Biosyngen’s first-in-class CAR-T asset targeting solid tumors has entered pivotal phase II trial, Phase I trial data debut at ESMO 2024 Annual Congress

On September 18, 2024 Biosyngen reported that highly anticipated 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Annual Congress has taken place in Barcelona, Spain (Press release, BioSyngen, SEP 18, 2024, View Source [SID1234646727]). As one of the most influential annual gatherings in oncology, this congress brings together leading cancer experts and researchers from around the globe, showcasing the latest advancements in the field and providing high-quality educational and networking opportunities for oncology professionals.

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Biosyngen, an innovative biotechnology company specializing in immune cell therapies, is proud to present Phase I clinical data for its pioneering CAR-T therapy targeting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Abstract Title

Safety and efficacy of a novel CAR-T cell therapy (BRG01) targeting the Epstein-Barr Virus envelope glycoprotein in advanced metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients

Abstract No.:

899P

The presentation highlights that the Phase I clinical trial of BRG01 has successfully completed dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) observations and efficacy evaluations in nine patients, all diagnosed with advanced NPC. Notably, 100% of participants had previously undergone platinum-based chemotherapy and failed at least one immune checkpoint inhibitor, including PD-1 antibodies, while 45% had also failed treatment with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

Preliminary data indicates that BRG01 demonstrates exceptional safety and preliminary efficacy. In terms of safety, no cases of dose-limiting toxicity, neurotoxicity, grade 2 or higher cytokine release syndrome, or treatment-related death were observed. The most common grade 3 adverse events were transient leukopenia related to the lymphodepletion regimen.

In terms of efficacy, disease control and response rates exhibited a clear dose-dependent relationship. Higher doses led to more significant effects, with 75% of patients experiencing a sustained reduction in tumor burden and diminished metabolic activity, and several lesions achieving complete response (CR) with 100% tumor reduction.

Patients treated with BRG01 have shown a progression-free survival exceeding six months post-infusion, demonstrating significantly extended antitumor effects compared to the current standard treatment, checkpoint inhibitors like PD-1 antibodies.

Additionally, BRG01 exhibited remarkable antiviral efficacy, with a significant reduction in EBV viral load in peripheral blood to normal levels post-infusion.

Professor Zhang Li, the principal investigator (PI) of this clinical trial, and Director of the Phase I Unit at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, stated, "BRG01 has the potential to be a ‘first-in-class’ T cell therapy for EBV-positive tumors. Its unique mechanism and robust Phase I data instill confidence in its Phase II clinical performance. We look forward to establishing its clinical efficacy through further studies, offering new hope for more patients."

As previously reported, BRG01 has received regulatory approvals for Phase II clinical trials in July (China) and August (U.S.) with patient enrollment now underway.

These data not only underscore the potential of BRG01 in treating cancer but also highlights its dual advantages in antiviral therapy, establishing a solid foundation for future clinical applications. This is likely a key factor in the Center for Drug Evaluation, NMPA and FDA’s decision to advance BRG01 to Phase II trials.

BRG01 is an autologous T cell immunotherapy that expresses a chimeric receptor targeting EBV antigens through genetic modification. It represents Biosyngen’s global innovation in next-generation CAR-T cell therapy specifically for EBV. The therapy received clinical trial approval from the CDE in December 2022 and the FDA in February 2023. Subsequently, it was granted orphan drug designation (ODD) and fast track designation (FTD) by the FDA in June and July 2023, respectively, marking rapid simultaneous progress in both the U.S. and China.

Biosyngen’s commitment to solid tumor cell therapies extends beyond BRG01. The company is emerging as a biotech leader with a portfolio that includes CAR-T, TCR-T, and TIL therapies targeting both solid and hematologic tumors. All related product pipelines have achieved simultaneous regulatory submissions and approvals in both the U.S. and China, covering various solid tumors, including lung and liver cancer.

Regarding the initial release of BRG01’s Phase I clinical data, Dr. Michelle Chen, co-founder and CEO of Biosyngen, stated, "BRG01 is the result of years of hard work by our team and a testament to the recognition of our core technology and research capabilities. Biosyngen is committed to developing innovative drugs that address unmet clinical needs in oncology. In the future, we will continue to increase our R&D investments and expedite the clinical trial and commercialization processes for BRG01, providing more effective and accessible treatment options for patients worldwide."

With Biosyngen’s efficient execution and rapid research advancements, we have reason to be optimistic about achieving further clinical breakthroughs in solid tumor cell therapies in a shorter timeframe, bringing new hope to patients.

