On December 13, 2017 MolMed S.p.A. (MLM.MI) reported that it obtained its first national marketing authorization for its proprietary product, Zalmoxis: the Board of Directors of AIFA (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco) approved the agreement negotiated between AIFA’s Prices and Reimbursement Committee (CPR) and MolMed, in which the price and reimbursement for Zalmoxis medicinal product were defined (Press release, MolMed, DEC 13, 2017, View Source [SID1234595072]).

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Zalmoxis is MolMed’s first patient specific cell therapy product, based on genetically engineering of the immune system, administered following haploidentical haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) from partially compatible donors to adult patients with leukaemia and other high-risk haematologic malignancies. Zalmoxis is administered from the 21st day post-transplantation and foresees up to a maximum of 4 infusions per patient based on the achievement of immune-reconstitution.

The terms of the agreement provide for an ex-factory price, excluding VAT, of 149,000 EUR per infusion, gross of discounts foreseen by law and of selective reductions foreseen by AIFA Resolutions ("Determinazioni") of 3 July 2006 and 27 September 2006. Furthermore the agreement also set a flat fee per patient and a safeguard clause on sales for the first 24 months. Given the nature of the product, it will be a hospital-only dispensed therapy.

The agreement signed with AIFA will be effective from the fifteenth day subsequent to its publication in the Gazzetta Ufficiale of the Italian Republic.

Riccardo Palmisano, MolMed’s CEO, commented: "This is truly a turning point for a research and development company like MolMed: both Zalmoxis eligibility for reimbursement and the "Aifa granted price" acknowledge the value of our therapy and, at the same time, the successful completion of a top level Italian research, development and manufacturing journey. In addition, this result paves the way to the marketing of this sophisticated genetically engineered cell therapy. This first national authorization allows us to look with increasing confidence to the introduction of Zalmoxis in the other European countries covered by the Dompé agreement, from which we expect relevant results, considering our partner’s value, expertise and successful track record. Zalmoxis commercialization will allow MolMed to increase its revenues from proprietary products on top of those deriving from GMP development and production for third party."

Professor Claudio Bordignon, Founder and Chairman of MolMed, commented: "The inclusion of Zalmoxis among the medicinal products reimbursable by the National Health Service makes this revolutionary therapy available to those patients for whom the allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the best treatment option for high-risk leukaemia and other blood malignancies. In absence of a fully compatible donor, Zalmoxis makes the treatment from a haploidentical family donor safer, by eliminating post-transplant immunosuppression and, at the same time, resolving the potential occurrence of Graft versus Host Disease. Furthermore, Zalmoxis accelerates immune-reconstitution by protecting the patient against infections and leukaemia relapse. Zalmoxis has proven to significantly increase the one-year survival rate in the treated population."

"We are very pleased with the outcome of MolMed’s negotiation with AIFA. By stipulating this agreement, it is stated that Zalmoxis, the first ex-cell cellular therapy based on the immune system engineering for the PRESS RELEASE 2 treatment of adult patients with high risk blood malignancies, responds to a major clinical need", commented Eugenio Aringhieri, Chief Executive Officer of Dompé. "The synergy of our distinctive competences and shared value priorities, on which this alliance with MolMed is founded, will lead us in the interaction with the scientific community and the regulatory authorities aimed at bringing Zalmoxis to all Patients eligible for this therapy."

About Zalmoxis
Zalmoxis is an innovative therapy based on genetically engineering donor immune system T cells to carry an inducible "suicide gene". Administered to patients following HSCT from partially compatible donors (haploidentical HSCT), these cells foster an anti-leukaemia effect by eliminating post-transplant immunosuppression prophylaxis and inducing a rapid immune reconstitution. The suicide gene allows to readily control Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD), the most significant and serious adverse event in haploidentical transplantation, caused by the genetic disparity between patient and donor. Zalmoxis significantly increases long-term survival, regardless of disease status at transplant, thus making HSCT from partially compatible donors safer and more effective. On August 18th, 2016 the European Commission granted a Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA) for Zalmoxis, the first immunogene therapy, as patient-specific adjunctive treatment in haplo-identical haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for adult patients with leukaemia and high-risk haematological malignancies. Following this authorization, which allows MolMed to market Zalmoxis in the 28 EU Member States and in the European Economic Area, activities aimed at its introduction on the European markets have increased. The marketing authorization issued by AIFA is therefore only the first out of the ones on which MolMed has been working since the date of the European CMA.

