Argos Obtains Option to License PD1 Checkpoint Inhibitors

On February 5, 2018 Argos Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:ARGS), an immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of individualized immunotherapies based on the Arcelis precision immunotherapy technology platform, reported that it has entered into an option agreement with Pharmstandard International, S.A. and Actigen Limited under which the Company has an option to license a group of fully human anti-PD1 monoclonal antibodies (PD1 checkpoint inhibitors) and related technology (Press release, Argos Therapeutics, FEB 5, 2018, View Source [SID1234523730]).

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Results of a preclinical study of a murine analogue of Rocapuldencel-T (Roca-T), the Company’s investigational dendritic cell therapy for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), in various combinations with a murine PD1 monoclonal antibody (anti-mPD1) and sunitinib in a mouse model of renal cell carcinoma were recently presented at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)-SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium. In this model, murine dendritic cell precursors were processed in a similar manner to that by which human monocytes are processed to manufacture Roca-T. Multiple combination dosing strategies were tested, all of which included treatment with sunitinib. Anti-mPD1 was tested both with administration two days following tumor inoculation (therapeutic administration) and with administration six days prior to tumor inoculation (prophylactic administration).

The dosing regimen consisting of dendritic cells followed by anti-mPD1 (therapeutic administration) and sunitinib showed a substantial synergistic effect, with median overall survival (mOS) of 67 days. This compared favorably with the regimen evaluating anti-mPD1 (therapeutic administration) and sunitinib (mOS of 39 days) and with dendritic cells followed by sunitinib (mOS of 46 days). Of note, the timing of anti-mPD1 administration was found to be important, as the regimen consisting of dendritic cells in combination with anti-mPD1 (prophylactic administration) and sunitinib showed a mOS of 48 days. Control mice had a mOS of 29 days.

Of note, histologic evaluation in these studies revealed that murine dendritic cells with similar properties to Roca-T resulted in recruitment and migration of lymphocytes into the tumor microenvironment and an increase in CD8+CD28+CD45RA- memory T cells. An increase in this same type of memory T cell after seven doses of Roca-T, as measured in blood samples, correlated with longer survival in the Company’s phase 3 ADAPT clinical trial of Roca-T in mRCC patients. These findings suggest that the mechanism of action of the murine analogue of Roca-T in this model is similar to that of Roca-T in man.

"Data from this study support the rationale for combining dendritic cell therapy with a PD1 checkpoint inhibitor in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma," noted Charles Nicolette, chief scientific officer, Argos Therapeutics. "These data also demonstrate the importance of the administration sequence for active immunotherapy with a murine analogue of Roca-T and a PD1 checkpoint inhibitor, along with sunitinib, and suggest that the cellular immune response must be initiated and established prior to administration of anti-mPD1 and sunitinib in order to achieve synergy in this murine model of mRCC."

Jeff Abbey, president and chief executive officer, Argos Therapeutics, added "We are pleased to have secured an option to license a group of fully human PD1 antibodies from Pharmstandard and Actigen. Provided sufficient funding is available, we expect to exercise this option and undertake the necessary preclinical studies in order to initiate clinical development of Roca-T in combination with a PD1 antibody."

Conference Call Logistics

The Company will host a conference call beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 6, 2018. To participate by telephone, please dial (855) 433-0930 (Domestic) or (484) 756-4271 (International). The conference ID number is 8327219. A live and archived audio webcast can be accessed through the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.argostherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will remain available on the Company’s website for twelve (12) months following the call.

Phase 3 PROSPER Trial Shows XTANDI® (enzalutamide) Significantly Reduced the Risk of Metastasis or Death by 71 Percent in Men with Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

On February 5, 2018 Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503), President and CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka, "Astellas," and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported results from the Phase 3 PROSPER trial in patients with non-metastatic (M0) Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) (Press release, Astellas Pharma US, FEB 5, 2018, View Source [SID1234523731]). The results show that the use of XTANDI (enzalutamide) plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) significantly reduced the risk of developing metastases or death by 71 percent compared to ADT alone. The median for the primary endpoint, metastasis-free survival (MFS), was 36.6 months for men who received XTANDI compared to 14.7 months with ADT alone (n=1401; HR=0.29 [95% CI: 0.24-0.35]; p<0.0001). These data will be presented at the 2018 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.

