Karyopharm Completes Rolling Submission of New Drug Application to U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Selinexor as a Treatment for Patients with Penta-Refractory Multiple Myeloma

On August 6, 2018 Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:KPTI), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, reported the completion of the rolling submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking accelerated approval for selinexor, its novel, oral SINE compound, as a new treatment for patients with penta-refractory multiple myeloma (Press release, Karyopharm, JUN 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528451]). Patients with penta-refractory myeloma have previously received the two proteasome inhibitors (PIs), Velcade (bortezomib) and Kyprolis (carfilzomib), the two immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), Revlimid (lenalidomide) and Pomalyst (pomalidomide), and the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody Darzalex (daratumumab) as well as alkylating agents, and their disease is refractory to at least one PI, at least one IMiD, Darzalex and their most recent therapy. Selinexor has received both Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations from the FDA for this indication.

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!

"There is a substantial urgency for new therapies with novel mechanisms for patients with highly resistant, penta-refractory myeloma," said Sharon Shacham, PhD, MBA, Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Karyopharm. "The completion of our first NDA submission marks a significant achievement for Karyopharm and brings oral selinexor one step closer to these patients. We are sincerely grateful to the patients, caregivers and investigators that have contributed to the selinexor program to date, the Agency for working with us with a sense of urgency and support, and to the entire Karyopharm team for their inexhaustible professionalism and dedication to advancing this NDA."

Pending marketing approval by the FDA, Karyopharm plans to commercialize selinexor in the U.S. Should the application be approved by the FDA, selinexor could become available in the first half of 2019. The Company also plans to submit a Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency in early 2019 with a request for conditional approval.

Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results Conference Call Information

Karyopharm will report second quarter 2018 financial results on Tuesday, August 7, 2018. Karyopharm’s management team will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, to discuss the second quarter 2018 financial results and recent business developments. To access the conference call, please dial (855) 437-4406 (local) or (484) 756-4292 (international) at least 10 minutes prior to the start time and refer to conference ID 3084449. A live audio webcast of the call will be available under "Events & Presentations" in the Investor section of the Company’s website, View Source An archived webcast will be available on the Company’s website approximately two hours after the event.

About Selinexor

Selinexor is a first-in-class, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compound. Selinexor functions by binding with and inhibiting the nuclear export protein XPO1 (also called CRM1), leading to the accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins in the cell nucleus. This reinitiates and amplifies their tumor suppressor function and is believed to lead to the selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells, while largely sparing normal cells. To date, over 2,600 patients have been treated with selinexor. In April 2018, Karyopharm reported positive top-line data from the Phase 2b STORM study evaluating selinexor in combination with low-dose dexamethasone in patients with penta-refractory multiple myeloma. For the STORM study’s primary objective, oral selinexor achieved a 25.4% overall response rate, which included two stringent complete responses, both of which were negative for minimal residual disease, and 29 partial or very good partial responses. The median duration of response, a key secondary objective, was 4.4 months, and patients with any response had a significantly prolonged overall survival as compared with patients who did not respond. Selinexor has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in multiple myeloma and Fast Track designation for the patient population evaluated in the STORM study. Karyopharm has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with a request for accelerated approval for oral selinexor as a new treatment for patients with penta-refractory multiple myeloma. The Company also plans to submit a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in early 2019 with a request for conditional approval. Selinexor is also being evaluated in several other mid- and later-phase clinical trials across multiple cancer indications, including in multiple myeloma in a pivotal, randomized Phase 3 study in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) and low-dose dexamethasone (BOSTON), as a potential backbone therapy in combination with approved therapies (STOMP), in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (SADAL), liposarcoma (SEAL), and an investigator-sponsored study in endometrial cancer (SIENDO), among others. Additional Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies are ongoing or currently planned, including multiple studies in combination with approved therapies in a variety of tumor types to further inform Karyopharm’s clinical development priorities for selinexor. Additional clinical trial information for selinexor is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Further Information About Potential Accelerated Approval for Selinexor in Multiple Myeloma

The FDA instituted its Accelerated Approval Program to allow for expedited approval of drugs that treat serious conditions and that fill an unmet medical need based on a surrogate endpoint or an intermediate clinical endpoint thought to predict clinical benefit, like overall response rate (ORR). Accelerated approval is available only for drugs that provide a meaningful therapeutic benefit over existing treatments at the time of consideration of the application for accelerated approval, which the FDA has reiterated in its feedback to the Company. Particularly in disease areas with multiple available and potential new therapies, such as multiple myeloma, accelerated approval carries a high regulatory threshold. Consistent with its general guidance, the FDA has noted to the Company its preference for randomized studies geared toward full approval, which the Company has undertaken with the ongoing pivotal, Phase 3 BOSTON study, and has reminded the Company that accelerated approval requires patients to have exhausted all available approved therapies. FDA’s Fast Track designation is available to therapeutics treating an unmet medical need in a serious condition; the Company has received Fast Track designation from the FDA specifically for the population treated in the STORM trial. In light of this recognition that the STORM patient population represents an unmet medical need and the positive top-line data reported in April 2018, the Company believes that the STORM study should support its request to the FDA for accelerated approval.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals and MD Anderson Cancer Center Collaborate to Evaluate Potential Treatment Options for Hematologic Malignancies

On August 6, 2018 Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported a five-year collaboration agreement with a goal of evaluating therapies for multiple hematologic malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (Press release, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, AUG 6, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2362297 [SID1234528511]).

