Evelo Biosciences Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Recent Business Highlights

On November 1, 2018 Evelo Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: EVLO) ("Evelo"), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing monoclonal microbials designed to act on the gut-body network for the treatment of a wide range of diseases, reported financial results and provided a business update for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 (Press release, Evelo Biosciences, NOV 1, 2018, View Source [SID1234530573]).

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"Our continued progress reflects our commitment to advancing a broad portfolio of product candidates to treat multiple diseases," said Simba Gill, Ph.D., CEO of Evelo. "We are enrolling patients in our Phase 1b trial of EDP1066 for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and recently received approval from the MHRA to start a clinical trial of EDP1815, our second candidate for inflammatory diseases. Additionally, we expect the University of Chicago’s investigator-sponsored trial of EDP1503 for the treatment of metastatic melanoma to begin enrolling patients this quarter. These activities support our goal of ten potential clinical readouts across inflammation and oncology patient groups in 2019 and 2020."

Third Quarter and Recent Business Highlights:

Pipeline:

In September 2018, the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) accepted Evelo’s Clinical Trial Authorisation application for a Phase 1b study of EDP1815 for the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients.

Upcoming Anticipated Milestones:

Initiation of a Phase 1b clinical trial of EDP1815, an anti-inflammatory monoclonal microbial product candidate, in healthy volunteers and patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Initiation of the University of Chicago’s investigator-sponsored, open-label Phase 2a clinical trial of EDP1503 in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor in patients with metastatic melanoma in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Initiation of a company-sponsored Phase 2a clinical trial of EDP1503 in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor in patients with multiple cancer types in the first half of 2019.

Clinical data from the ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial of EDP1066 in healthy volunteers and patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in the first half of 2019.

Upcoming Events:

Stifel 2018 Healthcare Conference on November 14, 2018 in New York, New York.

Evercore ISI Healthcare Conference on November 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.

BMO Prescriptions for Success Healthcare Conference on December 12, 2018 in New York, New York.

Corporate:

In October 2018, Evelo appointed Daniel Char as general counsel. Daniel joins Evelo from Smith & Nephew, where he was the associate general counsel – commercial, responsible for advising and supporting the company’s global businesses on commercial, compliance, regulatory, clinical, licensing, manufacturing and international trade matters. Daniel earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in Economics from Tufts University.

Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results:

Cash Position: As of September 30, 2018, cash, cash equivalents and investments were $164.3 million, as compared to cash and cash equivalents of $38.2 million as of December 31, 2017. This increase was due to net proceeds of $81.3 million from the issuance of Series C Preferred Stock, net proceeds of $75.8 million from Evelo’s initial public offering and $5.0 million of additional drawings from Evelo’s existing debt facility, partially offset by cash used to fund operating activities for the first nine months of 2018. Evelo

expects that its cash, cash equivalents and investments will enable it to fund its planned operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2020.

Research and Development Expenses: R&D expenses were $11.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $5.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The increase of $5.9 million was due primarily to increases in costs related to Evelo’s inflammation and oncology clinical development programs, gut-body network platform expenses as well as increased personnel costs.

General and Administrative Expenses: G&A expenses were $5.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $2.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The increase of $2.5 million was due primarily to increased general and administrative personnel costs, professional and consulting fees, and facility expenses supporting Evelo’s growing organization and public company infrastructure.

Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders: Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $(15.9) million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, or $(0.50) per basic and diluted share, as compared to a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $(9.9) million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, or $(2.61) per basic and diluted share.

MEI Pharma to Present Clinical Data from Three Oncology Programs at the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting

On November 1, 2018 MEI Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: MEIP), a late-stage pharmaceutical company focused on advancing new therapies for cancer, reported that it will present data from three accepted abstracts related to MEI Pharma’s clinical stage drug development programs at the 2018 ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting to be held December 1-4, 2018 in San Diego (Press release, MEI Pharma, NOV 1, 2018, View Source [SID1234530572]).

