On April 18, 2016 Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARWR) reported that they have presented a poster on ARC-HIF2, its preclinical development program targeting HIF2-α for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2016 (AACR16), in New Orleans (Press release, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, APR 18, 2016, View Source [SID:1234510987]). ARC-HIF2 is Arrowhead’s first RNAi therapeutic program to target tissues outside the liver.

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The poster titled, "Novel HIF-2α targeted RNAi therapeutic for renal cell carcinoma" (abstract 2064), describes data from various stages of development of ARC-HIF2, including RNAi trigger selection, HIF2-α target validation, delivery and targeting ligand validation, and multiple RCC tumor models. These data show that important advancements are being made in this program and for Arrowhead’s Dynamic PolyconjugateTM (DPCTM) delivery platform generally, including the following key findings:

Proof-of-concept ligand dependent, functional delivery was demonstrated using the DPC targeted delivery platform
Silencing HIF2-α expression by RNA interference resulted in reduction of HIF-2α regulated genes
In two different RCC tumor bearing mouse models, ARC-HIF2 inhibited tumor growth and promoted tumor cell death and structural degeneration

Lenalidomide and bevacizumab have antitumor activity in various tumor types. We conducted a phase I study of this combination in patients with advanced cancer.
A "3 + 3" study design was used. Lenalidomide 10 or 20 mg (orally, days 1-21) and bevacizumab 5, 7.5, or 10 mg/kg, (intravenously, every 2 weeks) were given at four escalating dose levels, followed by an expansion phase at the highest maximum tolerated dose (MTD) (1 cycle = 4 weeks). Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), MTD, adverse events, and clinical outcomes were assessed.
Thirty-one patients were enrolled (median age, 60 years; men, 52 %). The most common tumor types were colorectal carcinoma (n = 11) and melanoma (n = 5). Overall, 105 cycles (median, 2) were administered. No DLTs were observed. The maximum tested dose (level 4) was used in the expansion phase. The most common toxicities were fatigue (n = 7, 23 %) and skin rash (n = 4, 13 %). One patient developed a transient ischemic attack (3.2 %); prophylactic anticoagulation became mandatory in the subsequent 17 treated patients. Of 31 patients, 27 were evaluable for response. Stable disease (SD) was noted in 10 (37 %) patients, including five patients with SD for ≥6 months (tumor types: clear cell sarcoma, germ cell tumor, colorectal carcinoma, and melanoma). The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 2.8 and 5.5 months, respectively.
The combination of lenalidomide with bevacizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors was safe. Prolonged stable disease was noted in selected tumor types, warranting further clinical evaluation.

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On April 18, 2016 Agenus Inc. (NASDAQ: AGEN), an immuno-oncology company developing checkpoint modulator antibodies and cancer vaccines, reported that three abstracts on the Company’s checkpoint modulator product candidates were accepted for poster presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2016 Annual Meeting (Press release, Agenus, APR 18, 2016, View Source [SID:1234510982]). The conference is taking place in New Orleans from April 16-20, 2016.

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Poster Details:

OX40
Poster Title: INCAGN01949: A Novel Anti-OX40 Agonist Antibody with the Potential to Enhance Tumor Specific T-cell Responsiveness, while Selectively Depleting Intratumoral Regulatory T Cells
Poster Number: #3204
Session Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Session Time: 8:00 AM -12:00 PM CDT

GITR
Poster Title: A Novel Agonist Antibody (INCAGN01876) that Targets the Costimulatory Receptor GITR
Poster Number: #3220
Session Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Session Time: 8:00 AM -12:00 PM CDT

CTLA-4
Poster Title: AGEN1884 and AGEN2041: Two Functionally Distinct Anti-CTLA-4 Antagonist Antibodies
Poster Number: #5005
Session Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Session Time: 7:30 AM -11:00 AM CDT

Agenus is partnered with Incyte Corporation for the development of INCAGN1949 and INCAGN1876, and is partnered with Recepta Biopharma SA for certain South American rights for AGEN1884 and AGEN2041. Abstracts and posters will become available on the Company’s website at View Source following the poster sessions.

On April 18, 2016 TG Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:TGTX) reported the presentation of preclinical data describing the differential regulation of human T-cells by TGR-1202 in a poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2016, which is being held April 16 – 20, 2016 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana (Press release, TG Therapeutics, APR 18, 2016, View Source [SID:1234510981]).

