Sanofi’s emerging oncology pipeline highlighted at the AACR Virtual Annual Meeting II

On June 15, 2020 Sanofi reported that preclinical data for investigational compounds in breast, lung, multiple myeloma and other cancers will be featured at the American Academy of Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting II on June 22-24 (Press release, Sanofi, JUN 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561114]). The results that will be presented underscore the Company’s commitment to transforming scientific knowledge and advances in innovative oncology therapies.

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!

"We believe the innovation and efforts we are driving in oncology have the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of people living with cancer," said Yong Jun Liu, Global Head of Research, Senior Vice President R&D at Sanofi. "Preclinical data presented at this year’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Meeting II showcase the depth of our pipeline and support the continued exploration of our investigational assets that reflect some of the most cutting-edge scientific technologies and platforms in oncology."

Preclinical data show anti-tumor activity and support further research across a range of solid tumors, including evolving evidence in breast and lung cancers

Sanofi continues to embrace a variety of technological approaches to address some of the hardest-to-treat forms of cancer, including breast and lung cancer.

Abstract 3452: Pre-clinical development of next generation Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader – SAR439859 (Dr. Fangxian Sun, Sr.; Tuesday, June 23: Virtual Minisymposium Session, 10:20-10:30 AM)

SAR439859 (SERD ‘859) is a oral endocrine backbone therapy in hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer that selectively binds to estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells to block signaling and trigger their degradation. Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer worldwide, with an estimated 70-80% of breast cancers being HR+.

Preclinical research from SERD ‘859 demonstrated anti-tumor activity in HR+ breast cancer cell lines.
SERD ‘859 showed significant anti-tumor activity against endocrine-therapy-resistant, patient-derived tumor models that correlated with pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure and pharmacodynamic (PD) modulation in target tissue.
Looking to potential combination therapies, researchers observed strong synergistic activity between SERD ‘859 and palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor
Abstract 561/16: Pre-clinical efficacy data for the anti-CEACAM5-DM4 ADC SAR408701 supports further development in lung and gastro-intestinal cancers (Dr. Stephanie Decary; Monday, June 22: Poster Display, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM)

SAR408701 (SAR ‘701) is Sanofi’s potential first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate targeting CEACAM5 (carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5), a cell-surface glycoprotein that is highly expressed in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Approximately 20-30% of lung cancers have a high expression of CEACAM5.

Results from patient-derived xenograft mouse studies of SAR ‘701 in non-small cell lung cancer will be presented.
Findings revealed a potential correlation between preclinical activity of the compound and the expression of CEACAM5 in lung tumors.
Further exploration of SAR ‘701 clinical activity is also ongoing across a number of CEACAM5-expressing solid tumors.
Abstract 1943/10: SHP2 inhibition as the backbone of targeted therapy combinations for the treatment of cancers driven by oncogenic mutations in the RAS pathway (Dr. Jacqueline Smith; Monday, June 22: Poster Display, 9:00AM-6:00PM)

SAR442720 (RMC-4630) is an investigational inhibitor of the cellular enzyme SHP2 developed jointly by Sanofi and Revolution Medicines. Inhibitors of SHP2 are designed to reduce cell growth signaling in the RAS-MAP kinase pathway that is frequently overactive in human cancers, like NSCLC.

Results from preclinical combination studies showed SAR442720 enhanced the anti-tumor activity of EGFR-mutant or KRASG12C inhibitors.
Preclinical data add to growing body of evidence supporting Sarclisa (isatuximab-irfc) in multiple myeloma and other blood cancers

Sanofi is committed to investigating new treatments for patients with multiple myeloma, a difficult-to-treat blood cancer, who often need multiple lines of therapy. Despite available treatments, multiple myeloma remains an incurable malignancy and is associated with significant patient burden.

Abstract 5179/5: Isatuximab based combinations induce potent tumor growth inhibition in pre-clinical models of multiple myeloma and acute lymphocytic leukemia (Dr. Chen Zhu; Monday, June 22: Poster Display, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM)

Sarclisa is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the CD38 receptor on multiple myeloma cells. It is currently approved for use in the U.S. and EU in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of certain adults who have received at least two prior therapies including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor.

Results from a study using patient-derived mouse xenograft models showed anti-tumor activity with Sarclisa in combination with standard-of-care treatments in both multiple myeloma (pomalidomide, lenalidomide, bortezomid, carfilzomib, melphalan) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (vincristine, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide). These potential uses of Sarclisa are investigational, and their safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.
Early science: new approaches in blood cancer research

Abstract 2266/1: SAR442085, a next generation anti-CD38 antibody with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against multiple myeloma (Dr. Angela Virone-Oddos; Monday, June 22: Poster Display, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM)

Current anti-CD38 treatments in combination with standard treatments represent a major advancement in the treatment of patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, but unmet needs remain. Sanofi scientists investigating a next-generation anti-CD38 antibody SAR442085 for the treatment of multiple myeloma will present preclinical data at the meeting.

