CStone receives approval in China to initiate ivosidenib Phase I bridging registrational study for the treatment of IDH1 mutant relapsed or refractory AML

On July 22, 2019 CStone Pharmaceuticals ("CStone"; HKEX: 2616) reported that it has received approval from China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to initiate a Phase I bridging registrational study of ivosidenib (TIBSOVO) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) with an IDH1 mutation (Press release, CStone Pharmaceauticals, JUL 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234537637]). This stand-alone trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of ivosidenib in Chinese patients with IDH1 mutant R/R AML.

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AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults and is characterized by rapid disease progression. There are approximately 20,000 new cases of AML in the U.S. each year, with a five-year survival rate of approximately 27%, as compared to 30,000 new cases in China annually and a five-year survival rate of below 20%. The majority of AML patients develop tolerance to treatments or eventually relapse, leading to R/R AML which has a poor prognosis. With an increasing life expectancy and aging population in China, the incidence of AML may rise significantly in the country. Interruption to the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells due to IDH1 mutation is associated with around 6%-10% of all AML cases. Among the currently approved treatments for AML in China, there is no effective therapy for this patient population.

Discovered and developed by CStone’s partner Agios Pharmaceuticals, ivosidenib was approved by the U.S. FDA in July 2018 for the treatment of adult R/R AML patients with an IDH1 mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test.

"Ivosidenib is the first and only approved precision therapy in the U.S. that targets IDH1 mutation in R/R AML and the only asset in CStone’s pipeline that has obtained a marketing authorization. This approval for the registrational study in China marks a big milestone for us," commented Dr. Frank Jiang, Chairman and CEO of CStone. "Through precision therapies, patients can potentially benefit from treatments targeting the specific genetic mutations that drive the cancer. CStone remains committed to advancing precision therapies and bringing more targeted treatment options to patients."

"Ivosidenib was first approved as a treatment for IDH1 mutant R/R AML. The U.S. FDA recently approved a supplemental NDA for ivosidenib to include newly diagnosed AML patients with an IDH1 mutation who are ≥ 75 years old or have comorbidities that preclude the use of intensive induction chemotherapy. In March 2019, the U.S. FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for ivosidenib in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of the same newly diagnosed AML patients. These milestones demonstrate ivosidenib’s promising clinical utility. We are poised to rapidly roll out this trial for ivosidenib as a monotherapy for R/R AML in China. We hope the study will generate favorable clinical data, paving the way for the drug to quickly enter the China market," noted Dr. Jason Yang, CStone’s Chief Medical Officer.

About TIBSOVO (ivosidenib)

In the United States, TIBSOVO is indicated for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test in:

Adult patients with newly-diagnosed AML who are ≥75 years old or who have comorbidities that preclude use of intensive induction chemotherapy.
Adult patients with relapsed or refractory AML.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: DIFFERENTIATION SYNDROME

Patients treated with TIBSOVO have experienced symptoms of differentiation syndrome, which can be fatal if not treated. Symptoms may include fever, dyspnea, hypoxia, pulmonary infiltrates, pleural or pericardial effusions, rapid weight gain or peripheral edema, hypotension, and hepatic, renal, or multi-organ dysfunction. If differentiation syndrome is suspected, initiate corticosteroid therapy and hemodynamic monitoring until symptom resolution.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Differentiation Syndrome: See Boxed WARNING. In the clinical trial, 25% (7/28) of patients with newly diagnosed AML and 19% (34/179) of patients with relapsed or refractory AML treated with TIBSOVO experienced differentiation syndrome. Differentiation syndrome is associated with rapid proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells and may be life-threatening or fatal if not treated. Symptoms of differentiation syndrome in patients treated with TIBSOVO included noninfectious leukocytosis, peripheral edema, pyrexia, dyspnea, pleural effusion, hypotension, hypoxia, pulmonary edema, pneumonitis, pericardial effusion, rash, fluid overload, tumor lysis syndrome, and creatinine increased. Of the 7 patients with newly diagnosed AML who experienced differentiation syndrome, 6 (86%) patients recovered. Of the 34 patients with relapsed or refractory AML who experienced differentiation syndrome, 27 (79%) patients recovered after treatment or after dose interruption of TIBSOVO. Differentiation syndrome occurred as early as 1 day and up to 3 months after TIBSOVO initiation and has been observed with or without concomitant leukocytosis.

