On 15 February, 2018 ISA Pharmaceuticals B.V. (‘ISA’), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, and Scancell Holdings plc, (‘Scancell’ or the ‘Company’), the developer of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, reported that they have entered into a worldwide licensing and collaboration agreement to use ISA’s AMPLIVANT adjuvant technology for the manufacturing, development and commercialisation of Scancell’s first Moditope development candidate, Modi-1 (Press release, ISA Pharmaceuticals, FEB 15, 2018, https://www.isa-pharma.com/isa-pharmaceuticals-and-scancell-enter-collaboration-agreement-for-the-manufacturing-development-and-commercialisation-of-modi-1-amplivant-combination/ [SID1234612392]). This partnership has the potential to provide a new treatment option for patients with triple negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, sarcomas, and other solid tumours.

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Under the terms of this agreement, ISA has granted Scancell an exclusive worldwide license to manufacture, develop and commercialise the AMPLIVANT:Modi-1 conjugate therapy and will contribute know-how and expertise related to AMPLIVANT. Clinical studies will be conducted by Scancell and are expected to commence in H1 2019.

In return, ISA will receive an upfront payment from Scancell and is entitled to milestone and royalty fees following achievement of certain criteria as defined in the agreement. Financial details were not disclosed.

Previous pre-clinical data demonstrated that conjugation of the Modi-1 peptides to AMPLIVANT enhances anti-tumour immune responses 10-100 fold and resulted in highly efficient tumour eradication, including protection against tumour re-challenge.

ISA’s AMPLIVANT technology can be applied to any type of targeted immunotherapy, significantly enhancing its efficacy. It is based on a proprietary and synthetic small molecule TLR1/2 ligand with enhanced immunostimulatory activity that can be chemically coupled to the respective immunotherapeutic. AMPLIVANT conjugates allow lower dosing with higher efficacy through better dendritic cell antigen processing and presentation, as well as enhanced T cell priming.

Scancell’s Moditope platform acts by stimulating the production of CD4+ T cells using citrullinated tumour-associated peptide epitopes. This technology overcomes the immune suppression induced by tumours themselves, allowing activated T cells to seek out and kill tumour cells that would otherwise be hidden from the immune system.

"This collaboration is an important step to advance new adjuvant technologies such as AMPLIVANT to clinical-stage programmes and bring patients better treatments," said Ronald Loggers, CEO of ISA Pharmaceuticals. "The partnership will further validate the power of AMPLIVANT conjugates for use in therapeutic cancer vaccines that carry a variety of epitopes, including post-translationally modified epitopes such as Scancell’s Moditope products."

Cliff Holloway, CEO of Scancell, commented: "This collaboration with ISA Pharmaceuticals is an important step in the continued development and commercialisation of our first Moditope immunotherapy, Modi-1, which has the potential to treat patients with triple negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer and sarcoma who are resistant to other immunotherapies. Our pre-clinical studies have demonstrated Modi-1 induces potent anti-tumour responses and significant improvements in survival. We believe that combining Modi-1 with an enabling adjuvant technology such as AMPLIVANT has the potential to significantly enhance its efficacy in patients and we are looking forward to moving this important and novel therapy into the clinic in the first half of 2019."

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR).

On February 15, 2018 Cancer Research UK reported that £45 million will be invested into its network of clinical trials units across the UK, one of the charity’s largest investments in clinical research to date (Press release, Cancer Research UK, FEB 15, 2018, View Source [SID1234523966]).

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"Our clinical research enables us to translate discoveries from the lab in order to improve cancer diagnostics and treatments, giving more patients the best chance of beating their disease." – Professor Charles Swanton, Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials units (CTUs) bring together world leading researchers and clinicians to find life-saving new treatments and tests for cancer patients.

Clinical trials are the only way to find out if a new treatment is safe to use, and if it’s better than existing treatments. Each year, around 25,000 people take part in a clinical trial that’s supported by Cancer Research UK.

