On July 26, 2017 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (Oncolytics or the Company) (TSX:ONC) (OTCQX:ONCYF) reported that two abstracts describing both pooled safety and tolerability data and the mechanism of REOLYSIN, also known as pelareorep, have been selected for poster presentation (display) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2017 Congress (Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, JUL 26, 2017, View Source [SID1234519895]). The abstracts will be published online on the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) website at 3:05 ET on Wednesday, August 30. The conference is taking place from September 8-12, 2017, in Madrid, Spain.

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"The pooled analysis of patients treated with intravenous pelareorep is the largest safety database available for this class of agents in combination with chemotherapy," said Dr. Andres Gutierrez, Chief Medical Officer at Oncolytics Biotech. "While our efficacy in metastatic breast cancer announced earlier this year at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) was captivating, the safety component of pelareorep increases the benefit-risk ratio of the therapy and supports its further development. We are particularly excited to present these results as other immuno-oncology agents in the same class have had limited or no experience with systemic administration."

Publication number: 1193P
Title: Pooled data analysis of the safety and tolerability of intravenous Pelareorep in combination with chemotherapy in 500 + cancer patients
Lead Author: Dr. Andres Gutierrez, Oncolytics Biotech

Publication number: 523P
Title: Mechanism of Pelareorep (Pel)-mediated cell death in a Phase I study in combination with irinotecan/ fluorouracil/ leucovorin/ bevacizumab (FOLFIRI/B) in patients with KRAS mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)
Lead Author: Dr. Sanjay Goel, Montefiore Medical Center, NY

The Company also announced that it has been granted an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), taking place in August 2017. The meeting will address registration pathways for REOLYSIN for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, the indication for which the FDA has granted Fast Track designation. The Company expects to announce the outcome of this meeting in the fourth quarter of 2017.

On June 26, 2017 Eisai Co., Ltd. reported that it has submitted applications to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its in-house discovered and developed anticancer agent lenvatinib mesylate (lenvatinib) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Press release, Eisai, JUL 26, 2017, View Source [SID1234528955]). This follows the application in Japan. Lenvatinib for the treatment of HCC is designated as an orphan drug by the FDA.

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This application is based on the results of the REFLECT study (Study 304), a multicenter, open-label, randomized, global Phase III trial comparing the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib versus sorafenib, a standard treatment for HCC, as a first-line treatment for 954 patients with unresectable HCC.(1)

In the REFLECT study, lenvatinib met the primary endpoint and demonstrated an overall survival (OS) treatment effect by the statistical confirmation of non-inferiority compared to sorafenib. Developing first-line treatments for HCC is challenging, and over the past 10 years, four previous first-line Phase III studies investigating other agents compared to sorafenib have failed to achieve this endpoint in OS.(2)

Additionally, lenvatinib showed highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in the secondary endpoints of Progression Free Survival (PFS), Time To Progression (TTP), and Objective Response Rate (ORR). In this study, the five most common adverse events observed in the lenvatinib arm were hypertension, diarrhea, decreased appetite, weight loss and fatigue, which is consistent with the known side-effect profile of lenvatinib.
Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death and is estimated to be responsible for 750,000 deaths per year globally (27,000 per year in the US, 62,000 per year in Europe), with 780,000 cases newly diagnosed each year (30,000 per year in the US, 63,000 per year in Europe).(3) HCC accounts for 85 percent to 90 percent of liver cancer cases. Treatment options for unresectable HCC are limited and the prognosis is very poor, making this an area of high unmet medical need.

Lenvatinib is approved as a treatment for refractory thyroid cancer in over 50 countries, including the United States, Japan, and in Europe, under the brand name Lenvima. Additionally, lenvatinib in combination with everolimus is approved for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in over 35 countries, including the United States and in Europe. In Europe, lenvatinib was launched under the brand name Kisplyx for RCC.

Eisai positions oncology as a key therapeutic area, and is aiming to discover revolutionary new medicines with the potential to cure cancer. Eisai is committed to exploring the potential clinical benefits of lenvatinib as it seeks to contribute further to addressing the diverse needs of, and increasing the benefits provided to patients with cancer, their families, and healthcare providers.

About lenvatinib mesylate (generic name, "lenvatinib", product name: Lenvima/ Kisplyx)

Discovered and developed in-house, lenvatinib is an orally administered multiple receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor with a novel binding mode that selectively inhibits the kinase activities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors (VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors (FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3 and FGFR4) in addition to other proangiogenic and oncogenic pathway-related RTKs (including the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor PDGFRalpha; KIT; and RET) involved in tumor proliferation. Currently, Eisai has obtained approval for lenvatinib as a treatment for refractory thyroid cancer in over 50 countries, including the United States, Japan, and in Europe, under the brand name Lenvima. Additionally, Eisai has obtained approval for the agent in combination with everolimus as a treatment for renal cell carcinoma (second-line) in over 35 countries, including the United States and in Europe. In Europe, the agent was launched under the brand name Kisplyx for RCC. A Phase III study of lenvatinib in separate combinations with everolimus and pembrolizumab in renal cell carcinoma (first-line) was initiated and is underway. A Phase Ib/II study to investigate the agent in combination with pembrolizumab in select solid tumors (non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, endometrial cancer, urothelial cancer, head and neck cancer, and melanoma) and a Phase Ib study in HCC are also underway. Following the submission of applications in Japan (June 2017), the United States and Europe (July 2017), Eisai also plans to submit an application for lenvatinib for the treatment of HCC in China within the latter half of fiscal 2017.