If differentiation syndrome is suspected, initiate dexamethasone 10 mg IV every 12 hours (or an equivalent dose of an alternative oral or IV corticosteroid) and hemodynamic monitoring until improvement. If concomitant noninfectious leukocytosis is observed, initiate treatment with hydroxyurea or leukapheresis, as clinically indicated. Taper corticosteroids and hydroxyurea after resolution of symptoms and administer corticosteroids for a minimum of 3 days. Symptoms of differentiation syndrome may recur with premature discontinuation of corticosteroid and/or hydroxyurea treatment. If severe signs and/or symptoms persist for more than 48 hours after initiation of corticosteroids, interrupt TIBSOVO until signs and symptoms are no longer severe.

QTc Interval Prolongation: Patients treated with TIBSOVO can develop QT (QTc) prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias. One patient developed ventricular fibrillation attributed to TIBSOVO. Concomitant use of TIBSOVO with drugs known to prolong the QTc interval (e.g., anti-arrhythmic medicines, fluoroquinolones, triazole anti-fungals, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists) and CYP3A4 inhibitors may increase the risk of QTc interval prolongation. Conduct monitoring of electrocardiograms (ECGs) and electrolytes. In patients with congenital long QTc syndrome, congestive heart failure, or electrolyte abnormalities, or in those who are taking medications known to prolong the QTc interval, more frequent monitoring may be necessary.

Interrupt TIBSOVO if QTc increases to greater than 480 msec and less than 500 msec. Interrupt and reduce TIBSOVO if QTc increases to greater than 500 msec. Permanently discontinue TIBSOVO in patients who develop QTc interval prolongation with signs or symptoms of life-threatening arrhythmia.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Guillain-Barré syndrome occurred in <1% (2/258) of patients treated with TIBSOVO in the clinical study. Monitor patients taking TIBSOVO for onset of new signs or symptoms of motor and/or sensory neuropathy such as unilateral or bilateral weakness, sensory alterations, paresthesias, or difficulty breathing. Permanently discontinue TIBSOVO in patients who are diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions including laboratory abnormalities (≥20%) were hemoglobin decreased (60%), fatigue (43%), arthralgia (39%), calcium decreased (39%), sodium decreased (39%), leukocytosis (38%), diarrhea (37%), magnesium decreased (36%), edema (34%), nausea (33%), dyspnea (32%), uric acid increased (32%), potassium decreased (32%), alkaline phosphatase increased (30%), mucositis (28%), aspartate aminotransferase increased (27%), phosphatase decreased (25%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (24%), rash (24%), creatinine increased (24%), cough (23%), decreased appetite (22%), myalgia (21%), constipation (20%), and pyrexia (20%).
In patients with newly diagnosed AML, the most frequently reported Grade ≥3 adverse reactions (≥5%) were fatigue (14%), differentiation syndrome (11%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (11%), diarrhea (7%), nausea (7%), and leukocytosis (7%). Serious adverse reactions (≥5%) were differentiation syndrome (18%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (7%), and fatigue (7%). There was one case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES).
In patients with relapsed or refractory AML, the most frequently reported Grade ≥3 adverse reactions (≥5%) were differentiation syndrome (13%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (10%), dyspnea (9%), leukocytosis (8%), and tumor lysis syndrome (6%). Serious adverse reactions (≥5%) were differentiation syndrome (10%), leukocytosis (10%), and electrocardiogram QT prolonged (7%). There was one case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
DRUG INTERACTIONS

Strong or Moderate CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Reduce TIBSOVO dose with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Monitor patients for increased risk of QTc interval prolongation.

Strong CYP3A4 Inducers: Avoid concomitant use with TIBSOVO.

Sensitive CYP3A4 Substrates: Avoid concomitant use with TIBSOVO.

QTc Prolonging Drugs: Avoid concomitant use with TIBSOVO. If co-administration is unavoidable, monitor patients for increased risk of QTc interval prolongation.

LACTATION

Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for adverse reactions in breastfed children, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with TIBSOVO and for at least 1 month after the last dose.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals to Announce Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results on July 31, 2019

On July 22, 2019 Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Vanda) (Nasdaq: VNDA) reported it will release results for the second quarter 2019 on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, after the market closes (Press release, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, JUL 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234537654]).

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Vanda will host a conference call at 4:30 PM ET on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, during which management will discuss the second quarter 2019 financial results and other corporate activities. To participate in the conference call, please dial 1-866-688-9426 (domestic) or 1-409-216-0816 (international) and use passcode 2589983.

The conference call will be broadcast simultaneously and archived on Vanda’s website, www.vandapharma.com. Investors should go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download, and install any necessary audio software.

