On March 21, 2023 Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company, has reported support for an investigator initiated study led and conducted by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) to evaluate patient compliance with a blood-based test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening (Press release, Guardant Health, MAR 21, 2023, View Source [SID1234629129]). In this study, The Ohio State University Guardant Shield Colorectal Cancer Screening Project, individuals from minority and underserved populations aged 45 and older who are in need of CRC screening will have the option to receive the Shield blood test, administered by a mobile phlebotomist, as part of their engagement with a community health van. Integrating Shield into mobile health services will allow health care providers to bring blood-based screening directly to communities making it accessible for eligible individuals who are not compliant with CRC screening.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in the United States.1 Although CRC screening has been shown to improve survival rates, one in three adults have not completed the recommended CRC screening.2,3 The Appalachian region’s cancer mortality rate is 10% higher than the national average, and the region has higher than average incidence and mortality rates for colorectal cancer specifically.4,5 Over 40% of the Appalachian population is rural, compared with 20% of the national population, and residents are more likely to have lower incomes, lower levels of education, higher poverty and unemployment rates, and poorer health than their non-Appalachian counterparts.6

With a simple blood draw, the Shield test can assist in removing barriers associated with established CRC screening methods because it requires no special preparation, no sedation, no dietary changes, and no extra time away from family or work, and it can be completed as part of any patient office visit.7 Shield test performance was recently clinically validated by the ECLIPSE Study – one of the largest cancer screening studies of its kind – and achieved 83% sensitivity for the detection of CRC. Since the launch of Shield, it has shown approximately 90% adherence demonstrating the value of blood-based screening in a real-world clinical setting.8

"We learned early on in the COVID-19 pandemic that we need to be innovative in how we deliver care to our communities. By deploying a mobile phlebotomist as part of a mobile health clinic, we are further able to understand the potential and ease of a blood test to reach rural and underserved communities," said AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO. "The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center research team has a long legacy of community leadership in Ohio and Appalachia, so we know we are meeting patients where they are, helping to further reduce barriers to access, and improve CRC screening rates to pre-pandemic levels."

About The Ohio State University Guardant Shield Colorectal Cancer Screening Project (NCT05716477)

This study will enroll individuals aged 45 years and older from minority and underserved populations who are in need of colorectal cancer screening via mobile health clinics. Approximately 300 patients will be enrolled during the study period. Researchers will evaluate attitudes and beliefs about colorectal cancer screening as part of the study, which is funded by Guardant Health, the manufacturer of the Shield test.

About the Shield Test

The Shield test detects colorectal cancer signals in the bloodstream from DNA that is shed by tumors, called circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Specifically, the test identifies specific characteristics of the DNA that may indicate the presence of cancer.

The clinical performance of the Shield assay was validated using an analyzed set of over ten thousand patient samples in a screening study. The test demonstrated 83% sensitivity in detecting individuals with CRC. Specificity was 90% in both individuals without advanced neoplasia and in those who had a negative colonoscopy result. This test also demonstrated 13% sensitivity in detecting advanced adenomas.

Since the launch of the laboratory developed version of the Shield test in May 2022, it has shown approximately 90% adherence in the real-world clinical setting, demonstrating the value of blood-based screening to increase adherence to recommended screening protocols.8 In fact, the effective sensitivity of the test, which measures the true impact of a screening test by evaluating adherence and test performance, shows that Shield has the potential to detect more CRCs than traditional modalities.8,9,10,11

Shield is commercially available for eligible individuals by prescription only through healthcare professionals. This LDT (Laboratory Developed Test) is intended to be complementary to, and not a replacement for, current recommended CRC screening methods. A negative result does not rule out the presence of cancer. Patients with an abnormal blood-based screening result should be referred for a diagnostic colonoscopic evaluation.

More information about the Shield test is available at bloodbasedscreening.com.

On March 21, 2023 280Bio, Inc. a clinical stage biotechnology company, focused on the development of precision oncology medicines, reported a presentation featuring the Company’s lead development candidate TEB-17231 at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida to be held April 14-19, 2023 (Press release, 280Bio, MAR 21, 2023, View Source [SID1234629128]). The 280Bio pipeline is focused on novel oral oncology drug candidates directed at frequently mutated genetic changes in signaling pathways and the known genetic instability features of many cancers.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The presentation describes preclinical findings on a lead series of small molecule inhibitors directed against multiple KRAS-mutation-altered tumor cell lines. The lead candidate TEB-17231 showed robust tumor growth inhibition, against KRASG12V, KRASG12C, KRASG12D and other RAS mutant tumor cell lines. TEB-17231 was also shown to be active in blocking tumor growth in KRASG12C-resistant cell lines bearing different secondary mutations in KRAS. With its excellent pharmacologic properties, TEB-17231 oral dosing demonstrates strong inhibition of in vivo KRAS mutant xenograft tumor growth.

