Aptose Reports Results for the Third Quarter 2024

On November 8, 2024 Aptose Biosciences Inc. ("Aptose" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: APTO, TSX: APS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing highly differentiated oral targeted agents to treat hematologic malignancies, reported financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2024, and provided a corporate update (Press release, Aptose Biosciences, NOV 8, 2024, View Source [SID1234648020]).

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"Triple drug therapies (triplets) that build on the standard of care in AML have yielded higher response rates yet are limited to specific subpopulations and often cause myelosuppression and other toxicities," said William G. Rice, Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aptose. "Tuspetinib, with its breadth of activity and unique safety profile, is a potential game-changer as part of a triplet therapy regimen and we continue to advance its development."

Key Corporate Highlights

Aptose Facility Agreement with Hanmi – During the quarter, Aptose announced that it received a $10 million loan through a Facility Agreement with Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. ("Hanmi"), and that the companies are actively negotiating a new tuspetinib co-development collaboration agreement intended to provide additional support to accelerate the clinical development of tuspetinib. The loan is convertible as prepayment of milestone obligations under the future collaboration agreement or repayable after the expected completion of a triple drug combination trial with tuspetinib in newly diagnosed AML patients. Aptose plans to use the proceeds from such loan for the development of tuspetinib.
Tuspetinib Data Drives Interest as Treatment Paradigm for AML Shifts to Triplet Therapy – During our APTIVATE trial, tuspetinib (TUS) as a monotherapy and in combination treatment with venetoclax in a very ill AML patient population safely demonstrated broad clinical activity in AML patients with diverse mutation profiles, including those with adverse genetics. As presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) 2024 Congress in June, tuspetinib potently targets SYK, FLT3, mutated KIT, JAK1/2, and RSK2 kinases, yet avoids many typical toxicities, drug-related discontinuations, and deaths observed with other agents. In the APTIVATE trial, TUS achieved broad activity across AML patients with a diverse array of mutations, both as a single agent (TUS) and in combination with venetoclax (TUS+VEN) in very ill relapsed/refractory (R/R) and heavily pre-treated AML populations. Responses were observed in patients with Prior-VEN, Prior-FLT3 inhibitor (FLT3i), and Prior-HSCT therapies, those with highly adverse genetics, including mutations in TP53 and RAS genes, and those with mutated or unmutated (wildtype) FLT3 genes. Patients naïve to VEN therapy achieved higher response rates. TUS appears to be an ideal third agent to add to a venetoclax and hypomethylating agent regimen. These data support the launch of the triplet therapy trial in newly diagnosed AML patients who are ineligible to receive induction chemotherapy, irrespective of their FLT3 mutation status. Other triplet therapies in development can achieve high response rates but are limited by toxicities and inability to treat certain AML populations, leaving an unmet need that may be addressed with the addition of tuspetinib. With Hanmi’s support, Aptose plans to initiate its planned triplet combination study during the quarter and to treat patients with and without FLT3 mutations. In addition, the company is evaluating other co-development opportunities to further expand the role of tuspetinib in other settings.
Nasdaq – Aptose has a scheduled meeting with the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications during the current quarter to address compliance with the minimum requirement of $2.5 million in stockholders’ equity (the "Stockholders’ Equity Requirement") and Aptose continues to work on its compliance with minimum $1.00 per share closing bid price for thirty (30) consecutive business days, needed for continued listing on Nasdaq (the "Minimum Bid Price Requirement").

On April 2, 2024, the Company received a deficiency letter from Nasdaq stating that the Company was not in compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement. The Company submitted a Compliance Plan to Nasdaq on this issue on May 17, 2024 and received an extension to meet this Nasdaq requirement by September 30, 2024. On October 1, 2024, the Company received a letter from Nasdaq stating that the Company did not meet the terms of the extension because it did not complete its proposed financing initiatives to regain compliance. On October 8, 2024, the Company requested an appeal and hearing; such hearing is scheduled for November 21, 2024.

On July 16, 2024, Aptose announced that it had received a deficiency letter notifying the Company that was not in compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. This deficiency letter has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common shares, and its common shares will continue to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "APTO" at this time. The Company’s common shares continue to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") under the symbol "APS". The Company’s listing on the TSX is independent and will not be affected by the Nasdaq listing status. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has been given one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days, or until January 13, 2025, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. If the Company does not regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement by January 13, 2025, the Company may, at Nasdaq’s discretion, be afforded a second one hundred and eighty (180) calendar day period to regain compliance, but if Nasdaq does not grant such extension, the Company’s common shares could be delisted from Nasdaq.

