On December 13, 2019 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported the Phase III IMspire150 study, in people with previously untreated BRAF V600 mutation-positive advanced melanoma, met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) (Press release, Genentech, DEC 13, 2019, View Source [SID1234552367]). The study showed adding Tecentriq (atezolizumab) to Cotellic (cobimetinib) and Zelboraf (vemurafenib) helped to reduce the risk of disease worsening or death, compared to placebo plus Cotellic and Zelboraf.

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A significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PFS was demonstrated in the study. The safety profile observed in IMspire150 was consistent with the known safety profiles of the individual medicines. Results from the study will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and discussed with health authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency.

"By combining a cancer immunotherapy with targeted therapies, we hope to offer a new approach that improves outcomes for people with advanced, BRAF-mutant melanoma," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "We look forward to discussing the results with health authorities around the world."

Genentech has an extensive clinical trial development program for Tecentriq, with more than 50 ongoing studies, including multiple Phase III studies across lung, kidney, skin, breast, colorectal, prostate, ovarian, bladder, blood, liver and head and neck cancers. Studies are evaluating Tecentriq alone and in combination with other medicines.

About the IMspire150 study

IMspire150 is a Phase III, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study in people with previously untreated BRAF V600 mutation-positive metastatic or unresectable locally advanced melanoma. The study compared the efficacy and safety of Tecentriq plus Cotellic and Zelboraf to the combination of placebo plus Cotellic and Zelboraf. The primary endpoint of the study was investigator-assessed PFS. Key secondary endpoints include PFS by an independent review committee, overall survival, objective response rate, duration of response and other safety and pharmacokinetic measures.

About advanced melanoma

Melanoma is less common, but more aggressive and deadlier than other forms of skin cancer. When melanoma is diagnosed early, it is generally a curable disease, but most people with advanced melanoma have a poor prognosis. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than 96,000 new cases of melanoma and 7,000 melanoma deaths this year in the United States.

In recent years, there have been significant advances in treatment for advanced melanoma and people with the disease have more options. However, it continues to be a serious health issue with a high medical need and a steadily increasing incidence over the past 30 years.

About Tecentriq (atezolizumab)

Tecentriq is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1. Tecentriq is designed to bind to PD-L1 expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, Tecentriq may enable the re-activation of T cells. Tecentriq may also affect normal cells.

About Cotellic (cobimetinib)

Cotellic is designed to inhibit MEK1/2, proteins in a cell signaling pathway that helps control cell growth and survival. Cotellic, when used in combination with Zelboraf, is approved in the United States and Europe, as well as many countries around the world, for the treatment of people with melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery and has a BRAF V600 mutation. Cotellic was discovered by Exelixis and is being developed by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, in collaboration with Exelixis.

About Zelboraf (vemurafenib)

Zelboraf is a prescription medicine for the treatment of people with melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery and has a BRAF V600 mutation. Zelboraf is designed to inhibit some mutated forms of BRAF, which cause abnormal signaling inside cancer cells leading to tumor growth. BRAF is a protein in a cell signaling pathway that helps control cell growth and survival. Zelboraf was the first approved product in its class. Zelboraf was co-developed under a 2006 license and collaboration agreement between Roche and Plexxikon Inc., the small molecule structure-guided R&D center of the Daiichi Sankyo Group.

Tecentriq Indications (pronounced ‘tē-SEN-trik’)

Tecentriq is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with:

A type of bladder and urinary tract cancer called urothelial carcinoma. Tecentriq may be used when your bladder cancer:

has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, and if you have any one of the following conditions:
you are not able to take chemotherapy that contains a medicine called cisplatin, and your cancer tests positive for "PD-L1", or
you are not able to take chemotherapy that contains any platinum regardless of the levels of "PD-L1" status, or
you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working
The approval of Tecentriq in these patients is based on a study that measured response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this use may depend on the results of an ongoing study to confirm benefit.

A type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Tecentriq may be used with bevacizumab and the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and paclitaxel as your first treatment when your lung cancer:
has spread or grown, and
is a type of lung cancer called "non-squamous NSCLC"
your tumor does not have an abnormal "EGFR" or "ALK" gene
Tecentriq may be used alone when your lung cancer:
has spread or grown, and
you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working, and
If your tumor has an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene, you should have also tried an FDA-approved therapy for tumors with these abnormal genes, and it did not work or is no longer working.
A type of breast cancer called triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Tecentriq may be used with the medicine paclitaxel protein-bound when your breast cancer:

has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, and
your cancer tests positive for "PD-L1"
The approval of TECENTRIQ in these patients is based on a study that measured the amount of time until patients’ disease worsened. Continued approval for this use may depend on the results of an ongoing study to confirm benefit.

A type of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Tecentriq may be used with the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and etoposide as your first treatment when your lung cancer:
is a type of lung cancer called "extensive-stage small cell lung cancer," which means that it has spread or grown.
It is not known if Tecentriq is safe and effective in children.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information about Tecentriq?

Tecentriq can cause the immune system to attack normal organs and tissues and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become serious or life threatening and can lead to death.

Patients should call or see their healthcare provider right away if they get any symptoms of the following problems or these symptoms get worse.

