On May 12, 2025 Lantern Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: LTRN), an artificial intelligence company developing targeted and transformative cancer therapies using its proprietary AI platform, RADR, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the amendment to its Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of LP-184 in a genomically defined patient population of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) where there is a need to improve patient outcomes (Press release, Lantern Pharma, MAY 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234652890]).

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

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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"This study represents a potential therapeutic opportunity to improve outcomes for patients diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with KEAP1, and STK11 alterations independent of KRAS status. Historically, these co-alterations may lead to worse outcomes for patients, due to resistance to treatments such as single agent immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or chemoimmunotherapy. Research to date suggests that dual immunotherapy is the best approach for this disease type, but many patients still progress on treatment, highlighting an area of unmet need that we can potentially improve on by the addition of LP-184 to this combination," said Misty Dawn Shields, M.D. Ph.D. — Division of Hematology/Oncology, Thoracic Oncology, Indiana University: Melvin & Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Lead Investigator for the planned Study.

Strategic Trial Design to Address Critical Treatment Gap in Advanced NSCLC

The biomarker focused Phase 1b/2 clinical trial is designed to target high-risk NSCLC subtypes by evaluating LP-184 in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and ipilimumab in patients with advanced NSCLC harboring KEAP1 and/or STK11 mutations and low PD-L1 expression—a population with limited response to existing first-line therapies. The study is designed to assess safety, preliminary efficacy, and biomarker correlations, potentially paving a path toward accelerated development in this genetically defined patient segment that is treatment resistant to many existing approved chemo and immunotherapies.1 Lantern Pharma expects to prepare an application for a Fast Track or Accelerated Approval Designation for this patient population based on data from the planned trial and ongoing analysis from existing models.

This unique trial is aimed at addressing a critical unmet clinical need in lung cancer care: the median overall survival in newly diagnosed, advanced NSCLC patients with KEAP1 and/or STK11 mutations treated with chemo-immunotherapy averages 15 months, substantially lower than outcomes in mutation negative populations. For patients that fail earlier lines of therapies the overall survival tends to skew even lower at approximately 6.3 months.2 This represents a market opportunity exceeding $2 billion annually, given the prevalence and poor prognosis for patients with these mutations.

Mechanistic Rationale for LP-184 in NSCLC

LP-184 is a next-generation, synthetically lethal small molecule that induces DNA double-strand breaks upon activation by prostaglandin-reductase 1 (PTGR1). This enzyme is notably overexpressed in KEAP1-mutant tumors. Preclinical studies demonstrate that LP-184’s cancer-killing potency directly correlates with PTGR1 expression levels in NSCLC cell lines. The company’s proprietary RADR platform-driven in silico analyses and preclinical studies suggest that LP-184 is particularly effective in DNA damage repair (DDR)-deficient cancers, including NSCLC with KEAP1 and STK11 alterations3. An additional advantage of LP-184 is its selective toxicity mechanism: PTGR1 enzymatically converts LP-184 from a prodrug to its bioactive, cytotoxic form specifically within tumor cells where PTGR1 is elevated, while normal tissues with low PTGR1 expression remain largely unaffected. This selective toxicity has been observed pre-clinically and in Lantern’s AI modeling. This tumor-selective activation creates a significant therapeutic window that may enable robust anti-tumor activity while minimizing systemic toxicities.

Another key competitive advantage of LP-184 is its mechanism, which in preclinical models has been demonstrated to remain effective regardless of TP53 status—a common co-mutation that contributes to resistance against current therapies2. Individual or co-occurring KEAP1, STK11, and TP53 mutations are found in approximately 20-30% of NSCLC patients and define molecular subsets unresponsive to standard immune checkpoint blockade4.

Targeting The Right Patients – Combining Potential Clinical Benefit & Likelihood of Response to LP-184 in a Combination Regimen

Clinical data analysis conducted by Lantern Pharma in 517 lung cancer patients from a major cancer database (TCGA) revealed a clear target population for LP-184. About 35% of these patients had high levels of PTGR1 – the enzyme that has been hypothesized to activate LP-184 inside the cancer cell. (Figure 1)

Among these PTGR1-high lung cancer patients, 40% also had KEAP1 mutations, which are linked to poor responses to current immunotherapies and chemotherapies. KEAP1 mutations actually cause higher PTGR1 expression, essentially making these difficult-to-treat tumors more vulnerable to LP-184 based on preclinical observations.

"This clinical trial and the FDA clearance represents a pivotal milestone in our mission to develop precise, data-driven cancer therapies for patients with limited treatment options," said Panna Sharma, President and CEO of Lantern Pharma. "The STK11 and KEAP1 mutant NSCLC population represents an important market opportunity and, a group of patients desperately awaiting better treatment options. By combining our AI-driven approach with a deep understanding of cancer biology, we’ve identified LP-184 as a potential breakthrough for these patients. The clearance of this trial advances our precision oncology strategy while demonstrating the power of our RADR platform to accelerate development timelines and reduce costs, as part of our mission to create value for both patients and shareholders as we work to transform oncology drug development."

