Twentyeight-Seven Therapeutics Launches with a $65 Million Series A Funding

On September 6, 2018 Twentyeight-Seven Therapeutics (28-7), a biotechnology company focused on modulating non-coding RNA (ncRNA) biology to develop treatments for cancer and other diseases, reported the successful completion of its $65 million Series A financing (Press release, Twentyeight-Seven Therapeutics, SEPT 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234529351]). Founding investor MPM Capital and Novartis Venture Fund co-led the financing. They were joined by additional investors including Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc., Vertex Ventures HC, Longwood Fund, and Astellas Venture Management. The funding will be used to advance 28-7’s lead program, aimed at the discovery and development of small molecules that increase the levels of the tumor suppressor microRNA (miRNA), Let-7, into serious cancer indications.

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"This strong financing round was achieved thanks to the new biological understanding and impressive scientific data around non-coding RNA produced by our four scientific founders and the progress the 28-7 team has made since it was founded two years ago," said Kazumi Shiosaki, Ph.D., founding President and Chief Executive Officer, 28-7. "Our experienced investors realize the promise in this new field of therapeutics and in the robust leads produced by our founders, who have made many of the seminal discoveries in this field, and by the exceptional scientists within the company."

In addition, 28-7 announced that Shomir Ghosh, Ph.D., has joined as its Chief Scientific Officer. Most recently CSO and a founding scientist at IFM Therapeutics, Dr. Ghosh has 25 years of scientific research, drug discovery and development experience in biotech and large pharma, and has successfully delivered multiple compounds into preclinical and clinical development in the immunology, oncology and CNS therapeutic areas.

"I am incredibly excited to join 28-7 and support the advancement of its lead program," said Dr. Ghosh. "I look forward to working with Kazumi and our accomplished team and Board as we discover new ways to fight cancer and grow our operations."

28-7’s initial focus is on modulating miRNAs, which are short ncRNAs that inhibit target gene expression by suppressing mRNA translation and/or promoting mRNA decay. It is now well recognized that miRNAs are directly involved in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. 28-7’s technology does not focus on directly targeting the RNA itself or on developing oligonucleotides, but rather targets RNA modulating proteins (RMPs), enabling the use of small molecule drug candidates with broader access to cells and tissues. Let-7 is an miRNA that suppresses the translation of oncogenes in cells, and low levels of this miRNA are correlated with greater cancer aggressiveness. The company’s leading protein target is Lin28, an RMP that reduces the levels of Let-7, and has been shown to be an oncogene, promoting cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. 28-7 is developing first-in-class drugs that inhibit Lin28’s activity and thus raise levels of Let-7 for treatment of various cancers.

The company’s core technology comes from its four founding scientists, all leading researchers in RNA biology and cancer:

George Daley, M.D., Ph.D. ─ Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Professor of Medicine, Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School
Richard Gregory, Ph.D. ─ Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, and Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Frank Slack, Ph.D. ─ Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Professor of Pathology and Director of Institute of RNA Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Piotr Sliz, Ph.D. ─ Associate Professor of Pediatrics and of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School
This founding group has been collaborating for years and has made substantial contributions to the science of ncRNA biology, including elucidating the role of ncRNAs in disease and identifying new RMP targets for drug discovery programs.

"Our founders have made important scientific contributions to the field of ncRNA biology, including the discovery of the Lin28/Let-7 pathway and its role in normal development, metabolism, and malignancy. Overall, our studies have established Lin28/Let-7 as a major regulatory pathway in stem cells and cancer," said George Daley, M.D., Ph.D., 28-7’s co-founder and Chairman of the company’s Scientific Advisory Board, and Dean and Professor of Medicine and Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School. "We felt that the time was right to move these insights from the laboratory to pharmaceutical development, and we are very pleased by the progress the company achieved in the first two years of its existence. With this impressive round of funding and our continued support, 28-7 will unlock the therapeutic potential of our work."

