Corporate Presentation

On November 13, 2017 Curis presented a corporate slide presentation. (Presentation, Curis, NOV 13, 2017, View Source [SID1234521960])

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!

Syros to Present New Preclinical Data on SY-1365 and on Identification of Potential Drug Targets in Triple Negative Breast Cancer at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

On November 13, 2017 Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SYRS), a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery and development of medicines to control the expression of disease-driving genes, reported that the Company will present new preclinical data identifying potential biomarkers predictive of response to SY-1365, its first-in-class selective cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitor currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial in advanced solid tumors, at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) taking place December 5-9 in San Antonio (Press release, Syros Pharmaceuticals, NOV 13, 2017, View Source [SID1234522012]). The Company will also present on the use of its gene control platform to analyze regulatory regions of the genome in triple negative breast cancer cells and identify potential new drug targets.

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!

Details on the presentations are as follows:

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 6, from 5-7 p.m. CST
Presentation Title: BCL2L1 (BCL-XL) expression and MYC super-enhancer positivity predict sensitivity to the covalent CDK7 inhibitor SY-1365 in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines
Session Title: Treatment: Novel Targets and Targeted agents
Presenter: Nisha Rajagopal, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Syros
Abstract Number: 1343
Location: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Hall 1

Date & Time: Thursday, December 7, from 7-9 a.m. CST
Presentation Title: Epigenomic analysis of cancer stem cell (CSC)-enriched triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) populations reveals gene regulatory circuitry and novel tumor cell vulnerabilities
Session Title: Tumor cell and molecular biology: Epigenetics
Presenter: Matthew Guenther, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Syros
Abstract Number: 1548
Location: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Hall 1

Celsion Files Immunotherapy Clinical Protocol for the Evaluation of GEN-1 to Treat Newly Diagnosed Ovarian Cancer

On November 13, 2017 Celsion Corporation (NASDAQ:CLSN), an oncology drug development company, reported the submission of its Phase I/II clinical trial protocol to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for GEN-1, the Company’s DNA-based immunotherapy for the localized treatment of ovarian cancer (Press release, Celsion, NOV 13, 2017, View Source [SID1234521999]). The protocol, developed in conjunction with guidance from the Company’s Medical Advisory Board, is designed with a single dose escalation to evaluate the safety and biological activity of GEN-1 at 100mg/m² in newly diagnosed Stage III/IV ovarian cancer patients, followed by a continuation at the selected dose in Phase II in a 90 patient 1 to 1 randomized study. GEN-1 has demonstrated encouraging safety and efficacy data in a recently completed dose escalating Phase IB trial in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the standard of care for patients newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Concurrently with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, enrolled patients received escalating weekly doses of GEN-1, from levels beginning at 36mg/m², to 47mg/m², 61mg/m² and 79mg/m² weekly for 8 treatments in total, followed by interval debulking surgery.

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!

"GEN-1 is designed to locally activate IL-12 production which can recruit and stimulate the patient’s immune system to attack and destroy cancer," stated Dr. Nicolas Borys, Celsion’s senior vice president and chief medical officer. "In preclinical and multiple Phase I clinical studies performed to date, GEN-1 has demonstrated good safety and impressive immune system stimulation and clinical activity. This trial will evaluate its value as an adjuvant to current standard of care in newly diagnosed Stage III/IV ovarian cancer patients with a relatively healthy immune system. We look forward to initiating the study in the first half of 2018."
The Phase I/II study builds on the highly promising clinical and translational research data for the recently completed Phase IB dose-escalating OVATION Study. This next Phase I/II study will have a dose escalating phase to 100 mg/m² to identify a safe and tolerable dose of GEN-1 while maximizing an immune response. The study protocol was unanimously supported by an expert medical advisory board and lead investigators from the Phase IB OVATION Study and is summarized below:

Open label, 1:1 randomized design

Enrollment up to 90 patients with Stage III/IV ovarian cancer patients at ten U.S. centers
Primary endpoint of improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) comparing GEN-1 with neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone.

PFS for patients treated per protocol in the Phase IB OVATION Study continues to be followed. Of the eight patients who received GEN-1 treatment over one year ago (cohort 1 – 3) and are being followed, only three patients’ cancer has progressed. This compares favorably to the historical median progression-free survival of 12 months for newly-diagnosed patients with Stage III and IV ovarian cancer that undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery. Of the remaining five patients who have been on the OVATION Study for over one year, their median PFS as of October 31, 2017 is 18.8 months with the longest progression-free patient at 24 months.

The protocol has been submitted to the FDA for its 30 day review and comment period. Pending this review, the Company expects to initiate enrollment of the Phase I portion of the study in the first half of 2018. The Company expects to have the study 50% enrolled by the end of 2018. Due to the open label design, clinical data will be disclosed throughout the execution of the trial as it is released by the study’s investigators.

