Rocket Pharmaceuticals to Present at the 2021 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa

On October 7, 2021 Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCKT), a clinical-stage company advancing an integrated and sustainable pipeline of genetic therapies for rare childhood disorders, reported that Gaurav Shah, M.D., chief executive officer, will deliver an in-person company presentation at the 2021 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa, being held as a hybrid conference virtually and in Carlsbad, CA (Press release, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, OCT 7, 2021, View Source [SID1234590944]). The Rocket Pharmaceuticals presentation will take place on Tuesday, October 12 at 2:15 p.m. PST.

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A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available to registered attendees within the virtual platform and within 24 hours of the Rocket presentation the video will be available for on-demand viewing.

Sapreme Boosts Development of its Endosomal Escape Technology Platform and Proprietary Pipeline with EUR 15M Series A

On October 7, 2021 Sapreme, a biotechnology company focused on improving the delivery and efficacy of macromolecule therapeutics, reported that it has closed a EUR 15 million Series A financing round to accelerate the buildout of its endosomal escape technology platform and support the further progress of its proprietary pipeline and corporate development activities (Press release, Sapreme Technologies, OCT 7, 2021, View Source [SID1234590943]). Led by founding investor Aglaia Oncology Funds, together with Aglaia-associated partners, the round follows promising 2020 and 2021 preclinical data demonstrating the effectiveness of Sapreme’s endosomal escape compound, SPT001.

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Sapreme was founded in 2016 to develop improved macromolecular therapeutics such as antibody targeted antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) for the treatment of cancer and other indications. Sapreme’s innovative endosomal escape platform is designed to allow therapeutics to reach their target without becoming entrapped by the endosome. Endosomal entrapment poses a significant hurdle for the drug discovery and development industry, currently limiting the development of a broad range of potential macromolecular therapeutics to ‘undruggable’ intracellular targets. An effective solution to endosomal entrapment could be of immense value to the therapeutic landscape, as it enables the development of truly differentiated therapeutics to such novel targets.

"The continued support of Aglaia and its backers is invaluable to us as we continue to showcase the potential of our platform and establish our proprietary therapeutics pipeline," stated Guy Hermans, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Sapreme. "These proceeds will allow us to mature our platform and to generate preclinical data needed to showcase the full scope of our technology."

In addition to earlier data supporting the use of its platform in oncology and in combination with various drug modalities, the company recently unveiled new in vivo data demonstrating its ability to significantly enhance delivery of oligonucleotides to the liver using GalNAc targeting – currently a mainstay in the therapeutic oligo development field. The data revealed consistent high levels of gene expression knockdown in the liver at reduced oligonucleotide doses.

"Having engaged in multiple studies with industry players throughout the past year, we see the opportunity to expand these collaborations to a range of new indications and drug modalities in the months ahead. Our current collaborators apply Sapreme’s endosomal escape technology to their proprietary drug candidates to improve intracellular target engagement manyfold, such as we have reported on earlier. We now look forward to further scale the platform and advancing our internal drug development pipeline, which following the Series A, we are well-positioned to do," commented Henrik Luessen, Chief Business Officer of Sapreme. (Press release, Sapreme Technologies, OCT 7, 2021, View Source [SID1234590943])

Jounce Therapeutics Progresses INNATE Study of JTX-8064 (LILRB2/ILT4 Inhibitor) Monotherapy and Pimivalimab (PD-1 Inhibitor) Combination Therapy in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

On October 7, 2021 Jounce Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: JNCE), a clinical-stage company focused on the discovery and development of novel cancer immunotherapies and predictive biomarkers, reported the initiation of patient enrollment in INNATE tumor-specific expansion cohorts for both JTX-8064 monotherapy and combination therapy of JTX-8064 with its internal PD-1 inhibitor, pimivalimab (Press release, Jounce Therapeutics, OCT 7, 2021, View Source [SID1234590942]). JTX-8064, the first tumor-associated macrophage candidate developed from Jounce’s Translational Science Platform, is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed to specifically bind to the macrophage receptor Leukocyte Immunoglobulin Like Receptor B2 (LILRB2/ILT4). By inhibiting LILRB2 binding with its ligands, JTX-8064 reprograms immune-suppressive macrophages to an immune-active state in preclinical studies, potentially enhancing the T cell response and anti-tumor immunity.

