Arvinas and Pfizer Announce Updated Phase 1 Dose Escalation Data for ARV-471 to be Presented in Spotlight Poster Session at 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

On November 19, 2021 Arvinas, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARVN) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported that updated safety and efficacy data from the Phase 1 dose escalation trial of ARV-471, a novel oral estrogen receptor (ER)-targeting PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) protein degrader, will be presented in a spotlight poster-discussion session at the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) on December 7-10, 2021 (Press release, Arvinas, NOV 19, 2021, View Source [SID1234595840]). ARV-471 is being jointly developed by Arvinas and Pfizer for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic ER positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative (ER+/HER2-) breast cancer.

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Presentation details are as follows:

Abstract Title: First-in-human safety and activity of ARV-471, a novel PROTAC estrogen receptor degrader, in ER+/HER2- locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer
Session Title: Spotlight Session 13
Abstract Number: 2343
Session Type: Spotlight Poster-Discussion Session
Session Date: Friday, December 10, 2021
Session Time: 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. CT

For a copy of the abstract, please visit the official SABCS website here.

Investor Call & Webcast Details
A conference call and webcast will be held at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, December 10, 2021, with Arvinas and Pfizer Oncology executives to discuss these data. Participants are invited to listen by dialing (844) 467-7654 (domestic) or (602) 563-8497 (international) five minutes prior to the start of the call and providing the passcode 9122219.

Supporting materials for the conference call and webcast will be available on Arvinas’ website at www.arvinas.com under Events + Presentations. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Arvinas website following the presentation.

About ARV-471
ARV-471 is an investigational orally bioavailable PROTAC protein degrader designed to specifically target and degrade the estrogen receptor (ER) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer.

In preclinical studies, ARV-471 demonstrated near-complete ER degradation in tumor cells, induced robust tumor shrinkage when dosed as a single agent in multiple ER-driven xenograft models, and showed superior anti-tumor activity when compared to a standard of care agent, fulvestrant, both as a single agent and in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor. In July 2021, Arvinas announced a global collaboration with Pfizer for the co-development and co-commercialization of ARV-471; Arvinas and Pfizer will equally share worldwide development costs, commercialization expenses, and profits.

Seagen to Highlight New Data in Advanced Breast Cancer at 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

On November 19, 2021 Seagen, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) reported upcoming data presentations for TUKYSA (tucatinib) at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), taking place December 7-10, 2021 (Press release, Seagen, NOV 19, 2021, View Source [SID1234595839]). Seven abstracts – including three spotlight posters – highlight the company’s commitment to addressing unmet needs in advanced breast cancer.

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"Data to be presented at this year’s SABCS add to the breadth of evidence supporting the use of TUKYSA in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, including long term data from the pivotal HER2CLIMB trial, which continues to demonstrate clinical benefit in patients including those with active and stable brain metastases after an additional 15.6 months of follow up," said Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Seagen.

"When a patient has leptomeningeal metastases, it is a difficult-to-treat situation with a very poor prognosis, so I’m very encouraged by results from a trial that showed clinically meaningful activity of the TUKYSA regimen in these patients," said Rashmi Murthy, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Two abstracts featured in spotlight poster presentations show:

Continued Clinical Benefit in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients (MBC) with Active and Stable Brain Metastases

Updated exploratory results from the pivotal HER2CLIMB trial showed that TUKYSA combined with trastuzumab and capecitabine resulted in a robust and durable prolongation of overall survival (OS) that was consistent with results from the primary analysis for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients with brain metastases after an additional 15.6 months of follow-up. The benefit was maintained in patients with active and stable brain metastases. These results will be featured in a spotlight poster (Abstract #PD4-04) presented by Nancy U. Lin, M.D., Director of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Program in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber in Boston, MA.