Immunocore to present at upcoming investor conferences

On November 08, 2024 Immunocore Holdings plc (Nasdaq: IMCR) ("Immunocore" or the "Company"), a commercial-stage biotechnology company pioneering and delivering transformative immunomodulating medicines to radically improve outcomes for patients with cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases, reported that management will participate in the following investor conferences in November (Press release, Immunocore, NOV 8, 2024, View Source [SID1234648023]).

-Guggenheim Securities Healthcare Innovation Conference
Fireside Chat: Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. EST

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-Jefferies London Healthcare Conference
Fireside Chat: Wednesday, November 21, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. GMT

The presentations will be webcast live and can be accessed by visiting ‘Events & Presentations’, under ‘Events’, via the ‘Investors’ section of Immunocore’s website at www.immunocore.com. Following the event, a replay of the presentations will be made available for a limited time.

Immatics Announces Multiple Presentations at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) on TCR-T Therapy Candidates Targeting PRAME

On November 8, 2024 Immatics N.V. (NASDAQ: IMTX, "Immatics" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company active in the discovery and development of T cell-redirecting cancer immunotherapies, reported an expanded clinical dataset from the ongoing Phase 1b dose expansion clinical trial for ACTengine IMA203 in addition to updated Phase 1 dose escalation clinical data on its next-generation ACTengine IMA203CD8 TCR-T cell therapy (Press release, Immatics, NOV 8, 2024, View Source [SID1234648022]). For the first time, the Company also reported preclinical data on other next-generation T cell candidates and combination strategies as part of its strategy to further exploit opportunities in additional solid tumor types within its PRAME franchise.

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All dates and times of Immatics’ upcoming oral and poster presentations at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) are available here. The data slides are accessible in the ‘Events & Presentations’ section of the Investor & Media section of the Company’s website.

"Immatics remains fully focused on the clinical development of our most advanced lead product candidate, IMA203, in second-line or later metastatic melanoma patients. We look forward to the initiation of SUPRAME, the registration-enabling Phase 3 trial, in December," said Dr. Cedrik Britten, Chief Medical Officer at Immatics. "Today, we also provide an update on our first, next-generation cell therapy, IMA203CD8, which is designed to achieve enhanced anti-tumor activity. The data announced confirm IMA203CD8’s enhanced pharmacology and potency per cell in patients. These attributes highlight the potential of this therapy in hard-to-treat solid tumors with medium-level PRAME copy numbers, including ovarian, endometrial and triple-negative breast cancer. The next step will be to further increase the cell dose to assess the full clinical potential of IMA203CD8 beyond melanoma. In addition, we strive to continuously improve the potential therapeutic benefit for patients with a range of PRAME-positive cancers through the expansion of our PRAME franchise."

ACTengine IMA203 Monotherapy Phase 1b Trial – Clinical Data and Development Path Summary

On October 10, 2024, Immatics provided a data update on IMA203 monotherapy in 281 heavily pretreated metastatic melanoma patients from the ongoing Phase 1b dose expansion part of the clinical trial in which patients were treated at the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D, 1 to 10 billion total TCR-T cells).

The data announced today include all infused patients in the Phase 1b dose expansion part of the trial (N=412), consisting of the 28 melanoma patients reported on October 10, 2024, and 13 non-melanoma patients, of which 10 non-melanoma patients were reported on November 8, 2023.

IMA203 monotherapy has maintained a favorable tolerability profile with no treatment-related Grade 5 events in the entire safety population (N=703 Phase 1a and Phase 1b patients across all dose levels and all tumor types).

Best Overall Response for IMA203 in Dose Expansion in All Indications (N=41#)

Data cut-off Aug 23, 2024; #First tumor assessment post infusion pending for 2/28 melanoma patients at data-cut; *Maximum change of target lesions and RECIST1.1 response at different timepoints. 1Patient A-DL5-23 is off study at data cut-off; 2Patient received one dose nivolumab erroneously.

Development Path for IMA203
Based on the Phase 1b data, the Company is on track to commence SUPRAME, the registration-enabling Phase 3 randomized-controlled clinical trial in melanoma for IMA203, in December 2024.

