On March 7, 2025 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), a leading clinical-stage company specializing in immunotherapy for oncology, reported on highlights and financial results for Q4 and year-end 2024 (Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, MAR 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234651015]). With its lead candidate, pelareorep, demonstrating strong efficacy signals in breast, pancreatic, and anal cancer, the company is strategically advancing toward registrational studies that could redefine treatment landscapes in multiple high-need indications. All dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian currency unless otherwise noted.

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"With multiple clinical trials surpassing expectations in 2024, 2025 is shaping up to be a defining year for Oncolytics. Our top priority is HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, in which two randomized trials involving over 100 patients have shown substantial clinical benefit for patients receiving pelareorep and paclitaxel compared to paclitaxel monotherapy," said Wayne Pisano, Chair of Oncolytics’ Board of Directors and Interim CEO. "We believe that if we can approximate the benefit we saw in BRACELET-1 in our planned registrational study, the progression-free survival benefit alone would support an accelerated approval submission. When adding pancreatic and anal carcinoma to the list of addressable indications where we have generated compelling efficacy signals, pelareorep could have a meaningful impact for a multitude of patients and generate value for our shareholders."

Fourth Quarter and Subsequent Highlights

GOBLET gastrointestinal cancer data continue to demonstrate pelareorep’s potential across multiple indications. Oncolytics presented two posters at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco in January (link to the PR).
•Promising Data in Anal Cancer with 33% Response Rate, Including a Durable 15+ Month Complete Response: In the ongoing GOBLET study, Oncolytics’ pelareorep combination therapy achieved a 33% objective response rate (ORR), including a complete response lasting over 15 months, in twelve evaluable patients with second-line or later unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal treated with pelareorep and atezolizumab (link to the poster). This encouraging signal in a very tough-to-treat disease further supports pelareorep’s potential in solid tumors. The success criteria in Stage 1 of this Simon two-stage design were previously met; enrollment into Stage 2 of this cohort has begun and will add 18 additional evaluable patients. Data from Stage 2 is expected to determine if there is an efficacy signal sufficient to proceed to a registration-enabling study.
•Encouraging Progress in Pancreatic Cancer Cohort with Safety Milestone Cleared: GOBLET Cohort 5, with funding from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), is treating newly diagnosed metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients with pelareorep + modified FOLFIRINOX with and without atezolizumab. The protocol-specified safety run-in phase has been completed, and the results were presented at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI meeting in January of this year (link to the poster). Following a review of the safety run-in data, an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board recommended that the study continue, and the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), Germany’s medical regulatory body, approved this recommendation. Accordingly, enrollment into Stage 1 of this Simon two-stage study, consisting of 30 evaluable patients, has resumed and is ongoing.

Ongoing plans to initiate a registration-enabling study in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Oncolytics continues to engage with regulators, key opinion leaders, and other relevant stakeholders to finalize the clinical plan for and initiate a large phase 2 study that has the potential to be registration-enabling. We expect a progression-free survival (PFS) readout approximately two years after enrollment begins. The final BRACELET-1 data showed robust improvements for patients receiving pelareorep and paclitaxel compared to paclitaxel monotherapy in terms of PFS, overall survival (OS), 24-month OS rate, and confirmed objective response rate (link to the PR). These data substantiate the results from IND-213, in which median overall survival was nearly doubled in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer patients who received pelareorep combined with paclitaxel compared to paclitaxel alone. If a PFS benefit comparable to the results seen in BRACELET-1 is observed in the registration-enabling study, the company expects to file for accelerated approval with the FDA.

Financial Highlights

•As of December 31, 2024, the Company reported $15.9 million in cash and cash equivalents. The Company has a projected cash runway through key milestones and into the third quarter of 2025.

•The net loss for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $8.0 million, compared to a net loss of $3.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The basic and diluted loss per share was $0.10 in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to a basic and diluted loss per share of $0.05 in the fourth quarter of 2023.

•Research and development expenses for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $4.6 million, compared to $4.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower personnel-related expenses related to lower cash annual short-term incentive awards. This decrease was partially offset by increased expenditures related to our clinical trials and share-based compensation expense.

•General and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $3.9 million, compared with $4.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower personnel-related expenses and lower cash annual short-term incentive awards. The decrease was partly offset by higher share-based compensation expense.

