Foundation Medicine Acquires Lexent Bio, Inc., to Accelerate Liquid Biopsy Research and Development, and Advance Cancer Care

On June 12, 2020 Foundation Medicine, Inc., reported that it has completed the acquisition of Lexent Bio, Inc., a precision oncology company located in California, developing novel multiomics liquid biopsy platforms to advance cancer care (Press release, Foundation Medicine, JUN 12, 2020, View Source [SID1234561067]). This acquisition will accelerate Foundation Medicine’s research and development strategy and expand its existing liquid biopsy platforms to advance cancer care for patients. The technology developed by Lexent Bio complements Foundation Medicine’s existing efforts and partnerships aimed at developing advanced diagnostics for physicians, as well as genomically evaluating disease progression and informing treatment decisions at earlier stages of disease.

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"Lexent Bio’s platforms align well with our liquid biopsy research and development strategy, which ultimately aims to bring the latest research innovations into routine clinical use in metastatic disease and at potentially earlier stages of patient care," said Cindy Perettie, chief executive officer at Foundation Medicine. "They bring with them an accomplished group of clinicians, scientists and engineers who share our patient-centric, science-first mission to transform cancer care. We’re thrilled to welcome them to our team and look forward to their contributions to our research and development efforts to deliver new breakthroughs that advance precision medicine and patient care."

Lexent Bio’s novel monitoring platform is currently in development and is based on low-pass whole genome sequencing (WGS) and DNA methylation analysis. Foundation Medicine plans to further incorporate WGS and methylation into new assay platforms to support treatment decision-making across all stages of disease. Methylation analysis has been shown to reveal important aspects of underlying cancer biology and allows oncologists to identify patients at high risk of disease progression, potentially intervene sooner and improve patient outcomes in earlier stages of disease.1,2 These collective capabilities will enable the expansion of Foundation Medicine’s current tumor-informed personalized cancer monitoring initiatives into universal tumor-agnostic approaches in the future.

This technology adds to Foundation Medicine’s portfolio of tissue and liquid biopsy platforms and will aim to support new approaches for developing targeted therapies, from discovery research through clinical development. With this acquisition and the integration of Lexent Bio’s monitoring platform, Foundation Medicine will expand its capabilities to support adaptive clinical trial designs and accelerate therapeutic development in both early and late stage disease, ultimately bringing new options to oncologists and patients.

"Our team is passionate about changing the way we understand and treat cancer. We’ve spent years building a platform that, once developed and available, will help guide oncologists to identify patients at higher risk for disease progression, and to make better treatment decisions earlier in patient care," said Ken Nesmith, co-founder of and chief executive officer at Lexent Bio. "The team is pleased to join Foundation Medicine and work collaboratively to bring these capabilities to physicians and their patients."

Geron Reports Four Imetelstat Data Presentations at Virtual Edition of the European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Congress

On June 12, 2020 Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company, reported that an oral presentation and three poster presentations of new clinical data and analyses related to imetelstat, the Company’s first-in-class telomerase inhibitor, are now available on Geron’s website as well as to participants of the Virtual Edition of the 25th Annual EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) Annual Congress (Press release, Geron, JUN 12, 2020, View Source [SID1234561082]).

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Updated Efficacy and Safety Data from IMerge Phase 2 Clinical Trial in Lower Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

"The EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) presentation reports encouraging continued durability data from the IMerge Phase 2 clinical trial, including a median duration of 8-week transfusion independence of 20 months, which is the longest duration we have reported to date in this trial, and that 29% of patients were transfusion free for more than one year," said Aleksandra Rizo, M.D., Ph.D., Geron’s Chief Medical Officer. "We expect these data to drive further interest of investigators, which will promote enrollment for the ongoing IMerge Phase 3 clinical trial in lower risk MDS."

Title: Treatment with Imetelstat Provides Durable Transfusion Independence (TI) in Heavily Transfused Non-del(5q) Lower Risk MDS (LR-MDS) Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) to Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs) (Abstract #S183)

The oral presentation reports long-term efficacy and safety data from 38 patients in the IMerge Phase 2 clinical trial, based on a February 4, 2020 cut-off date and a median follow-up of 24 months. IMerge is a two-part Phase 2/3 clinical trial evaluating imetelstat in transfusion dependent patients with Low or Intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndromes (lower risk MDS), who are relapsed after or refractory to prior treatment with ESAs. The first part of IMerge was designed as a Phase 2, open label, single arm study to assess the efficacy and safety of imetelstat. The primary efficacy endpoint is 8-week TI rate, which is defined as the proportion of patients achieving red blood cell transfusion independence during any consecutive eight weeks since entry into the trial. Secondary endpoints include rate of hematologic improvement-erythroid (HI-E) and duration of TI. Several patients remain on treatment in the IMerge Phase 2 clinical trial.