Promising Activity of TUKYSA Regimen in HER2-Positive MBC Patients with Leptomeningeal Metastases

A single-arm, investigator-sponsored phase 2 trial (n=17) of TUKYSA combined with trastuzumab and capecitabine represents the first prospective evidence of a systemic regimen demonstrating clinical benefit for HER2-positive breast cancer patients with leptomeningeal metastases, cancer that has spread to the membranes lining the brain and spinal cord. The findings showed a median OS of nearly one year (11.9 months [95% Confidence Interval: 4.1, NR]). Patients with leptomeningeal disease have a historically poor prognosis with median survival of four to five months.1,2 The most common treatment for leptomeningeal metastases is radiation therapy. These results will be featured in a spotlight poster (Abstract #PD4-02) presented by Rashmi Murthy, M.D., University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Presentations of Company-Sponsored Trials:

Abstract Title

Abstract #

Presentation

Lead Author

Updated results of tucatinib vs placebo added to trastuzumab and capecitabine for patients with previously treated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer with brain metastases (HER2CLIMB)

PD4-04

Spotlight Poster Discussion 4
Wed, Dec. 8, 2021:
5 pm – 6:30 pm CT

N. Lin

Trials-in-Progress

SGNTUC-019: Phase 2 basket study of tucatinib and trastuzumab in previously treated solid tumors with HER2 alterations: HER2-mutated breast cancer cohort (ongoing clinical trial)

OT1-15-01

Ongoing Trials Poster Session 1
Wed, Dec. 8, 2021:
5 pm – 6:30 pm CT

A. Okines

HER2CLIMB-04: phase 2 trial of tucatinib + trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with HER2+ locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer with and without brain metastases (trial in progress)

OT1-13-01

Ongoing Trials Poster Session 1
Wed, Dec. 8, 2021:
5 pm – 6:30 pm CT

E. Hamilton

Enfortumab vedotin 202: Phase 2 study of enfortumab vedotin for previously treated advanced solid tumors, including breast cancer

OT1-02-04

Ongoing Trials Poster Session 1
Wed., Dec. 8, 2021:
5 pm – 6:30 pm CT

M. Ono

Presentations of Investigator-Sponsored TUKYSA Trials:

Abstract Title

Abstract #

Presentation

Lead Author

Safety and efficacy of a tucatinib-trastuzumab-capecitabine regimen for treatment of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) in HER2+ breast cancer: Results from TBCRC049, a phase 2 non-randomized study

PD4-02

Spotlight Poster Discussion 4
Wed, Dec. 8, 2021:
5 pm – 6:30 pm CT

R. Murthy

Intracranial efficacy of tucatinib, palbociclib and letrozole combination in patients with HR+/HER2+ breast cancer and brain metastases

P1-18-26

Poster Session 1
Wed, Dec. 8, 2021:
7 am – 8:30 am CT

E. Shagisultanova

Evaluation of Tucatinib + (Paclitaxel + Pertuzumab + Trastuzumab) followed by AC in high-risk HER2 positive (HER2+) stage II/III breast cancer: Results from the I-SPY 2 TRIAL

PD8-07

Spotlight Poster Session 8
Thu, Dec. 9, 2021:
7 am – 8:30 am CT

D. Potter

About HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer have tumors with high levels of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. Up to 50 percent of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer patients develop brain metastases over time.3,4,5 In 2020, more than two million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed worldwide.6 Between 15 and 20 percent of breast cancer cases are HER2-positive.7

About TUKYSA (tucatinib)

TUKYSA is an oral medicine that is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the HER2 protein. In vitro (in lab studies), TUKYSA inhibited phosphorylation of HER2 and HER3, resulting in inhibition of downstream MAPK and AKT signaling and cell growth (proliferation), and showed anti-tumor activity in HER2-expressing tumor cells. In vivo (in living organisms), TUKYSA inhibited the growth of HER2-expressing tumors. The combination of TUKYSA and the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab showed increased anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo compared to either medicine alone.