The huge sum will be divided over 5 years across 8 CTUs in Cardiff, Birmingham, Glasgow, Southampton, Leeds and London (at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UCL, and Queen Mary University of London)*.

Professor Charles Swanton, Cancer Research UK’s chief clinician, said: "Our clinical research enables us to translate discoveries from the lab in order to improve cancer diagnostics and treatments, giving more patients the best chance of beating their disease.

"This is particularly important for patients with hard to treat cancers, including pancreatic, oesophageal, lung and brain tumours, where options for treatment are limited and survival rates remain poor."

Cancer Research UK’s CTUs specialise in the design, delivery and analysis of trials that bring the latest scientific developments to patients all over the UK. They’re a vital part of the charity’s research network, helping shape the clinical research landscape in the UK and internationally.

Each of the charity’s CTUs has a different specialist focus including children’s cancer trials, cancer screening, and population research.

In Birmingham, there will be dedicated funding for finding new treatments for children with cancer.

Professor Pamela Kearns, director of Birmingham’s Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials unit and Cancer Research UK’s children’s cancer expert, said: "Clinical trials are vital to test new treatments and improve the care of children with cancer. For example, within my team, with support from Cancer Research UK, we run the International BEACON** trial, testing new combinations of therapies for children and young people with a type of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma, at a stage where they have failed to respond to standard treatments.

"One question this trial is trying to answer is if a drug called bevacizumab can help treat their neuroblastoma. Bevacizumab is a type of biological therapy called a monoclonal antibody that targets the tumour’s blood supply. Doctors already treat adult cancers with this drug and we want to see if it works for children with neuroblastoma."

Trials are also helping us to find kinder treatments with fewer side effects.

Oliver Waugh, aged 54 from London, was diagnosed with tonsil cancer in 2009. As part of his treatment, he took part in a Cancer Research UK funded clinical trial which investigated a new type of radiotherapy called Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT). Researchers wanted to find out if IMRT caused fewer side effects and if it worked as well as standard radiotherapy for head and neck cancers.***

He said: "I was really pleased to have joined because I know the side effects from regular radiotherapy could have been far more severe. My mouth started to produce saliva again not long after treatment, and I slowly started to put weight back on.

"Now I eat what I want, including curries and other spicy food and feel lucky that the high quality of my treatment has helped me lead a regular life again and I can honestly say I’m fitter than I’ve ever been.

"I feel fortunate to have been offered the chance to help medical research and I hope that many more patients like me will get to lead full and healthy lives because of these improvements in treatment."

On February 15, 2018 GT Biopharma, Inc. (OTCQB: GTBP) (GTBP.PA) ("GT" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel cancer immunotherapy products as well as central nervous system treatments, reported that Shawn M. Cross will become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer effective February 15, 2018 (Press release, GT Biopharma , FEB 15, 2018, View Source [SID1234539533]).

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Mr. Cross has held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of GTBP since November 16, 2017. The plan to add The Chairman of the Board and CEO positions to Mr. Cross’ duties as President/COO was initiated by the Company’s board of directors to prepare the company for its next phase of growth. Mr. Cross will lead GTBP through NASDAQ capital markets listing process, attract institutional investment and analyst coverage to the company, and guide development of its neurology portfolio and its first TriKE into human clinical testing in 2018.

Dr. Kathleen Clarence-Smith will become Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and President of the Neurology Division to focus her efforts on creating value in GTBP’s central nervous system portfolio and drive the company’s intellectual property developments.

Anthony J. Cataldo will remain as a member of the Board of Directors and become a consultant to the company.

Mr. Cross is an internationally recognized healthcare investment banker specializing in the biopharmaceutical sector with over 20 years of experience and has completed dozens of capital markets and strategic transactions for growth-oriented biopharmaceutical companies. He joined GTBP as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Previously he was Managing Director, Head of Biotechnology Investment Banking at Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Managing Director and Head of Biopharmaceutical Investment Banking at Wells Fargo Securities, LLC where he completed dozens of capital markets and strategic transactions for growth-oriented biopharmaceutical companies.

