AVM Biotechnology Announces Full Enrollment of First Cohort of Relapsed/Refractory Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Patients Dosed with AVM0703 at major Cancer Centers in USA

On April 7, 2021 AVM Biotechnology reported that the first cohort has been fully enrolled in their clinical study (NCT04329728 "The WWRD Study") (Press release, AVM Biotechnology, APR 7, 2021, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avm-biotechnology-announces-full-enrollment-of-first-cohort-of-relapsedrefractory-non-hodgkins-lymphoma-patients-dosed-with-avm0703-at-major-cancer-centers-in-usa-301263637.html [SID1234577706]). All three patients had failed multiple prior therapies, and one had failed two transplants. These patients are reportedly all doing very well, and one was quoted as saying, "I feel great!" Three major US Cancer Centers are actively enrolling study participants. AVM Biotechnology is excited to advance AVM0703 to the next dose level cohort of no-option lymphoma patients. The drug has been well tolerated, without safety issues, as expected. The study is an adaptive design/expansion cohort trial such that cohort enrollment of relapsed/refractory Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma patients for the pivotal trial can immediately follow the dose-escalation phase.

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Since originally approving the study, the FDA has approved a reduction in the interval between patients in a cohort, from 7 days to 48-hours and between cohorts, from 21 to 7 days of dosing for the first two cohorts. This reduction was approved in response to drug tolerance data submitted from patients treated under FDA approved compassionate use applications.

AVM0703 targets lymphoma while sparing normal lymphocytes, platelets, red blood cells, and stem cells.

"Considering the delay of many clinical studies due to the pandemic, we are gratified to see enrollment occurring so rapidly," said Janet R. Rea, AVM COO. "We are pleased to see these patients tolerate the drug well after failing multiple other therapies and look forward to seeing continued positive results with dose escalation."

The administration of a single dose of AVM0703 is believed to activate the innate immune system to launch novel gamma/delta Natural Killer T cells (NKT cells), and cytotoxic T cells that possess enhanced activity. Once triggered, these cells provide rapid onset of action and response. AVM0703 targets lymphoma while sparing normal lymphocytes, platelets, red blood cells, and stem cells. AVM believes this treatment could reduce the need for transfusions, lower the costs of cancer care associated with managing treatment side-effects, and improve quality of life for lymphoma patients.

"AVM0703 represents an entirely new approach for cancer and non-cancerous diseases. It has the potential to be a true game-changer. I am encouraged by the pre-clinical data and look forward to seeing results of this pivotal trial," said Dr. William Matsui, MD, Deputy Director of Livestrong Cancer Institute.

AVM0703 is available under Expanded Access or Compassionate Use guidelines.

About Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a broad heterogeneous constellation of lymphoproliferative disorders, is the seventh most common cancer in both men and women, affecting an estimated 77,240 people in the US each year. The overall five-year survival rate is approximately 72%, and over half of the newly–diagnosed cases are in people over age 65 years. Remission following initial established treatment is common, but the disease typically recurs or relapses in as many as 50% of the patients within two years,1 and in some patients, their disease is "refractory," or resistant to additional treatment. Second-line or so-called salvage therapy in these patients consists of stronger chemotherapy "cocktails" or, more recently, cell therapy or hematopoietic cell transplantation. Both approaches can have significant and serious side effects, and the response rates to salvage chemotherapy range from 26%2 to 45%3, with 50% of patients proceeding to autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Four-year survival rates are less than 40% utilizing salvage chemotherapy and 60% for those who then undergo ASCT.3 Treatments and associated side effects, coupled with the medical fragility associated with these patients, leaves many of them no treatment options, i.e., "no-option". AVM Biotechnology is committed to providing an option to these patients.

AIkido Granted Sublicense to Technology for Targeted Psilocybin Treatment of Neuro-Inflamed Tissue in Cancer Patients

On April 7, 2021 AIkido Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: AIKI) ("AIkido" or the "Company") reported that it has been granted an exclusive sublicense to technology related to the use of novel and proprietary central nervous system (CNS) homing peptides for the therapeutic treatment of neuroinflammatory disease in cancer patients (Press release, AIkido Pharma, APR 7, 2021, View Source [SID1234577705]).