Tecentriq can cause serious side effects, including:

Lung problems (pneumonitis)–signs and symptoms of pneumonitis may include new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain
Liver problems (hepatitis)–signs and symptoms of hepatitis may include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, severe nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of the stomach area (abdomen), drowsiness, dark urine (tea colored), bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, and feeling less hungry than usual
Intestinal problems (colitis)–signs and symptoms of colitis may include diarrhea (loose stools) or more bowel movements than usual, blood or mucus in your stools or dark, tarry, sticky stools, and severe stomach area (abdomen) pain or tenderness
Hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, and pituitary)–signs and symptoms that the hormone glands are not working properly may include headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches, extreme tiredness, weight gain or weight loss, dizziness or fainting, feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual, hair loss, changes in mood or behavior (such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness), feeling cold, constipation, the voice gets deeper, urinating more often than usual, nausea or vomiting, and stomach area (abdomen) pain
Problems in other organs–signs and symptoms may include severe muscle weakness, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, confusion, blurry vision, double vision, or other vision problems, changes in mood or behavior, extreme sensitivity to light, neck stiffness, eye pain or redness, skin blisters or peeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or swelling of the ankles
Severe infections–signs and symptoms of infection may include fever, cough, flu-like symptoms, pain when urinating, and frequent urination or back pain
Severe infusion reactions–signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include chills or shaking, itching or rash, flushing, shortness of breath or wheezing, swelling of your face or lips, dizziness, fever, feeling like passing out, and back or neck pain
Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. A healthcare provider may treat patients with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. A healthcare provider may delay or completely stop treatment with Tecentriq if patients have severe side effects.

Before receiving Tecentriq, patients should tell their healthcare provider about all of their medical conditions, including if they:

have immune system problems (such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus); have had an organ transplant; have lung or breathing problems; have liver problems; have a condition that affects the nervous system (such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barre syndrome); or are being treated for an infection
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tecentriq can harm an unborn baby. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they become pregnant or think they may be pregnant during treatment with Tecentriq. Females who are able to become pregnant:
A healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before they start treatment with Tecentriq.
They should use an effective method of birth control during their treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of Tecentriq.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Tecentriq passes into the breast milk. Patients should not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of Tecentriq
Patients should tell their healthcare provider about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of Tecentriq when used alone include:

feeling tired or weak
nausea
constipation
cough
shortness of breath
decreased appetite
The most common side effects of Tecentriq when used in lung cancer with other anti-cancer medicines include:

feeling tired or weak
hair loss
nausea
diarrhea
constipation
decreased appetite
The most common side effects of Tecentriq when used with paclitaxel protein-bound include:

hair loss
feeling tired
tingling or numbness in hands and feet
nausea
diarrhea
low red blood cells (anemia)
constipation
cough
headache
low white blood cells
decreased appetite
vomiting
Tecentriq may cause fertility problems in females, which may affect the ability to have children. Patients should talk to their healthcare provider if they have concerns about fertility.

These are not all the possible side effects of Tecentriq. Patients should ask their healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information. Patients should call their doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or View Source Report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.

Please visit View Source for the Tecentriq full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information.

Cotellic Indication

Important: If a patient’s healthcare provider prescribes Zelboraf (vemurafenib), the patient should also read the Medication Guide that comes with Zelboraf.

Cotellic is a prescription medicine that is used with the medicine Zelboraf to treat a type of skin cancer called melanoma:

that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery, and
that has a certain type of abnormal "BRAF" gene.
A patient’s healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that Cotellic is right for the patient. It is not known if Cotellic is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

Important Safety Information

Before taking Cotellic, patients should tell their healthcare provider about all of their medical conditions, including if they:

have skin problems or history of skin problems, other than melanoma
have bleeding problems, any medical conditions and/or on any medications that increase the risk of bleeding
have heart problems
have eye problems
have liver problems
have muscle problems
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Cotellic can harm an unborn baby.
Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with Cotellic, and for two weeks after the final dose of Cotellic.
Patients should talk to their healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for them.
Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they become pregnant or think they are pregnant during treatment with Cotellic.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Cotellic passes into breast milk. Patients should not breastfeed during treatment with Cotellic and for two weeks after the final dose of Cotellic. Patients should talk to their healthcare provider about the best way to feed their baby during this time.
Patients should tell their healthcare provider about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Certain medicines may affect the blood levels of Cotellic.

Patients should know the medicines they take and keep a list of them to show their healthcare provider and pharmacist when they get a new medicine.

How should patients take Cotellic?

Patients should take Cotellic exactly as their healthcare provider tells them. Patients should not change their dose or stop taking Cotellic unless their healthcare provider tells them to.
Patients should take Cotellic one time a day for 21 days, followed by seven days off treatment, to complete a 28-day treatment cycle.
Patients can take Cotellic with or without food.
If a patient vomits after taking their dose of Cotellic, they should not take an additional dose. Patients should take their next dose as scheduled.
If a patient misses a dose of Cotellic, they should take their next dose as scheduled.
What should patients avoid during treatment with Cotellic?

Patients should avoid sunlight during treatment with Cotellic. Cotellic can make a patient’s skin sensitive to sunlight. They may burn more easily and get severe sunburns. To help protect against sunburn:

When a patient goes outside, they should wear clothes that protect their skin, including their head, face, hands, arms and legs.
They should use lip balm and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
What are the possible side effects of Cotellic?

Cotellic may cause serious side effects, including:

Risk of new skin cancers. Cotellic may cause new skin cancers (cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma or basal cell carcinoma).

Patients should check their skin regularly and tell their healthcare provider right away if they have any skin changes including:
new wart
skin sore or reddish bump that bleeds or does not heal
change in size or color of a mole
A patient’s healthcare provider should check the patient’s skin before they start taking Cotellic, and every two months during treatment with Cotellic. A patient’s healthcare provider may continue to check the patient’s skin for six months after the patient stops taking Cotellic.