GT Biopharma Executive Chairman Anthony J. Cataldo said, "It is now time to move GT Biopharma to an institutional quality biotech company. I created GTBP using the same model I used when creating, what is now known as, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (IOVA); an approximately $1.5 billion market cap company. The leadership provided by Shawn Cross, Dr. Kathleen Clarence-Smith and Dr. Ray Urbanski, our Chief Medical Officer will be invaluable to moving these assets towards clinical and commercial success. I am excited for our shareholders and look forward to helping the board and management progress GT Biopharma to becoming a significant biotech company."

GT Biopharma Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kathleen Clarence-Smith said, "Having known Shawn for over a decade, I’m confident that Shawn will be a very effective CEO for GTBP while I focus on maximizing the value of our neurology portfolio. I look forward to moving the company to the next level."

GT Biopharma President and COO Shawn M. Cross said, "I continue to see a great deal of promise in GT Biopharma’s pipeline of immuno-oncology and neurology therapeutics and am honored to become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of such a dynamic company. I look forward to announcing additional experienced members to our management team and board in the coming weeks. I also am excited to work closely with Dr. Urbanski as we prepare to enter our first TriKE into human clinical testing as well as with Dr. Clarence-Smith in creating value from our neurology portfolio."

On February 15, 2018 Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR) reported its financial and pipeline update for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017 (Press release, Acorda Therapeutics, FEB 15, 2018, View Source [SID1234523995]).

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"We continue to prepare for the potential approval and launch of INBRIJA, our investigational inhaled levodopa treatment for symptoms of OFF periods in people with Parkinson’s disease. We look forward to working with the FDA during the NDA review process, and to bringing this new treatment option to the Parkinson’s community to help address an important unmet need," said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acorda’s President and CEO. "Based on our continued market research, as well as the strength of our Phase 3 data, we believe INBRIJA’s US market opportunity to be greater than $800 million."

Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial Results

AMPYRA (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg – For the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company reported AMPYRA net revenue of $167.2 million compared to $132.3 million for the same quarter in 2016.

Royalty Revenue – For the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company reported royalty revenue of $16.1 million as compared to $4.4 million for the same quarter in 2016. The Company reported FAMPYRA royalties from sales outside of the U.S. of $3.1 million compared to $2.7 million for the same quarter in 2016. Additionally, the Company completed a transaction that provides a fully paid-up, royalty-free license for Selincro in exchange for $13.0 million which was recorded as royalty revenue in the quarter ended December 31, 2017. During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company completed a royalty purchase transaction for its Fampyra royalty revenue in exchange for an upfront payment of $40 million. The transaction was recorded as a liability in accordance with US GAAP which will be reduced over time as royalty revenue is recognized.

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 were $35.1 million, including $2.2 million of share-based compensation compared to $53.8 million, including $3.0 million of share-based compensation for the same quarter in 2016.

Sales, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 were $39.5 million, including $5.4 million of share-based compensation compared to $59.0 million, including $6.0 million of share-based compensation for the same quarter in 2016.

The Company recorded non-cash asset impairment charges of $233.5 million for tozadenant as a result of the termination of this program, and $23.8 million for SYN120 as a result of the trial not meeting key primary and secondary endpoints. The Company assessed the valuation assumptions for both programs and determined the assets were fully impaired. Both of these charges were recorded in the quarter ended December 31, 2017.

Benefit from income taxes for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 was $51.9 million, including $2.7 million of cash taxes, compared to a provision for income taxes of $1.0 million, including $0.7 million of cash taxes for the same quarter in 2016.

The Company reported a GAAP net loss attributable to Acorda of $(171.1) million for the quarter ended December

31, 2017, or $(3.70) per diluted share. GAAP net loss in the same quarter of 2016 was $(3.1) million, or $(0.07) per diluted share.

