On April 11, 2022 AIM ImmunoTech Inc. (NYSE: American AIM) ("AIM" or the "Company"), an immuno-pharma company focused on the research and development of therapeutics to treat multiple types of cancers, immune disorders, and viral diseases, including COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reported the presentation of data from the ongoing Phase 2a clinical study at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center evaluating AIM ImmunoTech Inc. drug candidate, Ampligen (also known as rintatolimod) as a component of treatment for colorectal cancer metastatic to the liver at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2022, being held April 8-13, 2022, in New Orleans, Louisiana (Press release, AIM ImmunoTech, APR 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234611925]).

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 presented research was led by Roswell Park medical oncologist Sarbajit Mukherjee, MD, MS, in collaboration with senior investigator Pawel Kalinski, MD, PhD, Chair of Immunology at Roswell Park.

Title: Initial results of a phase II study evaluating a chemokine-modulatory (CKM) regimen in patients with colorectal cancer metastatic to the liver
Presenter: Sarbajit Mukherjee, MD, MS

Based on preclinical data and previous reports showing the prognostic value of intratumoral CD8+ T cell (CTL) in colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes, it was hypothesized that systemic infusion of the combination of IFNα-2b with Ampligen (selective TLR3 ligand for i.v. use) could reprogram the local balance between the CTL- and regulatory T cell (Treg)-attracting chemokines and the resulting patterns of immune infiltrates in liver tumors.

This early Phase 2a trial studied how well celecoxib, recombinant interferon alfa-2b, and Ampligen work in treating patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver. The study was designed on the basis that 1) celecoxib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth; 2) Recombinant interferon alfa-2b is a substance that can improve the body’s natural response and may interfere with the growth of tumor cells; and 3) Ampligen may stimulate the immune system, so that giving celecoxib, recombinant interferon alfa-2b, and Ampligen together may help reprogram the tumor microenvironment and make the tumors more responsive to immune therapy.

For the study, recurrent/metastatic CRC patients with unresectable liver metastases amenable to biopsy were eligible. Patients had prior treatment (Rx) with fluoropyrimidine, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and an anti-EGFR targeted therapy (if RAS wt), or contra-indication to such. Patients received IFNα-2b IV (20 million units/m2 IV daily) and Ampligen (200 mg IV daily) plus oral celecoxib (200 mg twice daily) on days 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17. Response assessment was done via liver biopsies (pre-Rx and on day 24 ± 4 days) and CT imaging (RECIST v1.1) on Day 46. The primary endpoint was the change in CD8+ T-cells before Rx, with that seen post-Rx (measured by quantitative RT-PCR as a ratio of CD8α to a housekeeping gene, HPRT). With a sample size of N=12 evaluable pts, the study design had a 90% power to detect a 0.77 standard deviation increase (pre- to post Rx) at a significance level of 0.1. Nineteen patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC were enrolled in the study between Apr 2018 and Oct 2020, and 12 were evaluable for the primary endpoint.

"The primary endpoint of this study, a significant increase in CD8a expression post-treatment, along with increases in CTL-attracting chemokines coupled with a decrease in a key Treg/MDSC attractant indicate a positive immune effect on the tumor microenvironment and suggest this CKM approach has the potential to increase tumor responses to checkpoint inhibitors", commented David R. Strayer, MD.

Summary of Key Findings:

The study’s primary endpoint was met, evidenced by increased CD8a expression post-treatment (p=0.046).
Saw increase in the CD8a/CD4 (p=0.03), CD8a/FOXP3 (p<0.01) and GZMB/FOXP3 (p<0.01) ratios.
The expression of CTL-attracting chemokines CCL5 (p=0.08), CXCL9 (p=0.05), and CXCL10 (p=0.06) were increased, while expression of the Treg/MDSC attractant CXCL12 (p=0.07) was decreased post-treatment.
Median OS was 10.5 (90% CI 2.2-15.2) months, and the median PFS was 1.5 (90% CI 1.4, 1.8) months.
No tumor responses were seen. The treatment was well tolerated. Of all enrolled patients (N=19), adverse events were noted in 74% of patients, with the most common being fatigue (58%). Grade 3 or higher adverse events were rare (5%).
For more information about the study, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03403634.

On April 11, 2022 Vivesto AB, an oncology-focused specialty pharmaceutical company, reported the appointment of Dr. Daniel Tesfa as Chief Medical Officer (CMO), who will be responsible for leading the clinical development of all Vivesto’s oncology programmes in concert with our CSO, Dr. Reinhard Koenig, responsible for all pre-clinical activities (Press release, Vivesto, APR 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234611901]). Dr. Tesfa, who will join Vivesto no later than 1 July, will report to CEO Francois Martelet and will also join Vivesto’s Management team.