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Study investigators will present updated results from the Phase 1b study evaluating ME-401 in relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma and other indolent B-cell malignancies, as well as results from a preclinical study demonstrating that voruciclib and venetoclax synergistically induce apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells in vitro. The third abstract will present data from the pracinostat program, being developed in partnership with Helsinn Healthcare, SA, and will highlight an interim analysis of pracinostat in an ongoing Phase 2 study evaluating patients with high/very high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

"Data reported at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting this year continue to highlight the depth of our clinical pipeline and the progress across multiple programs, each with its own distinct mechanisms for targeting cancer biology," said Daniel P. Gold, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of MEI Pharma. "Notably, the ME-401 data to be reported is supportive of our approach to evaluate both a continuous and intermittent dosing schedule in our Phase 2 study planned to start around year-end in an effort to maximize the utility of the candidate as both a single agent or in combination with other therapies."

Dr. Gold continued: "We also look forward to highlighting the preclinical data demonstrating that our CDK9 inhibitor candidate, voruciclib, synergistically enhances cancer cell death when combined with venetoclax in AML cells in vitro, adding to earlier data showing similar synergies in CLL and DLBCL preclinical models. These results are supportive of possible future studies evaluating voruciclib in combination with venetoclax in relapsed AML."

Poster Presentations at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2018

Title: Preliminary Safety and Efficacy Results with an Intermittent Schedule of the PI3K delta Inhibitor ME-401 Alone or in Combination with Rituximab for B-Cell Malignancies
Date & Time: December 2, 2018, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall GH
Abstract: 115670
Session: 623. Mantle Cell, Follicular, and Other Indolent B-Cell Lymphoma—Clinical Studies: Poster II
Author: Andrew D. Zelenetz, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director, Quality Informatics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Title: Voruciclib, an Oral, Selective CDK9 Inhibitor, Enhances Cell Death Induced by the Bcl-2 Selective Inhibitor Venetoclax in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Date & Time: December 1, 2018, 6:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall GH
Abstract: 118372
Session: 604. Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Resistance in Myeloid Diseases: Poster I
Author: Daniel A. Luedtke, BS, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Graduate Program

Title: Planned Interim Analysis of a Phase 2 Study Evaluating the Combination of Pracinostat, a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor (HDACi), and Azacitidine in Patients with High/Very High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
Date & Time: December 3, 2018, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall GH
Abstract: 112741
Session: 637. Myelodysplastic Syndromes—Clinical Studies: Poster III
Author: Michael Keng, M.D., University of Virginia School of Medicine, Assistant Professor

Abstracts featured as part of the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2018 program may be found at: View Source

Radius Health Announces Third Quarter 2018 Operating Results and Financial Guidance for FY 2018 and FY 2019

On November 1, 2018 Radius Health, Inc. ("Radius" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: RDUS), reported its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 and provided a business update (Press release, Radius, NOV 1, 2018, View Source [SID1234530571]).

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"I am very pleased with the continued strong trajectory of our launch and success in growing the U.S. anabolic osteoporosis market. Our financial guidance reflects our confidence in continuing to capture further market share gains for TYMLOS and expanding the osteoporosis anabolic market," said Jesper Hoeiland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Radius.

"With our updated Phase 3 protocol for elacestrant, we are excited to have the opportunity to address a larger patient population with unmet needs. We are on track to deliver on this key milestone and initiate the study in the fourth quarter of this year," said Dr. Charles Morris, Chief Medical Officer of Radius.

TYMLOS (abaloparatide) injection

Third quarter 2018 U.S. net sales of TYMLOS were $27.6 million, a 22% increase over the prior quarter and approximately sevenfold increase from the third quarter of 2017. TYMLOS prescriptions in the third quarter of 2018 accounted for 22% of the total U.S. anabolic osteoporosis market on average (based on Patient Months on Therapy, TRx PMOT).

In October 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a labeling supplement for TYMLOS to include additional information from the ACTIVExtend study. The labeling now reflects that after 24 months of open-label alendronate therapy, the vertebral fracture risk reduction achieved with TYMLOS therapy was maintained.

The growth trajectory of the U.S. anabolic market since TYMLOS launched in May 2017 continued in the third quarter of 2018, showing 9% volume growth as compared to the third quarter of 2017, all driven by TYMLOS.

Effective January 1, 2019, TYMLOS is expected to be covered for approximately 274 million U.S. insured lives, representing approximately 95% of U.S. commercial and 64% of Medicare insured lives. 2019 Medicare Part D coverage for TYMLOS increased to approximately 26.2 million lives or 64% of those enrolled in Medicare Part D plans in the U.S., after the decisions from SilverScript Insurance Company (CVS), WellCare Health Plans, Inc., Prime Therapeutics and others to cover TYMLOS for their Medicare Part D beneficiaries. The increased access for TYMLOS in Medicare Part D Formularies for 2019 represents an incremental 28% of anabolic volume opportunity in Medicare Part D. Express Scripts, Inc., UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Kaiser Permanente, and EnvisionRx, among others, decided to continue Medicare Part D coverage of TYMLOS through 2019.