Non-GAAP net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 was $28.5 million, or $0.61 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income in the same quarter of 2016 was $2.5 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. This quarterly non-GAAP net income measure, more fully described below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures," excludes share-based compensation charges, non-cash interest charges on our debt, restructuring expenses, changes in the fair value of acquired contingent consideration, asset impairment charges, gain on sale of assets and acquisition-related expenses. A reconciliation of the GAAP financial results to non-GAAP financial results is included with the attached financial statements.

Financial Results – Full Year Ended December 31, 2017

AMPYRA (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg – For the full year ended December 31, 2017 net revenue was $543.3 million compared to $492.8 million for full year 2016. Full year 2017 net revenue increased 10.2% over 2016.

Royalty Revenue – For the full year ended December 31, 2017, the Company reported royalty revenue of $29.5 million compared to $17.2 million for the full year 2016. The Company reported FAMPYRA royalties from sales outside of the U.S. of $11.6 million compared to $10.6 million for the full year 2016. Royalty revenue related to the authorized generic version of Zanaflex was $2.6 million compared to $3.9 million for the full year 2016. Additionally, the Company reported $15.3 million in royalties for Selincro for the full year 2017, which includes $13.0 million of royalty revenue related to the Selincro royalty transaction.

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2017 were $166.1 million, including $9.7 million of share-based compensation, compared to $203.4 million, including $10.6 million of share-based compensation for the full year 2016

Sales, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2017 were $181.6 million, including $23.1 million of share-based compensation, compared to $235.4 million, including $25.8 million of share-based compensation for the full year 2016.

Asset impairment charges for the full year ended December 31, 2017 include $233.5 million for tozadenant, $23.8 million for SYN120, and $39.4 million for Selincro.

Benefit from income taxes for the full year ended December 31, 2017 was $28.5 million, including $14.1 million of cash taxes compared to a benefit from income taxes of $6.7 million, including $4.3 million of cash taxes for the full year 2016.

For the full year ended December 31, 2017, the Company reported a GAAP net loss of $(223.4) million, or $(4.86) per diluted share. GAAP net loss for the full year 2016 was $(34.6) million, or $(0.76) per diluted share.

Non-GAAP net income for the full year ended December 31, 2017 was $80.7 million, or $1.75 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income for the full year ended December 31, 2016 was $11.5 million, or $0.25 per diluted share. This full year non-GAAP net income measure, more fully described below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures," excludes share-based compensation charges, non-cash interest charges on our debt, restructuring expenses, changes in the fair value of acquired contingent consideration, asset impairment charges, gain on sale of assets, realized foreign currency loss (gain) and acquisition related expenses. A reconciliation of the GAAP financial results to non-GAAP financial results is included with the attached financial statements.

At December 31, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $307.1 million.

2018 Financial Guidance

AMPYRA net revenue is expected to be $330-$350 million. The Company expects to maintain exclusivity of AMPYRA at least through July 30, 2018; this guidance is subject to change based on the appellate court’s decision.

R&D expenses for the full year 2018 are expected to be $100-$110 million and include manufacturing expenses associated with INBRIJA. This guidance is a non-GAAP projection that excludes share-based compensation as more fully described below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

SG&A expenses for the full year 2018 are expected to be $170-$180 million. This guidance is a non-GAAP projection that excludes share-based compensation as more fully described below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Year-end cash balance for 2018 is projected to be over $300 million

Fourth Quarter 2017 Pipeline and Corporate Updates

INBRIJA (levodopa inhalation powder) Next Steps

The Company resubmitted the NDA for INBRIJA in December 2017. The FDA is expected to inform the Company if the submission has been deemed complete and permits a full review in February 2018.

The Company expects to file a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in Q1 2018.

AMPYRA (dalfampridine) Patent Appeal

In November, 2017, the Company and the defendants filed reply briefs for the appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit of the District Court’s decision in the AMPYRA patent litigation. The date for oral argument is expected in the first half of 2018.

Both BIO and PhRMA filed amicus briefs in support of the Company’s appeal, raising important issues in conjunction with biopharmaceutical innovation.