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Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world. (PRNewsFoto/Astellas Pharma Inc.)

Marketing applications based on the results of the PROSPER study have been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The FDA and EMA each have a filing review period during which they evaluate whether an application is complete and acceptable for filing. The data are also being submitted to additional regulatory authorities around the world.

"In patients with non-metastatic CRPC, there is a high unmet need to delay development of metastases and the progression to advanced prostate cancer. There are currently no approved systemic therapies for patients with non-metastatic CRPC in the U.S.," said Maha Hussain, M.D., Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, who will present the data. "In the PROSPER trial, treatment with enzalutamide plus ADT delayed the development of metastases compared to standard of care ADT alone and, if approved, may provide men with non-metastatic CRPC an important new treatment option."

PROSPER also investigated time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression, time to first use of new antineoplastic therapy and overall survival (OS) as key secondary endpoints. The analysis demonstrated that patients who received XTANDI plus ADT had a 93 percent reduction in relative risk of PSA progression compared to patients who received ADT alone (HR=0.07 [95% CI: 0.05-0.08]; P<0.0001). XTANDI plus ADT delayed the median time to PSA progression by 33.3 months (37.2 months [95% CI: 33.1-NR] versus 3.9 months with ADT alone [95% CI: 3.8-4.0]).

XTANDI plus ADT prolonged the median time to first use of new antineoplastic therapy by 21.9 months versus ADT alone (39.6 months [95% CI: 37.7-NR] vs. 17.7 months [95% CI: 16.2-19.7]), a 79 percent relative risk reduction (HR=0.21 [95% CI: 0.17-0.26]; p<0.0001). At the time of the first interim analysis, median OS had not yet been reached in either treatment arm. However, these interim results demonstrated a trend in favor of XTANDI that was not statistically significant (HR=0.80 [95% CI: 0.58-1.09]; p=0.1519).

Adverse events in the PROSPER trial were generally consistent with those reported in prior enzalutamide clinical trials in patients with metastatic CRPC. Grade 3 or higher adverse events were reported in 31 percent of men treated with XTANDI plus ADT and in 23 percent of men treated with ADT alone. The most common (≥2%) Grade 3 or higher adverse events that were reported more often in XTANDI plus ADT-treated patients included hypertension (5% vs. 2%) and fatigue (3% vs. 1%). Major adverse cardiovascular events were reported in 5 percent of patients who received XTANDI plus ADT and 3 percent with ADT alone. Three seizures (<1%) were reported with XTANDI plus ADT patients and none were reported for those who received ADT alone. The percentage of patients in whom adverse events were the primary reason leading to treatment discontinuation was low in both study arms (9% with XTANDI plus ADT versus 6% with ADT alone).

About PROSPER
The Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-national trial enrolled approximately 1,400 patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) at sites in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and the Asia-Pacific region. PROSPER enrolled patients with prostate cancer that had progressed, based on a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level despite androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), but who had no symptoms and no prior or present evidence of metastatic disease. The trial evaluated enzalutamide at a dose of 160 mg taken orally once daily plus ADT, versus placebo plus ADT.

The primary endpoint of the PROSPER trial, metastasis-free survival (MFS), is a measure of the amount of time that passes until a cancer can be radiographically detected as having metastasized, or until death, within 112 days of treatment discontinuation. Secondary endpoints included time to PSA progression, time to first use of antineoplastic therapy and overall survival.

For more information on the PROSPER trial, go to www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide.1 More than 164,000 men in the United States are estimated to be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018.2 In the European Union, the estimated number of new prostate cancer cases in 2015 was 365,000.3

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) refers to the subset of men whose prostate cancer progresses despite castration levels of testosterone.4 Non-metastatic CRPC means there is no clinically detectable evidence of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body (metastases), and there is a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level.5 Many men with non-metastatic CRPC and a rapidly rising PSA level go on to develop metastatic CRPC.6

About XTANDI (enzalutamide) capsules
XTANDI (enzalutamide) is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Important Safety Information

Contraindications
XTANDI is not indicated for women. XTANDI can cause fetal harm and potential loss of pregnancy.