TUKYSA is approved in 36 countries. It was approved by the U.S. FDA in April 2020 and by the European Medicines Agency and the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in February 2021. Merck, known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, has exclusive rights to commercialize TUKYSA in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America and other regions outside of the U.S., Canada and Europe.

U.S. Indication and Important Safety Information

TUKYSA is indicated in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine for treatment of adult patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including patients with brain metastases, who have received one or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting.

Warnings and Precautions

Diarrhea – TUKYSA can cause severe diarrhea including dehydration, hypotension, acute kidney injury, and death. In HER2CLIMB, 81% of patients who received TUKYSA experienced diarrhea, including 12% with Grade 3 diarrhea and 0.5% with Grade 4 diarrhea. Both patients who developed Grade 4 diarrhea subsequently died, with diarrhea as a contributor to death. The median time to onset of the first episode of diarrhea was 12 days and the median time to resolution was 8 days. Diarrhea led to dose reductions of TUKYSA in 6% of patients and discontinuation of TUKYSA in 1% of patients. Prophylactic use of antidiarrheal treatment was not required on HER2CLIMB.

If diarrhea occurs, administer antidiarrheal treatment as clinically indicated. Perform diagnostic tests as clinically indicated to exclude other causes of diarrhea. Based on the severity of the diarrhea, interrupt dose, then dose reduce or permanently discontinue TUKYSA.
Hepatotoxicity – TUKYSA can cause severe hepatotoxicity. In HER2CLIMB, 8% of patients who received TUKYSA had an ALT increase >5 × ULN, 6% had an AST increase >5 × ULN, and 1.5% had a bilirubin increase >3 × ULN (Grade ≥3). Hepatotoxicity led to dose reduction of TUKYSA in 8% of patients and discontinuation of TUKYSA in 1.5% of patients.

Monitor ALT, AST, and bilirubin prior to starting TUKYSA, every 3 weeks during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Based on the severity of hepatotoxicity, interrupt dose, then dose reduce or permanently discontinue TUKYSA.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity – TUKYSA can cause fetal harm. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential, and male patients with female partners of reproductive potential, to use effective contraception during TUKYSA treatment and for at least 1 week after the last dose.
Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 26% of patients who received TUKYSA. Serious adverse reactions in ≥2% of patients who received TUKYSA were diarrhea (4%), vomiting (2.5%), nausea (2%), abdominal pain (2%), and seizure (2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 2% of patients who received TUKYSA including sudden death, sepsis, dehydration, and cardiogenic shock.

Adverse reactions led to treatment discontinuation in 6% of patients who received TUKYSA; those occurring in ≥1% of patients were hepatotoxicity (1.5%) and diarrhea (1%). Adverse reactions led to dose reduction in 21% of patients who received TUKYSA; those occurring in ≥2% of patients were hepatotoxicity (8%) and diarrhea (6%).

The most common adverse reactions in patients who received TUKYSA (≥20%) were diarrhea, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, nausea, fatigue, hepatotoxicity, vomiting, stomatitis, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, headache, anemia, and rash.

Lab Abnormalities

In HER2CLIMB, Grade ≥3 laboratory abnormalities reported in ≥5% of patients who received TUKYSA were: decreased phosphate, increased ALT, decreased potassium, and increased AST. The mean increase in serum creatinine was 32% within the first 21 days of treatment with TUKYSA. The serum creatinine increases persisted throughout treatment and were reversible upon treatment completion. Consider alternative markers of renal function if persistent elevations in serum creatinine are observed.