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"We are very pleased to announce that we have started dosing patients in the tumor-specific JTX-8064 monotherapy and pimivalimab combination expansion cohorts of our INNATE study," said Beth Trehu, M.D., chief medical officer at Jounce Therapeutics. "We have made enormous progress in INNATE, having advanced the study from initiation of monotherapy dose escalation to the opening of tumor-specific, proof-of-concept, combination expansion cohorts in just nine months. This progress has been driven by the continued dedication of our employees, enthusiasm from investigators and, based on the science, our belief that the mechanism of action of JTX-8064 has the potential to address the major emerging unmet need in immuno-oncology, overcoming PD-(L)1 inhibitor resistance. We look forward to sharing updates on our continued execution of the INNATE study."

Proof-of-concept (POC) expansion cohorts in INNATE will address three different segments of IO patient populations; first, patients whose tumors progressed on or after a prior PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor (PD-(L)1i) and whose tumors exhibited primary or acquired resistance; second, IO naïve patients with tumors where no PD-(L)1i treatment is approved; and third, IO naïve patients with tumors that have a PD-(L)1i approval. POC expansion cohorts in INNATE follow a Simon’s two-stage design with the potential to enroll up to 29 patients per combination cohort and 47 patients in the monotherapy cohort if pre-specified criteria are met. If POC is established after evaluation of 29 or 47 patients, respectively, Jounce intends to move JTX-8064 rapidly into registrational trials on a cohort by cohort basis. INNATE will also assess pharmacodynamic and potential predictive biomarkers to guide future development, aligning with Jounce’s philosophy of developing the right immunotherapies for the right patients.

The INNATE trial (NCT04669899) is divided into 4 parts:

Part 1: JTX-8064 monotherapy dose escalation in solid tumors (completed July 2021)
Part 2: JTX-8064 + pimivalimab dose escalation in solid tumors (enrollment completed)
Part 3: JTX-8064 monotherapy expansion cohort in 2nd- to 4th-line PD-(L)1i naïve, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (initiated August 2021)
Part 4: JTX-8064 + pimivalimab in indication-specific expansion cohorts (initiated October 2021)
Combination expansion cohorts include:
2nd- to 3rd-line non-small cell lung cancer that has progressed on or after a PD-(L)1i
2nd-line+ clear cell renal cell carcinoma that has progressed on or after a PD-(L)1i
2nd- to 4th-line triple-negative breast cancer that has progressed on or after a PD-(L)1i
2nd- to 3rd-line cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma that has progressed on or after a PD-(L)1i
1st-line PD-(L)1i naïve, PD-L1+ head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
2nd- to 4th-line PD-(L)1i naïve, platinum-resistant, ovarian cancer
2nd- to 4th-line PD-(L)1i naïve, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and liposarcoma
About JTX-8064
JTX-8064 is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed to specifically bind to Leukocyte Immunoglobulin Like Receptor B2 (LILRB2/ILT4) and block interactions with its ligands. JTX-8064 is the first tumor-associated macrophage candidate developed from Jounce’s Translational Science Platform. Preclinical data presented at the 2020 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper)’s Annual Meeting and the 2019 and 2021 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meetings support the development of JTX-8064 as a novel immunotherapy to reprogram immune-suppressive macrophages and enhance anti-tumor immunity. A Phase 1 clinical trial named INNATE (NCT04669899) of JTX-8064 as a monotherapy and in combination with Jounce’s internal anti-PD-1 inhibitor, pimivalimab (formerly JTX-4014) is currently enrolling patients with advanced solid tumors into tumor-specific expansion cohorts.