With the aim of successfully marketing Zalmoxis, on July 26th, 2017 MolMed signed an exclusive license and distribution agreement with Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A., one of the leading Italian biopharmaceutical companies, granting Dompé the exclusive right and obligation to conduct all activities aimed at promoting, marketing, exploiting, distributing and selling Zalmoxis in all member countries of the current European Economic Area (EEA) and an option right for Switzerland, Turkey and Australia.

In parallel, preparation of the dossier to obtain price and reimbursement of Zalmoxis from the German and French authorities continued through direct interactions. Furthermore activities aimed at starting negotiations with authorities of other countries have been speeded up. In regard to distribution and marketing beyond the European borders, contracts have already been signed with Megapharm Ltd for Israel and with TTY Biopharm Company Ltd for Taiwan and a number of countries in South-East Asia.

On December 13, 2017 Sanofi reported that it will host an analyst meeting in Paris to discuss the company’s Research and Development strategy, development pipeline and milestones for 2018 (Press release, Sanofi, 13 13, 2017, View Source [SID1234522640]). The company will highlight the progress it has made against "Sustaining Innovation", a key pillar of its 2020 strategic roadmap, and advancing a differentiated portfolio addressing unmet needs.

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The company’s pipeline spans 71 R&D projects, which includes 37 new molecular entities and novel vaccines. At least 10 pivotal phase 3 studies are expected to start over the next 12 months and will evaluate new treatments for:

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chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and eosinophilic esophagitis (dupilumab1);

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autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a rare kidney disease (venglustat);

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type 2 diabetes (efpeglenatide, a once-weekly GLP-1 agonist);

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obesity (a GLP-1/GCG dual agonist);

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primary progressive multiple sclerosis (alemtuzumab), and;

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first line NSCLC2 (cemiplimab).
Regulatory filings expected in the next 12 months include two investigational cancer drugs (cemiplimab and isatuximab), a novel therapy for type 1 diabetes (sotagliflozin) and a potential treatment for uncontrolled, persistent asthma (dupilumab).

"We have seen significant advancement on our ambition to sustain innovation in R&D, with the development of leading technology platforms and proof of concept demonstrated in multiple high-potential projects in late stage trials. We are confident this portfolio will be the foundation for Sanofi’s future long-term growth," said Olivier Brandicourt, MD, Chief Executive Officer at Sanofi.

1
Partnered products: cemiplimab, dupilumab, anti-IL33 mAb (Regeneron); sotagliflozin (Lexicon); efpeglenatide (Hanmi); fitusiran, patisiran (Alnylam); mavacamten, MYK-491 (Myokardia).
2
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

1
As a key pillar of the 2020 Roadmap, the new Sanofi R&D model is based on three key strategic shifts:

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From small molecules to biologics;

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From mono-targeting to multi-targeting compounds; and

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From licensing to proprietary assets.

The company has continuously adapted its R&D model in recent years to deliver greater efficiency and excellence in development, resulting in a major uplift in productivity. Since 2016, consistent with the three key strategic shifts outlined above, Sanofi has placed increasing emphasis on developing proprietary technology platforms, including multi-specific antibodies (bi- & tri-specific), siRNA, trigonal peptides, dual and triple agonists, and PRR-Antibody conjugates. It has also leveraged external expertise in targeted platforms such as mRNA mixtures and Nanobodies.

"We aim to advance multi-targeting therapeutic approaches for core disease pathways that have the potential to attack more than one disease at a time or bring improved risk benefit in the treatment of a single disease," said Elias Zerhouni, MD, Global Head of R&D at Sanofi. "2018 will be an important year as we expect multiple milestones for Sanofi’s late-stage pipeline, made possible through the prioritization principles we have consistently applied to our early-stage research programs."

Building a competitive position in Specialty Care

Immunology

Sanofi is strengthening its specialty care portfolio and has executed launches in its fast-growing immunology franchise. Dupilumab, which we are developing in collaboration with Regeneron, has potential across multiple indications. Phase 3 trials for uncontrolled, persistent asthma recently demonstrated a potentially clinically important profile among biologic treatments. Submission in this important indication is expected before the end of 2017. Clinical development is underway in nasal polyposis, eosinophilic esophagitis, food allergies and in pediatric populations in most of these indications. Additionally, phase 3 development for dupilumab is now planned in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sanofi, in collaboration with Regeneron, also expects to bring SAR440340, an anti-IL-33 antibody, which has the potential for a broader spectrum of immune modulation, into phase 2 in atopic dermatitis, asthma and COPD in 2018, alone or in combination with dupilumab.

