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.

On June 13, 2018 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel), followed by Avastin as a single agent, for the treatment of women with advanced (stage III or IV) ovarian cancer following initial surgical resection (Press release, Genentech, JUN 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234527302]).

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"Today’s approval is an important advance for women newly diagnosed with this type of ovarian cancer," said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "We’re committed to advancing medicines in areas of unmet need and this FDA approval of Avastin plus chemotherapy gives women with advanced ovarian cancer a new treatment option that has been shown to significantly delay disease progression or death."

"This approval represents an important milestone as the first medicine, other than chemotherapy, for women with advanced ovarian cancer after their initial surgery," said Melissa Aucoin, chief executive officer, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC). "Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the United States, and this approval underscores Genentech’s dedication to bringing new treatment options to women with gynecological cancers."

The approval for Avastin, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by Avastin as a single agent, for the treatment of women with stage III or stage IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer following initial surgical resection, is based on data from the pivotal Phase III GOG-0218 trial. Women who received Avastin in combination with chemotherapy, and continued use of Avastin alone, had a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 18.2 months compared to 12.0 months in women who received chemotherapy alone (HR=0.62; 95% CI 0.52 – 0.75, p<0.0001). This PFS benefit was achieved with a fixed-duration treatment (up to 22 cycles of Avastin total). Avastin has boxed warnings for GI perforation, surgery and wound healing complications and hemorrhage.

Avastin is now approved for ten distinct uses across six different types of cancer in the United States. This indication represents Avastin’s fourth gynecologic oncology indication in four years, including advanced cervical cancer and two different forms of ovarian cancer that recurred after platinum-based chemotherapy.

About the GOG-0218 Study

GOG-0218 (NCT00262847) is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III study in 1,873 women with previously untreated stage III or IV epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube carcinoma who already had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Participants were randomized into one of three treatment arms: chemotherapy alone (carboplatin and paclitaxel), Avastin (15 mg/kg) plus chemotherapy followed by placebo alone, or Avastin plus chemotherapy followed by Avastin alone for a total of up to 22 cycles. The primary endpoint of the study was investigator-assessed PFS and secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS). The study was conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and initial results were previously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Grade 3-4 adverse events occurring more often (≥2%) in the Avastin with chemotherapy followed by Avastin alone arm or the Avastin with chemotherapy arm versus the chemotherapy alone arm were fatigue (9%, 6%, 6%, respectively), high blood pressure (10%, 6%, 2%), decreased platelet count (21%, 20%, 15%) and decreased white blood cell count (51%, 53%, 50%).

1 Relative to the control arm; stratified hazard ratio

2 Two-sided p-value based on re-randomization test

3 Final overall survival analysis

About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer causes more deaths among women than any other gynecologic cancer in the United States. In 2018, more than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. and about 14,000 will die from the disease. About 80% of ovarian cancer cases are found at an advanced stage, when the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries. Early ovarian cancer often does not have any symptoms and when symptoms, such as abdominal swelling, bloating, abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and/or frequent urination, are present, they can be associated with other less serious conditions. Five-year survival rates worsen dramatically based on stage of diagnosis.