On March 31, 2025 Biomea Fusion, Inc. ("Biomea" or "Biomea Fusion" or "the Company") (Nasdaq: BMEA), a clinical-stage diabetes and obesity medicines company, reported fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results and corporate highlights (Press release, Biomea Fusion, MAR 31, 2025, View Source [SID1234651662]).

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"2024 was a transformative year for Biomea, marked by the advancement of icovamenib into late-stage development and compelling clinical data that reinforced our confidence in its potential to reshape diabetes treatment, particularly for patients with severe insulin deficiency," said Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D., Interim Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Biomea Fusion. "As we move into this next phase, the Board made a strategic decision to align leadership with the company’s evolution, and I’m honored to step in and contribute decades of experience in late-stage development, regulatory strategy, and commercialization to help guide Biomea forward. This transition reflects the continued confidence in our menin inhibitor program and the strength of our covalent small molecule platform. We remain fully committed to advancing icovamenib and delivering on our mission to transform diabetes treatment through this disease-modifying therapy. With key data readouts and regulatory milestones ahead, 2025 is set to be a pivotal year for the company."

In March 2025, the Company announced a leadership transition, appointing Board member Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D., as Interim Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Thomas Butler.

In January 2025, we announced plans to position Biomea as a dedicated diabetes and obesity medicines company. Building on our most recent clinical trial results, our strategic focus for icovamenib is now exclusively centered on metabolic disorders. As a result, we are terminating all ongoing oncology trials involving icovamenib and will conclude the BMF-500 study in patients with relapsed/refractory acute leukemia with FLT3 gene mutations following the dose escalation phase. Biomea will seek strategic partnerships to advance its oncology portfolio and the capabilities of its FUSION System, while reallocating internal resources to accelerate our metabolic disease programs.

In October 2024, we announced the formation of our Global Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of 22 internationally recognized experts in beta cell science and diabetes therapeutics. This board will work closely with our leadership team as we continue to explore menin biology and beta cell regeneration, and advance the clinical development of icovamenib as a novel, disease-modifying treatment targeting a root cause of diabetes.

RECENT DIABETES AND OBESITY PROGRAM UPDATES

COVALENT-111 (Icovamenib for Type 2 Diabetes ("T2D"))

Study Results:

In the dose expansion portion of the COVALENT-111 study, icovamenib demonstrated statistically significant reductions in HbA1c in the prespecified per protocol patient population, with notable effects in the severe insulin deficient patients.
In this group, icovamenib achieved a 1.47% reduction in HbA1c at Week 26 following 12 weeks of treatment with 100 mg once a day ("QD").
Severe insulin deficient patients also experienced the largest mean increase in C-peptide index levels, with a 53% mean increase from baseline by Week 26, indicating enhanced endogenous insulin production.
In a broader subset of insulin deficient patients, icovamenib treatment led to a 1.0% reduction in HbA1c at Week 26 following 12 weeks of treatment with 100 mg QD.
The data showed that icovamenib preferentially increased insulin secretion in insulin-deficient patients, supporting its potential as a targeted therapy for individuals with severe insulin deficiency, a population with limited treatment options and the highest risk profile.
Across all dosing groups in the severe insulin deficient subgroup, there was a strong correlation between increases in C-peptide and reductions in HbA1c, consistent with the proposed mechanism through beta cell restoration.
HbA1c reductions were durable at 26 weeks, 3 months post last dose, further supporting the long-lasting effect of icovamenib on glycemic control.
Icovamenib was generally well tolerated, with no treatment discontinuations due to adverse events, no hypoglycemic episodes, and no drug-related serious adverse events reported.
Preclinical Findings:

In preclinical experiments, including in ex vivo human islets, icovamenib was able to enhance the activity of GLP-1 RA-based therapies, potentially leading to increased insulin secretion and improved glycemic control in patients with diabetes. These effects were associated with an increase in the expression levels of the GLP-1 receptors ("GLP-1R").
Overall results showed synergy of the combination therapy, which may allow lower doses of GLP-1-based therapies to achieve glycemic targets potentially reducing side effects and improving the tolerability of GLP-1 based therapies.
Anticipated 2025 Milestones:

Planned U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") discussions regarding Phase II/III trial designs and the advancement of icovamenib into late-stage clinical development in the first half of 2025.
52-week data from the COVALENT-111 Phase II study anticipated in the second half of 2025.
COVALENT-112 (Icovamenib for Type 1 Diabetes ("T1D"))

