DCprime Initiates Research Collaboration with the University Medical Center of Groningen on Relapse Vaccine Approach for Ovarian Cancer

On September 10, 2019 DCprime, the front-runner in the field of relapse vaccines, reported the initiation of a research collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Medical Center of Groningen (UMCG) lead by Professor Hans Nijman MD PhD (Press release, DCPrime, SEP 10, 2019, View Source [SID1234539427]). The purpose of the collaboration is to design a novel relapse vaccine approach for ovarian cancer and to prepare for a clinical trial in ovarian cancer patients.

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"We see significant therapeutic promise of our relapse vaccine in ovarian cancer and the researchers at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at UMCG are recognized experts in this field. We are extremely fortunate to have their expertise and guidance as we tackle this new indication and begin evaluating our relapse vaccine approach in solid tumors," commented Jeroen Rovers MD PhD, CMO of DCprime.

"Ovarian cancer affects 1 in 80 women, with an average 70% chance of tumor recurrence following initial treatment. We look forward to collaborate with DCprime to improve outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer," commented Professor Nijman.
DCprime’s lead product DCP-001 is a relapse vaccine currently studied in an international Phase II trial in AML patients who are ineligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantations. Next to broadening its pipeline in blood cancers, DCprime is now including ovarian cancer as the first potential solid tumor relapse vaccine indication. Together with the experts in ovarian cancer at UMCG, DCprime will define an optimal vaccination strategy and determine the overall clinical trial design

Vertex to Present at the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference on September 11

On September 10, 2019 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) reported that management will present at the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 12:15 p.m. ET (Press release, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, SEP 10, 2019, View Source [SID1234539411]).

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The audio portion of management’s remarks can be accessed live through Vertex’s website, www.vrtx.com, in the "Investors" section under the "News and Events" page. A replay of the conference webcast will be archived on the company’s website.

Ultragenyx and Kyowa Kirin Announce Intent to Submit Supplemental Biologics License Application to U.S. FDA for Crysvita® (burosumab) in Tumor-Induced Osteomalacia (TIO)

On September 10, 2019 Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel products for rare and ultra-rare diseases, and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., (Kyowa Kirin, TYO: 4151) reported plans to submit a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Crysvita (burosumab) for the treatment of FGF23-related hypophosphatemia associated with phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors (tumor-induced osteomalacia; TIO) that cannot be curatively resected or localized (Press release, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, SEP 10, 2019, View Source [SID1234539404]). The decision to submit follows the completion of a pre-sBLA meeting with the FDA and agreement on the filing package. The submission of the Crysvita sBLA is planned for the first half of 2020 and will be based on the current clinical data package.

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"Based on productive discussions with the FDA, we will be moving forward expeditiously with an sBLA filing for Crysvita in tumor-induced osteomalacia," said Camille L. Bedrosian, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Ultragenyx. "We look forward to working with the agency during the review process, and we are committed to getting this therapy to patients with this serious disease with significant unmet medical need."

The BLA package will include data from two single-arm Phase 2 studies, a 144-week Phase 2 study in 14 adult patients conducted by Ultragenyx in the U.S. and an 88-week Phase 2 study in 13 adult patients conducted by Kyowa Kirin in Japan and South Korea. In both studies, Crysvita was associated with increases in serum phosphorus and serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels. Increased phosphate levels led to improvements in osteomalacia, mobility, and vitality. Bone scans also demonstrated an increase in healed fractures and decrease in new fractures during Crysvita treatment. Adverse events generally reflected the patients’ underlying disease, and there were no serious treatment-related adverse events during the studies.

Crysvita is approved by the U.S. FDA, Health Canada, and Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) for the treatment of X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) in adult and pediatric patients one year of age and older, and has received European conditional marketing authorization for the treatment of XLH with radiographic evidence of bone disease in children 1 year of age and older and adolescents with growing skeletons.

See below for Important Safety Information for Crysvita in X-linked hypophosphatemia.

About Tumor-Induced Osteomalacia (TIO)

TIO is caused by typically benign tumors that produce excess levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), causing phosphate wasting in the urine that leads to severe hypophosphatemia, osteomalacia, muscle weakness, fatigue, bone pain, and fractures. The symptoms rapidly resolve if the causal tumors or lesion can be resected; however, there are cases in which resection is not feasible or recurrence of the tumor occurs after resection. In patients for whom the tumor or lesion is inoperable, the current treatment consists of oral phosphate and/or vitamin D replacement. Efficacy of this management is often limited, as it does not treat the underlying disease and its benefits must be balanced with monitoring for potential risks such as nephrocalcinosis, hypercalciuria, and hyperparathyroidism. There are an estimated 500-1,000 patients with TIO in the United States, and approximately half of all cases are inoperable.

