On October 6, 2016 CANCER RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY (CRT) – the development and commercialisation arm of Cancer Research UK – reported that it has received a success payment from GlaxoSmithKline resulting from its collaboration developing molecules targeting cancer epigenetics (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, JUN 6, 2016, View Source [SID1234523177]).

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Under the agreement, scientists at the Drug Discovery Unit at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute at the University of Manchester received promising early molecules for the project from GlaxoSmithKline and created potential new drug development candidates that target a key protein involved in epigenetic regulation.

CRT will receive development milestones and royalties on sales of products from the collaboration, and has the right to develop the molecules further if GlaxoSmithKline declines to do so.

The Drug Discovery Unit at Cancer Research UK’s Manchester Institute will support GSK scientists developing these drugs and will continue to develop other compounds as part of the collaboration.

Epigenetics – the way cells control how and when genes are turned on or off – can be disrupted in many cancers meaning these drugs could be used to treat many cancers.

Dr Donald Ogilvie, head of the Drug Discovery Unit at Cancer Research UK’s Manchester Institute, said: "We’re extremely pleased with the success of this project, which has allowed us to research a challenging area and ensure that it’s an effective way of targeting cancer.

"The Drug Discovery Unit aims to develop new treatments ready for the clinic as efficiently as possible. By working alongside GlaxoSmithKline scientists we’ve been able to reduce the risk in the development of these drugs and make them more likely to progress through to clinic to achieve our goal of getting new treatments to cancer patients sooner."

Dr Phil L’Huillier, Cancer Research Technology’s director of business development, said: "We’re delighted that our Manchester Drug Development Unit’s work has been so successful, triggering an early success payment from GlaxoSmithKline. This showcases our world class drug development capabilities.

"Drugs targeting epigenetics are a growing area of research and we’re pleased to be making an impact in this area. Being at the forefront of this research alongside one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies means we have a real opportunity to develop new drugs for cancer patients."

On October 6, 2016 CANCER RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY (CRT) – the development and commercialisation arm of Cancer Research UK – reported that it has received a success payment from GlaxoSmithKline resulting from its collaboration developing molecules targeting cancer epigenetics (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, JUN 6, 2016, View Source [SID1234523177]).

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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!

Under the agreement, scientists at the Drug Discovery Unit at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute at the University of Manchester received promising early molecules for the project from GlaxoSmithKline and created potential new drug development candidates that target a key protein involved in epigenetic regulation.

CRT will receive development milestones and royalties on sales of products from the collaboration, and has the right to develop the molecules further if GlaxoSmithKline declines to do so.

The Drug Discovery Unit at Cancer Research UK’s Manchester Institute will support GSK scientists developing these drugs and will continue to develop other compounds as part of the collaboration.

Epigenetics – the way cells control how and when genes are turned on or off – can be disrupted in many cancers meaning these drugs could be used to treat many cancers.

Dr Donald Ogilvie, head of the Drug Discovery Unit at Cancer Research UK’s Manchester Institute, said: "We’re extremely pleased with the success of this project, which has allowed us to research a challenging area and ensure that it’s an effective way of targeting cancer.

"The Drug Discovery Unit aims to develop new treatments ready for the clinic as efficiently as possible. By working alongside GlaxoSmithKline scientists we’ve been able to reduce the risk in the development of these drugs and make them more likely to progress through to clinic to achieve our goal of getting new treatments to cancer patients sooner."

Dr Phil L’Huillier, Cancer Research Technology’s director of business development, said: "We’re delighted that our Manchester Drug Development Unit’s work has been so successful, triggering an early success payment from GlaxoSmithKline. This showcases our world class drug development capabilities.

"Drugs targeting epigenetics are a growing area of research and we’re pleased to be making an impact in this area. Being at the forefront of this research alongside one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies means we have a real opportunity to develop new drugs for cancer patients."

On October 6, 2016 Vaccinex, Inc. reported it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to evaluate VX15/2503, an investigational humanized anti-semaphorin 4D IgG4 monoclonal antibody, in combination with avelumab*, an investigational fully human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody, in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not previously received immunotherapy (Press release, Vaccinex, OCT 6, 2016, View Source [SID:SID1234515654]). Vaccinex will be responsible for conducting the planned Phase Ib/II clinical trial.

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"Immunotherapies have shown promise in how we treat cancer, and the investigation of combination therapies may uncover additional possibilities. We look forward to working with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany to explore how we can bring the potential of immunotherapy to more patients, especially considering a
Phase 1 study of monotherapy with VX15/2503 in patients with solid tumors has already suggested its potential for use in combination therapies," said Dr. Maurice Zauderer, CEO of Vaccinex.

In preclinical studies, anti-semaphorin 4D antibodies have been shown to increase infiltration of tumoricidal immune cells while simultaneously reducing multiple types of immunosuppressive cells in tumors. Anti-semaphorin 4D antibody was found to synergize with a checkpoint inhibitor antibody to promote tumor eradication.

"Non-small cell lung cancer continues to be one of the most challenging of cancers worldwide, and we believe in investigating promising avenues to address this need," said Alise Reicin, M.D., Head of Global Clinical Development in the biopharma business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "Through this partnership with Vaccinex, we are exploring an innovative combination with avelumab that we hope will provide a new option for patients with this deadly cancer."

Further details of the collaboration were not disclosed.

*Avelumab is jointly developed by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer.

About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Globally, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the second most common in women1, responsible for more deaths than colon, breast and prostate cancer combined.2 NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 80 to 85 percent of all lung cancers.3 The five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer that has spread (metastasized) to other areas of the body is 4 percent.4

About Avelumab

Avelumab (also known as MSB0010718C) is an investigational, fully human antibody specific for a protein found on tumor cells called PD-L1, or programmed death ligand-1. Avelumab is thought to have a dual mechanism of action which may enable the immune system to find and attack cancer cells. By binding to PD-L1, avelumab is thought to prevent tumor cells from using PD-L1 for protection against white blood cells such as T-cells, exposing them to anti-tumor responses. Avelumab may also help white blood cells such as natural killer (NK) cells find and attack tumors in a process known as ADCC, or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In November 2014, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, the science and technology company, and Pfizer announced a strategic alliance to co-develop and co-commercialize avelumab.

On October 5, 2016 SYNCONA LLP and CANCER RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY (CRT) reported the formation of Achilles Therapeutics Ltd (Press release, Achilles Therapeutics, OCT 5, 2016, View Source [SID1234523124]).

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The new private company will bring together world-class research from UCL (University College London) and the Francis Crick Institute, funded by Cancer Research UK and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Achilles Therapeutics will design therapies to target truncal tumour neo-antigens – unique flags to the immune system present on the surface of every cancer cell*, which were first discovered by Cancer Research UK and the NIHR University College London Hospitals (UCLH) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) funded scientists at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL Cancer Institute.

Truncal tumour neo-antigens are present on all cancer cells in an individual patient’s tumour but not on healthy cells, so could allow scientists to target and destroy tumours without harming healthy tissues.

Syncona and CRT, with the support of UCL Business (UCLB) and the Crick, formed Achilles Therapeutics with a successful financing round of £13.2 million ($17.5 million) led by Syncona with the CRT Pioneer Fund and the UCL Technology Fund.

The company founders bring together world-class capability from three prestigious institutions. They are:

Professor Charles Swanton, Group Leader and Royal Society Napier Professor at the Francis Crick and UCL Cancer Institute working on cancer evolution and genome instability and a consultant at UCLH
Professor Karl Peggs, Group Leader of the Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Immunotherapy Group at UCL Cancer Institute and a consultant at UCLH
Dr Sergio Quezada, Group Leader of the Immune Regulation and Tumour Immunotherapy Group at UCL Cancer Institute
Professor Mark Lowdell, Director of the Centre for Cell, Gene & Tissue Therapeutics at the Royal Free Hospital.

CRT will receive equity milestones and royalties from products developed and commercialised by Achilles Therapeutics. Any such financial reward from the company will be shared with UCLB and the Crick.

The company has exclusive rights to develop and commercialise neo-antigen technologies arising from Cancer Research UK’s £14million TRACERx study**. This clinical study, involving 850 people with non-small cell lung cancer, tracks the evolution of patients’ cancers over time, in different parts of their tumours and in response to treatment. It receives infrastructure support from the NIHR University College London Hospitals BRC and is being carried out at the Clinical Research Facility at UCLH.

Professor Charles Swanton, scientific founder of Achilles Therapeutics and a Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute, said: "Our research could provide a truly personalised approach to lung cancer therapy by targeting cell surface markers that are specific to each patient and present on all cancer cells rather than just a subset of cells. We’re delighted to be able to bring this exciting science closer to the clinic. We hope to create a new and kinder treatment for this hard-to-treat disease that results in around 36,000 patient deaths each year in the UK ***."

Iraj Ali, Partner with Syncona LLP and Director of Achilles Therapeutics, said: "In founding Achilles we believe we are working with the world leaders capable of exploiting the confluence of two of the most exciting and innovative fields in healthcare today: cancer bioinformatics and immuno-therapy. Our ambition is to build a company to deliver personalised therapies with transformative potential for cancer patients with the greatest need."

Chris Ashton, CEO of Achilles Therapeutics, said: "This company is underpinned by world-leading science, committed investors and leading health institutes. Bringing all of these major players together holds great promise for non-small cell lung cancer patients and I hope that working alongside one another we will see great successes in the future."

On October 5, 2016 BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ/TASE: BLRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to identifying, in-licensing and developing promising therapeutic candidates, reported that data on BL-8040, the Company’s leading oncology platform, have been accepted for presentations at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and Exhibition in San Diego, California, taking place December 3-6, 2016 (Filing, 6-K, BioLineRx, OCT 5, 2016, View Source [SID:SID1234515592]).

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Information on the BL-8040 abstracts presented at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) is included below:

· (Abstract #767) Oral Presentation: The High Affinity CXCR4 Inhibitor, BL-8040, Induces Apoptosis of AML Blasts and their Terminal Differentiation by Blocking AKT/ERK Survival Signals and Downregulating BCL-2, MCL-1 and Cyclin-D1 through Regulation of Mir-15a/16-1 Expression; Monday, December 5, 2016, 11:30 am PST; Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Hotel, San Diego, Ballroom AB

· (Abstract #2745) Poster Presentation: The Selective Anti-Leukemic Effect of BL-8040, a Peptidic CXCR4 Antagonist, is Mediated by Induction of Leukemic Blast Mobilization, Differentiation and Apoptosis: Results of Correlative Studies from a Ph2a Trial in Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Sunday, December 4, 2016, 6:00-8:00 pm PST; San Diego Convention Center, Hall GH.

About BL-8040
BL-8040 is a short peptide for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, solid tumors, and certain hematological indications. It functions as a high-affinity antagonist for CXCR4, a chemokine receptor that is directly involved in tumor progression, angiogenesis, metastasis and cell survival. CXCR4 is over-expressed in more than 70% of human cancers and its expression often correlates with disease severity. In a number of clinical and pre-clinical studies, BL-8040 has shown robust mobilization of cancer cells from the bone marrow, thereby sensitizing these cells to chemo- and bio-based anti-cancer therapy, as well as a direct anti-cancer effect by inducing apoptosis. In addition, BL-8040 has also demonstrated robust stem-cell mobilization, including the mobilization of colony-forming cells, and T, B and NK cells. BL-8040 was licensed by BioLineRx from Biokine Therapeutics and was previously developed under the name BKT-140.