In addition to Dr. Shiosaki, several investors will join 28-7’s Board of Directors, including:

· Luke Evnin, Ph.D. ─ Managing Director and co-founder, MPM Capital

· Briggs Morrison, M.D. ─ Executive Partner, MPM Capital and CEO of Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

· Carolyn Ng, Ph.D. ─ Principal, Vertex Ventures HC

· Michal Silverberg, M.B.A. ─ Managing Director, Novartis Venture Fund

Checkpoint Therapeutics Announces Encouraging Safety and Efficacy Data from Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial of EGFR Inhibitor CK-101

On September 6, 2018 Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. ("Checkpoint") (NASDAQ: CKPT), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel treatments for patients with solid tumor cancers, reported positive preliminary safety and efficacy data from an ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial of CK-101 (also known as RX518), a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) being evaluated in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Press release, Checkpoint Therapeutics, SEP 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234529736]). The data will be presented on Monday, Sept. 24, at 10:30 a.m. ET in a late-breaking oral presentation at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Toronto.

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"These preliminary data demonstrate CK-101 is well-tolerated at the doses tested while also demonstrating encouraging anti-tumor activity, particularly in treatment-naïve EGFR mutation-positive lung cancer patients," said Melissa L. Johnson, M.D., Associate Director, Lung Cancer Research, Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology, PLLC, and study chair of the Phase 1/2 trial.

"The data to date demonstrate CK-101’s potential to be a highly effective mutant-selective EGFR inhibitor with the potential for a differentiated safety profile," said James F. Oliviero, President and Chief Executive Officer of Checkpoint Therapeutics. "We look forward to continuing to advance CK-101 towards a pivotal Phase 3 trial next year, positioning CK-101 to potentially be only the second third-generation EGFR inhibitor to enter the market."

The first-in-human, multicenter trial is evaluating CK-101 in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations and other advanced malignancies (NCT02926768). Following dose escalation ranging from 100 mg to 1,200 mg/day in patients with any solid tumor where targeted EGFR was deemed reasonable, a first doseexpansion cohort was enrolled at 400 mg twice daily in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of either (1) EGFR mutation-positive advanced or metastatic NSCLC without prior exposure to EGFR-TKI therapy, or (2) T790M-positive advanced or metastatic NSCLC with disease progression on previous EGFR-TKI therapy. There was no limit on the number of prior lines of systemic therapy patients received prior to entering the study.

Key Data from the Abstract
As of June 2018, 37 patients had been treated with CK-101 in dose escalation and dose-expansion cohorts
and were evaluable for safety.
• No dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) or treatment
• The most common drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events (>10%) included nausea
(16%), diarrhea (14%), lacrimation increased (14%) and vomiting (11%).
In dose-expansion, 19 EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC patients were treated with CK-101 at a dose of 400
mg twice daily and were evaluable for response (RECIST v1.1). Eight patients achieved a partial response
(7 confirmed, 1 pending). Additional efficacy findings include:
• In eight treatment-naïve patients, six patients (75%) achieved a partial response.
• In six patients with brain metastases present at baseline, three patients achieved a partial
response.
• Higher drug exposures were associated with a higher response rate with a confirmed objective
response rate (ORR) of 55% (6/11) in patients achieving a maximum serum concentration (Cmax)
greater than 400 ng/mL.
• 100% (19/19) disease control rate was observed, with 84% (16/19) of patients experiencing target
lesion reduction versus baseline.
• Median duration of response and progression-free survival were not reached as of the data cutoff.
Enrollment in the trial is ongoing to identify the optimal dose to maximize therapeutic effect.

Oral Presentation
Details of the oral presentation at the IASLC 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer are as follows:
Title: CK-101 (RX518), a Third Generation Mutant-Selective Inhibitor of EGFR in NSCLC: Results of
an Ongoing Phase I/II Trial
Date / Time: Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 at 10:30am
Session: Novel Therapies in ROS1, HER2 and EGFR
Presenter: Melissa L. Johnson, M.D., Associate Director, Lung Cancer Research, Sarah Cannon
Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, Tenn.

The full abstract can be found on the conference website and is also available on the Publications page in
the Pipeline section of Checkpoint’s website, www.checkpointtx.com.

