On May 16, 2018 ImmunoGen, Inc., (Nasdaq: IMGN), a leader in the expanding field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer reported positive data from the FORWARD II trial evaluating mirvetuximab soravtansine in multiple combination cohorts in patients with folate receptor alpha (FRα)-positive ovarian cancer (Press release, ImmunoGen, MAY 16, 2018, View Source [SID1234526746]). Results from the cohort assessing mirvetuximab in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab) in patients with platinum-resistant disease will be presented at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, which is being held June 1-5 in Chicago, IL. In addition, ImmunoGen reported updated data from the dose-escalation cohort evaluating mirvetuximab in combination with carboplatin in patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

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"Building upon the encouraging data generated with mirvetuximab monotherapy, we have looked to expand our addressable patient population through combination regimens with both currently approved and experimental agents in ovarian cancer. In dose escalation, we have demonstrated that full dose mirvetuximab can be combined safely with full doses of Avastin, carboplatin, or Keytruda, with encouraging preliminary clinical activity," said Anna Berkenblit, MD, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of ImmunoGen. "The promising new data reported in the FORWARD II Avastin and carboplatin arms support the potential of mirvetuximab combinations in earlier lines of therapy. Together, these results have informed the triplet combination study with mirvetuximab plus carboplatin and Avastin, which we initiated last quarter."

Berkenblit continued, "In addition, we plan to present initial data from the Keytruda expansion cohort later this year, building upon the dose escalation data recently presented at SGO. The totality of these data from FORWARD II will guide the next stages of development of mirvetuximab and support a path to registration for combination regimens."

DATA FROM FORWARD II EXPANSION COHORT WITH AVASTIN

Mirvetuximab soravtansine in combination with Avastin in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer has demonstrated anti-tumor activity with durable responses and a favorable tolerability profile, particularly among the subset of patients who have received up to three prior lines of therapy and have medium or high levels of FRα expression. This is the population being studied in the FORWARD I Phase 3 registration trial.

Key findings in 59 patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer include:

In the subset of 23 patients evaluable for response with medium or high FRα expression levels who have received up to three prior lines of therapy, the confirmed overall response rate (ORR) was 48 percent (95% CI 27,69), with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 9.9 months (95% CI 4.6,14.5) and a median duration of response (DOR) of 10.6 months (95% CI 3.3,12.0).

For the 54 patients evaluable for response, the confirmed ORR was 43 percent (95% CI 29,57), with a median PFS of 7.8 months (95% CI 5.6,10.2); patients in this cohort had received a median of 3 prior lines of systemic therapy, with 58 percent of patients having received prior bevacizumab.

The combination continues to display a safety profile in-line with the known profiles of each agent, with no new safety signals identified.

"The mirvetuximab and Avastin combination has demonstrated very encouraging initial clinical activity in ovarian cancer patients and a consistently favorable safety profile," stated David O’Malley, M.D., Professor, Director of Gynecology Clinical Trial and Phase 1 Program, James Cancer Center and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and FORWARD II Investigator. "There is a significant need for new therapeutic options to improve outcomes and tolerability for this difficult-to-treat patient population, and I believe these results support further clinical evaluation of this combination regimen."

ASCO PRESENTATION DETAILS

Title: Mirvetuximab soravtansine, a folate receptor alpha (FRα)-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in combination with bevacizumab in patients (pts) with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: maturing safety and activity profile from the FORWARD II Phase 1b study

Presenter: David M. O’Malley, MD, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Day/Time: Monday, June 4, 1:15-4:45 pm CDT

Location: Hall A

Abstract: 5549

Additional information, can be found at www.asco.org.

UPDATED DATA FROM FORWARD II DOSE-ESCALATION COHORT WITH CARBOPLATIN

Initial findings from a dose escalation cohort of mirvetuximab in combination with carboplatin were presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2017. The data have matured and updated findings in heavily pre-treated patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer include:

In the subset of 10 patients with medium or high FRα expression levels, the confirmed ORR was 80 percent (95% CI 44,98), with a median PFS of 15 months (95% CI 9.9,-), and with median DOR not reached.