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The homing peptides covered by the sublicense can be used to facilitate the delivery of therapeutic agents to inflamed CNS tissue. Psychedelics such as psilocybin have been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity in addition to their potential efficacy for treatment of neurological disorders such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies indicate that neuroinflammation of the brain and other CNS tissues in cancer patients contributes to, among other symptoms, the onset of cancer cachexia, which is characterized by loss of appetite, extreme weight loss and muscle wasting.

Anthony Hayes, CEO of AIkido Pharma, stated, "The novel homing peptides covered under this sublicense have the potential to allow the direct delivery of psilocybin to inflamed CNS tissue in cancer patients. This sublicense culminates our Letter of Intent previously announced on February 16, 2021. It complements our recently announced support of the psilocybin research for PTSD treatment at Mount Sinai Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research."

Quest Diagnostics To Release First Quarter 2021 Financial Results On April 22

On April 7, 2021 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, reported that it will report first quarter 2021 financial results on Thursday, April 22, 2021, before the market opens (Press release, Quest Diagnostics, APR 7, 2021, View Source [SID1234577704]). It will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss the results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on that day.

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The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-455-0391 within the U.S. and Canada, or 773-756-0467 internationally, using the passcode: "7895081." The earnings release and live webcast will be posted on www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor. The company suggests participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call.

A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or by phone at 888-566-0490 for domestic callers or 203-369-3053 for international callers; no passcode is required. Telephone replays will be available from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on April 22, 2021 until midnight Eastern Time on May 6, 2021.

Anyone listening to the call is encouraged to read the company’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and historical results of operations and financial condition in those reports.

Endevica Bio Begins IND-Enabling Toxicology Studies

On April 7, 2021 Endevica Bio (formerly known as Tensive Controls Inc.), a company developing best-in-class peptide drug candidates with better safety and efficacy properties, has signed an agreement with Wuxi AppTec to begin toxicology studies for TCMCB07, its investigational therapeutic for cancer cachexia (Press release, Endevica Bio, APR 7, 2021, View Source [SID1234577703]). These studies will support an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which will allow it to commence clinical trials.

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Cachexia, a serious clinical consequence also known as "wasting syndrome," is estimated to be prevalent in approximately 50-80% of those with advanced malignant cancer and it is estimated to be the cause of death for up to 40% of cancer patients.

TCMCB07 is a first-in-class melanocortin ¾ antagonist peptide designed to help people with cancer cachexia live longer by enabling greater tolerability of cancer treatment and improved quality of life. Discovered by Endevica Bio Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Kenneth Gruber, the compound reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in the brain and is designed to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier.

"TCMCB07 has many advantages – in addition to being able to cross the blood-brain barrier, it has shown to be more stable in plasma, orally active and has predictable pharmacokinetics (PK) properties," said Russ Potterfield, Executive Chairman of Endevica Bio. "Further, due to our patented technology for the suppression of cardiovascular side effects in melanocortin-based therapeutics, we believe TCMCB07 will have a robust safety profile."

Results from these toxicology studies are expected to be announced by December 2021. Endevica expects to file its IND by the first quarter of 2022.

FDA Approves Trodelvy®, the First Treatment for Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Shown to Improve Progression-Free Survival and Overall Survival

On April 7, 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) for adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease (Press release, Gilead Sciences, APR 7, 2021, View Source [SID1234577702]). The approval is supported by data from the Phase 3 ASCENT study, in which Trodelvy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 57% reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival (PFS)), extending median PFS to 4.8 months from 1.7 months with chemotherapy (HR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.35-0.54; p<0.0001). Trodelvy also extended median overall survival (OS) to 11.8 months vs. 6.9 months (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.41-0.62; p<0.0001), representing a 49% reduction in the risk of death.

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Trodelvy is directed to the Trop-2 receptor, a protein frequently expressed in multiple types of epithelial tumors, including TNBC, where high expression is associated with poor survival and relapse. Prior to the FDA approval of Trodelvy, patients with previously treated metastatic TNBC had few treatment options in this high unmet-need setting. The FDA granted accelerated approval to Trodelvy in April 2020 based on objective response rate and duration of response results in a Phase 1/2 study. Today’s approval expands the previous Trodelvy indication to include treatment in 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.

"Women with triple-negative breast cancer have historically had very few effective treatment options and faced a poor prognosis," said Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH, Director of Breast Cancer Research Program, Mass General Cancer Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and global principal investigator of the ASCENT study. "Today’s FDA approval reflects the statistically significant survival benefit seen in the landmark ASCENT study and positions sacituzumab govitecan-hziy as a potential standard of care for pre-treated TNBC."