Radius maintains its guidance for TYMLOS to capture on average 19-21% of the U.S. anabolic osteoporosis market in 2018 and its expectations for the U.S. anabolic market to grow at a rate of 7-9% in volume versus 2017.

Financial Guidance

In 2018, Radius expects full-year TYMLOS U.S. net revenues to be between $95 to $98 million and its year-end cash, cash equivalents and investments balance to exceed $220 million.

In 2019, Radius expects full-year TYMLOS U.S. net revenues to be between $155 to $175 million and its year-end cash, cash equivalents and investments balance to exceed $100 million.

Pipeline Highlights

Abaloparatide-Transdermal Patch (abaloparatide-patch)

Radius remains on track with its preparations for the Phase 3 trial and expects to start the study in mid-2019. The Company is in the process of conducting development activities in preparation for the Phase 3 trial and potential NDA filing, including qualification and validation of analytical methods, process development and design control activities. Planning for the facility build-out is also ongoing at the commercial manufacturing site, including scaling up equipment and ensuring readiness for the manufacture of commercial abaloparatide-patches.

Elacestrant (RAD1901)

In the third quarter 2018, the Company finalized the Phase 3 study protocol for elacestrant based on regulatory feedback and additional considerations. The Phase 3 trial will be a single, randomized, open label, active-controlled study of elacestrant as a second- or third-line monotherapy in approximately 460 patients with ER+/HER2- advanced/metastatic breast cancer who have received prior treatment with one or two lines of endocrine therapy, including a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor. Patients in the study will be randomized to receive either elacestrant or the investigator’s choice of an approved hormonal agent. The primary endpoint of the study will be progression-free survival ("PFS"), which the Company will analyze in the overall patient population and in patients with estrogen receptor 1 gene (ESR1) mutations. Secondary endpoints will include evaluation of overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and duration of response (DOR). Depending on the results, this single trial is intended to support applications for marketing approvals for elacestrant as a second- and third-line monotherapy in the U.S., European Union (EU), and other markets.

Radius expects to initiate the Phase 3 study in the fourth quarter of 2018 with a planned recruitment period of 18-21 months and potential data read-out in 2021.

RAD140

Patient enrollment is ongoing in the Phase 1 study evaluating the safety and maximum tolerated dose of RAD140, a nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), in patients with hormone receptor-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The Company expects to present two posters on RAD140 at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) and to provide an update on the RAD140 Phase 1 development program by the end of 2018.

Anticipated Upcoming Milestones

Elacestrant

Initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial as second or third-line monotherapy in advanced/metastatic ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer patients in the fourth quarter of 2018

Clinical collaboration agreement for elacestrant combination therapy

RAD140

Continue enrollment in the Phase 1 study and provide a program update by the end of 2018

Abaloparatide

Enter into a partnership for the potential commercialization of abaloparatide-SC outside the U.S. and Japan

Expected Radius Presentations at Upcoming Conferences

On January 7-10, 2019, the Company will present and host one-on-one meetings at the JP Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference in San Francisco.

Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, Radius reported a net loss of $49.8 million, or $1.09 per share, compared to a net loss of $57.8 million, or $1.31 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, non-GAAP adjusted net loss, which excludes expenses related to stock-based compensation, restructuring plans, non-cash interest obligations under debt obligations, and amortization of intangible assets, was $38.8 million, or $0.85 per share, compared to non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $49.3 million, or $1.12 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, TYMLOS net product revenues were $27.6 million compared to approximately $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Research and development expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was $26.8 million compared to $21.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $5.8 million, or 28%. This increase was primarily driven by a $2.8 million increase in elacestrant project costs, a $2.3 million increase in abaloparatide-patch project costs, a $1.0 million increase in abaloparatide-SC project costs, and a $0.8 million increase in RAD140 project costs. These increases were partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in other project related spending, and $0.5 million decrease in personnel related spending attributed to a decrease in headcount from 105 research and development employees as of September 30, 2017 to 95 research and development employees as of September 30, 2018.