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!

Dr. Tesfa brings extensive experience in clinical development and precision oncology over 20 years. Most recently, from 2020, he served as Medical Director, Clinical and Translation Science Hematology at listed Swedish biopharmaceutical company SOBI (Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB), where he led clinical development.

Prior to his time at SOBI, from 2018 until 2020, Dr. Tesfa worked as Head of Oncology and Hematology at Bayer, Scandinavia, where he was a Medical Advisor and manager for the medical team.

Other prior roles include Country Medical Manager Oncology and Hematology, at Roche, Sweden, where he acted as a Medical Advisor and had a leading role in launching the hemophilia and lymphoma products, and also worked on treatments for colorectal, breast and lung cancers. Dr. Tesfa also brings first-hand experience as a specialist doctor as he was Head of Polyclinical Section at the former Hematology Center Karolinska Huddinge.

Dr. Tesfa holds a PhD in Medicine from Karolinska Institutet and an M.D. from the University of Lund, Sweden. He is also a fellow of Swedish Society of Medicine, and a member of the Swedish Hematology and Oncology Association.

François Martelet, M.D., CEO, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Daniel to the Vivesto team. His extensive and first-hand experience working in clinical development and oncology makes him a perfect fit for Vivesto going forward, as we extend our internal capabilities for the development of solutions for hard-to-treat and late-stage cancers."

Dr. Daniel Tesfa, CMO, said: "I am looking forward to joining Vivesto and helping to deliver the mission to improve survival and quality of life for patients with cancer, as the company progresses its pipeline of exciting clinical stage development programmes."

On April 11, 2022 BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX, "BioNTech" or "the Company") reported that data from its ongoing first-in-human Phase 1/2 trial evaluating the safety and preliminary efficacy of the Company’s novel CAR-T cell therapy candidate, BNT211, in patients with advanced solid tumors (Press release, BioNTech, APR 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234611899]). The preliminary results demonstrated an encouraging safety profile and anti-tumor activity in testicular cancer patients at the first evaluated dose levels of BNT211. The data were presented in the Clinical Trials Plenary Session at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2022 by Prof. John Haanen, M.D., Ph.D., Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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!

BNT211 is a potential first-in-class therapeutic approach which comprises two drug products, an autologous CAR-T cell therapy targeting the oncofetal antigen Claudin-6 (CLDN6) and a CLDN6-encoding CAR-T cell amplifying RNA vaccine (CARVac), which is based on BioNTech’s mRNA-lipoplex technology to improve persistence and functionality of the adoptively transferred cells.

The presentation included data from 16 patients who received CLDN6 CAR-T cells at dose levels 1 (1×107 CAR-T cells) and 2 (1×108 CAR-T cells) alone or combined with CARVac. Tumor indications included testicular cancer (n=8) ovarian cancer (n=4), endometrial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, sarcoma, and gastric cancer (1 patient each). Treatment with CLDN6 CAR-T alone or in combination with CARVac up to dose level 2 was well tolerated and showed encouraging signs of clinical activity. All 16 patients showed robust CAR-T cell expansion 10-17 days after infusion with cell frequencies close to 109 total counts in dose level 2. Adverse events and dose limiting toxicities were manageable; cytokine release syndromes of grade 1 and 2 and one transient occurrence of neurotoxicity grade 1 were observed.

At the first efficacy assessment 6 weeks post infusion, 6 of 14 evaluable patients showed a partial response, and 5 patients had stable disease with shrinkage of target lesions. One patient showed no change from baseline and two patients were progressing. Responses were seen in testicular (n=4) and ovarian cancer (n=2) patients. At 12 weeks, 4 of the 6 patients with a partial response showed deepening and durability of responses with one patient reaching a complete response 18 weeks after infusion. All 4 testicular cancer patients in the higher dose level had disease control and 3 of these patients showed objective responses. In addition, 1 testicular cancer patient showed partial response after infusion of the lowest CAR-T dose level in combination with CARVac. Antitumor activity tended to be higher at the higher CAR-T dose and when combined with the vaccine, with 4 of 5 patients in the CARVac combination group showing a partial response.

"Seeing first anti-tumor effects even at the lowest CAR-T cell dose in this heavily pre-treated patient population is truly remarkable and points to the potential of our CAR design and our CARVac approach," said Özlem Türeci, M.D., Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer at BioNTech. "The results support our assumption that Claudin-6 is a well-suited new tumor target. Bringing these innovations together in one regimen may benefit patients with hard-to-treat solid tumors with an otherwise poor prognosis, such as advanced testicular cancer. Our preliminary data indicate that the successes of CAR-T in hematological cancers may indeed be transferred to solid tumors."

