On December 13, 2017 Cascadian Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:CASC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported that it has been selected for addition to the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (Nasdaq:NBI), which will become effective prior to U.S. market open on Monday, December 18, 2017 (Press release, Cascadian Therapeutics, DEC 13, 2017, View Source [SID1234522627]).

The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index is designed to track the performance of a set of securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq) that are classified as either biotechnology or pharmaceutical according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB). The Nasdaq Biotechnology Index is re-ranked annually and all securities in the index are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, and meet minimum market value and share volume requirements among other criteria. For more information about the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index, including eligibility criteria, visit www.nasdaq.com.

On December 13, 2017 Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGS: SPPI), a biotechnology Company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in Hematology and Oncology, reported two oral presentations of data on FOLOTYN and research progress for the treatment of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) at the 59th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) (Press release, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, DEC 13, 2017, View Source [SID1234522641]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Abstract #818: Pralatrexate in Combination with Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Prednisone (CHOP) in Previously Untreated Patients with Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL): A Phase 1 Dose-Escalation Study

In this study presented by Dr. Andrei Shustov from Division of Hematology, University of Washington, a total of 31 patients have been enrolled (19 in Part 1; 12 in Part 2). MTD was not reached and pralatrexate dose of 30 mg/m2 in combination with CHOP was selected for Part 2 of the study as predefined by the protocol. The majority of patients were male, white, with the median age of 57.7 years (range, 18-78) at the time of enrollment. PTCL diagnoses included: anaplastic large cell lymphoma, anaplastic lymphomakinase-negative (ALCL, ALK-, n=5), peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not-otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS, n=18), and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL, n=5). Fol-CHOP was generally well tolerated with median RDI of 98%. Grade 3/4 adverse events included anemia (23%), neutropenia (23%), fatigue (13%), and vomiting (13%), as well as febrile neutropenia, nausea, and mucositis each in 10% of the patients. SAEs were observed in 13 patients, treatment related SAEs were anemia, febrile neutropenia, dehydration, mucositis, and nausea. Six patients withdrew from study before the completion of the follow-up, and dose reduction or dose delay occurred in four patients. In the 29 patients evaluable for response, the investigator assessed objective response (OR) and complete response (CR) rates were 90% and 66%, respectively.

Abstract #342: The Role of Upfront Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) Patients in Complete Remission (CR) with a Special Focus on Nodal PTCL: Report from the Comprehensive Oncology Measures for Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Treatment (COMPLETE), a Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study

In this study, presented by Dr. Steven Park from Levine Cancer Institute, a total of 499 PTCL patients were enrolled in COMPLETE over 4 years. Two hundred thirteen patients achieved a CR following frontline therapy and had the required locked records for the analysis with a median follow-up of 2.9 years (Range 1.9-4.0). One hundred forty nine (70%) of these received induction therapy without HSCT consolidation and 64 (30%) underwent either autologous (n = 49) or allogeneic (n = 15) HSCT. This is the first report from the largest prospective PTCL database in the U.S. to date to examine the role of HSCT in PTCL patients who are in first CR. Our data demonstrate potential survival advantages of upfront HSCT in patients with nodal PTCL who achieve CR. However, the results should be interpreted with caution given a relatively short median follow up as well as the non-randomized study design. The role of HSCT among various groups of PTCL patients in first CR should further be evaluated in randomized controlled trials.

"We are honored that two oral presentations and multiple abstracts were presented at the 59th ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Meeting," said Rajesh C. Shrotriya, MD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. "FOLOTYN was the first drug approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory PTCL. PTCL is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis and we are excited that FOLOTYN has the potential to improve outcome for PTCL patients."

On December 13, 2017 MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: MBVX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of antibody-based products to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of cancer, reported the completion of enrollment and dosing of all patients in the initial cohort of the Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the Company’s new human antibody-based radioimmunotherapy ("RIT") product MVT-1075 for the treatment of pancreatic, colon and lung cancer (Press release, MabVax, DEC 13, 2017, View Source [SID1234522631]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

This Phase 1 first-in-human clinical trial is an open-label, multi-center study evaluating the safety and efficacy of MVT-1075 in approximately 22 patients with CA19-9 positive malignancies in the U.S. The primary objective is to determine the maximum tolerated dose and safety profile in patients with recurring disease who have failed prior therapies. Secondary endpoints are to evaluate tumor response rate and duration of response by RECIST 1.1, and to determine dosimetry and pharmacokinetics. This dose-escalation study utilizes a traditional 3+3 design. The investigative sites include Honor Health in Scottsdale, Arizona and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. The Company plans to report interim results from this study early in the first quarter of 2018 and continue the dose escalation phase of the program.

