On June 2, 2025 Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Taiho Pharmaceutical") and Benz Sciences Inc. (hereinafter "Benz Sciences") reported that the two companies have entered into a license agreement for TAS1440, a LSD1 (lysine-specific demethylase 1) inhibitor discovered by Taiho Pharmaceutical (Press release, Taiho, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653623]).

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Under the terms of agreement, Benz Sciences will obtain exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize TAS1440 (new development code SFG-03). Taiho Pharmaceutical will receive from Benz Sciences an upfront payment, milestone payments based on development progress and sales, and royalties.

TAS1440 is an orally administrable, small-molecule compound, reversible inhibitor of LSD1, an enzyme critical for hematopoiesis. It has been reported that the LSD1 gene is overexpressed in myeloproliferative neoplasms,1 diseases characterized by the excessive production of blood cells due to acquired genetic mutations in hematopoietic stem cells. Benz Sciences will undertake preparations in the United States for the Phase 1b/2 trial of TAS1440 for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms.

About TAS1440
TAS1440 is a histone-competitive LSD1 inhibitor that binds to the histone H3 binding site of LSD1 to reversibly inhibit LSD1. LSD1, a critical enzyme that regulates the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and the maturation of progenitor cells,2 is expected to be a therapeutic target for diseases such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myeloproliferative neoplasms. TAS1440 has completed a Phase 1 trial targeting AML in the United States, and the results of this trial are undergoing analysis at this time.

On June 2, 2025 SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLS) ("SELLAS" or the "Company"), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for a broad range of cancer indications, reported preclinical efficacy of SLS009 (tambiciclib) in ASXL1 mutated colorectal cancer lines. The data are featured in a presentation, entitled "In vitro efficacy of CDK9 inhibitor tambiciclib (SLS009) in ASXL1 mutated colorectal cancer cell lines" at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place May 30- June 3, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois (Press release, Sellas Life Sciences, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653622]).

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In a panel of cell lines, SLS009 demonstrated potent anti-proliferative activity:

In 50% (4/8) of ASXL1 mutant cell lines showed an IC50<100 nM, compared to 0% (0/4) of ASXL1 wild-type lines
Among cell lines harboring ASXL1 frameshift mutations (FSMs), 75% (3/4) responded with IC50 <100 nM versus only 12.5% (1/8) in cell lines without FSMs
All cell lines (3/3) with ASXL1 FSMs in the 637-638 protein region responded to treatment with SLS009
In cell lines with IC50 <100 nM, 75% (3/4) also demonstrated IC99 values below 100 nM, indicating steep dose response curve
Importantly, effective concentrations were significantly lower than those achieved in patients treated at the recommended phase 2 dose determined to be safe, suggesting a broad therapeutic window.
"These results provide strong rationale for continued advancement of SLS009 as a potential treatment for ASXL1-mutated cancers," said Dr. Dragan Cicic, Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer at SELLAS. "The ability to selectively target ASXL1-driven tumors at concentrations well below the known safety threshold opens the door for tolerable and effective therapy. Based on the findings, we believe that ASXL1 mutation status could serve as a potential biomarker for response to SLS009 inhibition, which may allow us to further refine patient selection and improve outcomes. We look forward to presenting these results at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)."

Poster presentation details:

Title: In vitro efficacy of CDK9 inhibitor tambiciclib (SLS009) in ASXL1 mutated colorectal cancer cell lines
Session Date and Time: Monday, June 2, 2025, 1:30 PM-4:30 PM CDT
Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics—Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology
Location: Hall A – Posters and Exhibits
Abstract #: 3121
Poster Board #: 436

SLS009 is currently being investigated in a Phase 2 open-label, single-arm, multi-center study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of SLS009 in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine including AML patients with ASXL1 mutations. Initial clinical safety and efficacy data are available. In addition, the study aims to identify biomarkers for the target patient population and enrichment for further trials. For more information on the study, visit clinicaltrial.gov identifier NCT04588922.

On June 2, 2025 QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) reported the expansion of its oncology diagnostics portfolio with two strategic partnerships to advance the use of minimal residual disease (MRD) testing in clinical trials to support pharma co-development projects for companion diagnostics (Press release, Qiagen, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653621]). The new collaborations with Tracer Biotechnologies and Foresight Diagnostics expand QIAGEN’s reach in MRD testing and cover solid tumors and hematological cancers.

