Oncoinvent Announces First Patient Dosed in its Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Radspherin® in Ovarian Cancer Patients

On October 10, 2024 Oncoinvent, a clinical stage, radiopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments for solid cancers, reported that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 2 study of Radspherin in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer (Press release, Oncoinvent, OCT 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234647148]). Radspherin is a novel alpha-radiation therapy candidate designed for targeted, local treatment of cancers that have spread to body cavities. The Phase 2 trial is a randomized controlled study designed to assess progression-free survival (PFS) in primary advanced ovarian cancer patients treated with Radspherin following complete surgical resection and pre-operative chemotherapy.

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"We are pleased to announce the dosing of the first patient in our Phase 2 study of Radspherin in ovarian cancer patients, representing another pivotal achievement that underscores the potential of our clinical program," said Oystein Soug, Chief Executive Officer of Oncoinvent. "This milestone builds upon the highly encouraging data from our Phase 1/2a trials in ovarian and colorectal cancer patients, where Radspherin demonstrated promising safety and efficacy. This follows the FDA’s recently granted Fast Track designation, bringing us closer to demonstrating the therapeutic potential of Radspherin. We look forward to advancing this clinical study as part of our mission to improve outcomes for patients suffering from peritoneal carcinomatosis."

The Phase 2 trial (NCT06504147) is a randomized controlled study assessing the efficacy and safety of Radspherin in patients with peritoneal metastasis from ovarian cancer. The primary objective is to compare PFS between patients who receive Radspherin after complete surgical resection following pre-operative chemotherapy, and patients who only undergo pre-operative chemotherapy and surgery. The study is being conducted at six centers in the US, UK, Norway, Spain and Belgium. Positive Phase 1/2a data from the safety interim analysis demonstrated that Radspherin was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicity observed at the recommended dose of 7MBq.

Aprea Therapeutics Announces Presentations at EORTC-NCI-AACR International Conference on Molecular Targets and Therapeutics

On October 10, 2024 Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APRE) ("Aprea", or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on precision oncology through synthetic lethality, reported that four abstracts have been accepted for poster presentation at the EORTC-NCI-AACR (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, to take place in Barcelona, Spain, October 23 – 25, 2024 (Press release, Aprea, OCT 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234647133]). Details on the posters are below.

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"We are very pleased to have these posters featured at the upcoming EORTC-NCI-AACR (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) Symposium, showcasing the ongoing progress in our oncology pipeline of DNA damage response (DDR) inhibitors," said Oren Gilad, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Aprea. "This symposium provides a great opportunity to share updates on our two clinical stage candidates, APR-1051 and ATRN-119, with the international oncology community."

Poster Details

Clinical:
Title: Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of APR-1051, a WEE1 Inhibitor, in a Phase 1 Study of Patients with Cancer-Associated Gene Alterations (ACESOT-1051)
Session date/ time: Wednesday, October 23rd, 12:00 – 19:00 CET
Location: Exhibition Hall
Poster #: 77

Title: ATRN-119, a Novel Macrocyclic ATR Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Solid Malignancies: A Phase 1/2a Trial (ABOYA-119)
Session date/ time: Friday, October 25th, 09:00 – 15:00 CET
Location: Exhibition Hall
Poster#: 348

Preclinical
Title: The novel WEE1i, APR-1051, does not substantially off-target PLK1, PLK2, or PLK3 and exhibits favorable in vivo characteristics for treating CCNE1-overexpressing cancers
Session date/ time: Friday, October 25th, 09:00 – 15:00 CET
Location: Exhibition Hall
Poster #: 335

Title: Development and testing of a first-in-class series of macrocyclic ATR inhibitors for cancer treatment
Session date/ time: Friday, October 25th, 09:00 – 15:00 CET
Location: Exhibition Hall
Poster #: 336

Copies of the posters will be available on the "Investor Resources" page of the Aprea corporate website at the conclusion of the meeting

FDA Approves Genentech’s Itovebi, a Targeted Treatment for Advanced Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer With a PIK3CA Mutation

On October 10, 2024 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported "The PI3K pathway plays a pivotal role in disease progression and has been challenging to target," said Komal Jhaveri, M.D., section head for the endocrine therapy research portfolio and clinical director of the early drug development service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and one of the principal investigators of the INAVO120 study (Press release, Genentech, OCT 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234647149]). "The Itovebi-based regimen more than doubled progression-free survival and maintained a manageable safety and tolerability profile, adding a new standard in how PIK3CA-mutated breast cancers are treated."