SUPRAME will evaluate IMA203 targeting PRAME in 360 HLA-A*02:01-positive patients with second-line or later (2L+) unresectable or metastatic melanoma who have received prior treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor. Patients will be randomized 1:1 for IMA203 or investigator’s choice of selected approved treatments in the 2L+ setting, including nivolumab/relatlimab, nivolumab, ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, lifileucel (US only) or chemotherapy. The primary endpoint for full approval will be median PFS and secondary endpoints will include objective response rate, safety, duration of response, no overall survival detriment and patient-reported outcomes.

Patient enrollment for SUPRAME is forecast to be completed in 2026, and a pre-specified interim analysis is planned for early 2026. Immatics aims to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) in early 2027 for full approval.

ACTengine IMA203CD8 (GEN2) Monotherapy Phase 1 Dose Escalation Trial – Patient Population & Clinical Data Summary

Patient population: Heavily pretreated patients with solid tumors
As of data cut-off on September 30, 2024, 444 heavily pretreated HLA-A*02:01 and PRAME-positive patients with solid tumors were infused with IMA203CD8 monotherapy across four escalating dose levels, of which 415 patients were evaluable for efficacy. The median total infused dose was 1.48×109 TCR-T cells, and the patient population is composed of patients with a median of three lines of prior systemic treatments.

Safety: Treatment with IMA203CD8 demonstrates a manageable tolerability profile across dose levels
IMA203CD8 monotherapy has maintained a manageable tolerability profile in the 44 patients treated. The most frequent adverse events at or above Grade 3 were expected cytopenia associated with lymphodepletion. Some patients also experienced mild to moderate CRS (Grade 1: 36% Grade 2: 48% Grade 3: 11% Grade 4: 2%).

As previously reported, two patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities at dose level 4b, which prompted a dosing adjustment to dose level 4a. After further assessing the tolerability profile of IMA203CD8 in additional patients treated at dose level 4a, the eligibility criteria and the IL-2 dose regimen were modified, and dose escalation beyond dose level 4a was reinitiated. One Grade 5 adverse event classified as possibly related to treatment with IMA203CD8 was also observed as reported previously in March 2024. The maximum tolerated dose has not yet been determined.

Anti-tumor activity and durability: Deep and durable objective responses observed

As of data cut-off on September 30, 2024, 10 of 17 responses were ongoing, of which three confirmed responses were ongoing at 14+, 15+ and 24+ months.
Of note, these patients had been treated at substantially lower doses compared to IMA203 (GEN1), i.e. in a range of 0.2-0.48×109 TCR-T cells/m2 BSA (dose level 3) to 0.801-1.2×109 TCR-T cells/m2 BSA (dose level 4c) T cells infused.
Deep responses with ≥50% tumor size reduction were observed in 11 out of 17 responders. This group included two patients with complete response of target lesions, of which one patient showed a complete metabolic response according to PET-CT scan6.
41% (14/34) confirmed objective response rate (cORR) and 41% (17/41) objective response rate (ORR).
Median duration of response (mDOR) of 9.2 months at a median follow-up (mFU) of 13.1 months.
Tumor shrinkage7 of 84% (32/38) and disease control rate8 at week 6 of 85% (34/40).
Translational data: Opportunity of IMA203CD8 in medium-level PRAME expressing indications
Translational data indicate that PRAME expression level is associated with clinical activity in IMA203 and IMA203CD8 treated patients. Both IMA203 and IMA203CD8 achieved deep responses despite IMA203CD8 patients receiving lower product doses. Based on the enhanced pharmacology of IMA203CD8, the evaluation of higher doses of IMA203CD8 in the ongoing dose escalation trial opens the possibility of addressing hard-to-treat solid tumor indications with a medium-level of PRAME copy numbers, such as ovarian cancer, endometrial cancers and triple-negative breast cancer.

Preclinical Data on New Approaches for TCR-T Based Cell Therapies

As part of Immatics’ long-term strategy to expand its PRAME franchise, the Company has conducted preclinical studies for the potential future clinical development of next-generation TCR-T-based cell therapies targeting PRAME to further enhance the efficacy and durability of IMA203. These efforts include the evaluation of TCR-T cells armored with membrane-bound IL-15 (mbIL15) targeting tumor types with low PRAME copy numbers, such as squamous non-small-cell lung cancer and squamous head and neck cancers. In addition, the Company is developing an allogeneic cell therapy approach to further increase commercial attractiveness and to reach patients quickly with its next-generation off-the-shelf cell therapy, ACTallo. The preclinical data will be presented during poster sessions at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper).