"GEN-1 holds the potential of tremendous promise as a cancer treatment in the rapidly emerging area of immuno-oncology. Unlike the toxicities, poor tolerability, and poor pharmacokinetics of systemically administered recombinant IL-12, the beauty of GEN-1 is that it inspires secretion of highly-tolerable endogenous IL-12," said Michael H. Tardugno, Celsion’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Designed in consultation with leading thought leaders, this Phase I/II trial is expected to define an optimal dose, demonstrate GEN-1’s clinical benefit when compared with current standard of care, and provide insights on powering for a registration program as the candidate progresses through development."

About GEN-1 Immunotherapy

GEN-1, designed using Celsion’s proprietary TheraPlas platform technology, is an IL-12 DNA plasmid vector encased in a nanoparticle delivery system, which enables cell transfection followed by persistent, local secretion of the IL-12 protein. IL-12 is one of the most active cytokines for the induction of potent anti-cancer immunity acting through the induction of T-lymphocyte and natural killer (NK) cell proliferation. The Company has previously reported positive safety and encouraging Phase I results with GEN-1 given as monotherapy in patients with peritoneally metastasized ovarian cancer, and recently completed a Phase Ib trial of GEN-1 in combination with PEGylated doxorubicin in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

argenx to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences

On November 13, 2017 argenx (Euronext & Nasdaq: ARGX) a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a deep pipeline of differentiated antibody-based therapies for the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases and cancer, reported that management will present at several upcoming investor conferences in November (Press release, argenx, NOV 12, 2017, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2316341 [SID1234521948]):

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!

Stifel 2017 Healthcare Conference. Chief Scientific Officer, Hans de Haard, will present on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 2:45 p.m. ET in New York City.
Jefferies 2017 London Healthcare Conference. Chief Executive Officer, Tim Van Hauwermeiren, will present on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 11:20 a.m. UTC in London.
Piper Jaffray 29th Annual Healthcare Conference. Chief Executive Officer, Tim Van Hauwermeiren, will present on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. ET in New York City.
Live webcasts of the presentations will be available on the Company’s website at www.argenx.com. Replays of the webcasts will be availalbe for 90 days following the presentation.

Phase I, First-in-Human, Open-Label, Multiple-Ascending Dose Study to Investigate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Activity of M4112 an IDO1/TDO2 Inhibitor as Single Agent and Sequentially in Combinations with Avelumab or M7824 (TGFß Trap) in Subjects with Metastatic or Locally Advanced Unresectable Solid Tumors

Phase I, First-in-Human, Open-Label, Multiple-Ascending Dose Study to Investigate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Activity of M4112 an IDO1/TDO2 Inhibitor as Single Agent and Sequentially in Combinations with Avelumab or M7824 (TGFß Trap) in Subjects with Metastatic or Locally Advanced Unresectable Solid Tumors

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!

There are 2 parts to this study: Part 1 and Part 2. This consent form is for Part 1 only. In Part 1, there are 3 sub-groups: Part 1A, 1B, and 1C. The goal of this clinical research study is to find the highest tolerable dose of M4112 that can be given to patients with advanced or metastatic (have spread) solid tumors that are unresectable (cannot be removed with surgery). In this study, M4112 will be studied alone (Part 1A) or in combination with either avelumab (Part 1B) or M7824 (Part 1C). This is the first study using M4112 in humans. The safety of M4112 and the drug combinations will also be studied.

General Information

Disease Group: Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined secondary and unspecified sites,Malignant neoplasms of independent (primary) multiple sites