Findings from a study of SAR442085 include antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity in vivo compared to currently available anti-CD38 antibodies.
SAR442085 demonstrated a higher level of natural killer (NK) cell activation against primary plasma cells in patient samples and potent in vivo single-agent activity against tumor cells expressing human CD38 in a C57BL/6 mouse model.
SAR442085 is currently being evaluated in Phase I clinical trials in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
Abstract 5641/2: CD28 expression on multiple myeloma cells enhances the cytotoxic activity of CD38/CD28xCD3 trispecific T-cell engager (Dr. Nizar El-Murr; Monday, June 22: Poster Display, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM)

Sanofi scientists are also investigating the trispecific T-cell engager SAR442257 (CD38/CD28xCD3) as a potential treatment for multiple myeloma.

Preclinical data show that SAR442257 is active on CD38 in multiple myeloma models.
SAR442257 can also directly target CD28, a T-cell activating protein expressed on tumor cells, enhancing the protein’s anti-tumor activity and allowing it to bind to tumor cells when CD38 is occupied by other antibodies.
The clinical significance of the preclinical findings relating to SERD ‘859, SAR ‘701, SAR442720, Sarclisa, SAR442085 and SAR442257 described above are currently under investigation.

About Sarclisa

Sarclisa is a monoclonal antibody that binds to a specific epitope on the CD38 receptor on MM cells. It is designed to work through multiple mechanisms of action including programmed tumor cell death (apoptosis) and immunomodulatory activity. CD38 is highly and uniformly expressed on the surface of MM cells, making it a potential target for antibody-based therapeutics such as Sarclisa.

Sarclisa is approved in the EU, U.S., Switzerland, Canada and Australia in combination with pom-dex for the treatment of certain adults with relapsed refractory MM. In the U.S., the generic name for Sarclisa is isatuximab-irfc, with irfc as the suffix designated in accordance with Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products Guidance for Industry issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Sarclisa continues to be evaluated in multiple ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in combination with current standard treatments across the MM treatment continuum. It is also under investigation for the treatment of other hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The safety and efficacy of these additional uses have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.

For more information on Sarclisa clinical trials please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATION FOR U.S. PATIENTS

What is SARCLISA?

SARCLISA is a prescription medicine used in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone to treat adults who have received at least 2 prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor, to treat multiple myeloma.

It is not known if SARCLISA is safe and effective in children.

Do not receive SARCLISA if you have a history of severe allergic reaction to isatuximab-irfc or any of the ingredients in SARCLISA (see the list of ingredients in full Prescribing Information).

Before receiving SARCLISA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. SARCLISA may harm your unborn baby. You should not receive SARCLISA during pregnancy.
Females who are able to become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control during treatment and for 5 months after your last dose of SARCLISA. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you are pregnant or become pregnant during treatment with SARCLISA.

are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if SARCLISA passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment with SARCLISA.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How will I receive SARCLISA?

SARCLISA will be given to you by your healthcare provider by intravenous (IV) infusion into your vein.
SARCLISA is given in treatment cycles of 28 days (4 weeks), together with the medicines pomalidomide and dexamethasone.
In cycle 1, SARCLISA is usually given weekly.
Starting in cycle 2, SARCLISA is usually given every 2 weeks.
Your healthcare provider will decide how long you should receive SARCLISA.

If you miss any appointments, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment.
Your healthcare provider will give you medicines before each dose of SARCLISA to help reduce the risk of infusion reactions (make them less frequent and severe).
What are the possible side effects of SARCLISA?

SARCLISA may cause serious side effects, including:

Infusion reactions. Infusion reactions are common with SARCLISA and can sometimes be severe.
Your healthcare provider will prescribe medicines before each infusion of SARCLISA to help decrease your risk for infusion reactions or to help make any infusion reaction less severe. You will be monitored for infusion reactions during each dose of SARCLISA.
Your healthcare provider may slow down or stop your infusion, or completely stop treatment with SARCLISA, if you have an infusion reaction.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms of infusion reaction during or within 24 hours after an infusion of SARCLISA:

feeling short of breath
cough
chills
nausea
Decreased white blood cell counts. Decreased white blood cell counts are common with SARCLISA and certain white blood cells can be severely decreased. You may have an increased risk of getting certain infections, such as upper and lower respiratory infections.
Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell counts during treatment with SARCLISA. Your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic or antiviral medicine to help prevent infection, or a medicine to help increase your white blood cell counts during treatment with SARCLISA.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any fever or symptoms of infection during treatment with SARCLISA.