About ACTengine IMA203, IMA203CD8 and Target PRAME
ACTengine IMA203 is Immatics’ most advanced TCR-based autologous cell therapy that is directed against an HLA-A*02-presented (human leukocyte antigen) peptide derived from preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME), a protein frequently expressed in a large variety of solid cancers. PRAME is homogeneously and specifically expressed in tumor tissue and Immatics’ PRAME peptide is present at a high copy number per tumor cell. The peptide has been identified and characterized by Immatics’ proprietary mass spectrometry-based target discovery platform, XPRESIDENT. Through its proprietary TCR discovery and engineering platform XCEPTOR, Immatics has generated a highly specific T cell receptor (TCR) against this target for ACTengine IMA203.

ACTengine IMA203 TCR-T is currently being evaluated as a monotherapy in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with solid tumors expressing PRAME, such as cutaneous melanoma. An IMA203 registration-enabling randomized controlled Phase 3 trial, "SUPRAME," is planned to commence in December 2024.

ACTengine IMA203 TCR-T is also currently being evaluated in Phase 1 IMA203CD8 (GEN2) monotherapy, where IMA203 engineered T cells are co-transduced with a CD8αβ co-receptor.

BIO-TECHNE TO PRESENT AT INVESTOR CONFERENCES

On November 8, 2024 Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) reported that it will present at the following investor conferences (Press release, Bio-Techne, NOV 8, 2024, View Source [SID1234648021]).

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UBS Global Healthcare Conference
November 12, 2024
9:30 AM PST

Stifel 2024 Healthcare Conference
November 19, 2024
8:00 AM EST

Stephens NASH 2024 Conference
November 20, 2024
11:00 AM CST

A live webcast of the presentations can be accessed via the IR Calendar page of Bio-Techne’s Investor Relations website at View Source

Anixa Biosciences and Cleveland Clinic Present New Updated Positive Data from Phase 1 Study of Breast Cancer Vaccine at the 39th Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting

On November 8, 2024 Anixa Biosciences, Inc. ("Anixa" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ANIX), a biotechnology company focused on the treatment and prevention of cancer, reported a presentation of new, updated positive data from the Phase 1 clinical trial of its breast cancer vaccine (NCT04674306) at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 39th Annual Meeting, being held in Houston, Texas (Press release, Anixa Biosciences, NOV 8, 2024, View Source [SID1234648019]). The trial is being conducted in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic with funding by a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense. The presentation, titled "Phase I Trial of alpha-lactalbumin vaccine in high-risk operable triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and patients at high genetic risk for TNBC," was presented by Dr. Emily Rhoades, FDA/IND Trial Program Manager at Cleveland Clinic.

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"Triple negative breast cancer is the form of the disease for which we have the least effective treatments," said G. Thomas Budd, M.D. of Cleveland Clinic’s Cancer Institute and principal investigator of the Phase 1 study. "Long term, we are hoping that this can be a true preventive vaccine that would be administered to individuals who are cancer-free to prevent them from developing this highly aggressive disease."

"We are pleased with the data we have observed in this clinical trial. The data continues to exceed our expectations. As we near completion of the Phase 1 trial, with the very positive data to date, we are planning a Phase 2 study which is expected to commence in 2025," stated Dr. Amit Kumar, Chairman and CEO of Anixa Biosciences. "We want to thank all of the participants in this trial and also the extensive group of scientists and physicians (19 are listed as co-authors of the SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) presentation) who have worked on this study, along with the numerous additional personnel including nurses, pharmacists, phlebotomists and others who have provided support."

The investigational vaccine is based on decades of groundbreaking pre-clinical research led by the late Vincent Tuohy, Ph.D., who was the Mort and Iris November Distinguished Chair in Innovative Breast Cancer Research at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute. Dr. Tuohy’s research led to the development of this investigational vaccine. The study is based on Dr. Tuohy’s research that showed that activating the immune system against α-lactalbumin was safe and effective in preventing breast tumors in mice. The research, originally published in Nature Medicine, was funded in part by philanthropic gifts to Cleveland Clinic from more than 20,000 people over the last 12 years.

The vaccine was developed at Cleveland Clinic and licensed to Anixa Biosciences. Cleveland Clinic is entitled to royalties and other commercialization revenues from the Company.

"It was Dr. Tuohy’s hope that this vaccine would demonstrate the potential of immunization as a new way to control breast cancer, and that a similar approach could someday be applied to other types of malignancy," said Dr. Budd.