Royalty Monetization Transactions/ZANAFLEX (tizanidine hydrochloride) Franchise Sale

In November, 2017, the Company announced royalty monetization transactions of $53 million for FAMPYRA and SELINCRO.

The Company also announced the sale of ZANAFLEX and ZANAFLEX CAPSULES for $4 million.

SYN120 Phase 2 Data in Parkinson’s disease

Data from the Phase 2 proof-of-concept study for SYN120 showed that several of the outcome measures trended in favor of drug versus placebo; neither the primary nor key secondary endpoints achieved statistical significance.

The Company continues to review the data, which will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.

Tozadenant Program Discontinued

In November, 2017, the Company discontinued its clinical development program for tozadenant, an investigational treatment for Parkinson’s disease. The Company made this decision based on the emergence of serious adverse events in its Phase 3 program.

Webcast and Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET. To participate, dial

(866) 393-4306 (domestic) or (734) 385-2616 (international); access code 8789908. The presentation will be available on the Investors section of www.acorda.com.

A replay of the call will be available from 11:30 a.m. ET on February 15, 2018 until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 15, 2018. To access the replay, dial (855) 859-2056 (domestic) or (404) 537-3406 (international); reference code 8789908. The archived webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Acorda website.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes financial results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), and also certain historical and forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures. In particular, Acorda has provided non-GAAP net income, adjusted to exclude the items below, and has provided 2018 guidance for R&D and SG&A expenses on a non-GAAP basis. Non-GAAP financial measures are not an alternative for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. However, the Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP net income, when viewed in conjunction with our GAAP results, provides investors with a more meaningful understanding of our ongoing and projected operating performance because this measure excludes (i) non-cash compensation charges and benefits that are substantially dependent on changes in the market price of our common stock, (ii) non-cash interest charges related to the accounting for our outstanding convertible debt which are in excess of the actual interest expense owing on such convertible debt as well as non-cash interest related to the Fampyra monetization, non-cash interest charges related to our asset based loan which was terminated in 2017 and acquired Biotie debt, (iii) changes in the fair value of acquired contingent consideration which do not correlate to our actual cash payment obligations in the relevant periods, (iv) acquisition related expenses and related foreign currency losses and gains that pertain to a non-recurring event, (v) corporate restructuring expenses that pertain to a non-recurring event, (vi) asset impairments which are non-cash charges that relate to program terminations that are not routine to the operation of the business, and (vii) gain on sale of assets that pertains to a non-recurring event. The Company believes its non-GAAP net income measure helps indicate underlying trends in the Company’s business and is important in comparing current results with prior period results and understanding projected operating performance. Also, management uses this non-GAAP financial measure to establish budgets and operational goals, and to manage the Company’s business and to evaluate its performance.

In addition to non-GAAP net income, we have provided 2018 guidance for R&D and SG&A expenses on a non-GAAP basis. Due to the forward looking nature of this information, the amount of compensation charges and benefits needed to reconcile these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future changes in the market price of our common stock and is not available at this time. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures, when viewed in conjunction with our GAAP results, provide investors with a more meaningful understanding of our ongoing and projected R&D and SG&A expenses. Also, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to establish budgets and operational goals, and to manage the Company’s business and to evaluate its performance.

On February 15, 2018 AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, US (known as MSD outside the US and Canada) reported that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for selumetinib, a MEK 1/2 inhibitor, for the treatment of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) (Press release, AstraZeneca, FEB 15, 2018, View Source [SID1234523985]).

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NF1 is an incurable genetic condition that affects one in 3,000 births,[i] with highly-variable symptoms, including cutaneous (skin), neurological (nervous system) and orthopaedic (skeletal) manifestations. NF1 can cause secondary complications including learning difficulties, visual impairment, pain, disfigurement, twisting and curvature of the spine, high blood pressure and epilepsy. Plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) are a neurological manifestation of NF1 and arise from nerve fascicles that tend to grow along the length of the nerve. PNs occur in approximately 20-50% of NF1 patients causing pain, motor dysfunction and disfigurement.[ii]

Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer, at AstraZeneca, said: "Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a devastating condition that can lead to life-threatening complications. There is no known cure for neurofibromatosis and there are limited treatment options to manage symptoms."