About Pimivalimab
Pimivalimab (formerly JTX-4014) is a well-characterized fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed to block binding to PD-L1 and PD-L2. Pimivalimab demonstrated a 17% durable overall response rate in a Phase 1 trial of 18 heavily pre-treated PD-(L)1 inhibitor naïve patients, which excluded all tumor types for which PD-(L)1 inhibitors were approved. In this Phase 1 trial, pimivalimab was shown to have an acceptable safety profile. Pimivalimab is currently being assessed in the INNATE Phase 1 trial (NCT04669899) in combination with JTX-8064, a LILRB2 (ILT4) inhibitor. Pimivalimab is also being assessed in the SELECT Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT04549025) in combination with vopratelimab, a clinical-stage monoclonal antibody that binds to and activates ICOS, the Inducible T cell CO-Stimulator, a protein on the surface of certain T cells commonly found in many solid tumors.

Seagen to Host Conference Call and Webcast Discussion of Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results on October 28, 2021

On October 7, 2021 Seagen Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) reported that it will report its third quarter 2021 financial results on Thursday, October 28, 2021 after the close of U.S. financial markets. Following the announcement, Company management will host a conference call and webcast that day at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results and provide a business update. Access to the event can be obtained as follows (Press release, Seagen, OCT 7, 2021, View Source [SID1234590941]):

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Telephone 844-763-8274 (U.S.) or +1 412-717-9224 (international); conference ID 10160629
Webcast with slides can be accessed at investor.seagen.com. A webcast replay will be archived on the Company’s website.

Retrospective Analysis of Pooled Results from Three Studies Shows COSELA™ (Trilaciclib) Reduced Use of Supportive Care Interventions in Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Who Receive the Drug Prior to Chemotherapy

On October 7, 2021 G1 Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTHX), a commercial-stage oncology company, reported results from a retrospective analysis of the pooled results of three randomized trilaciclib studies showing that patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) who received the drug prior to each chemotherapy treatment had significantly lower use of supportive care therapies for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression than patients who received placebo (Press release, G1 Therapeutics, OCT 7, 2021, View Source [SID1234590940]). Results of the retrospective analysis are published in the online edition of the journal Cancer Medicine.

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COSELA (trilaciclib) is indicated to decrease the incidence of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in adult patients when administered prior to a platinum/etoposide-containing regimen or topotecan-containing regimen for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

In the study, the researchers assessed the impact of trilaciclib versus placebo on subsequent use of supportive therapies—including granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), and red blood cell transfusions—following chemotherapy treatments for ES-SCLC. The results showed that trilaciclib significantly reduced the duration and occurrence of chemotherapy-induced severe neutropenia and the occurrence of grade 3 or greater chemotherapy-induced anemia, with a corresponding reduction in the use of supportive care therapies to manage these adverse events.

The publication titled, "Trilaciclib Prior to Chemotherapy Reduces the Usage of Supportive Care Interventions for Chemotherapy-Induced Myelosuppression in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer: Pooled Analysis of Three Randomized Phase 2 Trials," can be accessed here.

Specifically, the analysis showed that administering trilaciclib prior to chemotherapy:

Significantly reduced the occurrence of severe neutropenia—11.4% in the trilaciclib group versus 52.9% in the placebo group (p < 0.0001).
with a corresponding reduction in G-CSF use by approximately half in the trilaciclib group compared with placebo
Consistency of treatment effects on occurrence of severe neutropenia with or without concomitant G-CSF use was tested and results indicated that the effect of trilaciclib was consistent regardless of whether or not a G-CSF was administered.
Significantly reduced the occurrence of grade 3/4 anemia compared with placebo—20.3% in the trilaciclib group versus 31.9% in the placebo group (p = 0.0279)
with a corresponding reduction of ESA treatment: 3.3% trilaciclib versus 11.8% placebo (p = 0.0254)
and a corresponding reduction of red blood cell transfusions on or after week five: 14.6% trilaciclib versus 26.1% placebo (p = 0.0252)
In a separate analysis, the use of trilaciclib significantly reduced patient hospitalizations due to chemotherapy induced myelosuppression (CIM) or sepsis, with 4.1% of patients hospitalized in the trilaciclib arm versus 13.6% of patients hospitalized in the placebo arm
The findings were derived from a retrospective analysis of pooled data obtained from three randomized, Phase 2 clinical trials of trilaciclib or placebo administered prior to chemotherapy in 242 patients with ES-SCLC. The authors suggest that the pooled data indicate that the administration of trilaciclib prior to chemotherapy has the potential to reduce the burden of CIM on health care systems.

