On September 4, 2015 AstraZeneca reported that data will be reported from across their industry-leading lung cancer portfolio at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) 2015, beginning this weekend in Denver, Colorado (Press release, AstraZeneca, SEP 3, 2015, View Source;astrazeneca-to-update-lung-cancer-portfolio-at-wclc [SID:1234507394]). Presentations will feature 25 abstracts (including 9 oral and 4 late breaker presentations) on the company’s lung cancer pipeline, designed to address the unmet needs of patients with different forms of lung cancer.

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AZD92911: Targeting resistance mechanisms in lung cancer

AZD9291 will be the focus of six oral presentations on its clinical activity in both first-line and previously-treated patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation (EGFRm) T790M advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The data are consistent with previously reported efficacy and safety results of AZD9291 in these treatment settings.

Antoine Yver, Head of Oncology, Global Medicines Development at AstraZeneca said: "The data presented at WCLC illustrate the breadth of our lung cancer research across multiple disease settings and lines of therapy, as we aim to develop a comprehensive portfolio of effective and durable treatments for patients. AZD9291 is moving through clinical development with unprecedented speed, and was recently granted US Priority Review designation in recognition of its potential to target the mutation that drives resistance to current treatments for EGFR mutation positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the majority of patients."

In addition to AZD9291, AstraZeneca will also present results from the IRESSA (gefitinib) Clinical Access Programme (ICAP), which provides data on the long-term safety and tolerability of the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor in 188 US cancer patients outside the clinical trial setting. IRESSA was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a first-line treatment for EGFRm metastatic NSCLC in July 2015, and is already available in 91 countries worldwide.

Immuno-oncology (IO): Update on key clinical trials

Trial designs for the ongoing IO late-stage studies that will be presented at WCLC include:

ATLANTIC (NCT02087423): A Phase II trial of durvalumab (PD-L1 mAb) as third-line treatment in patients with PD-L1 positive, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC
ARCTIC (NCT 02352948): A Phase III trial of durvalumab monotherapy and in combination with tremelimumab (CTLA-4 mAb) versus standard of care in third-line metastatic NSCLC
PACIFIC (NCT02125461): A Phase III placebo-controlled trial of durvalumab compared to placebo in patients with locally advanced, unresectable, NSCLC following completion of treatment with chemoradiotherapy and no evidence of tumour progression.
Robert Iannone, Head of Immuno-Oncology, Global Medicines Development, at AstraZeneca said: "WCLC provides another opportunity for us to update the medical community on our extensive immuno-oncology development programme in lung cancer. We have made tremendous progress in developing immuno-oncology-based combination approaches, with nine pivotal studies planned or underway in NSCLC alone, which will provide us with a steady stream of research milestones in the coming months."

The FDA has granted Fast Track designation to tremelimumab for the treatment of mesothelioma, an aggressive, rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and abdomen. Durvalumab was also granted Fast Track designation for patients with advanced NSCLC, who have received at least two prior systemic-treatment regimens, who do not have EGFR mutations or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) alterations, and have tumours that are determined to be PD-L1 positive.

AstraZeneca Pivotal Studies in Lung Cancer

Data presented at WCLC are part of AstraZeneca’s rapidly advancing lung cancer programme, which includes the following pivotal clinical trials and upcoming milestones.

On September 2, 2015 MEI Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEIP), an oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel therapies for cancer,reported results for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 (Filing, 8-K, MEI Pharma, SEP 2, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507382]).

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"Despite a challenging end to the fiscal year, I am quite pleased with how the Company is positioned entering fiscal year 2016," said Daniel P. Gold, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MEI Pharma. "While we were obviously disappointed with the top-line data from our randomized study of Pracinostat in front-line myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), our subsequent findings from the study, combined with the continued maturation of data from our ongoing study in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and discussions with our clinical advisors, suggest that Pracinostat, in combination with hypomethylating agents (HMA) or other drug candidates, may still play a meaningful role in the treatment of patients with advanced hematologic diseases.

"Meanwhile," continued Dr. Gold, "recent data surrounding the two other drug candidates currently in our pipeline, ME-344 and PWT143, only increase our enthusiasm regarding the potential of these assets and help to inform the next clinical studies anticipated to commence during the first half of calendar year 2016. In the meantime, abstracts relating to all three of our drug candidates have been submitted for presentation at the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2015. We are poised for an exciting year ahead and I look forward to providing updates on our progress."
Fiscal Year 2015 Company Highlights

• Top-line data from randomized Phase II study of Pracinostat in front-line MDS. In March 2015, the Company reported that the addition of Pracinostat to azacitidine (marketed as Vidaza) did not increase the overall CR rate, the study’s primary endpoint, compared to azacitidine alone in this population of intermediate-2 or high-risk patients with previously untreated MDS. Fatigue, gastrointestinal toxicities and myelosuppression occurred more frequently in the combination group and resulted in a higher rate of drug discontinuations compared to azacitidine alone. Data from event-driven endpoints, including overall survival, are still immature. Exploratory follow-up data suggest that patients receiving Pracinostat plus azacitidine for more than four cycles may derive benefit. These data have been submitted for presentation at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2015.

