On June 13, 2018 Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review a new supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for GARDASIL9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant), the company’s 9-valent HPV vaccine (Press release, Merck & Co, JUN 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234527297]). The application is seeking approval for an expanded age indication for GARDASIL 9 for use in women and men ages 27 to 45 for the prevention of certain cancers and diseases caused by the nine human papillomavirus (HPV) types covered by the vaccine. The FDA has granted Priority Review to this sBLA and has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), or target action, date of Oct. 6, 2018.

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"Women and men ages 27 to 45 continue to be at risk for acquiring HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer and certain other HPV-related cancers and diseases," said Dr. Alain Luxembourg, director, clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories. "We look forward to working with the FDA on the review of this application for GARDASIL 9, which, if approved, would enable more people to have access to the vaccine."

GARDASIL 9 is a vaccine indicated in the U.S. in females 9 through 26 years of age for the prevention of cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers caused by HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58; pre-cancerous or dysplastic lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58; and genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11. GARDASIL 9 is also indicated in males 9 through 26 years of age for the prevention of anal cancer caused by HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58; precancerous or dysplastic lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58; and genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11.

GARDASIL 9 is contraindicated in individuals with hypersensitivity, including severe allergic reactions to yeast, or after a previous dose of GARDASIL 9 or GARDASIL [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant].

About GARDASIL9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant)

GARDASIL 9 includes the greatest number of HPV types in any available HPV vaccine. After HPV types 16 and 18, the five additional HPV types in GARDASIL 9 are the most common cervical cancer-causing types worldwide. Seven HPV types in GARDASIL 9 (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58) cause approximately 90 percent of cervical cancer cases and approximately 80 percent of high-grade cervical lesions (cervical precancers, defined as CIN 2, CIN 3 and AIS) worldwide. These seven HPV types also cause 90 percent of HPV-related vulvar cancers, 85 percent of HPV-related vaginal cancers, and 90 percent of HPV-related anal cancers. HPV types 6 and 11 cause approximately 90 percent of genital warts cases. In addition, approximately 50 percent of cases of low-grade cervical lesions (CIN 1) are caused by the nine HPV types included in the vaccine.

GARDASIL 9 is approved for use in more than 70 countries.

Important information about GARDASIL 9

GARDASIL 9 does not eliminate the necessity for women to continue to undergo recommended cervical cancer screening. Recipients of GARDASIL 9 should not discontinue anal cancer screening if it has been recommended by a health care professional.

GARDASIL 9 has not been demonstrated to provide protection against diseases from vaccine HPV types to which a person has previously been exposed through sexual activity.

GARDASIL 9 is not a treatment for external genital lesions; cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers; or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN), or anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN).

Not all vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers are caused by HPV, and GARDASIL 9 protects only against those vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers caused by HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.

Vaccination with GARDASIL 9 may not result in protection in all vaccine recipients.

Select Safety Information for GARDASIL 9

GARDASIL 9 is contraindicated in individuals with hypersensitivity, including severe allergic reactions to yeast, or after a previous dose of GARDASIL 9 or GARDASIL.

Because vaccinees may develop syncope, sometimes resulting in falling with injury, observation for 15 minutes after administration is recommended. Syncope, sometimes associated with tonic-clonic movements and other seizure-like activity, has been reported following HPV vaccination. When syncope is associated with tonic-clonic movements, the activity is usually transient and typically responds to restoring cerebral perfusion.

Safety and effectiveness of GARDASIL 9 have not been established in pregnant women.

The most common (≥10%) local and systemic adverse reactions in females were injection-site pain, swelling, erythema, and headache. The most common (≥10%) local and systemic reactions in males were injection-site pain, swelling, and erythema.

The duration of immunity of GARDASIL 9 has not been established.

Dosage and administration for GARDASIL 9

GARDASIL 9 should be administered intramuscularly in the deltoid region of the upper arm or in the higher anterolateral area of the thigh.

For individuals 9 through 14 years of age, GARDASIL 9 can be administered using a
2-dose or 3-dose schedule. For the 2-dose schedule, the second dose should be administered 6-12 months after the first dose. If the second dose is administered less than 5 months after the first dose, a third dose should be given at least 4 months after the second dose. For the 3-dose schedule, GARDASIL 9 should be administered at
0, 2 months, and 6 months.
For individuals 15 through 26 years of age, GARDASIL 9 is administered using a
3-dose schedule at 0, 2 months, and 6 months.
About HPV and HPV-related cancers and diseases

In the United States, human papillomavirus (HPV) will infect most sexually active males and females in their lifetime. According to the CDC, there are approximately 14 million new genital HPV infections in the United States each year, half of which occur in people 15 through 24 years of age. For most people, HPV clears on its own, but for others who don’t clear the virus it could lead to certain cancers and other diseases in males and females. There is no way to predict who will or won’t clear the virus.