A patient’s healthcare provider should also check for cancers that may not occur on the skin. Patients should tell their healthcare provider about any new symptoms that develop during treatment with Cotellic.

Bleeding problems. Cotellic can cause serious bleeding problems.
Patients should call their healthcare provider and get medical attention right away if they get any signs of bleeding, including:
red or black stools (looks like tar)
blood in their urine
headaches
cough up or vomit blood
stomach (abdominal) pain
unusual vaginal bleeding
dizziness or weakness
Heart problems. A patient’s healthcare provider should do tests before and during treatment to check the patient’s heart function. Patients should tell their healthcare provider if they get any of these signs and symptoms of heart problems:
persistent coughing or wheezing
shortness of breath
swelling of their ankles and feet
tiredness
increased heart rate
Severe rash. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they get any of these symptoms:
a rash that covers a large area of their body
blisters
peeling skin
Eye problems. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they get any of these symptoms:
blurred vision
partly missing vision or loss of vision
see halos
any other vision change
A patient’s healthcare provider should check the patient’s eyes if the patient notices any of the symptoms above.

Liver problems. A patient’s healthcare provider should do blood tests to check the patient’s liver function before and during treatment. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they get any of these symptoms:
yellowing of their skin or the white of their eyes
dark or brown (tea color) urine
nausea or vomiting
feeling tired or weak
loss of appetite
Muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis). Cotellic can cause muscle problems that can be severe. Treatment with Cotellic may increase the level of an enzyme in the blood called creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and may be a sign of muscle damage. A patient’s healthcare provider should do a blood test to check the patient’s levels of CPK before and during treatment. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they get any of these symptoms:
muscle aches or pain
muscle spasms and weakness
dark, reddish urine
Skin sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity). Skin sensitivity to sunlight during treatment with Cotellic is common and can sometimes be severe. Patients should tell their healthcare provider if they get any of these symptoms:
red, painful, itchy skin that is hot to touch
sun rash
skin irritation
bumps or tiny papules
thickened, dry, wrinkled skin
See "What should patients avoid during treatment with Cotellic?" for information on protecting the skin during treatment with Cotellic.

The most common side effects of Cotellic include:

diarrhea
nausea
fever
vomiting
A patient’s healthcare provider will take blood tests during treatment with Cotellic. The most common changes to blood tests include:

increased blood levels of liver enzymes (GGT, ALT or AST)
increased blood level of enzyme from muscle (creatine phosphokinase)
decreased blood level of phosphate, sodium or potassium
increased blood level of liver or bone enzyme (alkaline phosphatase)
decreased blood level of a type of white blood cell (lymphocyte)
These are not all the possible side effects of Cotellic. Patients should call their doctor for medical advice about side effects. Patients may report side effects to FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or View Source Patients may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see Full Cotellic Prescribing Information and Patient Information for additional Important Safety Information at View Source

Zelboraf Indication

Zelboraf is a prescription medicine used to treat a type of skin cancer called melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery, and that has a certain type of abnormal "BRAF" gene.

A patient’s healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that Zelboraf is right for them.

Zelboraf is not used to treat melanoma with a normal BRAF gene. It is not known if Zelboraf is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information patients should know about Zelboraf?

Zelboraf can cause serious side effects, including:

Risk of cancers. Zelboraf may cause a type of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC). New melanoma lesions have occurred in people who take Zelboraf. Zelboraf may also cause another type of cancer called non-cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Patients should talk with their healthcare provider about their risk for these cancers.
Patients should check their skin and tell their healthcare provider right away about any skin changes, including a:

new wart
skin sore or reddish bump that bleeds or does not heal
change in size or color of a mole
A patient’s healthcare provider should check their skin before they start taking Zelboraf, and every two months while they are taking Zelboraf, to look for any new skin cancers. A patient’s healthcare provider may continue to check their skin for six months after they stop taking Zelboraf.

A patient’s healthcare provider should also check for cancers that may not occur on the skin. Patients should tell their healthcare provider about any new symptoms that they get while taking Zelboraf.

What should patients tell their healthcare provider before taking Zelboraf?

Before patients take Zelboraf, they should tell their healthcare provider if they:

Have any heart problems, including a condition called long QT syndrome
Have liver or kidney problems
Have had or are planning to receive radiation therapy
Have been told that they have low blood levels of potassium, calcium, or magnesium
Have any other medical conditions
Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Zelboraf can harm an unborn baby.
Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during Zelboraf treatment and for two weeks after the final dose
Patients should talk to their healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for them
Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they become pregnant during treatment with Zelboraf
Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Zelboraf passes into breast milk. Patients should not breastfeed during treatment with Zelboraf and for two weeks after the final dose. Patients should talk to their healthcare provider about the best way to feed their baby during this time.
Patients should tell their healthcare provider about all of the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Patients should know the medicines they take. Patients should keep a list of them to show their healthcare provider and pharmacist when they get a new medicine.

What should patients avoid while taking Zelboraf?

Patients should avoid sunlight while they are taking Zelboraf. Zelboraf can make a patient’s skin sensitive to sunlight. Patients may burn more easily and get severe sunburns. To help protect against sunburn:

When patients go outside, they should wear clothes that protect their skin, including their head, face, hands, arms, and legs.
Patients should use lip balm and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
What are the possible side effects of Zelboraf?