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Minimal residual disease (MRD) testing is becoming a cornerstone of oncology by enabling early detection of cancer recurrence and guiding timely adjustments to therapy from a blood sample. These new partnerships support the growing demand for decentralized, non-invasive tools that advance precision medicine and help deliver more personalized care.

"These new partnerships represent an important step in strengthening QIAGEN’s leadership in oncology by aiming to bring innovative MRD technologies into clinical practice," said Jonathan Arnold, Vice President, Head of Precision Partnering Diagnostics at QIAGEN. "We want to in particular strengthen our scalable, cost-effective solutions based on our QIAcuity digital PCR system and enable laboratories and healthcare providers worldwide to use MRD insights for guiding personalized treatment decisions for cancer patients."

Under the new collaborations:

Tracer Biotechnologies, a developer of blood-based molecular diagnostics for cancer, is working with QIAGEN to create companion diagnostics for MRD testing in solid tumors. These assays, designed for use on QIAGEN’s QIAcuity digital PCR platform, are designed to enable the use of minimally invasive blood samples to monitor residual disease with high sensitivity. The approach offers a cost-efficient and quick way to support decentralized implementation in clinical laboratories with results comparable to those generated using next-generation sequencing technologies.
"Partnering with QIAGEN enables Tracer to bring our solid tumor MRD expertise to a broader market using a robust digital PCR platform in QIAcuity," said Mark Kaganovich, CEO, Tracer Biotechnologies. "With QIAcuity’s sensitivity and scalability, we can deliver high-quality companion diagnostics that integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows and offer new options to oncologists and patients."

Foresight Diagnostics and QIAGEN are creating a kit-based version of the Foresight CLARITY assay, a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based NGS test for certain types of lymphoma. Transitioning the assay from a CLIA central laboratory service to an in-lab kit is designed to allow for broader clinical access and supports pharmaceutical-sponsored trials with companion diagnostic applications.
"We are excited to partner with QIAGEN to accelerate the development of a kit-based version of our CLARITY assay and expand our ability to support pharmaceutical companies in developing companion diagnostics and IVD solutions globally," said Jake Chabon, CEO of Foresight Diagnostics. "By combining our leading MRD technology with QIAGEN’s global infrastructure and expertise, we are well-positioned to deliver a diagnostic kit that has the potential to enable personalized treatment strategies for lymphoma patients worldwide."

MRD testing offers a highly sensitive way to monitor treatment response, identify patients at risk of relapse before symptoms appear and inform decisions on therapy usage. It is also emerging as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials, accelerating drug development and regulatory review.

QIAGEN’s MRD portfolio spans sample technologies and testing platforms that support workflows from sample to insight. This includes the QIAsymphony system for automated sample preparation, with the new generation QIAsymphony Connect upgraded version being prepared for launch in late 2025, along with PAXgene blood collection tubes for stabilized blood draws. QIAGEN also offers an extensive range of kits for use on the QIAcuity family of digital PCR instruments as well as the QIAseq targeted gene panels for use on third-party NGS systems. Complementing these solutions is the portfolio of QIAGEN Digital Insights solutions that offer integrated bioinformatics for comprehensive NGS data analysis and interpretation to enable comprehensive MRD results.

On June 2, 2025 PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB) ("PDS Biotech" or the "Company"), a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers, reported publication of three Versamune HPV abstracts now available on the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting website (Press release, PDS Biotechnology, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653620]). These abstracts summarize Versamune HPV (PDS0101) studies that were presented during the Head and Neck Cancer Poster Session taking place May 30-June 3, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.

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It is estimated that over 50% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases in the US are HPV16-positive.1 HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC are two distinct diseases with different underlying causes, origin, risk factors, and contributions to the development of HNSCC. Multiple types of HPV are associated with HSNCC, and those cases are commonly identified with a p16 histochemistry test and referred to as p16-positive. A p16-positive test result suggests that the patient’s cancer may be due to any of the over 100 types of HPV. PDS Biotech is specifically addressing HNSCC related to HPV type 16 (HPV16), the most carcinogenic type of HPV. 2 HPV16-positive HNSCC has been identified as a rapidly growing and severe medical need.3,4 HPV16 is a specific type of HPV that must be confirmed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

PDS Biotechnology’s trial differs from the other ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials addressing 1L r/m HNSCC based on its specific HPV16-positive HNSCC target population and its therapeutic approach.