A replay of the call will be available on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, beginning at 7:30 PM ET and will be accessible until Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at 7:30 PM ET. The replay call-in number is 1-855-859-2056 for domestic callers and 1-404-537-3406 for international callers. The passcode number is 2589983.

Kazia to test GDC-0084 with Radiotherapy in Phase I Clinical Trial at Leading US Cancer Center

On July 22, 2019 Kazia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: KZA;NASDAQ: KZIA), an Australian oncology-focused biotechnology company, is reported that Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York, NY will investigate the potential use of Kazia’s investigational new drug, GDC-0084, in combination with radiotherapy in a phase I clinical trial for cancer that has spread to the brain (brain metastases and leptomeningeal metastases) (Press release, Kazia Therapeutics, JUL 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234537655]). This research will explore a new use of GDC-0084 and will run concurrently with other ongoing studies in different forms of brain cancer.

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Dr James Garner, Chief Executive Officer of Kazia Therapeutics commented, "MSK is one of the world’s leading cancer treatment centers, and we are privileged to be supporting them in this state-of-the-art project. Many cancers have the potential to spread to the brain, and they become very difficult to treat when they do. The work being done at MSK will investigate whether GDC-0084 has the potential to enhance the effects of radiotherapy, which remains the current standard of care in most cases."

Key Points

MSK will initiate a phase I clinical trial of GDC-0084 in combination with radiotherapy for patients with solid tumor brain metastases (cancer that has spread to the brain) and leptomeningeal metastases that harbors a genetic alteration in the PI3K pathway.
The trial is expected to recruit 18-30 patients and will take about two years to complete.
The trial will be led by MSK, with Kazia providing support including study drug and a financial grant.
Initiation of this study brings to five the total number of ongoing clinical trials with GDC-0084, each in different forms of brain cancer.
Up to 30% of patients with metastatic cancer will develop secondary tumors (metastases) in the brain. Radiotherapy remains the standard of care, but 30-50% of patients will progress within one year, despite best available treatment. In animal models of certain cancers, activation of the PI3K pathway has been shown to contribute to radiotherapy resistance. GDC-0084 is a PI3K inhibitor that can cross the blood-brain barrier, and as such it may be able to reduce the problem of resistance to radiotherapy. This clinical trial has been developed to test that hypothesis.

The trial is expected to recruit 18-30 patients, all of whom will have cancer that has spread to the brain. Patients will be genetically tested for a specific alteration in the PI3K pathway, and only those with a relevant mutation will be enrolled. This is an example of an approach to clinical research that is sometimes referred to as ‘precision medicine’ or ‘personalized medicine’, in which treatments are carefully targeted to those patients most likely to benefit. It is expected that the trial will begin recruitment in the second half of calendar 2019.

The study in two parts. The first part will aim to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of GDC-0084 when given together with radiotherapy. Once that dose has been determined, the second part of the study will enroll an additional twelve patients at that dose to explore preliminary signals of efficacy.

The Principal Investigator for the study is Dr T Jonathan Yang, Director of Metastatic Disease Program in MSK’s Department of Radiation Oncology. Dr Yang is a graduate of Yale University School of Medicine and a Board-certified radiation oncologist, with a specialist interest in treating tumors of the central nervous system. He is an extensively-published clinical researcher who has participated in a substantial number of clinical trials in brain cancer.

The initiation of the study brings to five the number of ongoing clinical trials with GDC-0084:

Sponsor

Phase

Indication

Registration

Kazia Therapeutics

II

Glioblastoma

NCT03522298

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

II

Brain metastases

NCT03994796

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

II

Breast cancer brain metastases

(with Herceptin)

NCT03765983

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

I

DIPG (childhood brain cancer)

NCT03696355

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

I

Brain metastases

(with radiotherapy)

(TBA)

It is expected that the study will take approximately two years to complete. Kazia will provide support, including a financial grant for a portion of the costs. The study will be conducted under an ‘investigator IND’ with the US FDA, in which the primary regulatory responsibilities for the study will be assumed by MSK. Implementation of the study is conditional upon approval from the Institutional Review Board at MSK, and this approval has yet to be obtained.

