On January 22, 2019 Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: RNN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies to improve patient outcomes in cancers that are difficult to treat, reported updated, preliminary data from the ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial of RX-3117 in combination with ABRAXANE (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer patients at the 2019 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers (ASCO GI) Symposium on January 18, 2019 (Press release, Rexahn, JAN 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234532825]).

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The multicenter, single-arm, open-label study is designed to evaluate RX-3117 in combination with ABRAXANE in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. The Phase 2a trial is expected to enroll 40 evaluable patients. As of January 9, 2019, 36 patients were enrolled into the study, and 24 patients had at least one scan on treatment and were included in the evaluation of overall response. One patient (1/24, 4.2%) had a complete response (CR) after 6 cycles of treatment and eight patients (8/24, 33.3%) had a partial response (PR). A further 13 patients had stable disease (13/24, 54.2%). The overall response rate (ORR) was 38%, and the disease stabilization rate at eight weeks was 92%. The combination of RX-3117 and ABRAXANE appears to be safe and well-tolerated. The most common related adverse events were nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, alopecia, decreased appetite, rash, vomiting, and anemia.

While no head-to-head studies have been conducted between RX-3117 and gemcitabine in metastatic pancreatic cancer, for background purposes, the registration trial for the combination of gemcitabine and ABRAXANE demonstrated an ORR of 23%.

"We continue to be encouraged by the preliminary data from this study," said Ely Benaim, M.D., chief medical officer of Rexahn. "Because most patients are still being treated in the study, it is too early to estimate progression free survival, but we expect to complete enrollment and report additional efficacy data later this year."

A copy of the poster is available on the Company’s website at View Source

About RX-3117

RX-3117 is a novel, investigational, oral, small molecule nucleoside compound. As observed in preclinical studies, once intracellularly activated (phosphorylated) by uridine cytidine kinase 2 (UCK2), it is incorporated into the DNA or RNA of cells and inhibits both DNA and RNA synthesis, which induces apoptotic death of tumor cells. Due to the high level of overexpression of UCK2 in cancer cells, RX-3117 offers the potential for a targeted anti-cancer therapy with an improved efficacy and safety profile. RX-3117 is currently being studied in a Phase 2a clinical trial in combination with Abraxane (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) in first line metastatic pancreatic cancer patients and a Phase 2a clinical trial in patients with advanced or metastatic bladder cancer. It has received Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Additional information on RX-3117 can be found at: View Source

ABRAXANE is a registered trademark of Celgene Corporation.

On January 22, 2019 PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTCT) reported that it is commencing a public offering of $200 million of shares of its common stock. All of the shares in the offering are to be sold by PTC (Press release, PTC Therapeutics, JAN 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234532824]). PTC intends to grant the underwriter an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional $30 million of shares of common stock. The offering is subject to market conditions and other factors, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed.

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RBC Capital Markets is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

An automatically effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the shares of common stock to be offered in the public offering has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to and describing the terms of the offering is also being filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Before investing in the offering, interested parties should read the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for the offering and the other documents PTC has filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, which provide more complete information about PTC and the offering. The offering will be made only by means of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, forming a part of the Registration Statement. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from: RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281; telephone: (877) 822-4089; email: [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

On January 22, 2019 Gamida Cell Ltd. (Nasdaq: GMDA), a leading cellular and immune therapeutics company, and Be The Match BioTherapies, a subsidiary of the National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match offering integrated platforms and software to manage the collection and delivery of cellular therapies, reported a strategic collaboration to improve outcomes for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation (Press release, Gamida Cell, JAN 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234532823]). The collaboration supports NiCord, Gamida Cell’s investigational cell therapy, which has the potential to serve as a universal bone marrow donor source for patients with hematologic malignancies, or blood cancers, and bone marrow failure disorders requiring bone marrow transplantation.

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Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Gamida Cell and Be The Match BioTherapies will explore opportunities to work together across Gamida Cell’s ongoing clinical development program for NiCord, including the Phase 3 clinical study in patients with high-risk blood cancers. Be The Match BioTherapies has an extensive history of involvement in the delivery of cord blood units for transplant and broad access to cord blood banks globally.

The collaboration is expected to leverage a wide range of Be The Match BioTherapies’ research assets and services, including the Be The Match Registry, the largest in the world with more than 20 million potential donors, as well as personalized case management and logistics services.

"Gamida Cell’s work to bring a new therapeutic option to patients in need of a bone marrow transplant aligns with our core mission to help organizations deliver cellular therapies that save more lives and improve the quality of life for patients," said Amy Ronneberg, president of Be The Match BioTherapies. "This collaboration is designed to leverage our expertise in cellular therapy to support the advancement of Gamida Cell’s clinical development and product delivery efforts."

