On April 2, 2021 Celleron Therapeutics, the UK-based company developing personalised medicines for cancer patients, reported that it has worked closely with Oxford University’s Medical Sciences Division to investigate the mechanism of action of zabinostat (previously known as CXD101) (Press release, Celleron, APR 2, 2021, View Source [SID1234577532]).

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The study found that zabinostat enhances immune-relevant gene expression. This effect leads to increased recognition of tumours by the immune system with enhanced anti-cancer activity. The study included a genome‐wide expression analysis and functional profiling, which uncovered enriched gene signatures and pointed towards a role for the immune system in how zabinostat acts. When zabinostat was combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti‐PD1 and anti‐CTLA4, using tumour models that are normally unresponsive to mono-therapy, it resulted in enhanced anti‐tumour activity.

The recent scientific findings, published in the latest edition of Molecular Oncology, are highly consistent with the clinical strategy and clinical trial design which Celleron is pursuing in its CAROSELL Phase 2 clincal study, which investigates zabinostat and nivolumab combination treatment in patients with microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC). MSS CRC, which remains clinically unmet, has been long establised as being unresponsive to immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy treatment. In addition to the novel combination therapy deployed in CAROSELL, Celleron plans to translate the key findings on gene signatures described in the study to predictive biomarkers that help identify patients who undergo a favourable response to the combination therapy.

Professor Nick La Thangue, CEO, commented: "This is a truely fascinating study. It represents a major milestone in understanding zabinostat but most importantly opens up new ways of identifying cancer patients that are likely to undergo a good response to the drug. We will deploy the new information to strengthen our precision medicine platform to maximise the therapeutic value of zabinostat for cancer patients".

Professor David Kerr, CMO, commented: "This excellent science provides a platform which we can use to identify patients who are most likely to respond to zabinostat, significantly increasing the likelihood that our clinical trials will yield a positive result and benefit the community of cancer patients whom we serve. Equally as important, it opens up new avenues of clinical research in which we can deploy zabinostat in combination with a wide array of immune therapy approaches to improve their effectiveness".

Up Therapeutics in collaboration with Tuskegee University received NCI STTR phase 1 award to study Up284 efficacy against TNBC.

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On April 1, 2021 Asgard Therapeutics reported that it was awarded with Sweden’s SWElife innovation grant. Swelife is a strategic innovation programe, funded by the Swedish Government via the Swedish innovation agency, Vinnova, and by the programe’s partners (Press release, Asgard Therapeutics, APR 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234580066]). Swelife supports collaboration within academia, industry and healthcare, with the goal to strengthen Life Science in Sweden and to improve public health.

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On April 1, 2021 FoRx Therapeutics, a recently incorporated privately-held company developing first-in-class compounds for cancer treatment, reported the appointment of Tarig Bashir as Chief Executive Officer (Press release, FoRx Therapeutics, APR 1, 2021, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=forx-therapeutics-ag-appoints-tarig-bashir-as-chief-executive-officer [SID1234577579]).

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Tarig Bashir, PhD, is a Pharma and Biotech Executive with over 15 years of experience and leadership in cancer drug discovery, translational oncology and external innovation. During his career, he has led and overseen discovery-stage and preclinical oncology portfolios, led strategic partnerships with pharma and academia, and contributed significantly to clinical compound development. Tarig held positions of increasing responsibility in Oncology R&D at Organon/Schering-Plough, Johnson & Johnson and Ipsen. Most recently he was Executive Vice President Discovery at Proteros, where his responsibilities included new company building.
Tarig studied biology at the University of Würzburg and the State University of New York at Albany. He earned his PhD at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg and conducted his postdoctoral training at the New York University School of Medicine.

On April 1, 2021 Servier, a global pharmaceutical company, reported that it has successfully completed its acquisition of Agios Pharmaceuticals’ commercial, clinical, and research-stage oncology portfolio for up to $2 billion plus royalties (Press release, Servier, APR 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234577571]). The acquisition immediately strengthens Servier’s commercial presence in the U.S. malignant hematology market and provides the potential for long-term growth into the solid tumor space.

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"We are pleased to welcome an exceptionally talented team that will allow us to strengthen our strategic focus in oncology and expand our scientific capabilities in cellular metabolism," said Olivier Laureau, President of Servier. "It is an important milestone in Servier’s oncology strategy as it significantly reinforces the Group’s presence in the U.S. Together, with this expanded team, we remain committed to addressing the unmet needs of patients living with cancer across the globe."

"We appreciate the support of our employees, partners and Agios team in ensuring a seamless integration," said David K. Lee, CEO, Servier Pharmaceuticals. "The addition of TIBSOVO and IDHIFA to our pipeline allows us to expand our oncology leadership capabilities in the U.S. and accelerate scientific advancements for patients with hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia."

As part of the transaction, U.S.-based Agios employees who primarily support the oncology business will join Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC, a U.S. subsidiary of Servier. The transaction includes the transfer to Servier of Agios Pharmaceuticals’ oncology portfolio, development pipeline and research programs, notably:

TIBSOVO (ivosidenib)*.
IDHIFA (enasidenib)[i], a medicine co-promoted with Bristol Myers Squibb in the U.S.
Vorasidenib, an investigational, brain-penetrant, dual inhibitor of mutant IDH1 and IDH2 which is currently being studied in the registration-enabling Phase 3 INDIGO study in patients with IDH-mutant low-grade glioma.
AG-270, an investigational first-in-class methionine adenosyltransferase 2a (MAT2A) inhibitor being evaluated in combination with taxanes in patients with methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP)-deleted non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
Under the terms of the transaction agreement, Agios received an upfront payment of $1.8 billion from Servier and is eligible to receive an additional $200 million in a potential regulatory milestone, plus royalties. The transaction has been approved by both companies’ respective boards of directors and Agios’ shareholders. All regulatory clearances have been received from government authorities outlined in the agreement.

[i]Please see the full prescribing information for IDHIFA (enasidenib) and TIBSOVO (ivosidenib), including the Boxed WARNINGS.