Sound Biologics Announces Proof-of-Concept Success at AACR Annual Meeting

On April 13, 2021 Qilu Puget Sound Biotherapeutic Corp. (Sound Biologics), an emerging biotechnology company focused on developing a novel MabPair platform for antibody-based combination therapies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune disease, reported a clinical update on its first MabPair product PSB205 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Sound Biologics, APR 13, 2021, View Source [SID1234577995]). Dr Li Zhang of Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Centre (SYSUCC), Guangzhou, China presented a poster on Phase 1 Clinical Trial results of PSB205, a combination of anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies that are manufactured together as a single product, in patients with advanced malignant tumors. The study is sponsored by Qilu Pharma in China.

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Details of the presentation:

Presentation Title: Development and Preliminary Clinical Activity of QL1706 (PSB205), a Combination of anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA-4 Antibodies Manufactured Together as a Single Product

Session Title/Category: Phase I Clinical Trials

Session Type: E-Poster Session, 8:30 AM – 11:59 PM, Saturday, April 10

Poster Number: CT119

Forty-seven patients, 95% of whom had refractory Naso-Pharyngeal (NPC) or lung (NSCLC) cancers, were enrolled at a single clinic with over 5 ascending dose levels in a standard 3+3 design. A dose of 5 mg/kg was selected for continued clinical development. The most common side effects were Grade 1 pruritus and rash. Dose-limiting immune-related reactions occurred only at doses higher than 5 mg/kg. The Overall Rate of Response (ORR) was 29% among 35 patients evaluable for tumor response; among 20 patients without prior exposure to checkpoint-targeted immunotherapy, 40 % achieved Partial Response (PR), whereas 2 of 10 patients (20%) previously treated and progressed on earlier immunotherapy realized PR. For 5 patients on study, pre-study checkpoint inhibitor exposure status was unknown due to earlier participation in a still-blinded randomized immunotherapy trial.

"The Phase 1 data presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) provides encouraging proof-of-concept and early clinical validation of the MabPair platform," commented Sound Biologics’ Chief Executive Officer Wei Yan, PhD. "The early data offer multiple opportunities for further development of this dual immune checkpoint blockade product."

About PSB205

PSB205 is a first-in-class bifunctional product that contains a mixture of unique anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibodies produced by a single cell line via the company’s proprietary MabPairTM technology. MabPair products offer many advantages over bispecific antibodies. The relative ratio of the two antibodies in the MabPair can be well controlled, and each antibody is individually engineered for optimal target coverage, effector function, pharmacokinetics and exposure. The anti-CTLA-4 component of the MabPair is designed with a shorter half-life than currently available anti-CTLA-4 antibodies in an effort to reduce known side effects associated with CTLA-4 blockade. Preclinical studies with PSB205 demonstrated superior efficacy in tumor models compared to either checkpoint inhibitor alone. PSB205 represents a potentially best-in-class immuno-oncology product that promises to exhibit robust combination activity while being significantly more tolerable to patients than currently approved anti-PD-1/anti-CTLA-4 combinations. Parallel Phase 1 studies in a broad range of refractory solid tumors are currently ongoing in China and the United States (www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT03986606), and the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) poster represents the first release of clinical data from one of these studies.

HTL Biotechnology and Echelon Biosciences Inc. announce strategic partnership to expand their biopolymer development platform and the use of hyaluronic acid in research

On April 13, 2021 HTL , world leader in biotechnology solutions based on hyaluronic acid (HA) and other biopolymers, and Echelon Biosciences Inc. , global supplier of biochemical reagents, tests and Services for US-based Research and Development Laboratories reported a new partnership (Press release, Echelon Biosciences, APR 13, 2021, View Source [SID1234577993]). This partnership concerns the distribution of HA and high quality glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) as well as the development of new GAGs.

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This collaboration allows university research and pharmaceutical development laboratories to have access to a wide range of products based on hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans (GAG), compliant with good manufacturing practices (GMP). By providing researchers with superior quality, clinical grade products at the early stages of research, the partnership aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research, development and commercialization, and accelerate innovation around the world.

"Innovation is at the heart of HTL’s DNA," said HTL CEO Yvon Bastard . "This line of development is fully in line with our mission and our vision: to provide science today with the means to develop products that will improve health in the world in the future".