The conclusions of the oral presentation are as follows:

Meaningful and durable transfusion independence (TI):
° High rates of TI and HI-E: 42% 8-week TI rate and 68% HI-E rate
° Durable TI and HI-E: Median duration of TI is 20 months and median duration of HI-E is 21 months
° TI across multiple patient subtypes: ringed sideroblast positive (RS+) and RS-, high and very high transfusion burden

Potential disease-modifying activity:
° 29% of patients transfusion free for more than 1 year
° 75% of 8-week TI responders had a hemoglobin rise of > 3g/dL from pretreatment level
° Reduction in variant allele frequency (VAF) of SF3B1 mutation correlated with shorter time to TI and duration of TI

No new safety signal identified:
° Reversible cytopenias, without significant clinical consequences were most frequent adverse events
The slide presentation is available on Geron’s website at www.geron.com/r-d/publications.

Ongoing IMerge Phase 3 Clinical Trial

The IMerge Phase 3 clinical trial is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with registration intent. The trial is designed to enroll approximately 170 patients with lower risk transfusion dependent MDS who are relapsed or refractory to an ESA, have not received prior treatment with either a hypomethylating agent (HMA) or lenalidomide and who are non-del(5q). The trial was opened for screening and enrollment in August 2019. As of the end of April 2020, approximately 68% of planned clinical sites for the IMerge Phase 3 trial were open for enrollment. Geron expects to complete patient enrollment by the end of the first quarter of 2021. Under current assumptions, the Company expects top-line results to be available in the second half of 2022.

New Analyses of Data from IMbark Phase 2 Clinical Trial in Intermediate-2 or High-risk Myelofibrosis

"Taken together, we believe the three EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) poster presentations reporting new analyses of IMbark Phase 2 data substantiate the OS outcome observed in IMbark and indicate potential disease-modifying activity of imetelstat in yet another hematologic indication," said Aleksandra Rizo, M.D., Ph.D., Geron’s Chief Medical Officer. "These analyses also provide further support for our planned Phase 3 clinical trial in refractory MF, which is expected to open for enrollment in the first quarter of 2021."

IMbark was designed as a Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate two dosing regimens of imetelstat (either 4.7 mg/kg or 9.4 mg/kg administered by intravenous infusion every three weeks) in patients with Intermediate-2 or High-risk myelofibrosis (MF) who have relapsed after or are refractory to prior treatment with a janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi). The co-primary efficacy endpoints for IMbark were spleen response rate, defined as the proportion of patients who achieve a reduction of at least 35% in spleen volume as assessed by imaging, and symptom response rate, defined as the proportion of patients who achieve a reduction of at least 50% in Total Symptom Score (TSS), at 24 weeks. Key secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and safety.

Title: Telomerase Activity, Telomere Length and hTERT Expression Correlate with Clinical Outcomes in Higher-Risk Myelofibrosis (MF) Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) to Janus Kinase Inhibitor Treated with Imetelstat (Abstract #EP1098)

The conclusions of the poster are as follows:

Imetelstat achieved dose- and exposure-dependent reduction of telomerase activity and human reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression level, demonstrating on-target mechanism of action.
Achieving optimal pharmacodynamic (PD) effect in patients treated with imetelstat is correlated with longer OS, as well spleen and symptom response.
Significant dose-dependent reduction in VAF of JAK2, CALR and MPL mutations were observed, indicating that imetelstat has disease-modifying activity by targeting the underlying MF malignant clones.
Treatment with 9.4mg/kg of imetelstat improved clinical outcomes in patients with short telomeres or high hTERT expression level at baseline. The results are consistent with telomere biology in cancer cells and provide evidence for on-target mechanism of action of imetelstat through telomerase inhibition.
This is the first clinical report to systematically evaluate the mechanism of action based PD effect of imetelstat, and its relationship to exposure and clinical benefits.
The poster presentation is available on Geron’s website at www.geron.com/r-d/publications.