On May 12, 2025 UroGen Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: URGN), a biotech company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative solutions that treat urothelial and specialty cancers, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, and provided an overview of recent developments (Press release, UroGen Pharma, MAY 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234652889]).

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

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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"We are entering a pivotal and exciting period for UroGen as we approach the anticipated FDA approval of our lead pipeline product, UGN-102, in June for recurrent low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer," said Liz Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer of UroGen. "This milestone has the potential to mark the first major advancement in treatment for this patient population in decades, delivering a much-needed novel and innovative treatment option that may offer meaningful disease and treatment-free intervals. With momentum building across the organization, we are entering the final phase of launch readiness. If approved, UGN-102 represents a significant commercial opportunity, with a total addressable market of over $5 billion. Backed by a strong balance sheet and a growing pipeline, we are well-positioned to build a long-term, sustainable growth company. We remain steadfast in our mission to transform the treatment paradigm in uro-oncology and see a great opportunity to advance patient care and deliver value for shareholders."

Q1 2025 and Recent Business Highlights:

UGN-102 (mitomycin) for intravesical solution

UroGen’s New Drug Application (NDA) for investigational drug UGN-102 (mitomycin) for intravesical solution as a treatment for recurrent low-grade intermediate risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC), is currently under review at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA granted a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of June 13, 2025. The FDA has scheduled an Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) meeting on May 21, 2025 to discuss the UGN-102 NDA.
Updated 18-month Duration of Response (DOR) data from the Phase 3 ENVISION trial evaluating UGN-102 in patients with recurrent LG-IR-NMIBC were featured in a podium presentation by Dr. Sandip Prasad at the American Urological Association (AUA) 2025 Annual Meeting on April 26 in Las Vegas. The data are consistent with prior Kaplan-Meier estimates, with the probability of remaining in complete response (CR) of 80.6% (95% CI: 74.0, 85.7) at 18-months after achieving CR at 3 months (N=101) compared to 82.5% (95% CI: 76.1, 87.3) at 12-months after 3-month CR (N=146). Median follow-up time at 18 months was 18.7 months after the three-month CR.
The results of a patient reported outcomes analysis from three UGN-102 studies (OPTIMA II, ATLAS and ENVISION) were presented in a poster at the AUA meeting. The results showed that UGN-102 did not have a negative impact on symptom burden, patient function, or quality of life.
Long-term outcomes of the OPTIMA II LT study of UGN-102 were also presented at the meeting and demonstrated median DOR of 24.2 months (95% CI 9.72, 47.18) with a median follow-up time of 33.6 months (95% CI 10.78, 42.94) in the 41 patients who achieved a CR in the parent study.
Results from a post-hoc sub-analysis of the ENVISION trial, showing that tumor burden and the number of tumors did not significantly affect the CR rate or durability of response for patients treated with UGN-102, were presented at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GU 2025) in February 2025.
Results from the ENVISION trial were published in the February 2025 issue of The Journal of Urology.
JELMYTO (mitomycin) for pyelocalyceal solution in low-grade upper tract urothelial cancer (LG-UTUC)

Generated net product revenue of $20.3 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2025, an increase of 8% over the $18.8 million reported for the same quarter in 2024. Underlying demand grew by 12% year-over-year.
A poster featuring long-term outcomes of patients with recurrent and new-onset LG-UTUC who achieved CR in the Phase 3 trial of JELMYTO was presented at AUA 2025. As previously reported, the median DOR of all patients achieving CR in the JELMYTO Phase 3 study was 47.8 months, irrespective of whether their cancer was new onset or recurrent.
A long-term study on JELMYTO titled, "Durability of Response of UGN-101: Longitudinal Follow-Up of Multicenter Study," was published online in Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Investigations in January 2025. The results showed 68% recurrence-free survival rate at three years across a broad patient population with LG-UTUC.
UGN-301 (zalifrelimab) intravesical solution, an anti-CTLA4 antibody for use in high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)

Enrollment is complete in the multi-arm dose escalation Phase 1 clinical study of UGN-301 in patients with high-grade NMIBC, alone and in combination with fixed dose UGN-201 or gemcitabine. The investigational treatments demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and were generally well tolerated across dose levels. Responses were observed in both monotherapy and combination therapy arms, and patient follow-up is ongoing to further assess the durability of these responses.
Next-generation investigational oncolytic virus UGN-501 (ICVB-1042)