"This new partnership provides scientists and researchers with key technologies to develop innovative biopolymer solutions for new medical applications in the fields of aesthetics, ophthalmology, rheumatology, tissue engineering and drug administration, "said Charles Ruban , deputy CEO of HTL. "This is the true meaning of the signature of HTL: ‘Beyond, together’. HTL’s ambition is not only to develop its leading position in the production and distribution of hyaluronic acid around the world, but also to build the solutions of tomorrow based on glycosaminoglycans ".

"With hyaluronic acid and HTL’s other GAG-based products, Echelon is giving itself the opportunity to expand its line of industry-leading HA-based extracellular kits, tests and matrices. HTL is internationally recognized for its production of premium quality biopolymers. Says Bert Israelsen , President of Echelon Biosciences . "Echelon offers its customers access to innovative tools and unparalleled technical support, thereby maximizing creativity in basic and applied research. With its fermentation and organic synthesis platforms, HTL creates functionalities and added value by developing chemically modified biopolymers, targeted for specific needs ".

"This new partnership is an important step in the deployment of HTL in the North American market and to the American medical community," said Glenn Prestwich, Ph.D. , One of the founders of Echelon and today hui expert in science and innovation at HTL. By entrusting Echelon with the distribution of its hyaluronic acid and research glycosaminoglycans products, HTL aims to increase its support and participation in biopolymer research in the United States and globally, as well as its ability to research and development.

"This new initiative is a testament to HTL’s determination to invest in healthcare innovation," said Humberto C. Antunes , HTL strategic advisor and former CEO of Galderma. He added: "In the areas of health and wellness, the biotechnology ecosystem for innovation, incubators and established and emerging companies is incredibly vibrant in the United States, Mexico and Canada. . This means enormous growth potential for HTL’s products ".

RubrYc Therapeutics Announces a Research Collaboration and License Option Agreement With Zai Labs

On April 13, 2021 RubrYc Therapeutics, Inc., a pre-clinical biotherapeutics company developing epitope selective therapies, reported that it has entered into a research collaboration and license option agreement with Zai Labs, Inc. for the use of RubrYc’s Meso-scale Engineered Molecules (MEMs) platform, to identify monoclonal antibodies with enhanced biological function for an undisclosed oncology target (Press release, RubrYc Therapeutics, APR 13, 2021, View Source [SID1234577992]).

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Under the terms of the agreement RubrYc and Zai Labs will collaborate to identify product candidates using RubrYc’s Discovery Engine, which leverages machine learning and structural data to identify antibodies that bind to subdominant epitopes and exhibit differentiated activity. Upon exercise of the license option Zai Labs would have exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize product(s) of the Research Collaboration.

RubrYc Therapeutics, Inc. will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive future research, development and commercialization milestones on a per candidate basis, along with royalties on world-wide net sales of each product. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Dr. Isaac Bright, CEO, said, "We are excited that Zai Labs has selected the RubrYc Discovery Engine as part of its efforts to identify biotherapeutics against challenging oncology targets. We look forward to collaborating with Zai Labs to accelerate their research by identifying epitope-specific antibodies with differentiated modes of action. Zai Labs’ oncology expertise complements our interest in bringing novel therapeutics with breakthrough potential to patients in need."

U.S. FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Trodelvy® for the Treatment of Metastatic Urothelial Cancer

On April 13, 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) for use in adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (UC) who have previously received a platinum-containing chemotherapy and either a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor (Press release, Gilead Sciences, APR 13, 2021, View Source [SID1234577991]). The accelerated approval was based on data from the international Phase 2, single-arm TROPHY study. Of the 112 patients who were evaluable for efficacy, 27.7% of those treated with Trodelvy responded to treatment, with 5.4% experiencing a complete response and 22.3% experiencing a partial response. The median duration of response was 7.2 months (95% CI: 4.7-8.6). The Trodelvy U.S. Prescribing Information has a BOXED WARNING for severe or life-threatening neutropenia and severe diarrhea; see below for Important Safety Information.