Roy Baynes, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Clinical Development, Chief Medical Officer, at MSD Research Laboratories, said: "We’re looking forward to working with our colleagues at AstraZeneca to develop selumetinib and understand how it may benefit patients with NF1."

The potential benefit of selumetinib in NF1 is being explored in the US National Cancer Institute-sponsored Phase I/II SPRINT trial in paediatric patients with symptomatic NF1-related PNs. Phase II trial results are expected later in 2018.

The FDA’s ODD programme provides orphan status to medicines that are defined as those intended for the safe and effective treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases or disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the US.

In addition to NF1, selumetinib is being investigated in the Phase III ASTRA trial of patients who are diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) following surgery and treatment with radioactive iodine. Selumetinib was granted ODD by the US FDA for the adjuvant treatment of stage III/IV DTC in 2016. It is also being explored as a monotherapy and in combination with other treatments in Phase I trials.

NOTES TO EDITORS
About neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)

NF1 is caused by a spontaneous or inherited mutation in the NF1 gene. The disease is associated with many symptoms, including soft lumps on and under the skin (subcutaneous neurofibromas), skin pigmentation (cafe au lait spots) and, in 20-50% of patients, tumours on the nerve sheaths (plexiform neurofibromas). These plexiform neurofibromas can cause morbidities such as pain, motor dysfunction and disfigurement. Patients with NF1 may experience a number of other complications such as learning difficulties, visual impairment, twisting and curvature of the spine, high blood pressure, and epilepsy. People with NF1 also have an increased risk of developing other cancers, including malignant brain and peripheral nerve sheath tumours, and leukaemia. Symptoms begin during early childhood, with varying degrees of severity, and can reduce life expectancy by up to 15 years.[iii]

About selumetinib

Selumetinib is an investigational MEK 1/2 inhibitor licensed by AstraZeneca from Array BioPharma Inc. in 2003.

The NF1 gene provides instructions for making a protein called Neurofibromin, which negatively regulates the RAS/MAPK pathway, helping to control cell growth, differentiation and survival. Mutations in the NF1 gene may result in dysregulations in RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signalling, which can cause cells to grow, divide and copy themselves in an uncontrolled manner, and may result in tumour growth. Selumetinib inhibits the MEK enzyme in this pathway, potentially leading to inhibition of tumour growth.

About the AstraZeneca and MSD Strategic Oncology Collaboration

In July 2017, AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, US, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced a global strategic oncology collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialise Lynparza (olaparib), the world’s first PARP inhibitor, and potential new medicine selumetinib, a MEK inhibitor, for multiple cancer types. The collaboration is based on increasing evidence that PARP and MEK inhibitors can be combined with PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors for a range of tumour types. Working together, the companies will develop Lynparza and selumetinib in combination with other potential new medicines and as a monotherapy. Independently, the companies will develop Lynparza and selumetinib in combination with their respective PD-L1 and PD-1 medicines.

About AstraZeneca in Oncology

AstraZeneca has a deep-rooted heritage in Oncology and offers a quickly-growing portfolio of new medicines that has the potential to transform patients’ lives and the Company’s future. With at least six new medicines to be launched between 2014 and 2020, and a broad pipeline of small molecules and biologics in development, we are committed to advance New Oncology as one of AstraZeneca’s five Growth Platforms focused on lung, ovarian, breast and blood cancers. In addition to our core capabilities, we actively pursue innovative partnerships and investments that accelerate the delivery of our strategy, as illustrated by our investment in Acerta Pharma in haematology.

By harnessing the power of four scientific platforms – Immuno-Oncology, Tumour Drivers and Resistance, DNA Damage Response and Antibody Drug Conjugates – and by championing the development of personalised combinations, AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer treatment and one day eliminate cancer as a cause of death