Coherus BioSciences Management to Present at the 2018 Cantor Global Healthcare Conference in October

On September 17, 2018 Coherus BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS), reported that senior management will be presenting at the 2018 Cantor Global Healthcare Conference being held in New York on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 8:00 am ET (Press release, Coherus Biosciences, SEP 17, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2367664 [SID1234529471]).

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The audio portion of the presentation will be available on the investors page of the Coherus BioSciences website at View Source

AbbVie to Host Third-Quarter 2018 Earnings Conference Call

On September 17, 2018 AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, reported that it will announce its third-quarter 2018 financial results on Friday, November 2 2018, before the market opens (Press release, AbbVie, SEP 17, 2018, View Source [SID1234529546]). AbbVie will host a live webcast of the earnings conference call at 8 a.m. Central time (9 a.m. Eastern). It will be accessible through AbbVie’s Investor Relations website investors.abbvie.com. An archived edition of the session will be available later that day.

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FDA Grants Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to Cellectar Biosciences’ CLR 131 for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma

On September 17, 2018 Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLRB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of cancer, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) to CLR 131 for the treatment of osteosarcoma, a rare pediatric cancer (Press release, Cellectar Biosciences, SEP 17, 2018, View Source [SID1234530175]). CLR 131 is Cellectar’s lead Phospholipid Drug Conjugate (PDC) product candidate.

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"CLR 131 has demonstrated promise as an anticancer agent in preclinical and clinical settings, and we are working now to establish its impact on various rare and deadly pediatric cancers," said John Friend, M.D., chief medical officer of Cellectar. "Cellectar is pleased to have the opportunity to work closely with the FDA on our planned Phase 1 trial for these indications and we remain committed to advancing the pediatric programs as rapidly as possible."

Since May 2018 the company has received RPDD for CLR 131 in four pediatric cancers: neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing’s Sarcoma and, most recently, osteosarcoma. Should any of these indications reach approval, the RPDD may enable Cellectar to receive a priority review voucher. Priority review vouchers can be used by the sponsor to receive Priority Review for a future NDA or BLA submission, which would reduce the FDA review time from 12 months to six months. Currently, these vouchers can also be transferred or sold to another entity. Over the last 16 months, five priority review vouchers were sold for between $110 million and $150 million each.

The FDA grants Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for diseases that primarily affect children from birth to 18 years old, and affect fewer than 200,000 persons in the U.S. This program is intended to encourage development of new drugs and biologics for the prevention and treatment of rare pediatric diseases.

About Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma derives from bone forming mesenchymal, or connective tissue, cells and is the most commonly diagnosed primary bone malignancy among children and adolescents. The incidence is about 4.4 cases per 1 million per year in children younger than 24 years [Mirabello 2009]. While there is a 70% cure rate among patients with localized disease, 5-year overall survival rates are approximately 20% for among patients who develop metastatic disease [Saraf 2018]. Additionally, among patients who experience disease progression or recurrence survival for is less than 30% [Chou 2005].

About CLR 131

CLR 131 is Cellectar’s investigational radioiodinated PDC therapy that exploits the tumor-targeting properties of the company’s proprietary phospholipid ether (PLE) and PLE analogs to selectively deliver radiation to malignant tumor cells, thus minimizing radiation exposure to normal tissues. CLR 131 is in a Phase 2 clinical study in R/R MM and a range of B-cell malignancies and a Phase 1b clinical study in patients with R/R MM exploring fractionated dosing. The objective of the multicenter, open-label, Phase 1b dose-escalation study is the characterization of safety and tolerability of CLR 131 in patients with R/R MM. Patients in Cohorts 1-4 received single doses of CLR 131 ranging from 12.5 mCi/m2 to 31.25 mCi/m2. All study doses have been deemed safe and well tolerated by an independent Data Monitoring Committee. The company is currently initiating a Phase 1 study with CLR 131 in pediatric solid tumors and lymphoma and is planning a second Phase 1 study in combination with external beam radiation for head and neck cancer.

BeiGene Announces Oral Data Presentations at Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology

On September 16, 2018 BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKEX: 06160), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative molecularly-targeted and immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of cancer, reported four oral clinical data presentations on two of its late-stage investigational therapies, tislelizumab and zanubrutinib, at the 21st Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) (Press release, BeiGene, SEP 16, 2018, View Source [SID1234529451]). The meeting will take place September 19 – 23 in Xiamen, China. Tislelizumab is an investigational anti-PD-1 antibody, and zanubrutinib is an investigational small molecule inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK).