Treatment Agent: Avelumab,M4112,MSB0011359C

Treatment Location: Both at MDACC & and Other Sites

Sponsor: EMD Serono

Study Objectives/Outcome

Primary Objectives Part IA (Dose Escalation – M4112 as Single Agent) To determine safety and tolerability or, if observed, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and to define the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of M4112 as single agent in subjects with solid tumors. Part IB (Dose Escalation – M4112 in Combination with Avelumab) To determine safety and tolerability or, if observed, the MTD, and to define the RP2D of M4112 in combination with avelumab in subjects with solid tumors. Part IC (Dose Escalation – M4112 in Combination with M7824) To determine safety and tolerability or, if observed, the MTD, and to define the RP2D of M4112 in combination with M7824 in subjects with solid tumors. Secondary Objectives Part IA (Dose Escalation – M4112 as Single Agent) To characterize the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of M4112 as single agent. To assess QT prolongation potential by central tendency, outlier analysis and the slope of exposure-QT corrected interval (QTc) analysis to evaluate preliminary clinical activity parameters using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. To evaluate preliminary clinical activity parameters using RECIST 1.1. Part IB (Dose Escalation – M4112 in Combination with Avelumab) To characterize the PK parameters of M4112 and avelumab exposure in combination. To evaluate the immunogenicity of avelumab when given in combination with M4112. To evaluate preliminary clinical activity parameters using RECIST 1.1. Part IC (Dose Escalation – M4112 in Combination with M7824) To characterize the PK parameters of M4112 and M7824 exposure in combination. To evaluate the immunogenicity of M7824 when given in combination with M4112. To evaluate preliminary clinical activity parameters using RECIST 1.1. Exploratory Objectives Part IA (Dose Escalation – M4112 as Single Agent) To evaluate the effect of M4112 on kynurenine (Kyn) and tryptophan (Trp) in plasma of subjects. To evaluate the effect of M4112 on indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) activity in ex vivo stimulated whole blood of subjects. To study genetic variations that may affect the safety and tolerability, PK and pharmacodynamics (PD) profiles of M4112. To evaluate the effects of M4112 on changes in immune phenotype and cytokines in relation to treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) and clinical outcomes. To assess effects of M4112 as single agent on 4B-hydroxycholesterol and cholesterol activity. Part IB (Dose Escalation – M4112 in Combination with Avelumab) To evaluate the effect of M4112 in combination with avelumab on Kyn and Trp in plasma of subjects. To evaluate the effect of M4112 on IDO1 activity in ex vivo stimulated whole blood of subjects. To study genetic variations that may affect the safety and tolerability, PK and PD profiles of M4112 in combination with avelumab. To evaluate the effects of M4112 in combination with avelumab on changes in immune phenotype and cytokines in relation to TRAE and clinical outcomes. Part IC (Dose Escalation – M4112 in Combination with M7824) To evaluate the effect of M4112 in combination with M7824 on Kyn and Trp in plasma of subjects. To evaluate the effect of M4112 on IDO1 activity in ex vivo stimulated whole blood of subjects. To study genetic variations that may affect the safety and tolerability, PK and PD profiles of M4112 in combination with M7824. To evaluate the effects of M4112 in combination with M7824 on changes in immune phenotype and cytokines in relation to TRAE and clinical outcomes.

IRB Review and Approval Date: 12/11/2017

Recruitment Status: Open

Projected Accrual: 60

Enrollment Eligibility
Eligibility:

1) Signed written informed consent form (ICF) before any study-related procedure is undertaken that is not part of the standard subject management.
2) Male or female subjects >/= 18 years of age.
3) Subject population: a. In the dose escalation cohorts (Part IA to Part IC): Histologically or cytologically proven advanced or metastatic solid malignancies for whom no effective standard therapy exists or has failed or subjects who are intolerant to established therapy known to provide clinical benefit for their condition.
4) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) of 0 to 1 at Screening.
5) Subjects who have been treated previously with a checkpoint inhibitor may enroll.
6) Adequate hematological function as defined below: a. Absolute neutrophil count >/= 1,500/mm^3 or >/= 1.5 × 10^9/L; b. Platelet count >/= 100,000/mm^3 or >/= 100 × 10^9/L; c. Hemoglobin >/= 9 g/dL.
7) Adequate hepatic function defined: by a total bilirubin level 1.5 × ULN but < 3 × ULN; b. Subjects with tumor involvement in their liver: AST < 3.0 × ULN, ALT < 3.0 × ULN, with normal bilirubin 8) Adequate renal function defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate > 50 mL/min according to the Cockcroft-Gault formula or normal creatinine laboratory values. (Glomerular filtration rate [mL/min/1.73 m^2] = 175 × serum creatinine (Scr)-1.154 × age – 0.203 × 1.212 [if African American] × 0.742 [if female]).
9) Male participants must agree to use and to have their female partners use a highly effective contraception (i.e., methods with a failure rate of less than 1 % per year) as detailed in protocol 30 days before first dose of study treatment (as appropriate), during the treatment period and for at least 60 days after the last dose of study treatment of M4112 as single agent or in combination with avelumab and for at least 120 days after the last dose of M7824 and must refrain from donating sperm during this period.
10) Female participants: A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant, not breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions applies: a. Not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) as defined in protocol, OR b. A WOCBP who agrees to use a highly effective contraception (i.e., methods with a failure rate of less than 1 % per year) as detailed in protocol 30 days before start of first dose of study treatment (as appropriate), during the treatment period and for at least 60 days after the last dose of study treatment of M4112 as single agent or in combination with avelumab and for at least 120 days after the last dose of M7824. Since the effect of potential of M4112 to induce/inhibit CYP3A4 is unknown at this time, WOCBP that are currently using hormonal contraception that is a substrate for CYP3A4 should also use double barrier contraception.
11) Women of childbearing potential must have a negative plasma pregnancy test at the Screening Visit and a negative urine pregnancy test on Day 1 before enrollment and dosing.
Exclusion:

