrated proof-of-concept and survival benefit in Phase 2 clinical trials in radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer and recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (NCT01711970). VB-111 has received an Orphan Designation for the treatment of ovarian cancer from the European Commission.

On March 19, 2019 OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB:OBMP) ("OncBioMune" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of a proprietary therapeutic prostate cancer vaccine immunotherapy and CD71-targeted cancer therapy, reported that the Phase 2, randomized study of ProscaVax in treatment-naïve patients with clinically localized prostate cancer vs active surveillance is now open for enrollment (Press release, Oncbiomune, MAR 19, 2019, View Source [SID1234534458]).

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The first open site is Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.

Although many patients with low-risk localized prostate cancer can be safely monitored with an Active Surveillance strategy in lieu of up-front treatment with surgery or radiation, about half of these patients will ultimately have to undergo treatment due to worsening of their disease. Thus, patients with localized prostate cancer need improved therapies to help prevent worsening of their disease and avoid the side effects of surgery or radiation. This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of ProscaVax (Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) / Interleukin-2 (IL-2) / Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)), the Company’s flagship therapeutic cancer vaccine, in patients with localized prostate cancer compared to patients monitored on Active Surveillance.

"In general, this population of patients have two very different options. Either go into active surveillance waiting to see if there is progression of their cancer or have intensive local therapy, which can leave these patients with significant side effects. The goal which we are trying to obtain with this immunotherapy approach is to give these patients a third option which has more intervention than Active Surveillance but with less toxicity than surgery, radiation therapy, or hormonal therapy," commented Dr. Brian Barnett, Chief Executive Officer at OncBioMune. "Phase 1 data underscores a strong safety profile for ProscaVax, while potentially moderating disease progression as measured by PSA doubling time. The start of this study represents a major milestone for our company."

The Phase 2 study (randomized 2:1, treatment arm:control group) will enroll 120 adult patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who have received no prior therapy for prostate cancer. For the purpose of this study the primary endpoint will be an analysis of the number and percent of patients with progression at two years in each arm. Statistical assumptions are a 35% progression rate within two years in the control arm and decrease to 15% progression rate in the treatment arm.

On March 19, 2019 Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONTX), a Phase 3-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products to treat cancer, with a primary focus on myelodysplastic syndromes, reported that the Company will release its year-end 2018 financial results on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, before the market opens (Press release, Onconova, MAR 19, 2019, View Source [SID1234534456]). Management will host a conference call on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results and provide an update on its pipeline programs. Interested parties may access the call by dialing toll-free (855) 428-5741 from the U.S. or (210) 229-8823 internationally and using conference ID 1878978.

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The conference call will also be webcast live. Please visit www.onconova.com to access the webcast. A replay will be available for 90 days.

About Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are conditions that can occur when the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow become dysfunctional and thus produce an inadequate number of circulating blood cells. It is frequently associated with the presence of blasts or leukemic cells in the marrow. This leads to low numbers of one or more types of circulating blood cells, leading to the need for blood transfusions. In MDS, some of the cells in the bone marrow are abnormal (dysplastic) and may have genetic abnormalities associated with them. Different cell types can be affected, although the most common finding in MDS is a shortage of red blood cells (anemia). Patients with higher-risk MDS may progress to the development of acute leukemia.