•Net cash used in operating activities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, was $27.0 million, compared to $28.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. The decrease reflected non-cash working capital changes, partly offset by higher net operating activities in 2024.

Anticipated Milestones

•H1 2025: Finalize protocol for the adaptive registration-enabling trial for pelareorep, gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, and atezolizumab in first-line pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR) and submit it to the FDA
•H2 2025: First patient enrolled in registration-enabling study evaluating pelareorep and paclitaxel in advanced or metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer
•H2 2025: Initial efficacy results from Cohort 5 of the GOBLET study investigating pelareorep combined with modified FOLFIRINOX with or without atezolizumab in newly diagnosed metastatic pancreatic cancer

Webcast and Conference Call

Management will host a conference call for analysts and investors at 8:30 a.m. ET today, March 7, 2025. To access the call, please dial (888) 510-2154 (North America) or (437) 900-0527 (International), and if needed, provide Conference ID: 48422. To join the conference call without operator assistance, please click here. A live webcast of the call will also be available by clicking here or on the Investor Relations page of Oncolytics’ website, available by clicking here, and will be archived for three months. A dial-in replay will be available for one week and can be accessed by dialing (888) 660-6345 (North America) or (289) 819-1450 (International) and using replay code: 48422#.

On March 7, 2025 PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB) ("PDS Biotech" or the "Company"), a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers, reported the initiation of the VERSATILE-003 Phase 3 clinical trial. The trial is now open to patient enrollment (Press release, PDS Biotechnology, MAR 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234651016]).

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"We are thrilled to share that the first trial site has been initiated and activation of additional clinical sites continues," said Frank Bedu-Addo, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of PDS Biotech. "Considering the strength and durability of the clinical responses in our VERSATILE-002 study, we are pleased to get this registrational trial underway. We are confident in the potential of our innovative combination therapy to improve patient outcomes and enhance the standard of care."

VERSATILE-003 is a global, multi-center, randomized, controlled and open-label Phase 3 pivotal trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Versamune HPV in combination with pembrolizumab as a first-line treatment for recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma ("HNSCC"). The trial is designed to enroll approximately 350 patients into either the investigational arm or into a control arm receiving pembrolizumab alone at a 2:1 ratio. The primary endpoint is overall survival, and secondary endpoints include objective response rate, progression free survival, disease control rate and duration of response.
Katharine Price, M.D., Associate Professor of Oncology, Head and Neck Disease Group, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center will serve as the trial’s Principal Investigator.

"Advancing into Phase 3 is a significant milestone in our mission to improve treatment options for patients with HPV16-positive recurrent/metastatic HNSCC," noted Kirk Shepard, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotech. "We are optimistic about the potential of Versamune HPV in combination with pembrolizumab to enhance immune response and deliver meaningful clinical benefits."

Versamune HPV is an HPV-specific T cell stimulating immunotherapy delivered subcutaneously that has shown the potential to stimulate high levels of HPV16-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells within patients by activating multiple immune pathways. Based on data from the VERSATILE-002 Phase 2, open-label, multicenter trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Versamune HPV Fast Track designation, making it eligible for Priority Review at the time of Biologics License Application (BLA) submission. For more information on VERSATILE-003, visit ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT06790966).

On March 7, 2025 RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RAPT), a clinical-stage, immunology-based biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapies for patients living with inflammatory and immunological diseases, reported that members of the RAPT management team will participate in the following investor conferences in March (Press release, RAPT Therapeutics, MAR 7, 2025, https://investors.rapt.com/news-releases/news-release-details/rapt-therapeutics-participate-upcoming-investor-conferences-0 [SID1234651017]):

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Leerink Global Healthcare Conference – Fireside chat on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 3:40 p.m. ET
Barclays 27th Annual Global Healthcare Conference – Fireside chat on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. ET

To access the live webcasts or subsequent archived recordings of the discussions, please visit the RAPT Therapeutics website at https://investors.rapt.com/events-and-presentations.

On March 7, 2025 UroGen Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: URGN), a biotech company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative solutions that treat urothelial and specialty cancers, reported the grants of inducement restricted stock units ("RSUs") to 7 new employees in connection with their employment with UroGen (Press release, UroGen Pharma, MAR 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234651018]). These new team members will support the ongoing commercialization of Jelmyto (mitomycin) for pyelocalyceal solution, UroGen’s first approved product, and the continued development of the Company’s pipeline.