HPV causes virtually all cervical cancer cases. Each day, about 36 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States — about 13,200 women per year. HPV also causes approximately 70-75 percent of vaginal cancer cases and approximately 30 percent of vulvar cancer cases in females, and approximately 85-90 percent of anal cancers and 90 percent of genital warts in both females and males.

Anal cancer and genital warts affect both men and women. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 2,960 men and 5,620 women in the United States will be diagnosed with anal cancer in 2018, and overall rates have been increasing. There is no routine screening recommended for the general population to reduce the risk of anal cancer. Approximately 355,000 cases of genital warts occur each year in the United States. Approximately 3 out of 4 people get them after having genital contact with someone who has genital warts.

On June 13, 2018 Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) reported dosing of the first patient in the phase 2 innovaTV 204 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of tisotumab vedotin as monotherapy for patients with recurrent and/or metastatic cervical cancer who have relapsed or progressed after standard of care treatment (Press release, Seattle Genetics, JUN 13, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2354368 [SID1234527298]). Tisotumab vedotin is being developed in collaboration with Genmab A/S. The innovaTV 204 trial is intended to support potential registration under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) accelerated approval regulations. Tisotumab vedotin is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) designed to target Tissue Factor antigen on cancer cell surfaces and deliver the cell-killing agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) directly inside cancer cells. The Tissue Factor antigen target is overexpressed in the vast majority of patients with cervical cancer and in many other solid tumors, including ovarian, lung, pancreatic, colorectal and head and neck.

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"While significant advances have been made in the treatment and prevention of cervical cancer, there remains a need for targeted agents that are effective for patients who progress or relapse after standard treatments," said Robert Coleman, M.D., FACOG, FACS, Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX and principal investigator of the innovaTV 204 trial. "In a prior study, tisotumab vedotin demonstrated encouraging results in previously treated recurrent and/or metastatic cervical cancer, an area of unmet need where there is no established standard of care and response rates are limited."

"With the initiation of this phase 2 study of tisotumab vedotin for women with previously treated recurrent and/or metastatic cervical cancer, we now have four late-stage development programs on registrational pathways to achieve our goal of becoming a global, multi-product oncology company," said Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Seattle Genetics. "In addition, we plan to evaluate tisotumab vedotin in collaboration with Genmab in other solid tumors where there remains an unmet medical need for new treatment options."

The phase 2 innovaTV 204 study (also known as GCT1015-04) is a global, multicenter, single arm trial that will enroll approximately 100 patients with recurrent and/or metastatic (2nd and 3rd line) cervical cancer who progressed on or relapsed after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy used alone or in combination with bevacizumab (Avastin). Patients will be treated with single-agent tisotumab vedotin every three weeks. The primary endpoint of the trial is objective response rate as assessed by independent review. Key secondary endpoints include duration of response, progression-free survival, overall survival, safety and tolerability.

The companies also plan to evaluate tisotumab vedotin in multiple solid tumors in a phase 2 trial this year.

For more information about the phase 2 innovaTV 204 clinical trial of tisotumab vedotin, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov, (Identifier: NCT03438396).

About Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer originates in the cells lining the cervix, which connects the uterus to the birth canal. About 13,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the US in 2018, with an estimated 4,000 deaths.1 Globally, cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer death in women globally, with over 260,000 women dying annually; the vast majority of these women being in the developing world.2 Routine medical examinations and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have lowered the incidence of cervical cancer in the developed world. Despite these advances, women are still diagnosed with cervical cancer, which can have a devastating impact, particularly in the recurrent and/or metastatic setting. Standard therapies for previously treated recurrent and/or metastatic cervical cancer generally result in response rates of less than 15 percent and a median overall survival of 6 to 8 months.3-10

About Tisotumab Vedotin

Tisotumab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of Genmab’s human antibody that binds to Tissue Factor and Seattle Genetics’ ADC technology that utilizes a cleavable linker and the cytotoxic drug monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). In cancer biology, Tissue Factor is a protein involved in tumor signaling and angiogenesis. Based on its high expression on many solid tumors and its rapid internalization, Tissue Factor was selected as a target for an ADC approach. In an earlier study, tisotumab vedotin demonstrated an encouraging response rate and manageable safety profile in patients with relapsed, recurrent and/or metastatic cervical cancer.

Tisotumab vedotin is being co-developed by Genmab A/S and Seattle Genetics, Inc.