"The results from our analysis show clear myeloprotection benefits associated with the administration of trilaciclib prior to chemotherapy in patients with ES-SCLC," said Renata Ferrarotto, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and lead author of the study. "By reducing the need for associated supportive care, trilaciclib has the potential to reduce both the societal and economic burden of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression."

Chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression (CIM) is one of the most common, dose-limiting complications of cancer treatment, and is associated with a range of symptoms that can significantly impact patients’ quality of life. The researchers concluded that "trilaciclib may help to reduce the burden of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression on patients, caregivers, and health care systems."

About Small Cell Lung Cancer
In the United States, approximately 30,000 small cell lung cancer patients are treated annually. SCLC, one of the two main types of lung cancer, accounts for about 10% to 15% of all lung cancers. SCLC is an aggressive disease and tends to grow and spread faster than NSCLC. It is usually asymptomatic; once symptoms do appear, it often indicates that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. About 70% of people with SCLC will have cancer that has metastasized at the time they are diagnosed. The severity of symptoms usually increases with increased cancer growth and spread. From the time of diagnosis, the general 5-year survival rate for people with SCLC is 6%. The five-year survival rates for limited-stage (the cancer is confined to one side of the chest) SCLC is 12% to 15%, and for extensive stage (cancer has spread to the other lung and beyond), survival rates are less than 2%. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for ES-SCLC.

About COSELA (trilaciclib) for Injection

COSELA (trilaciclib) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on February 12, 2021.

Indication
COSELA (trilaciclib) is indicated to decrease the incidence of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in adult patients when administered prior to a platinum/etoposide-containing regimen or topotecan-containing regimen for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

Select Important Safety Information

CONTRAINDICATION
COSELA is contraindicated in patients with a history of serious hypersensitivity reactions to trilaciclib.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Injection-Site Reactions, Including Phlebitis and Thrombophlebitis
COSELA administration can cause injection-site reactions, including phlebitis and thrombophlebitis, which occurred in 56 (21%) of 272 patients receiving COSELA in clinical trials, including Grade 2 (10%) and Grade 3 (0.4%) adverse reactions. Injection-site reactions led to discontinuation of treatment in 3 (1%) of the 272 patients.

Acute Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions
COSELA administration can cause acute drug hypersensitivity reactions, which occurred in 16 (6%) of 272 patients receiving COSELA in clinical trials, including Grade 2 reactions (2%).

Interstitial Lung Disease/Pneumonitis
Severe, life-threatening, or fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) and/or pneumonitis can occur in patients treated with cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK)4/6 inhibitors, including COSELA, with which it occurred in 1 (0.4%) of 272 patients receiving COSELA in clinical trials.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on its mechanism of action, COSELA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Females of reproductive potential should use an effective method of contraception during treatment with COSELA and for at least 3 weeks after the final dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) were fatigue, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, aspartate aminotransferase increased, headache, and pneumonia.

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 30% of patients receiving COSELA. Serious adverse reactions reported in >3% of patients who received COSELA included respiratory failure, hemorrhage, and thrombosis. Fatal adverse reactions were observed in 5% of patients receiving COSELA. Fatal adverse reactions for patients receiving COSELA included pneumonia (2%), respiratory failure (2%), acute respiratory failure (<1%), hemoptysis (<1%), and cerebrovascular accident (<1%).

This information is not comprehensive. Please click here for full Prescribing Information. View Source

To report suspected adverse reactions, contact G1 Therapeutics at 1-800-790-G1TX or call FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit www.fda.gov/medwatch.