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"With the approval of this Itovebi-based regimen, we continue our long-standing track record of cancer therapeutic discovery by offering an important new first-line option for people living with HR-positive breast cancer with a PIK3CA mutation," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Genentech’s chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "Despite the high prevalence of PIK3CA mutations in this setting, treatment options have thus far remained limited, which makes today’s approval all the more significant."

This approval is based on results of the pivotal Phase III INAVO120 study, which showed that the Itovebi-based regimen reduced the risk of disease worsening or death by 57% compared with palbociclib and fulvestrant alone (15.0 months vs. 7.3 months; hazard ratio [HR]=0.43, 95% CI: 0.32-0.59, p<0.0001) in the first-line setting, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit. Overall survival (OS) data were immature at the time of primary analysis, but a clear positive trend was observed (stratified HR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43-0.97, p=0.0338 [boundary of 0.0098]). Follow-up for OS is continuing to the next analysis.

"We are thrilled by the approval of the Itovebi-based regimen, which is a huge step forward for advanced breast cancer patients with a PIK3CA mutation," said Jean Sachs, CEO of Living Beyond Breast Cancer. "It remains critical that all patients have access to early, comprehensive biomarker testing so they can better understand what treatment options may be most beneficial for them and their tumor type."

The Itovebi-based regimen was granted FDA Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy Designation in May 2024 based on the INAVO120 study results. Data from INAVO120 are also being used for filing submissions to other global health authorities, including the European Medicines Agency. Itovebi will be available in the U.S. in the coming weeks. Early, comprehensive biomarker testing with an FDA-approved test, such as Foundation Medicine’s FoundationOneLiquid CDx, can help identify people with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with a PIK3CA mutation.

Itovebi is currently being investigated in various combinations across three company-sponsored Phase III clinical studies (INAVO120, INAVO121, INAVO122) in PIK3CA-mutated locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. We continue to evaluate opportunities to expand our clinical development program to address patient unmet needs in various tumor types across oncology.

About the INAVO120 study

The INAVO120 study [NCT04191499] is a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Itovebi (inavolisib) in combination with palbociclib and fulvestrant versus placebo plus palbociclib and fulvestrant in people with PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose disease progressed during treatment or within 12 months of completing adjuvant endocrine therapy and who have not received prior systemic therapy for metastatic disease.

The study included 325 patients, who were randomly assigned to either the investigational or control treatment arm. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival, as assessed by investigators, defined as the time from randomization in the clinical trial to the time when the disease progresses, or a patient dies from any cause. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, objective response rate, and clinical benefit rate.

Beyond INAVO120, Itovebi is currently being investigated in two additional company-sponsored Phase III clinical studies in PIK3CA-mutated locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in various combinations:

in combination with fulvestrant versus alpelisib plus fulvestrant in HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer post cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor and endocrine combination therapy (INAVO121; NCT05646862), and
combination with dual HER2 blockade versus dual HER2 blockade and optional physician’s choice of endocrine therapy as a maintenance treatment in HER2-positive disease (INAVO122; NCT05894239).
About Hormone Receptor (HR)-Positive Breast Cancer

HR-positive breast cancer is the most prevalent type of all breast cancers, accounting for approximately 70% of cases. A defining feature of HR-positive breast cancer is that its tumor cells have receptors that attach to one or both hormones – estrogen or progesterone – which can contribute to tumor growth. People diagnosed with HR-positive metastatic breast cancer often face the risk of disease progression and treatment side effects, creating a need for additional treatment options. The PI3K signaling pathway is commonly dysregulated in HR-positive breast cancer, often due to activating PIK3CA mutations, which have been identified as a potential mechanism of intrinsic resistance to standard of care endocrine therapy in combination with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors.

