Sanofi partners with Howard University in an unprecedented pharmacy fellowship program

On July 26, 2022 As part of its ongoing efforts to address disparities in underrepresented communities, Sanofi reported a collaboration with Howard University College of Pharmacy for a two-year post-professional Doctorate in Pharmacy fellowship program (Press release, Sanofi, JUL 26, 2022, View Source [SID1234616971]). Sanofi’s goal is to hire fellows into permanent full-time positions at the company, marking the first time a Howard University College of Pharmacy industry partner has committed to post-fellowship employment.

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!

Set to begin in the second half of 2022, the program will award ten PharmD graduate students an opportunity to participate in practical learning experiences across multiple research and development fields, including oncology, rare diseases, neurology, immunology, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, clinical and operations, as well as US medical, public policy and patient advocacy.

John Reed, MD., Ph.D.
Global Head of Research and Development at Sanofi
"At Sanofi, we recognize that work-force diversity correlates strongly with creativity, successful problem solving, and visionary innovation. This collaboration with Howard University will allow us the opportunity to foster the next generation of scientists from historically underrepresented communities. We look forward to working with the fellows as they begin their training and become Sanofi team members who will undoubtedly help contribute to frontier innovations as we bring the next generation of life-saving medicines to patients worldwide."

Sanofi employees represent the variety of Sanofi’s patients, customers and partners, which builds a better understanding of needs and forges stronger connections. An inclusive culture unleashes our potential, increases innovation, improves our products and makes us better all around. For example, by facilitating the increased participation of diverse populations in clinical trials, Sanofi is striving to aid in the improvement of social equity and human health. With these beliefs and ambitions, the company is honored is to begin this collaboration with Howard University College of Pharmacy. The fellows’ contributions will help to bolster Sanofi’s mission and our diverse top-tier talent pipeline, and empower scholars to pursue STEM research in the future.

Anthony K. Wutoh, Ph.D., R.Ph.,
Howard University Provost and Chief Academic Officer
"We look forward to the partnership with Sanofi, a global leader in healthcare innovation, and the launch of this unique fellowship program. Howard University is among the nation’s largest producers of African-American students who complete doctorates in science, technology, engineering, and physical sciences. The Sanofi fellowship will allow promising graduates to gain real-world experience while contributing to a field that has historically overlooked and undervalued people of color."

The fellowship program with Howard University College of Pharmacy is part of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) strategy, which set new objectives in June 2021 to be achieved by 2025. The strategy is built around three key pillars: building representative leadership, creating a work environment where employees can bring their whole selves and engaging with the company’s diverse communities. Earlier this year, Sanofi took additional steps forward in its DE&I strategy by introducing a DE&I Board, joining the Novartis Beacon of Hope program, and fostering the creation of Global Employee Resource Groups framework.

Janssen Announces New Data Supporting Safety and Efficacy of RYBREVANT® and Lazertinib Combination for Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and EGFR Mutations

On July 26, 2022 The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson reported new data from the Phase 1b/2 CHRYSALIS-2 study (NCT04077463) cohort evaluating the safety and tolerability of the combination of RYBREVANT (amivantamab-vmjw) with the third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) lazertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy (carboplatin and pemetrexed) in patients with relapsed/refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and EGFR mutations (Press release, Johnson & Johnson, JUL 26, 2022, View Source [SID1234616970]).1 These findings and additional updates, including data on RYBREVANT in combination with lazertinib in the frontline setting for patients with NSCLC will be presented at the IASLC 2022 WCLC hosted by the IASLC August 6-9 in Vienna, Austria.

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!

