On October 30, 2018 Xynomic Pharma, a clinical stage US oncology drug development company, reported that it has acquired exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize BI 882370, a 2nd-generation RAF inhibitor, from Boehringer Ingelheim, a top-20 global pharmaceutical company (Press release, Xynomic Pharmaceuticals, OCT 30, 2017, View Source [SID1234527683]). Under the terms of the agreement Xynomic will pay upfront, milestone and royalty payments up to approximately $502 million.

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BI 882370 is a potent and selective RAF inhibitor uniquely binding to the DFG-out conformation, whereas marketed BRAF inhibitors occupy the DFG-in conformation. BI 882370 inhibited proliferation of BRAFmut melanoma cell lines with 100x higher potency (EC50 1 – 10 nM) than vemurafenib (VEM), a marketed BRAF inhibitor.

In the colorectal cancer (CRC) animal models, BI 882370 was superior to VEM in both the Colo-205V600V/E model and HT-29V600V/E model. BI 882370 in combination with cetuximab induced tumor regressions in the less sensitive HT-29 model.

In melanoma’s G-361V600V/E model, BI 882370 was superior to VEM, marketed BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib (DAB), marketed MEK inhibitor trametinib (TRA) and DAB-TRA combination. In a second melanoma model A375V600E in which tumors developed resistance to VEM, the TRA-BI 882370 combination demonstrated superior efficacy over TRA-DAB combination.

There were no relevant findings in exploratory toxicology studies at exposures delivering efficacy superior to VEM, DAB and TRA.

"BI 882370, with an impressive efficacy and safety profile demonstrated in animal models, is well positioned to become a best-in-class 2nd-generation Pan-RAF inhibitor for the treatment of B-RAF mutant cancers including CRC and melanoma. We are honored to partner with BI, a global leader in oncology, and will move this asset into clinical testing expeditiously," said Y. Mark Xu, Chairman, CEO and President of Xynomic.

RAF inhibitors have attracted resurged and strong interest in oncology. Compared to 1st-generation, BI 882370 may provide an improved therapeutic window, enabling more pronounced and longer-lasting pathway suppression and thus resulting in improved efficacy.

Xynomic’s pipeline also includes Abexinostat, a potentially best-in-class HDAC inhibitor entering global pivotal Ph 3 trials against Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and renal cell carcinoma.

On October 29, 2017 Esanex, Inc., a clinical stage company developing Heat Shock Protein inhibitors for the treatment of cancer, reported that it is presenting preclinical data from its Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor SNX-5422 program, showing promising anti-tumor effects both alone and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-NCI-EORTC AACR-NCI-EORTC (Free AACR-NCI-EORTC Whitepaper) International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (EORTC-NCI-AACR) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) (Press release, Esanex, OCT 29, 2017, View Source [SID1234521339]).

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"Results from these two studies reaffirm our belief in the potential of SNX-5422 both as a monotherapy and in combination with immuno-oncology drugs," said Everardus (Eric) Orlemans, Ph.D, Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President, Development, Esanex. "We are conducting further research to explore the potential of SNX-5422 in other indications as well as through our ongoing Phase 1b trial in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The results from the combination research support further development of SNX-5422 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors for the potential treatment of a number of cancer types."

The two posters will be presented October 29th at 12:30 – 4:00 pm EST, in Hall E, Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Poster B139: "Promising antitumor effects of SNX-5422 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in an MC38 murine model", presented at the session PO.B20 – Therapeutic Agents: Other Topics.
SNX-5422 is an orally active prodrug of SNX-2112, a potent, highly selective inhibitor of Hsp90. The results described in the poster show that SNX-5422 at either 25 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg, in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitors anti-PD1, PD-L1 or CTLA4, demonstrated significant antitumor activity in the MC38 murine colon cancer model.

Poster B026: "SNX-2112 interferes with mitochondrial metabolism in TP53 mutant tumors", presented at the session PO.B05 – Metabolism.
In vitro work with SNX-2112, the active derivative of SNX-5422, demonstrated significant antitumor activity in TP53 null tumors and in rearranged MYC hematologic and selected solid tumors (e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma, mesothelioma). This activity appears to be, in part, the result of interference with cancer related metabolic pathways.

