On October 13, 2016 Heat Biologics, Inc. (Nasdaq:HTBX), an immuno-oncology company developing novel therapies that activate a patient’s immune system against cancer, reported that it continues to remain on track to report topline data this quarter from its Phase 2 trials evaluating HS-410 and HS-110 for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), respectively, as well as its Phase 1b trial evaluating HS-110 in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, Opdivo, for the treatment of NSCLC (Press release, Heat Biologics, OCT 13, 2016, View Source [SID:SID1234515797]).

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 pleased with the progress we are making and look forward to reporting top-line data in both our NMIBC and NSCLC trials later this quarter," commented Jeff Wolf, Heat’s Founder and CEO. "We are encouraged by our early data in bladder cancer that suggests we are activating a robust antigen-specific immune response and our data in lung cancer that suggest HS-110 may improve response rates for patients with ‘cold tumors’ who typically have lower response rates to checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy."

On October 13, 2016 TG Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:TGTX) reported that it has filed with the FDA an amended protocol for the GENUINE Phase 3 trial (Press release, TG Therapeutics, OCT 13, 2016, View Source [SID:SID1234515796]). Prior to the amendments, the GENUINE study consisted of two parts:

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!

Part I to evaluate the effect of the addition of TG-1101 to ibrutinib on overall response rate (ORR) in approximately the first 200 patients enrolled, to support a filing for accelerated approval of TG-1101; and
Part II to evaluate the effect of the addition of TG-1101 to ibrutinib on progression-free survival (PFS) in all study patients (approximately 330), to support a filing for full approval of TG-1101.
The amended protocol contains the following substantive changes:

Part II of the study has been eliminated, and accordingly, the study’s sole primary endpoint will be ORR as originally contemplated in Part I; and
Target enrollment has been reduced to approximately 120 randomized patients.

At the new study size, the study is 90% powered to show a statistically significant improvement in ORR, with the minimal detectable difference of approximately 20% (absolute difference between the arms). Additionally, patients will be followed until progression, but the study will no longer be powered for PFS.

The Company expects that it will complete enrollment in the revised trial by year end 2016, and will have topline data available in the first half of 2017. If the results of the study are positive, the Company plans to request a pre-BLA meeting to discuss the data and a filing strategy with the FDA. The Company has communicated with the FDA regarding its intention to file a BLA for accelerated approval if the results are positive and the FDA has agreed that a pre-BLA meeting can be requested based on ORR data from the GENUINE study. Assuming a positive outcome of a pre-BLA meeting, targeted to occur in the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company believes it could file a BLA in the first half of 2018.

Michael S. Weiss, the Company’s Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Today’s announcement marks an important milestone for the Company. Given the GENUINE enrollment challenges we’ve faced to date, we are very excited to accelerate the trial to a rapid conclusion, while also maintaining the ability to potentially file the data for accelerated approval. The GENUINE study, as amended, remains a robust, randomized clinical trial, which we believe, if positive, could support accelerated approval for patients with relapsed/refractory high-risk CLL. Moreover, we believe the amended study and revised regulatory strategy is consistent with the recent accelerated approvals for novel agents in CLL, which notably were not pursuant to an SPA but occurred after the finding of positive ORR results. Importantly, with completion of enrollment now expected by year end, we and our clinical trial sites can focus our resources on completing our UNITY-CLL Phase 3 trial as quickly as possible. Early enrollment in UNITY-CLL is very encouraging and we anticipate that study will be fully enrolled before filing a BLA for the GENUINE study. UNITY-CLL remains unchanged and unaffected by the amendments to the GENUINE study, and if positive, could support full approval for both TG-1101 and TGR-1202 based on its primary endpoint of PFS." Mr. Weiss continued, "We have greatly appreciated all of the guidance and counsel from the FDA in designing our clinical programs and we look forward to continuing our collaborative working relationship as we accelerate toward the conclusion of enrollment into the GENUINE study this year and ORR data in the first half of 2017."