CHRYSALIS-2 (NCT04077463) is an ongoing clinical trial evaluating RYBREVANT in combination with lazertinib in patients with advanced NSCLC with EGFR exon 19 deletion mutations or L858R activating mutations.2 One cohort of CHRYSALIS-2 evaluates the combination of RYBREVANT and lazertinib with carboplatin and pemetrexed.1 Results from the RYBREVANT, lazertinib, carboplatin and pemetrexed combination cohort (n=20) will be featured in a mini oral presentation (Abstract #MA07.04) at the IASLC 2022 WCLC.1 Enrolled participants received a median of two prior lines of therapy.1 Prior therapies included osimertinib (n=14), gefitinib (n=3), afatinib (n=3), and platinum-based chemotherapy (n=5), among others.1

After a median follow-up of 7.1 months, the combination of RYBREVANT and lazertinib with carboplatin and pemetrexed yielded an overall response rate (ORR) of 50 percent (95 percent confidence interval [CI];27-73), with 15 out of 20 patients remaining on treatment.1 The observed safety profile of this treatment combination was consistent with the previously reported safety profile of each individual agent; no evidence of new safety signals or additional toxicity was observed.1 The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) included neutropenia (85 percent), rash (75 percent), infusion-related reaction and stomatitis (60 percent), fatigue and paronychia (50 percent each), and thrombocytopenia and nausea (40 percent each).1

"Patients with relapsed/refractory non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations currently have few treatment options. For them, the promise of precision medicine has the potential to change the trajectory of their disease," said Alexander Spira, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, CEO and Clinical Director of NEXT Oncology Virginia and study investigator.‡ "The data we’ve seen with the combination of amivantamab with lazertinib and chemotherapy further demonstrate the potential of this treatment regimen for these patients, and we are optimistic about future study to improve outcomes for those with EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer."

Janssen is currently recruiting patients for the Phase 3 MARIPOSA-2 (NCT04988295) study to evaluate the combination of RYBREVANT and lazertinib with platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC after disease progression on or after osimertinib.3

Separately, updated data from the frontline, treatment-naïve cohort of the Phase 1 CHRYSALIS study (NCT02609776) will be featured in a poster presentation (Abstract #P1.16-01).4 CHRYSALIS is an ongoing study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy of RYBREVANT as a monotherapy and in combination, including with lazertinib, in patients with advanced NSCLC with various EGFR mutations.5 Patients enrolled in the treatment-naïve cohort had NSCLC characterized by either an EGFR exon 19 deletion (n=11) or L858R mutation (n=9), with 50 percent having co-mutations in the TP53 gene.4 All 20 patients had confirmed response (ORR of 100%). After a median follow-up of 22.3 months, 14 patients (70 percent) were progression free and remained on therapy with median duration of response and median progression-free survival not reached.4 Two patients with L858R mutations remained on treatment after their disease progressed.4 Based upon the last data cutoff on June 1, 2022 (median follow-up and treatment duration of 28 months), 12 patients (60 percent; 9 exon 19 deletion, 3 exon 21 L858R) remain progression free and on treatment.4

The safety profile of the combination of RYBREVANT and lazertinib was consistent with previous reports, and no new safety signals were identified.4 Treatment-related AEs of Grade ≥3 severity occurred in seven patients (35 percent).4 Treatment-related AEs leading to dose reduction of either RYBREVANT or lazertinib occurred in seven patients, most commonly due to rash (n=5).4 One patient had a treatment-related AE of interstitial lung disease which led to treatment discontinuation.4 Janssen is evaluating the combination of RYBREVANT and lazertinib in the frontline setting for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC in the ongoing Phase 3 MARIPOSA study (NCT04487080).6

"Janssen’s presence at this year’s World Conference on Lung Cancer is a testament to our continuous effort to improve outcomes for people with non-small cell lung cancer, especially those whose disease is characterized by specific genetic mutations and who tend to be underserved by the current standard of care," said Joshua Bauml, M.D., Executive Medical Director, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "We are committed to evaluating the potential of combination regimens in delaying disease progression in the treatment-naïve setting and addressing the ongoing challenge of treatment resistance in patients with relapsed/refractory disease."