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Up to 18,500 ordinary shares of UroGen are issuable upon the vesting and settlement of the RSUs. The RSUs will vest equally over three years, with one-third of the underlying shares vesting each year on the anniversary of the vesting date, subject in each case to the employee’s continued service relationship with UroGen.

The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions of UroGen’s 2019 Inducement Plan and RSU grant notice and agreement thereunder. The RSUs were granted as an inducement material to each employee entering into employment with UroGen in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

On March 7, 2025 Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) ("Akeso" or the "Company") reported that the groundbreaking results of the Phase III clinical study (HARMONi-2/AK112-303) of its first-in-class PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, ivonescimab, as a monotherapy compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy in the first-line treatment of PD-L1 positive (PD-L1 TPS ≥1%) locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been published in The Lancet (Press release, Akeso Biopharma, MAR 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234651020]).

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The Lancet is a prestigious international medical journal, and the publication of the HARMONi-2 study results in The Lancet is a strong recognition by the academic community to the breakthrough clinical potential of ivonescimab. Previously, clinical research on using ivonescimab for the treatment of various malignant tumors has been published in renowned international medical journals such as JAMA, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, eClinical Medicine (a sub-journal of The Lancet), and Drugs.

At the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), the results of the HARMONi-2 study were presented as an oral report by the principal investigator of the study, Professor Zhou Caicun, a renowned oncology expert who is the President-Elect of IASLC, and the director of the Department of Oncology at the Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University.

The HARMONi-2 study demonstrated that in the intent-to-treat population, ivonescimab monotherapy significantly extended progression-free survival (PFS) compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy, reducing the risk of disease progression by 49% (PFS HR 0.51, P<0.0001). Subgroup analyses revealed that regardless of patients’ age, gender, ECOG performance status, PD-L1 expression, histological type, or the presence of liver or brain metastases, the ivonescimab group showed significant improvement in efficacy compared to the pembrolizumab group. The ivonescimab HARMONi-2 study is the world’s first randomized, double-blind, controlled Phase III clinical trial to achieve significantly positive results compared to pembrolizumab.

Based on these promising results, the sNDA for ivonescimab monotherapy as a first-line treatment for PD-L1 positive NSCLC is under review with priority status in China. Ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy for EGFR-TKI-resistant non-squamous NSCLC, has already been approved and included in the 2024 China National Reimbursement Drug List. The growing body of clinical evidence from multiple Phase II and Phase III studies continues to validate ivonescimab’s efficacy benefit and safety profile. These results are often published in major international conferences and in top-tier journals, providing oncologists strong scientific basis for treatment decisions.

Akeso has strategically positioned ivonescimab within a comprehensive development plan, aiming to reshape the landscape of cancer immunotherapy and establish a new global standard of care. Ivonescimab, in combination with chemotherapy, has been approved in China for the treatment of EGFR-TKI-resistant, non-squamous NSCLC. The New Drug Application (sNDA) for ivonescimab monotherapy as a first-line treatment for PD-L1-positive NSCLC (in comparison to pembrolizumab) is currently under review and has been granted priority status in China.

Three international multicenter Phase III clinical trials, led by our partner Summit Therapeutics, are progressing efficiently or are being initiated:

The HARMONi study, an international multicenter Phase III clinical trial evaluating ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy for non-squamous NSCLC with progression after third-generation EGFR-TKI treatment, has had patient enrollment completed and has received Fast Track Designation (FTD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
The HARMONi-3 study, an international multicenter Phase III clinical trial comparing ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for both squamous and non-squamous NSCLC (versus pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy),
The HARMONi-7 study, an international multicenter Phase III clinical trial evaluating ivonescimab monotherapy as first-line treatment for PD-L1 high-expressing NSCLC (versus pembrolizumab).
Several Phase III clinical trials are progressing efficiently or are being initiated in China, including:

Ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for squamous NSCLC (vs. tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy, HARMONi-6/AK112-306),
Ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for biliary tract cancer (vs. durvalumab combined with chemotherapy, HARMONi-GI1/AK112-309),
Ivonescimab combined with AK117 (CD47) as first-line treatment for PD-L1 positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (vs. pembrolizumab, SOLO-10/AK117-302),
First-line treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (HARMONi-BC1/AK112-308).