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The FDA’s accelerated approval mechanism enables drugs that treat serious diseases with unmet medical need to be approved based on a surrogate or intermediate clinical endpoint. Continued approval is contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

"Only a fraction of patients derives long-term benefit from previously approved cytotoxic therapy or immunotherapy, leaving a great unmet need for treatment options for patients with advanced urothelial cancer who have progressed on first- and second-line therapies," said Scott T. Tagawa, MD, MS, FACP, Professor of Medicine and Urology at Weill Cornell Medicine, an oncologist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and principal investigator of the TROPHY study.i "The response rate and tolerability seen with sacituzumab govitecan-hziy may provide physicians an effective new treatment option for patients whose cancer continues to progress even after multiple therapies."

UC is the most common type of bladder cancer and occurs when the urothelial cells that line the inside of the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract grow unusually or uncontrollably. An estimated 83,000 Americans will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2021, and almost 90% of those diagnoses will be UC. The relative five-year survival rate for patients with metastatic UC is 5.5%.

"Cases of urothelial cancer continue to rise in the U.S., yet prognosis remains the same for the vast majority of patients," said Andrea Maddox-Smith, CEO of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN). "Bladder cancer patients need as many treatment options as possible, and we are pleased that Trodelvy can be a potentially viable treatment for them."

Trodelvy’s safety profile in the TROPHY study is consistent with previous observations in metastatic UC and other tumor types. Among all evaluable treated metastatic UC patients (n=113), the most common (≥25%) adverse reactions were diarrhea (72%), anemia (71%), fatigue (68%), neutropenia (67%), nausea (66%), alopecia (49%), decreased appetite (41%), constipation (34%), vomiting (34%) and abdominal pain (31%). Adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 10% of those receiving Trodelvy, with 4% discontinuing treatment due to neutropenia.

"Today’s accelerated approval is thanks to the patients and healthcare professionals involved in the TROPHY study, and we appreciate their partnership," said Merdad Parsey, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Gilead Sciences. "This achievement, coupled with last week’s full FDA approval in unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, underscores our commitment toward rapidly delivering Trodelvy to patients facing some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers."

A global, randomized Phase 3 confirmatory clinical trial TROPiCS-04 (NCT04527991) is underway and is also intended to support global registrations. More information on TROPiCS-04 is available at View Source

About Trodelvy

Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a first-in-class antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate directed to the Trop-2 receptor, a protein frequently expressed in multiple types of epithelial tumors, including metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and metastatic UC, where high expression is associated with poor survival and relapse.

In addition to the accelerated approval of Trodelvy for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic UC, Trodelvy is approved in the U.S. to treat adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic TNBC who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease.

Beyond the regulatory approvals of Trodelvy in the U.S., regulatory reviews for Trodelvy in metastatic TNBC are currently underway in the EU, U.K., Canada, Switzerland and Australia, as well as in Singapore through our partner Everest Medicines. Trodelvy is also being developed as an investigational treatment for hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER 2-) metastatic breast cancer and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Additional evaluation across multiple solid tumors is also underway.

About the TROPHY U-01 Study

The Phase 2 TROPHY-U01 (also known as IMMU-132-06) trial is an ongoing, international, multi-center, open-label, multi-cohort, single-arm study evaluating Trodelvy monotherapy or combination therapy in patients with metastatic UC after progression on a platinum-based regimen and anti-PD-1/PD-L1-based immunotherapy. In Cohorts 1 and 2, patients received Trodelvy 10 mg/kg administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle to be continued until disease progression or loss of clinical benefit. Trodelvy is approved under accelerated approval based on the objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DoR) established in Cohort 1.

Cohorts 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the study are ongoing. Cohort 2 is assessing the safety and efficacy of Trodelvy monotherapy in platinum-ineligible patients after progression on anti-PD-1/PD-L1-based immunotherapy. Cohort 3 is assessing the safety and efficacy of Trodelvy on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle followed by pembrolizumab at the standard approved dose (200 mg) only on Day 1 of a 21-day cycle in patients with metastatic UC who have progressed after prior platinum therapy. Cohorts 4 and 5 are assessing the safety and efficacy of Trodelvy combination therapy in patients with treatment naive metastatic UC, with those in Cohort 4 receiving cisplatin and those in Cohort 5 receiving cisplatin and avelumab, respectively, in addition to Trodelvy.

