Celyad Oncology announces the publication of the preclinical and clinical data of CYAD-211 providing proof-of-concept of its miRNA-based shRNA platform

On February 18, 2025 Celyad Oncology (Euronext: CYAD) (the "Company"), reported the publication of the preclinical data of the non-gene edited allogeneic CYAD-211 and clinical data from the Phase I IMMUNICY-1 clinical study which evaluated CYAD-211 in relapsed or refractory (r/r) multiple myeloma (MM) patients (Press release, Celyad, FEB 18, 2025, View Source [SID1234650331]). The findings were published in the International Journal of Molecular Science (IJMS).

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CYAD-211 is the Company’s first allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell candidate, engineered to co-express a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-specific CAR and a microRNA-based single shRNA which interferes with the expression of the CD3ζ component of the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex, evaluated clinically.

The IJMS publication includes preclinical data which showcases the knockdown of CD3ζ efficiently removed the TCR complex from the cell surface, and inhibited TCR mediated activation in vitro and in vivo. The publication also presents clinical data of the dose-escalation segment of the IMMUNICY-1 phase-I clinical trial (NCT04613557) in patients with r/r MM. Importantly, data highlighted an overall good safety profile and some clinical responses, with no signs of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), demonstrating the effectiveness and safeness of the technology to abrogate the risk of GvHD.

Overall, these data provides the proof-of-concept of the safe administration of CAR T-cells engineered using a miRNA-based shRNA technology. CYAD-211 is the first allogeneic CAR T-cell candidate using a non-gene edited approach to achieve allogenicity. This differentiated strategy provides key advantages by being easily implemented, safe, efficient, tunable, and with the possibility to modulate multiple target genes simultaneously.

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On February 18, 2025, Arcus Biosciences, Inc. (the "Company") reported that, as of December 31, 2024, it had approximately $992 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (Press release, Arcus Biosciences, FEB 18, 2025, View Source [SID1234650330]). This estimate of its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balance is preliminary and subject to completion of its financial closing procedures, including the completion of management’s reviews. Accordingly, the unaudited preliminary cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balance set forth above reflects its preliminary estimate with respect to such information, based on information currently available to management, and may vary from its actual financial position as of December 31, 2024. Further, this preliminary estimate is not a comprehensive statement or estimate of its financial results or financial condition as of December 31, 2024.

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Item 8.01 Other Events.

The contents of Item 2.02 above are also incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

Gilead Opt-in Decision

On February 18, 2025, the Company announced that the time-limited exclusive option of Gilead Sciences, Inc. ("Gilead") to the casdatifan program has expired without exercise by Gilead. As a result, Gilead has no future rights to casdatifan; the Company retains full global development and commercial rights, subject to Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.’s option right for its territory, which is limited to Japan and certain other Asian countries (excluding China).

ARC-20 Data Release

On February 15, 2025, the Company reported new data from three cohorts of its ARC-20 study for casdatifan in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma, most of whom had progressed on at least two prior lines of therapy, including both an anti-PD-1 and a VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. The new data include median progression-free survival and overall response rate ("ORR") for the cohort evaluating 50mg of casdatifan twice a day ("BID"), and ORR for the cohorts evaluating 50mg of casdatifan once daily ("QD") and 100mg QD. The patient population was heavily pretreated; more than half (52-59%) of subjects received at least three prior lines of therapy and approximately one quarter (24-29%) had received at least four prior lines of therapy. Most patients (70-76%) had an International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium risk factor of intermediate or poor.

With a data cut-off of January 3, 2025 (the "DCO"), most patients (81-87%) experienced disease control with either a partial response or stable disease. The median duration of response had not been reached, with all but two of the 26 responders across all three cohorts still on treatment.

No unexpected safety signals were observed at the time of the DCO, and casdatifan had an acceptable and manageable safety profile across all doses. Across all three cohorts, one patient discontinued treatment as a result of anemia and two due to hypoxia. A summary of the efficacy and safety results is below:

50mg BID
(n=32) 50mg QD
(n=28) 100mg QD Tablet
(Go-forward dose)
(n=27)
Efficacya

Median Follow-up 15 months 12 months 5 monthsb
Median Progression-Free

Survival [95% CI]

9.7 months
(5.5, NE)

NE
(6.8, NE)

NE
Confirmed ORR per

RECIST v1.1 [95% CI]

25% (8)c
[11.5, 43.4]

32% (9)c
[15.9, 52.4]

33% (9)
[16.5, 54.0]

Best Overall Responsed:

Complete Response

Partial Response

Stable Disease

Progressive Disease

31% (10)
0

31% (10)

50% (16)

19% (6)

32% (9)
4% (1)

29% (8)

54% (15)

14% (4)

33% (9)
0

33% (9)

52% (14)

15% (4)e

Median Time to Response 2.8 months 4.1 months 1.6 months
Disease Control Rate

[95% CI]

81%
[63.6, 92.8]

86%
[67.3, 96.0]

85%
[66.3, 95.8]

Safetyf

Any Serious Treatment-Emergent

Adverse Events (TEAEs)

related to casdatifan

3% (1) 10% (3) 7% (2)
Grade ≥3 TEAEs related to

casdatifan

Anemia

Hypoxia

42% (14)
9% (3)

32% (10)
7% (2)

17% (5)
10% (3)

CI=confidence interval, NE=not estimable

a Efficacy-evaluable population for this expansion cohort is defined as all eligible participants who received any study treatment and have at least one post-baseline efficacy assessment, or who discontinue study treatment due to progressive disease or death.

b Majority of patients (n=21) were still on treatment at time of DCO.

c In the 50mg BID cohort, one unconfirmed responder remains on treatment. In the 50mg QD cohort, one unconfirmed responder became a confirmed responder after the DCO, increasing the cORR to 32%.

d Unconfirmed best overall response.

e Includes two patients with radiological progressive disease and two patients who had clinical progression before the first scan.

f The safety-evaluable population included all dose expansion enrolled patients who received any amount of any study treatment.

