On March 20, 2025 Linnaeus Therapeutics, Inc. ("Linnaeus"), a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, small molecule oncology therapeutics, reported that seminal data describing Linnaeus’s clinical candidate, LNS8801, was published in Cancer Research Communications (Press release, Linnaeus Therapeutics, MAR 20, 2025, View Source [SID1234651326]). This paper characterizes LNS8801 as a developable pharmaceutical drug candidate, demonstrating its activity in cancer and highlighting a predictive biomarker.

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The manuscript, entitled "LNS8801: An enantiomerically pure agonist of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor suitable for clinical development," was authored by Natale et al. The publication can be viewed at: View Source

This new study highlights the potential of LNS8801, a first-in-class, oral compound targeting the G protein estrogen receptor (GPER), to be used as a novel cancer therapy. Linnaeus researchers and collaborators discovered that LNS8801 is the active component of the widely studied GPER agonist, G-1. In preclinical models, LNS8801 demonstrated potent, oral, GPER-dependent anticancer effects. This study also demonstrates that a common genetic variant of GPER may influence patient response, offering a potential mechanism-linked biomarker for patient selection and personalized therapy. These findings complement the data generated in ongoing clinical trials of LNS8801 for cancer.

"The validation of our science by the acceptance of this paper in Cancer Research Communications underscores the importance of GPER as a therapeutic target," said Patrick Mooney, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Linnaeus. "This data demonstrates that using LNS8801 to target GPER has therapeutic effects in melanoma and other GPER-positive cancers and is the appropriate molecule for clinical development. We are excited by the data we have seen in our clinical phase 1/2 study, and we are poised to open enrollment in a randomized, controlled study in the near future."

Linnaeus anticipates initiating a randomized controlled clinical trial testing LNS8801 in unresectable, treatment-refractory, cutaneous melanoma patients this year. This study will randomize 135 biomarker-positive patients to receive either LNS8801 monotherapy, LNS8801 in combination with pembrolizumab, or physician’s choice therapy. The study will assess progression-free survival and overall survival between the groups.

About LNS8801

LNS8801 is an orally bioavailable and highly specific and potent agonist of GPER whose activity is dependent on the expression of GPER. GPER activation by LNS8801 rapidly and durably depletes c-Myc protein levels. In preclinical cancer models, LNS8801 displays potent antitumor activities across a wide range of tumor types, rapidly shrinking tumors and inducing immune memory.

In the ongoing clinical study in humans, LNS8801 has been safe and well tolerated. Additionally, LNS8801 has demonstrated target engagement, c-Myc protein depletion, and clinical benefit in patients with advanced cancers, and a predictive biomarker has been identified.

On March 20, 2025 ImmunoGenesis, a clinical-stage biotech company developing innovative, science-driven immunotherapies, reported its participation in the 2025 NeauxCancer Conference organized by the Cancer Advocacy Group of Louisiana (CAGLA), being held March 27 – 29, 2025 in New Orleans (Press release, ImmunoGenesis, MAR 20, 2025, View Source [SID1234651325]).

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President and CEO James Barlow will discuss how ImmunoGenesis plans to transform immuno-oncology with its pipeline of products designed to overcome immune resistance. He will provide an update on the active Phase 1a/1b study of their lead compound, IMGS-001, including preliminary data on enrolled subjects. IMGS-001 is a novel dual-specific PD-L1/PD-L2 antibody with killing function designed to treat immune-excluded, cold tumors that are resistant to existing immunotherapy. Mr. Barlow will also discuss the recently initiated phase 2 trial for the company’s second clinical asset, IMGS-101 (evofosfamide), a hypoxia reversal agent being studied in combination with checkpoint inhibition.

Attendees at the conference will include oncologists and other clinicians interested in learning and discussing the latest practices for treating and taking care of cancer patients. The Innovation Track will enable the medical professionals attending the conference, as well as regional investment professionals, to learn about emerging technologies for cancer treatment and prevention.

"We are excited to have ImmunoGenesis as a new presenter in this year’s Innovation Track. The company has recently expanded the Phase 1a/1b clinical trial of its lead candidate, IMGS-001, to Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center in southeastern Louisiana. This is an excellent opportunity for clinicians and investors to hear their story."
— Chadwick K. Landry, Portfolio Manager at Poydras Capital Partners and President of CAGLA

Registration and attendance at the conference for investors is complimentary. Investors can register via the link below.

Innovation Track Details:

ImmunoGenesis Presentation

Friday, March 28 2:00PM CST

Conference Registration

View Source

complimentary registrations are available for investors

The 2025 NeauxCancer Conference has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Ochsner Clinic Foundation and CAGLA. The Ochsner Clinic Foundation is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

About CAGLA
The Cancer Advocacy Group of Louisiana is a nonprofit corporation organized and operated to advocate for state legislation and administration regulations that facilitate cancer research and education, and foster the well-being and care of cancer patients, survivors, and their families.