Title: Imetelstat Treatment Results in Clinical Benefits, Including Improved Overall Survival, in Patients with Higher-Risk Triple Negative Myelofibrosis Relapsed/Refractory to Janus Kinase Inhibitors (JAKI) (Abstract #1101)

The overall conclusion of the poster is that triple negative (TN) patients who are relapsed/refractory to JAKi and treated with 9.4 mg/kg of imetelstat had better clinical outcomes and prolonged overall survival (OS) compared to non-TN patients, suggesting that imetelstat may improve the poor outcomes expected for TN patients. Additional highlights from the poster include:

With 9.4 mg/kg of imetelstat treatment, clinical response rates were higher in TN vs non-TN pts: spleen response rate was 18.8% in TN vs 7.3% in non-TN; and symptom response was 50.0% in TN vs 24.4% in non-TN patients.
Imetelstat treatment at 9.4 mg/kg resulted in significantly longer median OS of 35.9 months for TN patients compared to 24.6 months for non-TN patients.
A majority (94%) of the TN patients enrolled on the study had grade three fibrosis. Higher rate of bone marrow fibrosis improvement was noted in the TN (50%) vs non-TN (39.1%) patients.
TN patients enrolled on the study had short telomere length and high hTERT expression level at baseline, representing a suitable target population for imetelstat, a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor.
The poster presentation is available on Geron’s website at www.geron.com/r-d/publications.

Title: Favorable Overall Survival with Imetelstat Treatment Correlates with Other Clinical Benefits in Intermediate-2 or High-Risk Myelofibrosis Relapsed/Refractory to Janus Kinase Inhibitor (Abstract #1107)

The poster reports new analyses of data from all 107 patients in both arms (59 patients in the 9.4 mg/kg arm and 48 patients in the 4.7 mg/kg arm) of the IMbark Phase 2 clinical trial with a data cut-off date of February 19, 2020 and a median follow-up of 41.7 months. As of the data cut-off date, median OS was 28.1 months in the 9.4 mg/kg arm and 19.9 months in the 4.7 mg/kg arm.

The overall conclusion of the poster was that imetelstat showed dose-related improvement in OS in patients who are R/R to JAKi. The survival benefit observed with imetelstat was supported by the trend of correlation with other clinical benefits. Additional highlights from the poster include:

Among 57 patients across both treatment arms that had matching bone marrow samples, 20 patients (35%) had ≥1 degree of bone marrow fibrosis improvement while on study and had a significantly longer OS than those who had worsening bone marrow fibrosis. A similar trend was seen in 29 patients (51%) with stable vs. worsening fibrosis.
Patients who achieved symptom and spleen response at week 24 showed a trend of longer OS compared to patients who did not achieve response.
Transfusion dependency, response to last JAKi, higher baseline neutrophils, lower baseline hemoglobin and platelet values correlated with increased risk of death.
The poster presentation is available on Geron’s website at www.geron.com/r-d/publications.

Planned Phase 3 Clinical Trial in Refractory MF

The planned Phase 3 clinical trial in refractory MF is designed to be an open label 2:1 randomized, controlled trial with registration intent to evaluate imetelstat (9.4 mg/kg administered by intravenous infusion every three weeks) in approximately 320 patients with Intermediate-2 or High-risk MF. Patients eligible for the trial will be required to be refractory to a JAK inhibitor, an inclusion criterion that is planned to be defined as having an inadequate spleen response or symptom response after treatment with a JAK inhibitor for at least six months, including an optimal dose of a JAK inhibitor for at least two months. The control arm is planned to be best available therapy (BAT), excluding JAK inhibitors. The primary efficacy endpoint for the trial is planned to be overall survival (OS). Planned key secondary endpoints include symptom response, spleen response, progression free survival, complete response, partial response, clinical improvement, duration of response, safety, pharmacokinetics, and patient reported outcomes. Under current assumptions, the Company expects to complete patient enrollment in the second half of 2022, to conduct an interim analysis in the first half of 2023 and to conduct a final analysis in the first half of 2024. The final analysis for OS is planned to be conducted after more than 50% of the patients planned to be enrolled in the trial have died. An interim analysis of OS is planned to be conducted after approximately 70% of the total projected number of events for the final analysis have occurred. Both the planned interim and final analyses are event driven and could occur on different timelines than currently expected.

