Progenics Pharmaceuticals Announces Plans to Move Forward With 1404 Phase 3 Trial

On July 7, 2015 Progenics Pharmaceuticals reported details of its planned Phase 3 clinical trial for 1404, a developmental stage small molecule designed to help visualize prostate cancer by targeting prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) (Press release, Progenics Pharmaceuticals, JUL 7, 2015, View Source [SID:1234506180]). Following recent End-of-Phase 2 interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the design and key elements of a Phase 3 clinical trial for 1404 have been finalized.

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!

"The successful completion of our End-of-Phase 2 discussions with the FDA represents a milestone in our 1404 program," stated Mark Baker, CEO of Progenics. "Our Phase 3 study builds on our positive Phase 2 data, which established the broad potential of 1404 to detect local and metastatic prostate cancer in a wide range of patients, from low to high grade disease. Our Phase 3 program is designed to support commercialization in our initial target market for the 1404 imaging agent in the U.S. — patients with early disease who may be candidates for active surveillance."

The Phase 3 clinical trial is expected to enroll approximately 450 patients with biopsy-proven low-grade prostate cancer who are candidates for active surveillance but have planned to undergo radical prostatectomy (RP). The multicenter, multi-reader, open-label study will evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of 1404 to identify clinically significant prostate cancer. Histopathology of the tumor tissue will be used as the truth standard. An interim analysis will be performed after approximately one-third of the subjects have been treated and will include an analysis for futility and also evaluate the need for a sample size re-estimation.

Progenics expects the Phase 3 trial to commence by the end of this year.

About 1404, an Imaging Compound Targeting Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen

Progenics’ molecular imaging radiopharmaceutical product candidate 1404 targets the extracellular domain of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a protein amplified on the surface of > 95% of prostate cancer cells and a validated target for the detection of primary and metastatic prostate cancer. 1404 is labeled with technetium-99m, a gamma-emitting isotope that is widely available, is easy to prepare, and is attractive for nuclear medicine imaging applications. The image created provides the opportunity to visualize cancer, potentially allowing for improved detection and staging, more precise biopsies, and a targeted treatment plan including active surveillance as a disease management tool.

About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer affecting men in the United States: an estimated one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 220,800 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and about 27,540 men will die of the disease and that approximately 2.9 million men in the U.S. currently count themselves among prostate cancer survivors.

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals and Macrophage Therapeutics to Host Post-International KSHV Conference Summary Webcast / Call

On July 7, 2015 Navidea Biopharmaceuticals and its subsidiary, Macrophage Therapeutics reported they will hold a post-International Workshop on Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV) and Related Agents conference webcast to provide investors with a more detailed look at the recently presented Manocept platform clinical and pre-clinical data and results disclosed in today’s press releases (Press release, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, JUL 7, 2015, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2065126 [SID:1234506179]). The webcast will take place on July 7, 2015 at 1:00 pm EDT. Rick Gonzalez, Navidea’s CEO and Michael Goldberg, M.D., Macrophage Therapeutics’ CEO will host the call along with Michael S. McGrath, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Departments of Laboratory Medicine, Pathology, and Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco who will discuss the data presented.

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!


Incyte and Vanderbilt University Medical Center Establish Multi-Year Oncology Research Alliance

On July 7, 2015 Incyte reported that it has entered into a multi-year research support and collaboration agreement with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), whereby Incyte will provide funding for certain aspects of Vanderbilt’s cancer research activities (Press release, Incyte, JUL 7, 2015, View Source [SID:1234506175]).

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!

This alliance is designed to develop an improved understanding of basic cancer biology and the mechanisms of action of certain Incyte-proprietary compounds, as well as identify and develop novel approaches to patient selection which may enable new therapeutic opportunities in oncology.

"The Incyte pipeline of targeted therapies represents an opportunity for researchers here at Vanderbilt to test important hypotheses in a scientifically-aligned mission. We envision a collaboration centered on advancing our mechanistic understanding of cancer therapies," said Michael R. Savona, M.D., Director, Hematology Early Therapy Program, VICC/VUMC.

"Incyte and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center share a common goal of advancing innovative science to improve patients’ lives, and this alliance reflects this shared vision and the importance of collaborative research to achieve this end," stated Reid Huber, Ph.D., Incyte’s Chief Scientific Officer. "We are pleased to be able to establish a support structure that expands novel cancer research capabilities at Vanderbilt, and aligns with Incyte’s strengths in oncology R&D."

"We are excited by the opportunity to collaboratively investigate new molecular targets in cancer," said Lawrence J. Marnett, Ph.D., Associate Vice-Chancellor for Research and Senior Associate Dean for Biomedical Sciences, VUMC. "Incyte scientists’ skills and interests nicely complement those of multiple investigators at Vanderbilt who study this disease."

Genmab Announces European Regulatory Submission for Ofatumumab as Maintenance Therapy for Relapsed CLL

On July 7, 2015 Genmab reported that a variation to the Marketing Authorization has been submitted to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the use of ofatumumab (Arzerra) as maintenance therapy of patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (Press release, Genmab, JUL 7, 2015, View Source [SID:1234506173]). The application was submitted by Novartis under our ofatumumab collaboration.

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!

The application is based on interim results from a Phase III study, PROLONG (OMB112517) which evaluated ofatumumab maintenance therapy versus no further treatment in patients with a complete or partial response after second or third line treatment for CLL. Results from this trial were presented at the 2014 American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting.
"The PROLONG study showed the potential of using ofatumumab as an ongoing maintenance therapy for patients with relapsed CLL. We are pleased that Novartis has taken the next step with ofatumumab in this setting by submitting a regulatory application to the EMA," said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.
About CLL
CLL, the most commonly diagnosed adult leukemia in Western countries, accounts for approximately 1 in 4 cases of leukemia1,2. Most CLL patients experience disease progression despite initial response to therapy and may require additional treatment3.
About Ofatumumab (Arzerra)
Ofatumumab is a human monoclonal antibody that is designed to target the CD20 molecule found on the surface of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells and normal B lymphocytes.
In the United States, Arzerra is approved for use in combination with chlorambucil for the treatment of previously untreated patients with CLL for whom fludarabine-based therapy is considered inappropriate. In the European Union, Arzerra is approved for use in combination with chlorambucil or bendamustine for the treatment of patients with CLL who have not received prior therapy and who are not eligible for fludarabine-based therapy. In more than 50 countries worldwide, Arzerra is also indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with CLL who are refractory after prior treatment with fludarabine and alemtuzumab.
Arzerra is not approved anywhere in the world as maintenance therapy for relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING for Arzerra (ofatumumab).
Arzerra is marketed under a co-development and collaboration agreement between Genmab and Novartis, as successor in interest to GSK.

Clearance of co-development and commercialization agreement with AstraZeneca and receipt by Innate Pharma of $250m initial payment

On July 7, 2015 Innate Pharma reported that the co-development and commercialization agreement with AstraZeneca on Innate Pharma’s proprietary anti-NKG2A antibody, IPH2201 (see announcement press release as of April, 24, 2015), received HSR clearance (Press release, Innate Pharma, JUL 6, 2015, View Source [SID:1234506176]). The companies will now begin to work together to accelerate and broaden the development of IPH2201, including in combination with MEDI4736, an anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor developed by MedImmune.

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!

On June 30, 2015, Innate Pharma received the initial payment of $250 million from AstraZeneca.