What is Itovebi?

Itovebi (inavolisib) is a prescription medicine used in combination with the medicines palbociclib and fulvestrant to treat adults who have hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer that has an abnormal phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) gene, and has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced), or to other parts of the body (metastatic), and has come back after hormone (endocrine) therapy.

Your healthcare provider will test your cancer for abnormal PIK3CA genes to make sure that Itovebi is right for you.

It is not known if Itovebi is safe and effective in children.

Important Safety Information

What are the possible side effects of Itovebi?
Itovebi may cause serious side effects, including:

High blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). High blood sugar is common with Itovebi and may be severe. Your healthcare provider will monitor your blood sugar levels before you start and during treatment with Itovebi. Your blood sugar levels may be monitored more often if you have a history of Type 2 diabetes. Your healthcare provider may also ask you to self-monitor and report your blood sugar levels at home. This will be required more frequently in the first 4 weeks of treatment. If you are not sure how to test your blood sugar levels, talk to your healthcare provider. You should stay well-hydrated during treatment with Itovebi. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop symptoms of high blood sugar, including:
difficulty breathing
blurred vision
nausea and vomiting (lasting more than 2 hours)
unusually increased appetite
stomach pain
weight loss
excessive thirst
fruity-smelling breath
dry mouth
flushed face and dry skin
more frequent urination than usual or a higher amount of urine than normal
feeling unusually sleepy or tired
confusion
Mouth sores (stomatitis). Mouth sores are common with Itovebi and may be severe. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following in your mouth:
pain
swelling
redness
ulcers
Diarrhea. Diarrhea is common with Itovebi and may be severe. Severe diarrhea can lead to the loss of too much body water (dehydration) and kidney injury. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop diarrhea, stomach-area (abdominal pain), or see mucus or blood in your stool during treatment with Itovebi. Your healthcare provider may tell you to drink more fluids or take medicines to treat your diarrhea.
Your healthcare provider may tell you to decrease your dose, temporarily stop your treatment, or completely stop your treatment with Itovebi if you develop certain serious side effects.

The most common side effects and abnormal blood test results of Itovebi when used in combination with palbociclib and fulvestrant include:

decreased white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, and platelet counts
decreased blood levels of calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium
increased creatinine blood levels
tiredness
increased blood levels of the liver enzyme alanine transaminase (ALT)
nausea
rash
loss of appetite
COVID-19 infection
headache
Itovebi may affect fertility in males and in females who are able to become pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.

These are not all the possible side effects of Itovebi. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or View Source You may also report side effects to Genentech at (877) 436-3683.

Before you take Itovebi, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have a history of diabetes or high blood sugar
have kidney problems
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Itovebi can harm your unborn baby.
Females who are able to become pregnant:

Your healthcare provider will check to see if you are pregnant before you start treatment with Itovebi.
You should use effective non-hormonal birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 1 week after your last dose of Itovebi. Talk to your healthcare provider about what birth control method is right for you during this time.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Itovebi.
Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant:

You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with Itovebi and for 1 week after your last dose.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Itovebi passes into your breastmilk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with Itovebi and for 1 week after your last dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with Itovebi.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Itovebi (inavolisib), in combination with palbociclib (Ibrance) and fulvestrant, for the treatment of adults with endocrine-resistant, PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, as detected by an FDA-approved test, following recurrence on or after completing adjuvant endocrine therapy. The PIK3CA mutation is found in approximately 40% of HR-positive metastatic breast cancers.