Warnings and Precautions
Seizure occurred in 0.5% of patients receiving XTANDI in clinical studies. In a study of patients with predisposing factors, seizures were reported in 2.2% of patients. See section 5.1 of the Prescribing Information for the list of predisposing factors. It is unknown whether anti-epileptic medications will prevent seizures with XTANDI. Permanently discontinue XTANDI in patients who develop a seizure during treatment.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) In post approval use, there have been reports of PRES in patients receiving XTANDI. PRES is a neurological disorder which can present with rapidly evolving symptoms including seizure, headache, lethargy, confusion, blindness, and other visual and neurological disturbances, with or without associated hypertension. A diagnosis of PRES requires confirmation by brain imaging, preferably MRI. Discontinue XTANDI in patients who develop PRES.

Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) that occurred more commonly (≥2% over placebo) in the XTANDI patients from the two placebo-controlled clinical trials were asthenia/fatigue, back pain, decreased appetite, constipation, arthralgia, diarrhea, hot flush, upper respiratory tract infection, peripheral edema, dyspnea, musculoskeletal pain, weight decreased, headache, hypertension, and dizziness/vertigo. In the bicalutamide-controlled study of chemotherapy-naïve patients, the most common adverse reactions (≥10%) reported in XTANDI patients were asthenia/fatigue, back pain, musculoskeletal pain, hot flush, hypertension, nausea, constipation, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, and weight loss.

In the placebo-controlled study of patients taking XTANDI who previously received docetaxel, Grade 3 and higher adverse reactions were reported among 47% of XTANDI patients and 53% of placebo patients. Discontinuations due to adverse events were reported for 16% of XTANDI patients and 18% of placebo patients. In the placebo-controlled study of chemotherapy-naïve patients, Grade 3-4 adverse reactions were reported in 44% of XTANDI patients and 37% of placebo patients. Discontinuations due to adverse events were reported for 6% of both study groups. In the bicalutamide-controlled study of chemotherapy-naïve patients, Grade 3-4 adverse reactions were reported in 38.8% of XTANDI patients and 37.6% of bicalutamide patients. Discontinuations due to adverse events were reported for 7.6% of XTANDI patients and 6.3% of bicalutamide patients.

Lab Abnormalities: In the two placebo-controlled trials, Grade 1-4 neutropenia occurred in 15% of XTANDI patients (1% Grade 3-4) and 6% of placebo patients (0.5% Grade 3-4). Grade 1-4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 6% of XTANDI patients (0.3% Grade 3-4) and 5% of placebo patients (0.5% Grade 3-4). Grade 1-4 elevations in ALT occurred in 10% of XTANDI patients (0.2% Grade 3-4) and 16% of placebo patients (0.2% Grade 3-4). Grade 1-4 elevations in bilirubin occurred in 3% of XTANDI patients (0.1% Grade 3-4) and 2% of placebo patients (no Grade 3-4).

Infections: In the study of patients taking XTANDI who previously received docetaxel, 1% of XTANDI patients compared to 0.3% of placebo patients died from infections or sepsis. In the study of chemotherapy-naïve patients, 1 patient in each treatment group (0.1%) had an infection resulting in death.

Falls (including fall-related injuries) occurred in 9% of XTANDI patients and 4% of placebo patients in the two placebo-controlled trials. Falls were not associated with loss of consciousness or seizure. Fall-related injuries were more severe in XTANDI patients, and included non-pathologic fractures, joint injuries, and hematomas.

Hypertension occurred in 11% of XTANDI patients and 4% of placebo patients in the two placebo-controlled trials. No patients experienced hypertensive crisis. Medical history of hypertension was balanced between arms. Hypertension led to study discontinuation in <1% of patients in each arm.

Drug Interactions
Effect of Other Drugs on XTANDI Avoid strong CYP2C8 inhibitors, as they can increase the plasma exposure to XTANDI. If co-administration is necessary, reduce the dose of XTANDI.

Avoid strong CYP3A4 inducers as they can decrease the plasma exposure to XTANDI. If co-administration is necessary, increase the dose of XTANDI.

Effect of XTANDI on Other Drugs Avoid CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index, as XTANDI may decrease the plasma exposures of these drugs. If XTANDI is co-administered with warfarin (CYP2C9 substrate), conduct additional INR monitoring.