Event with Key Opinion Leaders to Discuss EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) Presentations

On June 17, 2020, Geron will be hosting a webcasted event with authors from each respective data presentation from the EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) Annual Congress who will reprise the presentations from EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper). A live, listen-only webcast will be available on the Company’s website at www.geron.com/investors/events. If you are unable to listen to the live call, an archived webcast will be available on the Company’s website for 30 days.

Participants may access the conference call live via telephone by dialing domestically +1 (833) 513-0551 or internationally +1 (647) 689-4209. The conference ID is 1988213.

About Imetelstat

Imetelstat is a novel, first-in-class telomerase inhibitor exclusively owned by Geron and being developed in hematologic myeloid malignancies. Early clinical data suggest imetelstat may have disease-modifying activity through the apoptosis of malignant stem and progenitor cells, which allows potential recovery of normal hematopoiesis. Geron’s imetelstat development program includes two ongoing or planned registration-enabling studies, IMerge, an ongoing Phase 2/3 clinical trial in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and a planned Phase 3 clinical trial in refractory myelofibrosis (MF) expected to be open for patient screening and enrollment in the first quarter of 2021. Imetelstat has been granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for both the treatment of patients with non-del(5q) lower risk MDS who are refractory or resistant to an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent and for patients with Intermediate-2 or High-risk MF whose disease has relapsed after or is refractory to janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor treatment.

Karyopharm Presents XPOVIO® (selinexor) and Eltanexor Data at the European Hematology Association 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting

On June 12, 2020 Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:KPTI), an innovation-driven pharmaceutical company, reported that eight posters relating to XPOVIO (selinexor), the Company’s first-in-class, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compound, and eltanexor, its next generation SINE compound, will be presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting taking place June 11-21, 2020 (Press release, Karyopharm, JUN 12, 2020, View Source [SID1234561033]).

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The six selinexor abstracts include: (i) overall survival data from the Phase 2b SADAL study evaluating selinexor in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) demonstrating a 9-month median overall survival in a patient population in which survival is expected to be <6 months based on several historical controls, with the median overall survival not yet reached in the 29% of patients who had partial or complete responses on single agent selinexor; (ii) a post-hoc analysis from the SADAL study demonstrating clinically meaningful response rates in the subgroup of patients with primary refractory DLBCL and treated with at least two prior regimens; (iii) a post-hoc analysis from the SADAL study demonstrating durable response rates regardless of the number of prior lines of therapy or prior treatment with high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant; (iv) an assessment of molecular markers that may predict response to selinexor in patients with DLBCL; (v) data demonstrating the anti-myeloma effects of selinexor in combination with eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E); and (vi) data demonstrating selinexor’s potential to treat patients with acute myeloid leukemia harboring IDH2 pR172K mutations.

The two eltanexor abstracts include: (i) data demonstrating the efficacy of eltanexor in preclinical models of NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia; and (ii) an assessment of molecular markers that may predict a response to eltanexor in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

"The Phase 2b SADAL study in patients with heavily pretreated DLBCL continues to generate encouraging efficacy and safety data from multiple datasets and post-hoc analyses, including a superior survival benefit over what has historically been observed with other therapies," said Sharon Shacham, PhD, MBA, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Karyopharm. "As we await the decision from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on our supplemental new drug application expected later this month, our sales force is actively preparing for the potential launch of XPOVIO in the additional indication of relapsed or refractory DLBCL. The SADAL data presented at EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) this year will be an important component of our physician education effort surrounding XPOVIO to treat patients with DLBCL, if approved."

Details for the EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) 2020 virtual poster presentations are as follows:

Selinexor

Title: Survival Among Patients with Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) Treated with Single Agent Selinexor in the SADAL Study
Lead author: Marie Maerevoet, Institut Jules Bordet
Abstract #: EP1260
Session: 19. Aggressive Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma – Clinical

Title: Efficacy and Safety of Single Agent Oral Selinexor in Patients with Primary Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): A Post-Hoc Analysis of the SADAL Study
Lead author: Josee Zijlstra, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, Vrije Universiteit, Cancer Center
Abstract #: EP1226
Session: 19. Aggressive Non-Hodgkin lymphoma – Clinical

Title: Effect of Prior Therapy on the Efficacy and Safety Of Oral Selinexor in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): A Post-hoc Analysis of the SADAL Study
Lead author: George Follows, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Abstract #: EP1244
Session: 19. Aggressive Non-Hodgkin lymphoma – Clinical