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, selling, general and administrative expense was $43.7 million compared to $47.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $4.1 million, or 9%. This decrease was primarily the result of $2.8 million and $0.9 million decreases in compensation and travel related expenses, respectively.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, Radius reported a net loss of $180.2 million, or $3.98 per share, compared to a net loss of $183.2 million, or $4.21 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, non-GAAP adjusted net loss, which excludes expenses related to stock-based compensation, restructuring plans, non-cash interest obligations under debt obligations, litigation related payments, and amortization of intangible assets, was $134.4 million, or $2.97 per share, compared to non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $154.2 million, or $3.54 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, TYMLOS net product revenues were $64.8 million compared to approximately $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Research and development expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $76.0 million compared to $60.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $15.8 million, or 26%. This increase was primarily driven by a $7.6 million increase in elacestrant project costs, a $4.0 million increase in abaloparatide-SC project costs, a $3.8 million increase in abaloparatide-patch project costs, and a $2.1 million increase in RAD140 project costs. These increases were partially offset by a $0.7 million decrease in other project related spending and a $0.9 million decrease in compensation and travel related expenses attributed to a decrease in headcount from 105 research and development employees as of September 30, 2017 to 95 research and development employees as of September 30, 2018.

Selling, general, and administrative expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, was $140.3 million compared to $135.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $4.3 million, or 3%. This increase was primarily the result of $2.5 million and $0.7 million increases in compensation and travel related expenses, respectively attributed to an increase in headcount from 361 selling, general and administrative employees as of September 30, 2017 to 384 selling, general and administrative employees as of September 30, 2018. Additionally, there was a $0.8 million increase in professional fees and other operating expenses.

As of September 30, 2018, Radius had $276.9 million in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, marketable securities and investments. Based upon our cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and investments balance as of September 30, 2018, we believe that, prior to the consideration of potential proceeds from partnering and/or collaboration activities, we have sufficient capital to fund our development plans, U.S. commercial and other operational activities for not less than twelve months from the date of this press release.

Webcast and Conference Call

In connection with today’s reporting of Third Quarter Financial Results, Radius will host a conference call and live audio webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET today, November 1, 2018, to discuss the commercial outlook for TYMLOS, review the financial results and provide a Company update.

Conference Call Information:

Date: November 1, 2018

Time: 8:00 a.m. ET

Domestic Dial-in Number: (866) 323-7965

International Dial-in Number: (346) 406-0961

Conference ID: 3875777

Live webcast: View Source

For those unable to participate in the conference call or webcast, a replay will be available from November 1, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. ET and will be archived on the Company’s website for 90 days. To access the replay, dial (855) 859-2056 for U.S. or (404) 537-3406 for International, using conference ID number 3875777.

A live audio webcast of the call can be accessed from the Investors section of the Company’s website, www.radiuspharm.com. The full text of the announcement and financial results will also be available on the Company’s website.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement our condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), we use the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP adjusted net loss and non-GAAP net loss per share. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain amounts or expenses from the corresponding financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. Management believes this non-GAAP information is useful for investors, taken in conjunction with Radius’ GAAP financial statements, because it provides greater transparency regarding Radius’ operating performance. Management uses these measures, among other factors, to assess and analyze operational results and trends and to make financial and operational decisions. Non-GAAP information is not prepared under a comprehensive set of accounting rules and should only be used to supplement an understanding of Radius’ operating results as reported under GAAP, not in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are unlikely to be comparable with non-GAAP information provided by other companies. The determination of the amounts that are excluded from non-GAAP financial measures is a matter of management judgment and depends upon, among other factors, the nature of the underlying expense or income amounts. Reconciliations between these non-GAAP financial measures and the most comparable GAAP financial measures for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2018 are included in the tables accompanying this press release after the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Tocagen to Report Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results on Thursday, November 8

On November 1, 2018 Tocagen Inc. (Nasdaq: TOCA), a clinical-stage, cancer-selective gene therapy company, reported it will report its third quarter 2018 financial results and business progress on Thursday, November 8, 2018, after the close of the U.S. financial markets (Press release, Tocagen, NOV 1, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2374897 [SID1234530570]).