The primary endpoint is ORR based on RECIST 1.1 criteria evaluated by independent central review in all five cohorts. In Cohorts 1 and 2, secondary endpoints are DoR and progression-free survival (PFS) based on central review and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints in Cohorts 3, 4 and 5 include DoR, clinical benefit rate (CBR) and PFS based on central review by RECIST 1.1 criteria; DoR, CBR and PFS based on investigator review by RECIST 1.1 and iRECIST criteria, OS and safety and tolerability of Trodelvy in combination with pembrolizumab, cisplatin, or cisplatin and avelumab, depending on the Cohort. More information about TROPHY is available at View Source

Important Safety Information for Trodelvy

BOXED WARNING: NEUTROPENIA AND DIARRHEA

Severe or life-threatening neutropenia may occur. Withhold TRODELVY for absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm3 or neutropenic fever. Monitor blood cell counts periodically during treatment. Consider G-CSF for secondary prophylaxis. Initiate anti-infective treatment in patients with febrile neutropenia without delay.
Severe diarrhea may occur. Monitor patients with diarrhea and give fluid and electrolytes as needed. Administer atropine, if not contraindicated, for early diarrhea of any severity. At the onset of late diarrhea, evaluate for infectious causes and, if negative, promptly initiate loperamide. If severe diarrhea occurs, withhold TRODELVY until resolved to ≤Grade 1 and reduce subsequent doses.
CONTRAINDICATIONS

Severe hypersensitivity reaction to TRODELVY.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Neutropenia: Severe, life-threatening, or fatal neutropenia can occur and may require dose modification. Neutropenia occurred in 61% of patients treated with TRODELVY. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 47% of patients. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 7%. Withhold TRODELVY for absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm3 on Day 1 of any cycle or neutrophil count below 1000/mm3 on Day 8 of any cycle. Withhold TRODELVY for neutropenic fever.

Diarrhea: Diarrhea occurred in 65% of all patients treated with TRODELVY. Grade 3-4 diarrhea occurred in 12% of patients. One patient had intestinal perforation following diarrhea. Neutropenic colitis occurred in 0.5% of patients. Withhold TRODELVY for Grade 3-4 diarrhea and resume when resolved to ≤Grade 1. At onset, evaluate for infectious causes and if negative, promptly initiate loperamide, 4 mg initially followed by 2 mg with every episode of diarrhea for a maximum of 16 mg daily. Discontinue loperamide 12 hours after diarrhea resolves. Additional supportive measures (e.g., fluid and electrolyte substitution) may also be employed as clinically indicated. Patients who exhibit an excessive cholinergic response to treatment can receive appropriate premedication (e.g., atropine) for subsequent treatments.

Hypersensitivity and Infusion-Related Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions including life-threatening anaphylactic reactions have occurred with TRODELVY. Severe signs and symptoms included cardiac arrest, hypotension, wheezing, angioedema, swelling, pneumonitis, and skin reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions within 24 hours of dosing occurred in 37% of patients. Grade 3-4 hypersensitivity occurred in 2% of patients. The incidence of hypersensitivity reactions leading to permanent discontinuation of TRODELVY was 0.3%. The incidence of anaphylactic reactions was 0.3%. Pre-infusion medication is recommended. Have medications and emergency equipment to treat such reactions available for immediate use. Observe patients closely for hypersensitivity and infusion-related reactions during each infusion and for at least 30 minutes after completion of each infusion. Permanently discontinue TRODELVY for Grade 4 infusion-related reactions

Nausea and Vomiting: Nausea occurred in 66% of all patients treated with TRODELVY and Grade 3 nausea occurred in 4% of patients. Vomiting occurred in 39% of patients and Grade 3-4 vomiting occurred in 3% of these patients. Premedicate with a two or three drug combination regimen (e.g., dexamethasone with either a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist or an NK-1 receptor antagonist as well as other drugs as indicated) for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Withhold TRODELVY doses for Grade 3 nausea or Grade 3-4 vomiting and resume with additional supportive measures when resolved to Grade ≤1. Additional antiemetics and other supportive measures may also be employed as clinically indicated. All patients should be given take-home medications with clear instructions for prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting.