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 joint effort brings together MD Anderson’s translational medicine and clinical research capabilities with Jazz’s hematology/oncology portfolio, including its FDA-approved medicines as well as current and potential future investigational therapies.

"This collaboration represents a significant opportunity to efficiently develop innovative therapies and therapeutic combinations," said Tapan Kadia, M.D., associate professor of Leukemia at MD Anderson. "Our aim is to always provide leading-edge care for our leukemia patients, and it is our hope that this joint effort will result in new treatment solutions."

Jazz and MD Anderson will pursue research opportunities in areas of high unmet need. The initial focus of the collaboration is to evaluate and generate additional data for Vyxeos (daunorubicin and cytarabine) liposome for injection, in new patient populations and in combination with other therapies.

"Jazz is committed to providing meaningful medicines for people with hematologic cancers, particularly those with serious unmet clinical needs," said Allen Yang, M.D., Ph.D., vice president and acting chief medical officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. "We look forward to collaborating with MD Anderson to help advance treatment options for patients as part of our growing hematology oncology therapeutic area."

Vyxeos received FDA approval in August 2017 for the treatment of adults with newly-diagnosed therapy-related (t-AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC), which represents part of high-risk or secondary AML populations. AML-MRC is more common in older patients who often do not respond well to intensive chemotherapy; while t-AML can occur as a result of previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

About Vyxeos
Vyxeos is a liposome formulation of a fixed combination of daunorubicin and cytarabine for intravenous infusion. Vyxeos is indicated for the treatment of adults with newly-diagnosed t-AML or AML-MRC. For more information about Vyxeos in the United States, please visit View Source

Important Safety Information
Vyxeos has different dosage recommendations from other medications that contain daunorubicin and/or cytarabine. Do not substitute Vyxeos for other daunorubicin- and/or cytarabine- containing products.

Vyxeos should not be given to patients who have a history of serious allergic reaction to daunorubicin, cytarabine or any of its ingredients.

Vyxeos can cause a severe decrease in blood cells (red and white blood cells and cells that prevent bleeding, called platelets) which can result in serious infection or bleeding and possibly lead to death. Your doctor will monitor your blood counts during treatment with Vyxeos. Patients should tell the doctor about new onset fever or symptoms of infection or if they notice signs of bruising or bleeding.

Vyxeos can cause heart-related side effects. Tell your doctor about any history of heart disease, radiation to the chest, or previous chemotherapy. Inform your doctor if you develop symptoms of heart failure such as:

shortness of breath or trouble breathing
swelling or fluid retention, especially in the feet, ankles or legs
unusual tiredness
Vyxeos may cause allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis such as:

trouble breathing
severe itching
skin rash or hives
swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue
Vyxeos contains copper and may cause copper overload in patients with Wilson’s disease or other copper-processing disorders.

Vyxeos can damage the skin if it leaks out of the vein. Tell your doctor right away if you experience symptoms of burning, stinging, or blisters and skin sores at the injection site. Vyxeos can harm your unborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing. Do not breastfeed while receiving Vyxeos. Females and males of reproductive potential should use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months following the last dose of Vyxeos.

The most common side effects were bleeding events, fever, rash, swelling, nausea, sores in the mouth or throat, diarrhea, constipation, muscle pain, tiredness, stomach pain, difficulty breathing, headache, cough, decreased appetite, irregular heartbeat, pneumonia, blood infection, chills, sleep disorders, and vomiting.

Please see full Prescribing Information for Vyxeos including BOXED Warning at View Source

amcure Announces First Patient Dosed with AMC303 in
Phase Ib Extension Cohort Based on Positive Safety Results

On August 6, 2018 amcure, a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class cancer therapeutics, reported the dosing of the first patient in the extension cohort of its ongoing phase I/Ib study evaluating AMC303, amcure’s lead compound (Press release, amcure, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528453]). The decision to move into the second part of the clinical trial protocol was based on positive safety and pharmacokinetic data obtained in the dose escalation part and a recommendation by the data safety monitoring board. amcure will present top-line data from the dose-escalation part of the trial in an oral presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress, October 19-23 in Munich/Germany.

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!