BriaCell Announces FDA-Authorized Expanded Access Policy for Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

On September 18, 2024 BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (NASDAQ: BCTX, BCTXW) (TSX: BCT) ("BriaCell" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care, reported U.S. FDA (FDA) authorization of an Expanded Access Policy (EAP) for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients (Press release, BriaCell Therapeutics, SEP 18, 2024, View Source [SID1234646765]).

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FDA requires BriaCell to have an EAP policy, as a condition of granting BriaCell’s Fast Track designation , and to help MBC cancer patients in need of novel treatments. The EAP provides access to cancer patients beyond the scope of BriaCell’s pivotal Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT06072612 ) to receive treatment with the Bria-IMT regimen.

"FDA authorization for the EAP highlights its awareness of the safety and efficacy profile of Bria-IMT and patients’ need to access such a novel treatment. While we are conducting our pivotal Phase 3 trial of Bria-IMT regimen with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, Bria-IMT may provide a treatment option for cancer patients in need," stated Dr. William V. Williams, BriaCell’s President and CEO. "Despite numerous approved drugs, breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. With our novel immunotherapy, we expect to bring hope to patients and families suffering from this deadly disease."

"Given the recently reported impressive survival and clinical benefit of Bria-IMT regimen in metastatic breast cancer patients who failed multiple prior treatments, more patients would be able to benefit from the EAP with BriaCell’s novel immunotherapy approach," stated Giuseppe Del Priore, MD, MPH, BriaCell’s Chief Medical Officer. "We hope that our novel immunotherapy will become a new standard of care for metastatic breast cancer patients."

Nuvalent Announces Closing of Upsized Public Offering of Common Stock

On September 18, 2024 Nuvalent, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUVL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on creating precisely targeted therapies for clinically proven kinase targets in cancer, reported the closing of its previously announced upsized underwritten public offering of 5,750,000 shares of Class A common stock, which includes 750,000 shares of Class A common stock sold pursuant to the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares, at a price to the public of $100.00 per share (Press release, Nuvalent, SEP 18, 2024, View Source [SID1234646728]). The gross proceeds of the offering were approximately $575.0 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. All shares in the offering were offered by Nuvalent.

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J.P. Morgan, TD Cowen, Jefferies and Stifel are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

The shares were offered by Nuvalent pursuant to an automatically effective shelf registration statement that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 16, 2023. This offering was made only by means of a prospectus and prospectus supplement that form a part of the registration statement. A final prospectus supplement relating to and describing the terms of the offering has been filed with the SEC and may be obtained for free by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus can be obtained from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by email at [email protected] and [email protected]; TD Securities (USA) LLC, 1 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017, by telephone at (855) 495-9846 or by email at [email protected]; Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (877) 821-7388, or by email at [email protected] or Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Attention: Syndicate, One Montgomery Street, Suite 3700, San Francisco, California 94104, by telephone at 415-364-2720 or by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) combinations in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma accepted for regulatory review in Japan

On September 16, 2024 GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) reported that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has accepted for review a new drug application (NDA) for Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) in combination with bortezomib plus dexamethasone (BorDex) or pomalidomide plus dexamethasone (PomDex) as a treatment for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (Press release, GlaxoSmithKline, SEP 17, 2024, View Source [SID1234646665]). MHLW also has granted orphan drug designation for Blenrep, which reflects the high unmet medical need and ensures priority NDA review in multiple myeloma.

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This is the third major regulatory filing acceptance for belantamab mafodotin combinations in the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, following marketing authorisation application acceptance2 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in July 2024 and by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK earlier this month.

Hesham Abdullah, Senior Vice President, Global Head Oncology, R&D, GSK, said: "Blenrep combinations show potential based on the results of the DREAMM-7 and DREAMM-8 trials to redefine the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. We are committed to working with health authorities worldwide to advance Blenrep along regulatory pathways so we can bring these additional treatment options to patients as quickly as possible."

Multiple myeloma presents a growing health concern in Japan, where the number of patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma per year has increased continuously over the last five decades.3,4 This underscores the urgent need for more treatment options for patients in Japan, particularly those with progressing disease that has become resistant to the current standard of care.

The application is based on interim results from the DREAMM-7 and DREAMM-8 phase III trials, which both met their primary endpoints, showing statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) for the belantamab mafodotin combinations compared to standard of care combinations in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. A positive overall survival (OS) trend was observed in both trials but was not statistically significant at the time of interim analysis. Follow-up for OS continues. The DREAMM-7 trial is evaluating belantamab mafodotin combined with BorDex versus daratumumab plus BorDex, while the DREAMM-8 trial is evaluating belantamab mafodotin in combination with PomDex versus bortezomib plus PomDex.