Allergic reactions can happen while taking Zelboraf, and can be severe. Patients should stop taking Zelboraf and get medical help right away if they get any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction:
Rash or redness all over their body
Trouble breathing or swallowing
Swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
Throat tightness or hoarseness
Feel faint
Fast heartbeat
Severe skin reactions. Patients should stop taking Zelboraf and call their healthcare provider right away if they get a skin rash with any of the following symptoms, because they may have a severe skin reaction:
Blisters on their skin
Blisters or sores in their mouth
Peeling of their skin
Fever
Redness or swelling of their face, hands, or soles of their feet
Changes in the electrical activity of the heart called QT prolongation. QT prolongation can cause irregular heartbeats that can be life-threatening. A patient’s healthcare provider should do tests before they start taking Zelboraf and during treatment with Zelboraf to check the electrical activity of their heart. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they feel faint, lightheaded, dizzy, or feel their heart beating irregularly or fast while taking Zelboraf. These may be symptoms related to QT prolongation.
Liver injury. A patient’s healthcare provider should do blood tests to check their liver function before they start taking Zelboraf and during treatment. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they get any of these symptoms of a liver problem during treatment:
Yellowing of their skin or the white part of their eyes
Dark or brown (tea color) urine
Nausea or vomiting
Loss of appetite
Pain on the right side of their stomach
Eye problems. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they get any of these symptoms during treatment with Zelboraf:
Eye pain, swelling, or redness
Blurred vision or other vision changes
Worsening side effects from radiation treatment. Patients should tell their healthcare provider if they have had or are planning to receive radiation therapy.
Kidney injury. A patient’s healthcare provider should do blood tests to check their kidney function before they start taking Zelboraf and during treatment.
The most common side effects include:

Joint pain
Rash
Hair loss
Tiredness
Sunburn or sun sensitivity
Nausea
Itching
Warts
Patients should tell their healthcare provider if they have any side effect that bothers them or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of Zelboraf. For more information about side effects, patients should ask their healthcare provider or pharmacist. Patients should call their doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Patients may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or View Source Patients may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for additional Important Safety Information at View Source

About Genentech in skin cancer

Genentech has been studying new treatments for skin cancer for more than 20 years. We continue to study our skin cancer medicines in combination with other medicines, including cancer immunotherapies, in several types of cancer.

About Genentech in personalized cancer immunotherapy

For more than 30 years, Genentech has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in oncology. Today, we’re investing more than ever to bring personalized cancer immunotherapy (PCI) to people with cancer. The goal of PCI is to provide each person with a treatment tailored to harness his or her own immune system to fight cancer. Genentech is currently studying more than 10 cancer immunotherapy medicines across 70 clinical trials alone or in combination with other medicines. In every study we are evaluating biomarkers to identify which people may be appropriate candidates for our medicines. For more information visit View Source

On December 13, 2019 BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ: BLRX) (TASE: BLRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, reported updated data from the triple combination arm of the ongoing Phase 2a COMBAT/KEYNOTE-202 study (Press release, BioLineRx, DEC 13, 2019, View Source [SID1234552366]). The data was delivered today in an oral presentation entitled, "A Multi-Center Phase 2a Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of BL-8040 (a CXCR4 inhibitor) in Combination with Pembrolizumab and Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (PDAC)", at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Immuno-Oncology Congress (ESMO IO) 2019, which is being held December 11-14 in Geneva, Switzerland. The full presentation is available on the Company’s website.

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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

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Updated Data from the Triple Combo Arm of the COMBAT/KEYNOTE-202 Study

As of today’s date, 36 out of 40 patients have been enrolled in the study. As of December 5, 2019 (the cutoff date for the presentation data), 30 patients were evaluable for safety and 22 were evaluable for efficacy. All patients enrolled were originally diagnosed with stage IV metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and had progressed following first-line treatment with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.

Best response for the evaluable population of 22 patients showed 7 partial response (PR) and 10 stable disease (SD) patients – resulting in an overall response rate (ORR) of 32% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 77%; this compares favorably to the current chemotherapy standard-of-care treatment in second-line patients with ORR of 17% and DCR of 52%;
The combination showed continuity of effect – 5 patients with stable disease became partial responders as treatment continued;
Out of the 7 partial responders, 5 are still on treatment, with a current maximum treatment time of 330+ days; and 4 responders showed a reduction in tumor burden of >50%;
Median duration of clinical benefit until progression for the 17 patients with disease control (7 PR and 10 SD patients) is 7.8 months;
The study is ongoing; progression-free and overall survival data remain on track for mid-2020;
The combination was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with the individual safety profile of each component alone; adverse event (AE) and severe adverse event (SAE) profiles are as expected with chemotherapy-based treatment regimens.
"Metastatic pancreatic cancer has a very poor response to chemotherapy, and immunotherapy treatments have failed to show any effect as single agents," said Manuel Hidalgo, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology and a Senior Member of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and principal investigator of this study. "These promising initial results presented today show an overall response rate almost double the current chemotherapy standard-of-care treatment in second-line patients. The results are even stronger when taking into account the extended durability of clinical benefit seen to date in this study (median of 7.8 months), compared to approximately three months of response duration with other treatments for second-line pancreatic cancer. I look forward to the survival data expected in mid-2020."