Increased Risk of Adverse Reactions in Patients with Reduced UGT1A1 Activity: Individuals who are homozygous for the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1)*28 allele are at increased risk for neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and anemia and may be at increased risk for other adverse reactions with TRODELVY. The incidence of Grade 3-4 neutropenia in genotyped patients was 67% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28, 46% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele and 46% in patients homozygous for the wild-type allele. The incidence of Grade 3-4 anemia in genotyped patients was 25% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, 10% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, and 11% in patients homozygous for the wild-type allele. Closely monitor patients with known reduced UGT1A1 activity for adverse reactions. Withhold or permanently discontinue TRODELVY based on clinical assessment of the onset, duration and severity of the observed adverse reactions in patients with evidence of acute early-onset or unusually severe adverse reactions, which may indicate reduced UGT1A1 function.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action, TRODELVY can cause teratogenicity and/or embryo-fetal lethality when administered to a pregnant woman. TRODELVY contains a genotoxic component, SN-38, and targets rapidly dividing cells. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TRODELVY and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TRODELVY and for 3 months after the last dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In the ASCENT study (IMMU-132-05), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were nausea, neutropenia, diarrhea, fatigue, alopecia, anemia, vomiting, constipation, rash, decreased appetite, and abdominal pain. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (SAR) (>1%) were neutropenia (7%), diarrhea (4%), and pneumonia (3%). SAR were reported in 27% of patients, and 5% discontinued therapy due to adverse reactions. The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) in the ASCENT study were reduced hemoglobin, lymphocytes, leukocytes, and neutrophils.

In the TROPHY study (IMMU-132-06), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were diarrhea, fatigue, neutropenia, nausea, alopecia, anemia, decreased appetite, constipation, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (SAR) (≥5%) were infection (18%), neutropenia (12%, including febrile neutropenia in 10%), acute kidney injury (6%), urinary tract infection (6%), and sepsis or bacteremia (5%). SAR were reported in 44% of patients, and 10% discontinued due to adverse reactions. The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) in the TROPHY study were reduced neutrophils, leukocytes, and lymphocytes.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

UGT1A1 Inhibitors: Concomitant administration of TRODELVY with inhibitors of UGT1A1 may increase the incidence of adverse reactions due to potential increase in systemic exposure to SN-38. Avoid administering UGT1A1 inhibitors with TRODELVY.

UGT1A1 Inducers: Exposure to SN-38 may be substantially reduced in patients concomitantly receiving UGT1A1 enzyme inducers. Avoid administering UGT1A1 inducers with TRODELVY.

Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc. Announces a New PET Imaging Agent for Rapid Monitoring Tumor Response to Therapy

On April 13, 2021 Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc. (MTTI) reported the issuance of United States Patent # 10,953,113. The patent claims a quick (5 min), easy and quantitative conversion of commercially available 18F-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) to 18F-Fluroglucaric acid (18F-FGA) (Press release, Molecular Targeting Technologies, APR 13, 2021, View Source [SID1234577990]).

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Professor Fabian Kiessling, MD, Director of the Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany commented, "In addition to monitoring tumor response to therapy, a tracer that sees necrosis should track organ fibrosis in chronic kidney disease and liver fibrosis. These diseases are common, but their progression and responses to therapy are still hard to track reliably. 18F-FGA could be extremely valuable to fill this unmet medical need."

Professor Vibhudutta Awasthi, PhD, Associate Dean of Research, inventor and co-inventor Dr. Hailey Houson at the University of Oklahoma said, "An 18F-FGA imaging agent for necrosis can revolutionize a diagnostic workup of many human diseases where tissue necrosis occurs as part of the pathology. This tracer enables use of high resolution, high sensitivity PET, to detect myocardial infarction and brain stroke. We are delighted to hear about MTTI’s effort to commercialize this technology."

"The search for agents that could image necroses, without accumulating in living tissue, has been going on for decades. This innovative 18F PET tracer is specific for dead cells. It is also ideal for monitoring rapid tumor response to radiation and drug treatment. We’re excited for this discovery and look forward to advancing this molecule to clinic," said Chris Pak, President & CEO of MTTI.