About Crysvita

Crysvita (burosumab-twza) is a recombinant fully human monoclonal IgG1 antibody, discovered by Kyowa Hakko Kirin, against the phosphaturic hormone FGF23. FGF23 is a hormone that reduces serum levels of phosphorus and active vitamin D by regulating phosphate excretion and active vitamin D production by the kidney. Phosphate wasting in TIO and other hypophosphatemic conditions, including XLH, is caused by excessive levels and activity of FGF23. Crysvita is designed to bind to and thereby inhibit the biological activity of FGF23. By blocking excess FGF23 in patients with TIO and XLH, Crysvita is intended to increase phosphate reabsorption from the kidney and increase the production of vitamin D, which enhances intestinal absorption of phosphate and calcium.

Kyowa Kirin and Ultragenyx have been collaborating in the development and commercialization of Crysvita globally based on the collaboration and license agreement between the parties.

Important Safety Information in X-Linked Hypophosphatemia

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Do not use CRYSVITA with oral phosphate and active vitamin D analogs.
Do not initiate CRYSVITA treatment if serum phosphorus is within or above the normal range for age.
CRYSVITA is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment or end stage renal disease because these conditions are associated with abnormal mineral metabolism.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. rash, urticaria) have been reported in patients with CRYSVITA. Discontinue CRYSVITA if serious hypersensitivity reactions occur and initiate appropriate medical treatment.
Hyperphosphatemia and Risk of Nephrocalcinosis

Increases in serum phosphorus to above the upper limit of normal may be associated with an increased risk of nephrocalcinosis. For patients already taking CRYSVITA, dose interruption and/or dose reduction may be required based on a patient’s serum phosphorus levels.
Injection Site Reactions

Administration of CRYSVITA may result in local injection site reactions. Discontinue CRYSVITA if severe injection site reactions occur and administer appropriate medical treatment.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Pediatric Patients

The most common adverse reactions (more than 10%) in pediatric XLH patients are: headache, injection site reaction, vomiting, pyrexia, pain in extremity, vitamin D decreased, rash, toothache, myalgia, tooth abscess, and dizziness.
Adult Patients

The most common adverse reactions (more than 5% and in at least 2 patients more than placebo) in adult XLH patients are: back pain, headache, tooth infection, restless leg syndrome, vitamin D decreased, dizziness, constipation, blood phosphorus increased.
Spinal stenosis is prevalent in adults with XLH and spinal cord compression has been reported. It is unknown if CRYSVITA therapy exacerbates spinal stenosis or spinal cord compression.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

There are no available data on CRYSVITA use in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes. Serum phosphorus levels should be monitored throughout pregnancy. Report pregnancies to the Ultragenyx Adverse Event reporting line at 1-888-756-8657.
There is no information regarding the presence of CRYSVITA in human milk, or the effects of CRYSVITA on milk production or the breastfed infant. Therefore, the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for CRYSVITA and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from CRYSVITA or from the underlying maternal condition.

Be The Match BioTherapies® and Celyad Announce Collaboration to Advance Development of Allogeneic CAR-T Therapies

On September 10, 2019 Be The Match BioTherapies, an organization offering solutions for companies developing and commercializing cell and gene therapies, and Celyad (Euronext Brussels and Paris, and Nasdaq: CYAD), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of CAR-T cell therapies, reported a collaboration to advance the clinical trial of Celyad’s non-gene edited allogeneic CAR-T therapies (Press release, Be The Match BioTherapies, SEP 10, 2019, View Source [SID1234539412]).

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Through the collaboration, Be The Match BioTherapies will provide high-quality, consistent starting material from volunteer donors on the Be The Match Registry for the development and manufacturing of Celyad’s allogeneic CAR-T cell program.

"At Celyad, we are constantly pushing boundaries of innovation to develop our CAR-T cell therapies. We surround ourselves with partners who can help turn these ideas into product candidates for which logistical challenges are bound to rise," said Jean-Pierre Latere, chief operating officer of Celyad. "Partnering with Be The Match BioTherapies gives us starting material that meets the needs of our clinical development programs of non-gene edited allogeneic CAR-T candidate therapies."

As part of the National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match, Be The Match BioTherapies will leverage extensive resources to support the trial, including access to more than 20 million donors through the Be The Match Registry, the world’s largest and most diverse registry of potential donors for hematopoietic stem cell transplant and cellular therapy starting material. Celyad will join Be The Match BioTherapies’ growing network of partners in the E.U., as Be The Match BioTherapies extends its cell therapy supply chain support to advance the rising number of cell and gene therapies worldwide.

"Celyad is among those leading the charge developing next-generation cellular therapies," said Mark Flower, vice president, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Be The Match BioTherapies. "The pioneering research at the company has allowed the field of allogeneic CAR-T therapies to take shape and become a reality. We look forward to supporting Celyad’s work to help bring transformative therapies to patients suffering from a broad range of cancers worldwide."

