On January 31, 2019 Repare Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held precision oncology company pioneering synthetic lethality to develop novel therapeutics that target specific vulnerabilities of tumors in clearly defined patient populations, reported that it has entered into an exclusive strategic research, development and commercialization partnership with ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., for Repare’s small molecule Polθ inhibitor program in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and ASEAN countries, excluding mainland China. Repare retains all rights to develop and commercialize the products outside the ONO territory, including the US, Canada and EU.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"We’re excited to have ONO as a discovery and development partner," said Lloyd M. Segal, President and CEO of Repare. "This relationship will support our drive to and through the clinic in this important new area of precision oncology therapeutic development."

"ONO identified Repare Therapeutics as the partner of choice for bringing in a potential first-in-class and best-in-class Polθ inhibitor to our portfolio," said Gyo Sagara, President, Representative Director and CEO of ONO. "We are excited to work with Repare for the benefit of cancer patients."

Under the terms of the agreement, ONO will provide an up-front payment and research service payments potentially totaling US $15M, plus additional cost-sharing through IND. Beyond IND, significant clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones are also included in the agreement, with a potential total of US $160M. ONO will also pay to Repare high single-digit to low double-digit tiered royalties based on net sales of the products. Repare retains all rights to develop and commercialize the products outside the ONO territory, including the US, Canada and the EU.

Polθ inhibitor opportunity

DNA Polymerase θ (Polθ) is a unique, multifunctional DNA polymerase essential to repairing DNA breaks, especially in homologous recombination deficient (HRD) cells. HRD, including deficiency in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, is a clinically important feature across a variety of important tumor types, including breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers. Polθ gene expression is low in normal cells but elevated across a broad range of tumor types, including those with HRD. Currently, HRD tumors may be treated with Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which represent a rapidly growing, multi-billion dollar global market. A significant fraction of patients does not initially respond to PARP inhibitor treatment, and the vast majority of treated patients eventually develop PARP inhibitor resistance. A Polθ inhibitor has potential as both a mono-therapy across multiple tumor types and in combination with PARP inhibitors, where its distinct mechanism of action may help address both forms of PARP resistance. Additional clinical populations may also be attractive for combination treatment with a Polθ inhibitor, including possible combinations with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and Immuno-Oncology agents.

On January 31, 2019 AVEO Oncology (NASDAQ: AVEO) reported that it has accepted the recommendation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) not to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for tivozanib (FOTIVDA) with the preliminary overall survival (OS) results from the Phase 3 TIVO-3 trial (Press release, AVEO, JAN 31, 2019, View Source [SID1234532989]). The FDA indicated that these preliminary OS results do not allay their concerns about the potential detriment in OS outlined in the complete response letter dated June 6, 2013. The Company now plans to make a NDA filing decision following the availability of more mature OS results.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

As disclosed in November 2018, a preliminary analysis of the secondary endpoint of OS in the TIVO-3 trial showed a hazard ratio (HR) > 1. The Company previously planned to conduct the final OS analysis in August 2019. Due to the longer-than-expected median OS in both arms, and following discussions with the FDA, the Company plans to designate the August 2019 OS analysis as interim. Results of this analysis are expected to be reported in the fourth quarter.

Since initially conducting the preliminary analysis of the OS endpoint in November 2018, the Company has identified the survival status of a group of patients that were previously lost to follow up. With the identification of these OS events, the October 4, 2018 preliminary OS HR was revised from 1.06 to 1.12. The Company has not performed any OS analyses beyond the preliminary October 4, 2018 data cut-off date.

AVEO intends to present detailed results of the TIVO-3 study, the Company’s Phase 3 randomized, controlled, multi-center, open-label study comparing tivozanib to sorafenib in 350 subjects with highly refractory advanced or metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) during an oral session at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU) being held February 14-16, 2019 in San Francisco.

"We are hopeful that the positive PFS outcome will translate into an improved hazard ratio when we evaluate a more mature interim OS outcome in the fourth quarter of 2019," said Michael Bailey, president and chief executive officer of AVEO. "We look forward to continuing to work with the FDA to determine tivozanib’s benefit-risk profile as a single agent in RCC patients."

About Tivozanib (FOTIVDA)

Tivozanib (FOTIVDA) is an oral, once-daily, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discovered by Kyowa Hakko Kirin and approved for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the European Union plus Norway 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 RCC. Tivozanib has been investigated in several tumors types, including renal cell, hepatocellular, colorectal and breast cancers.