In February 2025, UroGen expanded its nonclinical oncology portfolio with the purchase of product candidate UGN-501 from IconOVir Bio, Inc (IconOVir). UGN-501 is a potent and fast-replicating investigational next generation oncolytic virus therapy, being developed as a locally administered treatment for bladder cancer and other specialty cancers. UroGen hosted a webinar to discuss UGN-501 (ICVB-1042) on February 20, 2025, and a replay can be accessed on the Company’s website here.
Next-generation novel mitomycin-based formulation for urothelial cancers

Enrollment is ongoing in the Phase 3 UTOPIA clinical trial of investigational drug UGN-103 (mitomycin) for intravesical solution in patients with LG-IR-NMIBC and enrollment is expected to be completed by mid-2025. UGN-103 is a next generation product that combines UroGen’s RTGel technology with a novel mitomycin formulation licensed from medac GmbH. UGN-103 is planned to follow the potential FDA approval and launch of UGN-102 for recurrent LG-IR-NMIBC. To learn more about the UTOPIA trial, refer to clinicaltrials.gov/NCT06331299.
UroGen plans to initiate a Phase 3 trial to explore the safety and efficacy of UGN-104 by mid-2025. UGN-104 is a next generation investigational product for LG-UTUC.
First quarter 2025 Financial Results

JELMYTO Revenue: JELMYTO net product revenues were $20.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared with $18.8 million for the same quarter of 2024. Year-over-year revenue growth of 8% was driven by underlying demand growth of 12%, partially offset by higher 340B chargebacks.

R&D Expenses: R&D expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were $19.9 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $0.6 million as compared to $15.5 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $0.5 million, for the same period in 2024. The increase in R&D expenses of $4.4 million was primarily driven by the equity consideration issued to IconOVir for the acquisition of UGN-501 (ICVB-1042) which was expensed in the first quarter of 2025, higher manufacturing costs, and costs associated with the Phase 3 UTOPIA trial for UGN-103, partially offset by lower clinical trial costs and regulatory expenses in connection with UGN-102.

SG&A Expenses: SG&A expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were $35.0 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $2.5 million. This compares to $27.3 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $2.2 million, for the same period in 2024. The increase in SG&A expenses of $7.7 million was primarily driven by UGN-102 commercial preparation activities.

Financing on Prepaid Forward Obligation: UroGen reported non-cash financing expense related to the prepaid forward obligation to RTW Investments of $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $5.7 million in the same period in 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by changes in underlying assumptions for remeasuring the effective rate.

Interest Expense on Long-Term Debt: Interest expense related to the $125 million term loan facility with funds managed by Pharmakon Advisors was $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $2.4 million in the same period in 2024. The increase was primarily attributable to the interest expense on the third tranche of the loan that was funded in September 2024.

Net Loss: UroGen reported a net loss of $43.8 million or ($0.92) per basic and diluted share in the first quarter of 2025 compared with a net loss of $32.3 million or ($0.87) per basic and diluted share in the same period in 2024.

Cash and Equivalents: As of March 31, 2025, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $200.4 million.

For further details on the Company’s financials, refer to Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC.

2025 JELMYTO Revenue and Company Operating Expense Guidance: Guidance for full-year 2025 net product revenues for JELMYTO remains unchanged and is expected to be in the range of $94 to $98 million. This implies a year-over-year growth rate of approximately 8% to 12% over the $87.4 million in demand driven JELMYTO sales in 2024, which excludes the $3.0 million in CREATES Act sales reported in 2024. Continue to expect full-year 2025 operating expenses to be in the range of $215 to $225 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $11 million to $14 million.

Conference Call & Webcast Information: Members of UroGen’s management team will host a live conference call and webcast today at 10:00 AM Eastern Time to review UroGen’s financial results and provide a general business update.

The live webcast can be accessed by visiting the Investors section of the Company’s website at View Source Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the live webcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be needed to access the webcast.

On May 12, 2025 Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: SANA), a company focused on changing the possible for patients through engineered cells, reported that it will webcast its presentation at the BofA Securities 2025 Healthcare Conference at 9:20 a.m. PT on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (Press release, Sana Biotechnology, MAY 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234652888]). The presentation will feature a business overview and update by Steve Harr, Sana’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

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

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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The webcast will be accessible on the Investor Relations page of Sana’s website at View Source A replay of the presentation will be available at the same location for 30 days following the conference.

On May 12, 2025 Nusano, a physics company transforming the production of radioisotopes, reported its Chief Product Officer, Kevin Haehl, will participate in a radioisotope supply chain panel discussion at the 21st Annual PEGS (Protein & Antibody Engineering) Summit on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Boston (Press release, Nusano, MAY 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234652887]).