Anticipated 2025 Milestones:

Initial open label data from the Phase II study is expected in the second half of 2025.
BMF-650 (Oral small molecule GLP-1 RA)

Preclinical Progress:

Preclinical studies evaluating the properties of our investigational, next-generation, oral small molecule GLP-1 RA (BMF-650) demonstrated positive early preclinical activity, including improved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, reduction in blood glucose concentration, and appetite suppression in cynomolgus monkeys.
In comparison to a leading oral GLP-1 RA, BMF-650 exhibited higher bioavailability and a less variable pharmacokinetic profile, which may translate to improved tolerability and enable successful dose escalation in patients.
Human donor islet studies confirmed that BMF-650 significantly enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, aligning with findings from animal models.
In cynomolgus monkey studies, BMF-650 demonstrated robust improvements in glucose control and insulin secretion, consistent with its effects in human donor islets.
Appetite suppression studies revealed that daily oral dosing of BMF-650 significantly reduced food intake during peak drug concentration, with sustained effects throughout the day for a six-day study period.
Anticipated 2025 Milestones:

Submission of the Investigational New Drug ("IND") application for BMF-650 is planned for the second half of 2025.
ONCOLOGY PROGRAM

COVALENT-103 Study (BMF-500):

Preliminary Phase I data for BMF-500 in relapsed/refractory acute leukemia patients with FLT3 gene mutations having failed gilteritinib indicated clinical activity with evidence of responses, including a first complete response with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) and reductions in bone marrow blasts in five of six evaluable FLT3 mutated patients.
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses confirmed dose-proportional on-target FLT3 inhibition and good compartmental penetration, and BMF-500 showed a favorable safety and tolerability profile with no dose-limiting toxicities observed.
Anticipated 2025 Milestones:

After the completion of the dose escalation of BMF-500 in relapsed/refractory acute leukemia patients with FLT3 gene mutations, we intend to conclude our oncology study with BMF-500 and explore strategic partnerships.
FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2024 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash: As of December 31, 2024, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $58.6 million, compared to $177.2 million as of December 31, 2023.

Net Income/Loss: The Company reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $29.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to a net loss of $34.9 million for the same period in 2023. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $138.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to a net loss of $117.3 million for the same period in 2023.

Research and Development ("R&D") Expenses: R&D expenses were $25.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $30.9 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease of $5.6 million was primarily due to the decrease in compensation and related expenses, manufacturing related expenses, and clinical related expenses. R&D expenses were $118.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $102.5 million for the same period in 2023. The increase of $15.5 million was primarily due to an increase in clinical development of icovamenib, consultants, advisors and other professional services to support our clinical studies, discovery research and overall research and development programs.

General and Administrative ("G&A") Expenses: G&A expenses were $4.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $6.5 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease of $1.6 million was primarily due to the decrease in compensation and related expenses. G&A expenses were $26.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $23.6 million for the same period in 2023. The increase of $2.4 million was primarily due to increased personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation, due to an increase in headcount, as well as an increase in professional and consulting services to support the growth of the Company.

About Icovamenib
Icovamenib is an investigational, orally bioavailable, potent, and selective covalent inhibitor of menin. The molecule was built using Biomea Fusion’s FUSION System and is designed to regenerate insulin-producing beta cells with the aim to cure diabetes. Icovamenib’s proposed mechanism of action in diabetes is to enable the proliferation, preservation, and reactivation of a patient’s own healthy, functional, insulin-producing beta cells. As the potentially first disease-modifying therapy for T1D and T2D, icovamenib could become an important addition and complement to the diabetes treatment landscape once it has successfully completed clinical studies.

On March 31, 2025 BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ/TASE: BLRX), a development stage biopharmaceutical company pursuing life-changing therapies in oncology and rare diseases, reported its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024, and provided a corporate update (Press release, BioLineRx, MAR 31, 2025, View SourceArchives/edgar/data/1498403/000117891325001124/exhibit_1.htm" target="_blank" title="View SourceArchives/edgar/data/1498403/000117891325001124/exhibit_1.htm" rel="nofollow">View Source [SID1234651661]).

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"It has been just over four months since we implemented a major strategy shift, highlighted by the transformational exclusive licensing agreement that we entered into with Ayrmid Ltd., granting it the rights to commercialize APHEXDA (motixafortide) in all non-solid-tumor indications and all territories other than Asia," said Philip Serlin, Chief Executive Officer of BioLineRx. "Since then, we implemented cost efficiencies across the Company, including the shutdown of our U.S. commercial operations, that have resulted in an approximate 70% reduction in our operating expense base, which, together with recent financings, have put us on a firm footing with a cash runway through the second half of 2026."

