On November 1, 2017 Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) reported that 18 abstracts featuring data from the broad ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) development program have been accepted for presentation, including a plenary presentation, at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and Exposition taking place from December 9-12, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia (Press release, Seattle Genetics, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521404]). ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30, which is expressed on the surface of Hodgkin lymphoma cells and several types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. ADCETRIS is being evaluated globally as the foundation of care for CD30-expressing lymphomas in more than 70 corporate- and investigator-sponsored clinical trials.

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Data accepted for presentation at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting include the following:

Data from the phase 3 ECHELON-1 clinical trial evaluating ADCETRIS in combination with chemotherapy in frontline advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients will be featured in the Plenary Scientific Session on Sunday, December 10, 2017 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET. Based on the positive results from the ECHELON-1 trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to ADCETRIS in combination with chemotherapy for the frontline treatment of patients with advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Seattle Genetics expects to submit in the fourth quarter of 2017 a supplemental Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA for approval of ADCETRIS in frontline advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma.
Numerous oral and poster presentations highlighting additional progress within the ADCETRIS development program including:
Updated durability results from the phase 3 ALCANZA clinical trial in patients with CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma, the most common subtypes of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Based on the positive results from the ALCANZA trial, a supplemental BLA for ADCETRIS in CTCL was accepted for filing by the FDA. The FDA granted Priority Review for the application and the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date is December 16, 2017. ADCETRIS previously received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation in this setting.
Updated results from a phase 1/2 study of ADCETRIS in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab) among patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma
Final five-year survival and durability results in patients with CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas who received ADCETRIS with cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, and prednisone (CHP) as frontline therapy
“At this year’s ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, we will present data from 18 abstracts, highlighting several ADCETRIS clinical program advancements that support our plans to establish ADCETRIS as the foundation of care for CD30-expressing lymphomas,” said Clay Siegall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Genetics. “Importantly, the results of the phase 3 ECHELON-1 clinical trial evaluating ADCETRIS combination therapy in frontline advanced Hodgkin lymphoma patients was selected from over 6,000 abstracts submitted to be featured in the Plenary Scientific Session. These data are the basis for our planned supplemental biologics license application to the FDA requesting approval of ADCETRIS in this setting. The breadth of data being presented with ADCETRIS in CD30-expressing lymphomas demonstrates the power of antibody-drug conjugates with a goal of improving patient outcomes.”

ADCETRIS is currently not approved for the treatment of frontline Hodgkin lymphoma, CTCL, or as combination therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Multiple corporate and investigator presentations will be featured at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper). Abstracts can be found at www.hematology.org and include the following:

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Updated analyses of the international, open-label, randomized, phase 3 ALCANZA study: longer-term evidence for superiority of brentuximab vedotin versus methotrexate or bexarotene for CD30-positive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (Abstract #1509, poster presentation)
A pilot study of weekly brentuximab vedotin in patients with CD30+ malignancies resistant to every 3 week brentuximab vedotin (Abstract #1528, poster presentation)
Brentuximab vedotin with R-CHP chemotherapy as frontline treatment for patients with CD30 positive primary mediastinal large B-cell, diffuse large B-cell, and grey zone lymphomas: results of a phase I/II multisite trial (Abstract #191, oral presentation at 3:00 p.m. ET)
Patient-reported distress in Hodgkin lymphoma patients on active therapy vs. long-term survivors (Abstract #2173, poster presentation)
Real world clinical and economic burden of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who fail frontline therapy in the US (Abstract #2128, poster presentation)
Sunday, December 10, 2017

Brentuximab vedotin plus doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (A+AVD) as frontline therapy demonstrates superior modified progression-free survival versus ABVD in patients with previously untreated stage III or IV Hodgkin lymphoma (HL): the phase 3 ECHELON-1 study (Plenary Scientific Session presentation from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET)
Five-year survival results: frontline brentuximab vedotin in combination with CHP in patients with CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas (Abstract #2790, poster presentation)
Radiographic and high-throughput sequencing (HTS)-based response assessment after brentuximab vedotin plus ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) for relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma: updated results of a phase I/II trial (Abstract #2806, poster presentation)
Patient and physician preferences for front-line treatment of advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma (Abstract #4082, poster presentation)
Changes in serum TARC predict PET response among pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma treated with brentuximab vedotin and gemcitabine: a report from the Children’s Oncology Group (Abstract #2798, poster presentation)
Phase 2 Study of Brentuximab Vedotin in Patients with Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis (Abstract #2909, poster presentation)
Monday, December 11, 2017