For all 17 evaluable patients, the confirmed ORR was 71 percent (95% CI 44,90), with a median PFS of 15 months (95% CI 9.9, -), and with median DOR not reached; 50 percent of patients in this cohort had received 3 or more prior lines of systemic therapy.

The combination continues to display a favorable safety profile in-line with the known profiles of each agent, with no new safety signals identified.

Based on the findings from the carboplatin and Avastin cohorts, ImmunoGen recently initiated an additional cohort assessing a triplet combination of mirvetuximab plus carboplatin and Avastin in patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer as part of the FORWARD II trial.

DATA FROM FORWARD II DOSE-ESCALATION COHORT WITH KEYTRUDA

Additionally, ImmunoGen recently announced encouraging activity and favorable tolerability data from the FORWARD II cohort assessing mirvetuximab in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting. Based on these data, ImmunoGen is completing enrollment in an expansion cohort that includes an additional 35 patients with medium or high FRα expression levels. ImmunoGen plans to report initial findings from this cohort in the second half of this year.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

ImmunoGen will host a conference call on Thursday, May 17 at 8:00am ET to discuss new data from the FORWARD II trial. To access the live call by phone, dial 323-794-2423; the conference ID is 5718620. The call may also be accessed through the "Investors" section of the Company’s website, www.immunogen.com. Following the live webcast, a replay of the call will be available at the same location through June 7, 2018.

ABOUT FORWARD II

FORWARD II is a Phase 1b/2 study of mirvetuximab in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab), carboplatin or Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with FRα-positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube tumors, as well as a triplet combination of mirvetuximab plus carboplatin and Avastin in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

ABOUT MIRVETUXIMAB SORAVTANSINE

Mirvetuximab soravtansine (IMGN853) is the first folate receptor alpha (FRα)-targeting ADC. It uses a humanized FRα-binding antibody to target the ADC specifically to FRα-expressing cancer cells and a potent anti-tumor agent, DM4, to kill the targeted cancer cells.

On May 16, 2018 Tiziana Life Sciences plc (AIM: TILS), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing targeted drugs for cancer and inflammatory diseases, reported that the independent data monitor committee (IDMC) completed a second, interim analysis of tolerability data from the first eleven treated patients and recommended expansion of the initial cohort to continue enrolment of an additional 20 patients to complete the trial (Press release, Tiziana Life Sciences, MAY 16, 2018, View Source;intolerable-Unresectable-or-Metastatic-Hepatocellular-Carcinoma-HCC-Patients [SID1234526674]).

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This phase 2a multi-centre and multi-country clinical trial (CDKO-125A-010) in sorafenib-refractory or -intolerable patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC is being conducted in Greece, Italy and Israel. Since, this was the first trial with milciclib in HCC patients, a second, interim analysis was scheduled following completion of treatment for the first 11 patients before initiating enrolment of the next 20 patients. Thus, demonstration of good tolerability with acceptable incidence of serious adverse events is an important milestone to initiate a phase 2b trial evaluating combination of milciclib with sorafenib (Nexavar; Bayer Germany (BAYN.GR)) in HCC patient.

Major findings were as follows:

Milciclib treatment was well-tolerated with manageable drug-related toxicities. The IDMC concluded that there were no major signals of tolerability concerns and therefore favours proceeding to expand enrolment.

Four patients have completed the study per protocol (6 cycles of treatment in 6 months). Two of these patients and their care provider opted to continue receiving milciclib at full dose as part of compassionate use. A third patient is awaiting ethical committee (EC) approval.

Gabriele Cerrone, Chairman of Tiziana Life Sciences, commented: ”Establishment of tolerability of milciclib as a single agent in HCC patients is a key pre-requisite to initiate the phase 2b trial to evaluate dosing, tolerability and clinical activity of milciclib in combination with sorafenib (Nexavar; Bayer Germany) in HCC patients”.