Janssen will also share data that highlight the utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing in identifying patients with NSCLC who may benefit from targeted treatment in a mini oral presentation (Abstract #MA12.05).7 Results showed that compared with single-gene testing strategies, NGS testing resulted in a higher percentage of identified mutations, a shorter time to appropriate targeted therapy and lower total testing costs per patient.7

About RYBREVANT
RYBREVANT (amivantamab-vmjw) received accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2021 for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test, whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.8 This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. RYBREVANT has also received approval from health authorities in Europe, as well as other markets around the world.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer* prefer NGS-based strategies over PCR-based approaches for the detection of EGFR exon 20 insertion variants and include amivantamab-vmjw (RYBREVANT) as a subsequent therapy option with a Category 2A recommendation for patients that have progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy with or without immunotherapy and have EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation-positive advanced NSCLC.9†^

RYBREVANT is being studied in multiple clinical trials, including for untreated advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC in the Phase 3 MARIPOSA (NCT04487080) study assessing RYBREVANT in combination with lazertinib as an alternative to osimertinib for frontline treatment; the Phase 3 MARIPOSA-2 (NCT04988295) study to evaluate the combination of RYBREVANT and lazertinib with platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC after disease progression on or after osimertinib; the Phase 1/1b CHRYSALIS-2 (NCT04077463) study assessing the combination of RYBREVANT and lazertinib in patients who have progressed after treatment with osimertinib and chemotherapy; the Phase 3 PAPILLON (NCT04538664) study assessing RYBREVANT in combination with carboplatin-pemetrexed versus chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated NSCLC and exon 20 insertion mutations; and the Phase 1 PALOMA (NCT04606381) study assessing the feasibility of subcutaneous (SC) administration of RYBREVANT based on safety and pharmacokinetics and to determine a dose, dose regimen and formulation for RYBREVANT SC delivery.2,3,5,6,10,11

*NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.

†See the NCCN Guidelines for detailed recommendations, including other treatment options.10

^The NCCN Guidelines for NSCLC provide recommendations for certain individual biomarkers that should be tested and recommend testing techniques but do not endorse any specific commercially available biomarker assays or commercial laboratories.

For more information, visit: View Source

About Lazertinib
Lazertinib is an oral, third-generation, brain-penetrant, EGFR TKI that targets both the T790M mutation and activating EGFR mutations while sparing wild type-EGFR.12 Interim safety and efficacy results from the lazertinib Phase 1/2 study were published in The Lancet Oncology in 2019. In 2018, Janssen Biotech, Inc. entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Yuhan Corporation for the development of lazertinib.

About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Worldwide, lung cancer is one of the most common cancers, and NSCLC makes up 80 to 85 percent of all lung cancers.13,14 The main subtypes of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.15 Among the most common driver mutations in NSCLC are alterations in EGFR, which is a receptor tyrosine kinase supporting cell growth and division.16 EGFR mutations are present in 10 to 15 percent15,16,17,18,19 of people with NSCLC adenocarcinoma and occur in 40 to 50 percent of Asians.20,21 The five-year survival rate for all people with metastatic NSCLC and EGFR mutations treated with EGFR TKIs is less than 20 percent.22,23

RYBREVANT IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION 8 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Infusion Related Reactions 8
RYBREVANT can cause infusion-related reactions (IRR); signs and symptoms of IRR include dyspnea, flushing, fever, chills, nausea, chest discomfort, hypotension, and vomiting.

Based on the safety population, IRR occurred in 66% of patients treated with RYBREVANT. Among patients receiving treatment on Week 1 Day 1, 65% experienced an IRR, while the incidence of IRR was 3.4% with the Day 2 infusion, 0.4% with the Week 2 infusion, and cumulatively 1.1% with subsequent infusions. Of the reported IRRs, 97% were Grade 1-2, 2.2% were Grade 3, and 0.4% were Grade 4. The median time to onset was 1 hour (range 0.1 to 18 hours) after start of infusion. The incidence of infusion modifications due to IRR was 62% and 1.3% of patients permanently discontinued RYBREVANT due to IRR.

Premedicate with antihistamines, antipyretics, and glucocorticoids and infuse RYBREVANT as recommended. Administer RYBREVANT via a peripheral line on Week 1 and Week 2. Monitor patients for any signs and symptoms of infusion reactions during RYBREVANT infusion in a setting where cardiopulmonary resuscitation medication and equipment are available. Interrupt infusion if IRR is suspected. Reduce the infusion rate or permanently discontinue RYBREVANT based on severity.

Interstitial Lung Disease/Pneumonitis 8
RYBREVANT can cause interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis. Based on the safety population, ILD/pneumonitis occurred in 3.3% of patients treated with RYBREVANT, with 0.7% of patients experiencing Grade 3 ILD/pneumonitis. Three patients (1%) discontinued RYBREVANT due to ILD/pneumonitis.

Monitor patients for new or worsening symptoms indicative of ILD/pneumonitis (e.g., dyspnea, cough, fever). Immediately withhold RYBREVANT in patients with suspected ILD/pneumonitis and permanently discontinue if ILD/pneumonitis is confirmed.

Dermatologic Adverse Reactions 8
RYBREVANT can cause rash (including dermatitis acneiform), pruritus and dry skin. Based on the safety population, rash occurred in 74% of patients treated with RYBREVANT, including Grade 3 rash in 3.3% of patients. The median time to onset of rash was 14 days (range: 1 to 276 days). Rash leading to dose reduction occurred in 5% of patients, and RYBREVANT was permanently discontinued due to rash in 0.7% of patients.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis occurred in one patient (0.3%) treated with RYBREVANT.

Instruct patients to limit sun exposure during and for 2 months after treatment with RYBREVANT. Advise patients to wear protective clothing and use broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen. Alcohol-free emollient cream is recommended for dry skin.

If skin reactions develop, start topical corticosteroids and topical and/or oral antibiotics. For Grade 3 reactions, add oral steroids and consider dermatologic consultation. Promptly refer patients presenting with severe rash, atypical appearance or distribution, or lack of improvement within 2 weeks to a dermatologist. Withhold, dose reduce or permanently discontinue RYBREVANT based on severity.

Ocular Toxicity 8
RYBREVANT can cause ocular toxicity including keratitis, dry eye symptoms, conjunctival redness, blurred vision, visual impairment, ocular itching, and uveitis. Based on the safety population, keratitis occurred in 0.7% and uveitis occurred in 0.3% of patients treated with RYBREVANT. All events were Grade 1-2. Promptly refer patients presenting with eye symptoms to an ophthalmologist. Withhold, dose reduce or permanently discontinue RYBREVANT based on severity.

Embryo Fetal Toxicity 8
Based on its mechanism of action and findings from animal models, RYBREVANT can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to the fetus. Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after the final dose of RYBREVANT.

Adverse Reactions 8
The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) were rash (84%), IRR (64%), paronychia (50%), musculoskeletal pain (47%), dyspnea (37%), nausea (36%), fatigue (33%), edema (27%), stomatitis (26%), cough (25%), constipation (23%), and vomiting (22%). The most common Grade 3 to 4 laboratory abnormalities (≥2%) were decreased lymphocytes (8%), decreased albumin (8%), decreased phosphate (8%), decreased potassium (6%), increased alkaline phosphatase (4.8%), increased glucose (4%), increased gamma-glutamyl transferase (4%), and decreased sodium (4%).

Gracell Biotechnologies to Participate in BTIG 2022 Biotechnology Conference

On July 26, 2022 Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GRCL) ("Gracell"), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing highly efficacious and affordable cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, reported that the management team will participate in BTIG 2022 Hybrid Biotechnology Conference in August 2022 (Press release, Gracell Biotechnologies, JUL 26, 2022, View Source [SID1234616969]).

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 Gracell team will conduct one-on-one meetings in person on August 8 and virtually on August 9.

Q BioMed announces publication of pre-clinical research showing superior safety and efficacy against current first line therapy of its drug candidate Uttroside-B for liver cancer

On July 26, 2022 Q BioMed, Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO) a commercial-stage biotechnology development company reported a new publication supporting the potential superior safety and efficacy of its Uttroside-B chemotherapeutic to treat liver cancer vs the current first line FDA approved drug (Press release, Q BioMed, JUL 26, 2022, View Source [SID1234616968]).