Despite the curative potential of bone marrow transplants, it is estimated that more than 40 percent of eligible patients in the U.S. do not receive one for various reasons, including difficulty in finding a matched donor.1 NiCord is designed to potentially serve as a universal alternative to existing donor sources for bone marrow transplant.

"Be the Match BioTherapies is a respected leader in cell therapy, with especially deep roots in stem cell transplantation. Our two organizations share the belief that new cell therapies are needed not only to improve outcomes for patients undergoing stem cell transplants but also to offer patients unable to find a matched donor the chance for a successful transplant," stated Julian Adams, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Gamida Cell. "This collaboration maximizes the strengths and expertise of our teams to help move us closer to our common goal of transforming this important area of medicine."

On January 22, 2019 Physicians’ Education Resource (PER), a leading resource for continuing medical education (CME), will host a CME-accredited activity, Optimizing Outcomes Through Stem Cell Mobilization: Applying Evidence to Patients With Multiple Myeloma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, on Friday, Feb. 22, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas (Press release, Physicians’ Education Resource, JAN 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234532822]). The educational program will be chaired by Shaji Kumar, M.D., professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, and consultant, division of hematology, department of internal medicine, Mayo Clinic.

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This activity is a satellite symposium held adjunct to the TCT (Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Meetings). Formerly the BMT Tandem Meetings, are the combined annual meetings of the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) and CIBMTR.

"We are excited to present this new CME-certified activity that incorporates recent clinical data to optimize individualized approaches for autologous stem cell transplantation mobilization among patients with hematologic malignancies," said Phil Talamo, president of PER. "Attendees who participate in this symposium will learn how to personalize decision-making to optimize outcomes for their patients with hematologic malignancies."

Faculty members for the educational activity include the following clinical experts:

Sergio A. Giralt, M.D., FACP, chief, adult bone marrow transplant service, Melvin Berlin Family chair in multiple myeloma, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Paul J. Shaughnessy, M.D., director, adult blood and marrow stem cell transplant program, Methodist Physician Practices, and assistant professor of medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center.
This highly interactive educational CME program will address the rapidly evolving treatment landscape for hematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has remained a cornerstone approach for the management of many patients with these conditions, and techniques for optimal stem cell mobilization continue to be investigated, with the goals of minimizing the burden on the patient and maximizing the likelihood of successful stem cell collection for anticipated procedures.

During this exciting case-based format, Kumar along with Giralt and Shaughnessy will review the latest clinical data to help attendees apply the information effectively to the management of their patients who may be candidates for HSCT. Key decision points pertaining to transplantation and stem cell mobilization will also be reviewed in depth during the activity.

On January 22, 2019 Rainier Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-held clinical stage drug development company, reported that data from its ongoing Phase 2 trial of its FGFR3-targeted antibody vofatamab will be presented at the upcoming 2019 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium taking place February 14-16, 2019 at the Moscone West Building in San Francisco (Press release, Rainier Therapeutics, JAN 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234532821]).

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Presentation details:

Title: Fierce-21: Phase II study of vofatamab (B-701), a selective inhibitor of FGFR3, as salvage therapy in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC)
Presenter: Andrea Necchi, M.D., Urologic Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
Abstract Number: 409
Session Information: Rapid Abstract Session B: Urothelial Carcinoma and Penile, Urethral, Testicular, and Adrenal Cancers
Date/Time: Friday, February 14, 2019 – 7:00 – 7:15 a.m.

About Vofatamab

Vofatamab is an antibody specifically targeted against the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), a known driver of bladder and potentially other FGFR-driven cancers. Vofatamab is the most advanced targeted biologic specific for FGFR3 known by Rainier to be in clinical development.

Rainier Therapeutics has ongoing Phase 1b and Phase 2 clinical trials of vofatamab in metastatic bladder cancer – the Fierce 21 and Fierce 22 trials. In addition, Rainier Therapeutics plans to study vofatamab in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) – the Fierce 23 trial.

The Fierce 21 trial is evaluating vofatamab alone and in combination with docetaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent, versus docetaxel alone to determine safety and efficacy in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer with FGFR3 mutant/fusion who have relapsed after, or are refractory to, at least one prior line of chemotherapy. For additional information, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT0240542).

The Fierce 22 trial is evaluating vofatamab in combination with pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, to determine safety, tolerability and efficacy in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer, who have progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy and who have not received prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. For additional information, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03123055).

The Fierce 23 trial will evaluate vofatamab monotherapy in NMIBC. This trial is planned to start in 2019.