Title: Combined Inhibition of XPO1 and eIF4E Prevents Protein Translation resulting in Synergistic Anti-Myeloma Effects
Lead author: Shirong Li, Columbia University
Abstract #: EP1910
Session: 13. Myeloma and other monoclonal gammopathies – Biology & Translational Research

Title: IDH2 p.R172K Mutations in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) May Be Associated with Favorable Response to Selinexor Treatment
Lead author: Christopher Walker, Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.
Abstract #: EP484
Session: 03. Acute myeloid leukemia – Biology & Translational Research

Title: Comprehensive Assessment of Molecular Markers of Selinexor Response in Patients with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
Lead author: Christopher Walker, Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.
Abstract #: EP1328
Session: 20. Lymphoma Biology & Translational Research

Eltanexor

Title: Continuous XPO1 Inhibition with Eltanexor is Highly Effective in NPM1-mutated AML In Vivo
Lead author: Giulia Pianigiani, University of Perugia
Abstract #: EP441
Session: 03. Acute myeloid leukemia – Biology & Translational Research

Title: RNA and DNA Sequencing Reveal Markers of Response to the XPO1 Inhibitor Eltanexor in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM)
Lead author: Christopher Walker, Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.
Abstract #: EP890
Session: 13. Myeloma and other monoclonal gammopathies – Biology & Translational Research

About XPOVIO (selinexor)

XPOVIO is a first-in-class, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compound. XPOVIO functions by selectively binding to and inhibiting the nuclear export protein exportin 1 (XPO1, also called CRM1). XPOVIO blocks the nuclear export of tumor suppressor, growth regulatory and anti-inflammatory proteins, leading to accumulation of these proteins in the nucleus and enhancing their anti-cancer activity in the cell. The forced nuclear retention of these proteins can counteract a multitude of the oncogenic pathways that, unchecked, allow cancer cells with severe DNA damage to continue to grow and divide in an unrestrained fashion. Karyopharm received accelerated U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of XPOVIO in July 2019 in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least two proteasome inhibitors, at least two immunomodulatory agents, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Karyopharm has also submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) with a request for conditional approval of selinexor. A supplemental New Drug Application was accepted by the FDA seeking accelerated approval for selinexor as a new treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and selinexor has received Fast Track and Orphan designation and Priority Review from the FDA with a scheduled PDUFA date of June 23, 2020 for this patient population. Selinexor is also being evaluated in several other mid-and later-phase clinical trials across multiple cancer indications, including in multiple myeloma in a pivotal, randomized Phase 3 study in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) and low-dose dexamethasone (BOSTON), for which Karyopharm announced positive top-line results in March 2020. In May 2020, Karyopharm submitted a supplemental New Drug Application based on data from the Phase 3 BOSTON study. Additional, ongoing trials for selinexor include as a potential backbone therapy in combination with approved myeloma therapies (STOMP), in liposarcoma (SEAL) and in endometrial cancer (SIENDO), among others. Additional Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies are ongoing or currently planned, including multiple studies in combination with approved therapies in a variety of tumor types to further inform Karyopharm’s clinical development priorities for selinexor. Additional clinical trial information for selinexor is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

For more information about Karyopharm’s products or clinical trials, please contact the Medical Information department at:

Tel: +1 (888) 209-9326
Email: [email protected]

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Thrombocytopenia

XPOVIO can cause thrombocytopenia, leading to potentially fatal hemorrhage. Thrombocytopenia was reported as an adverse reaction in 74% of patients, and severe (Grade 3-4) thrombocytopenia occurred in 61% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of the first event was 22 days. Bleeding occurred in 23% of patients with thrombocytopenia, clinically significant bleeding occurred in 5% of patients with thrombocytopenia and fatal hemorrhage occurred in <1% of patients.

Monitor platelet counts at baseline, during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Monitor more frequently during the first two months of treatment. Institute platelet transfusion and/or other treatments as clinically indicated. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of bleeding and evaluate promptly. Interrupt and/or reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

Neutropenia

XPOVIO can cause neutropenia, potentially increasing the risk of infection. Neutropenia was reported as an adverse reaction in 34% of patients, and severe (Grade 3-4) neutropenia occurred in 21% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of the first event was 25 days. Febrile neutropenia was reported in 3% of patients.

Obtain neutrophil counts at baseline, during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Monitor more frequently during the first two months of treatment. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of concomitant infection and evaluate promptly. Consider supportive measures including antimicrobials for signs of infection and use of growth factors (e.g., G-CSF). Interrupt and/or reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

Gastrointestinal Toxicity

Gastrointestinal toxicities occurred in patients treated with XPOVIO.