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!

Liver cancer incidence rates have more than tripled since 1980, while the death rates have more than doubled during this time. More than 800,000 people are diagnosed with this cancer each year throughout the world and it accounts for more than 700,000 deaths annually. Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) constitutes 90% of all liver cancer incidences, worldwide.

According to Research and Markets, the Global Sorafenib Market was valued at USD 1.08 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 1.18 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 1.21% from 2020 to 2027.

We previously reported the remarkable potency of Uttroside-B (Utt-B), against liver cancer cells. Recently, the U.S. FDA approved Utt-B as an ‘orphan drug’ against HCC. The current study validates the superior efficacy of Utt-B over sorafenib, the first-line FDA approved treatment option against HCC liver cancer.

The therapeutic efficacies of Utt-B vs. sorafenib against HCC were compared in vitro, using various liver cancer cell lines and in vivo, utilizing mice bearing human xenografts. The data indicate that Utt-B shows superior anti-HCC efficacy over sorafenib. Our previous report demonstrated the pharmacological safety of Utt-B in Chang Liver, the normal immortalized hepatocytes, and in the acute and chronic toxicity murine models even at high concentrations. Here, data shows that higher concentrations of sorafenib cause severe toxicity in acute and chronic in vivo models, indicating that, apart from the superior therapeutic benefit over sorafenib, Utt-B is pharmacologically safer and the drug-induced undesirable effects can be substantially alleviated in the context of HCC chemotherapy. This study highlights the therapeutic supremacy of Utt-B over sorafenib, the widely administered FDA-approved anti-HCC drug.

Denis Corin, Q BioMed CEO said, "This is another very compelling result and adds weight to the promise of an effective therapeutic for a patient population that desperately needs better and more treatment options. Having successfully completed a very challenging synthesis program, we are now finalizing manufacturing for tox studies, IND and a clinical partnership."

In more detail, researchers demonstrated the superior anti-clonogenic potential and anti-proliferating efficacy of Utt-B against liver cancer cells, compared to sorafenib in vitro. The pro-apoptotic potential of Utt-B is evident from the enhanced cleavage of caspases and significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells in Utt-B-treated HCC cells in comparison with sorafenib. Xenograft studies in immunocompromised murine models of human HCC exhibited a significant reduction in tumor development, with negligible side effects, in Utt-B-treated animals, whereas sorafenib treated mice exhibited symptoms of severe toxicity.

Undesirable effects associated with sorafenib chemotherapy is an impending problem in HCC patients. The present study attests to our previous report that Utt-B is pharmacologically safe up to five times the IC50 dose in acute and sub-chronic toxicity models, while even the IC50 dose of sorafenib is toxic to immunocompromised mice, and elevated doses of sorafenib induce adverse effects such as breathing problems, signs of hypertrophy, and mild regenerative changes in liver hepatocytes, in normal immune competent mice.

The researchers highlight Utt-B as a promising anti-HCC drug, owing to its enhanced therapeutic efficacy and pharmacological safety over sorafenib, the first-line treatment option for HCC.

This innovation has been granted a patent from the US, Canada, Japan and South Korea and has been conferred ‘Orphan Drug’ status against HCC by the U.S. FDA.

The research has been led by Dr. Ruby John Anto, a senior investigator at Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB). Q BioMed has the exclusive license to the technology through an agreement with RGCB and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Nektar to Announce Financial Results for the Second Quarter 2022 on Thursday, August 4, 2022, After Close of U.S.-Based Financial Markets

On July 26, 2022 Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) reported that it will announce its financial results for the second quarter 2022 on Thursday, August 4, 2022, after the close of U.S.-based financial markets (Press release, Nektar Therapeutics, JUL 26, 2022, View Source [SID1234616967]). Howard Robin, President and Chief Executive Officer, will host a conference call to review the results beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time/2:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

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 press release and live audio-only webcast of the conference call can be accessed through a link that is posted on the Home Page and Investors section of the Nektar website: View Source The web broadcast of the conference call will be available for replay through September 4, 2022.