• Positive data from open-label Phase II study of Pracinostat in AML. The combination of Pracinostat and azacitidine continues to produce a high rate of durable responses in this population of elderly patients with newly diagnosed AML. To date, the primary endpoint of complete response (CR) plus complete response with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) plus morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS) has been observed in 27 out of 50 patients (54%), of which 21 (42%) have achieved a CR. Most responses occurred within the first two cycles and many continued to improve with ongoing therapy. Median overall survival has not yet been reached in the study; 31 patients (62%) continue to be followed (range: 9-19 months). The combination of Pracinostat and azacitidine was generally well tolerated in this study. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events include febrile neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea and fatigue. Updated response and overall survival data have been submitted for presentation at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2015.

• Clinical milestone in Phase II study of Pracinostat in refractory MDS. The objective of this study was to determine if the addition of Pracinostat to a HMA can improve clinical responses in MDS patients who progressed while on their HMA alone. Of the first 28 patients who received Pracinostat in combination with azacitidine or decitabine (marketed as Dacogen), one achieved a partial response and two achieved marrow complete responses, exceeding the pre-specified clinical improvement rate for the study. The Company completed enrollment with 39 patients in this group and will continue to follow these patients for response and survival. A second group, patients with stable disease following initial HMA therapy, was closed due to insufficient enrollment. Pracinostat plus azacitidine or decitabine was generally well tolerated in the study. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events included anemia, fatigue and gastrointestinal disorders.

• Initiation of Phase II study of Pracinostat in myelofibrosis. The goal of this study is to learn if Pracinostat, when given in combination with ruxolitinib (marketed as Jakafi and Jakavi), can help to control myelofibrosis, a rare disease of the bone marrow. The study, sponsored by the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, began enrollment earlier this year and is expected to enroll 25 patients.

• Cohort expansion in Phase Ib study of mitochondrial inhibitor ME-344. The Company’s study of ME-344 plus topotecan (marketed as Hycamtin) advanced to the cohort-expansion stage after confirming the maximum tolerated dose of the combination in 14 patients. The expansion stage enrolled patients into two cohorts, ovarian cancer and small cell lung cancer, at nine sites in the U.S. and U.K. The combination of ME-344 and topotecan has been generally well tolerated in the study. The most frequent side effects are fatigue and gastrointestinal disturbances. The Phase Ib study enrolled a total of 13 small cell lung cancer patients and 28 ovarian cancer patients. The Company will continue to follow these patients for response and survival.

• New findings show enhanced activity of ME-344 when combined with TKI. The Company recently announced results from several pre-clinical studies demonstrating mitochondria-specific effects of ME-344 in cancer cells, including substantially enhanced anti-tumor activity when combined with a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFr) tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) to inhibit both mitochondrial and glycolytic metabolism. These findings will help to inform the next clinical study of ME-344 in combination with a VEGFr TKI.

• Encouraging preliminary data from first-in-human study of PWT143. The Company initiated a first-in-human clinical study of PWT143, a highly selective oral inhibitor of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) delta, in healthy subjects in June 2015. Preliminary data show measurable plasma levels of PWT143 as well as significant on target activity observed at the 10 mg starting dose level. In addition, the pharmacokinetic results suggest the potential for once-daily dosing. These data have been submitted for presentation at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2015. The Company expects to initiate a Phase I study of PWT143 in patients with hematologic cancers during the first half of calendar year 2016.

• Pharmaceutical industry veteran Kevan Clemens elected to Board of Directors. Dr. Clemens has a long and distinguished career in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighted by his role as head of Global Oncology at Hoffmann-La Roche.

• Strengthened balance sheet with $46 million public offering. The net proceeds from the offering will enable the Company to continue to execute on its clinical development programs.
Fiscal Year 2015 Financial Highlights

• As of June 30, 2015, MEI Pharma had $63.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, with no outstanding debt. The Company believes its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund operations through at least calendar year 2016.

• Net cash used in operations was $28.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2015, compared to $19.5 million for 2014. Net cash used in operations was $6.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

• Research and development (R&D) expenses were $23.8 million for the year ended June 30, 2015, compared to $19.3 million for 2014. The increase was primarily due to costs associated with Phase II clinical trials for Pracinostat, as well as costs associated with a Phase I clinical trial for ME-344 and pre-clinical costs related to PWT143. R&D expenses for the year ended June 30, 2015 included share-based compensation of $1.0 million.

• General and administrative expenses were $8.9 million for the year ended June 30, 2015, compared to $7.9 million for 2014. The increase primarily relates to higher levels of salaries and benefits.

• Net loss was $32.7 million, or $1.16 per share, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, compared to $27.1 million, or $1.35 per share for 2014.

On September 2, 2015 MEI Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEIP), an oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel therapies for cancer, reported results for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 (Press release, MEI Pharma, SEP 2, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507384]).

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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

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"Despite a challenging end to the fiscal year, I am quite pleased with how the Company is positioned entering fiscal year 2016," said Daniel P. Gold, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MEI Pharma. "While we were obviously disappointed with the top-line data from our randomized study of Pracinostat in front-line myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), our subsequent findings from the study, combined with the continued maturation of data from our ongoing study in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and discussions with our clinical advisors, suggest that Pracinostat, in combination with hypomethylating agents (HMA) or other drug candidates, may still play a meaningful role in the treatment of patients with advanced hematologic diseases.

"Meanwhile," continued Dr. Gold, "recent data surrounding the two other drug candidates currently in our pipeline, ME-344 and PWT143, only increase our enthusiasm regarding the potential of these assets and help to inform the next clinical studies anticipated to commence during the first half of calendar year 2016. In the meantime, abstracts relating to all three of our drug candidates have been submitted for presentation at the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2015. We are poised for an exciting year ahead and I look forward to providing updates on our progress."

Fiscal Year 2015 Company Highlights

Top-line data from randomized Phase II study of Pracinostat in front-line MDS. In March 2015, the Company reported that the addition of Pracinostat to azacitidine (marketed as Vidaza) did not increase the overall CR rate, the study’s primary endpoint, compared to azacitidine alone in this population of intermediate-2 or high-risk patients with previously untreated MDS. Fatigue, gastrointestinal toxicities and myelosuppression occurred more frequently in the combination group and resulted in a higher rate of drug discontinuations compared to azacitidine alone. Data from event-driven endpoints, including overall survival, are still immature. Exploratory follow-up data suggest that patients receiving Pracinostat plus azacitidine for more than four cycles may derive benefit. These data have been submitted for presentation at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2015.

Positive data from open-label Phase II study of Pracinostat in AML. The combination of Pracinostat and azacitidine continues to produce a high rate of durable responses in this population of elderly patients with newly diagnosed AML. To date, the primary endpoint of complete response (CR) plus complete response with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) plus morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS) has been observed in 27 out of 50 patients (54%), of which 21 (42%) have achieved a CR. Most responses occured within the first two cycles and many continued to improve with ongoing therapy. Median overall survival has not yet been reached in the study; 31 patients (62%) continue to be followed (range: 9-19 months). The combination of Pracinostat and azacitidine was generally well tolerated in this study. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events include febrile neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea and fatigue. Updated response and overall survival data have been submitted for presentation at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2015.

Clinical milestone in Phase II study of Pracinostat in refractory MDS. The objective of this study was to determine if the addition of Pracinostat to a HMA can improve clinical responses in MDS patients who progressed while on their HMA alone. Of the first 28 patients who received Pracinostat in combination with azacitidine or decitabine (marketed as Dacogen), one achieved a partial response and two achieved marrow complete responses, exceeding the pre-specified clinical improvement rate for the study. The Company completed enrollment with 39 patients in this group and will continue to follow these patients for response and survival. A second group, patients with stable disease following initial HMA therapy, was closed due to insufficient enrollment. Pracinostat plus azacitidine or decitabine was generally well tolerated in the study. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events included anemia, fatigue and gastrointestinal disorders.

Initiation of Phase II study of Pracinostat in myelofibrosis. The goal of this study is to learn if Pracinostat, when given in combination with ruxolitinib (marketed as Jakafi and Jakavi), can help to control myelofibrosis, a rare disease of the bone marrow. The study, sponsored by the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, began enrollment earlier this year and is expected to enroll 25 patients.
Cohort expansion in Phase Ib study of mitochondrial inhibitor ME-344. The Company’s study of ME-344 plus topotecan (marketed as Hycamtin) advanced to the cohort-expansion stage after confirming the maximum tolerated dose of the combination in 14 patients. The expansion stage enrolled patients into two cohorts, ovarian cancer and small cell lung cancer, at nine sites in the U.S. and U.K. The combination of ME-344 and topotecan has been generally well tolerated in the study. The most frequent side effects are fatigue and gastrointestinal disturbances. The Phase Ib study enrolled a total of 13 small cell lung cancer patients and 28 ovarian cancer patients. The Company will continue to follow these patients for response and survival.

New findings show enhanced activity of ME-344 when combined with TKI. The Company recently announced results from several pre-clinical studies demonstrating mitochondria-specific effects of ME-344 in cancer cells, including substantially enhanced anti-tumor activity when combined with a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFr) tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) to inhibit both mitochondrial and glycolytic metabolism. These findings will help to inform the next clinical study of ME-344 in combination with a VEGFr TKI.

Encouraging preliminary data from first-in-human study of PWT143. The Company initiated a first-in-human clinical study of PWT143, a highly selective oral inhibitor of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) delta, in healthy subjects in June 2015. Preliminary data show measurable plasma levels of PWT143 as well as significant on target activity observed at the 10 mg starting dose level. In addition, the pharmacokinetic results suggest the potential for once-daily dosing. These data have been submitted for presentation at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2015. The Company expects to initiate a Phase I study of PWT143 in patients with hematologic cancers during the first half of calendar year 2016.

Pharmaceutical industry veteran Kevan Clemens elected to Board of Directors. Dr. Clemens has a long and distinguished career in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighted by his role as head of Global Oncology at Hoffmann-La Roche.

Strengthened balance sheet with $46 million public offering. The net proceeds from the offering will enable the Company to continue to execute on its clinical development programs.

Fiscal Year 2015 Financial Highlights

As of June 30, 2015, MEI Pharma had $63.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, with no outstanding debt. The Company believes its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund operations through at least calendar year 2016.

Net cash used in operations was $28.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2015, compared to $19.5 million for 2014. Net cash used in operations was $6.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $23.8 million for the year ended June 30, 2015, compared to $19.3 million for 2014. The increase was primarily due to costs associated with Phase II clinical trials for Pracinostat, as well as costs associated with a Phase I clinical trial for ME-344 and pre-clinical costs related to PWT143. R&D expenses for the year ended June 30, 2015 included share-based compensation of $1.0 million.

General and administrative expenses were $8.9 million for the year ended June 30, 2015, compared to $7.9 million for 2014. The increase primarily relates to higher levels of salaries and benefits.

Net loss was $32.7 million, or $1.16 per share, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, compared to $27.1 million, or $1.35 per share for 2014.

(Filing, 10-K, MEI Pharma, SEP 2, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507383])

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On September 1, 2015 Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) reported it has added a new cloud-based toolkit to the company’s OncoPeer interactive online forum, making development tools available for research that has the potential to lead to next generation cancer treatment technologies (Press release, InfiMed, SEP 1, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507366]).

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Varian’s new Developer Cloud houses digital tools like information about TrueBeam Developer Mode, and cloud-based applications for managing Developer Mode and simulating treatments. It is part of the company’s overall objective to empower research-oriented clinical teams to accelerate the development of new treatment techniques and processes designed to improve outcomes for cancer patients.

"When Varian introduced the TrueBeam platform in 2010, we included Developer Mode, an optional non-clinical development tool for researchers to use in pioneering and prototyping new treatment techniques," said Corey Zankowski, vice president of products and strategic portfolio management. "Many important advances have been enabled by the use of this and other Varian development tools. Developer Cloud was created to aggregate these developer tools in one place so researchers can easily access what they need. Researchers can also use the OncoPeer forum to engage in discussions with other users of the research tools, to share best practices."

In a separate development, the OncoPeer online forum, first launched last March in select geographic areas, is now accessible to Varian customers worldwide. Since March, users have established discussion groups on topics like oncology analytics, knowledge-based treatment planning, treatment planning using Eclipse software, and the physics of radiotherapy. One discussion group focuses on how to use Varian’s ARIA information system to manage a medical oncology department. Other groups share information about Varian treatment delivery platforms.

"OncoPeer is a place for customers to find others who use Varian technology and learn from one another," said Sukhveer Singh, vice president, Varian Oncology Continuum Solutions. "With the addition of the Developer Cloud, OncoPeer is now a resource for the research community as well."

Varian held an online seminar about Navigating OncoPeer last May. Interested clinicians can view a replay of the webcast at this registration website. Customers can access OncoPeer at www.oncopeer.com (registration required).