"Claudin-6 was never targeted with cellular therapy before, but in this study, the approach is already showing an efficacy that may be better than the data from other CAR-T trials in solid tumors," said John Haanen, M.D., Ph.D. a medical oncologist at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), Amsterdam, Netherlands, and principal investigator of the study. "While the data are very early, it is remarkable that all patients with testicular cancer showed clinical benefits at dose level 2, and the responses we have observed can be deep, including one ongoing complete remission. I look forward to further evaluating this exciting new modality for solid tumor patients."

The ongoing Phase 1/2 study (NCT04503278; 2019-004323-20) aims to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of the CLDN6 CAR-T therapy alone and in combination with CARVac in heavily pretreated patients with CLDN6-positive relapsed or refractory advanced solid tumors and is conducted at multiple sites across Germany and the Netherlands. The next data update is expected later this year.

About BNT211
To harness the power of cell therapies for solid cancers and overcoming hurdles to date, BioNTech has combined their CAR-T and FixVac platform technologies to develop a highly tumor-specific CAR-T cell therapy product which is consecutively enhanced by a CAR-T Cell Amplifying RNA Vaccine (CARVac) that is based on BioNTech`s mRNA-lipoplex technology and encodes for the respective CAR-T target antigen. The vaccine has the potential to boost CAR-T activity, thus enabling and maintaining a therapeutic effect even at low CAR-T doses. BNT211 is a CAR-T cell therapy directed against the novel oncofetal antigen Claudin-6 (CLDN6), a target expressed on multiple solid tumors such as ovarian cancer, sarcoma, testicular cancer, endometrial cancer and gastric cancer. The program is currently being evaluated in a first-in-human Phase 1/2 trial as a monotherapy and in combination with a CLDN6-encoding CARVac, aiming to boost persistence and functionality of the CLDN6-CAR-T cells, in patients with CLDN6-positiv relapsed or refractory advanced solid tumors.

On April 10, 2022 Myeloid Therapeutics, Inc. ("Myeloid"), a clinical stage mRNA-immunotherapy company developing novel therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported that new late-breaking data at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, being held in New Orleans, LA, April 8-13, 2022 (Press release, Myeloid Therapeutics, APR 10, 2022, View Source [SID1234611861]).

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 data presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2022 illustrate that Myeloid has designed and developed two novel therapeutic platforms, ATAK CAR receptors and in vivo mRNA programming, to target and activate the ability of myeloid cells to attack cancer by immune reprogramming. Myeloid cells are a primary orchestrator of immune response and accumulate naturally within solid tumors, in some cases representing up to seventy-five percent of the tumor mass. Myeloid’s adaptations of mRNA for the myeloid compartment are expanding the impact of these cells within in vivo experiments.

Myeloid’s novel class of CARs, known as ATAK Receptors, combine tumor recognition with multiple proprietary innate-immune signaling domains. Myeloid scientists have screened multiple unexplored combinations of innate-immune signals and uncovered optimal multi-signal pathways. The combination of cancer recognition binders with these novel intracellular signaling domains allows myeloid cells to be reprogrammed with previously unexplored combinations of immune signals, leading to tumor killing and broad systemic anti-tumor responses.

Myeloid’s novel in vivo engineering platform specifically targets and activates myeloid cells to elicit broader anti-tumor adaptive immunity. Through this approach, Myeloid demonstrates that delivery of lipid-nanoparticles (LNPs) encapsulating mRNA results in selective uptake and expression by myeloid cells in vivo, leading to potent tumor killing in multiple cold tumor models. These data demonstrate the potential for Myeloid’s technology to program cells directly in vivo.

"At this year’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) meeting, we are pleased to present significant progress across our platforms that showcase the ability of myeloid cells to orchestrate broad immune responses through in vivo mRNA programming and our next-generation ATAK CARs," said Bruce McCreedy, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Myeloid. "These data support our plans to initiate clinical trials to evaluate the safety and activity of several novel drug product candidates within the next year, expanding our existing clinical pipeline."

Details of the late-breaking poster presentations:

Title: "In vivo programming of myeloid cells by mRNA-mediated delivery of novel Fc alpha fusion receptor activates anti-tumor immunity"
Session: Late-Breaking Research: Clinical Research 1
Date and Time: Sunday Apr 10, 2022 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Exhibit Halls D-H, Poster Section 17

Title: "ATAK receptors, a new class of chimeric antigen receptors that harness innate immunity in myeloid cells to target cancer"
Session: Late-Breaking Research: Clinical Research 1
Date and Time: Sunday Apr 10, 2022 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Exhibit Halls D-H, Poster Section 17

Abstracts and full session details can be accessed through the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) meeting planner once available: AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2022 | April 8-13, 2022 | New Orleans

On April 10, 2022 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, "Telix", the "Company") reported that it has entered into a licence agreement with Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly") under which Telix is granted exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise radiolabelled forms of Lilly’s olaratumab antibody for the diagnosis and treatment of human cancers (Press release, Telix Pharmaceuticals, APR 10, 2022, View Source [SID1234611860]). Telix’s initial development focus will be on a rare type of cancer known as soft tissue sarcoma (STS).