Kunwar Shailubhai, CEO & CSO of Tiziana Life Sciences, commented: "We are pleased with the conclusion of IDMC that milciclib treatment showed no major signals of tolerability concerns in sorafenib-refractory or -intolerable HCC patients. These findings are consistent with the findings reported earlier on the long-term tolerability and clinical activity of milciclib in thymic carcinoma, thymoma1 and other solid cancers2. Results from these clinical studies strongly warrant further clinical development of milciclib for treatments of HCC and other cancers".

Cited References

1. Press Release on announcement of clinical data in thymoma and thymic carcinoma.
www.tizianalifesciences.com

2 . Aspeslagh, S., Shailubhai, K., Bahleda, R. et al. (2017). Phase I dose-escalation study of Milciclib in combination with gemcitabine in patients with refractory solid tumors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 79:1257-1265

About Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular cancer is the 5th most common cancer and the 3rd cause of cancer mortality worldwide. In 2007 the approval by the European Medical Agency (EMA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of sorafenib in HCC represented the first systemic therapy for improving outcome in patients unsuitable for loco-regional and surgical therapies and created a new standard of treatment for the disease. However, although significant in respect to placebo, the benefits of sorafenib are modest; the response rate is less than 3%, the improvement in median survival is 2-3 months and the drug-related symptoms are not ordinary. Therefore, more effective systemic therapy is required for both naive patients presenting with unresectable, advanced stage and those who suffer recurrence after curative treatments (resection, ablation and transplantation).

About Milciclib

Milciclib (PHA-848125AC) is a small molecule inhibitor of several cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) such as CDK1, CDK4, CDK5 and CDK7. CDKs are serine threonine kinases that play crucial roles in progression of the cell cycle from G1 to S phase. Overexpression of CDKs and other downstream signalling pathways that regulate cell cycles have been frequently found to be associated with development of resistance towards chemotherapies. In a phase I study, oral treatment with Milciclib was found to be well-tolerated and the drug showed promising clinical responses in patients with advanced solid malignancies such as in thymic carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma and colon cancer.

About Sorafenib

Sorafenib (co-developed and co-marketed by Bayer and Onyx Pharmaceuticals as Nexavar) is a small molecular multi tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug approved for the treatment of primary kidney cancer (advanced renal cell carcinoma), advanced primary liver cancer (HCC), and radioactive iodine resistant advanced thyroid carcinoma. Treatment with sorafenib induces autophagy, which may suppress tumor growth. However, autophagy can also cause drug resistance.

On May 16, 2018 BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO) reported that the company and its collaborators will present new interim clinical and biomarker data from its extensive Phase II clinical development programme with bemcentinib, a selective, oral AXL inhibitor, at the 2018 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL (1-5 June 2018) (Press release, BerGenBio, MAY 16, 2018, View Source [SID1234526697]). Abstracts are now available online at View Source and details of the presentations are below. The posters presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) will be made available on www.bergenbio.com in the Investors / Presentations section following the sessions.

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Presentations at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)
Monday 4 June, 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Central Daylight Time (Hall A)

Phase II open-label, multi-centre study of bemcentinib (BGB324), a first-in-class selective AXL inhibitor, in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced NSCLC.
James Lorens, PhD et al
Session: Developmental Therapeutics – Immunotherapy
Poster Board: #292, Abstract 3078
Identification of predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers associated with the first-in-class selective AXL inhibitor bemcentinib across multiple Phase II clinical trials.

Robert J Holt, PhD et al
Session: Developmental Therapeutics – Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Poster Board: #385, Abstract 2559
Analysis of anti-leukemic activity, predictive biomarker candidates, immune activation and pharmakodynamics in R/R AML and MDS in response to treatment with bemcentinib (BGB324), a first-in class selective AXL inhibitor, in a Phase II open-label, multi-centre study.