About CK-101
CK-101 (also known as RX518) is an oral, third-generation, irreversible kinase inhibitor against selective mutations in the EGFR gene. Activating mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR, such as L858R and exon 19 deletion, are found in approximately 20 percent of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Compared to chemotherapy, first-generation EGFR inhibitors significantly improved objective response rate and progression-free survival in previously untreated NSCLC patients carrying EGFR mutations. However, tumor progression could develop due to resistance mutations, often within months of treatment with first-generation EGFR inhibitors. The EGFR T790M "gatekeeper" mutation is the most common resistance mutation found in patients treated with first-generation EGFR inhibitors. The mutation decreases the affinity of first-generation inhibitors to EGFR kinase domain, rendering the drugs ineffective. Second-generation EGFR inhibitors have improved potency against the T790M mutation, but have not provided meaningful benefits in NSCLC patients due to toxicity from also inhibiting wild-type EGFR. Third-generation EGFR inhibitors are designed to be highly selective against both EGFR-TKIsensitizing and resistance mutations, with minimal activity on wild-type EGFR, thereby improving tolerability and safety profiles.

Checkpoint Therapeutics is developing CK-101 for the treatment of NSCLC patients carrying the susceptible EGFR mutations. These include the EGFR T790M mutation in second-line NSCLC patients, as well as the EGFR L858R and exon 19 deletion mutations in first-line NSCLC patients. Checkpoint holds an exclusive worldwide license (except with respect to certain Asian countries) to CK‐101, which it acquired from NeuPharma, Inc., in 2015.

Zai Lab Announces Pricing of Public Offering of American Depositary Shares

On September 6, 2018 Zai Lab Limited ("Zai Lab" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:ZLAB), a Shanghai-based innovative biopharmaceutical company, reported the pricing of its underwritten public offering of $150,000,000 of American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") representing ordinary shares of the Company (Press release, Zai Laboratory, SEP 6, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2366260 [SID1234530327]).

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Zai Lab sold 7,500,000 ADSs at a price of US$20.00 per ADS. Each ADS represents one ordinary share of Zai Lab. The gross proceeds to Zai Lab from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $150,000,000. In addition, Zai Lab has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,125,000 ADSs at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The offering is expected to close on September 10, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions.

J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, Jefferies and Leerink Partners are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

A registration statement on Form F-1 relating to the securities sold in this offering has been filed with, and declared effective by, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the registration statement related to this offering can be accessed through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. A final prospectus, when available, may be obtained from: (i) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204 or email: [email protected], (ii) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 or telephone: 1-800-831-9146 (iii) Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at 1-877-821-7388, or by email at [email protected] or (iv) Leerink Partners LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, One Federal Street, 37th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, telephone: 1-800-808-7525 ex. 6132 or email: [email protected].

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy ADSs or any other securities, nor shall there be any sale of ADSs in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

RedHill Biopharma Announces Advancement to Second Stage of Phase IIa Study with YELIVA® for Cholangiocarcinoma

On September 6, 2018 RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (NASDAQ: RDHL) (Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange: RDHL) ("RedHill" or the "Company"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on proprietary drugs for gastrointestinal diseases, reported that the ongoing single-arm Phase IIa study with orally-administered YELIVA (opaganib, ABC294640)1 for the treatment of advanced cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) has achieved its pre-specified efficacy goal for the first stage of the two-stage study design, and as a result, the study will continue to its second stage, enrolling the full cohort of 39 evaluable patients (Press release, RedHill Biopharma, SEP 6, 2018, View Source;LNGID=1&TMID=178&FID=1384&PID=0&IID=9184 [SID1234529317])

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The primary efficacy endpoint of the study is defined as either partial or complete response, or stable disease at four months treatment with YELIVA. Enrollment of all subjects is expected to be completed by mid-2019.