Anixa Biosciences Announces Approval of Protocol Amendment for Ovarian Cancer CAR-T Clinical Trial

On February 18, 2025 Anixa Biosciences, Inc. ("Anixa" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ANIX), a biotechnology company focused on the treatment and prevention of cancer reported that it, along with its partner Moffitt Cancer Center ("Moffitt"), has received approval for an amendment to the protocol governing its ongoing clinical trial using CAR-T therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer (NCT05316129) (Press release, Anixa Biosciences, FEB 18, 2025, https://ir.anixa.com/news/detail/1066/anixa-biosciences-announces-approval-of-protocol-amendment-for-ovarian-cancer-car-t-clinical-trial [SID1234650329]).

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The key changes in the protocol allows patients who may benefit from a second dose of the CAR-T therapy to receive it and expands enrollment eligibility to include patients with sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs) and Sertoli Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs). Previously, Anixa and Moffitt had secured a single patient IND approval for an additional dose for a patient whose biopsy showed cellular infiltration and necrosis, indicating biological activity of the CAR-T therapy. With this amendment, all eligible patients in the trial can receive a second dose of the CAR-T therapy without the need to submit individual INDs for each case.

Dr. Robert Wenham, Chair of the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at Moffitt and the principal investigator of the trial, stated, "This amendment is a crucial development in our ongoing efforts to advance the treatment of ovarian cancer with CAR-T therapy. The ability to administer a second dose to patients who show potential for additional benefit provides us with more flexibility and an opportunity to further evaluate the effectiveness of this innovative therapy."

"We are excited about the approval of this protocol amendment, as it allows us to potentially enhance the efficacy of our CAR-T therapy by providing a second dose to patients who might benefit from it and to treat additional rare types of ovarian cancer. This is a significant step in optimizing the treatment for ovarian cancer, and we look forward to continuing our work with Moffitt Cancer Center as we strive to improve outcomes for patients facing this difficult disease," stated Dr. Amit Kumar, Chairman and CEO of Anixa Biosciences.

ALX Oncology to Host Virtual R&D Day on March 5, 2025

On February 18, 2025 ALX Oncology Holdings Inc., ("ALX Oncology" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: ALXO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing therapies that boost the immune system to treat cancer and extend patients’ lives, reported that it will host a virtual Research and Development (R&D) Day webcast on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. PT/9:00 a.m. ET (Press release, ALX Oncology, FEB 18, 2025, View Source [SID1234650328]). The virtual webcast event will focus on information and updates related to the company’s pipeline, lead investigational CD47-blocker evorpacept, as well as business and financial updates.

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R&D Day Webcast Information
The ALX Oncology virtual R&D Day will be webcast live and a replay will be available after the event by visiting the "Investors" section of ALX Oncology’s website and selecting "Events and Presentations."

Date & Time: Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 6:00 a.m. PT/9:00 a.m. ET
Webcast Access: View Source

InnoCare Announces the Approval of Registrational Phase III Study of BCL2 Inhibitor ICP-248 in Combination with Orelabrutinib as First-Line Therapy for Treatment of CLL/SLL Patients in China

On February 17, 2025 InnoCare Pharma (HKEX: 09969; SSE: 688428), a leading biopharmaceutical company focusing on the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported that the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved the registrational Phase III clinical trial of B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) inhibitor ICP-248 (Mesutoclax) in combination with BTK inhibitor orelabrutinib as a first-line therapy for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) patients in China (Press release, InnoCare Pharma, FEB 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234650321]).

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ICP-248 (Mesutoclax) is a novel, orally bioavailable BCL2 selective inhibitor. BCL2 is an important regulatory protein in the apoptosis pathway, and its abnormal expression is associated with the development of various hematologic malignancies. ICP-248 exerts anti-tumor activity by selectively inhibiting BCL2 and restoring the normal apoptosis process in cancer cells. The fixed-duration treatment of ICP-248 in combination with orelabrutinib will provide deeper remission for treatment-naïve CLL/SLL patients without drug-resistant mutations, bringing hope of clinical cure to treatment-naïve CLL/SLL patients and becoming a treatment option with great potential.

ICP-248, in combination with orelabrutinib, has demonstrated promising efficacy and a favorable safety profile in Phase II trial in treatment-naïve CLL/SLL patients. Market approval of the combination therapy will provide better treatment options for treatment-naïve CLL/SLL patients.

Dr. Jasmine Cui, the co-founder, chairwoman and CEO of InnoCare, said, "ICP-248 is an important global asset in our hemato-oncology portfolio. We are rapidly advancing multiple clinical trials of ICP-248 globally, including the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Our hemato-oncology pipeline is designed for strong synergy, especially with the combination of BTK and BCL2 inhibitors, which has the potential to deliver improved outcomes for patients."

CLL/SLL, one of the most prevalent forms of leukemia, is an indolent malignancy of B lymphocytes. Globally, there are 191,000 newly diagnosed CLL cases each year, with 61,000 related deaths1. The incidence rate of CLL/SLL is on the rise in China2.

Orelabrutinib has been approved for marketing in China and Singapore, and all three approved indications have been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) in China, including relapsed/refractory (r/r) CLL/SLL, r/r mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and r/r marginal zone lymphoma (MZL).