On June 13, 2018 Sun BioPharma, Inc. (OTCQB:SNBP) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sun BioPharma Australia Pty Ltd, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing disruptive therapeutics for the treatment of patients with pancreatic diseases, reported that on June 4, 2018 the first patients were enrolled in a Phase 1a/1b study of SBP-101 in combination with gemcitabine and nabpaclitaxel for front-line treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) (Press release, Sun BioPharma, JUN 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234527299]). Sun BioPharma Australia Pty Ltd, is the sponsor of this study. The Phase 1a portion of this study will treat up to 18 PDA patients in three cohorts in order to determine a recommended dose of SBP-101 to be given in combination with standard treatment. The Phase 1b portion will be an expansion at the recommended dose of SBP-101, and will guide SBP-101’s subsequent development for patients with PDA. This multi-center, front-line study has 3 sites in Australia, The Austin Health Cancer Trials Centre in Melbourne, The Adelaide Cancer Centre in Adelaide, The Blacktown Cancer and Haematology Centre in Sydney and one site in the United States, The University of Florida Health Cancer Center in Gainesville, Florida. The first patients have been enrolled at the Adelaide Cancer Centre in Adelaide, Australia under the direction of Associate Professor Dusan Kotasek and at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center in Gainesville, Florida under the direction of Thomas J. George, MD, F.A.C.P.

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Dr. Kotasek received his medical degree at the University of Adelaide and specialty training in Haemotology and Oncology at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital followed by a Fellowship at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, MN, USA. A Co-Founder of the Adelaide Cancer Centre, Dr. Kotasek has published over 60 scientific papers in oncology, and he is one of Australia’s leading cancer clinical research experts. Dr. Kotasek, the Principal Investigator for this study at the Adelaide Cancer Centre commented, "Pancreatic cancer is a challenging disease with few significant options available with a meaningful impact on response rates and progression free survival. We are excited to participate in this clinical study, and to continue our evaluation of SBP-101 as front-line combination treatment for previously untreated patients with metastatic PDA."

Dr. George is a medical oncologist having graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Medicine. He is the Director of the GI Oncology Program at the University of Florida and Associate Director of Clincial Investigation at the UF Health Cancer Center. He is the Principal Investigator for this study at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center and he commented, "We are extremely honored to be participating in this important study that was born from the discoveries made by Dr. Raymond Bergeron here at the University of Florida. Pancreatic cancer
requires us to think outside the box which is exactly what this treatment has the potential to offer our patients with PDA."

"Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in both Australia and the United States, currently being the 3rd most common cause of cancer deaths in the US. It represents a significant unmet medical need, with most patients having a poor prognosis and limited life expectancy," said Suzanne Gagnon, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Sun BioPharma. "Our recently completed safety study in heavily pre-treated PDA patientssuggested SBP-101 could be a promising addition to current front-line treatment regimens. The Data Safety Monitoring Board, Principal
Investigators and our clinical team agreed to move directly to front-line for our second trial and we are excited to study SBP-101 in combination with standard of care chemotherapy for previously untreated metastatic PDA patients."

About SBP-101
SBP-101 is a first-in-class, proprietary, polyamine compound designed to exert therapeutic effects in a mechanism specific to the pancreas. Sun BioPharma originally licensed SBP-101 from the University of Florida Research Foundation in 2011. The molecule has been shown to be highly effective in preclinical studies of human pancreatic cancer models, demonstrating superior activity to existing FDA-approved chemotherapy agents. Combination therapy potential has also been shown for pancreatic cancer. SBP-101 is expected to differ from current pancreatic cancer
therapies in that it specifically targets the exocrine pancreas and has shown efficacy against primary and metastatic disease in animal models of human pancreatic cancer. Therefore management believes that SBP-101 may effectively treat both primary and metastatic pancreatic cancer, while leaving the insulin-producing islet cells and non-pancreatic tissue unharmed. The safety and metabolic profile demonstrated in our first-in-human safety study further supports
evaluation of the potential for additive or synergistic effects in combination with current standard pancreatic cancer treatment

On June 13, 2018 TRACON Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TCON), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel targeted therapeutics for cancer, wet age-related macular degeneration and fibrotic diseases, reported that positive preclinical data from TRC105, TRACON’s endoglin antibody, in combination with a PD-1 antibody, were discussed in an oral presentation at the 2018 International Cancer Microenvironment Society meeting (Press release, Tracon Pharmaceuticals, JUN 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234527300]).

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Dr. Mark Schoonderwoerd of Leiden University presented data from multiple murine models assessing the activity of TRC105 in combination with a PD-1 antibody. The individual antibodies as well as the combination were studied in two separate models. In the first, immunocompetent mice were implanted with a syngeneic colorectal cancer subcutaneously to mimic metastatic colorectal cancer. In the second, immunocompetent mice were implanted orthotopically to mimic advanced colorectal cancer.