The presentation details at 2023 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) are as follows:

The small molecule KRAS inhibitor, TEB-17231, blocks tumor progression and overcome KRASG12C inhibitor mediated resistance
Session Category: Molecular/Cellular Biology and Genetic; Session Title: Ras-related Signaling; Monday April 17, 2023 1.30PM to 5.00PM EST
Location Section 11, Poster Board 11 abstract # 2627
280Bio is advancingTEB-17231 through IND enabling studies in preparation for Phase1 studies for the treatment of KRAS-mutated cancer patients.

Reflecting on the importance of the discovery and early research being presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2023, Michael Hui, MBA, CEO & President of 280Bio, stated, "We are actively developing TEB-17231 given its demonstrated abilities to effectively inhibit different KRAS mutant tumor cells through its actions in KRAS signaling. We are excited that TEB-17231 is emerging from the company’s KRAS target hub discovery platform, exemplifying the utility of our strong medicinal chemistry capabilities at 280Bio. The strategic collaboration with the MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), Houston, TX, further contributes to our understanding of this interesting drug class and KRAS signaling mechanisms, and will accelerate development of TEB-17231 and other KRAS target hub agents toward the clinic."

"The scientific presentation at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) meeting of our KRAS lead candidate TEB-17231 highlights the progress we made to move the drug candidate this year into the clinic", said Dr. Xu Zusheng, General Manager and Head of Research and Development of Yingli Pharma, "Novel agents that interfere with KRAS signaling are highly desirable, particularly in cancers where KRAS is dysregulated. Precision oncology approaches offer the advantage of identifying the KRAS mutated cancers that may be most susceptible to these novel targeted agents. The TEB-17231 drug candidate potentially brings an additional treatment option to address a high unmet need for many patients with cancer."

On March 21, 2023 Atossa Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATOS), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines in areas of significant unmet medical need in oncology, and Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative reported that Atossa’s proprietary Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM), (Z)-endoxifen, will be evaluated in a new study arm of the ongoing I-SPY 2 clinical trial (Press release, Atossa Therapeutics, MAR 21, 2023, View Source [SID1234629127]). The I-SPY 2 TRIAL evaluates neoadjuvant treatments for locally advanced breast cancer and is a collaborative effort among academic investigators from major cancer research centers across the United States, Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Cancer Biomarkers Consortium. Approximately 20 patients will be treated with (Z)-endoxifen for up to 24 weeks prior to surgery.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The new study arm evaluating (Z)-endoxifen is part of the ongoing I-SPY 2 Endocrine Optimization Pilot Protocol (EOP), which targets patients with newly diagnosed estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) invasive breast cancer whose tumors are predicted to be sensitive to endocrine therapy but for whom chemotherapy is expected to provide little or no benefit. These patients have substantial risk for recurrence, often after five years, and need novel agents that are more tolerable and effective than the current standard of care and address the risk of recurrence.

"Atossa is proud to partner with Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative and excited that (Z)-endoxifen has been added to their unprecedented I-SPY clinical trial, which is designed to quickly and efficiently bring new drug therapies to breast cancer patients who need them urgently," said Dr. Steven Quay, Atossa’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "Data from this trial will supplement data generated through our ongoing Phase 2 EVANGELINE trial, which is investigating (Z)-endoxifen as a neoadjuvant treatment for premenopausal women with ER+ / HER2- breast cancer. There remains a critical need for more effective and tolerable treatment options for this patient population."

"(Z)-endoxifen is one of the most active metabolites of tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is known to be effective in treating and preventing ER+ breast cancer, but may be most effective in those patients who can adequately metabolize it, " said Dr. Laura Esserman of the University of California San Francisco, founder and leader of the I-SPY TRIAL. "(Z)-endoxifen may overcome some of the shortcomings of tamoxifen, as it is already the active metabolite. Perhaps most exciting is that it may be effective in premenopausal women without the need for ovarian suppression. Ovarian suppression in premenopausal women and aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal women are associated with both short-term and potential long-term side effects that diminish adherence. (Z)-endoxifen holds promise of being a more effective and tolerable alternative to targeting the estrogen receptor in women with early-stage breast cancer."

