On June 4, 2020 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), reported a recap of a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) call sponsored by Canaccord Genuity and held on June 2, 2020 (Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, JUN 4, 2020, View Source [SID1234560835]). The call focused on recently announced clinical data from Oncolytics’ AWARE-1 study presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Breast Cancer Virtual Meeting 2020 and highlighted the ability of pelareorep to induce a pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironment across multiple breast cancer subtypes.

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Featured on the KOL call was Dr. Aleix Prat, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Medical Oncology at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Associate Professor of the University of Barcelona, Head of the Translational Genomics and Targeted Therapeutics in Solid Tumors Group at August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Chair of SOLTI and lead translational investigator of the AWARE-1 study.

"I am highly encouraged by the recently announced AWARE-1 data, which demonstrate the potential of pelareorep to address pressing unmet needs in multiple breast cancer subtypes and treatment settings," said Dr. Prat. "Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments are known to limit the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor therapies and highlight the need for synergistic co-therapies to promote tumor inflammation. The data presented at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) meeting show that pelareorep induces a rapid and persistent immune response and thus has the potential to address this critical need. Importantly, the data also validate T cell clonality as a biomarker of pelareorep response, which may ultimately accelerate pelareorep’s approval by facilitating the efficient design of pivotal studies."

The AWARE-1 study combines the appropriate intervention for each patient’s breast cancer sub-type, plus pelareorep, with or without atezolizumab (Tecentriq), followed by surgery in early-stage breast cancer patients. Patients are biopsied on day one (followed immediately by treatment), then again on day three, and for a final time three weeks post-treatment (just prior to mastectomy). Biomarker data from the paired patient biopsies are then collected and analyzed. At the time of data presentation at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Breast Cancer, 13 patients had been enrolled in AWARE-1, and biopsy data were available on 6 of these.

Clinical findings highlighted during Dr. Prat’s discussion included:
•Intravenous administration of pelareorep led to robust, tumor-specific pelareorep replication.
•Pelareorep systemic administration increased tumor PD-L1 expression, infiltration of tumor immune lymphocytes, and CelTIL (a measurement of tumor-associated cellularity and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes). These data demonstrate that pelareorep induces adaptive as well as innate immune responses and support the observed survival benefit in a previous randomized phase two study of pelareorep in metastatic breast cancer patients. Pelareorep-induced responses were both rapid (present three days after treatment) and persistent (remained through day twenty-one).

•Pelareorep-induced increase in tumor PD-L1 expression demonstrates the synergistic potential between pelareorep and checkpoint inhibitor therapies. Many patients are ineligible for (and fail to respond to) checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies due to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and low PD-L1 expression.
•AWARE-1 data further support T cell clonality as a biomarker of pelareorep response. Peripheral T cell clonality correlated with changes in the tumor microenvironment as well as CelTIL, which is associated with favorable clinical response. These data highlight T cell clonality’s potential as a biomarker of pelareorep response and are consistent with data from a prior clinical study of pelareorep in pancreatic cancer. Use of T cell clonality as a predictive biomarker may facilitate the design of registrational trials and improve chances of trial success across multiple indications.
•Data suggest that pelareorep treatment has multiple therapeutic mechanisms in cancer. These mechanisms include the induction of an adaptive immune response, direct tumor cell killing, and induction of a durable immune memory effect against cancer cells. The multiple mechanisms of pelareorep may expand its clinical opportunity across multiple breast cancer subtypes (e.g. triple negative and HR+/HER2- breast cancer) and treatment settings (e.g. as an anti-PD-L1 co-therapy or neoadjuvant treatment).

Oncolytics would like to thank Dr. Prat for his time and insightful commentary, as well as Canaccord Genuity for hosting the call. A replay of the call can be found on the company website at View Source

About Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with over two million new cases diagnosed in 2018, representing about 25 percent of all cancers in women. Incidence rates vary widely across the world, from 27 per 100,000 in Middle Africa and Eastern Asia to 85 per 100,000 in Northern America. It is the fifth most common cause of death from cancer in women globally, with an estimated 522,000 deaths.

Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. These cells usually form a tumor that can often be seen on an x-ray or felt as a lump. The malignant tumor (cancer) is getting worse when the cells grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body.