BridGene Biosciences to Present Three Novel Covalent Inhibitors at the 36th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium

On October 9, 2024 BridGene Biosciences, a leader in the discovery of small molecule drugs for traditionally "hard-to-drug" targets, reported it will present three groundbreaking posters at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2024 Annual Meeting in Barcelona, on October 25, 2024 (Press release, Bridgene Biosciences, OCT 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234647116]). The posters will showcase the company’s latest advancements in the development of covalent inhibitors for key oncogenic targets, including cMyc, ADAR1, and PAX8, each representing promising new treatment avenues for various cancers.

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"These three presentations represent significant strides in our mission to develop novel therapeutics for cancer patients," said Ping Cao, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of BridGene Biosciences. "By focusing on these high-value, historically hard-to-drug targets, we aim to create first-in-class therapies that address critical gaps in cancer treatment. Our platform continues to unlock new possibilities in drug discovery, and we are excited to share these advancements with the scientific community at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)."

BridGene’s work on cMyc, titled "Discovery of a Covalent Inhibitor Targeting the Undruggable Oncogene cMyc," focuses on overcoming the challenges posed by its intrinsically disordered structure, which has historically rendered the protein hard-to-drug. Through its proprietary Isobaric Mass Tagged Affinity Characterization (IMTAC) platform, BridGene identified two hit compounds, which effectively inhibit cMyc signaling. These inhibitors showed potent activity in reducing transcriptional function and offering a potential therapeutic strategy for cancers driven by cMyc amplification, which accounts for nearly one-third of all tumors.

In addition to its work on cMyc, BridGene will present research titled "Discovery of a Novel Covalent ADAR1 Inhibitor," focusing on a novel covalent inhibitor targeting ADAR1, an enzyme that plays a critical role in RNA editing and immune suppression in cancer. By inhibiting ADAR1, BridGene’s compounds, could be expected to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapies. This research highlights the potential for ADAR1 inhibitors to reshape the tumor microenvironment, paving the way for more effective immunotherapies.

BridGene’s third poster presentation, "Discovery of a Novel Covalent PAX8 Inhibitor," will unveil a covalent inhibitor of PAX8, a transcription factor linked to poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma and ovarian cancer. Utilizing its IMTAC platform, BridGene discovered a compound that disrupts the DNA binding activity of PAX8. This discovery opens the door to new therapeutic strategies for cancers with elevated PAX8 expression, which have traditionally been difficult to target.

Nona Biosciences Enters Strategic Collaboration with OverT Bio to Advance Next-Generation Cell Therapies for Solid Tumors

On October 9, 2024 Nona Biosciences, a global biotechnology company providing a total solution from "Idea to IND" (I to ITM), reported a strategic collaboration with OverT Bio, a New York-based biotechnology company (Press release, Nona Biosciences, OCT 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234647117]). The collaboration will focus on developing next-generation cell therapies for solid tumors by leveraging Nona’s proprietary fully human HCAb Harbour Mice platform and its innovative direct CAR-function-based HCAb library screening platform, NonaCarFxTM.

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The fully human heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs) generated from Nona’s HCAb Harbour Mice platform provide an ideal modality for CAR-based cell therapies. Unlike traditional methods, fully human HCAbs have the potential to significantly reduce immunogenicity. Their compact size, simplified structure, and precisely calibrated binding properties offer enhanced versatility in CAR design. In the evolving field of cell therapy, fully human HCAbs present significant potential to unlock further therapeutic advancements.

"We are excited to partner with OverT Bio to advance novel cell therapies for solid tumors," said Jingsong Wang, MD, PhD, Chairman of Nona Biosciences. "By combining our fully human HCAb technology with OverT Bio’s innovative approaches, we aim to accelerate the development of transformative therapies that have the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes."

Mat Legut, PhD, CEO of OverT Bio, added, "We are excited to partner with Nona as we are advancing the field of genetically enhanced allogeneic gamma delta T cells. By leveraging Nona’s fully human HCAbs, we are accelerating the development of our first clinical program to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our differentiated cell engineering platforms."