Bjørn T. Gjertsen, MD, PhD et al
Session: Hematologic Malignancies – Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and Allotransplant
Poster Board: #80, Abstract 7020
To be discussed at the Poster Discussion Session on Monday 4 June, 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM, at E450
Monday 4 June, 1:15 PM – 4:45 PM CDT (Hall A)

A randomized Phase Ib/II study of the selective small molecule AXL inhibitor bemcentinib (BGB324) in combination with either dabrafenib/trametinib or pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic melanoma.
Oddbjørn Straume, MD, PhD et al
Session: Melanoma/Skin Cancers
Poster Board: #375, Abstract 9548
BerGenBio reception
Coinciding with ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper), BerGenBio will host a reception for collaborators, investors, analysts, media and other interested parties on 2 June at The School of the Art Institute Ballroom in Chicago. At this event, short presentations will be given by clinical investigators participating in the bemcentinib clinical trials and by KOL experts in AXL kinase function. For further details and to receive an invitation, please click here.

The presentations will be made available on BerGenBio’s website in the Investors / Presentations section following the event.

On May 16, 2018 Onxeo S.A. (Euronext Paris, NASDAQ Copenhagen: ONXEO FR0010095596), a biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative drugs in oncology, notably against rare or resistant forms of cancer, reported its consolidated revenues and cash position at March 31, 2018 (Press release, Onxeo, MAY 16, 2018, View Source [SID1234526713]).

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Judith Greciet, Chief Executive Officer of Onxeo, said: "The first quarter of 2018 was highlighted by strong momentum in the development of AsiDNA, our lead product candidate. Following the significant efforts of our R&D team over the previous months, we recently initiated the DRIIV phase I clinical trial in order to evaluate the potential of AsiDNA, our first-in-class DNA repair inhibitor, administered intravenously, in patients with advanced solid tumors. We expect interim data from this study to be available in the second half of 2018. If these results confirm both the safety profile of AsiDNA and its activity, we will have achieved a key milestone in our AsiDNA development program. Importantly, we continue to advance our core R&D programs according to plan while maintaining strict cost control. As such, we expect that our current cash position of €9.2 million will support our currently planned activities until mid-2019, including through multiple potentially value-creating inflection points for our company.

On May 16, 2018 bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLUE) reported that updated interim data from CRB-401, its Phase 1 study of bb2121, an anti-BCMA CAR T cell therapy being developed by the company and Celgene, will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois (Press release, bluebird bio, MAY 16, 2018, View Source [SID1234526698]).

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"Since we first presented data for bb2121 in heavily pretreated patients with multiple myeloma, we have been hopeful about its potential to markedly improve the outcomes and expectations for this incurable disease," said David Davidson, M.D., chief medical officer, bluebird bio. "One of the most striking changes has been to see patients testing negative for minimal residual disease (MRD), which was previously unexpected in this population with advanced disease. As the data from the Phase 1 study continue to advance our understanding of the bb2121 dose response and safety profiles, we and Celgene are applying these lessons to optimize outcomes in KarMMA, the ongoing registration-enabling study of bb2121 in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma."

Oral Presentation
bb2121 anti-BCMA CAR T-cell therapy in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: Updated results from a multicenter phase I study. (Abstract 8007)

Presenter: Noopur S. Raje, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
Date & Time:Friday, June 1, 2018, 2:45-5:45 p.m. CT (3:45-6:45 p.m. ET)
Location: E450
Session Title: Hematologic Malignancies—Plasma Cell Dyscrasia

Poster Presentation
Early MRD negativity to predict deepening myeloma response in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients treated with bb2121 anti-BCMA CAR T cells. (Abstract 8024)

Presenter: Nikhil C. Munshi, M.D., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
Poster Session Date & Time:Monday, June 4, 2018, 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. CT (9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET)
Location: Poster Area Hall A
Session Title: Hematologic Malignancies—Plasma Cell Dyscrasia

Conference Call & Webcast Information

bluebird bio will host a conference call and live webcast at 6:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. ET) on Friday, June 1, 2018. To access the live webcast, please visit the "Events & Presentations" page within the Investors and Media section of the bluebird bio website at View Source Alternatively, investors may listen to the call by dialing (844) 825-4408 from locations in the United States or +1 (315) 625-3227 from outside the United States. Please refer to conference ID number 1489304. A replay of the webcast will be available on the bluebird bio website for 90 days following the call.