AMC303 targets CD44v6, a key cell membrane molecule in pathways of several receptor-tyrosine-kinases, such as c-MET, VEGFR-2 and RON, which are involved in tumor growth and metastases. This approach provides a potential novel mechanism for the treatment of patients with advanced and solid tumors that have already begun to spread throughout the body.

The current study, which is being conducted in Belgium and Spain, is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of multiple and increasing doses of AMC303 as monotherapy in patients with advanced metastatic malignant solid tumors of epithelial origin. The study also includes a comprehensive biomarker program. With the extension cohort, amcure is focusing its patient selection on patients with a moderate to high expression of the target molecule CD44v6 in four specific tumor types of squamous tumors: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), squamous non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), esophageal and cervical tumors.

"Our Phase I/Ib study with AMC303 is progressing as planned, demonstrating the safety and linear pharmacokinetic properties in a heavily pre-treated patient population. As drug combinations become increasingly the standard in today’s oncology practice, having a safe therapeutic option with a unique and additive mechanism of action would be an attractive asset. We look forward to continuing the development of AMC303 towards this goal with more preclinical data on the drug’s potential and on CD44v6’s disease biology and first clinical data being presented at the upcoming ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) congress," said Klaus Dembowsky, CEO of amcure GmbH.

For more information on the trial please visit View Source

About AMC303

amcure’s lead compound, AMC303, is being developed as a potential treatment for patients with advanced and metastatic epithelial tumors, e.g. pancreatic cancer, head and neck cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer. AMC303 has a high specificity for inhibiting CD44v6, a co-receptor required for signaling through multiple cellular pathways (c-Met, VEGFR-2, RON) involved in tumor growth, angiogenesis and the development and regression of metastases. AMC303 has demonstrated strong effects in various in vitro and in vivo assays.

VBI Vaccines to Present at the Canaccord Genuity 38th Annual Growth Conference

On August 6, 2018 VBI Vaccines Inc. (NASDAQ: VBIV) ("VBI"), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation infectious disease and immuno-oncology vaccines, reported that Jeff Baxter, President and CEO, will present at the Canaccord Genuity 38th Annual Growth Conference in Boston, MA, on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, at 9:30 AM ET (Press release, VBI Vaccines, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234528474]).

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 of the presentation and a subsequent replay may be accessed by visiting the Investors page of VBI’s website at: View Source A replay of the webcast will be archived on the company’s website for 90 days following the presentation.

Event: Canaccord Genuity 38th Annual Growth Conference
Date: Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Time: 9:30 – 9:55 AM ET
Event Website: View Source

Almac Discovery, Elasmogen and Innovate UK Collaborate to Develop VNAR Based Oncology Platform

On August 6, 2018 Almac Discovery, a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and identifying innovative therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, and Elasmogen, an SME focused on the development of next generation biologics, reported that they have been awarded a grant from Innovate UK through its Innovation in Health and Life Sciences funding programme (Press release, Elasmogen, AUG 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234637763]).

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 £2M peer reviewed collaborative project entitled ‘A Technology Platform for Next Generation VNAR based Oncology Medicines’, plans to utilise the highly selective, high affinity and yet low molecular weight non-antibody VNAR protein scaffold and build a versatile platform to facilitate the discovery and development of targeted oncology therapeutics.

The VNAR structure allows ready access for protein engineering of multiple formats. These VNAR formats can be optimised, with or without conjugation of a cytotoxic payload, with further conversion to soloMER format, to become a first-in-class or best-in-class targeted therapeutic. The two year project optimises both target binding and selectivity, via the identification of novel epitopes and formats, approaches to linker design and payload attachments, and further builds upon the experimental data supporting the unique attributes of VNARs.

Almac first entered into an agreement with Elasmogen for the treatment of solid tumours in 2015. This new joint research programme broadens the collaborative work by combining Almac Discovery’s expertise in protein engineering and oncology drug discovery with Elasmogen’s expertise in the generation, screening and formatting of VNAR proteins.

Stephen Barr, President & Managing Director, Almac Discovery commented: "We are delighted to have secured this highly sought after funding from Innovate UK to support this novel field of research which is testament to the novelty of the proposed approach and the quality of the underlying technologies involved. It is heartening to be able to continue and also broaden our successful collaboration with Elasmogen so that we may remain at the forefront of oncology discovery and ultimately benefit patients."

"Given the devastating and wide-ranging impact of cancer on the lives of so many people, there is a continual need to bring new innovative therapies into the clinic" said Caroline Barelle, Chief Executive Officer, Elasmogen. "I have no doubt that by combining the oncology expertise of Almac with the advantages of our soloMER platform that we can deliver a new class of drugs to patients".

Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency working with people, companies and partner organisations to find and drive science and technology innovations that will grow the UK economy.

Future research of next generation VNAR-based oncology medicines, as a result of this investment, will be co-funded by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovation UK, Elasmogen and Almac Group.