Results from a phase 1/2 study of brentuximab vedotin in combination with nivolumab in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (Abstract #649, oral presentation at 10:30 a.m. ET)
Sequential brentuximab vedotin before and after adriamycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (A-VAD-A) for older patients with untreated Hodgkin lymphoma: final results from a multicenter phase II study (Abstract #733, oral presentation at 2:45 p.m. ET)
About ADCETRIS

ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30 and is being evaluated broadly in more than 70 clinical trials, including four phase 3 studies: the ECHELON-1 trial in frontline classical Hodgkin lymphoma from which positive top-line results were recently reported and the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation in this setting, the ongoing ECHELON-2 trial in frontline mature T-cell lymphomas, the completed ALCANZA trial in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that supported the supplemental BLA with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of December 16, 2017, and the recently initiated CHECKMATE 812 trial of ADCETRIS in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab) for relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma.

ADCETRIS is an ADC comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing Seattle Genetics’ proprietary technology. The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-expressing tumor cells.

ADCETRIS for intravenous injection has received FDA approval for three indications: (1) regular approval for the treatment of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma after failure of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) or after failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not auto-HSCT candidates, (2) regular approval for the treatment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients at high risk of relapse or progression as post-auto-HSCT consolidation, and (3) accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen. The sALCL indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for the sALCL indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

Health Canada granted ADCETRIS approval with conditions for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and sALCL in 2013, and non-conditional approval for post-ASCT consolidation treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma patients at increased risk of relapse or progression.

ADCETRIS was granted conditional marketing authorization by the European Commission in October 2012 for two indications: (1) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), or following at least two prior therapies when ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy is not a treatment option, and (2) the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory sALCL. The European Commission extended the current conditional marketing authorization of ADCETRIS and approved ADCETRIS for the treatment of adult patients with CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma at increased risk of relapse or progression following ASCT.

ADCETRIS has received marketing authorization by regulatory authorities in 68 countries for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and sALCL. See important safety information below.

Seattle Genetics and Takeda are jointly developing ADCETRIS. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Seattle Genetics has U.S. and Canadian commercialization rights and Takeda has rights to commercialize ADCETRIS in the rest of the world. Seattle Genetics and Takeda are funding joint development costs for ADCETRIS on a 50:50 basis, except in Japan where Takeda is solely responsible for development costs.

On November 1, 2017 Vedanta Biosciences, an affiliate of PureTech Health (LSE: PRTC) developing a new category of therapies for immune and infectious diseases based on rationally designed consortia of human microbiome-derived bacteria, reported that it has exclusively sub-licensed key intellectual property from JSR Corporation to develop and commercialize microbiome-derived cancer immunotherapies based on live biotherapeutics (Press release, Vedanta Biosciences, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521457]). These live biotherapeutics have been shown to activate CD8+ T cells, a type of white blood cell that is the predominant effector in cancer immunotherapy. The sub-licensed intellectual property is based on the pioneering research of Dr. Kenya Honda, Professor, of Keio University School of Medicine and his collaborators in the University of Tokyo in Japan. An IND filing for the lead product candidate is planned in 2018.

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“Dr. Honda’s research suggests an entirely new approach to cancer immunotherapy harnessing the human microbiome, which has the potential to significantly enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies,” said Bernat Olle, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta Biosciences. “We are actively developing product candidates containing defined bacterial consortia that activate CD8+ T cells and stimulate the immune system to fight cancer alone and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. This license to additional intellectual property from Dr. Honda’s institution further strengthens Vedanta’s leading IP position in the microbiome field.”

In validated pre-clinical models of cancer, Vedanta’s orally administered product candidates containing defined bacterial consortia induced CD8+ T cells, potentiating the immune system’s attack of tumor cells. The tumor fighting effects of a variety of checkpoint inhibitors were significantly amplified when combined with the bacterial consortia, suggesting a potentially novel approach for combination cancer immunotherapy.