Nausea/Vomiting

Nausea was reported as an adverse reaction in 72% of patients, and Grade 3 nausea occurred in 9% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of the first nausea event was 3 days.

Vomiting was reported in 41% of patients, and Grade 3 vomiting occurred in 4% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of the first vomiting event was 5 days.

Provide prophylactic 5-HT3 antagonists and/or other anti-nausea agents, prior to and during treatment with XPOVIO. Manage nausea/vomiting by dose interruption, reduction, and/or discontinuation. Administer intravenous fluids and replace electrolytes to prevent dehydration in patients at risk. Use additional anti-nausea medications as clinically indicated.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea was reported as an adverse reaction in 44% of patients, and Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in 6% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of diarrhea was 15 days.
Manage diarrhea by dose modifications and/or standard anti-diarrheal agents; administer intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration in patients at risk.

Anorexia/Weight Loss

Anorexia was reported as an adverse reaction in 53% of patients, and Grade 3 anorexia occurred in 5% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of anorexia was 8 days.

Weight loss was reported as an adverse reaction in 47% of patients, and Grade 3 weight loss occurred in 1% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of weight loss was 15 days.

Monitor patient weight at baseline, during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Monitor more frequently during the first two months of treatment. Manage anorexia and weight loss with dose modifications, appetite stimulants, and nutritional support.

Hyponatremia

XPOVIO can cause hyponatremia; 39% of patients treated with XPOVIO experienced hyponatremia, 22% of patients experienced Grade 3 or 4 hyponatremia. The median time to onset of the first event was 8 days.

Monitor sodium level at baseline, during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Monitor more frequently during the first two months of treatment. Correct sodium levels for concurrent hyperglycemia (serum glucose >150 mg/dL) and high serum paraprotein levels. Treat hyponatremia per clinical guidelines (intravenous saline and/or salt tablets), including dietary review. Interrupt and/or reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

Infections

In patients receiving XPOVIO, 52% of patients experienced any grade of infection. Upper respiratory tract infection of any grade occurred in 21%, pneumonia in 13%, and sepsis in 6% of patients. Grade ≥3 infections were reported in 25% of patients, and deaths resulting from an infection occurred in 4% of patients. The most commonly reported Grade ≥3 infections were pneumonia in 9% of patients, followed by sepsis in 6%. The median time to onset was 54 days for pneumonia and 42 days for sepsis. Most infections were not associated with neutropenia and were caused by non-opportunistic organisms.

Neurological Toxicity

Neurological toxicities occurred in patients treated with XPOVIO.

Neurological adverse reactions including dizziness, syncope, depressed level of consciousness, and mental status changes (including delirium and confusional state) occurred in 30% of patients, and severe events (Grade 3-4) occurred in 9% of patients treated with XPOVIO. Median time to the first event was 15 days.

Optimize hydration status, hemoglobin level, and concomitant medications to avoid exacerbating dizziness or mental status changes.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

Based on data from animal studies and its mechanism of action, XPOVIO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Selinexor administration to pregnant animals during organogenesis resulted in structural abnormalities and alterations to growth at exposures below those occurring clinically at the recommended dose.

Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential and males with a female partner of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with XPOVIO and for 1 week after the last dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) are thrombocytopenia, fatigue, nausea, anemia, decreased appetite, decreased weight, diarrhea, vomiting, hyponatremia, neutropenia, leukopenia, constipation, dyspnea, and upper respiratory tract infection.

The treatment discontinuation rate due to adverse reactions was 27%; 53% of patients had a reduction in the XPOVIO dose, and 65.3% had the dose of XPOVIO interrupted. The most frequent adverse reactions requiring permanent discontinuation in 4% or greater of patients who received XPOVIO included fatigue, nausea, and thrombocytopenia. The rate of fatal adverse reactions was 8.9%.

Please see XPOVIO Full Prescribing Information available at www.XPOVIO.com.

About Eltanexor (KPT-8602)

Eltanexor (KPT-8602) is a second generation oral SINE compound, which is currently being investigated in clinical trials. Eltanexor functions by binding to and inhibiting the nuclear export protein XPO1 (also called CRM1), leading to the accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins in the cell nucleus. Eltanexor has demonstrated minimal brain penetration in animals, which has been associated with reduced toxicities in preclinical studies while maintaining potent anti-tumor effects.