Please see Full Prescribing Information for additional safety information.

DEVELOPING A DOWNSTREAM BIO-CONJUGATION PROCESS

On February 4, 2018 ADC BIO reported the development of a revolutionary, ‘downstream bio-conjugation’ method that will present a new paradigm in Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) development and manufacturing (Press release, ADC BIO, FEB 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234526749]). In contrast to the existing approaches – which undertake bio-conjugation after both the mAb and cytotoxic have been manufactured – this new approach moves the conjugation step into the later stages of the downstream processing (DSP), with conjugation and antibody purification carried out concurrently.

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"The major benefit, and the reason this approach will prove so disruptive, is that it will save several months of manufacturing time and up to 25% of the overall costs. But it will require much of the industry, with its current ingrained manufacturing methods, to re-evaluate exactly how it structures the supply chain that often uses three CMOs," commented Charlie Johnson, CEO of ADC Bio.

Using this ‘downstream bio-conjugation’ approach, potentially means less time at the antibody manufacturer (i.e. less time in traditional downstream processing), with the remaining downstream processing and conjugation service both transferring to the bio-conjugation CMO. The result is a refined, simpler and much more efficient system – saving up to three months of development time and resources plus creating large cost savings.

Under the Company’s new process, the starting point for the conjugation will no longer be post-creation of purified antibodies and will instead begin with antibody supernatants. This persuasive approach forgoes the need for extensive chromatographic purification techniques to deliver purified antibody.

The Company’s groundbreaking production technique – yet to be formally named – would also remove the need for expensive Protein A resins, instead replacing them with capture resins that are at the heart of the Company’s core ‘Lock-Release’ technology. In ADC manufacturing, the Protein A capture step is the most costly in downstream processing, delivering semi-purified antibody. Now, starting from antibody supernatant, ADC Bio’s unique approach will see their patented ‘Lock-Release’ technology facilitate both the antibody capture step and subsequent conjugation to the ADC payload – essentially replacing the Protein A resin and assembling the ADC in an efficient manner. The subsequent viral inactivation, removal and polishing will then occur post-conjugation.

The benefits of eliminating the need for proteinaceous A & G resins extends beyond substantial cost savings. Incidental leaching of these proteins from their purification media increases the impurities in a biopharmaceutical drug product – all of which have to be removed in subsequent chromatography polishing steps before an antibody can be used for any therapeutic application. Moreover, Protein A is known to cause immunogenic responses in humans and has proven toxic in a number of clinical studies – thus its removal is mandatory.

Acorda Fourth Quarter/Year End 2017 Update

On February 2, 2018 Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACOR) will host a conference call and webcast to report its fourth quarter 2017 financial results and pipeline updates on Thursday, February 15 at 8:30 a.m. ET (Press release, Acorda Therapeutics, FEB 2, 2018, View Source [SID1234523694]).

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To participate in the conference call, please dial (866) 393-4306 (domestic) or (734) 385-2616 (international) and reference the 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, please 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 at www.acorda.com.

CYTOKINETICS TO ANNOUNCE FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS ON FEBRUARY 15, 2018

On February 2, 2018 Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq:CYTK) reported that it is scheduled to report fourth quarter results on February 15, 2018 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time (Press release, Cytokinetics, FEB 2, 2018, View Source [SID1234523748]). Following the announcement, Cytokinetics’ senior management will host a conference call at 4:30 PM Eastern Time to discuss operational and financial results and the company’s outlook for the future.

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The conference call will be simultaneously webcast and can be accessed from the homepage and in the Investors & Media section of Cytokinetics’ website at www.cytokinetics.com. The live audio of the conference call can also be accessed by telephone by dialing either (866) 999-CYTK (2985) (United States and Canada) or (706) 679-3078 (international) and typing in the passcode 3665278.

An archived replay of the webcast will be available via Cytokinetics’ website until February 22, 2018. The replay will also be available via telephone by dialing (855) 859-2056 (United States and Canada) or (404) 537-3406 (international) and typing in the passcode 3665278 from February 15, 2018 at 7:30 PM Eastern Time until February 22, 2018.