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As part of an ongoing research collaboration with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, FL, data was generated comparing TGR-1202 with the PI3K-delta inhibitors idelalisib and duvelisib in in-vitro models assessing the impact on T-cell subsets. Key conclusions from the poster are as follows:

TGR-1202 exhibits dose dependent cytotoxicity against human T cells beginning 25uM, comparable to the PI3K-delta inhibitors idelalisib and duvelisib,
TGR-1202 allows relative conservation of TH2 cytokine expression and GATA-3 mRNA compared to other PI3K-delta inhibitors idelalisib and duvelisib
Regulatory T cell (Treg) population number and function is reduced overall after treatment with all three agents but to a lesser degree in TGR-1202 treated samples
TGR-1202 does not robustly reduce the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 on Tregs, suggesting that a suppressive phenotype is maintained to a greater extent compared to idelalisib and duvelisib.
Michael S. Weiss, the Company’s Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Many of the adverse events associated with existing PI3K-delta inhibitors such as colitis and hepatic toxicity, and most recently with opportunistic infections, are thought to be related to T-cell immune mediated mechanisms. This pre-clinical data now begins to elucidate key differences in the impact of these inhibitors on human T-cell subsets, which may explain the differentiated safety profile observed with TGR-1202 to date in the clinic. These data represent the first step in improving our understanding and we look forward to continuing our research collaboration with the team at Moffitt."

PRESENTATION DETAILS

A copy of the poster is available on the Company’s website at www.tgtherapeutics.com, located on the Publications Page, within the Pipeline section.

On April 18, 2016 Seattle Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGEN) reported multiple data presentations that support several of the company’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and immuno-oncology programs featured at the upcoming 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) being held April 16 through 20, 2016 in New Orleans, LA (Press release, Seattle Genetics, APR 18, 2016, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2157809 [SID:1234510980]). The presentations describe preclinical data with SGN-LIV1A and SEA-CD40, which are in ongoing clinical trials, and highlight two preclinical programs, a novel ADC for the treatment of multiple myeloma (SGN-CD352A) and a small molecule that enhances T-cell mediated antitumor activity (2-fluorofucose). Additional data highlight the growing body of knowledge regarding the ability of auristatin-based ADCs, including ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin), to initiate immunogenic cell death, supporting evaluation in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.

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"Our ADC expertise currently empowers a robust pipeline of more than a dozen clinical and preclinical programs," said Jonathan Drachman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Seattle Genetics. "At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), we will be presenting preclinical data that demonstrate encouraging activity with SGN-LIV1A, an ADC in phase 1 clinical development for breast cancer, and the preclinical development of a novel ADC for multiple myeloma, SGN-CD352A, which uses our newest ADC technology. We will also highlight the progress we have made in the important field of immuno-oncology, demonstrating that auristatin-based ADCs may be particularly well suited for combination with checkpoint inhibitors and presenting exciting preclinical data for SEA-CD40 and a small molecule, 2-fluorofucose."

Multiple presentations are being featured at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) that highlight advances with Seattle Genetics’ proprietary ADC and empowered antibody pipeline and research programs. Abstracts can be found at www.aacr.org and include the following:

Preclinical data from a novel ADC candidate SGN-CD352A for multiple myeloma will be highlighted in a poster presentation on Monday, April 18, 2016 (Abstract #1195). SGN-CD352A utilizes Seattle Genetics’ newest ADC technology and is composed of an anti-CD352 antibody attached to a highly potent cytotoxic DNA-crosslinking agent called a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer via a proprietary site-specific conjugation technology to a monoclonal antibody with engineered cysteines (EC-mAb).
SGN-LIV1A will be highlighted in a poster presentation on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 (Abstract #2966) focusing on the potential of combination use with standard of care chemotherapeutic agents, including doxorubicin, paclitaxel (Abraxane), carboplatin and various kinase inhibitors, for the treatment of breast cancer. SGN-LIV1A is in a phase 1 trial for the treatment of LIV-1-expressing metastatic breast cancer.
A preclinical analysis will highlight the novel small molecule, 2-fluorofucose (2FF) in a poster presentation on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 (Abstract #4005). 2FF blocks cellular incorporation of a sugar (fucose) and has been shown in preclinical studies to stimulate T-cell receptor signaling leading to enhanced activation of dendritic cells.
The path of SEA-CD40 from research to clinical development will be highlighted in a poster presentation on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 (Abstract #4994). SEA-CD40 is in an ongoing phase 1 trial for patients with advanced malignancies. SEA-CD40 is a novel immuno-oncology agent targeted to CD40 utilizing Seattle Genetics’ proprietary sugar-engineered antibody (SEA) technology to produce a non-fucosylated antibody.
Preclinical data evaluating brentuximab vedotin (ADCETRIS) immune activity will be presented in a poster presentation on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 (Abstract #4914). The preclinical data being presented demonstrate that brentuximab vedotin treated tumor cells may initiate an antitumor immune response and supports combination strategies with immuno-oncology regimens, such as the ongoing phase 1/2 clinical trials evaluating ADCETRIS and nivolumab (Opdivo) in relapsed Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
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