In both models, treatment with either TRC105 or a PD-1 antibody alone decreased tumor volume compared to IgG control antibody to a similar degree. However, combined treatment with TRC105 and the PD-1 antibody significantly reduced tumor volume compared to treatment with TRC105 or PD-1 treatment alone.

Treatment with either TRC105 or a PD-1 antibody improved survival to a similar degree compared to control antibody. However, survival was significantly improved with combination treatment versus the individual therapies, with long-term survival demonstrated in 30% to 60% of animals. Combination treatment also increased tumor specific T cells, indicating stimulation of an immune response.

The activity of TRC105 given as a single agent or combined with a PD-1 antibody was diminished following CD8+ T cell depletion, indicating that TRC105 activity was mediated through an immunologic mechanism.
In a separately reported third preclinical study, an endoglin antibody specific for mouse endoglin that mimics TRC105 activity in mice, M1043, was studied in a chemically induced colorectal cancer model of early-stage colorectal cancer.

Combined treatment with M1043 and a PD-1 antibody significantly reduced tumor volume compared to treatment with M1043 or PD-1 treatment alone. Combination treatment also significantly reduced the number of tumors that formed in response to the chemically induced carcinogenesis.
TRC105 is currently being studied in the ongoing pivotal randomized Phase 3 TAPPAS trial in angiosarcoma (NCT02979899), the randomized Phase 2 TRAXAR trial in renal cell carcinoma (NCT01806064), a Phase 1/2 trial in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (NCT02560779), and a Phase 1 trial studying the combination of TRC105 and nivolumab (Opdivo) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NCT03181308).

On June 13, 2018 Quanterix Corporation (NASDAQ:QTRX), a company digitizing biomarker analysis with the goal of advancing the science of precision health, reported that Kevin Hrusovsky, President, Chairman and CEO of Quanterix, and Founder of Powering Precision Health (PPH), has been named by EY as a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award in the New England program (Press release, Quanterix, JUN 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234527301]). The recognition acknowledges Hrusovsky’s achievements in healthcare technology innovation, Quanterix’ outstanding financial performance, and his personal commitment to improving precision medicine and human health.

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"We are honored to be recognized by EY for this award," said Hrusovsky. "For me, this recognition represents the many people and institutions that we’ve been working with who are driving a precision health vision to eradicate and prevent some of today’s most lethal diseases, namely cancer, Alzheimer’s and infectious disease forward. It’s a privilege for us to be recognized alongside other entrepreneurs and business leaders who are all pioneers in their respective fields."

Hrusovsky has a more than 25 year-long track record commercializing disruptive technologies in the life science industry. His impressive career has been propelled by a unique leadership style marked by transparency, passion, and purpose. Since joining Quanterix less than four years ago, Hrusovsky has transformed the company from one that lacked mission and direction into a successful public entity with industry-leading technology that has the power to transform the way we diagnose and treat disease. The key is his focus on putting science first. With Hrusovsky at the helm, Quanterix now has over 200 peer-reviewed publications backing the abilities of its Simoa technology, a significant industry accomplishment. He’s also expanded the applications for Simoa in the drug development industry, with 18 out of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies having used the technology to date in over 700 clinical trials.

Two years ago, Hrusovsky realized that more needed to be done to drive a true transformation in our healthcare system. As such, he launched PPH as a forum where all key stakeholders, from the world’s leading medical professionals and innovators to patients and patient advocates, could come together to share their latest research and truly revolutionize medicine. Now in its third year, PPH has sparked a true movement, one that puts science before profits and closely examines how we can prevent diseases, not just treat them. Today PPH has more than doubled in size and is considered the leading industry conference focused on advancing precision health.

Hrusovsky also serves on the Board of Directors of several companies shaping the future of precision health, including Quanterix, BioreclamationIVT, Cell Signaling Technology, 908 Devices, SynapDx and Solect Energy. He also serves on the Educational Board of the Massachusetts Biotech Council, the Advisory Committee for the Center for Biomedical Engineering at Brown University, the Association for Laboratory Automation, the JALA Editorial Board, and the Strategy Committee of Children’s Hospital Boston.

Hrusovsky was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 28, 2018 at the Westin Boston Waterfront. Now in its 32nd year, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries throughout the world.

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 10, 2018. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the US by SAP America, the Kauffman Foundation and Merrill Corporation.

In the New England region, gold sponsors also include Boston Private Bank, fama PR, the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Nixon Peabody, True Search, and Woodruff Sawyer. New England silver sponsors include Chatham Financial, Empire Valuation Consultants, Morgan Lewis, Sullivan & Worcester, and T3 Advisors.