"We are very excited by the positive data accumulating from this triple combination arm of our Phase 2a pancreatic study under our collaboration with Merck," stated Philip Serlin, Chief Executive Officer of BioLineRx. "These data continue to confirm our hypothesis relating to the synergistic effect of cytotoxic chemotherapy, along with the trafficking, tumor microenvironment modulation and T-cell infiltration effects seen in PDAC patients from previous dual combination trials of BL-8040 with checkpoint inhibitors. It is therefore very encouraging to see robust and durable responses to the triple combination treatment, especially as we continue to see a trend of patients receiving treatment for an extended period that move from stable disease to partial response. We hope to see these results translate into an extended survival benefit for these patients, which we expect to announce in mid-2020, and we hope will pave the way for use of immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer and in other cold tumors."

Design of Triple Combination Arm of COMBAT/KEYNOTE-202 Study

The triple combination arm focuses on second-line pancreatic cancer patients and is expected to include approximately 40 patients originally diagnosed with unresectable metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have progressed following first-line gemcitabine-based therapy. Patients receive BL-8040 monotherapy priming treatment for five days, followed by combination cycles of chemotherapy (Onivyde/5-fluorouracil/leucovorin), KEYTRUDA and BL-8040 until progression. The primary endpoint of the study is the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints include overall survival, progression free survival, and disease control rate.

The COMBAT/KEYNOTE-202 Study

The Phase 2a COMBAT/KEYNOTE-202 study was originally designed as an open-label, multicenter, single-arm trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of BL-8040 and KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), an anti-PD-1 therapy marketed by Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), in over 30 subjects with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The study was primarily designed to evaluate the clinical response, safety and tolerability of the combination of these therapies, and was carried out in the US, Israel and additional territories. The study is being conducted by BioLineRx under a collaboration agreement signed in 2016 between BioLineRx and MSD, through a subsidiary.

In July 2018, the Company announced the expansion of its immuno-oncology collaboration with MSD to include the triple combination arm investigating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of BL-8040, KEYTRUDA and chemotherapy as part of the Phase 2a COMBAT/KEYNOTE-202 study.

About BL-8040 in Cancer Immunotherapy

BL-8040 is targeting CXCR4, a chemokine receptor and a well validated therapeutic target that is over-expressed in many human cancers including PDAC. CXCR4 plays a key role in tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis and therapeutic resistance, and CXCR4 overexpression has been shown to be correlated with poor prognosis.

BL-8040 is a short synthetic peptide used as a platform for cancer immunotherapy with unique features allowing it to function as a best-in-class antagonist of CXCR4. It shows high-affinity, long receptor occupancy and acts as an inverse agonist.

In a number of clinical and preclinical studies, BL-8040 has been shown to affect multiple modes of action in "cold" tumors, including immune cell trafficking, tumor infiltration by immune effector T cells, and reduction in immunosuppressive cells (such as MDSCs) within the tumor niche, turning "cold" tumors, such as pancreatic cancer, into "hot" (i.e., sensitizing them to immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy).

Conference Call and Webcast Information

BioLineRx will hold a conference call today, December 13, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. EST. To access the conference call, please dial +1-888-668-9141 from the U.S. or +972-3-918-0609 internationally. The call will also be available via webcast and can be accessed through the Investor Relations page of BioLineRx’s website. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download any necessary software to listen to the live broadcast.

A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after completion of the live conference call on the Investor Relations page of BioLineRx’s website. A dial-in replay of the call will be available until December 15, 2019; please dial +1-888-782-4291 from the U.S. or +972-3-925-5927 internationally.

On December 13, 2019 Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) reported positive results from IMspire150, the phase 3 trial of atezolizumab (TECENTRIQ), cobimetinib (COTELLIC) and vemurafenib (ZELBORAF) in people with previously untreated BRAF V600 mutation-positive advanced melanoma (Press release, Exelixis, DEC 13, 2019, View Source [SID1234552365]). Genentech, Inc. (a member of the Roche Group), Exelixis’ collaborator and the sponsor of the IMspire150 trial, informed the company that the study met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). Adding atezolizumab to cobimetinib and vemurafenib helped to reduce the risk of disease worsening or death, compared to placebo plus cobimetinib and vemurafenib.

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A significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PFS was demonstrated in IMspire150. The safety profile observed in the trial was consistent with the known safety profiles of the individual medicines. Results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and discussed with health authorities around the world, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.

About Advanced Melanoma

Melanoma is less common, but more aggressive and deadlier than other forms of skin cancer. When melanoma is diagnosed early, it is generally a curable disease, but most people with advanced melanoma have a poor prognosis. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than 96,000 new cases of melanoma and 7,000 melanoma deaths this year in the United States.

In recent years, there have been significant advances in treatment for advanced melanoma and people with the disease have more options. However, it continues to be a serious health issue with a high medical need and a steadily increasing incidence over the past 30 years.

About the IMspire150 study

IMspire150 is a phase 3, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study in people with previously untreated BRAF V600 mutation-positive metastatic or unresectable locally advanced melanoma. The study compared the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab plus cobimetinib and vemurafenib to the combination of placebo plus cobimetinib and vemurafenib. The primary endpoint of the study was investigator-assessed PFS. Key secondary endpoints include PFS by an independent review committee, overall survival, objective response rate, duration of response and other safety and pharmacokinetic measures.

About the Cobimetinib Development Collaboration

Exelixis discovered cobimetinib internally and advanced the compound to investigational new drug (IND) status. In late 2006, Exelixis entered into a worldwide collaboration agreement with Genentech, under which Exelixis received initial upfront and milestone payments for signing the agreement and submitting the IND. Following the determination of the maximum tolerated dose in phase 1 by Exelixis, Genentech exercised its option to further develop cobimetinib.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Exelixis is entitled to an initial equal share of U.S. profits and losses, which will decrease as sales increase, and shares U.S. commercialization costs. Outside of the United States, Exelixis is eligible to receive royalties on any sales.