In April, the Company reported preclinical results for MVT-1075 at the American Association of Clinical Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, demonstrating marked suppression, and in some instances, regression of tumor growth in xenograft animal models of pancreatic cancer, potentially making this product an important new therapeutic agent in the treatment of pancreatic, colon and lung cancers. Supporting the MVT-1075 RIT clinical investigation are the Company’s successful Phase 1a safety and target specificity data which were reported earlier this year at the annual meetings of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) and the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), including the clinical results for the Company’s MVT-5873 single agent therapeutic antibody and MVT-2163, an immuno-PET imaging agent. The combined results from 50 patients in the Phase 1a MVT-5873 and MVT-2163 studies, established safety and provided significant insight into drug biodistribution and an optimal dosing strategy, which the Company has incorporated into the MVT-1075 program.

MVT-1075 combines the clinically demonstrated tumor targeting characteristics of the Company’s fully human HuMab-5B1 antibody and the commercially validated radionuclide, 177Lutetium, for the purpose of delivering a lethal dose of radiation to the targeted cancer cells.

For additional information about the Phase 1 MVT-1075 clinical trial, please visit clinicaltrials.gov, and reference Identifier NCT03118349.

About MVT-1075

MVT-1075 is a radioimmunotherapy product that combines established efficacy of radiation therapy with tumor specific targeting. It has the potential to deliver a more potent HuMab-5B1 based product. MVT-1075 uses small doses of the Company’s MVT-5873 antibody, coupled to a radioisotope to target pancreatic cancer cells and kill them.

On December 13, 2017 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Osaka, Japan; President, Representative Director, Gyo Sagara; "Ono") reported an agreement that grants Bristol-Myers Squibb an exclusive license for the development and commercialization of ONO-4578, Ono’s selective Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) receptor 4 (EP4) antagonist (Press release, Bristol-Myers Squibb, DEC 13, 2017, View Source [SID1234522637]). The companies will also collaborate on discovery efforts to identify additional compounds from Ono’s PGE2 receptor antagonist programs.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"To improve long-term outcomes for more patients with cancer, we believe more Immuno-Oncology based combinations may be required, and we are pleased to continue our long-standing collaboration with Ono with this focus in mind," said Fouad Namouni, M.D., head of Development, Oncology, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "Ono’s Prostaglandin E2 receptor antagonist programs offer the potential to develop targeted therapies that counteract the effects of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Researching Prostaglandin E2 receptor antagonists in combination with our oncology portfolio has the potential to result in an enhanced response in a broad range of tumors."

"We are very pleased to collaborate with Bristol-Myers Squibb on ONO-4578, an innovative Immuno-Oncology therapy candidate derived from our long-standing Prostaglandin projects, and to further work with Bristol-Myers Squibb on other Prostaglandin E2 receptor antagonist programs," said Hiroshi Awata, Vice President Executive Officer and Executive Director, Clinical Development, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. "We are committed to further pursuing the worldwide development of ONO-4578 with Bristol-Myers Squibb with the goal of improving outcomes of patients suffering from cancer around the world as promptly as possible."

Under the terms of the agreement, Bristol-Myers Squibb will make an upfront payment of $40 million to Ono. Bristol-Myers Squibb will be solely responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of ONO-4578 as well as other PGE2 receptor antagonist products in all countries of the world except Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. Ono is eligible to receive subsequent clinical, regulatory and sales-based milestone payments, as well as royalties in these countries where Bristol-Myers Squibb has exclusive license. In Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ono will partner on the development and commercialization under the companies’ existing collaboration agreement, while in China and ASEAN countries, Ono will retain exclusive rights.