The single-arm Phase IIa study is evaluating the activity of YELIVA as a single agent in patients suffering from advanced, unresectable intrahepatic, perihilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. All subjects enrolled in the study have received up to two lines of other systemic therapy for advanced disease. The study is being conducted at renowned clinical institutions in the U.S.

YELIVA was granted FDA Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma, providing various development incentives to develop YELIVA for this indication and, if approved, a seven-year marketing exclusivity period for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

Complete Response Achieved in Patient treated under RedHill’s Expanded Access Program:
Additionally, a patient in the U.S. with advanced gallbladder carcinoma, a condition closely related to cholangiocarcinoma, who had progressed following standard-of-care chemotherapy, received treatment with YELIVA as part of RedHill’s Expanded Access Program, which allows compassionate use for eligible patients, and achieved a confirmed complete response, as measured by RECIST criteria (i.e. disappearance of all target lesions and all non-target lesions).

About cholangiocarcinoma:
Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) is a highly lethal malignancy for which there is an urgent need for more effective treatments. Approximately 8,000 people are diagnosed with intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct cancers annually in the U.S.2, with recent studies showing an increased incidence of cholangiocarcinoma, mainly attributed to recent advancements in the diagnosis of this disease3. Surgery with complete resection remains the only curative therapy for cholangiocarcinoma; however, only a minority of patients are classified as having a resectable tumor at the time of diagnosis4. Additional treatment options include radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Still, the efficacy of these treatments in cholangiocarcinoma patients is also limited and the prognosis for relapse patients who have failed initial chemotherapy is very poor with an overall median survival of approximately one year5. The 5-year relative survival rates of intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients range between 2% to 30%, depending on the tumor type and stage at diagnosis6.

About YELIVA (opaganib, ABC294640):
YELIVA (ABC294640), a new chemical entity, is a Phase II-stage, proprietary, first-in-class, orally-administered, sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2) selective inhibitor with anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities, targeting oncology, inflammatory and gastrointestinal indications. By inhibiting SK2, YELIVA blocks the synthesis of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid-signaling molecule that promotes cancer growth and pathological inflammation. SK2 is an innovative molecular target for anticancer therapy because of its critical role in catalyzing the formation of S1P, which is known to regulate cell proliferation and activation of inflammatory pathways. YELIVA was originally developed by U.S.-based Apogee Biotechnology Corp. and completed multiple successful pre-clinical studies in oncology, inflammation, GI and radioprotection models, as well as the ABC-101 Phase I clinical study in cancer patients with advanced solid tumors. YELIVA received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. The development of YELIVA was funded to date primarily by grants and contracts from U.S. federal and state government agencies awarded to Apogee Biotechnology Corp., including the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

The Phase IIa study in cholangiocarcinoma was initiated following an extensive pre-clinical program, and a Phase I clinical study with YELIVA in patients with advanced solid tumors which successfully met its primary and secondary endpoints, demonstrating that the drug is well tolerated and can be safely administered to cancer patients at doses that provide circulating drug levels that are predicted to have therapeutic activity. Of the three patients with cholangiocarcinoma treated in the Phase I study, all of whom had prior therapy, one subject achieved a sustained partial response (overall survival (OS) = 20.3 months) and the other two subjects had prolonged stable disease (OS = 17.6 and 16.3 months).

The ongoing studies with YELIVA (ABC294640) for cholangiocarcinoma, multiple myeloma and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov, a web-based service by the U.S. National Institute of Health, which provides public access to information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies.

Roche to present new data from its extensive lung cancer programme at the 2018 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC)

On September 6, 2018 Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) reported that new data from its broad clinical development programme across different types of lung cancer will be presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2018 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), taking place from 23–26 September in Toronto, Canada (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, SEP 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234529353]). 10 abstracts have been accepted, including three ‘late breakers’ and five oral presentations.

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"We look forward to presenting new data from our comprehensive lung cancer programme, including new immunotherapy and targeted treatment strategies across different types of lung cancer," said Sandra Horning, MD, Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "We are particularly pleased to be sharing positive TECENTRIQ data in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, which has seen limited progress in treatment over the last two decades, as well as new pivotal data for our investigational therapy entrectinib for the treatment of ROS1 fusion-positive lung cancer."