Phase 3 Development

EGFR Bispecific Antibodies

PDS Biotechnology
Therapeutic Approach

Blocking antibodies targeting EGFR and a second receptor

HPV16-targeted T cell immunotherapy
Treated Populations

Predominantly HPV-negative and no confirmed HPV16-positive HNSCC patients#

100% HPV16-positive HNSCC*
Mechanism of Action

Inhibition of EGFR signaling and either LGR5 or TGF-β

Promotes multi-functional CD4 (helper) and CD8 (killer) T cell response targeting HPV16 E6 and E7 expressing tumors
#P16 histochemistry test to determine infection with any of > 100 types of HPV
*Confirmatory PCR test for HPV16-positive specific infection

Kevin Harrington, M.D., Ph.D. of The Institute of Cancer Research in the United Kingdom stated, "HPV-positive HNSCC is today seen as a different disease from HPV-negative HNSCC. HPV-positive HNSCC has different biological characteristics and requires a more targeted approach that treats the underlying HPV integration and persistence into the patient’s tumor DNA. Cytotoxic drugs and the EGFR inhibitor cetuximab have not worked as well in HPV-positive HNSCC to date."

HPV16 has been reported to suppress the immune system’s ability to respond to the virus, resulting in more difficult-to-treat and non-immunogenic tumors.5 At least two studies have compared patients with HPV16-positive HNSCC with p16-positive patients (excluding HPV16) and patients with HPV-negative HNSCC, and shown patients with HPV16-positive HNSCC to have significantly worse survival prognosis than other p16-positive HNSCC, and in an advanced oral cancer study, patients with HPV16-positive HNSCC had significantly worse survival than patients with HPV-negative HNSCC.6,7

To accurately identify and appropriately treat patients with HPV16-positive HNSCC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that a companion diagnostic be developed and included in the ongoing VERSATILE-003 Phase 3 trial.

VERSATILE-002: Overall Survival of HPV16-Positive Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated with T Cell Stimulating Immunotherapy PDS0101 and Pembrolizumab (Abstract #6037) – Poster Presentation. June 2, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CDT

The trial was performed across 31 sites in the US and Europe. Median follow-up time is 22.1 months (range 0.2-43.0 months), representing one of the most extended follow-up periods to date of subjects receiving treatment for HPV16-positive 1L r/m HNSCC.

Median overall survival (mOS) has remained steady at 30.0 months over the last 1.5 years, suggesting durability of the Versamune HPV-induced clinical responses. The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval for mOS has, however, increased from 18.4 months in 2023 to 23.9 months as the data has matured. All data are reported according to RECISTv1.1 criteria, requiring clinical responses on at least two consecutive tumor scans at least 4 weeks apart. Enrollment in the trial (n=53) is complete; 22 patients (including 3 still on treatment) continue to be followed for survival. No new safety signals have emerged.

Summary of results for Versamune HPV with pembrolizumab stratified by patient CPS status.

Versamune HPV (PDS0101) + Pembrolizumab (VERSATILE-002)

CPS ≥ 1
N=53 (100%)
CPS ≥ 20
N=21/53 (40%)
CPS 1-19
N=32/53 (60%)

Median Overall Survival (mOS)
30.0 months
(95% Confidence interval,
lower limit of 23.9 months,
upper limit not yet estimable
(NE))
39.3 months
(95% CI 30.0, NE)
26.1 months
(95% CI 15.3, NE)

Median Progression Free Survival (PFS)
6.3 months
(95% CI 2.8, 14.1)
14.1 months
(95% CI 2.1, NE)
5.1 months
(95% CI 2.2, 8.1)

Objective Response Rate (ORR)
19/53 (35.8%)
10/21 (47.6%)
9/32 (28.1%)

Tumor Shrinkage of 90-100%

11/53 (20.8%)
6/21 (28.6%)
5/32 (15.6%)

Disease Control Rate (DCR)

41/53 (77.4%)
17/21 (81.0%)
24/53 (75.0%)

Median Duration of Response (DoR)
21.8 months
(95% CI 11.5, NE)
NE
(95% CI 5.6, NE)
21.8 months
(95% CI 4.2, NE)
The longest published mOS reported to date with pembrolizumab monotherapy and combinations with pembrolizumab in patients with 1L r/m HNSCC and CPS ≥ 1 is 17.9 months8.

