Kura Oncology Completes Enrollment in Registration-Directed Trial of Ziftomenib in NPM1-Mutant AML

On May 14, 2024 Kura Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: KURA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer, reported that it has completed enrollment of 85 patients in the Phase 2 portion of KOMET-001, a registration-directed clinical trial of the Company’s menin inhibitor, ziftomenib (KO-539), in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Press release, Kura Oncology, MAY 14, 2024, View Source [SID1234643230]). The Company expects to report topline data from the trial in early 2025.

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"We are thrilled to announce this critical milestone, which brings us one step closer to delivering ziftomenib as a potentially best-in-class treatment for patients with genetically defined acute leukemias," said Troy Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Kura Oncology. "Our confidence is supported by our recently announced Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which recognizes ziftomenib’s potential as an innovative medicine for patients with R/R NPM1-mutant AML and is intended to expedite review as we prepare for submission of a New Drug Application. We are grateful for the KOMET-001 investigators, patients and their families, and we look forward to sharing topline data from this pivotal study early next year."

Kura announced the first patients dosed in the Phase 2 portion of KOMET-001 in February 2023. The registration-directed study is designed to assess evidence of clinical activity, safety and tolerability of ziftomenib in patients with R/R NPM1-mutant AML, with a primary endpoint of complete response. The study has completed enrollment of the 85 patients necessary to support the primary endpoint analysis.

"The rapid enrollment of this study reflects the urgent need for more effective treatment options in AML as well as the potential for ziftomenib to address this need," said Eunice Wang, M.D., Chief of the Leukemia Service at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and principal investigator of the trial. "NPM1-mutant AML represents approximately 30% of new AML cases annually and is a disease of significant unmet need for which there is no approved targeted therapy. The favorable safety profile and encouraging clinical activity demonstrated by ziftomenib to date offer the potential to transform the standard of care for these AML patients."

About NPM1-mutant AML

AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults and begins when the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (white blood cells), red blood cells or platelets. Despite the many available treatments for AML, prognosis for patients remains poor and a high unmet need remains. The menin pathway is considered a driver for multiple genetic alterations of the disease, of which NPM1 mutations are among the most common, representing approximately 30% of AML cases. While patients with NPM1-m AML have high response rates to frontline therapy, relapse rates are high and survival outcomes are poor, with only 30% overall survival at 12 months in the R/R setting. Additionally, NPM1 mutations frequently occur with co-mutations in other disease-associated genes, including FLT3, DNMT3A and IDH1/2, with prognosis heavily influenced by the occurrence of co-occurring mutations. Adult patients with NPM1-m AML and select co-mutations and/or R/R disease have a poor prognosis, with median overall survival of only approximately 7.8 months in 2nd line, 5.3 months in 3rd line and 3.5 months following the 4th line.1 There are currently no FDA-approved therapies targeting NPM1-m AML.

About Ziftomenib

Ziftomenib is a novel, once-daily, oral investigational drug candidate targeting the menin-KMT2A/MLL protein-protein interaction for treatment of genetically defined AML patients with high unmet need. In the KOMET-001 Phase 1 study, ziftomenib demonstrated an encouraging safety profile and tolerability with reported events most often consistent with features and manifestations of underlying disease. Clinical activity of ziftomenib as a monotherapy was optimal at the 600 mg daily dose and a 35% complete remission rate was observed in 20 patients with NPM1-mutant AML treated at the recommended Phase 2 dose (600 mg). Ziftomenib has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of R/R NPM1-mutant AML. Additional information about clinical trials for ziftomenib can be found at kuraoncology.com/clinical-trials/#ziftomenib.

BridgeBio Pharma to Participate in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Healthcare Conference 2024

On May 14, 2024 BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBIO) ("BridgeBio" or the "Company"), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on genetic diseases and cancers, reported that members of its management team will present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Healthcare Conference 2024 in Las Vegas, NV on Wednesday, May 15 at 3:00 pm PT (Press release, BridgeBio, MAY 14, 2024, View Source [SID1234643252]).

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To access the live webcast of BridgeBio’s presentation, please visit the "Events & Presentations" page within the Investors section of the BridgeBio website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be available on the BridgeBio website for 90 days following the event.

Nuvation Bio Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

On May 14, 2024 Nuvation Bio Inc. (NYSE: NUVB), a late-stage, global biopharmaceutical company tackling some of the greatest unmet needs in oncology by developing differentiated and novel therapeutic candidates, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, and provided a business update (Press release, Nuvation Bio, MAY 14, 2024, View Source [SID1234643273]).