AVEO Oncology Announces Updated Overall Survival Hazard Ratio of 0.99 in Phase 3 TIVO-3 Trial of Tivozanib in Renal Cell Carcinoma

On September 10, 2019 AVEO Oncology (NASDAQ: AVEO) reported results from the second prespecified analysis of overall survival (OS) in the TIVO-3 trial (Press release, AVEO, SEP 10, 2019, View Source [SID1234539413]). TIVO-3 is the Company’s Phase 3 randomized, controlled, multi-center, open-label study to compare tivozanib (FOTIVDA) to sorafenib in 350 subjects with highly refractory metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). These results include an OS hazard ratio (HR) below 1.00, favoring tivozanib (HR=0.99; 95% CI: 0.76-1.29; p=0.95). An OS hazard ratio assesses the relative risk of death for the entirety of the data set. TIVO-3 is the first and only positive Phase 3 study in 3rd and 4th line RCC, and the first Phase 3 study in RCC to investigate a predefined subpopulation of patients who received prior immunotherapy, an emerging standard of care for earlier lines of therapy.

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The data cutoff date for the second prespecified analysis was August 15, 2019, two years from the last patient enrolled and approximately ten months from the data cut-off date for the first prespecified analysis. Between the two data cut-off dates, 16 additional OS events were reported on the tivozanib arm and 28 on the sorafenib arm, resulting in a total of 114 OS events on the tivozanib arm and 113 on the sorafenib arm. Median OS, a point in time value separating the earlier half of events from the latter half within each arm, was 16.4 months for tivozanib (95% CI: 13.4-22.2) and 19.7 months for sorafenib (95% CI: 15.0-24.2). Twenty patients remain progression free on the tivozanib arm and two on the sorafenib arm, with a median duration on study of 32.5 months.

In November 2018, the Company announced positive final results for the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) and the secondary endpoint of overall response rate (ORR). Statistically significant improvements favoring tivozanib were reported for PFS (HR=0.73; p=0.0165) and ORR (18% vs. 8%; p=0.02). The Company also announced that tivozanib was found to be generally well-tolerated, with grade 3 or higher adverse events consistent with those observed in previous tivozanib trials. Infrequent but severe adverse events reported in greater number in the tivozanib arm were thrombotic events similar to those observed in previous tivozanib studies. The most common adverse event in patients receiving tivozanib was hypertension, an adverse event known to reflect effective VEGF pathway inhibition.

The Company plans to discuss the updated OS results with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to identify the appropriate path forward for tivozanib in RCC in the fourth quarter, and to provide an update regarding the potential submission of a New Drug Application for tivozanib in RCC following these discussions.

"These are the first data to demonstrate durable improvements in this highly refractory advanced kidney cancer population, including the post-immunotherapy setting, a predefined subset of the TIVO-3 trial," said Brian Rini, MD, Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Director, Cleveland Clinic Genitourinary Cancer Program, and principal investigator of the TIVO-3 trial. "The TIVO-3 study suggests the potential for tivozanib to serve as an important new treatment option for patients with advanced RCC. I look forward to seeing tivozanib studied further in the immunotherapy combination setting, and to continuing to explore its full potential in the evolving RCC treatment landscape."

"We are pleased to see that the positive PFS and ORR outcomes from TIVO-3 have translated into an improved OS hazard ratio," said Michael Bailey, president and chief executive officer of AVEO. "On behalf of the entire AVEO team, we once again offer our sincerest thanks to the patients, caregivers and investigators for participating in this study. AVEO remains committed to improving outcomes for patients with RCC, and we look forward to discussing these results with the FDA."

Conference Call and Webcast

In connection with this announcement, AVEO will host a conference call and audio webcast today, September 10, 2019, at 8:00 am Eastern Time. The call can be accessed by dialing (844) 882-7841 (U.S. and Canada) or (574) 990-9828 (international). The passcode for the conference call is 3275406. To access the live audio webcast, or the subsequent archived recording, please visit the Investors section of the AVEO website at www.aveooncology.com. The webcast will be recorded and available for replay on AVEO’s website for two weeks.

About TIVO-3

The TIVO-3 trial was designed to enroll patients with RCC who have failed at least two prior regimens, including VEGFR-TKI therapy. Eligible patients may also have received checkpoint inhibitor therapy in earlier lines of treatment. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either tivozanib or sorafenib, with no crossover between arms. The primary endpoint of the study is progression free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and safety and tolerability. TIVO-3, together with the previously completed TIVO-1 trial of tivozanib in the first line treatment of RCC, is designed to support a regulatory submission of tivozanib in the U.S. as a treatment for RCC in multiple lines of therapy. TIVO-3 patients were exclusively enrolled in North America, Western Europe, and Central Europe.

About Tivozanib (FOTIVDA)

Tivozanib (FOTIVDA) is an oral, once-daily, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discovered by Kyowa Kirin and approved for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the European Union plus Norway, New Zealand and Iceland. It is a potent, selective and long half-life inhibitor of all three VEGF receptors and is designed to optimize VEGF blockade while minimizing off-target toxicities, potentially resulting in improved efficacy and minimal dose modifications.1,2 Tivozanib has been shown to significantly reduce regulatory T-cell production in preclinical models3 and has demonstrated synergy in combination with nivolumab (anti PD-1) in a Phase 2 study in RCC4. Tivozanib has been investigated in several tumor types, including renal cell, hepatocellular, colorectal, ovarian and breast cancers.