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GlycoMimetics to Present Analyses from Phase 1/2 AML Trial of Uproleselan at 60th ASH Meeting

On November 1, 2018 GlycoMimetics (NASDAQ: GLYC)reported that six abstracts covering data from the company’s research and clinical portfolio have been accepted for presentation at the 60th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and Exposition to be held December 1-4, 2018 in San Diego (Press release, GlycoMimetics, NOV 1, 2018, View Source [SID1234530568]).

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Of particular note, the final analysis from the recently completed Phase 1/2 AML trial of uproleselan, an E-selectin antagonist and the company’s lead wholly owned clinical candidate, has been selected for an oral presentation on Sunday, December 2 during a platform session on novel therapies in AML. Clinical data to be presented include analyses of measurable residual disease (MRD), analyses of response in high-risk subgroups, and updated event-free and overall survival data, which continue to compare favorably with matched historical controls. New data will also be presented showing a correlation between E-selectin ligand expression on leukemic blasts and leukemic stem cells (LSCs), supporting the premise that binding to E-selectin is a mechanism of resistance in AML.

In addition, a poster presentation of complementary work by investigators at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center will highlight new clinical data showing E-selectin ligand expression on leukemic blasts is associated with poor outcomes in patients at their center with AML. The combined clinical dataset from these two studies provides further scientific rationale for the potential value of uproleselan as a selective, bone-marrow microenvironment-disrupting agent in patients with AML.

"Our oral presentation at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) is noteworthy in that we show for the first time that the majority of evaluable patients (11 out of 16) in the R/R cohort and more than half of evaluable patients (5 out of 9) in the newly diagnosed cohort achieved measurable residual disease negativity as assessed by either flow and/or RT-PCR, when uproleselan is added to a standard chemotherapy regimen," noted Helen Thackray, M.D., FAAP, GlycoMimetics Senior Vice President, Clinical Development and Chief Medical Officer. "Furthermore, we now have an updated final analysis of survival that reflects longer term follow up and fewer patients’ data censored, and these data also continue to compare very favorably to historical studies of matched patient groups. As we initiate sites for our Phase 3 study, the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) data on the addition of uproleselan to chemotherapy, namely improved remission rates, low mucositis rates, high MRD and transplant rates – as well as promising survival – give us greater confidence in the opportunity to provide a potentially transformative regimen for not only patients with R/R AML but also for the newly diagnosed patients."

According to the Phase 1/2 trial’s lead investigator Daniel J. DeAngelo, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Clinical and Translational Research, Adult Leukemia Program, at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, "Two of the most striking findings from this study are the number of patients negative for measurable residual disease and the low rate of mucositis. These two potential benefits of the candidate drug, combined with the strong survival signals, distinguish uproleselan from other agents in development. These potential benefits clearly underscore the mechanism of action of uproleselan and, importantly, point to the opportunity we have to help change the face of this disease."

Featured GlycoMimetics’ ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) data include the following:

R/R AML Cohort: At the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), CR (complete response)/CRi (complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery) rate was 41%, median overall survival was 8.8 months (95% CI 5.7-11.4) and 69% of evaluable patients (11/16) achieved measurable residual disease negativity as assessed by either flow and/or RT-PCR. Overall survival (OS) will be the primary outcome measure in the company’s Phase 3 trial in R/R AML patients, and the data reported today compares to 5.2-5.4 months OS in comparable historical controls. 1,2 (Abstract #331)
Newly Diagnosed (ND) AML Cohort: At the RP2D, CR/CRi rate was 72%, median overall survival was 12.6 months (95% CI 9.9-not reached), Event Free Survival (EFS) was 9.2 months (3.0-12.6) and 56% of evaluable patients (5 out of 9) achieved measurable residual disease negativity as assessed by either flow and/or RT-PCR. EFS will be the primary outcome measure for the interim analysis in the National Cancer Institute clinical trial in newly diagnosed patients, and the data presented today compare to 2-6.5 months for EFS in historical controls which represent lower risk patient populations than those treated in our study. 3,4 (Abstract #331)
Based on data from 89 serially acquired AML patient samples at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, mean fluorescence intensity of E-selectin-Fc binding is four-fold higher for R/R patients than for newly diagnosed patients (p=0.0026), suggesting that sequestration in the vascular niche of the bone marrow is associated with chemotherapy resistance. (Abstract #1513)
Other GlycoMimetics ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) presentations will showcase the potential use of uproleselan to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells with increased reconstitution potential, as well as highlight two new novel compounds discovered by GlycoMimetics that are for the first time being presented to the hematology community. Specifically, Abstract 4678 demonstrates that a highly-potent antagonist of E-selectin, GMI-1687, shows equivalent activity to uproleselan, but at 250-fold lower dose and via subcutaneous administration. In addition, GlycoMimetics researchers will also present preclinical data for a novel dual-function galectin-3 / E-selectin inhibitor, GMI-1757, in a well-established model of venous thrombosis.