Cobimetinib is also the subject of a clinical development program aimed at evaluating its potential in combination with investigational and approved therapies in multiple disease settings.

TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab), COTELLIC (cobimetinib) and ZELBORAF (vemurafenib) are registered trademarks of Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

COTELLIC Indication

Important: If a patient’s healthcare provider prescribes ZELBORAF (vemurafenib), the patient should also read the Medication Guide that comes with ZELBORAF.

COTELLIC is a prescription medicine that is used with the medicine ZELBORAF to treat a type of skin cancer called melanoma:

that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery, and
that has a certain type of abnormal "BRAF" gene.
A patient’s healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that COTELLIC is right for the patient. It is not known if COTELLIC is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

Important Safety Information

Before taking COTELLIC, patients should tell their healthcare provider about all of their medical conditions, including if they:

have skin problems or history of skin problems, other than melanoma
have bleeding problems, any medical conditions and/or on any medications that increase the risk of bleeding
have heart problems
have eye problems
have liver problems
have muscle problems
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. COTELLIC can harm an unborn baby.
Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with COTELLIC, and for two weeks after the final dose of COTELLIC.
Patients should talk to their healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for them.
Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they become pregnant or think they are pregnant during treatment with COTELLIC.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if COTELLIC passes into breast milk. Patients should not breastfeed during treatment with COTELLIC and for two weeks after the final dose of COTELLIC. Patients should talk to their healthcare provider about the best way to feed their baby during this time.
Patients should tell their healthcare provider about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Certain medicines may affect the blood levels of COTELLIC.

Patients should know the medicines they take and keep a list of them to show their healthcare provider and pharmacist when they get a new medicine.

How should patients take COTELLIC?

Patients should take COTELLIC exactly as their healthcare provider tells them. Patients should not change their dose or stop taking COTELLIC unless their healthcare provider tells them to.
Patients should take COTELLIC one time a day for 21 days, followed by seven days off treatment, to complete a 28-day treatment cycle.
Patients can take COTELLIC with or without food.
If a patient vomits after taking their dose of COTELLIC, they should not take an additional dose. Patients should take their next dose as scheduled.
If a patient misses a dose of COTELLIC, they should take their next dose as scheduled.
What should patients avoid during treatment with COTELLIC?

Patients should avoid sunlight during treatment with COTELLIC. COTELLIC can make a patient’s skin sensitive to sunlight. They may burn more easily and get severe sunburns. To help protect against sunburn:

When a patient goes outside, they should wear clothes that protect their skin, including their head, face, hands, arms and legs.
They should use lip balm and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
What are the possible side effects of COTELLIC? COTELLIC may cause serious side effects, including:

Risk of new skin cancers. COTELLIC may cause new skin cancers (cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma or basal cell carcinoma).
Patients should check their skin regularly and tell their healthcare provider right away if they have any skin changes including:

new wart
skin sore or reddish bump that bleeds or does not heal
change in size or color of a mole
A patient’s healthcare provider should check the patient’s skin before they start taking COTELLIC, and every two months during treatment with COTELLIC. A patient’s healthcare provider may continue to check the patient’s skin for six months after the patient stops taking COTELLIC.

A patient’s healthcare provider should also check for cancers that may not occur on the skin. Patients should tell their healthcare provider about any new symptoms that develop during treatment with COTELLIC.

Bleeding problems. COTELLIC can cause serious bleeding problems. Patients should call their healthcare provider and get medical attention right away if they get any signs of bleeding, including:
red or black stools (looks like tar)
blood in their urine
headaches
cough up or vomit blood
stomach (abdominal) pain
unusual vaginal bleeding
dizziness or weakness
Heart problems. A patient’s healthcare provider should do tests before and during treatment to check the patient’s heart function. Patients should tell their healthcare provider if they get any of these signs and symptoms of heart problems:
persistent coughing or wheezing
shortness of breath
swelling of their ankles and feet
tiredness
increased heart rate
Severe rash. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they get any of these symptoms:
a rash that covers a large area of their body
blisters
peeling skin
Eye problems. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they get any of these symptoms:
blurred vision
partly missing vision or loss of vision
see halos
any other vision change
A patient’s healthcare provider should check the patient’s eyes if the patient notices any of the symptoms above.

Liver problems. A patient’s healthcare provider should do blood tests to check the patient’s liver function before and during treatment. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they get any of these symptoms:
yellowing of their skin or the white of their eyes
dark or brown (tea color) urine
nausea or vomiting
feeling tired or weak
loss of appetite
Muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis). COTELLIC can cause muscle problems that can be severe. Treatment with COTELLIC may increase the level of an enzyme in the blood called creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and may be a sign of muscle damage. A patient’s healthcare provider should do a blood test to check the patient’s levels of CPK before and during treatment. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they get any of these symptoms:
muscle aches or pain
muscle spasms and weakness
dark, reddish urine
Skin sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity). Skin sensitivity to sunlight during treatment with COTELLIC is common and can sometimes be severe. Patients should tell their healthcare provider if they get any of these symptoms:
red, painful, itchy skin that is hot to touch
sun rash
skin irritation
bumps or tiny papules
thickened, dry, wrinkled skin
See "What should patients avoid during treatment with COTELLIC?" for information on protecting the skin during treatment with COTELLIC.