Risk of new cancers. New cancers have happened in people during treatment with SARCLISA. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for new cancers during treatment with SARCLISA.
Change in blood tests. SARCLISA can affect the results of blood tests to match your blood type. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to match your blood type before you start treatment with SARCLISA. Tell all of your healthcare providers that you are being treated with SARCLISA before receiving blood transfusions.
The most common side effects of SARCLISA include:

-lung infection (pneumonia)

-upper respiratory tract infection

-decreased red blood cell counts

(anemia)

-diarrhea

-decreased platelet counts (thrombocytopenia)

These are not all the possible side effects of SARCLISA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

ImmVira Raises $58M in Series B financing

On June 15, 2020 Immvira Group Company, a biotechnology company focused on the development of new generation oncolytic viruses as potential cancer therapeutics, reported the completion of Series B financing for 58 million US dollars (Press release, Immvira, JUN 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561113]). Attracting some of the top international and domestic medical and biotech investors, this new round of financing was led by Huagai Capital, with participation by Apricot Capital, Cowin Capital and the lead investor from previous round.

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!

This round of financing will be mainly supporting the preclinical and clinical development of existing product pipelines, the discovery of new candidate in its early stage, and the potential strategic collaboration with domestic and global partners.

Immvira Group Company achieved its major milestone by receiving IND clearance of its first product T3011 (intratumoral injection) from FDA on May 29th. T3011 has become the first oncolytic virus product to conduct human study in United States from mainland China, and the first to carry out multiple-regional clinical trials in United States, Australia and mainland China.

In addition to mono and combination therapies by T3011 (intratumoral injection), Immvira Group Company has additional 4 products planned in its pipeline covering multiple indications, including lung cancer and liver cancer (T3011-systemic administration), malignant brain tumors (C5252), virus-resistant solid tumors and hematological malignancies. All are progressing steadily, which are expected to enter the clinical stage in the near future.

"The completion of this round of financing marks an important milestone for Immvira Group Company from preclinical stage entering into clinical development stage," said Dr. Grace Zhou,Chairman of BOD and CEO of Immvira Group Company. "In the year of 2020, under such special circumstances around the globe, Immvira Group Company however is still embraced by so many investors with strong and enthusiastic support, we have no reasons to slow down! On the contrary, the company will make every effort to continue to uphold our corporate spirit of ‘Highly professional and highly focused’:not only push towards our goals at full speed, but must also watch ourselves conscientiously in each step of the development process."

Dante Labs, Cambridge Cancer Genomics and Nonacus Collaborate to Provide Precision Oncology at Scale

On June 15, 2020 Dante Labs, a pioneer and leader in genomic testing, Cambridge Cancer Genomics (CCG.ai), a software developer specialising in data-driven precision oncology, and Nonacus, a provider of genetic testing products for precision medicine and liquid biopsy, reported that they have signed a collaboration agreement (Press release, Dante Labs, JUN 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561112]).

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 partnership aims to build the most comprehensive and patient-centric tumour profiling service enabling improved cancer patient management, treatment and monitoring. By combining Dante Labs’ experience and capacity in delivering a sequencing service for both solid tumour and cell free circulating tumour DNA from liquid biopsies, Nonacus’ sensitive targeted pan-cancer NGS libraries, and CCG.ai’s industry leading AI powered software platform, OncOS, the companies will enable precision oncology at scale.

Improving outcomes for cancer patients means ensuring they have the right drug, at the right time to beat their cancer. This means understanding the molecular profile of the individual cancer and using that data to recommend treatments or clinical trials. Oncologists and clinical researchers will be able to send samples for processing to Dante Labs, who will use library preparation kits from Nonacus and software from CCG.ai to create a sample to report solution. If there are actionable mutations, the report will recommend the right treatments for those mutations, if there are novel or unactionable mutations, the software will also be able to match possible clinical trials.

Chris Sale, CEO of Nonacus, said: "Long turn-around time and lack of clinically oriented analysis are the main obstacles to fully deliver the potential of cancer genomics to patients. This partnership will provide the flexibility and accuracy that oncology professionals need to integrate cancer genomics into the care of their patients. The COVID pandemic has increased the backlog of genetic testing for cancer, potentially leaving many suspected cancers unconfirmed and treatments delayed. Dante is the biggest clinical sequencing hub in Europe able to process large numbers of samples in high throughput. It is our hope that by adding AI software from CCG.ai and our library preparation kits, together we will be able to process samples and provide bioinformatic analysis critical to determining the best treatment path for patients. Only with this comprehensive content at scale will it be possible to address the COVID backlog."