Key presentations
Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) data from the Phase III IMpower133 study of TECENTRIQ plus chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) for the initial (first-line) treatment of people with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) will be presented in the Presidential Symposium. These are the first positive survival data from a Phase III study with an immunotherapy-based combination in the initial treatment of ES-SCLC.

PFS and OS data will be presented from the Phase III IMpower132 study investigating TECENTRIQ plus pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin) in the initial treatment of people with advanced non-squamous NSCLC. The IMpower132 and IMpower133 data will be featured as part of WCLC’s official press programme on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th of September, respectively.

Additionally, results from a Phase Ib study investigating Tarceva plus TECENTRIQ in tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-naïve people with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC will also be presented.

New pivotal results of entrectinib, an investigational oral, CNS-active treatment for people with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1 fusion-positive NSCLC, from a pooled analysis including the global Phase II STARTRK-2 basket study will be presented. These data have also been selected to be featured in the WCLC press programme on Monday 24th of September.

Follow Roche on Twitter via @Roche and keep up to date with WCLC 2018 congress news and updates by using the hashtag #WCLC2018.

For more information on Roche’s approach to cancer, visit Roche.com.

Overview of key presentations featuring Roche medicines at WCLC 2018

About NSCLC and SCLC
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally.1 Each year 1.59 million people die as a result of the disease; this translates into more than 4,350 deaths worldwide every day.1 Lung cancer can be broadly divided into two major types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is the most prevalent type, accounting for around 85% of all cases,2 with SCLC accounting for approximately 15% of all lung cancer cases.2 Survival rates for people with SCLC vary depending on the stage (extent) of the cancer at the time of diagnosis.3 The five-year relative survival rate for people with stage I SCLC is approximately 31%, however, at stage IV, the five-year relative survival rate declines to approximately 2%.4

About TECENTRIQ
TECENTRIQ is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1 expressed on tumour cells and tumour-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, TECENTRIQ may enable the activation of T cells. TECENTRIQ has the potential to be used as a foundational combination partner with cancer immunotherapies, targeted medicines and various chemotherapies across a broad range of cancers.

Currently, Roche has eight Phase III lung cancer studies underway, evaluating TECENTRIQ alone or in combination with other medicines.

TECENTRIQ is already approved in the European Union, United States and more than 70 countries for people with previously treated metastatic NSCLC and for certain types of untreated or previously treated metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

About ROS1 fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
ROS1 is a tyrosine kinase, which play a role in controlling how cells grow and proliferate. When a ROS1 gene fusion occurs, ‘healthy’ cell signalling malfunctions, causing cells to grow and proliferate in an uncontrolled manner – this results in cancer.

ROS1 gene fusions account for 1-2% of NSCLC. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death across the world. Each year, 1.59 million people die as a result of the disease; this translates into more than 4,350 deaths worldwide every day.1 NSCLC is the most prevalent type of lung cancer, accounting for around 85% of all cases.2 While the ROS1 gene fusion can be found in any patient with NSCLC, young never-smokers with NSCLC have the highest incidence of ROS1 fusions.

About entrectinib
Entrectinib (RXDX-101) is an investigational, oral medicine in development for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours that harbour NTRK1/2/3 or ROS1 fusions. It is a selective, CNS-active tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to inhibit the kinase activity of the TRKA/B/C and ROS1 proteins, whose activating fusions drive proliferation in certain types of cancer. Entrectinib can block ROS1 and NTRK kinase activity and may result in the death of cancer cells with ROS1 or NTRK fusions. Entrectinib is being investigated across a range of solid tumour types, including NSCLC, pancreatic cancer, sarcomas, thyroid cancer, salivary cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) and cancers of unknown primary (CUP).

Entrectinib has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA); and Sakigake designation by the Japanese health authorities for the treatment of NTRK fusion-positive, locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours in adult and paediatric patients who have either progressed following prior therapies or have no acceptable standard therapies.