The most common side effects of COTELLIC include:

diarrhea
nausea
fever
vomiting
A patient’s healthcare provider will take blood tests during treatment with COTELLIC. The most common changes to blood tests include:

increased blood levels of liver enzymes (GGT, ALT or AST)
increased blood level of enzyme from muscle (creatine phosphokinase)
decreased blood level of phosphate, sodium or potassium
increased blood level of liver or bone enzyme (alkaline phosphatase)
decreased blood level of a type of white blood cell (lymphocyte)
These are not all the possible side effects of COTELLIC. Patients should call their doctor for medical advice about side effects. Patients may report side effects to FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. Patients may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

On December 13, 2019 BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKEX: 06160), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative molecularly-targeted and immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of cancer, and Mirati Therapeutics (NASDAQ:MRTX), a clinical-stage targeted oncology company, reported preliminary data from an ongoing Phase 1b trial of investigational anti-PD-1 antibody tislelizumab in combination with investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor sitravatinib in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, which demonstrated antitumor activity and was generally well tolerated (Press release, BeiGene, DEC 13, 2019, View Source [SID1234552364]). Results from the Phase 1b clinical trial were presented at the 2019 European Society for Medical Oncology Immuno-Oncology (ESMO I-O) Congress on December 13, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

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"Tislelizumab and sitravatinib have both demonstrated antitumor activity as single agents, so we’re encouraged by the early evidence showing the potential for these two agents to work together to treat advanced solid tumors, including platinum-resistant ovarian cancer," said Yong (Ben) Ben, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Immuno-Oncology at BeiGene. "We continue to make progress in the collaboration with Mirati Therapeutics and we look forward to continued enrollment in the trial and further clinical data on the combination of tislelizumab and sitravatinib, a compound that has a unique tyrosine kinase inhibition profile."

"We were eager to enter into this collaboration with BeiGene because we believe sitravatinib, a spectrum-selective receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, may help increase the activity of anti-PD-1 antibodies such as tislelizumab in patients whose solid tumors exhibit resistance," said Charles M. Baum, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. "The initial results from this Phase 1b trial suggest further development of this combination for the treatment of advanced solid tumors, including platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, is warranted."

Summary of Preliminary Results from the Phase 1b Trial in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Abstract 94O

This open-label, multi-center Phase 1b trial (NCT03666143) of tislelizumab in combination with sitravatinib consists of nine disease-specific cohorts in patients with advanced solid tumors. The results presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) I-O were from cohort E in 20 patients with recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who did not have prior exposure to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents. Patients were treated with tislelizumab at 200 mg IV every three weeks and sitravatinib at 120mg orally once daily. At the data cutoff of July 17, 2019, 17 patients were evaluable and preliminary results included:

Seven patients achieved a partial response (PR), including four confirmed PRs; the overall response rate (ORR) was 23.5% (4/17, 95% CI: 6.8%, 49.9%); eight patients achieved stable disease (SD);

The median duration of response (DoR) was not reached (95% CI: 12.29 weeks, not reached);

The median progression-free response (PFS) was 18 weeks (95% CI: 12.29 weeks, not reached), and the PFS rate at 3 months and 6 months was 88.2% (95% CI: 60.6%, 96.9%) and 35.3% (95% CI: 9.0%, 63.8%), respectively;

All 20 patients in this cohort experienced treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of any grade;

Fifteen patients (75%) experienced at least one grade ≥ 3 TEAE, with the most common being hypertension (25%) and fatigue (10%);

Immune-related TEAEs were hypothyroidism (20%), diarrhea (15%), and rash (15%);

Six patients (30%) discontinued the study treatment due to TEAEs; and

Two patients experienced TEAEs leading to death, abdominal pain and respiratory failure, both of which were considered unrelated to treatment by the study investigator.
BeiGene and Mirati entered into an exclusive license agreement for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of Mirati’s sitravatinib in Asia (excluding Japan), Australia, and New Zealand in January 2018. Clinical trials for tislelizumab and sitravatinib are ongoing in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, hepatocellular cancer and gastric cancer.

About Tislelizumab

Tislelizumab (BGB-A317) is an investigational humanized IgG4 anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody specifically designed to minimize binding to FcγR on macrophages. In pre-clinical studies, binding to FcγR on macrophages has been shown to compromise the anti-tumor activity of PD-1 antibodies through activation of antibody-dependent macrophage-mediated killing of T effector cells. Tislelizumab is the first drug candidate produced from BeiGene’s immuno-oncology biologics program and is being developed as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies for the treatment of a broad array of both solid tumor and hematologic cancers.

Select ongoing clinical trials of tislelizumab include a Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with second-line or third-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); a Phase 3 clinical trial in first-line patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); a Phase 3 clinical trial in second-line patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC); a Phase 3 clinical trial in first-line patients with gastric cancer (GC); a Phase 3 clinical trial in first-line patients with ESCC; and a Phase 2 clinical trial in second- or third-line patients with HCC. The aforementioned trials are enrolling patients in multiple countries, including the United States, Europe, and China.

In addition to a pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cHL) and a pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer, BeiGene is conducting a Phase 3 clinical trial in first-line patients with non-squamous NSCLC; a Phase 3 clinical trial in first-line patients with squamous NSCLC; a Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with first-line nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC); a Phase 3 clinical trial in first-line patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC); a Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with localized ESCC; and a Phase 2 trial in patients with MSI-H or dMMR solid tumors. These studies have been enrolling patients primarily in China.