"As we return to our roots as a lean drug development company, with a highly validated development platform focused on oncology and rare diseases, we believe these actions help ensure that we remain nimble and capable of seizing the opportunities in front of us. Our strategy moving forward is to in-license additional assets over the next year that we can advance through clinical proof-of-concept, funded in part by milestones and royalties from our out-licensing transactions. To that end, I am pleased to report that we are evaluating numerous promising candidates. This process is methodical and steady to ensure that our due diligence is thorough as we look for new chemical entities. Based on our deep and validated experience in drug development, I believe we are well positioned to create sustained value for our shareholders. I am excited about what the future holds for our Company this year and beyond," Mr. Serlin concluded.

Corporate Updates

•
Executed license agreement with Ayrmid Pharma Ltd. to develop and commercialize APHEXDAâ (motixafortide) in all indications except solid tumors, and across all territories except Asia

o
License agreement included a $10 million upfront payment, up to $87 million in potential commercial milestones, and royalties on net sales ranging from 18% to 23%

•
Announced receipt of a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) for a patent, titled "Composition of BL-8040," which strengthens BioLineRx’s robust intellectual property (IP) estate and extends its patent protection on motixafortide (BL-8040) in the U.S. through December 2041

Financial Updates

•
Completed two financings in past few months which raised combined gross proceeds of $19 million

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Reduced operating expense run rate by approximately 70% beginning January 1, 2025 through the APHEXDA program transfer to Ayrmid and the resulting shutdown of the Company’s U.S. commercial operations in Q424, as well as additional headcount and other operating expense reductions

•
Significantly reduced outstanding debt and restructured the remainder on favorable terms to the Company

APHEXDA 2024 Performance Update

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Aphexda achieved 10 percent market share of total CXCR4 inhibitor usage in the U.S., which compares APHEXDA to branded MOZOBIL and generic plerixafor in all indications

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BioLineRx generated more than $6 million in net product sales year-to-date through the November 2024 completion of the Ayrmid out-licensing transaction

Clinical Updates

Motixafortide

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (mPDAC)

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Additional trial sites activated for the CheMo4METPANC Phase 2b clinical trial being led by Columbia University. Full enrollment in the randomized trial targeting 108 patients is anticipated in 2027, with a prespecified interim futility analysis planned when 40% of PFS events are observed

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) & Gene Therapy

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First patient dosed in the multi-center Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating motixafortide for the mobilization of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) used in the development of gene therapies for patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). The trial is sponsored by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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Oral presentation delivered at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting & Exposition detailing initial results from a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating motixafortide as monotherapy and in combination with natalizumab for CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization for gene therapies in SCD. Sponsored by investigators at Washington University in St. Louis, the findings from this proof-of-concept study suggest motixafortide alone, and in combination with natalizumab, could support the collection of the large number of stem cells required by gene therapies for sickle cell disease within a single apheresis cycle.

Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2024

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Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $28.9 million, an increase of $24.1 million, or 502.1%, compared to $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The revenues in 2024 primarily reflect a portion of the up-front payment received, and a milestone payment achieved, under the Gloria license, which collectively amounted to $15.0 million, as well as the up-front payment received under the Ayrmid license and $6.0 million of net revenues from product sales of APHEXDA in the U.S. The revenues in 2023 (all of which were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023) primarily reflect a portion of the up-front payment received under the Gloria license of $4.6 million, as well as $0.2 million of revenues from product sales of APHEXDA in the U.S.

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Cost of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $9.3 million, an increase of $5.6, or 151.4%, compared to $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The cost of revenues in 2024 primarily reflects amortization of intangible assets, Biokine’s share of the up-front payment received under the Ayrmid license, sub-license fees accrued on a milestone payment recorded under the Gloria license, as well as royalties on net product sales of APHEXDA in the U.S. and cost of goods sold on product sales. The cost of revenues in 2023 primarily reflects Biokine’s share of the up-front payment received under the Gloria license and of the net sales.

•
Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $9.2 million, a decrease of $3.3 million, or 26.4%, compared to $12.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease resulted primarily from lower expenses related to motixafortide NDA supporting activities, termination of the development of AGI-134 and a decrease in payroll and share-based compensation.