"A metastatic TNBC diagnosis is frightening. As an aggressive and difficult-to-treat disease, it’s a significant advance to have an FDA-approved treatment option with a proven survival benefit for patients with metastatic disease that continues to progress," said Ricki Fairley, Founder and CEO of Touch, the Black Breast Cancer Alliance. "For far too long, people with metastatic TNBC had very few treatment options. Today’s news continues the progress of bringing more options to treat this devastating disease."

Among all patients evaluable for safety in the ASCENT study (n=482), Trodelvy had a safety profile consistent with the previously approved FDA label. The most frequent Grade ≥3 adverse reactions for Trodelvy compared to single-agent chemotherapy were neutropenia (52% vs. 34%), diarrhea (11% vs. 1%), leukopenia (11% vs. 6%) and anemia (9% vs. 6%). Adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 5% of patients receiving Trodelvy.

"Today’s approval is the culmination of a multi-year development program and validates the clinical benefit of this important treatment in metastatic TNBC," said Merdad Parsey, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Gilead Sciences. "Building upon this milestone, we are committed to advancing Trodelvy with worldwide regulatory authorities so that, pending their decision, Trodelvy may become available to many more people around the world who are facing this difficult-to-treat cancer."

Regulatory submissions for Trodelvy in metastatic TNBC have been filed in the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and Australia as part of Project Orbis, an initiative of the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) that provides a framework for concurrent submission and review of oncology products among international partners, as well as in Singapore through our partner Everest Medicines. The European Medicines Agency has also validated a Marketing Authorization Application for Trodelvy in the European Union. All filings are based on data from the Phase 3 ASCENT study.

Trodelvy Boxed Warning

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.

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), where high expression is associated with poor survival and relapse.

Trodelvy is also being developed as an investigational treatment for metastatic urothelial cancer, 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 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

TNBC is an aggressive type of breast cancer, accounting for approximately 15% of all breast cancers. The disease is diagnosed more frequently in younger and premenopausal women and is more prevalent in African American and Hispanic women. TNBC cells do not have estrogen and progesterone receptors and have limited HER 2. Medicines targeting these receptors therefore are not typically effective in treating TNBC.

About the ASCENT Study

The Phase 3 ASCENT study, an open-label, active-controlled, randomized confirmatory trial, enrolled more than 500 patients with relapsed/refractory metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who had received two or more prior systemic therapies (including a taxane), at least one of them for metastatic disease. Patients were randomized to receive either Trodelvy or a chemotherapy chosen by the patients’ treating physicians. The primary efficacy outcome was progression-free survival (PFS) in patients without brain metastases at baseline, as measured by a blinded, independent, centralized review using RECIST v1.1 criteria. Additional efficacy measures included PFS for the full population (all patients with and without brain metastases) and overall survival (OS). More information about ASCENT is available at View Source

Important Safety Information for Trodelvy

BOXED WARNING: NEUTROPENIA AND DIARRHEA

Severe, life-threatening, or fatal 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 patient 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 to TRODELVY
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Neutropenia: Dose modifications may be required due to neutropenia. Neutropenia occurred in 62% of patients treated with TRODELVY, leading to permanent discontinuation in 0.5% of patients. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 47% of patients. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 6%.

Diarrhea: Diarrhea occurred in 64% of all patients treated with TRODELVY. Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in 12% of patients. 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: TRODELVY can cause severe and life-threatening hypersensitivity and infusion-related reactions, including anaphylactic reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions within 24 hours of dosing occurred in 37% of patients. Grade 3-4 hypersensitivity occurred in 1% of patients. The incidence of hypersensitivity reactions leading to permanent discontinuation of TRODELVY was 0.4%. Pre-infusion medication is recommended. Observe patients closely for hypersensitivity and infusion-related reactions during each infusion and for at least 30 minutes after completion of each infusion. Medication to treat such reactions, as well as emergency equipment, should be available for immediate use.

Nausea and Vomiting: Nausea occurred in 67% of all patients treated with TRODELVY. Grade 3-4 nausea occurred in 5% of patients. Vomiting occurred in 40% 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 69% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28, 48% 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 24% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, 8% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, and 10% 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 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.

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