New drug applications (NDA) for tislelizumab in patients with R/R cHL and in patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic UC have been accepted and granted priority review by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA, formerly known as CFDA). BeiGene has full development and commercial rights to tislelizumab worldwide.

About Sitravatinib

Sitravatinib is an investigational spectrum-selective kinase inhibitor that potently inhibits receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), including TAM family receptors (TYRO3, Axl, Mer), split family receptors (VEGFR2, KIT) and RET. As an immuno-oncology agent, sitravatinib is being evaluated in combinations of anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors, in patients whose cancers have progressed despite treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor. Sitravatinib’s potent inhibition of TAM and split family RTKs may overcome resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapy through targeted reversal of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, enhancing antigen-specific T cell response and expanding dendritic cell-dependent antigen presentation. Sitravatinib is being evaluated in multiple clinical trials to treat patients who are refractory to prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, including the ongoing potentially registration-enabling Phase 3 trial of sitravatinib in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition, sitravatinib combinations with checkpoint inhibitors are being evaluated in selected checkpoint inhibitor naïve patients.

Sitravatinib is also being evaluated as a single-agent in a Phase 1b expansion clinical trial emphasizing enrollment of patients whose tumors harbor specific mutations in the CBL protein. When CBL is inactivated by mutation, multiple RTKs, including TAM, VEGFR2 and KIT, are dysregulated and may act as oncogenic tumor drivers in NSCLC and melanoma.

On December 13, 2019 OncoSec Medical Incorporated ("OncoSec") (Nasdaq:ONCS), a company developing late-stage intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, reported interim results from KEYNOTE-890, an ongoing Phase 2 study of TAVO (intratumoral IL-12) in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), an anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, in patients with metastatic, chemotherapy-refractory triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC) (Press release, OncoSec Medical, DEC 13, 2019, View Source [SID1234552363]).

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Patients who previously had progressed after an average of three prior lines of chemotherapy were enrolled in the KEYNOTE-890 study to evaluate if the addition of TAVO could provide meaningful clinical activity when combined with KEYTRUDA. The interim analysis, presented on December 12, 2019, at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, included more than half of the patients (14 out of 25) enrolled in the KEYNOTE-890 study evaluating tumor responses, related immunological responses and safety.

Four of the 14 patients showed a rapid tumor reduction and had a confirmed partial response by RECIST v1.1 (ORR 28.5%), including a deep partial response in a patient with multiple liver, bone, skin and nodal metastases and a short disease-free interval following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. All responses are ongoing (range: 6 to 9 months) and a median duration of response (DOR) has not yet been reached. Three of the four patients with a partial response experienced deepening tumor shrinkage over six months.

These interim findings compare favorably to the response rate (range of 6-10%) observed with KEYTRUDA as a monotherapy in mTNBC patients 1,2.

Stable disease was observed in three patients (21.4%), with two stable disease patients reporting 20% or greater tumor shrinkage. Of the seven patients who progressed following treatment, two received only one cycle of combination treatment prior to rapid clinical deterioration. Regression of both TAVO treated and untreated lesions were observed. Regression of distal visceral lesions were also observed. Additionally, 3 of the 4 responding patients’ lesions were PD-L1 negative by IHC analysis before treatment (1 patient was undetermined).

"Metastatic TNBC is a heterogeneous disease with a poor prognosis where very few pre-treated patients achieve an objective response to PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy," said Melinda L. Telli, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine. "These preliminary data suggest that TAVO may enhance sensitivity to pembrolizumab in mTNBC patients with a 28.5% ORR reported. I’m encouraged by the tumor responses observed in PD-L1 negative patients and the overall safety profile."

Importantly, TAVO and pembrolizumab were well tolerated, with only 3 of 16 patients experiencing grade 3 treatment-related adverse events with combination treatment.

Patients demonstrated encouraging immunological responses in tumor and blood consistent with an IL-12-associated mechanism of action, including significantly increased on-treatment proliferating T cell subsets in the periphery and increased gene expression signatures associated with productive immunological responses in the tumor. Biomarker analysis of patient tumor and blood samples are ongoing.

"These data show a strong signal for clinical benefit with TAVO enhancing sensitivity to pembrolizumab in treating metastatic TNBC patients who were previously unresponsive to multiple prior rounds of therapy," said Kellie Malloy, Chief Clinical Development Officer at OncoSec. "They also confirm the consistent safety profile of TAVO as a well-tolerated cancer immunotherapy. We look forward to continuing development and plan to expand this clinical program and the KEYNOTE-890 trial."

To date, the KEYNOTE-890 study has enrolled 24 of the planned 25 patients. OncoSec expects to report the full data results in 2020.

About Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

TNBC is an aggressive type of breast cancer that characteristically has a high recurrence rate within the first five years after diagnosis. While some breast cancers may test positive for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), TNBC tests negative for all three. As a result, TNBC does not respond to therapies targeting these markers, making it more difficult to treat. Approximately 10-20% of patients with breast cancer are diagnosed with TNBC.

About KEYNOTE-890

KEYNOTE-890 is designed as a multicenter Phase 2 open-label trial focusing on patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of inoperable locally advanced or metastatic TNBC and at least 1 prior line of approved systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy. 25 patients are expected to be enrolled. Each patient will undergo 3-week treatment cycles with pembrolizumab administered as a 30-minute IV infusion day 1 of every cycle (flat dose of 200 mg) and treated with TAVO on days 1, 5 and 8 every six weeks.