AbbVie Recommends Shareholders Reject TRC Capital’s "Mini-Tender" Offer

On June 12, 2020 AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) reported that it has been notified that TRC Capital Investment Corporation (TRC Capital) has commenced an unsolicited "mini-tender" offer, dated June 1, 2020, to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of AbbVie common stock at $88.05 per share (Press release, AbbVie, JUN 12, 2020, View Source [SID1234561068]). The offer price is approximately 4.99 percent below the closing price of the AbbVie common stock on May 29, 2020 ($92.67), the last trading day before the date of the offer. AbbVie is not associated in any way with TRC Capital, its mini-tender offer, or the offer documentation.

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AbbVie does not endorse TRC Capital’s offer. This mini-tender offer is at a price below the closing price for AbbVie’s shares (as of the day prior to the offer) and is subject to numerous conditions. AbbVie recommends that shareholders obtain current quotes for the shares, review terms and conditions, and consult with their broker.

AbbVie shareholders who have already tendered may withdraw their shares by providing the written notice described in the TRC Capital offering documents prior to the expiration of the offer, which is currently scheduled at 12:01 a.m. New York City time on June 30, 2020.

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Aptose Presents Early Phase 1a/b CG-806 Clinical Findings at the 25th Congress of the European Hematology Association

On June 12, 2020 Aptose Biosciences Inc. ("Aptose" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: APTO, TSX: APS), a clinical-stage company developing highly differentiated therapeutics targeting the underlying mechanisms of cancer, reported that new clinical data on CG-806, its oral, first-in-class FLT3/BTK cluster selective kinase inhibitor, was presented in a poster presentation at the 25th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper), EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper)25 Virtual Congress (Press release, Aptose Biosciences, JUN 12, 2020, View Source [SID1234561034]).

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Early Clinical Findings from a Phase 1 a/b Dose Escalation Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of CG-806 in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory CLL/SLL or Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas (EHA2020 Abstract# EP711) reviewed CG-806 data for eight patients (as of the data cut-off date on May 5, 2020) with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) / small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the first in-human Phase 1 a/b, open-label, single arm, multicenter dose-escalation clinical study. The poster is available on the posters and presentations section of the Aptose website here. For more information on the ongoing study, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov here.

CG-806 was well-tolerated in patients treated at 150mg, 300mg and 450mg BID over multiple cycles, with no drug-related dose-limiting toxicities or serious adverse events. CG-806 treatment led to lymphocytosis in two CLL patients and delivered complete inhibition of phospho-BTK and multiple oncogenic survival pathways in all patients receiving ≥ 300mg BID. Plasma from CG-806 treated patients completely inhibited phospho-FLT3 in a plasma inhibitory activity (PIA) assay, and patients receiving ≥ 300mg BID achieved steady state PK levels known to be effective in murine tumor models.

"We are pleased by evidence of CG-806’s safety and tolerability, along with early indicators of pharmacologic activity," said William G. Rice, Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "These data continue to support further dose escalation of CG-806 and in fact, since the data cut-off date, we have progressed to the 600mg dosing cohort. The findings also suggest that dose levels evaluated in this study may be therapeutic in patients with AML."

Separately, Aptose announced it has submitted an IND for a parallel Phase 1 a/b clinical study of CG-806 in patients with relapsed or refractory FLT3-mutant or FLT3-wildtype acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

About CG-806

CG-806 is an oral, first-in-class FLT3/BTK cluster selective kinase inhibitor and is in Phase 1 clinical studies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. This small molecule demonstrates potent inhibition of wild type and all mutant forms of FLT3 (including internal tandem duplication, or ITD, and mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase domain and gatekeeper region), cures animals of AML in the absence of toxicity in murine xenograft models, and represents a potential best-in-class therapeutic for patients with AML and other myeloid malignancies. Likewise, CG-806 demonstrates potent, non-covalent inhibition of the wild type and Cys481Ser (C481S) mutant forms of the BTK enzyme, as well as other oncogenic kinase pathways operative in B cell malignancies, suggesting CG-806 may be developed for various B cell malignancy patients (including CLL/SLL, FL, MCL, DLBCL and others) that are resistant/refractory/intolerant to covalent or other non-covalent BTK inhibitors. Because CG-806 targets key kinases/pathways operative in malignancies derived from the bone marrow, it is in development for B-cell cancers and AML.