Jared Weiss, M.D., Section Chief of Thoracic and Head/Neck Oncology, Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina, and Principal Investigator of the VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 clinical trial, stated, "The mOS results are highly encouraging in patients with advanced HPV Type 16-positive HNSCC. This is great news for patients, and we are encouraged that mOS has remained durable over the last 1.5 years. We look forward to the randomized Phase 3 trial, which is the only ongoing registrational trial to specifically address this rapidly growing population of patients."

Dr. Kirk Shepard, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech, continued, "We are very pleased with the overall survival (OS) results. As stated in a 2023 Journal of Clinical Oncology article authored by the FDA, OS is considered the gold standard for oncology approvals. The article discussed the discordance between ORR, PFS and OS. In recently published registrational 1L r/m HNSCC studies, improved ORR and PFS have not translated to improved OS. We look forward to the two interim survival data readouts from the ongoing Phase 3 study as well as the final OS results."

On June 2, 2025 Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. (NASDAQ: KTTA) ("Pasithea" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing PAS-004, a next-generation macrocyclic MEK inhibitor, reported updated interim results from its ongoing dose escalation Phase 1 study evaluating PAS-004 in advanced cancer patients in a poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2025 Annual Meeting (Press release, Pasithea Therapeutics, JUN 2, 2025, View Source [SID1234653619]).

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The Phase 1 clinical trial is a multi-center, open-label, dose escalation, modified 3+3 study design to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), and preliminary efficacy of PAS-004 in patients with MAPK pathway-driven advanced solid tumors with a documented RAS, NF1 or RAF mutation, or patients who have failed BRAF/MEK inhibition (NCT06299839).

As of the cut-off date of April 2, 2025, a total of 21 patients had been enrolled and received at least one dose of PAS-004 in six cohorts (Capsules: 2mg, 4mg, 8mg, 15mg, 22mg / Tablets: 4mg). The most common cancer diagnosis was pancreatic cancer (28.6%), colorectal cancer (28.6%), and melanoma (23.8%).

All treatment-related adverse events (AEs) have been either grade 1 or grade 2. No known MEK inhibitor class-related AEs such as ocular toxicities, cardiotoxicities, and skin toxicities were observed during the DLT observation period. No DLTs were reported, and dose escalation is ongoing.

Preliminary PAS-004 PK analysis suggests linear PK with an estimated half-life in excess of 60 hours. The Cmax (peak) to Cmin (trough) ratio was below 2 at steady state in all dose levels and has achieved potentially sufficient exposures for target engagement. This is supported by previously reported preliminary pERK inhibition observed in cohort 3 (8mg capsule), with pERK inhibition of up to 91%.

PAS-004 has demonstrated a dose-dependent PK profile and preliminary clinical activity as a monotherapy in patients with heavily pre-treated, refractory solid tumors. In the efficacy evaluable population (n=16), early response evaluation reveals stable disease (SD) by RECIST 1.1 in 10 patients at some point during the trial, with progression free survival of up to 159 days and overall survival of up to 253 days. In Cohort 4A (15mg capsule), two out of three patients achieved stable disease and remain on therapy. One patient with stage 4 KRAS G12R-mutated pancreatic cancer, having progressive disease while on three prior lines of therapy, achieved a tumor diameter reduction of -9.8% and remains on study for over 5 months. The second patient with Stage 4 BRAF-mutated melanoma, having progressed on two prior lines of therapy, including a prior MEK inhibitor + BRAF inhibitor combination treatment, achieved tumor diameter reduction of -14.9% and remains on study for over 5 months.

"The interim results from our ongoing Phase 1 study are encouraging and we believe underscore the potential of PAS-004 as a best-in-class MEK inhibitor to serve patients with a broad range of MAPK pathway driven tumors," said Dr. Tiago Reis Marques, Chief Executive Officer of Pasithea. "MEK inhibitors have been a transformative class of treatment therapies and we continue to witness groundbreaking advances and new approvals with this class of drug across tumor types and mutational profiles. At ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2025, over 15 data sets featuring MEK inhibitors are being presented underscoring the growing momentum in this field. Additionally, we have recently seen approval of two novel MEK inhibitors, mirdametinib and avutometinib, highlighting the continued relevance of this drug class in the past several months alone. As a macrocyclic compound, PAS-004 potentially represents a significant advancement in the MEK inhibitor field by offering high selectivity and sustained pathway suppression while maintaining good tolerability. This profile may make it optimal for both monotherapy and combination therapy, including in patients who have failed prior MEK inhibitors."

The poster presentation will be available on the Pasithea website on the date of the poster session.