Results from both trials also showed clinically meaningful improvements across all other secondary efficacy endpoints, including deeper and more durable responses compared to the respective standard of care combinations. The safety and tolerability profiles of the belantamab mafodotin combinations in DREAMM-7 and DREAMM-8 trials were broadly consistent with the known profiles of the individual agents.

About multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma is the third most common blood cancer globally and is generally considered treatable but not curable.1,5 There are approximately more than 180,000 new cases of multiple myeloma diagnosed globally each year.6 More than 7,200 new cases of multiple myeloma are diagnosed in Japan each year.1 Research into new therapies is needed as multiple myeloma commonly becomes refractory to available treatments.7

About DREAMM-7
The DREAMM-7 phase III clinical trial is a multicentre, open-label, randomised trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of belantamab mafodotin in combination with BorDex compared to a combination of daratumumab and BorDex in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who previously were treated with at least one prior line of multiple myeloma therapy, with documented disease progression during or after their most recent therapy.

A total of 494 participants, including Japanese patients, were randomised at a 1:1 ratio to receive either belantamab mafodotin in combination with BorDex or a combination of daratumumab and BorDex. Belantamab mafodotin was scheduled to be dosed at 2.5mg/kg intravenously every three weeks.

The primary endpoint is PFS as per an independent review committee. The key secondary endpoints include OS, duration of response (DOR), and minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rate as assessed by next-generation sequencing. Other secondary endpoints include overall response rate (ORR), safety, and patient reported and quality of life outcomes.

Results from DREAMM-7 were first presented8 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Plenary Series in February 2024, shared in an encore presentation at the 2024 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A Japan expansion cohort is set to further evaluate the DREAMM-7 protocol in Japanese patients. Results for Japanese participants will be presented at a future scientific meeting.

About DREAMM-8
The DREAMM-8 phase III clinical trial is a multicentre, open-label, randomised trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of belantamab mafodotin in combination with PomDex compared to a combination of bortezomib and PomDex in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma previously treated with at least one prior line of multiple myeloma therapy, including a lenalidomide-containing regimen, and who have documented disease progression during or after their most recent therapy. Compared to the patient population studied in the DREAMM-7 trial, patients in DREAMM-8 were more heavily pre-treated in that all had prior exposure to lenalidomide, 75% were refractory to lenalidomide, 25% had prior daratumumab exposure and of those most were daratumumab refractory.

A total of 302 participants, including Japanese patients, were randomised at a 1:1 ratio to receive either belantamab mafodotin plus PomDex, or bortezomib plus PomDex.

The primary endpoint is PFS as per an independent review committee. The key secondary endpoints include OS and MRD negativity rate as assessed by next-generation sequencing. Other secondary endpoints include ORR, DOR, safety, and patient reported and quality of life outcomes.

Results from DREAMM-8 were first presented9 at the 2024 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A Japan expansion cohort is set to further evaluate the DREAMM-8 protocol in Japanese patients. Results for Japanese participants will be presented at a future scientific meeting.

About Blenrep
Blenrep is an antibody-drug conjugate comprising a humanised B-cell maturation antigen monoclonal antibody conjugated to the cytotoxic agent auristatin F via a non-cleavable linker. The drug linker technology is licensed from Seagen Inc.; the monoclonal antibody is produced using POTELLIGENT Technology licensed from BioWa Inc., a member of the Kyowa Kirin Group.

Blenrep is approved as monotherapy in Hong Kong, Israel and Singapore. Refer to the local Summary of Product Characteristics for a full list of adverse events and complete important safety information.

BioNTech to Host AI Day as an Edition of its Innovation Series on October 1, 2024

On September 17, 2024 BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX, "BioNTech"), alongside its artificial intelligence ("AI") company InstaDeep Ltd. ("InstaDeep"), reported that it will host an AI Day, an edition of BioNTech’s "Innovation Series", at 09:00 a.m. EDT (3:00 p.m. CEST) on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 in London, United Kingdom (Press release, BioNTech, SEP 17, 2024, View Source [SID1234646698]). The event will provide an overview of BioNTech’s and InstaDeep’s AI strategy and capabilities, and the application of AI in BioNTech’s pipeline and internal processes.

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The live webcast of the event will be available via this link.

A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the event’s conclusion and archived on BioNTech’s website for one year after.