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

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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Haehl is a 35-year veteran of the biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries, with extensive experience in operations. During the panel, he will describe existing radiopharmaceutical supply chain constraints and explain how Nusano’s first-of-its-kind radioisotope production platform will deliver high volume, high purity radioisotopes to address existing needs and enable radiopharmaceutical innovation.

WHO:
Nusano Chief Product Officer, Kevin Haehl

WHAT:
Panel Discussion, Isotope Selection, Acquisition, and Production—Challenges and Opportunities

WHEN:
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
11:25 AM Eastern

WHERE:
21st Annual PEGS Summit, Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, Boston, MA

On May 12, 2025 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a late-stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug candidates targeting hard-to-treat cancers and viral infections, reported that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved its Clinical Trial Application (CTA) to conduct its pivotal Phase 2B/3, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive design study of Annamycin in combination with cytarabine (also known as "Ara-C" and for which the combination of Annamycin and Ara-C is referred to as "AnnAraC") (Press release, Moleculin, MAY 12, 2025, View Source [SID1234652886]). The study is for the treatment of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are refractory to or relapsed (R/R) after induction therapy (R/R AML) and is approved in all nine countries submitted in the European Union (EU). This Phase 3 "MIRACLE" trial (derived from Moleculin R/R AML AnnAraC Clinical Evaluation) is a global approval trial, including sites in the US, Europe and the Middle East.

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

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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"EMA approval of the MIRACLE trial protocol is a huge milestone for us. Although we’re already seeing recruitment in our first non-EU country, we believe that this expansion into the EU really supercharges our recruitment potential," said Walter Klemp, Chairman and CEO of Moleculin. "Importantly, when combined with the sites we are opening in the US, this approval from the EMA, along with the individual country committee and/or ethics approvals, for Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Spain positions us to remain on track with our expected enrollment and data milestones."

Mr. Klemp continued: "Being accepted in all nine of the countries for which we submitted, we believe indicates the magnitude of the need for a better answer for R/R AML patients, especially venetoclax regimen failures where the outcomes from currently available therapies are considered dismal in published studies. While there are minor differences between the US and EU protocols with the FDA and EMA, respectively, we do not view these as a barrier to conducting the study and are working to harmonize the protocols as appropriate. We are grateful for the international collaboration and believe it underscores the significant unmet need in R/R AML and the potential of Annamycin to provide a much needed second line treatment option. We remain focused on driving enrollment and patient dosing and look forward to reporting initial data on the first 45 subjects in the second half of 2025."

The MIRACLE study is a Phase 2B/3 clinical trial whereby data from the 2B portion will be combined with the Phase 3 portion for purposes of measuring its primary efficacy endpoint. MIRACLE is subject to appropriate future filings with and potential additional feedback from the FDA and their foreign equivalents, utilizes an adaptive design whereby the first 75 to 90 subjects will be randomized (1:1:1) in Part A of the trial to receive high dose cytarabine (HiDAC) combined with either placebo, 190 mg/m2 of Annamycin, or 230 mg/m2 of Annamycin, which Annamycin doses were specifically recommended by the FDA in the Company’s end of Phase 1B/2 meeting.

The protocol for the MIRACLE trial allows for the unblinding of preliminary primary efficacy data (Complete Remission or CR) and safety/tolerability of the three arms at 45 subjects, in addition to the conclusion of Part A (at 75 to 90 subjects). The first early unblinding will yield 30 subjects treated with Annamycin (190mg/m2 and 230 mg/m2) and HiDAC and 15 subjects treated with just HiDAC plus placebo. The Company expects to reach the first unblinding (45 subjects) in the second half of 2025, in addition to the second unblinding, which is expected in the first half of 2026. This accelerated estimated timeline is due in part to the positive response the Company received in meetings during December with potential investigators regarding recruitment for the trial.

The clinical trial approval with EMA was granted under the condition that the Company present results of appropriate nonclinical GLP studies before initiating the Phase 3 portion (Part B) of the study. Results will be submitted as a substantial modification to the existing approved protocol.

For Part B of the trial, approximately 220 additional subjects will be randomized to receive either HiDAC plus placebo or HiDAC plus the optimum dose of Annamycin (randomized 1:1). The selection of the optimum dose will be based on the overall balance of safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy, consistent with the FDA’s new Project Optimus initiative.

Patient dosing has commenced, and the initial data readout is on track for the second half of 2025. For more information about the MIRACLE trial, visit clinicaltrials.gov and reference identifier NCT06788756. Additionally, the clinical trial in the EU is on clinicaltrials.eu, and the reference identifier there is 2024-518359-47-00.

Annamycin, also known by its non-proprietary name of naxtarubicin, currently has Fast Track Status and Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, in addition to Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. Furthermore, Annamycin has Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia from the EMA.