Atossa is currently evaluating (Z)-endoxifen in two ongoing Phase 2 studies:

The EVANGELINE (Endoxifen Versus exemestANe GosEreLIn) trial is a randomized non-inferiority study of (Z)-endoxifen compared to exemestane plus goserelin as a neoadjuvant treatment for premenopausal women with Grade 1 or 2 ER+ / HER2- breast cancer. Participants receive neoadjuvant treatment for up to six months, followed by surgery. The primary objective of the EVANGELINE study is to determine whether the endocrine sensitive disease (ESD) rate, measured by Ki-67 (a proliferation marker prognostic for disease free survival), after four weeks of treatment with (Z)-endoxifen is non-inferior to the ESD rate following treatment with current standard of care, exemestane plus goserelin. Exemestane is an aromatase inhibitor designed to block the synthesis of estrogen and slow the growth of ER+ cancers. Goserelin is a medication given to block the ovaries from making estrogen, which in premenopausal women is associated with significant morbidity and inadequate compliance, which compromises efficacy and increases the risk of mortality.

The Karisma-Endoxifen trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy study of oral (Z)–endoxifen in premenopausal women with measurable breast density. Participants receive daily doses of (Z)-endoxifen for six months, over the course of which mammograms are conducted to measure reduction in mammographic breast density (MBD). Participants also have a mammogram at 24 months to assess the durability of the MBD changes. MBD affects more than 10 million women in the United States and many millions more worldwide. Increased MBD reduces the ability of mammograms to detect cancer. Studies have also shown that women with MBD have an increased risk of developing breast cancer and that the higher the MBD, the higher the incidence of breast cancer.

Atossa will supply (Z)-endoxifen and provide financial support to Quantum Leap for this study. Quantum Leap, as sponsor, will provide the clinical sites and clinical expertise. Currently, there are 41 open sites, all of which have the EOP program open.

About Premenopausal Patients with ER+ / HER2- Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in premenopausal women worldwide and accounts for almost half of the cancers that occur in women aged 15-49. An overwhelming majority (75%) of premenopausal breast cancer falls under luminal A (ER+/HER2-) or B (ER+/HER2+) subtypes. Ovarian function suppression, when combined with either tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, is the standard of care for the endocrine management of stage 2 and 3 premenopausal ER+/HER2- breast cancer. The I SPY Endocrine Optimization Pilot (EOP) specifically targets women of all ages with molecularly low risk stage 2 and 3 breast cancer.

About (Z)-Endoxifen
(Z)-endoxifen is the most active metabolite of the FDA approved Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM), tamoxifen. Studies by others have demonstrated that the anti-estrogenic effects of tamoxifen are driven in a concentration-dependent manner by (Z)-endoxifen. In addition to its potent anti-estrogen effects, (Z)-endoxifen at higher concentrations has been shown to target PKCβ1, a known oncogenic protein.

Atossa has developed a proprietary oral formulation of (Z)-endoxifen that does not require liver metabolism to achieve therapeutic concentrations and is encapsulated to bypass the stomach as acidic conditions converts a greater proportion of (Z)-endoxifen to the inactive (E)-endoxifen. Atossa’s (Z)-endoxifen has been shown to be well tolerated in Phase 1 studies and in a small Phase 2 study of women with breast cancer. We are currently studying our (Z)-endoxifen in healthy women with measurable breast density and premenopausal women with ER+/HER2- breast cancer. Atossa’s (Z)-endoxifen is protected by two issued U.S. patents and numerous pending patent applications.

On March 21, 2023 Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: COEP) ("Coeptis" or "the Company"), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative cell therapy platforms for cancer, reported that its SNAP-CAR technology was highlighted in a peer-reviewed article published in the Journal of Translational Medicine (Press release, Coeptis Therapeutics, MAR 21, 2023, View Source [SID1234629124]). SNAP-CAR is a multi-antigen chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) technology that can be adapted to different cancer indications, including hematologic and solid tumors.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The article titled, "Tuning CARs: recent advances in modulating chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell activity for improved safety, efficacy, and flexibility," discusses a variety of efforts and cross field collaborations striving to balance anti-tumor activity of next-generation cell therapies that also minimize harmful side effects associated with CAR-T. The article describes SNAP-CAR as an "up-and-coming" technology that covalently links therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to universal CAR receptors, with demonstrated function in vitro and in vivo, and represents a "powerful concept for overcoming suboptimal CAR functions due to the lower affinity of soluble adaptors to universal CAR receptors."