Nirmesh Patel, CSO at Cambridge Cancer Genomics, said: "With cancer being one of the greatest healthcare challenges we are facing, this partnership opens the door to democratizing access to data-driven cancer treatment. Combining our industry leading precision oncology platform with Nonacus’ precise NGS solutions and Dante Labs’ fast and efficient NGS services provides customers with the ability to perform precision oncology at scale. The combined solution will enable oncologists to precisely and comprehensively profile a patient’s tumor and ultimately improve outcomes."

Gianmarco Contino, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) of Cancer Genomic Medicine, said: "It is the beginning of a revolution in cancer treatment. Until now we have been treating cancer by tissue of origin. But each cancer harbors a unique combination of mutation which makes it effectively a ‘rare’ disease. Therefore the right approach should be to start from the mutations and look for the right drugs. There is a great deal we can learn from sequencing cancer genomes: not only what therapy is going to be more effective but also safer and less toxic. We are now at a stage where a patient can benefit directly from this knowledge. Machine learning is helping us to unleash the potential of information hidden in the complexity of the genome."

AVEO Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock

On June 15, 2020 AVEO Oncology (Nasdaq: AVEO) reported that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of $40.0 million of shares of its common stock (Press release, AVEO, JUN 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561111]). In connection with the offering, AVEO intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $6.0 million of shares of its common stock. All of the shares in the offering are to be sold by AVEO. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

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 net proceeds of the offering are expected to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, including funding commercialization activities relating to tivozanib.

SVB Leerink and Stifel are acting as joint bookrunning managers for the offering. Baird and H.C. Wainwright & Co. are acting as co-lead managers for the offering.

The shares are being offered by AVEO pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on November 30, 2017 and declared effective by the SEC on December 15, 2017. A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to, and describing the terms of, the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to this offering can be obtained from SVB Leerink LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, One Federal Street, 37th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, by telephone at (800) 808-7525, ext. 6218 or by email at [email protected]; or Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Attention: Syndicate, One Montgomery Street, Suite 3700, San Francisco, CA 94104, by telephone at (415) 364-2720 or by email at [email protected]. The final terms of the offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Codiak to Present New Preclinical Data on exoASO™-STAT6 and exoASO-C/EBPβ at the AACR 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting

On June 15, 2020 Codiak BioSciences, Inc., a company at the forefront of advancing engineered exosomes as a new class of biologic medicines, reported that it will present new preclinical data on its exoASO-STAT6 and exoASO-C/EBPβ programs via an oral presentation at the American Association For Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting II on June 23, 2020 (Press release, Codiak Biosciences, JUN 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561110]).

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!

Codiak’s exoASO program utilizes its proprietary engEx Platform to engineer exosomes exogenously loaded with an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO). These exosomes are designed to selectively reprogram M2 immunosuppressive macrophages to an M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype by targeting and decreasing the expression of the immunosuppressive transcription factors STAT6 and C/EBPβ.

"These new data are encouraging because they demonstrate that both exoASO-STAT6 and exoASO-C/EBPβ showed significant efficacy when administered intravenously in an aggressive orthotopic model of hepatocellular carcinoma," said Sriram Sathy, Ph.D, Senior Vice President, Preclinical Development at Codiak BioSciences. "We are excited to continue to advance this program through IND-enabling preclinical studies."

Oral Presentation:

Genetic reprogramming of TAMs by engineered exosomes results in potent single agent anti-tumor activity
Abstract Number: 4723
Presentation Number: 5696
Session Title: Novel Immunotherapies and Mechanisms
Date/Time: Tuesday June 23, 2020 from 9:35-9:50 AM ET

About engEx Platform

The engEx Platform is Codiak’s proprietary exosome therapeutic engine for engineering and manufacturing novel exosome product candidates designed to target multiple pathways throughout the body. Using this platform, Codiak can design exosomes with precisely engineered properties, incorporate various types of biologically active molecules and direct them to specific cell types and tissues. These exosomes engage targets by cellular uptake, membrane-to-membrane interaction or a combination of both mechanisms and are designed to change the biological functioning of the recipient cells in order to produce the intended biological effect. Codiak is building a broad pipeline of engEx product candidates that may have a transformative impact on the treatment of many diseases.