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Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $23.6 million, a decrease of $1.7 million, or 6.7%, compared to $25.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease resulted primarily from the shutdown of U.S. commercial operations in the fourth quarter of 2024 following the Ayrmid license.

•
General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $6.3 million, similar to the year ended December 31, 2023.

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Net non-operating income amounted to $18.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net non-operating expenses of $10.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Non-operating income for the year ended December 31, 2024 primarily relates to non-cash, fair-value adjustments of warrant liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet, as a result of changes in the Company’s share price, offset by warrant offering expenses. Non-operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily relate to non-cash, fair-value adjustments of warrant liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet.

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Net financial expenses amounted to $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net financial expenses of $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Net financial expenses for both periods primarily relate to interest paid on loans, which increased in 2024 due to a one-time $4.0 million charge to interest expense in connection with the November 2024 amendment to the loan agreement with BlackRock, partially offset by investment income earned on bank deposits.

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Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $9.2 million, compared to $60.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

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As of December 31, 2024, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and short-term bank deposits of $19.6 million (approximately $29.0 million on a pro-forma basis, following the financing completed at the beginning of January 2025).

A copy of the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at View Source and posted on the Company’s investor relations website at View Source Company will deliver a hard copy of its annual report, including its complete audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders upon request at [email protected].

Conference Call and Webcast Information
To access the conference call, please dial +1-888-281-1167 from the U.S. or +972-3-918-0685 internationally. A live webcast and a replay of the call can be accessed through the event page on the Company’s website. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download any necessary software to listen to the live broadcast. The call replay will be available approximately two hours after completion of the live conference call. A dial-in replay of the call will be available until April 2, 2025; please dial +1-888-295-2634 from the US or +972-3-925-5904 internationally.

On March 31, 2025 BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ: ONC; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company that intends to change its name to BeOne Medicines Ltd., reported that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency issued a positive opinion recommending approval of TEVIMBRA (tislelizumab), in combination with etoposide and platinum chemotherapy, as a first-line treatment for adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) (Press release, BeiGene, MAR 31, 2025, View Source [SID1234651660]).

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"The aggressive nature of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer makes it an extremely difficult type of lung cancer to treat, and currently available treatments may not adequately control disease progression," said Prof. Silvia Novello, M.D., Ph.D., President Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe (WALCE) and Head of Medical Oncology Unit of San Luigi Hospital in Orbassano, Italy. "The compelling data from the RATIONALE-312 study demonstrates the potential of TEVIMBRA plus chemotherapy as a further first-line treatment option to extend overall survival for patients with ES-SCLC."

The extension of indication for ES-SCLC is based on results from BeiGene’s RATIONALE-312 (NCT04005716), a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, Phase 3 study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TEVIMBRA, in combination with platinum (investigator’s choice of cisplatin or carboplatin) plus etoposide, as first-line treatment in adult patients with ES-SCLC. The study, which randomized 457 patients, met its primary endpoint, exhibiting a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival (OS) with TEVIMBRA in combination with chemotherapy, compared with placebo plus chemotherapy in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. As reported in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, at the protocol-defined final analysis, the median OS was 15.5 months for TEVIMBRA with chemotherapy versus 13.5 months for placebo plus chemotherapy (HR 0.75 [95% CI: 0.61–0.93]; one-sided p = 0.0040), resulting in a 25% reduction in the risk of death. TEVIMBRA plus chemotherapy was generally well tolerated, with no new safety signals identified.

"Today’s positive CHMP opinion marks another important step for TEVIMBRA to potentially expand its indications in a fourth disease area in Europe to reach more patients affected by cancer," said Mark Lanasa, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, Solid Tumors at BeiGene. "TEVIMBRA is the cornerstone of our solid tumor portfolio with 58 regulatory approvals in 18 months and is being studied in combination with multiple novel molecules with the potential to herald the next wave of cancer therapeutics."

The pooled safety data in this extension of indication included more than 3,900 patients who received TEVIMBRA as either monotherapy (n=1,952) or in combination with chemotherapy (n=1,950) at the approved dosing regimen. The most common Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions (≥ 2%) for TEVIMBRA given in combination with chemotherapy were neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, fatigue, pneumonia, lymphopenia, rash, decreased appetite, increased aspartate aminotransferase, and increased alanine aminotransferase.

TEVIMBRA is currently approved in the EU as a first-line treatment for eligible patients with unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma in combination with chemotherapy, as a second line treatment in unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic ESCC after prior platinum-based chemotherapy, and for three non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) indications covering both the first- and second-line settings.