About the RELECT study (Study 304)(1)

The REFLECT study (A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Phase 3 Trial to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Lenvatinib (E7080) Versus Sorafenib in First-Line Treatment of Subjects With Unresectable HCC) is a multicenter, open-label, randomized, global Phase III study comparing the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib versus sorafenib. In the study, 954 patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive lenvatinib 12 mg (=/>60 kg) or 8 mg (<60 kg) once a day, depending on baseline body weight (n= 478) or sorafenib 400 mg twice a day (n= 476). Treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

On July 25, 2017 Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) reported that it has reached a civil settlement with Relator Brown, the Department of Justice, 28 States, the District of Columbia, and the City of Chicago to resolve the previously disclosed False Claims Act litigation pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California (Press release, Celgene, JUL 25, 2017, View Source [SID1234519881]). The litigation related primarily to allegations that Celgene promoted Thalomid (thalidomide) for off-label uses before its 2006 FDA approval for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. The Department of Justice, the States, the District of Columbia, and the City of Chicago declined to intervene in the litigation.

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Under the settlement, Celgene will pay a total of $280 million to the United States, 28 States, the District of Columbia, and the City of Chicago to resolve the litigation. This final settlement includes the resolution of all allegations the Relator made with respect to Thalomid and Revlimid (lenalidomide). Before the parties reached a settlement, the Court dismissed a significant part of the case on a motion for summary judgment, including allegations that Celgene illegally paid doctors to induce them to promote and/or prescribe Thalomid and Revlimid. Celgene is not required to enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement as part of the settlement.

Celgene has denied any wrongdoing in this matter, but is settling to avoid the uncertainty, distraction, and expense of protracted litigation. Celgene contends, and has contended throughout the litigation, that Thalomid and Revlimid are medical breakthrough medicines that have benefitted patients with serious illnesses; that physicians prescribed these medicines based on their independent medical judgment; and that Celgene’s relationships with physicians have been appropriate, and have helped to advance patient care and science.

On July 25, 2017 Oxis International Inc. (OTCQB: OXIS and Euronext Paris: OXI.PA) reported that provides additional detail about its agreement to acquire Georgetown Translational Pharmaceuticals Inc. (GTP) and how the deal will add value to Oxis. Further, Oxis International Inc. has initiated a name change to GT Biopharma Inc. as part of its acquisition and 14C filing (Press release, OXIS International, JUL 25, 2017, View Source [SID1234539563]).

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On June 26, Oxis announced that it had executed a binding LOI agreement to acquire GTP, a move that will deliver new management and a class of close-to-market Central Nervous Systems (CNS) products to Oxis.

Oxis agreed to pay 33 percent of its outstanding shares to GTP to complete the transaction, which is expected to close before Sept. 30.

The slide deck (www.oxis.com) highlights several benefits of the acquisition for Oxis and its shareholders, including:

The acquisition of GTP’s leading candidate, Pain Brake, a pain-relief drug expected to be submitted to the FDA as a New Drug Application in 15 to 18 months.
The acquisition of drug candidate GTP-004 for the treatment of myasthenia gravis, a rare muscular disease. The only approved drug for this disease carries significant GI side effects, limiting the tolerable dose. GTP-004 combines the existing drug with an approved treatment of GI disease, reducing side effects and allowing patients to tolerate a more effective dose.
The acquisition of GTP-011, a treatment for motion sickness. This is a repurposed version of an existing drug. It was designed to reduce or eliminate side effects in some elderly patients, allowing them to treat motion sickness without side effects that resembled symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease.
A new management team at Oxis (soon to be GT Biopharma). GTP co-founder Dr. Kathleen Clarence-Smith, a respected and experienced leader in the pharmaceutical industry, will become CEO of the combined companies. Additionally, a Chief Medical Officer, who formerly served as CMO with Pfizer, will join Oxis under the deal.
Prior to founding GTP, Dr. Clarence-Smith co-founded Chase Pharmaceuticals Corporation in Washington D.C. and served as Chairman of the company’s Board from 2008 to 2014. Chase Pharmaceuticals was acquired by Allergan, PLC (AGN) in 2016 in a deal that, with milestones, could reach $1 billion.

Dr. Clarence-Smith also held executive management positions with Sanofi, Roche, Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Prestwick Scientific Capital. She is co-founder and a managing member of KM Pharmaceutical Consulting in Washington, D. C.

Dr. Clarence-Smith’s vast experience will be extremely beneficial to Oxis’ development of drugs in its pipeline, including OXS-1550, which is in an FDA Phase 2 clinical trial, and its highly valued TriKE platform oncology assets, which are set to go into FDA clinical trials soon.

Oxis’ lead drug candidate, OXS-1550 (DT2219ARL), is a novel drug that binds to targets and destroys cancer cells, due to the action of the drug’s cytotoxic payload. OXS-1550 has demonstrated success in early human clinical trials in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma or leukemia. It is currently in an FDA-approved Phase 2 trial at the University of Minnesota.

Anthony J. Cataldo, who is Oxis’ Chief Executive Officer, will become Executive Chairman of the combined companies after the deal closes. He said, "Dr. Clarence-Smith’s leadership will be extremely valuable to Oxis. There are not many Biotech executives that have successfully sold their company to big pharma and have navigated several drugs through FDA approval like Dr. Clarence-Smith."

"I am excited by the prospect of joining Tony’s (Anthony J Cataldo) team following his highly successful creation of Lion Biotechnologies, Inc. (now Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc: Trading – IOVA). As founder of Oxis Biotech, it appears he has delivered again with oncology assets that are well positioned to be in the forefront of the next generation of targeted immunotherapies," said Dr. Clarence-Smith.

"Our existing oncology products (FDA Phase 2 OXS 1550 clinical trial and upcoming FDA TriKE phase 1 clinical trial) have now reached the point where Dr. Clarence-Smith’s experience in taking drugs through FDA approvals and into the market, will bring significant value to our shareholders," Mr. Cataldo said.

The agreement to acquire GTP marks another major value-added inflection point for the shareholders of Oxis. The company continues to progress with recently announced partnership and milestone accomplishments.

On July 25, 2017 HedgePath Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQX:HPPI), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and plans to commercialize innovative therapeutics for patients with cancer, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided further guidance regarding HPPI’s ongoing, open-label Phase 2(b) clinical trial studying the effect of SUBA-Itraconazole (SUBA-Cap) oral capsules in patients with Basal Cell Carcinoma Nevus Syndrome (BCCNS), also known as Gorlin Syndrome (Press release, HedgePath Pharmaceuticals, JUL 25, 2017, View Source [SID1234519943]).

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The FDA’s guidance came in the form of a written response by FDA to HPPI’s Type-C meeting background package. Such a meeting is a standard element of the regulatory review process leading to a potential New Drug Application (NDA) to FDA.

Nicholas Virca, President and CEO of HPPI, stated that, "We are pleased with the FDA’s guidance, since we believe it adds clarity to our regulatory and clinical road going forward for the BCCNS indication of SUBA-Cap. FDA confirmed that we may follow the more streamlined 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, which will allow us to reference safety data from previous third-party itraconazole trials, to be supplemented by our own safety database. The acceptability of this combined safety database will then be determined by the FDA during the course of its review of the future NDA. FDA also agreed that no additional nonclinical toxicology studies appear necessary to support filing an NDA for SUBA-Itraconazole under the 505(b)(2) pathway."

Importantly, FDA also indicated that it "[w]ould accept a single study to support an NDA if results show a significant effect on a clinically meaningful endpoint. The results of the single trial must be sufficiently robust and so compelling that it would be unethical to repeat the study . . . [e]vidence of an objective reduction in tumor burden that is durable is important in order to demonstrate antitumor effects of SUBA-Itraconazole in patients with BCCNS and these data should be collected and independently reviewed."

Mr Virca further stated that, "In light of FDA’s additional guidance on what might constitute a clinically significant response, we are now undertaking further detailed analyses of individual tumor responses from our ongoing trial seeking to verify the robustness of our therapy in reducing the tumour burden in BCCNS patients. We intend to present the results of this additional analysis to FDA and continue discussions with them about the utility of such results in a potential NDA submission."

Readers are cautioned that no assurances can be given that (i) the final study results will match the results previously reported on May 30, 2017 or (ii) the study, when and if completed, will achieve its primary and secondary endpoints or (iii) that the study results will be found by FDA to be sufficient for the filing of a NDA, or that one or more additional studies will not be required or (iv) if an NDA is filed, that it will be approved by FDA. Further, HPPI is not committing to providing further interim updates prior to the reporting of the final study results.

About BCCNS
BCCNS results from a genetic mutation which causes the Hedgehog pathway (a major regulator of processes in cells) to function improperly, leading to the chronic formation of basal cell tumors, including potentially disfiguring lesions on the face. Industry sources estimate that there are approximately 10,000 patients in the United States with BCCNS, which has qualified SUBA-Itraconazole under the FDA’s Orphan Drug Designation Program.

About SUBA-Itraconazole
SUBA-Itraconazole is a patented and proprietary itraconazole formulation that enhances the absorption of itraconazole to improve the bioavailability of orally administered drugs that are poorly soluble. The U.S. rights to SUBA-Itraconazole for the treatment of cancer are exclusively licensed to HPPI by an affiliate of Mayne Pharma Group Limited. SUBA-Itraconazole was developed to improve absorption and significantly reduce variability compared to generic itraconazole. These benefits provide enhancements to patients and prescribers with reduced intra- and inter-patient variability, enabling a more predictable clinical response and a reduction in the active drug quantity to deliver the required therapeutic blood levels.