About Key Intellectual Properties
Keio University and The University of Tokyo joined the Leading Advanced Projects for Medical Innovation (“LEAP”), part of Advanced Research and Development Programs for Medical Innovation at The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (“AMED”), in 2016. Their research and development is focused on the development of therapeutic cocktails of bacteria isolated from the gut microbiota. The licensed intellectual properties were developed as a part of the AMED-LEAP Research Program and are exclusively licensed to JSR Corporation (TSE: JSR) from Keio University and The University of Tokyo.

Sarepta Therapeutics has filed a 10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Filing, 10-Q, Sarepta Therapeutics, 2017, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521418]).

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On November 1, 2017 DURECT Corporation (Nasdaq: DRRX) reported financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and provided a corporate update (Press release, DURECT, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521425]).

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Executed a patent purchase agreement with Indivior relevant to Indivior’s RBP-7000, yielding DURECT a $12.5 million upfront payment, as well as a potential $5 million milestone payment and potential earn-out payments. Indivior submitted a NDA for RBP-7000 to the U.S. FDA on September 28, 2017.

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Including the $12.5 million described above, total revenues were $20.7 million and net income was $6.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to total revenues of $3.7 million and net loss of $8.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016.

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At September 30, 2017, cash and investments were $41.8 million, compared to cash and investments of $25.2 million at December 31, 2016.


“The top-line results from the Phase 3 clinical trial of POSIMIR did not meet expectations, trending in favor of POSIMIR but not reaching statistically significance. We will be working to understand the trial results more fully in the coming weeks,” stated James E. Brown, D.V.M., President and CEO of DURECT. “On other fronts, positive highlights of the third quarter included reaching an agreement with Indivior which resulted in a meaningful upfront payment to DURECT as well the potential for further payments based on the progress of RBP-7000, a drug candidate for schizophrenia for which Indivior has submitted an NDA to the FDA. We are also making significant progress towards initiating multiple Phase 2 studies with DUR-928.”

Update on Selected Programs and Transactions:

POSIMIR (SABER-Bupivacaine) Post-Operative Pain Relief Depot. POSIMIR is our investigational post-operative pain relief depot that utilizes our patented SABER technology and is designed to deliver bupivacaine to provide up to 3 days of pain relief after surgery.

In October 2017, we reported that PERSIST, a Phase 3 clinical trial for POSIMIR did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint of reduction in pain on movement over the first 48 hours after surgery as compared to standard bupivacaine HCl. While results trended in favor of POSIMIR versus the comparator, they did not achieve statistical significance. We and Sandoz, our licensee for commercialization rights for POSIMIR in the United States, will be working to understand the trial results more fully in the coming weeks.

Epigenetic Regulator Program. DUR-928, the lead product candidate in our Epigenetic Regulator Program, is an endogenous, small molecule, new chemical entity (NCE), which may have broad applicability in several metabolic diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other disorders of the liver, in acute organ injuries such as acute liver and/or kidney injury, and in autoimmune/inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

Oral Administration
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We are actively working towards initiating a Phase 2 trial in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) with orally administered DUR-928. Our protocol has been reviewed by the FDA and our IND is now open. Clinical trial site preparation is underway, and we are targeting dosing our first patient by the end of 2017. PSC is a chronic liver disease characterized by a progression of cholestasis (decrease in bile flow) with inflammation and fibrosis of bile ducts. We have received orphan drug designation for DUR-928 to treat patients with PSC. We believe that data generated from this trial will be relevant to other chronic liver conditions, such as NASH.

Injectable Administration

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We now have an open IND for an initial Phase 2 trial with an injectable formulation of DUR-928. We are currently finalizing the protocol based on detailed input received in October 2017 from our expert advisors during The Liver Meeting (the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases or AASLD). This first study will be conducted in patients with moderate and severe acute liver function impairment to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of several doses of DUR-928.
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At AASLD, a poster was presented by Dr. Shunlin Ren of Virginia Commonwealth University / McGuire VA Medical Center which included newly disclosed data from animal studies with DUR-928 in various acute organ injuries. One of the new disclosures was the dose-dependent effect of DUR-928 in stabilizing mitochondrial membranes, which is an important factor in
cell viability and prevention of cell death. Previous results had been reported with DUR-928 in an acute animal model where the toxicity was caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS); in this poster, similar results (i.e., 90% survival with DUR-928 vs. 10% survival on placebo) were shown when the toxicity was caused by injected acetaminophen. This poster also demonstrated the pharmacological effect of DUR-928 in animal models of both endotoxin and drug induced multiple organ injuries, including the liver, the kidney and the lungs. This poster is available at www.durect.com under Science and Technologies, Papers.