The Company recently announced its intent to change its name to BeOne Medicines, reaffirming its commitment to develop innovative medicines to eliminate cancer by partnering with the global community to serve as many patients as possible.

About Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.1 SCLC is an aggressive, high-grade cancer that accounts for 15% of all lung cancers,2 and is typically classified as limited-stage or extensive-stage disease.3 Approximately 70% of SCLC patients are diagnosed with extensive-stage disease,4 defined as cancer that has spread throughout or beyond the lungs, or exceeding an area that can be treated with radiation alone.5 In Europe, the estimated prevalence of SCLC is 1-5 per 10,000 people.6 ES-SCLC is associated with a very poor prognosis with a median OS of 8 to 13 months and an expected 2-year survival rate of only 5%.7

About TEVIMBRA (Tislelizumab)

TEVIMBRA is a uniquely designed humanized immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) anti-programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1) monoclonal antibody with high affinity and binding specificity against PD-1. It is designed to minimize binding to Fc-gamma (Fcγ) receptors on macrophages, helping to aid the body’s immune cells to detect and fight tumors.

TEVIMBRA is the foundational asset of BeiGene’s solid tumor portfolio and has shown potential across multiple tumor types and disease settings. The global TEVIMBRA clinical development program includes almost 14,000 patients enrolled to date in 35 countries and regions across 70 trials, including 21 registration-enabling studies. TEVIMBRA is approved in 45 countries, and more than 1.3 million patients have been treated globally.

Important Safety Information

The current European Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for TEVIMBRA is available from the European Medicines Agency.

This information is intended for a global audience. Product indications vary by region.

On March 31, 2025 AstraZeneca reported that Calquence (acalabrutinib) in combination with bendamustine and rituximab has been recommended for approval in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who are not eligible for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Press release, AstraZeneca, MAR 31, 2025, View Source [SID1234651659]).

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) based its positive opinion on the results from the ECHO Phase III trial which were presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) 2024 Congress.

Results from the ECHO trial showed Calquence plus bendamustine and rituximab reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 27% compared to standard-of-care chemoimmunotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57-0.94; p=0.016). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 66.4 months for patients treated with the Calquence combination versus 49.6 with chemoimmunotherapy alone.

This recommendation for Calquence as a combination treatment in the 1st-line MCL setting follows the recent CHMP positive opinion for Calquence as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory MCL.

Martin Dreyling, MD, Department of Medicine, University Hospital LMU Munich, and investigator in the trial, said: "Results from the pivotal ECHO trial demonstrated the significant benefits of the Calquence combination in managing this rare and aggressive cancer. Today’s recommendation is an important advance within the mantle cell lymphoma first-line treatment landscape, especially for older patients who need a balance of efficacy and tolerability."

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "Today’s positive recommendation from the CHMP further reinforces the potential of Calquence to advance first-line treatment options in mantle cell lymphoma, with the Calquence combination demonstrating an almost one and a half year improvement in progression-free survival in this setting. If approved, Calquence has the potential to transform the standard of care as the first BTK inhibitor approved for these patients in Europe."

MCL is a rare and typically aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, often diagnosed at an advanced stage.1,2 It is estimated that more than 6,000 patients were diagnosed with MCL in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy in 2024.3

The safety and tolerability of Calquence was consistent with its known safety profile, and no new safety signals were identified.

Calquence plus bendamustine and rituximab is approved in the US and several other countries in this setting based on the ECHO results. Regulatory applications are currently under review in Japan and several other countries in this indication.

Notes

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
While MCL patients initially respond to treatment, patients do tend to relapse.4 MCL comprises about 3-6% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with an annual incidence of 0.5 per 100,000 population in Western countries; It is estimated that there are more than 21,000 patients diagnosed with MCL in the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and China.5

ECHO
ECHO is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Calquence plus bendamustine and rituximab compared to SoC chemoimmunotherapy (bendamustine and rituximab) in adult patients at or over 65 years of age (n=635) with previously untreated MCL.6 Patients were randomised 1:1 to receive either Calquence or placebo administered orally twice per day, continuously, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Additionally, all patients received six 28-day cycles of bendamustine on days 1 and 2 and rituximab on day 1 of each cycle, followed by rituximab maintenance for two years if patients achieved a response after induction therapy.6

The primary endpoint is PFS assessed by an Independent Review Committee; other efficacy endpoints include overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR) and time to response (TTR).6 The trial was conducted in 27 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.6

The ECHO trial enrolled patients from May 2017 to March 2023, continuing through the COVID-19 pandemic. Prespecified PFS and OS analyses censoring for COVID-19 deaths were conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the study outcome in alignment with the FDA. Patients with blood cancer remain at a disproportionately high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, including hospitalisation and death compared to the general population.6,7,8

Calquence
Calquence (acalabrutinib) is a second-generation, selective inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK). Calquence binds covalently to BTK, thereby inhibiting its activity.8 In B-cells, BTK signalling results in activation of pathways necessary for B-cell proliferation, trafficking, chemotaxis and adhesion.