On January 31, 2019 Invenra and WARF (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation) reported they have entered into a collaboration to discover and develop a bispecific antibody therapeutic for the treatment of neuroblastoma, a cancer that is the third most common childhood cancer, after leukemia and brain tumors (Press release, Invenra, JAN 31, 2019, View Source [SID1234532990]). The collaboration will use Invenra’s proprietary SNIPERTM technology to allow for precise targeting of the cancer cells while sparing normal nerve cells, and potentially alleviating unwanted toxicities and pain related side effects. The idea for the therapeutic candidate came out of a collaboration between Invenra and University of Wisconsin, Madison Professor, Dr. Paul Sondel, a pediatric oncologist who treats these children in his practice.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Invenra’s SNIPERTM technology should enable creation of antibody-based therapies that are specifically able to target tumor cells while not binding to normal tissues. We are excited to be working with Invenra to initiate this approach by directing it towards improving treatment for pediatric neuroblastoma," notes Sondel.

Roland Green, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Invenra states, "We are very excited about this program and the potential it has for helping these children with neuroblastoma. This program also has the potential to treat patients with a variety of other cancers such as glioblastoma (a form of brain cancer), melanoma and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This collaboration is a good example of the benefits that can come from partnerships between the UW-Madison and industry."

On January 31, 2019 Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AGIO), a leader in the field of cellular metabolism to treat cancer and rare genetic diseases, reported that the company will host a conference call and live webcast on Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. ET to report its fourth quarter and full year 2018 financial results and other business highlights (Press release, Agios Pharmaceuticals, JAN 31, 2019, http://investor.agios.com/news-releases/news-release-details/agios-webcast-conference-call-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2018 [SID1234533007]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

A live webcast can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section of the company’s website at www.agios.com. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-377-7098 (domestic) or 1-631-291-4547 (international) and referring to conference ID 9886713. The webcast will be archived and made available for replay on the company’s website beginning approximately two hours after the event.

On January 31, 2019 DrugCendR Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing next generation cancer therapies designed to overcome the barriers of drug delivery in solid tumors, reported today positive progress with its ongoing pancreatic cancer clinical trial (Press release, CEND Therapeutics, JAN 31, 2019, View Source [SID1234619594]). In addition, the lead program received orphan-drug designation from the US Food and Drug administration (FDA) in pancreatic cancer. The company also announced a new member of board of directors.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The ongoing clinical trial in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients (CEND1-001, Clinical trial reference NCT03517176) has been accruing patients rapidly – the first Phase 2a -type expansion cohort for early efficacy is now open. The study is expected to be fully enrolled with at least 30 patients in the second quarter of 2019. The early results are reportedly encouraging, with high response rates as well as favorable safety profile, with no dose-limiting toxicities. "The progress with the pancreatic cancer trial has exceeded our expectations," said Harri Jarvelainen, Chief Operating Officer of DrugCendR Inc. "Our near term goal is to validate the CEND-1 platform technology in multiple indications so clinicians can treat patients with cancers with high unmet medical need more effectively."

Receiving the FDA orphan drug designation was also announced today. It is a significant development milestone as it can facilitate the future development through several benefits such as tax credits for qualified clinical trials costs, exemptions from certain FDA application fees, and seven years of market exclusivity upon regulatory product approval. The FDA grants orphan drug designation to drugs and biologics that are intended for the treatment of rare diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.

Lastly, the company announced that it has appointed Heidi Henson, an industry veteran, to its Board of Directors. "I am pleased to welcome Heidi Henson to our board, where her extensive expertise in financial management and strategy will be a major asset to DrugCendR as we continue to advance the company programs," said Erkki Ruoslahti, M.D., Ph.D., Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of DrugCendR. Mrs Henson, an independent board member, is the Chief Financial Officer of Respivant Biosciences. Her previous experience includes serving as the Chief Financial Officer of Kura Oncology and Wellspring Bioscience.

About CEND-1

DrugCendR’s proprietary technology platform is a based on a bifunctional molecular mimicry agent CEND-1. The agent is able to manipulate the tumor microenviroment, effectively making it into a temporary drug conduit. This allows an enhanced delivery and efficacy of various types of co-administered anti-cancer compounds. The action is tumor-specific, thanks to the tumor-homing RGD motif of the molecule. To date the compound has been investigated, by the company founders and by numerous independent groups, in more than 150 publications and it has shown efficacy in more than 40 different cancer models.

About DrugCendR

DrugCendR Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company founded in 2015. The initial focus of company’s technology is pancreatic cancer because, in addition to its poor prognosis, it is characterized by a dense extracellular matrix stroma, which acts as a physical barrier to drug entry. Since the active transport process initiated by CEND-1 overcomes this obstacle, and the target receptors for are highly expressed in advanced pancreatic cancer, CEND-1 appears particularly well suited to target PDAC. The company is planning for additional clinical trials in other cancer indications for its lead program and has already started a follow-up CEND-2 program, which works through a well-validated immune-oncology pathway.