Drug Interactions

Strong CYP3A or Moderate CYP2C8 Inducers: Concomitant use may decrease TUKYSA activity. Avoid concomitant use of TUKYSA.
Strong or Moderate CYP2C8 Inhibitors: Concomitant use of TUKYSA with a strong CYP2C8 inhibitor may increase the risk of TUKYSA toxicity; avoid concomitant use. Increase monitoring for TUKYSA toxicity with moderate CYP2C8 inhibitors.
CYP3A Substrates: Concomitant use may increase the toxicity associated with a CYP3A substrate. Avoid concomitant use of TUKYSA where minimal concentration changes may lead to serious or life-threatening toxicities. If concomitant use is unavoidable, decrease the CYP3A substrate dosage.
P-gp Substrates: Concomitant use may increase the toxicity associated with a P-gp substrate. Consider reducing the dosage of P-gp substrates where minimal concentration changes may lead to serious or life-threatening toxicity.
Use in Specific Populations

Lactation: Advise women not to breastfeed while taking TUKYSA and for at least 1 week after the last dose.
Renal Impairment: Use of TUKYSA in combination with capecitabine and trastuzumab is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr < 30 mL/min), because capecitabine is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment.
Hepatic Impairment: Reduce the dose of TUKYSA for patients with severe (Child-Pugh C) hepatic impairment.

European Commission approves Roche’s Gavreto (pralsetinib) for the treatment of adults with RET fusion-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer

On November 19, 2021 Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) reported that the European Commission (EC) has granted conditional marketing authorisation for Gavreto (pralsetinib) as a monotherapy for the treatment of adults with rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) not previously treated with a RET inhibitor (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, NOV 19, 2021, View Source [SID1234595838]). Gavreto is the first and only precision medicine approved in the European Union (EU) for the first-line treatment of people with RET fusion-positive advanced NSCLC.1

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"Today’s approval represents an important step forward in delivering precision medicine to people with RET fusion-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer, for whom treatment options have historically been limited," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "By using cancer genomic profiling upfront, healthcare professionals may identify specific genetic alterations that predict clinical benefit of targeted treatment options like Gavreto in the first-line setting."

The approval is based on results of the ongoing phase I/II ARROW study, in which Gavreto led to durable responses in people with advanced RET fusion-positive NSCLC.2 In 75 treatment-naïve patients, Gavreto demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 72.0% (95% CI: 60.4%, 81.8%), and median duration of response (DOR) was not reached (NR) (95% CI: 9.0 months, NR).2 In 136 patients who had previously received platinum-based chemotherapy, Gavreto demonstrated an ORR of 58.8% (95% CI: 50.1%, 67.2%), and median DOR was 22.3 months (95% CI: 15.1 months, NR).2 Gavreto was also generally well-tolerated, with a low rate of treatment discontinuation; common grade 3-4 adverse reactions were neutropenia (reported in 20.1% of patients), anaemia (17.6%) and hypertension (16.1%).2

Approximately 37,500 people are diagnosed with RET fusion-positive NSCLC worldwide each year; the disease often affects people with minimal to no history of smoking, and who are typically younger than the average person diagnosed with lung cancer.3,4,5 Roche is committed to providing a tailored treatment option for every person with lung cancer, no matter how rare or difficult-to-treat their type of disease. Gavreto in RET fusion-positive advanced NSCLC, along with Alecensa (alectinib) in ALK-positive advanced NSCLC and Rozlytrek (entrectinib) in ROS1-positive advanced NSCLC, is part of Roche’s growing portfolio of precision medicines. Together, they offer personalised treatment options for almost one in ten people with advanced NSCLC, and biomarker testing is the most effective way to identify those people who may benefit.6

Beyond NSCLC, RET alterations are also key disease drivers in other cancer types, such as thyroid cancers. Gavreto has shown activity across multiple solid tumour types, reflecting tumour-agnostic potential.7 It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adults with metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLC, and for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients 12 years of age and older with advanced RET-altered thyroid cancers. Gavreto is also approved in Canada, mainland China and Switzerland. In the EU, a submission for RET-altered thyroid cancers is planned. Regulatory submissions for advanced RET fusion-positive NSCLC and RET-altered thyroid cancers are also underway in multiple countries worldwide.