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!

Olaratumab was originally developed by Lilly as a (non-radiolabelled) monoclonal antibody targeting Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor Alpha (PDGFRα). PDGFRα is expressed in multiple tumour types including STS. STS is generally a radiation susceptible cancer that may be inherently amenable to systemic radionuclide therapy and olaratumab’s ability to target PDGFRα makes it a highly novel and potentially exciting candidate for use as a radionuclide targeting agent. The exclusive worldwide licence will allow Telix to repurpose olaratumab as a targeting agent for radiopharmaceutical imaging and therapy of cancer. Olaratumab has an established safety profile that underpins its potential use as a radionuclide targeting agent.

Material terms of the agreement
Under the terms of the agreement Telix will pay Lilly an upfront payment of US$5M (~AU$6.7M) for the grant of an exclusive licence to Lilly’s intellectual property related to the development of a radiolabelled olaratumab, as well as access to material for use by Telix in initial pre-clinical and early-phase clinical studies in application to potential uses for the diagnosis and treatment of human cancers.

Lilly may be eligible for up to US$225M (~AU$301M) in payments based upon the achievement of pre-specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones. Lilly would also be eligible to receive industry standard royalties on net sales. The agreement also includes an option for Lilly to be granted an exclusive licence to a radiolabelled companion diagnostic which would be developed by Telix. If exercised, Lilly will pay Telix US$5M (~AU$6.7M) and up to US$30M (~AU$40.1M) in potential development milestones, as well as industry standard royalties.

The agreement has typical termination rights for breach and related corporate issues. Telix retains termination rights typical to licence agreements of this nature to enable the Company to exit the agreement based on a development or commercial basis.

Building on Telix’s track record in acquiring and commercialising assets
Telix Group CEO and Managing Director, Dr. Christian Behrenbruch said, "This in-licence transaction with Lilly is a valuable – and rare – opportunity to acquire an asset which has demonstrated clinical safety. In our pre-transaction diligence and research, we have identified that a radiolabelled version of olaratumab could be efficacious in patients with STS, particularly as it is a highly radiation-sensitive cancer. The safety data generated by Lilly in relation to the original development program significantly de-risks the program for Telix. We anticipate that early clinical translation with a radiolabeled olaratumab as an imaging agent may also provide valuable clinical information as to whether this asset has potential therapeutic efficacy, demonstrating the advantage of Telix’s "theranostic" approach.

"This acquisition mirrors the approach that Telix has taken in building its existing pipeline by in-licencing or acquiring assets that have already been proven to be safe for use in humans that can be harnessed as novel radiolabelled targeting agents. This partnership also demonstrates the value that Telix can bring as a capable partner with the expertise in radiopharmaceutical development and manufacturing, to help repurpose or expand the use of promising candidates to better target, find and treat cancer."

About Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS)
Soft tissue sarcoma is a complex disease that encompasses a diverse group of relatively rare cancers, with more than 50 histological subtypes. In the United States, it is estimated that 13,040 new cases and 5,150 deaths were caused by STS in 2019, representing 0.75% of overall cancer incidence and 0.84% of overall cancer mortality.1 In Europe, nearly 23,600 new STS cases rose annually, and the crude incidence rate was 4.7 per 100,000.2 Approximately 39,900 new STS cases occurred nationwide in China in 2019, accounting for 1.05% of overall cancer incidence.3 The crude incidence rate was 2.91/100,000 and generally increased with age. Standard treatment for soft tissue sarcoma includes surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. For patients with advanced, unresectable, or metastatic disease, treatment typically involves chemotherapy with single agents (e.g., doxorubicin) or anthracycline-based combination regimens. However, the prognosis for these patients remains poor, with treated patients with metastatic disease having a median overall survival of around 12–18 months.

About olaratumab
Olaratumab (previously sold under the brand name, Lartruvo) was originally developed as a monoclonal antibody targeting PDGFRα. Olaratumab was granted "Accelerated Approval" in the US and "Conditional Approval" in the EU based on Phase 2 trial data which showed a 1-year survival benefit in patients with STS, when given in combination with standard chemotherapy. Olaratumab was voluntarily withdrawn from the market by Lilly following the failure of the Phase 3 ANNOUNCE clinical trial, in which olaratumab did not improve survival for patients.