About Prostaglandin E 2 and Immuno-Oncology

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a major immunosuppressive factor in the tumor microenvironment, is believed to suppress tumor immunity and promote tumor progression. Preclinical data suggests that modulation of PGE2 through any PGE2 receptor antagonists may complement Immuno-Oncology therapies, including anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4, and potentially increase both the rate and durability of response in tumors that are refractory to immunotherapy. Certain patients and tumor types have higher expression of PGE2-related molecules and/or immune characteristics that are more likely to respond to PGE2 receptor blockade, presenting an opportunity for patient stratification to improve outcomes.

About ONO-4578

ONO-4578 is a selective, oral antagonist of EP4, which is a Prostaglandin E2 receptor. In results from experiments using mouse models, ONO-4578 showed an anti-tumor effect by improving immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Ono has already commenced Phase I clinical study of ONO-4578 in Japan.

About the Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical Collaboration

In 2011, through a collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb expanded its territorial rights to develop and commercialize Opdivo globally except in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where Ono had retained all rights to the compound at the time. On July 23, 2014, Ono and Bristol-Myers Squibb further expanded the companies’ strategic collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize multiple immunotherapies – as single agents and combination regimens – for patients with cancer in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

On December 13, 2017 Pionyr Immunotherapeutics, Inc., a company developing antibody therapeutics that increase the body’s antitumor immunity by rebalancing the myeloid infiltrate in the tumor microenvironment, reported the closing of a $62 million Series B investment round. This brings total funding since the company’s founding in 2015 to $72 million. The Series B financing was led by New Enterprise Associates and included Sofinnova Ventures and Vida Ventures, along with Pionyr’s existing investors, OrbiMed, SV Health Investors, Osage University Partners, and Mission Bay Ventures.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Research conducted at Pionyr over the past year shows that its most advanced technology, Myeloid Tuning, is capable of rebalancing the tumor microenvironment to favor immune-activating myeloid cells over immune-suppressing myeloid cells. This activity is believed to enhance antitumor efficacy, particularly in combination with checkpoint inhibition. The proportions of specific subpopulations of myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment have been shown to correlate with clinical outcome and predict checkpoint inhibitor responsiveness.

"Our technology has led to a promising pipeline of potential new therapeutics against novel and highly specific targets in the tumor microenvironment," Max Krummel, Ph.D., UC San Francisco professor, Pionyr co-founder and member of the board of directors said. "We believe these drug candidates hold the keys to an untapped area of immuno-oncology and may have a significant impact on multiple cancers."

Dr. Krummel has been a pioneer in immuno-oncology since the mid-1990s and is the co-inventor of YERVOY (ipilimumab), the first marketed checkpoint inhibitor, which was approved in 2011 to treat melanoma.

Pionyr was co-founded by Dr. Krummel and Sachdev Sidhu, Ph.D., a protein engineer and key player in early antibody phage-display technology platforms, formerly at Genentech, who is now head of protein engineering and antibody discovery at the University of Toronto.

Pionyr is led by industry veterans with deep biotech management experience and immuno-oncology expertise. Steven James, former CEO of Labrys Biologics (acquired by TEVA) and KAI Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Amgen), is the president and CEO of the company. The company’s senior vice president of research is Michel Streuli, Ph.D., who has over 15 years of pharma and biotech experience, and previously led immuno-oncology efforts at Gilead, Merck (as early development head for KEYTRUDA), Schering-Plough, and Organon.

"Pionyr has made great progress over the past year and we are extremely gratified that this has led to a financing sufficient in size to take two of our antibodies into human cancer trials," James said. "NEA, Sofinnova Ventures, and Vida Ventures are superb additions to our existing syndicate of top flight investors, and have been tremendously supportive of our efforts to push forward with multiple programs emerging from our pipeline."

Joining Prof. Krummel, Mr. James, Leon Chen, Ph.D. (OrbiMed Advisors), and Joshua Resnick, M.D. (SV Health Investors) on the Pionyr board of directors are Carol Gallagher, Pharm.D. (NEA), Mike Powell, Ph.D. (Sofinnova) and Arjun Goyal, M.D. (Vida Ventures) as an observer.

Dr. Carol Gallagher commented, "We are impressed with the rapid translation work the Pionyr team has conducted and look forward to working with them to enable these novel drug candidates to advance toward the clinic to evaluate the promise of this novel approach in immuno-oncology."