About SNX-5422
SNX-5422 is a chemically unique, orally active Hsp90 inhibitor that has provided durable clinical responses in open label trials in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and neuroendocrine tumors (NET). The potential of SNX-5422 in hematologic cancers is currently being explored in a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) open label clinical trial (clinicaltrials.gov ID#NCT02973399). With approximately 200 patients treated to date, SNX-5422 has a well-established safety profile that supports studying it in combination with existing approved drugs in a variety of clinical settings.

On October 29, 2017 Rgenix, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class small molecule and antibody can, cer therapeutics, reported preliminary data from an ongoing Phase 1a/b clinical trial with its lead oral investigational agent, RGX-104 (Press release, Rgenix, OCT 29, 2017, View Source [SID1234521283]). These data demonstrate immune-stimulatory activity in solid tumor patients with highly-refractory malignancies, including patients who have failed prior checkpoint inhibitors. Also presented were pre-clinical data establishing the immune-modulatory and anti-tumor effects of RGX-104. The company presented the data at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-NCI-EORTC AACR-NCI-EORTC (Free AACR-NCI-EORTC Whitepaper) International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (EORTC-NCI-AACR) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) in Philadelphia.

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RGX-104 is a liver X receptor (LXR) agonist that upregulates the expression of the target gene, Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), triggering several downstream effects via ApoE receptors. In pre-clinical data presented today, treatment with RGX-104 in mouse models resulted in dual effects on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and dendritic cells (DCs), both innate immune cells that play a central role in regulating anti-tumor immunity and response to checkpoint inhibitors. Innate immune activation with RGX-104, coupled with a reduction in tumor blood vessels, resulted in anti-tumor activity as a monotherapy as well as synergy with checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) in several drug-resistant mouse models. These data provide rationale for Rgenix’s ongoing Phase 1a/b trial of RGX-104 in advanced cancer patients and support evaluation of RGX-104 as both a monotherapy as well as in combination with CPIs.

As part of the ongoing Phase 1a/b clinical trial, 15 patients with a variety of solid tumors have been treated with escalating doses of RGX-104 monotherapy. Patients treated with RGX-104 had a median of six prior therapies with a range of 1-12, highlighting a population of patients with profoundly resistant disease.

Activation of the LXR-ApoE pathway with oral administration of RGX-104 was associated with immune-stimulatory activity in 9 of 10 evaluable patients. This was demonstrated by an increase (up to 11-fold) in activated circulating PD-1+CD8+ T cells during treatment. T cell activation was observed in patients who experienced modulation of the innate immune system during treatment. The effect of RGX-104 on the innate immune system consisted of both MDSC depletion (up to 95% decrease) as well as DC activation as indicated by induction of PD-L1 expression (up to 100% increase). In most cases these effects were observed within two weeks of treatment initiation and generally preceded the onset of T cell activation.

Safety data demonstrate good tolerability with on-target safety findings in the first three dosing cohorts. One patient experienced a DLT of grade 4 reversible neutropenia – a known potential effect of LXR agonism – that reversed within one week, allowing the patient to subsequently tolerate a 50% dose reduction. No MTD has been reached to date. Stable disease has been observed in 4 of 12 evaluable patients, including three who have failed prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy, for periods of at least 8 weeks.

“We are very pleased to see robust evidence of immune stimulation in such highly-pretreated patients,” said Roger Waltzman, MD, MBA, and Chief Medical Officer of Rgenix. “CPI therapy is now commonplace but only a minority of patients derive clinical benefit. We hope the effects of RGX-104 on modulating barriers to innate and adaptive immune function will enable a larger number of patients to benefit from this therapy. These preliminary results also highlight the potential for development of RGX-104 as a monotherapy.”

Rgenix plans to enroll subsequent dose-escalation cohorts of the RGX-104 monotherapy trial in Q4 2017. Additionally, Rgenix is planning to initiate the Phase 1b expansion component of the study, comprised of disease directed cohorts receiving RGX-104 monotherapy as well as cohorts receiving RGX-104 combined with a CPI, projected to begin in 1H 2018.

“These preliminary data establish RGX-104 as a potential first-in-class oral immunotherapy agent with broad immune-stimulatory activity and a unique dual mechanism targeting innate immunity,” said Masoud Tavazoie, MD, PhD, and Chief Executive Officer of Rgenix. “These results also further validate our discovery platform at Rgenix, as well as our pipeline of other drug candidates slated to begin entering clinical-stage development in 2018.”