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Oral Presentations:

Title: Clinical Profile of Tislelizumab in Chinese Patients with Microsatellite Instability High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair-Deficient (MMRd) Solid Tumors: Preliminary Results from an Indication-Expansion Cohort
Abstract ID: 449
Location: Second Floor, Straits Hall
Date: Thursday, September 20, 2018
Time: 16:45 – 16:55 (CST)
Presenter: Lin Shen, M.D.


Title: Tislelizumab Combined with Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment in Chinese Patients (Pts) with Advanced Lung Cancer
Abstract ID: 450
Location: First Floor, Concert Hall
Date: Friday, September 21, 2018
Time: 11:30 – 11:38 (CST)
Presenter: Jie Wang, M.D., Ph.D.


Title: Preliminary Results with Tislelizumab in Chinese Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Abstract ID: 448
Location: First Floor, Concert Hall
Date: Friday, September 21, 2018
Time: 11:38 – 11:45 (CST)
Presenter: Qing Zhou, M.D.


Title: A Phase 1 Clinical Study to Investigate the Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics of BTK Inhibitor BGB-3111 in Chinese Patients with B-Cell Lymphoma
Abstract ID: N/A
Location: First Floor, G Hall
Date: Saturday, September 22, 2018
Time: 08:30 – 08:45 (CST)
Presenter: Jun Zhu, M.D.

About Tislelizumab
Tislelizumab (BGB-A317) is an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody that belongs to a class of immuno-oncology agents known as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Discovered by BeiGene scientists in Beijing, tislelizumab is designed to bind to PD-1, a cell surface receptor that plays an important role in downregulating the immune system by preventing the activation of T-cells. Tislelizumab has demonstrated high affinity and specificity for PD-1. It is potentially differentiated from the currently approved PD-1 antibodies in an engineered Fc region, which is believed to minimize potentially negative interactions with other immune cells, based on preclinical data. Tislelizumab is being developed as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies for the treatment of a broad array of both solid tumor and hematologic cancers. BeiGene and Celgene Corporation have a global strategic collaboration for the development of tislelizumab in solid tumor cancers outside of Asia (except Japan). Tislelizumab’s new drug submission for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (R/R cHL) has been accepted and is under review by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA, formerly known as CFDA or CDA).

About Zanubrutinib
Zanubrutinib (BGB-3111) is an investigational small molecule inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) that was discovered in BeiGene’s research facilities in Beijing, China. It is currently being evaluated in a broad pivotal clinical program globally and in China as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies to treat various B-cell malignancies. Zanubrutinib is under review as a Category 1 new drug submission for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) by the NMPA of China.

US FDA approves Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox-tdfk) for certain patients with relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukaemia

On September 14, 2018 AstraZeneca and MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, reported that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox-tdfk) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) who have received at least two prior systemic therapies, including treatment with a purine nucleoside analog (Press release, AstraZeneca, SEPT 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234529431]). Lumoxiti is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl ≤ 29 mL/min).2 The Phase III trial results demonstrated 75% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64, 84) of patients receiving Lumoxiti achieved an overall response; 30% (95% CI: 20, 41) had a durable complete response.2,3

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Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice-President, Global Head Oncology Business Unit, said: "Today’s FDA approval of Lumoxiti represents a significant milestone for people living with hairy cell leukaemia, a rare blood cancer that can result in serious and life-threatening conditions. For patients, this approval provides the first FDA-approved medicine for this condition in more than 20 years."

Robert J. Kreitman, MD, Senior Investigator, Head of Clinical Immunotherapy Section, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, and Principal Investigator of the Phase III clinical trial, said: "While many patients with hairy cell leukaemia experience a remission with current treatments, 30% to 40% will relapse five to ten years after their first treatment.4 With subsequent treatments, durations of response diminish and toxicities accumulate, and few approved treatment options exist.5,6 Moxetumomab pasudotox represents a promising non-chemotherapeutic agent for HCL, addressing an unmet medical need for physicians and their patients."

