10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

(Filing, 10-Q, Acceleron Pharma, NOV 4, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507938])

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Verastem to Present Preclinical Data at SITC 2015

On November 4, 2015 Verastem, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSTM), focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells, reported two poster presentations at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting & Associated Programs being held November 4-8, in National Harbor, Maryland (Press release, Verastem, NOV 4, 2015, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2106370 [SID:1234507953]).

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The details of the presentations at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) are as follows:

Title: Targeting Focal Adhesion Kinase Reprograms the Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment and Renders Pancreas Cancer Responsive to Checkpoint Immunotherapy
Date and time: Friday Nov. 6 from 12:30 – 2:00 PM ET
Track: Tumor Microenvironment
Poster #: 419

Title: FAK/PYK2 Inhibitors Defactinib and VS-4718 Enhance Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Efficacy
Date and time: Friday Nov. 6 from 12:30 – 2:00 PM ET
Track: Optimizing Combination Immunotherapy
Poster #: 371

The posters will be on display starting at 3:00pm ET on Thursday, November 5th and will remain accessible through 2:00pm ET on Saturday, November 7th. The posters will also be available on Verastem’s website at http://bit.ly/R3M6wc starting at 6:00pm ET on Thursday, November 5th.

About VS-6063
VS-6063 (defactinib) is an orally available compound designed to target cancer stem cells through the potent inhibition of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor resistance to chemotherapy, recurrence and ultimate disease progression. Research has demonstrated that FAK activity is critical for the growth and survival of cancer stem cells. VS-6063 is currently being studied in the "Window of Opportunity" study in patients with mesothelioma prior to surgery, a Phase 1/1b study in combination with paclitaxel in patients with ovarian cancer, a trial in patients with KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer and a trial evaluating the combination of VS-6063 and VS-5584 in patients with relapsed mesothelioma.

About VS-4718
VS-4718 is an orally available compound designed to target cancer stem cells through the potent inhibition of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). VS-4718 is currently being studied in a Phase 1 dose escalation study in patients with advanced cancers.

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Reports Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results and Pipeline Update

On November 4, 2015 Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NasdaqGS: SPPI), a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in hematology and oncology, reported financial results for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015 (Press release, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, NOV 4, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507977]).

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"The highest priority of the Company remains SPI-2012, which is a late-stage drug that could compete in the multi-billion dollar neutropenia market," said Rajesh C. Shrotriya, MD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. "We had a productive meeting last week with the FDA and expect to finalize our SPA on SPI-2012 quickly. We have a meeting with the FDA this Friday to discuss EVOMELA’s Complete Response Letter and we feel confident in bringing EVOMELA to the market for patients. Before the end of this year, we look forward to filing the NDA for our bladder cancer drug apaziquone and initiating a Phase 2 breast cancer trial for poziotinib in the U.S. shortly. We believe the infrastructure that we have built over the years serves as a strong foundation for continued future growth."

Pipeline Update- Two Potential Blockbusters and One Near-term NDA Submission:

SPI-2012, a novel long-acting GCSF: In a Phase 2 dose ranging study, SPI-2012 was shown to be superior at the higher dose tested and non-inferior at the middle dose in decreasing the duration of severe neutropenia compared to the blockbuster drug pegfilgrastim. SPI-2012 was also shown to have an acceptable safety profile with no significant dose-related or unexpected toxicities. The Phase 2 data will be presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Spectrum has continued to have productive discussions with the FDA, expects to finalize the pivotal study design this year, and start the study shortly after reaching SPA agreement with the Agency. Over 80 study sites have already been qualified.

Apaziquone, a potent tumor-activated pro-drug for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: By year end, Spectrum expects to file the NDA based on the previous Phase 3 studies. The Company has also initiated enrollment in an additional randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial under the SPA agreement, and treated the first patient in late October. This Phase 3 study has been specifically designed to address important lessons learned from the previous apaziquone Phase 3 studies, as well as recommendations made by the FDA.

EVOMELA, a propylene-glycol free melphalan formulation with improved stability: Spectrum is actively addressing the non-clinical issues raised in the Complete Response Letter regarding the EVOMELA NDA. FDA has granted a Type A meeting for November 6, 2015 and the company believes these issues can be swiftly resolved. Spectrum plans to launch this drug with our existing sales force.

Poziotinib, a potential best-in-class, novel, pan-HER inhibitor: The Company plans to initiate a breast cancer program in the U.S., based on compelling Phase 1 efficacy data in breast cancer patients who had failed multiple other HER-2 directed therapies. In addition, multiple Phase 2 studies funded by our partner, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, are currently ongoing in South Korea.
Three-Month Period Ended September 30, 2015 (All numbers are approximate)

GAAP Results

Total product sales were $28.5 million in the third quarter of 2015. Total product sales decreased 41% from $47.9 million in the third quarter of 2014.

Product sales in the third quarter included: FUSILEV (levoleucovorin) net sales of $11.1 million, FOLOTYN (pralatrexate injection) net sales of $8.7 million, ZEVALIN (ibritumomab tiuxetan) net sales of $4.8 million, MARQIBO (vinCRIStine sulfate LIPOSOME injection) net sales of $1.3 million and BELEODAQ (belinostat for injection) net sales of $2.6 million.

Spectrum recorded net loss of $18.7 million, or $(0.28) per basic and diluted share in the three-month period ended September 30, 2015, compared to net loss of $11.5 million, or $(0.18) per basic and diluted share in the comparable period in 2014. Total research and development expenses were $9.9 million in the quarter, as compared to $14.4 million in the same period in 2014. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $19.4 million in the quarter, compared to $24.1 million in the same period in 2014.

Non-GAAP Results

Spectrum recorded non-GAAP net loss of $7.9 million, or $(0.12) per basic share and diluted share in the three-month period ended September 30, 2015, compared to non-GAAP net income of $5.3 million, or $0.08 per basic and $0.07 per diluted share in the comparable period in 2014. Non-GAAP research and development expenses were $9.4 million, as compared to $14.0 million in the same period of 2014. Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses were $17.2 million, as compared to $21.3 million in the same period in 2014.

2015 Financial Guidance

Spectrum raises guidance on year-end cash to over $125 million, up from the Company’s previous guidance of $110 million excluding any new business development transactions.

10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

(Filing, 10-Q, ArQule, NOV 4, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507940])

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bluebird bio Reports Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results and Recent Operational Progress

On November 4, 2015 bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLUE), a clinical-stage company committed to developing potentially transformative gene therapies for severe genetic diseases and T cell-based immunotherapies, reported business highlights and financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015 (Press release, bluebird bio, NOV 4, 2015, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2106830 [SID:1234507954]).

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"2015 continues to be a year of significant advancement for our programs in beta-thalassemia, sickle cell disease and oncology, which is reflected in our strong presence at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) this year. We are excited about the progress we’ve made in the third quarter in enrolling the HGB-206 study in severe sickle cell disease, and we have made the decision to increase the enrollment target in order to gather more data and provide additional regulatory options," said Nick Leschly, chief bluebird. "Our balance sheet remains strong, allowing us to continue to execute on our goals heading into 2016. This includes initiating the Phase 1 study for our first clinical oncology program, bb2121, in early 2016 and our plans to present data from the Starbeam study of LentiD in CCALD in the first half of 2016."

Recent Highlights

DATA FROM HGB-204, HGB-205 AND HGB-206 CLINICAL STUDIES OF LENTIGLOBIN TO BE PRESENTED AT ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) – Updated data from the HGB-204 study of LentiGlobin in beta-thalassemia major and the HGB-205 study in beta-thalassemia major and severe sickle cell disease (SCD) will be highlighted in separate oral presentations at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) annual meeting in December. Initial early data from the HGB-206 study of LentiGlobin in severe SCD will be presented in a poster.

DATA FROM PRE-CLINICAL STUDIES OF BB2121 TO BE PRESENTED AT ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) — bluebird bio will also present data from its lead oncology program, bb2121 at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) – the first bluebird bio oncology data to be presented at a major medical meeting. Three poster presentations will highlight preclinical data and manufacturing improvements made to the anti-BCMA CAR-T program.

INCREASED ENROLLMENT TARGET FOR HGB-206 STUDY IN SEVERE SCD – Announced plan to increase enrollment in the U.S.-based HGB-206 study in severe SCD from eight patients to 20 patients to gain additional data and experience with LentiGlobin in SCD. bluebird bio plans to provide an update on enrollment in all three LentiGlobin clinical studies at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) meeting in December.

PUBLISHED GENOME EDITING PAPER IN SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE – Along with collaborators at the Center for Immunity and Immunotherapy at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, published "Efficient modification of CCR5 in primary human hematopoietic cells using a megaTAL nuclease and AAV donor template" in Science Translational Medicine. The findings showed that it is possible to edit the CCR5 gene to enable T cells to both resist and kill HIV. They also showed that the megaTAL nuclease platform allows researchers to place edited genes very precisely in the genome, leading to precise location and control of expression of the edited gene.

Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results and Financial Guidance

Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2015 were $901.7 million, compared to $492.0 million as of December 31, 2014, an increase of $409.7 million, which was primarily driven by the June 2015 equity financing.

Revenues: Collaboration revenue was $1.3 million for the third quarter of 2015 compared to $6.3 million for the third quarter of 2014. The decrease is a result of an amendment to our collaboration agreement with Celgene in the second quarter of 2015.

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $30.4 million for the third quarter of 2015, compared to $16.6 million for the same period in 2014, an increase of $13.8 million. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to a $6.6 million increase in employee compensation and benefit expense to support our overall growth and a $3.6 million increase in expenses necessary to support the advancement of our clinical and pre-clinical programs.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $13.7 million for the third quarter of 2015, compared to $6.6 million for the same period in 2014, an increase of $7.1 million. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to a $5.7 million increase in employee compensation and benefit expense to support our overall growth.

Net Loss: Net loss was $42.9 million for the third quarter of 2015, compared to net loss of $17.0 million for the third quarter of 2014.

Financial guidance: bluebird bio expects that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $901.7 million as of September 30, 2015 will be sufficient to fund its current operations through 2018.