About AWARE-1
AWARE-1 is an open label window-of-opportunity study in early-stage breast cancer enrolling 38 patients into five cohorts:

•Cohort 1 (n=10), HR+ / HER2- (pelareorep + letrozole)
•Cohort 2 (n=10), HR+ / HER2- (pelareorep + letrozole + atezolizumab)
•Cohort 3 (n=6), TNBC (pelareorep + atezolizumab)
•Cohort 4 (n=6), HR+ / HER2+ (pelareorep + trastuzumab + atezolizumab)
•Cohort 5 (n=6), HR- / HER2+ (pelareorep + trastuzumab + atezolizumab)

The study combines pelareorep with the standard of care according to breast cancer subtype and atezolizumab. Patients are biopsied on day one followed immediately by treatment, then again on day three, and a final biopsy after three weeks, on the day of their mastectomy. Data generated from this study is intended to confirm that the virus is acting as a novel immunotherapy and to provide comprehensive

biomarker data by breast cancer subtype. The primary endpoint of the study is overall CelTIL (a measurement of cellularity and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes). Secondary endpoints for the study include CelTIL by breast cancer subtype, safety and tumor, and blood-based biomarkers.

About Pelareorep
Pelareorep is a non-pathogenic, proprietary isolate of the unmodified reovirus: a first-in-class intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The compound induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers and has been demonstrated to be able to escape neutralizing antibodies found in patients.

On June 4, 2020 Alkermes plc (Nasdaq: ALKS) reported that management will participate in a fireside chat at the 41st Annual Goldman Sachs Global Healthcare Conference on Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 9:40 a.m. ET (2:40 p.m. BST) (Press release, Alkermes, JUN 4, 2020, View Source [SID1234560852]). The webcast may be accessed under the Investors tab on www.alkermes.com and will be archived for 14 days.

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On June 4, 2020 Servier, an independent international pharmaceutical company, reported that it has completed the acquisition of Symphogen A/S (Press release, Symphogen, JUN 4, 2020, View Source [SID1234560820]).

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Symphogen will now function as the antibody center of excellence of Servier in several different therapeutic areas including oncology. Symphogen, now a subsidiary of Servier, will keep its operational autonomy and continue to rely on its experienced employees while maintaining its headquarters in Ballerup, Denmark.

As part of the acquisition, Christophe Thurieau, Executive Director of Servier Research Institute, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Symphogen and Karin Garre, former Chief Operating Officer of Symphogen, has been appointed General Manager of Symphogen. Martin Olin, former
Chief Executive Officer of Symphogen, will act as an external consultant to support this transition.

Claude Bertrand, Executive Vice-President Research & Development at Servier, said: "The completion of this acquisition enables Servier to boost its antibody capabilities in oncology and in its other therapeutic areas. This efficient antibody discovery and research platform of Symphogen will strengthen our R&D capabilities and pipeline in line with our aim of making life-saving treatments available to a greater number of patients across the world."

Christophe Thurieau, Executive Director of Servier Research Institute and Chief Executive Officer of Symphogen, added: "In line with the values of Symphogen, we also strongly believe that innovation and collaboration are key to develop treatments for the benefit of patients. We are very pleased to welcome Symphogen as part of the Servier Group and look forward to further collaborating with the team on developing breakthrough antibody therapies for patients."

Karin Garre, General Manager of Symphogen, concluded: "The completion of this transaction marks a very exciting journey for Symphogen and Servier. Anchored in a pre-existing strategic collaboration, this acquisition supports the R&D strategy of Servier within antibodies thanks to the capabilities of Symphogen. As the two organizations share key values, I believe this unification is positioned for a great outcome going forward."

On June 4, 2020 TVAX Biomedical reported that receipt of Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of its vaccine-enhanced adoptive T cell therapy (VACT) for treatment of glioblastoma multiforme, a deadly form of brain cancer (Press release, TVAX Biomedical, JUN 4, 2020, View Source [SID1234560853]).

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"We are very pleased to receive Fast Track Designation by the FDA for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)," stated Dr. Wayne Carter, Chief Executive Officer. "Glioblastoma is a devastating disease for which there are limited treatment options."

FDA Fast Track Designation is designed to accelerate marketing approval of therapies aimed at treating serious and life-threatening diseases. The Designation creates an opportunity for close and regular communication between TVAX Biomedical and the FDA in order to improve the efficiency of product development. Additionally, it provides a pathway for accelerated approval and rolling review of completed Biological Licensing Application sections by the FDA.

TVAX Biomedical has completed Phase 1 and 2a studies in multiple cancers, including GBM. Significant benefit was demonstrated in GBM patients using TVAX’s patented VACT in those studies. TVAX’s currently planned studies will evaluate VACT in newly diagnosed GBM patients who have healthy immune systems and minimal disease at a time when VACT would be anticipated to generate maximal efficacy.

On June 4, 2020 Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) reported that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of DARZALEX (daratumumab), for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma in all currently approved daratumumab intravenous (IV) formulation indications in frontline and relapsed / refractory settings (Press release, Genmab, JUN 4, 2020, View Source [SID1234560821]). The approval follows a Positive Opinion by the CHMP of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in April 2020. The SC formulation is administered as a fixed-dose over approximately three to five minutes, significantly less time than IV daratumumab, which is given over several hours. Patients currently on daratumumab IV will have the choice to switch to the SC formulation. In August 2012, Genmab granted Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen) an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab.