Lumoxiti was approved under FDA Priority Review.7 The approval is based on data from the Phase III single-arm, open-label ‘1053’ trial of Lumoxiti monotherapy in 80 patients who have received at least two prior therapies, including a purine nucleoside analog.3 The primary endpoint of the trial was durable complete response.3 Summary of key results from the trial, as determined by a blinded independent central review:2

Efficacy measure

Result %, (95% CI)

Durable complete response ratea,b

30% (20, 41)

Overall response ratec

75% (64, 84)

Complete response rated

41% (30, 53)

Partial response ratee

34% (24, 45)

Haematologic remission rateb

80%

a Durable complete response is defined as patients who achieved complete response with haematologic remission for a duration of more than 180 days

b Haematologic remission is defined as haemoglobin > 11g/dL, neutrophils > 1500/mm3, platelets > 100,000/mm3 without transfusions or growth factor for at least 4 weeks

c Overall response rate is defined as best overall response of complete response or partial response

d Complete response is defined as clearing of the bone marrow of hairy cells by routine haematoxylin and eosin stain, radiologic resolution of pre-existing lymphadenopathy and/or organomegaly, and haematologic remission

e Partial response is defined as ≥ 50% decrease or normalisation (< 500/mm3) in peripheral blood lymphocyte count, reduction of pre-existing lymphadenopathy and/or organomegaly, and haematologic remission

The median time to haematologic remission was 1.1 months (range: 0.2 to 13).2 At data cut-off, the median duration of complete response was not yet reached after a median 16.7 months of follow-up.2

Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), including life-threatening cases of each, have been reported among patients treated with Lumoxiti. In the combined safety database of 129 HCL patients treated with Lumoxiti, Grade 3 or 4 CLS occurred in 1.6% and 2% of patients, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 HUS occurred in 3% and 0.8% of patients, respectively.2

In the ‘1053’ trial of 80 patients, the most common Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions (reported in at least ≥ 5% of patients) were hypertension, febrile neutropenia, and HUS. HUS was the most common adverse reaction leading to discontinuation (5%). The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) of any grade were infusion related reactions (50%), oedema (39%), nausea (35%), fatigue (34%), headache (33%), pyrexia (31%), constipation (23%), anaemia (21%), and diarrhoea (21%). The most common laboratory abnormalities (≥ 20%) of any grade were creatinine increased, ALT increased, hypoalbuminaemia, AST increased, hypocalcaemia, hypophosphataemia, haemoglobin decreased, neutrophil count decreased, hyponatreamia, blood bilirubin increased, hypokalaemia, GGT increased, hypomagnesaemia, platelet count decreased, hyperuricaemia, and alkaline phosphate increased.2

The recommended dose of Lumoxiti is 0.04 mg/kg administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes on days 1, 3, and 5 of each 28-day cycle up to 6 cycles, disease progression, or unacceptable toxicity.2

Notes to Editors
About hairy cell leukaemia

Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a rare, chronic, and slow-growing leukaemia in which the bone marrow overproduces abnormal B cell lymphocytes.8,9 HCL can result in serious and life-threatening conditions, including infections, bleeding and anaemia.10 Approximately 1,000 people are diagnosed with HCL in the US each year.11 While many patients initially respond to treatment, 30% to 40% will relapse five to ten years after their first treatment.4 With no established standard of care and very few treatments available, there remains significant unmet medical need for people with relapsed or refractory HCL.4,8

About Lumoxiti

Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox, formerly CAT8015 or HA22) is a CD22-directed cytotoxin and a first-in-class treatment in the US for adult patients with relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) who have received at least two prior systemic therapies, including treatment with a purine nucleoside analog. Lumoxiti is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl ≤ 29 mL/min).2 It comprises the CD22 binding portion of an antibody fused to a truncated bacterial toxin; the toxin inhibits protein synthesis and ultimately triggers apoptotic cell death.2 Lumoxiti has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the treatment of HCL.

About the ‘1053’ Phase III trial

The ‘1053’ trial is a single-arm, multicentre Phase III clinical trial assessing the efficacy, safety, immunogenicity and pharmacokinetics of moxetumomab pasudotox monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory HCL who have received at least two prior therapies, including one purine nucleoside analog. The trial was conducted in 80 patients across 34 sites in 14 countries. The primary endpoint was durable complete response (CR), defined as CR with haematologic remission (blood count normalisation) for >180 days. Secondary outcome measures included overall response rate, relapse free survival, progression-free survival, time to response, safety, pharmacokinetic and immunogenic potential.7

Early discovery of moxetumomab pasudotox was led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The collaboration between NCI and MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics research and development arm, is an example of how scientific partnerships can lead to important advances for cancer patients.