Topical Administration

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Based on promising results from a previous exploratory Phase 1b trial in psoriasis utilizing intralesional micro injections of DUR-928, we have developed topical formulations of DUR-928 and have recently completed GLP skin irritation / sensitization studies with the lead formulations in two species. We have had pre-IND interactions with the FDA and are incorporating FDA’s comments in our upcoming IND while we are actively working with expert advisors to finalize our study protocol for a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study with topically applied DUR-928. We expect to initiate this study in the first half of 2018. We believe that there is a large market opportunity for new topical drugs for inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

Indivior Agreement. In September 2017, we entered into a patent purchase agreement with an affiliate of Indivior PLC, whereby DURECT assigned certain of its U.S. patent rights to Indivior. This assignment may provide further intellectual property protection for RBP-7000, Indivior’s investigational once-monthly injectable risperidone product for the treatment of schizophrenia. Indivior submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for RBP-7000 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 28, 2017.

Under the terms of the agreement, Indivior has made an upfront non-refundable payment to DURECT of $12.5 million, with the potential for an additional $5 million based on NDA approval of RBP-7000, as well as quarterly earn-out payments that are based on a single digit percentage of U.S. net sales for certain products covered by the patent rights, including RBP-7000. The patent rights include granted patents extending through at least 2026.

REMOXY ER (oxycodone) Extended-Release Capsules CII. Based on our ORADUR technology, the investigational drug REMOXY ER is a unique long-acting formulation of oxycodone designed to discourage common methods of tampering associated with opioid misuse and abuse. In March 2017, Pain Therapeutics announced that it plans to resubmit the REMOXY ER NDA after completing two additional studies regarding REMOXY ER based on guidance obtained in a meeting with the FDA. The two studies are a clinical abuse potential study via the intranasal route of abuse and a non-clinical abuse potential study using household solvents. Pain Therapeutics stated that it expects to complete these studies by year end 2017. In October 2017, Pain Therapeutics announced that there is a pre-NDA guidance meeting with the FDA planned for November 14, 2017 and Pain Therapeutics is planning an NDA resubmission in the first quarter of 2018.


ORADUR-ADHD Program. ORADUR-Methylphenidate ER is an investigational drug that has the potential for rapid onset of action and long duration with once-a-day dosing, utilizes a small capsule size relative to the leading existing long-acting products on the market and incorporates our ORADUR anti-tampering technology. Orient Pharma, our licensee in defined Asian and South Pacific countries, has reported that a Phase 3 study conducted in Taiwan has achieved positive results. We retain rights to all other markets in the world, notably including the U.S., Europe and Japan. We have started a process of contacting potential development and commercialization partners for major markets not licensed to Orient Pharma.

Upcoming investor conference. DURECT will be presenting at the Stifel 2017 Healthcare Conference at 11:45 am Eastern time on November 15. The conference is being held at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel. A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available by accessing View Source . A live audio webcast of these presentations will also be available by accessing DURECT’s homepage at www.durect.com and clicking “Investor Relations.” If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived on DURECT’s website under Audio Archive in the “Investor Relations” section.

Earnings Conference Call
A live audio webcast of a conference call to discuss third quarter 2017 results and provide a corporate update will be broadcast live over the internet at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on November 1 and is available by accessing DURECT’s homepage at www.durect.com and clicking “Investor Relations.” If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived on DURECT’s website under Audio Archive in the “Investor Relations” section.

On November 1, 2017 RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: RXII), a clinical-stage RNAi company developing innovative therapeutics that address significant unmet medical needs, reported that it will report its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, and provide a business update on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 after the close of the U.S. financial markets (Press release, RXi Pharmaceuticals, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521455]).

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A live audio webcast will begin at 4:30 p.m. ET. The webcast link is available under the “Investors – Events and Presentations” section of the Company’s website, www.rxipharma.com. The event may also be accessed by dialing toll-free in the United States: +1 (844) 376-4678. International participants may access the event by dialing: +1 (209) 905-5958. An archive of the webcast will be available on the company’s website approximately two hours after the presentation.