On March 20, 2025 Akeso Inc. (9926.HK) reported promising phase III safety run-in results from the COMPASSION-18/AK104-305 study, at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) (Press release, Akeso Biopharma, MAR 20, 2025, View Source [SID1234651324]). The study evaluates the global first-in-class PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody, cadonilimab (AK104), in combination with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer.

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Currently, CCRT is the standard of care for locally advanced cervical cancer, but approximately 30%-40% of patients experience relapse or disease progression within five years. Cadonilimab, with its unique dual-target mechanism, is designed to simultaneously inhibit the PD-1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoint pathways. It has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China for use in patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer who have failed prior platinum-based chemotherapy. The Phase III COMPASSION-16 study further confirmed that cadonilimab, when combined with platinum-based chemotherapy (with or without bevacizumab), significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer. Based on these compelling results, the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for cadonilimab as a first-line treatment for persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer is currently under regulatory review.

At this year’s SGO, data from the COMPASSION-18 study highlighted the exceptional efficacy seen in patients receiving cadonilimab in combination with CCRT during the safety run-in phase. The results demonstrate the considerable therapeutic potential of cadonilimab combined with CCRT for locally advanced cervical cancer. The study included a more challenging patient cohort, with a notably higher proportion of patients having PD-L1 CPS <1 (38.2%) and an ECOG performance status of 1 (52.9%) compared to other similar studies.

Overall Response Rate (ORR): The evaluable patients achieved a remarkable ORR of 100%, with a complete response (CR) rate of 84.8% and a partial response (PR) rate of 15.2%, which significantly outperformed data from other comparable studies. The median duration of response (DoR) has yet to be reached.
Progression-Free Survival (PFS): While the median PFS has not been reached, the 12-month PFS rate was 74.9%.
Subgroup Analysis: Patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1, ECOG 0, and those not infected with COVID-19 derived even greater benefit from the treatment, with 12-month PFS rates of 85%, 87.5%, and 81.3%, respectively.
Safety Profile: Cadonilimab combined with CCRT exhibited a favorable safety profile, demonstrating good tolerability and manageable adverse events. Notably, there were no treatment-related deaths (TRAE) and no new safety concerns were identified.
Cadonilimab is making significant progress in treating both recurrent/metastatic and locally advanced cervical cancer, establishing a comprehensive therapeutic approach. The positive results from the COMPASSION-18 study reinforce its potential in a broader patient population. As clinical development continues, cadonilimab is set to redefine cervical cancer treatment, offering long-term survival benefits to more patients.

On March 20, 2025 Aptevo Therapeutics ("Aptevo") (NASDAQ:APVO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel bispecific immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its proprietary ADAPTIR and ADAPTIR-FLEX platform technologies, reported two additional frontline AML patients have achieved remission* within 30 days of treatment in the Company’s RAINIER dose optimization trial evaluating mipletamig in combination with standard of care for patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy (Press release, Aptevo Therapeutics, MAR 20, 2025, View Source [SID1234651323]). In total, 9 of 10 frontline patients across two trials achieved remission* when receiving the triplet combination of mipletamig + venetoclax + azacitidine (ven/aza). Notably, no CRS has been reported in the RAINIER trial to date.

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The data builds on previously reported favorable outcomes from RAINIER’s Cohort 1 and the completed dose expansion trial where 100% of frontline patients achieved remission. Together with the addition of these interim Cohort 2 results, mipletamig has achieved a compelling overall remission rate of 90% among frontline patients. This outperforms the doublet remission* rate from a venetoclax + azacitidine only study, of 66%. Additionally, the frontline patient triplet therapy CR rate of 70% outperforms the CR rate from a venetoclax + azacitidine only study of 36% (Viale-A Pivotal trial).Thus far, all RAINIER patients who achieved remission remain in remission.

Cohort 2 will include six patients, dosed at the 18mcg level, the same dose used in combination with ven/aza in the completed expansion trial.

Three patients evaluable for efficacy achieved the following outcomes:

Two patients achieved remission withing 30 days of being dosed

One patient progressed after the first cycle and passed away for reasons unrelated to study drugs

Cohort 2 enrollment is nearing completion

"We’re now past the halfway mark in Cohort 2 of the RAINIER trial and are thrilled by the continued, highly favorable remission results," said Dirk Huebner, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Aptevo. " This emerging pattern further supports mipletamig’s impact on treatment outcomes in frontline AML patients who are not fit for intensive chemotherapy and who would otherwise receive ven/aza as the standard of care. One of our primary goals with the RAINIER trial is to demonstrate the contribution of mipletamig’s unique mechanism of action when used in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine. By targeting AML this way, our approach has the potential to improve outcomes, particularly for elderly patients who have limited treatment options."