Description of the Breast Cancer Vaccine

The vaccine targets a lactation protein, α-lactalbumin, which is only expressed in the breast when a woman is lactating but not at other times in her life or in other tissues. However, when a woman develops breast cancer, including TNBC or other types of breast cancer, many of the malignant cells will express α-lactalbumin. Activating the immune system, through vaccination, to direct cytotoxic T cells to the tumor cell expressing this protein may provide preemptive immune protection against emerging breast tumors that express α-lactalbumin.

Initial Phase 1 data was presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December 2023. The synopsis below summarizes the additional findings which were presented today at the SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 39th Annual Meeting.

Presentation Summary

The trial is recruiting patients into three cohorts. Below is a description of each cohort as well as a summary of the key results and conclusions to date.

Cohort 1a participants: The patients enrolled are women who, within the previous three years, have completed standard of care (SOC) treatment, including surgery, for TNBC, the most lethal type of breast cancer. The study is evaluating the safety and tolerability of the vaccine, characterizing immune responses, and identifying a maximum tolerated dose (MTD).

Key Results: All three goals noted above have been achieved, in a group of 21 patients in this cohort. While the MTD has been successfully identified, additional dosages are being evaluated to confirm the MTD. In all patients at the current MTD, the vaccine was safe, producing no flu-like symptoms such as fever and myalgias, no abnormal clinical laboratory tests, or other observed adverse side effects. The only notable side effect was injection site irritation. The majority of patients exhibited protocol defined immune responses of α-lactalbumin specific T cell induced interferon gamma and interleukin-17.

Cohort 1b participants: The patients enrolled are women who carry mutations in their BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 genes that place them at high risk of developing breast cancer, which is frequently TNBC. These women have chosen to have prophylactic mastectomies to reduce their risk of breast cancer. These participants were vaccinated prior to their surgeries, after which they were monitored for safety and immune responses. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis will be performed on their resected breast tissue to evaluate their healthy breast tissue to determine if there are micro-foci of lactational cells, inflammation in the area of those foci and the presence of micro-tumors.

Key Results: Three women have been enrolled in this cohort to date. The safety and tolerability of the vaccine were similar to that in Cohort 1a. Enrollment of additional patients in this cohort is ongoing. The IHC analysis is ongoing and will be presented in a future scientific presentation.

Cohort 1c participants: The patients enrolled in this group are women diagnosed with TNBC who have completed SOC, including surgery, and are receiving pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in the adjuvant, post-surgery setting. Since Keytruda, a checkpoint inhibitor, is already a powerful immunotherapy with its own side effect profile, one of the primary goals of this cohort is to evaluate whether the administration of the vaccine in combination with Keytruda causes intolerable side effects. Immune responses are also being monitored in these participants.

Key Results: Three women have been enrolled in this cohort to date. Most notably, there were no major adverse side effects when the combination of vaccine and Keytruda were administered. As with the patients in cohorts 1a and 1b, the primary adverse side effect was injection site irritation. One patient exhibited a Grade 3 adverse event, which was a greater amount of irritation at one injection site. This patient had been diagnosed with breast cancer while she was pregnant, and she had recently lactated when the vaccine was administered. The trial protocol is being amended to provide for a six-month delay after lactation before a patient can be vaccinated. Similar to the patients enrolled in cohort 1a, the participants in this trial also exhibited antigen-specific T cell immune responses as hoped. Now that antigen-specific T cell responses have been confirmed in women receiving Keytruda and the vaccine, with no major side effects, the data provide the confidence to plan a Phase 2 study in the neoadjuvant setting with newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

"Since the trial results to date have been very positive, the planned Phase 2 trial will enroll newly diagnosed breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant treatment. Patients will be randomized in a one-to-one ratio, to receive either the standard of care, as defined by NCCN guidelines, alone or the vaccine plus standard of care. The important endpoints in this study will include characterization of T and B cell immune responses and repertoires, pathologic complete response and safety. Utilizing the vaccine in this type of setting will enable us to determine the effect within months for individual patients. The presence of a control group will allow us to determine efficacy in this setting. Assuming the trial data continues to be positive, such a trial may enable a quicker route to a strategic relationship with a large pharmaceutical partner for commercialization," stated Dr. Kumar.

The poster presented at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) can be viewed at View Source

For more information and eligibility requirements visit clinicaltrials.gov.