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"The first quarter of 2024 included multiple significant events for Nuvation Bio. We announced and subsequently completed the acquisition of AnHeart Therapeutics, which transformed Nuvation Bio into a late-stage, global company developing multiple clinical programs for some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers. We also treated the first patient in a Phase 1/2 study of NUV-1511, our first DDC to enter the clinic," said David Hung, M.D., Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Nuvation Bio. "With our robust cash balance and the recent appointment of Colleen Sjogren as our Chief Commercial Officer, along with some new key hires and the integration of new colleagues from AnHeart, we are thoughtfully scaling our organization to execute on our goal of potentially becoming a commercial organization by the end of 2025, while continuing to advance multiple internal programs in various stages of preclinical and clinical development."

Recent Pipeline Updates:

Taletrectinib, ROS1 inhibitor: Advanced ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Taletrectinib is being evaluated for the treatment of patients with advanced ROS1-positive NSCLC in two Phase 2 single-arm pivotal studies: TRUST-I in China, and TRUST-II, a global study.
Updated data from the Phase 2 TRUST-I clinical study (NCT04395677) evaluating taletrectinib in patients in China with advanced ROS1-positive NSCLC will be reported in an oral presentation (abstract #8520) at the 2024 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 4:30-6:30 p.m. CT/5:30-7:30 p.m. ET.
Safusidenib, mIDH1 inhibitor: Grades 2 and 3 IDH1-mutant glioma

Safusidenib is being evaluated in a global Phase 2 study for the treatment of patients with grades 2 and 3 IDH1-mutant glioma.
NUV-868, BD2-selective BET inhibitor: Advanced solid tumors

NUV-868 is being evaluated in a Phase 1b dose escalation study in combination with olaparib for the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), triple negative breast cancer, and other solid tumors, and in combination with enzalutamide for the treatment of patients with mCRPC.
NUV-1511, DDC: Advanced solid tumors

NUV-1511, the Company’s first clinical-stage DDC, is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 study for the treatment of patients with advanced solid tumors who previously received and progressed on or after treatment with Enhertu and/or Trodelvy per approved U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer, mCRPC, advanced pancreatic cancer, and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC).
Corporate Updates:

Announced entry into a definitive agreement to acquire AnHeart Therapeutics in March 2024 and completed the acquisition in April 2024.
Appointed Colleen Sjogren as Chief Commercial Officer. Ms. Sjogren will lead Nuvation Bio’s commercial strategy and operations, including marketing, sales, and market access.
First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

As of March 31, 2024, Nuvation Bio had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $597.0 million.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, research and development expenses were $12.8 million, compared to $18.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a $6.7 million decrease in third-party research services and drug manufacturing costs as a result of completing the Phase 1 monotherapy study of NUV-868, offset by a $0.7 million increase in personnel-related costs driven by stock-based compensation and other benefits.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, general and administrative expenses were $7.3 million, compared to $7.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease was due to a $0.5 million decrease in professional fees, $0.4 million decrease in insurance, and a $0.2 million decrease in personnel-related costs, offset by a $0.4 million increase in legal fees, a $0.2 million increase in occupancy expense, and a $0.1 million increase in miscellaneous expense.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, Nuvation Bio reported a net loss of $14.8 million, or $(0.07) per share. This compares to a net loss of $21.7 million, or $(0.10) per share, for the comparable period in 2023.

Checkpoint Therapeutics to Participate in the H.C. Wainwright 2nd Annual BioConnect Investor Conference

On May 13, 2024 Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. ("Checkpoint") (Nasdaq: CKPT), a clinical-stage immunotherapy and targeted oncology company, reported that James Oliviero, President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the H.C. Wainwright 2nd Annual BioConnect Investor Conference at NASDAQ, taking place on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. ET (Press release, Checkpoint Therapeutics, MAY 13, 2024, View Source [SID1234643138]). Checkpoint will also attend in-person one-on-one meetings during the conference.

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A webcast of the fireside chat will be available on the News & Events page, located within the Investors section of Checkpoint’s website, View Source, for approximately 30 days after the meeting.

Cartesian Therapeutics to Participate in the H.C. Wainwright 2nd Annual BioConnect Investor Conference at NASDAQ

On May 13, 2024 Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:RNAC) (the "Company), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering mRNA cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, reported that management will participate in a fireside chat at the H.C. Wainwright 2nd Annual BioConnect Investor Conference on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. ET (Press release, Cartesian Therapeutics, MAY 13, 2024, View Source [SID1234643155]).

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A live webcast of the fireside chat is expected to be accessible in the Events section of the Company’s website at www.cartesiantherapeutics.com, where an archived replay of the event will be accessible for a limited time.