Blueprint Medicines and Roche are co-developing Gavreto globally, with the exception of certain territories in Asia, including China.* Blueprint Medicines and Genentech, a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, are commercialising Gavreto in the US and Roche has exclusive commercialisation rights for Gavreto outside of the US, with the exception of certain territories in Asia, including China.*

About the ARROW study8
ARROW is an ongoing phase I/II, open-label, first-in-human study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Gavreto, administered orally in people with rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer, RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer and other RET-altered solid tumours. ARROW is being conducted at multiple sites across the United States, Europe and Asia.

About rearranged during transfection (RET)-altered cancers
RET gene alterations, such as fusions and mutations, are key disease drivers in many types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and several types of thyroid cancer. There are approximately 2.21 million cases of lung cancer diagnosed each year worldwide,3 of which approximately 1.8 million are NSCLC and RET fusions are present in approximately 1-2% of these patients,4,5 meaning RET fusion-positive NSCLC affects up to 37,500 people each year. Additionally, approximately 10-20% of people with papillary thyroid cancer (the most common type of thyroid cancer) have RET fusion-positive tumours,9 and roughly 90% of people with advanced medullary thyroid cancer (a less prevalent form of thyroid cancer) carry RET mutations.10 Oncogenic RET fusions also are observed at low frequencies in other cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal, neuroendocrine, ovarian, pancreatic and thymus cancers.

About Gavreto (pralsetinib)
Gavreto is a once-daily, oral precision medicine designed to selectively target rearranged during transfection (RET) alterations, including fusions and mutations, regardless of the tissue of origin. Preclinical data have shown that Gavreto inhibits primary RET fusions and mutations that cause cancer in subsets of patients, as well as secondary RET mutations predicted to drive resistance to treatment. Blueprint Medicines and Roche are co-developing Gavreto for the treatment of people with various types of RET-altered cancers.

About Roche in lung cancer
Lung cancer is a major area of focus and investment for Roche, and we are committed to developing new approaches, medicines and tests that can help people with this deadly disease. Our goal is to provide an effective treatment option for every person diagnosed with lung cancer. We currently have six approved medicines to treat certain kinds of lung cancer, and a pipeline of investigational medicines to target the most common genetic drivers of lung cancer, or to boost the immune system to combat the disease.

Cerus Corporation to Participate in Stephens Annual Investment Conference

On November 19, 2021 Cerus Corporation (Nasdaq: CERS) reported that Kevin D. Green, Cerus’ chief financial officer, is scheduled to participate in the Stephens Annual Investment Conference in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, December 3, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. ET (Press release, Cerus, NOV 19, 2021, View Source [SID1234595834]).

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A live webcast of the event will be available on the Investor Relations page of the Cerus web site at View Source A replay will be available for approximately two weeks following the completion of the event.

InnoCure Therapeutics, TPD Material "International Patent Application"

On November 18, 2021 InnoCure Therapeutics reported that it has completed an international patent (Patent Cooperation Treaty, PCT) application for its Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) drug (Press release, InnoCure Therapeutics, NOV 18, 2021, View Source [SID1234651742]).

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The substance for which Innocure has applied for a patent is a TPD drug that has been confirmed to have a decomposition effect on various target proteins using its own E3 ligase binder library platform technology, ELCBIL.

Unlike existing inhibitor drugs, TPD is a technology that directly decomposes and treats disease-causing proteins by utilizing the ubiquitin-proteasome system, a protein degradation pathway in the body.

InnoCure analyzed the animal efficacy of TPD drugs synthesized using its existing TPD development platform, TDbUM (Targeted Degradation by Ubiquitination Mediator), and its own Elkville platform technology. As a result, the company explained that it confirmed that tumor growth was inhibited in the TPD drug administration group compared to the control group.

Yoo Hye-dong, CEO of Innocure Therapeutics, said, "These TPD materials using the Elkville platform technology are significant in that they have superior decomposition efficacy and an advantage in securing IP compared to materials using E3 ligands used by existing companies." He added, "We will quickly proceed with preclinical studies on various TPD drugs using the Elkville platform technology."