Calquence is approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in the US and Japan, approved for CLL in the EU and many other countries worldwide and approved in China for relapsed or refractory CLL and SLL. Calquence is also approved for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated MCL in the US and other countries. It is also approved for the treatment of adult patients with MCL who have received at least one prior therapy in the US, China and several other countries. Calquence is not currently approved for the treatment of MCL in Japan.

As part of an extensive clinical development programme, Calquence is currently being evaluated as a single treatment and in combination with standard-of-care chemoimmunotherapy for patients with multiple B-cell blood cancers, including CLL, MCL and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

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On March 31, 2025 Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APRE) ("Aprea", or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments that exploit specific cancer cell vulnerabilities while minimizing damage to healthy cells, reported that a patient with HPV+ head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been dosed in the ongoing ACESOT-1051 clinical trial evaluating APR-1051 (Press release, Aprea, MAR 31, 2025, View Source [SID1234651658]). This is the first patient to be dosed in Cohort 5 (70 mg once daily) of the study. Open label data from the study are expected in the second half of 2025.

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WEE1 inhibition has emerged as a promising strategy for targeting tumor cells with high replication stress and DNA damage accumulation. HPV driven cancers, including HPV+ HNSCC, are characterized by defects in the DDR pathway, making them potentially susceptible to WEE1 inhibition. HPV+ cancers are those where the underlying cause is persistent infection with human papillomavirus, a group of viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes. A high proportion of HNSCC cases are attributable to HPV. An estimated 70% of the 20,000 cases of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC that occurs in the oropharynx) seen annually in the US are attributable to HPV.

APR-1051 is a potent and selective small molecule that has been designed to potentially solve tolerability challenges of the WEE1 class. The ongoing ACESOT-1051 (A Multi-Center Evaluation of WEE1 Inhibitor in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors, APR-1051) clinical trial is a Phase 1 trial evaluating single-agent APR-1051 in patients with advanced solid tumors harboring cancer-associated specific gene alterations.

"Enrollment of the first patient with HPV+ head and neck cancer in the Phase 1 ACESOT-1051 trial is an important step and is in line with our goal of identifying patient populations most likely to benefit from WEE1 inhibition," said Philippe Pultar MD., Senior Medical Advisor and Lead WEE1 Clinical Development of Aprea. "We are pleased with the progress of the trial and encouraged by the safety profile of APR-1051 to date. We look forward to continuing the study as we work toward identifying the optimal dose for future studies. We continue to believe that APR-1051 has best in class potential."

The latest patient in ACESOT-1051 was enrolled at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Aprea recently entered into a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) with MD Anderson to support preclinical research aimed at exploring the potential of APR-1051 in treating HPV+ and HPV- head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) expressing genomic markers of replication stress.

ACESOT-1051 Study Design

ACESOT-1051 (A Multi-Center Evaluation of WEE1 Inhibitor in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors, APR-1051) is designed to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of single-agent APR-1051 in advanced solid tumors harboring cancer-associated gene alterations. Oral APR-1051 will be administered once daily for 28-day cycles. The study consists of two parts. Part 1 is dose escalation and is expected to enroll up to 39 patients with advanced solid tumors. The first three dose levels (10mg, 20mg and 30mg) used accelerated titration. Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN) design is now being employed for the remaining dose levels (50mg and above). Part 2 (up to 40 patients) is designed for dose optimization, with the goal of selecting the Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D).

The primary objectives of the study are to measure safety, dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum tolerated dose or maximum administered dose (MTD/MAD), and RP2D; secondary objectives are to evaluate pharmacokinetics, preliminary efficacy according to RECIST or PCWG3 criteria; pharmacodynamics is an exploratory objective. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is the lead site, and the study will be performed at between 3 and 10 sites in the U.S. For more information refer to clinicaltrials.gov NCT06260514.