1) Prior therapy with: In combination with avelumab or M7824 in the dose escalation only cohorts (Part 1B and Part 1C): Intolerance to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy as defined by the occurrence of an adverse drug reaction (ADR) requiring drug discontinuation.
2) Persisting toxicity related to prior therapy Grade > 1 National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) 4.03, however sensory neuropathy Grade 3) Prior organ transplantation including allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
4) All subjects with known brain metastases, except those meeting the following criteria: a. Brain metastases that have been treated locally and are clinically stable for at least 4 weeks prior to the start of treatment. b. No ongoing neurological symptoms that are related to the brain localization of the disease (sequelae that are a consequence of the treatment of the brain metastases are acceptable). c. Subjects must be either off steroids or on a stable or decreasing dose of < 10 mg daily prednisone (or equivalent).
5) Concurrent treatment with a non-permitted drug/intervention: a. Strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4, and drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, which are predominantly metabolized by CYP3A4 should be discontinued 7 days prior to treatment and avoided during treatment. b. Drugs known to have a high risk of prolonging QTc as per label. c. Drugs that are known to increase gastric pH should be stopped at least 1 week before the start of study treatment.
6) Continued from #5: d. Anticancer treatment (eg, cytoreductive therapy, radiotherapy, immune therapy, cytokine therapy, monoclonal antibody, targeted small molecule therapy) or any investigational drug within 4 weeks prior to start of study treatment, or not recovered from adverse event (AE) related to such therapies, with the following exceptions: i. Palliative bone-directed radiotherapy is permitted (concurrently or within pretreatment period). ii. Hormonal therapies acting on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis are permitted (ie, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist/antagonists). No other hormonal anticancer therapy is permitted. e. Major surgery (as deemed by the Investigator) for any reason, except diagnostic biopsy, within 4 weeks of the study treatment and/or if the subject has not fully recovered from the surgery within 4 weeks of the study treatment.
7) Continued from #5: f. Subjects receiving immunosuppressive agents (such as steroids), for any reason, should be tapered off these drugs before start of study treatment, with the following exceptions: i. Subjects with adrenal insufficiency, may continue corticosteroids at physiologic replacement dose, equivalent to < 10 mg prednisone daily. ii. Administration of steroids through a route known to result in a minimal systemic exposure (topical, intranasal, intro-ocular, or inhalation). iii. Previous or ongoing administration of systemic steroids for the management of an acute allergic phenomenon is acceptable as long as it is anticipated that the administration of steroids will be completed in 14 days, or that the dose after 14 days will be equivalent to 8) Current significant cardiac conduction abnormalities, including corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation of > 450 milliseconds or impaired cardiovascular function, ventricular tachycardia, hypokalemia or a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, serious cardiac arrhythmia and family history of sudden death or long QT syndrome.
9) A history of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease as follows: cerebral vascular accident/stroke (< 6 months prior to enrollment), myocardial infarction (< 6 months prior to enrollment), unstable angina or congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Classification Class >/= II).
10) Active autoimmune disease that might deteriorate when receiving an immunostimulatory agent: a. Subjects with diabetes type I, vitiligo, psoriasis, hypo- or hyperthyroid disease not requiring immunosuppressive treatment are eligible. b. Autoimmune diseases: eg, inflammatory bowel diseases, interstitial lung disease or pulmonary fibrosis.
11) Pneumonitis and history of pneumonitis.
12) A history of difficulty of swallowing, gastric or small bowel surgery with history of malabsorption or other chronic gastro-intestinal disease or conditions that may hamper compliance and/or absorption of the M4112.
13) Any psychiatric condition that would prohibit the understanding or rendering of Informed Consent, or interfere with compliance to study requirements and procedures in the opinion of Investigator and/or Sponsor.
14) Known current alcohol and drug abuse as determined by the Investigator if no consent by legal representative.
15) Hepatocellular carcinoma.
16) Legal incapacity or limited legal capacity.
17) Significant acute or chronic infections requiring systemic therapy including, among others: a. History of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. b. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (defined as, HBV surface antigen positive and HBV core antibody positive with reflex to positive HBV DNA or HBV core antibody positive alone with reflex to positive HBV DNA or positive HCV antibody with reflex to positive HCV RNA). Subjects with a history of infection must have polymerase chain reaction documentation that infection has cleared. c. Active tuberculosis (history of exposure or history of positive TB test with presence of clinical symptoms, physical, or radiographic findings).
18) Known hypersensitivity to the investigational medicinal products (IMPs) or to one or more of the excipients of M4112, avelumab or M7824.
19) Known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies (Grade >/= 3 NCI-CTCAE 4.03), or uncontrolled asthma (ie, 3 or more features of partially controlled asthma).
20) Pregnancy or lactation.
21) Administration of a live vaccine within 28 days prior to study entry.
For Enrollment:

713-563-1930