On October 13, 2016 OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OGXI) reported results from the final analysis of the Phase 3 ENSPIRIT trial of custirsen in patients whose non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has progressed following initial treatments (Press release, OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, OCT 13, 2016, View Source [SID:SID1234515793]). The trial did not meet the primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in overall survival for patients treated with custirsen in combination with docetaxel compared to docetaxel alone. The median overall survival for the custirsen arm was 9.0 months versus 7.9 months for the control arm with a hazard ratio of 0.915 (one-sided p=0.178). Safety results were consistent with those observed in previous trials of custirsen in combination with chemotherapy.

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!

"Following the negative results of previous custirsen trials, an early final analysis of the ENSPIRIT trial was conducted in an effort to conserve capital and extend our cash runway," said Scott Cormack, President and CEO of OncoGenex. "We will continue to take appropriate steps to realize the most value for our shareholders once we receive the results of our apatorsen Phase 2 Borealis-2 bladder cancer trial which are expected by the end of October."

OncoGenex is continuing to work with MTS Health Partners who has been advising the company in the exploration of strategic alternatives since mid-August.

"OncoGenex is grateful to the patients who participated in the ENSPIRIT trial and their families for their support, as well as our investigators and our employees for their commitment to improving cancer care for those who need it most," Cormack continued.

About the Phase 3 ENSPIRIT Trial
The Phase 3 ENSPIRIT trial is an international, randomized, open-label trial designed to evaluate custirsen for the treatment of advanced or metastatic NSCLC in patients who have progressed after initial chemotherapy treatment. The trial investigated if combining custirsen with docetaxel, a standard second-line NSCLC chemotherapy, has the potential to improve survival outcomes compared to docetaxel alone in these patients. The trial enrolled 664 patients at approximately 50 sites globally.

For more information on the ENSPIRIT trial, please visit View Source

About the Borealis-2 Trial
Borealis-2 is an investigator-sponsored, randomized Phase 2 trial evaluating a survival benefit with apatorsen in combination with docetaxel treatment compared to docetaxel treatment alone in approximately 200 patients with metastatic bladder cancer who have disease progression following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The trial is being coordinated by the Hoosier Cancer Research Network at 27 sites across the United States.

On October 13, 2016 Aptose Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:APTO) (TSX:APS), a clinical-stage company developing new therapeutics and molecular diagnostics that target the underlying mechanisms of cancer, reported that it received a response from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the clinical hold of Aptose’s Phase 1b clinical trial of APTO-253 in patients with hematologic cancers requesting additional information and informing Aptose that the hold would not be removed until this information is submitted and reviewed (Press release, Aptose Biosciences, OCT 13, 2016, View Source [SID:SID1234515790]). The FDA response to Aptose focused exclusively on the request to provide the FDA with complete Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC) information on the final GMP drug substance and drug product intended for the clinic.

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!

"Data provided to the FDA in our response to their clinical hold questions were collected using prototype batches of API and drug product. As the drug substance was changed from a salt to a free base, and thus modifying the drug product formulation, the FDA has requested additional information on the GMP-grade drug substance and drug product that is proposed for use in the clinic prior to making a decision on the hold and approval for the re-initiation of the clinical trial," commented William G. Rice, Ph.D., Chairman, President and CEO. "We continue to believe that we are on the correct path to resolve the clinical hold questions. There is an opportunity to create new intellectual property related to the new formulation of APTO-253, a drug that has demonstrated in vitro inhibition of c-Myc expression in AML cells without toxicity to normal bone marrow cells, a powerful differentiator in the treatment of AML."

The Company believes its has now developed a drug product that does not cause filter clogging or pump stoppage during simulated infusion studies. The new formulation offers the potential for improved handling characteristics for administration by infusion. Generation of the additional data requested by FDA is underway, and once available the data will be submitted for FDA review, after which time FDA will make a decision on the clinical hold. Enrollment of patients in the trial may resume only following FDA removal of the clinical hold and Investigational Review Board (IRB) approvals at the participating clinical trial sites.