Salarius Pharmaceuticals Announces Closing of Strategic Merger with Flex Pharma

On July 22, 2019 Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLRX), a clinical-stage oncology company targeting the epigenetic causes of cancers, reported that Salarius Pharmaceuticals, LLC, has closed its merger with Flex Pharma, Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiary on July 19, 2019 (Press release, Flex Pharma, JUL 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234537640]). Flex Pharma, Inc. has been renamed and will operate as Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The newly combined company will focus on the continued development of Salarius’ clinical pipeline, which targets rare, orphan cancers for which no approved targeted treatments are currently available and cancers with a high unmet need. The company will be led by Salarius’ current management team under the leadership of President and CEO, David Arthur. Former Flex Pharma President and CEO, William McVicar, Ph.D., will join Salarius’ Board of Directors. The company’s common stock will trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the new ticker symbol "SLRX" beginning on July 22, 2019 and will reflect the previously announced 25:1 reverse stock split that occurred effective as of the close of business on July 19, 2019.

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David Arthur, President and CEO of Salarius Pharmaceuticals, stated, "We believe this strategic merger and Nasdaq listing establishes a foundation for future growth. The enhanced visibility and exposure to institutional investors will allow Salarius to showcase the potential of our lead asset, Seclidemstat, and showcase our clinical pipeline. We look forward to sharing important updates with our investors as we advance our clinical programs."

Salarius’ lead compound, Seclidemstat, targets the epigenetic dysregulation underlying Ewing sarcoma, a devastating pediatric, adolescent, and young adult bone and soft-tissue cancer for which no approved targeted therapies are currently available. Seclidemstat is a differentiated, reversible inhibitor of lysine-specific demethylase 1, or LSD1, which is a widely studied epigenetic enzyme and a validated drug target for clinical development. Salarius is currently enrolling refractory and relapsed Ewing sarcoma patients in an open-label Phase 1 dose escalation/dose expansion study, with potential early cohort data readouts in 2020. Salarius is also conducting a Phase 1 clinical study of Seclidemstat in patients with advanced solid tumors including, but not limited to, prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers.

Healthios Capital Markets served as financial advisor in the transaction to Salarius Pharmaceuticals and Flex Pharma’s strategic advisor was Wedbush PacGrow. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is serving as legal counsel to Salarius Pharmaceuticals and Dentons is serving as legal counsel to Flex Pharma.

HAMLET Pharma Announces Results of First Major Clinical Trial for a New Cancer Killing Molecule

On July 22, 2019 HAMLET Pharma is reported the successful outcome of the Phase I/II trial, aimed at studying the safety and efficacy of Alpha1H in patients with bladder cancer (Press release, HAMLET Pharma, JUL 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234537656]). The first data analysis has revealed highly significant differences between the Alpha1H treated patients and the placebo group, for several crucial efficacy variables. Treatment was also shown to be safe, as no drug-related side effects were observed.

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Alpha1H triggered significant shedding of cells in all tumor patients, who received the treatment (p< 0.0001).In addition, Alpha1H triggered the excretion of whole tumor fragments into the urine (p<0.0001), illustrating the potent effect compared to the placebo group.

"This is a bench-to-bedside moment and we are grateful to all, who have made this possible. The results inspire us to continue the efforts making Alpha1H available to cancer patients," says Catharina Svanborg, founder, CMO and chairman of the board of Hamlet Pharma Ltd.

"This is a very important milestone for the company. We need more evidence but hopefully this could be the gentle chemotherapy of the future," says Mats Persson, CEO of Hamlet Pharma Ltd.

Alpha1H triggered cell death in the tumor, as shown by cytolysis and apoptosis, a beneficial form of cell death. These findings support the key mechanisms of action of Alpha1H discovered in the laboratory and the successful translation from the laboratory to the clinic.

Carefully selected safety variables were recorded according to safety guidelines. The effects of Alpha1H occurred without drug-related side effects in the patients, consistent with the lack of toxicity observed in animal models of bladder cancer.

The clinical trial of 40 patients (20 placebo and 20 with treatment who received 6 infusions over 22 days) has been a technical success, due to the competence and commitment of the different study teams involved. A team of experts at the Motol University Hospital in Prague handled patient enrolment, clinical care, pathology assessments and treatment. The study was monitored by a highly renowned, clinical trial CRO in Prague. Scientific coordination was from Lund University, where research sample analysis was handled and molecular information obtained. Additional study variables will be communicated as soon as data is available.

Notes to Editors

HAMLET Pharma plans to conduct further studies in bladder cancer and several other cancer indications, such as colon cancer and brain tumors; all hard to cure with current therapies. HAMLET Pharma has 35 patents for the manufacturing and use of HAMLET as well as the second-generation Alpha1H derivative of the HAMLET molecule. HAMLET has been found to kill more than forty types of cancer cells to date in laboratories. The work has been published in leading international journals like The New England Journal of Medicine, GUT commented in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA).