On October 11, 2017 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (NASDAQ: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of anti-cancer drug candidates, some of which are based on license agreements with The University of Texas System on behalf of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, reported that it has entered into an agreement to collaborate with the University of Bergen to expand research on inhibition of brain metastasis by Moleculin’s pre-clinical drug WP1066 and its unique ability to increase immune system response to cancer and suppression of tumor cell proliferation and survival (Press release, Moleculin, OCT 11, 2017, View Source [SID1234520865]).

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"We’ve seen promising evidence that WP1066 has potent anticancer effects in animal tumor models due to its unique mode of action," commented Walter Klemp, Chairman and CEO of Moleculin. "WP1066 is well known for its ability to block the expression of the key oncogenic transcription factors that promote tumor growth and suppress immune system responses. As such, we believe WP1066 has promising potential to stimulate patients’ natural immune response against tumors."

Mr. Klemp continued: "We announced last month a separate collaboration with the University of Bergen in Norway on WP1122 for brain tumors. The WP1066 project will be led by Dr. Frits Alan Thorsen and may provide critical insight on WP1066, which we anticipate will be in clinical trials soon."

The Company previously announced that Moleculin is working with MD Anderson in their effort to move forward with a physician sponsored IND (Investigational New Drug) application to study WP1066 in patients with glioblastoma and melanoma that has metastasized to the brain. That IND has been on hold pending responses to requests from the FDA. If the FDA allows the IND to proceed based on the responses provided, Moleculin anticipates this clinical trial could be ready to begin by the end of this year.

On October 11, 2017 Janpix Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of inhibitors targeted to Signal Transducer & Activator of Transcription (STAT) proteins, reported that it has closed a US $19M investment round led by Medicxi, a GSK and J&J backed venture fund, which initially seeded the company (Press release, Janpix, OCT 11, 2017, View Source [SID1234530950]).

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Armed with a new understanding of how these proteins can simultaneously impact tumors as well as the tumor micro-environment, the company is advancing selective, small molecule inhibitors of STAT proteins, originally discovered at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), towards clinical development.

STAT proteins, in particular STAT 3 and STAT 5, play a key role in regulating cell cycle, apoptosis, and proliferation, and it is widely recognized that their up-regulation is implicated in a number of solid and hematological cancers. More recent research suggests that inhibition of STAT proteins has also a profound impact on the tumor microenvironment, which offers the potential for these inhibitors to have a dual impact on tumors.

Until now, though, STAT proteins remained a hard-to-crack molecular target as intracellular protein-protein interactions are notoriously difficult to inhibit with small molecules. Previous efforts in this field have often resulted in either non-selective compounds or compounds binding to upstream targets. Using technologies and new chemistry developed by Prof Patrick Gunning, the Canada Research Chair in Medicinal Chemistry and a co-founder, Janpix has now been able to discover highly potent and selective STAT3 and STAT5 inhibitors, as well as pan-STAT3/5 inhibitors. With selective compounds in hand, the hope is that these targets can now be further investigated in the clinic.

"Immunotherapy is one of the biggest advances in cancer therapy in recent decades but it doesn’t work in a significant number of patients," said Roman Fleck, PhD, founding CEO of Janpix and an advisor to Medicxi. "By targeting the tumor directly along with its microenvironment we may be able to expand the universe of patients that can benefit from immunotherapies."

"It is exciting to see such an investment, which will translate academic concepts into practical applications," said Professor Ulrich Krull, UTM’s Vice-President and Principal. "These innovations in chemistry that have been pioneered at UTM will potentially support a better quality of life, and perhaps even save lives, for many patients in Canada and around the world."

"We are excited to continue supporting Janpix and Prof Gunning’s work on STAT inhibitors," said Giovanni Mariggi, PhD, a Principal at Medicxi and Board Member of Janpix. "Janpix has made great progress in developing tractable compounds that inhibit these difficult-to-target proteins. The role of STATs in multiple tumor types is supported by vast data and the emerging evidence of their role in tumor immunity adds an extra dimension to the potential impact these new drugs could have on patients."

On October 10, 2017 OncoSec Medical Incorporated ("OncoSec" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:ONCS), a company developing intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, reported that it has initiated its phase 2b registration directed trial, PISCES/KEYNOTE-695 (Press release, OncoSec Medical, OCT 10, 2017, View Source [SID1234520867]). The PISCES/KEYNOTE-695 study is a global, multicenter phase 2b trial of OncoSec’s investigational therapy, ImmunoPulse IL-12 (intratumoral pIL-12 [tavokinogene telseplasmid or "tavo"] with electroporation), combined with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), an anti-PD-1 therapy marketed by Merck (known as MSD outside the US and Canada), in patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma who have progressed or are progressing on an anti-PD-1 therapy.

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"Patients with metastatic melanoma who are progressing or have progressed on anti-PD-1 therapy have limited treatment options. We believe the combination of ImmunoPulse IL-12 and pembrolizumab offers a potentially transformative approach for these patients given the absence of approved therapies," said Punit Dhillon, CEO and President at OncoSec. "The advancement of the PISCES trial marks an important milestone for the Company."

The phase 2b, Simon 2-stage multicenter study of intratumoral tavo with electroporation in combination with intravenous KEYTRUDA will enroll approximately 48 patients with histological diagnosis of melanoma with progressive locally advanced or metastatic disease defined as Stage III or Stage IV. The primary endpoint will be the Best Overall Response Rate (BORR).

"ImmunoPulse IL-12 and pembrolizumab are immunotherapies designed to modulate the patient’s own immune response to fight cancer," said Sharron Gargosky Ph.D., Chief Clinical and Regulatory Officer at OncoSec. "We are pleased with the progress of the ongoing PISCES trial, which has benefitted from our clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck."

The collaboration agreement, which was announced in May 2017, is between OncoSec Medical Incorporated and Merck, through a subsidiary. Under the agreement, OncoSec will sponsor and fund the study and Merck will provide KEYTRUDA.

To learn more about the trial, visit www.oncosec.com. Additional details can also be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov via NCT03132675.

KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.

ImmunoPulse is a registered trademark of OncoSec Medical Incorporated, San Diego, CA, USA.

About Metastatic Melanoma1

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in skin cells called melanocytes. As the cancer progresses, melanoma becomes more difficult to treat once it spreads beyond the skin, such as the lymphatic system (metastatic disease). Given its occurrence young individuals, the potential years of life lost to melanoma can be higher when compared with other cancers. Although melanoma is a rare form of skin cancer, it accounts for over 75% of skin cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 87,000 new melanoma cases and 10,000 deaths from the disease will occur in the United States in 2017. Additionally, the World Health Organization estimates that approximately 132,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed around the world every year.

1 American Cancer Society (View Source); World Health Organization (View Source)

About PISCES (Anti-PD-1 IL-12 Stage III/IV Combination Electroporation Study)

PISCES is a global, multicenter phase 2b, open-label trial of intratumoral plasma encoded IL-12 (tavokinogene telseplasmid or "tavo") delivered by electroporation in combination with intravenous pembrolizumab in patients with stage III/IV melanoma who have progressed or are progressing on either pembrolizumab or nivolumab treatment. The Simon 2-stage study of intratumoral tavo plus electroporation in combination with pembrolizumab will enroll approximately 48 patients with histological diagnosis of melanoma with progressive locally advanced or metastatic disease defined as Stage III or Stage IV. The primary endpoint will be the Best Overall Response Rate (BORR).

On October 10, 2017 Quadriga Biosciences, a privately held, pharmaceutical company focused on developing novel, proprietary amino acid mimics for the treatment of cancer, reported that the Company has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research Grant (SBIR) of $2 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the development of its compounds for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an extremely deadly form of brain cancer for which no long term effective treatment options are available (Press release, Quadriga BioSciences, OCT 10, 2017, View Source [SID1234527723]).

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"We appreciate the NIH’s continued recognition of our science and the importance of the development of our lead molecules for the treatment of GBM," said Dr. Gordon Ringold, Chief Executive Office of Quadriga Biosciences. "GBM is the most malignant form of brain cancer and new therapeutic approaches will be required to significantly impact the progression of this disease. Given the high unmet medical need, we are excited about the opportunity to advance our lead compound through preclinical development over the ensuing months and be in a position to initiate clinical trials by late next year."

On October 10, 2017 GT Biopharma Inc. (OTCQB: GTBP) (Euronext Paris: GTBP.PA) reported that the first four patients have completed treatment in their Food and Drug Administration-approved (FDA) Phase 2 clinical trial of its promising cancer therapy, OXS-1550 (Press release, GT Biopharma , OCT 10, 2017, View Source [SID1234539538]). Additional patient enrollment is ongoing.

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GT Biopharma owns the worldwide rights to commercialize OXS-1550. The targeted immuno-oncology company is focused on novel antibody constructs that provide alternative treatments to cancer patients for whom existing therapies have failed.

The Phase 2 clinical trial is being conducted with GT Biopharma’s partner, the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center. Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Minnesota completed a Phase 1 trial of OXS-1550 to determine the safe highest tolerated dose of the drug. A seamless Phase 2 trial followed and began in April. Topline results of the Phase 2 trial are expected to be released in the first quarter of 2018.

Anthony Cataldo, Executive Chairman of GT Biopharma said, "We are pleased with the progress of our four patients in the Phase 2 trial as we continue to move forward with this promising technology."

Dr. Kathleen Clarence-Smith said, "The product performed well in Phase 1 studies of blood cancers, enrollment in the Phase II study is advancing rapidly, and we look forward to providing a targeted immunotherapy product that has the capability of treating a number of different liquid tumors."

OXS-1550 is an ADC (Antibody Drug Conjugate) drug. ADCs, such as ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) from Seattle Genetics (SGEN), a first-in-class FDA approved antibody-drug conjugate, have paved the way for this type of next-generation platform drug.

OXS-1550 uses a proprietary immunoconjugate platform technology as a treatment for leukemia and other blood-born cancers. What sets OXS-1550 (DT2219ARL) apart from other treatments, such as chemotherapy, is that it is designed to specifically target and kill cancer cells while minimizing damage to normal tissues.

Dr. Daniel Vallera, director of the section on Molecular Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, helped develop OXS-1550.

"The initiation of Phase 2 patient treatment is a key opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of this promising cancer therapy," Dr. Vallera said.

The clinical progress for OXS-1550 brings the company closer to an important alternative to toxic and poorly tolerated chemotherapies and to costly cell therapies, such as those from Kite Pharma, Inc. (KITE), and from Juno Therapeutics (JUNO), for cancer patients.

The news about OXS-1550 follows another major corporate development about GT Biopharma, Inc. with the announcement that it had completed its merger with GTP (Georgetown Translational Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), a move that brought in new management and a class of close-to-market Central Nervous Systems (CNS) products to GT Biopharma.

The inclusion of products and new management can be accessed thru the company’s website (gtbiopharma.com) which highlights several benefits of the acquisition for its shareholders.