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"We are extremely pleased that patients in Europe with multiple myeloma will now, like patients in the U.S., have the opportunity for treatment with the subcutaneous formulation of daratumumab. With consistent efficacy, and greater convenience for patients and health care providers with dosing time reduced from hours to just minutes and fewer infusion-related reactions, this formulation provides significant benefits for patients," said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab

The approval was based on data from two studies: the Phase III non-inferiority COLUMBA (MMY3012) study, which compared the SC formulation of daratumumab to the IV formulation in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, and data from the Phase II PLEIADES (MMY2040) study, which is evaluating SC daratumumab in combination with certain standard multiple myeloma regimens. The topline results from the COLUMBA study were announced in February 2019 and subsequently presented in oral sessions at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and the 24th European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Annual Congress. Updated data of the COLUMBA and the PLEIADES studies were presented during poster sessions at the 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2019.

About the COLUMBA (MMY3012) study
The Phase III trial (NCT03277105) is a randomized, open-label, parallel assignment study that included 522 adults diagnosed with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Patients were randomized to receive either: SC daratumumab, as 1800 mg daratumumab with rHuPH20 2000 U/mL once weekly in Cycle 1 and 2, every two weeks in Cycles 3 to 6, every 4 weeks in Cycle 7 and thereafter until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or the end of study; or 16 mg/kg IV daratumumab once weekly in Cycle 1 and 2, every two weeks in Cycles 3 to 6, every 4 weeks in Cycle 7 and thereafter until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or the end of study. The co-primary endpoints of the study are overall response rate and Maximum trough concentration of daratumumab (Ctrough; defined as the serum pre-dose concentration of daratumumab on Cycle 3 Day 1).

About the PLEIADES (MMY2040) study
The Phase II trial (NCT03412565) is a non-randomized, open-label, parallel assignment study that includes 265 adults either newly diagnosed or with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma are being treated with 1,800 mg SC daratumumab in combination with either bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-VRd) or bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone (D-VMP). Patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma are being treated with 1,800 mg SC daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-Rd). An additional cohort of patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma treated with daratumumab plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone (D-Kd) was subsequently added to the study. The primary endpoint for the D-VMP, D-Kd and D-Rd cohorts is overall response rate. The primary endpoint for the D-VRd cohort is very good partial response or better rate.

About DARZALEX(daratumumab)
DARZALEX (daratumumab) intravenous infusion is indicated for the treatment of adult patients in the United States: in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as treatment for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI); and as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent, or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.1 DARZALEX is the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) approval to treat multiple myeloma.

DARZALEX is indicated for the treatment of adult patients in Europe via intravenous infusion or subcutaneous administration: in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as treatment for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; for use in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; and as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, whose prior therapy included a PI and an immunomodulatory agent and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy2. Daratumumab is the first subcutaneous CD38-directed antibody approved in Europe for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The option to split the first infusion of DARZALEX over two consecutive days has been approved in both Europe and the U.S.

In Japan, DARZALEX intravenous infusion is approved for the treatment of adult patients: in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. DARZALEX is the first human CD38 monoclonal antibody to reach the market in the United States, Europe and Japan. For more information, visit www.DARZALEX.com.

DARZALEX FASPRO (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj), a subcutaneous formulation of daratumumab, is approved in the United States for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma: in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for ASCT; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for ASCT and in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior therapy; and as monotherapy, in patients who have received at least three prior lines of therapy including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.3 DARZALEX FASPRO is the first subcutaneous CD38-directed antibody approved in the U.S. for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Daratumumab is a human IgG1k monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds with high affinity to the CD38 molecule, which is highly expressed on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Daratumumab triggers a person’s own immune system to attack the cancer cells, resulting in rapid tumor cell death through multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action and through immunomodulatory effects, in addition to direct tumor cell death, via apoptosis (programmed cell death).1,4,5,6,7

Daratumumab is being developed by Janssen Biotech, Inc. under an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab from Genmab. A comprehensive clinical development program for daratumumab is ongoing, including multiple Phase III studies in smoldering, relapsed and refractory and frontline multiple myeloma settings. Additional studies are ongoing or planned to assess the potential of daratumumab in other malignant and pre-malignant diseases in which CD38 is expressed, such as amyloidosis and T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Daratumumab has received two Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the U.S. FDA for certain indications of multiple myeloma, including as a monotherapy for heavily pretreated multiple myeloma and in combination with certain other therapies for second-line treatment of multiple myeloma.