Oncology

Sanofi is committed to re-building its position in oncology and has made major progress in the past two years. This strategy is starting to deliver and we anticipate 14 new proof-of-concept studies to be initiated, four potential proof-of-concept readouts, six phase one starts and three BLA/ MAA submissions in 2018. Cemiplimab is an investigational PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor and the

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backbone of our checkpoint immuno-oncology strategy with our partner Regeneron. It is being studied in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), for which it was granted "Breakthrough Therapy" designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Topline results show high and durable response rates (overall response rate 46.3%) in a pivotal Phase 2 study in 82 patients with advanced CSCC. This positive data has resulted in the initiation of a rolling BLA submission, with completed submission expected in Q1 2018. The development program also includes large or untapped opportunities in immuno-oncology, such as basal cell carcinoma, cervical cancer, and first line lung cancer.
Isatuximab is a Sanofi investigational antiCD38 monoclonal antibody with a first regulatory submission expected in 2018 for relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Beyond multiple myeloma, and building on the emerging evidence that CD38 inhibition may reverse resistance to PD-L1, isatuximab will be studied in combination with cemiplimab or other immuno-oncology agents. Sanofi will also present early research programs for its Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader (SERD) and TGF-beta program to overcome PD-1 resistance.

Multiple Sclerosis

In multiple sclerosis (MS), Sanofi plans to build on the proven long-term clinical profile of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) by initiating a Phase 3 study in 2018 for alemtuzumab in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). Consistent with Sanofi’s rigorous prioritization methodology, the company will deprioritize GLD-52 in this indication in favor of alemtuzumab. In addition, Sanofi, in collaboration with Principia, will be developing a novel Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, designed to access the brain and spinal cord by crossing the blood-brain barrier and impact immune cell and brain cell signaling. It is currently being studied in MS with potential applications in other central nervous system diseases3.
Sustaining leadership in Rare Disease, Diabetes & Cardiovascular and Vaccines

Rare Disease
Sanofi’s Rare Disease pipeline is structured with the goal of sustaining innovation in lysosomal storage disorders, while also expanding strategically into related conditions. Clinical development programs include venglustat, an oral inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase, in Fabry Disease, Gaucher Disease Type 3, GBA Parkinson’s Disease and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADKPD). Late-stage/pivotal programs include olipudase, a first-in-class enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for the non-neurological manifestations of acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD), and avalglucosidase alfa, a novel ERT for Pompe disease. Finally, through a strategic collaboration with Alnylam, we are advancing the development of patisiran for hATTR4 amyloidosis and fitusiran for hemophilia A and B, with and without inhibitors.

3
The Principia transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and has not yet closed.
4
hATTR = Hereditary Transthyretin-Mediated Amyloidosis

Diabetes & Cardiovascular
Sanofi is committed to sustaining a leadership position in diabetes and expanding into adjacent co-morbidities. Its late-stage diabetes pipeline includes sotagliflozin, an investigational SGLT-1/2 inhibitor being developed in collaboration with Lexicon, and efpeglenatide, a once-weekly GLP-1 being developed in collaboration with Hanmi, both of which potentially offer unique patient advantages. Additionally, Sanofi is leveraging its novel peptide incretin platform to develop breakthrough assets for diabetes, obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The lead compound is a dual agonist of GLP-1/GCG which has shown highly competitive weight loss in the clinic and is expected to enter phase 3 in obesity in 2018. A phase 2 study in NASH is also due to start in 2018.

In cardiovascular, Sanofi continues to work in collaboration with Myokardia on therapeutic options for genetic forms of cardiomyopathy. The lead compound is mavacamten, an oral modulator of cardiac myosin, which is in phase 2 for HCM5 and is expected to start a registrational phase 2b/3 study in 2018.

Vaccines
Sanofi has six key vaccine projects currently in development, and priority disease areas include influenza, meningitis and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is the leading cause of infant viral mortality and represents a new potential category for Sanofi. The company is taking a complementary dual approach to RSV with a monoclonal antibody in phase 2, in collaboration with MedImmune, and a vaccine in phase 1.

Webcast details
The event will be webcast live on Sanofi’s website at 8:30 am CET/2:30 am EST. The webcast details and full presentation will be made available on Sanofi’s Investor Relations webpage and an Appendix compiling all Sanofi studies registered on clinicaltrials.gov will also be published.

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]).

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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]).

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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.