The LXR-ApoE pathway was discovered as a cancer target using a microRNA (miRNA) based target discovery approach originally developed at The Rockefeller University and now exclusively licensed to Rgenix.

On October 28, 2017 Kura Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq:KURA), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of precision medicines for oncology, reported new results for KO-539, the company’s potent and selective inhibitor of the menin-MLL protein-protein interaction, which is currently in preclinical development as a potential treatment for patients with genetically-defined subsets of acute leukemias (Press release, Kura Oncology, OCT 28, 2017, View Source [SID1234521274]). The results were featured in a late-breaking presentation today at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-NCI-EORTC AACR-NCI-EORTC (Free AACR-NCI-EORTC Whitepaper) International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (EORTC-NCI-AACR) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) in Philadelphia.

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Although KO-539 was originally designed as a potential therapy for the MLL-rearranged leukemias, the new results demonstrate significant activity in preclinical models of additional genetically-defined subsets of AML, including those with oncogenic driver mutations in NPM1, IDH1, IDH2 and DNMT3A. Preliminary pharmacodynamic data suggests that KO-539 exerts anti-leukemic activity by induction of myeloid differentiation in AML blasts, a mechanism that is distinct from and potentially complementary to existing cytotoxic and antiproliferative therapies. The menin-MLL complex appears to be a central node in epigenetic dysregulation driven by several distinct oncogenic driver mutations known to be important in diverse leukemias and myeloproliferative disorders.

“Although AML is a relatively common hematologic malignancy with a generally poor prognosis, the development of novel therapeutic approaches has been hampered by the many different genetic and clinical subgroups found in the disease and the relatively short durations of response,” said Yi Liu, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Kura Oncology. “We’re encouraged by the results presented today because they demonstrate that menin-MLL inhibitors have the potential to be active in subtypes representing approximately half of the patients with AML and drive robust and persistent responses in preclinical models.”

A copy of the poster, entitled “A novel small molecule menin-MLL inhibitor for potential treatment of MLL-rearranged leukemias and NPM1/DNMT3A-mutant AML,” is now available on the company’s website at www.kuraoncology.com.

On October 27, 2017 CureVac AG, a fully-integrated biotechnology company pioneering mRNA-based drugs, reported it has initiated a Phase I study assessing the intratumoral application of its novel RNAdjuvant technology in patients with superficial solid tumors that are easily accessible for repeated intratumoral injections (Press release, CureVac, OCT 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234521231]). RNAdjuvant is designed to amplify the scope and quality of an immune response when used alone or in combination with other immune therapies.

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The trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and immunomodulating effects of CV8102, a drug candidate developed with CureVac’s RNAdjuvant technology. The trial includes a dose escalation and several expansion cohorts, with plans to investigate CV8102 in combination with anti-PD-1 therapies.

CureVac’s RNAdjuvant (CV8102) is a potent immunomodulator designed to expand the effects of immuno-oncology treatments and prophylactic vaccines for the prevention of infectious diseases. In a previous Phase I study in healthy volunteers, CV8102 appeared safe and was shown to increase antigen-specific immune responses when combined with a licensed rabies vaccine.

Ulrike Gnad-Vogt, M.D., CMO of CureVac, commented, “The initiation of this study is a significant advancement for CureVac as it showcases our innovative approach to product development by leveraging our RNA platform. CV8102 has been shown to be an effective immunomodulator that results in significant, innate immune activation at the injection site ultimately facilitating tumor rejection. Given this, we believe CV8102 is ideally suited for treating tumors via direct, intratumoral injection. We are looking forward to testing CV8102 for the first time in cancer patients and establishing its ability to trigger systemic immune responses via local injection, in particular in combination with a systemic checkpoint blockade.”

The Phase I clinical study is targeting patients with superficially accessible tumors of several different histologies and is aiming to find a safe and tolerated dose with or without concomitant systemic checkpoint inhibition. As secondary and/or exploratory endpoints, the study will evaluate signals of objective tumor response, and changes in treatment-induced effects of CV8102 on systemic immune parameters, tumor immune cell infiltration and other peripheral biomarkers of interest.