"We are pleased that SNAP CAR was featured in this peer-reviewed article, which highlights the latest developments in CAR T technologies designed to improve cell therapy outcomes and mitigate associated toxicities to enable improved safety, efficacy, and flexibility," said Dave Mehalick, President and CEO of Coeptis Therapeutics. "Research conducted at the University of Pittsburgh suggests that SNAP-CAR offers an opportunity to direct the power of CAR T to an array of cancers that have, until now, been inaccessible via current cell therapy technologies by providing a highly programmable antigen targeting platform. SNAP-CAR T cells can be engineered to address numerous cancers, including HER2-expressing ovarian cancer, which we are targeting as our potential first-in-human clinical development program."

About SNAP-CAR

SNAP-CAR, which Coeptis Therapeutics licensed from the University of Pittsburgh, is designed to be a "universal" CAR T cell therapy platform that can be adapted to different cancer indications. Instead of directly binding to a target on the tumor cell, CAR T cells are co-administered with one or more antibody adaptors that bind to the tumor cells and are fitted with a chemical group that irreversibly connects them to the SNAP-CAR on the therapeutic cells via a covalent bond. Pre-clinical studies in mice have demonstrated that by targeting tumors via antibody adaptor molecules, the SNAP-CAR therapy provides a highly programmable therapeutic platform.

On March 21, 2023 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) and Nurix Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: NRIX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted protein modulation therapies, reported that Gilead has exercised its option to exclusively license Nurix’s investigational targeted protein degrader molecule NX‑0479 (Press release, Gilead Sciences, MAR 21, 2023, View Source [SID1234629123]). This bivalent degrader, designated GS-6791, is the first development candidate resulting from the previously announced Nurix-Gilead collaboration to discover, develop, and commercialize a pipeline of innovative targeted protein degradation therapies.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: View Source

GS-6791 is a potent, selective, oral IRAK4 degrader that targets both the scaffold and kinase functions of the IRAK4 protein kinase to block inflammatory responses downstream of toll-like receptors (TLR) and the pro-inflammatory IL1 cytokine family of receptors (IL1Rs). Degradation of IRAK4 by GS-6791 is hypothesized to have more sustained and deeper inhibition of TLR/IL1Rs signaling as compared to kinase inhibition due to its potential impact on additional signaling nodes. IRAK4 degradation has potential applications in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory diseases.

"The Nurix IRAK4 degrader program represents a quality modality targeting toll-like receptor and IL1 receptor-driven inflammation," said Flavius Martin, M.D., Executive Vice President, Research at Gilead. "We are pleased to advance our collaboration with Nurix and further expand our autoimmune pipeline with the goal of addressing the needs of people living with inflammatory diseases."

"Gilead’s exercise of the first license option under our agreement is an important milestone and evidence of the significant progress that we have made in our strategic collaboration," said Gwenn M. Hansen, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Nurix. "Our highly productive DELigase platform has enabled us to advance multiple degrader programs in our collaboration with Gilead and across our wholly owned pipeline. This progress demonstrates the value of our research enterprise and its capacity to create medicines to address an array of therapeutic areas in addition to oncology."

Terms of the Exercised Option

Under the terms of the parties’ Collaboration, Option and License Agreement, for the NX-0479 option that Gilead is exercising, Nurix will receive an option exercise payment of $20 million and potentially could receive up to an additional $425 million in clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, as well as up to low double-digit tiered royalties on product net sales.

About the Nurix-Gilead Collaboration

In June 2019, Gilead and Nurix entered into a global strategic collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize a pipeline of up to five innovative targeted protein degradation therapies for patients with cancer and other challenging diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Nurix received an upfront payment of $45 million and is eligible to receive up to approximately $2.3 billion in total additional payments based on the successful completion of certain research, pre-clinical, clinical, regulatory and commercialization milestones as well as up to low double-digit tiered royalties on net sales. Nurix will retain the option to co-develop and co-detail up to two programs in the United States, subject to certain restrictions. For those programs that Nurix opts in to co-develop and co-detail, the parties will split development costs as well as profits and losses 50/50 for the United States, and Nurix will be eligible to receive royalties on ex-U.S. sales and reduced milestone payments. Gilead has the right to veto up to one co-development option, in which case the option will revert back to Nurix for use on potential future licensed products.