On April 8, 2021 Celcuity Inc. (Nasdaq:CELC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pursuing an integrated companion diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for treating patients with cancer, reported preliminary data for the 103 patients enrolled in the expansion portion of an ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating gedatolisib, a first-in-class PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, plus Ibrance and endocrine therapy, in ER+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer patients (Press release, Celcuity, APR 8, 2021, View Source;Metastatic-Breast-Cancer-and-Provides-Corporate-Update [SID1234577753]). As of the January 11, 2021 data cut-off date, 53 of the 88 evaluable patients (60%) had an objective response. Gedatolisib was also generally well tolerated, with the majority of treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) being Grade 1 or 2. The most common Grade 3 or 4 TRAEs related to gedatolisib were stomatitis and rash.
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"We are very encouraged by this preliminary data for gedatolisib from our ongoing Phase 1b trial in patients with breast cancer," said Brian Sullivan, CEO and Co-Founder of Celcuity. "The robust response rate and the observed tolerability profile are particularly compelling given the need for a therapeutic regimen that can address endocrine therapy resistance. We look forward to sharing additional data from the study at a future medical conference in 2021. Developing a therapeutic such as gedatolisib allows us to more fully leverage our CELsignia cellular analysis platform."
Preliminary Phase 1b Data for Gedatolisib:
The preliminary Phase 1b data set for the 103 patients enrolled utilized a January 11, 2021 data cut-off. Patients were enrolled in one of four expansion arms (A, B, C, D), according to their prior treatment history for metastatic breast cancer. All patients received gedatolisib in combination with standard doses of palbociclib and endocrine therapy (either letrozole or fulvestrant). In Arms A, B, and C, patients received an intravenous dose of 180 mg of gedatolisib once weekly. In Arm D, patients received an intravenous dose of 180 mg gedatolisib on a four-week cycle of three weeks-on, one week-off. The primary endpoint was objective response as determined using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.0, or RECIST v1.0.
The preliminary efficacy and safety analysis showed:
53 of the 88 evaluable patients (60%) had an objective response.
66 of the 88 evaluable patients (75%) had a clinical benefit, defined as either a confirmed objective response or stable disease for at least 24 weeks.
Gedatolisib was also generally well tolerated, with the majority of treatment related adverse events (TRAE) being Grade 1 or 2. The most common Grade 3 or 4 TRAEs associated with gedatolisib were stomatitis and rash. Gedatolisib was discontinued in 10% of patients.
22 patients were continuing to receive gedatolisib in combination with the other study drugs, 17 of whom have been on study treatment for more than two years.
In light of these encouraging results, Celcuity is planning to initiate, subject to feedback from the FDA, a Phase 2/3 clinical trial evaluating gedatolisib in combination with palbociclib and an endocrine therapy in patients with ER+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer in the first half of 2022.
Corporate Update
Management team expanded in key areas
With the in-licensing of gedatolisib, Celcuity has broadened and deepened its management team with experienced pharmaceutical development and regulatory affairs experts.
Arthur DeCillis, M.D., Chief Medical Officer
Dr. DeCillis was the Chief Medical Officer for Eleven Biotherapeutics (now known as Sesen Bio Inc.) and VP Clinical Research for Exelixis. Prior to that, he served in senior drug development roles at Novartis and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Arthur has been involved in the development of several commercialized oncology drugs, including SPRYCEL (dasatinib), AFINITOR (everolimus), FARYDAK (panobinostat), and CABOMETYX (cabozantinib).
John R. MacDonald, Ph.D., DABT, Senior Vice President of R&D
Dr. MacDonald led the preclinical and clinical R&D efforts at MGI Pharma, an oncology-focused pharmaceutical company until its sales to Eisai Co. He has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of pharmaceutical drug development and licensing. Prior to MGI, he worked for Warner-Lambert (now Pfizer).
Sheri Smith, Head of Clinical Operations (Acting)
Ms. Smith was the former Senior Director of Clinical Operations at MGI Pharma, where she was responsible for all clinical operations. For the past 17 years, she has served as President of Courante Oncology, a specialty clinical research services company serving pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Bernhard Lampert, Ph.D., Head of CMC
Dr. Lampert has extensive drug development experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, including ten years in large, fully integrated pharmaceutical companies, including Gilead and GSK. He received his Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Georgia in 1989.
Marie DeGayner Kuker, Head of Regulatory
Ms. Kuker has more than 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, most recently as head of global regulatory affairs for 3M Pharmaceuticals and Drug Delivery Systems before founding her consultancy in 2007. Marie is an appointed Fellow of the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society.
Celcuity announces $25 million debt financing agreement with Innovatus Capital Partners, LLC
Celcuity has entered into a debt financing agreement with Innovatus Capital Partners, LLC (Innovatus) to provide Celcuity with up to $25 million in term loans with the first $15 million tranche funded at closing. Celcuity will be able to draw on two additional tranches of $5 million each upon the achievement of certain clinical trial and financing milestones. Celcuity is entitled to make interest only payments for 36 months or up to 48 months if certain conditions are met. The loans will mature on the fifth anniversary of the initial funding date. Innovatus has the right to convert up to 20% of the outstanding principal amount into shares of Celcuity common stock until the third anniversary of the loan agreement. The loan agreement includes customary warrant coverage and is secured by all of Celcuity’s assets. Armentum Partners LLC acted as sole advisor to Celcuity on this transaction.
Webcast Presentation and Conference Call Information
The Celcuity management team will host a webcast/conference call today, April 8, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the gedatolisib license agreement and provide a corporate update. To participate in the call, dial 1-877-407-8035. A live webcast presentation can be accessed using this weblink: View Source or via Celcuity’s website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be available on the Celcuity website for a limited time following the event.
About the Phase 1b Gedatolisib Clinical Trial
The B2151009 trial is a multicenter, open-label, on-going Phase 1b study in patients with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Four dose expansion arms enrolled 103 patients to determine if the triplet combination of gedatolisib plus palbociclib and letrozole or gedatolisib plus palbociclib and fulvestrant produced a superior objective response (OR), compared to historical control data of the doublet combination (palbociclib plus endocrine therapy). More information about the trial is available at NCT02684032.
About Gedatolisib
Gedatolisib is a potent, reversible dual inhibitor that selectively targets PI3K and mTOR. Gedatolisib was originally developed by Wyeth and clinical development was continued by Pfizer after it acquired Wyeth. Celcuity licensed exclusive global rights to gedatolisib from Pfizer in April 2021. An on-going Phase 1b trial evaluating patients with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer was initiated in 2016 and subsequently enrolled 138 patients. Patient enrollment for the four expansion arms of the trial is complete. Based on the favorable preliminary results reported to date from the Phase 1b trial, we intend to initiate, subject to feedback from the FDA, a Phase 2/3 clinical trial evaluating gedatolisib in combination with palbociclib and an endocrine therapy in patients with ER+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer in the first half of 2022.