Mipletamig, a differentiated by design CD3 x CD123 bispecific antibody built on Aptevo’s ADAPTIR platform and driven by a unique CRIS-7 derived binding domain, is being investigated as frontline therapy in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine, the current standard of care for AML patients who are unfit for intensive chemotherapy. These latest results further reinforce mipletamig’s potential as a transformative treatment, supported by impressive efficacy, safety, and tolerability data from two prior clinical trials involving almost 100 patients.

*Remission = complete remission (CR) and, complete remission with blood markers that have not yet recovered (CRi).

About RAINIER
RAINIER, a frontline AML study, is a Phase 1b/2 dose optimization, multi-center, multi-cohort, open label study of up to 39 patients who are being treated across five dose levels ranging from 9 mcg – 140 mcg in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine (ven/aza). Subjects will be adults aged 18 or older, newly diagnosed with AML who are not eligible for intensive induction chemotherapy. Phase 1b consists of 28-day cycles of treatment in five sequential cohorts. Aptevo has partnered with Prometrika (View Source), a premier contract research organization for the trial. RAINIER will be conducted in two parts. First, a Phase 1b dose optimization study in frontline AML patients followed by a Phase 2 study.

Cohort 1 included 3 patients, dosed at the 9mcg level.

All patients achieved remission* within 30 days

Thus far, all patients who achieved remission remain in remission.

One CR patient had no minimal residual disease (MRD-negative status) and was positive for the TP53 genetic mutation, which is generally associated with poor prognosis due to chemotherapy resistance, genetic instability, and overall treatment challenges

About Mipletamig
Aptevo’s wholly owned lead proprietary drug candidate, mipletamig, targeting AML, MDS and other leukemias, is differentiated by design to redirect the immune system of the patient to destroy leukemic cells and leukemic stem cells expressing the target antigen CD123, which is a compelling target for AML due to its overexpression on leukemic stem cells and AML blasts. This antibody-like recombinant protein therapeutic is designed to engage both leukemic cells and T cells of the immune system and bring them closely together to trigger the destruction of leukemic cells. Mipletamig is purposefully designed to reduce the likelihood and severity of CRS by use of a unique CD3 derived from CRIS-7 vs. the CD3 used by other competitors. Mipletamig has received orphan drug designation ("orphan status") for AML according to the Orphan Drug Act. Mipletamig has been evaluated in almost 100 patients over three trials to date. RAINIER, Aptevo’s Phase 1b/2 frontline AML program, was initiated in 3Q24.

On March 20, 2025 Plus Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSTV) (the "Company"), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing targeted radiotherapeutics with advanced platform technologies for central nervous system (CNS) cancers, reported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conditionally accepted the Company’s new proprietary name, REYOBIQ, for its lead therapeutic candidate (Press release, Plus Therapeutics, MAR 20, 2025, View Source [SID1234651322]). A request for proprietary name review for REYOBIQ must be submitted once the marketing application (NDA) is submitted. All communications regarding the USAN-adopted and INN-recommended rhenium Re186 obisbemeda generic name will now utilize the proprietary name REYOBIQ.

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"Branding is an important part of preparing for commercialization, and the establishment of the REYOBIQ brand will enable investigators, investors, and potential patients to connect with our rhenium-based radiotherapeutic beyond its chemical identity," said Russ Havranek, Plus Therapeutics VP of Corporate Strategy and New Product Planning. "We are looking forward to building familiarity with the new REYOBIQ name and logo, as we believe it will foster stronger stakeholder engagement and reinforce the promising progress we are making in developing targeted radiotherapeutics for LM and GBM."

About REYOBIQ (rhenium Re186 obisbemeda)
REYOBIQ (rhenium Re186 obisbemeda) is a novel injectable radiotherapy specifically formulated to deliver direct targeted high dose radiation in CNS tumors in a safe, effective, and convenient manner to optimize patient outcomes. REYOBIQ has the potential to reduce off target risks and improve outcomes for CNS cancer patients, versus currently approved therapies, with a more targeted and potent radiation dose. Rhenium-186 is an ideal radioisotope for CNS therapeutic applications due to its short half-life, beta energy for destroying cancerous tissue, and gamma energy for real-time imaging. REYOBIQ is being evaluated for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma and leptomeningeal metastases in the ReSPECT-GBM and ReSPECT-LM clinical trials. ReSPECT-GBM is supported by an award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), and ReSPECT-LM is funded by a three-year $17.6M grant by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).