Presentation details:

Publication Number: 331
TITLE: Uproleselan (GMI-1271), an E-Selectin Antagonist, Improves the Efficacy and Safety of Chemotherapy in Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) and Newly Diagnosed Older Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Final, Correlative and Subgroup Analyses
Session Name: 616. Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Novel Therapy, excluding Transplantation: Combination Therapy
Session Date: Sunday, December 2, 2018
Session Time: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM PST
Presentation Time: 9:30 AM
Room: Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Grand Hall B

Publication Number: 1513
TITLE: E-Selectin Ligand Expression by Leukemic Blasts Is Associated with Prognosis in Patients with AML
Session Name: 617. Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Biology, Cytogenetics, and Molecular Markers in Diagnosis and Prognosis: Poster I
Session Date: Saturday, December 1, 2018
Presentation Time: 6:15 PM – 8:15 PM PST
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall GH

Publication Number: 2211
TITLE: A Novel Glycomimetic Compound (GMI-1757) with Dual Functional Antagonism to E-Selectin and Galectin-3 Demonstrates Inhibition of Thrombus Formation in an Inferior Vena Cava Model
Session Name: 802. Chemical Biology and Experimental Therapeutics: Poster I
Session Date: Saturday, December 1, 2018
Presentation Time: 6:15 PM – 8:15 PM PST
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall GH

Publication Number: 3846
TITLE: The Vascular Bone Marrow Niche Influences Outcome in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Session Name: 506. Hematopoiesis and Stem Cells: Microenvironment, Cell Adhesion, and Stromal Stem Cells: Poster III
Session Date: Monday, December 3, 2018
Presentation Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM PST
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall GH

Publication Number: 4552
TITLE: Vascular E-Selectin Acts as a Gatekeeper Inducing Commitment and Loss of Self-Renewal in HSC Transmigrating through the Marrow Vasculature
Session Name: 711. Cell Collection and Processing: Poster III
Session Date: Monday, December 3, 2018
Presentation Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM PST
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall GH

Publication Number: 4678
TITLE: A Novel and Potent Inhibitor of E-Selectin, GMI-1687, Attenuates Thrombus Formation and Augments Chemotherapeutic Intervention of AML in Preclinical Models Following Subcutaneous Administration
Session Name: 802. Chemical Biology and Experimental Therapeutics: Poster III
Session Date: Monday, December 3, 2018
Presentation Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM PST
Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall G

Meeting abstracts are available on ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper)’s website.

1 Feldman et al, J Clin Oncol. 2005 Jun 20;23(18):4110-6.
2 Greenberg et al, J Clin Oncol. 2004 Mar 15;22(6):1078-86.
3 Lowenberg et al, N Engl J Med. 2009 Sep 24;361(13).
4 Lancet et al, Blood. 2014 May 22;123(21):3239-46.

About Uproleselan (GMI-1271)

Uproleselan (yoo’ pro le’sel an) is designed to block E-selectin (an adhesion molecule on cells in the bone marrow) from binding with blood cancer cells as a targeted approach to disrupting well-established mechanisms of leukemic cell resistance within the bone marrow microenvironment. In a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, uproleselan was evaluated in both newly diagnosed elderly and relapsed/refractory patients with AML. In both populations, patients treated with uproleselan together with standard chemotherapy achieved better than expected remission rates and overall survival compared to historical controls, which have been derived from results from third party clinical trials evaluating standard chemotherapy, as well as lower than expected induction-related mortality rates. Treatment in these patient populations was generally well tolerated, with fewer than expected adverse effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted uproleselan Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of adult AML patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease. GlycoMimetics is currently implementing a comprehensive development program across the clinical spectrum of AML. This includes a company sponsored Phase 3 trial in R/R AML and two consortia-sponsored trials in newly diagnosed patients. One consortium trial is being sponsored by the NCI and will enroll newly diagnosed patients fit for intensive chemotherapy. The other trial is sponsored by the HOVON group in Europe and will enroll newly diagnosed patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy.