On January 22, 2018 The biopharmaceutical company MOLOGEN AG (ISIN DE0006637200; Frankfurt Stock Exchange Prime Standard: MGN) reported data on its lead compound, the TLR9 agonist and immune surveillance reactivator lefitolimod, at the Annual 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI) in San Francisco (18 – 20 January 2018) (Press release, Mologen, JAN 22, 2018, View Source [SID1234523467]).

Monotherapy with lefitolimod resulted in a beneficial modulation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) associated with a reduced tumor growth in a murine model of colorectal cancer. The beneficial lefitolimod-induced modulation of the TME strongly supports its potential as cancer immunotherapeutic agent. Hence, in addition to its potential in monotherapy, lefitolimod may also be an ideal partner for immuno-oncology combination approaches, i.e. with checkpoint inhibitors.

"Beneficial modulation of the TME, in other words making immunologically "cold" tumors "hot", is a crucial requirement for the response to immunotherapeutic approaches. The presented data clearly support the mode-of-action of lefitolimod in our late-stage IMPALA study with single-agent lefitolimod in colorectal cancer. In addition they provide an excellent rationale for combining lefitolimod with checkpoint inhibitors. We know that checkpoint inhibitors need help to fully unfold their enormous potential and we believe that our TLR9 agonist lefitolimod will play a major role also in this context", said Dr Matthias Baumann, CMO of MOLOGEN AG.

Beneficial lefitolimod-induced modulation of the TME

After intratumoral injection of lefitolimod an increased infiltration of T cells (CD3+ T cells, especially CD8+ T cells) into the tumor was observed. Furthermore, also an increase of activated CD8+ T cells with cytolytic ("cell destruction capability") potential was determined. In addition, the injection of lefitolimod had a positive impact regarding so-called tumor-associated macrophages – immune cells that interact with tumor cells to influence the initiation, growth and metastasis of tumors. Lefitolimod led to an increase of anti-tumor M1-type macrophages within the tumor, accompanied with a decrease of pro-tumorigenic M2-type macrophages.
Importantly, this beneficial TME modulation from an immunosuppressed ("cold") towards a more immunoreactive ("hot") stage translated into a reduction of tumor growth in the mice.

Lefitolimod as a partner for immuno-oncological combination therapies

The lefitolimod-induced pathway provides the rationale for combining lefitolimod with checkpoint inhibitors. Response rates to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy vary between different tumor entities and depend on the nature of the TME. "Hot" tumors with a T cell infiltrated TME show better responses. Therefore modulation of the TME is a crucial requirement for the response to immunotherapeutic approaches.
First combination data of lefitolimod with checkpoint inhibitors have been presented at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI 2017. The data showed that lefitolimod can significantly improve the anti-tumor effect of checkpoint inhibitors, particularly anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 antibodies, and thus prolong survival in murine tumor models.

For more information on ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI please visit the website:
View Source

On January 22, 2018 Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALT), a clinical-stage immunotherapeutics company, reported that Bill Enright, President and Chief Executive Officer, will provide a corporate overview at NobleCon14 – Noble Capital Markets’ Fourteenth Annual Investor Conference, being held January 29-30, 2018 at the W Hotel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Press release, Altimmune, JAN 22, 2018, View Source [SID1234523403]).

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14th Annual Investor Conference Presentation Details
Date: Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Time: 2:30pm Eastern Time
Location: W Hotel, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Studio 2
Webcast: View Source
A high-definition, video webcast of the presentation will be available the following day on the Company’s web site www.altimmune.com and as part of a complete catalog of presentations available at Noble Capital Markets’ websites: www.noblecapitalmarkets.com, and www.nobleconference.com. You will require a Microsoft SilverLight viewer (a free download from the presentation link) to participate. The webcast and presentation will be archived on the company’s website and on the Noble websites for 90 days following the event.

On January 22, 2018 BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: BSTC), a biopharmaceutical company that originated and continues to develop collagenase based-therapies with a first in class collagenase-based product marketed as XIAFLEX in the U.S. and Xiapex in Europe, reported that BioSpecifics’ President, Tom Wegman, will present a corporate overview at the upcoming at NobleCon14 – Noble Capital Markets’ Fourteenth Annual Investor Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Monday, January 29th at 2:00pm E.T (Press release, BioSpecifics Technologies, JAN 22, 2018, View Source [SID1234523409]).

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A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed under "Events and Presentation" in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.biospecifics.com or at View Source

On January 21, 2018 Laminar Pharma, a pioneering clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new generation of products modulating metabolism of membrane lipids based on the groundbreaking MLT platform, reported that the European Commission has awarded a 6,15M€ grant to the CLINGLIO consortium, lead by Laminar Pharma, to execute the project entitled "A Clinical Phase IIB trial with 2OHOA in patients with newly-diagnosed malignant glioma" (Press release, Laminar Pharma, JAN 21, 2018, View Source [SID1234562095]).

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The CLINGLIO project was evaluated as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) within the call H2020-SC1-2017-Two-Stage-RTD, Topic SC1-PM-08-2017 (New therapies for rare diseases), part of the Health, Demographic Change and Well-being Work Programme of the H2020. Total budget available for this H2020-SC1-2017-Two-Stage-RTD call was 173M€, of which 65M€ were assigned to topic SC1-PM-08-2017. Overall, 668 proposals were submitted to this call, of which 37 were pre-selected for funding across the four topics of the call (5,5% of the initial proposals). In the New Therapies for Rare Diseases topic, the EC will select for funding up to 11 proposals with an average budget per project of around 6M€.

The grant has been awarded to a multinational, well balanced consortium formed by 5 leading clinical research institutions in the UK (Royal Marsden Hospital and Northern Institute for Cancer Research, University ofNewcastle upon Tyne), France (Institut Gustave Roussy), Italy (Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta) and Israel (Hadassah Medical Organization), two universities in Spain (Universitat de les Illes Balears, UIB) and Italy (Universita degli Studi di Salerno) and 4 specialized SMEs from The Netherlands (SMS Oncology, clinical CRO), Hungary (Lipodom Kft, lipidomic analysis), USA (LMBRI, pharmacoeconomics and market access) and Spain (Praxis Pharmaceutical, Drug product manufacturing and commercialization, and Laminar Pharma, coordinator and sponsor of the clinical trial).

The main objective of the CLINGLIO project is to execute a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled adjuvant trial in primary newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients to assess the efficacy and safety of 2OHOA in combination with radiotherapy and temozolomide. This study is a phase IIB adaptive trial with interim dose selection, sample size reassessment and biomarker threshold/omics signature determination. It is anticipated that around 15 clinical research hospitals across Europe and Israel will recruit 150 patients in the first part of the study, distributed in three arms: 1) control, with Standard of Care (SoC) plus placebo, 2) SoC plus 2OHOA "low dose" and 3) SoC plus 2OHOA "high dose". An interim analysis will take place after 75 events (Disease Progression) occurs and depending on the results of this interim analysis 60 to 120 additional patients will be enrolled in the second part of the study. The primary endpoint will be Progression Free Survival, according to RANO criteria, and Overall Survival will be a key secondary endpoint.

If the results of this clinical trial are positive, Laminar Pharma plans to apply for a conditional approval of 2OHOA in Europe for the treatment of newly diagnosed GBM patients, in combination with radiotherapy and temozolomide

On January 21, 2018 SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited (Headquarters: Tokyo, "SymBio") (JASDAQ: 4582) reported that it has initiated a Phase 1 study in Japan for oral TREAKISYM in patients with progressive solid tumors (Press release, SymBio Pharmaceuticals, JAN 21, 2018, View Source [SID1234523465]).

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SymBio holds approval for TREAKISYM injectables which are already used for the treatment of three indications of malignant lymphoma (first-line and relapsed/refractory low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia). The purpose of the Phase 1 study is to evaluate the recommended dose, dosage regimen, the tolerability1 and the safety of oral TREAKISYM, as it is a new formulation, and to identify types of solid tumors that show promise for treatment.

Based on the efficacy and safety data related to TREAKISYM injectables that were demonstrated in the treatment of malignant lymphoma, the purpose of this study is also to provide a new treatment option for patients by developing the new oral formulation leveraging superior traits and fewer adverse events, including alopecia, compared with existing chemo therapy. Furthermore, SymBio will evaluate safer dosage regimes with no adverse effect on efficacy by leveraging the pharmacokinetic traits of the oral formulation, specifically, lowering Cmax and administration in lower doses during the treatment period. Oral formulation drugs can also be taken at home, eliminating the need for the patient to visit the hospital for intravenous infusion and reducing the treatment burden on the patient.

The development of oral TREAKISYM is part of SymBio’s strategy to develop a "TREAKISYM platform." For TREAKISYM injectables, the Phase III study for the indication of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is underway. Although DLBCL accounts for the largest segment of malignant lymphoma in terms of patient numbers, currently only multiple drug therapies are available for r/r DLBCL. In addition, SymBio is deploying a sustainable growth strategy and will maximize the value of TREAKISYM by significantly extending the product life through the development of TREAKISYM liquid formulations (TREAKISYM Ready-to-dilute and TREAKISYM Rapid Infusion).2

1. Tolerability refers to the degree to which overt adverse effects of a drug can be tolerated by a human subject.
2. Please see SymBio’s press release of September 21, 2017: "Eagle Pharmaceuticals Licenses Japanese Rights for Bendamustine Hydrochloride Ready-to-dilute and Rapid Infusion Injection Products to SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited."

About TREAKISYM

TREAKISYM (non-proprietary name: bendamustine hydrochloride), a cytocide anti-cancer drug first used in Germany in the 1970s, is now widely used in more than 50 countries with indications for low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Bendamustine is a unique compound having chemical properties of both an alkylating agent3 and a metabolic antagonist4, and a mode of action different from other anti-cancer drugs. It is expected that bendamustine, given its unique properties, could be effective for the treatment of solid tumors as well as malignant lymphoma. A number of clinical studies of bendamustine injectables have been conducted outside of Japan to explore this potential, with clinical efficacy reported for certain solid tumors, including breast cancer, small-cell lung cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma. Furthermore, clinical studies of oral bendamustine for multiple myeloma, low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia have indicated favorable results with respect to both safety and tolerability3 of oral formulation.

TREAKISYM Intravenous Infusion 100 mg was approved in October, 2010 for manufacturing and marketing for the indication of relapsed/refractory low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma in Japan.
TREAKISYM was approved for the additional indication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Japan in August, 2016.
TREAKISYM Intravenous Infusion 25 mg, a standard low-dose product, was approved for manufacturing and marketing in Japan in September, 2016.
TREAKISYM was approved for the additional indication of first-line treatment of low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma in Japan in December, 2016.
TREAKISYM has been marketed through Eisai Co., Ltd. since December, 2010.

3. An alkylating agent is a type of cytotoxic anti-cancer drug. Alkylating agents inhibit DNA replication by attaching alkyl group sites to the DNA chain.
4. A metabolic antagonist is a type of cytotoxic anti-cancer drug. Metabolic antagonists prevent DNA replication and the growth and division of tumor cells by interfering with the utilization of substances produced in the metabolic process.