Puma Biotechnology Announces Initiation of ALISCA™-Breast1 Phase II Trial of Alisertib in Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

On November 20, 2024 Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical company, reported the initiation of its ALISertib in CAncer (ALISCA-Breast1) Phase II trial (PUMA-ALI-1201; NCT06369285) of alisertib in combination with endocrine therapy for the treatment of patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-negative) recurrent or metastatic breast cancer who have been previously treated with CDK 4/6 inhibitors and received at least two prior lines of endocrine therapy in the recurrent or metastatic setting (Press release, Puma Biotechnology, NOV 20, 2024, View Source [SID1234648532]). The ALISCA-Breast1 trial will enroll up to 150 patients who will be randomized (1:1:1) to receive alisertib dosed at either 30 mg, 40 mg or 50 mg twice daily on days 1-3, 8-10 and 15-17 in a 28-day cycle in combination with the endocrine therapy of the investigator’s choice. Patients must provide blood and tissue specimens so that biomarkers can be analyzed.

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"Additional therapies are needed for patients with HER2-negative, HR+ metastatic breast cancer whose disease progresses on CDK4/6 inhibitors in the first-line setting"

The primary objective of the trial is to determine the optimal alisertib dose in combination with selected endocrine therapy. The primary endpoints of the trial include objective response rate, duration of response, disease control rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival. As a secondary endpoint, Puma will evaluate each of these efficacy endpoints within biomarker subgroups in order to determine whether any biomarker subgroup correlates with response. Puma will perform its biomarker analysis of the ALISCA-Breast1 trial in parallel with the execution of the clinical trial. Puma plans to perform an initial interim analysis for the evaluation of safety and efficacy.

Based upon the outcomes of the trial, Puma anticipates meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to explore the potential for an approval pathway for alisertib in HER2-negative, HR+ metastatic breast cancer. Once the optimal alisertib dose is identified, Puma plans to engage with global regulatory agencies regarding the design of a pivotal (Phase III) trial, which it anticipates will be a randomized trial of alisertib plus investigator’s choice endocrine therapy versus placebo plus investigator’s choice endocrine therapy in patients with HER2-negative, HR+ metastatic breast cancer.

"Additional therapies are needed for patients with HER2-negative, HR+ metastatic breast cancer whose disease progresses on CDK4/6 inhibitors in the first-line setting," said Joyce A. O’Shaughnessy, M.D., the Celebrating Women Chair in Breast Cancer Research at Baylor University Medical Center, Texas Oncology, Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Dallas, Texas. "The results from the TBCRC 041 trial indicated that alisertib has impressive clinical activity in the setting of endocrine therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitor-resistant metastatic breast cancer, with good tolerability. I look forward to the further evaluation of alisertib in the ALISCA-Breast1 trial to definitively determine the clinical impact of this treatment."

Alan H. Auerbach, Chief Executive Officer, President and Founder of Puma, stated, "We are excited to initiate this Phase II trial and to move forward with the development of alisertib in HER2-negative HR+ metastatic breast cancer. We believe that the data from the previous trial of alisertib monotherapy (published in Lancet Oncology) as well as the TBCRC 041 trial (published in JAMA Oncology), which tested alisertib alone and with fulvestrant, and the randomized trial of alisertib plus paclitaxel versus paclitaxel alone (published in JAMA Network Open) have demonstrated that alisertib is active in patients with HER2-negative, HR+ metastatic breast cancer and in biomarker focused subgroups. We look forward to enrollment in the ALISCA-Breast1 trial and anticipate that we should have initial data from this trial in 2025."

ANTICANCER AGENT “TASFYGO® TABLETS 35mg” (TASURGRATINIB SUCCINATE) LAUNCHED IN JAPAN FOR BILIARY TRACT CANCER WITH FGFR2 GENE FUSION OR REARRANGEMENTS

On November 20, 2024 Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, "Eisai") reported that it has launched fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor "TASFYGO Tablets 35mg" (generic name: tasurgratinib succinate) in Japan for the treatment of patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer with FGFR2 gene fusions or rearrangements that progressed after cancer chemotherapy (Press release, Eisai, NOV 20, 2024, View Source [SID1234648514]). The product received manufacturing and marketing approval in Japan on September 24, 2024, and was published in Japan’s National Health Insurance Drug Price List today.

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Discovered in-house by Eisai’s Tsukuba Research Laboratories, TASFYGO is an orally available novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor that demonstrates selective inhibitory activity against FGFR1, FGFR2 and FGFR3.

The approval of TASFYGO in Japan is based on data such as the results of a multicenter, open-label, single-arm clinical phase II trial (Study 201) conducted by Eisai in Japan and China.1 A companion diagnostic test to detect FGFR2 gene fusions or rearrangements for the use of TASFYGO in biliary tract cancer, "AmoyDx FGFR2 Break-apart FISH Probe Kit" by Nihon Stery, Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo) was approved in August 2024.2

The estimated number of patients in Japan with biliary tract cancer is approximately 22,000,3,4 with approximately 25% of the five-year relative survival rate,3 making it an intractable cancer with the second worst prognosis following pancreatic cancer. Since drug therapy options are limited in comparison with other cancers, it is a disease with significant unmet medical needs. FGFR2 gene fusions or rearrangements are observed in approximately 5-14% of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, which accounts for 15-30% of biliary tract cancers.5,6,7 FGFR genetic aberrations such as the gene fusions are known to be deeply involved in the proliferation, survival and migration of cancer cells as well as tumor angiogenesis and drug resistance. As these genetic aberrations in FGFRs have been observed in various other types of cancers as well as biliary tract cancer, there is growing interest in FGFRs as a promising target for cancer therapy.

TASFYGO is produced at the Kawashima Industrial Park (Gifu Prefecture), using innovative Continuous Manufacturing and Real Time Release Testing, a manufacturing technology that ensures product quality within production processes. Continuous Manufacturing is a production method in which processing is carried out continuously from raw material input to formulation. By incorporating real-time quality monitoring technology, multiple manufacturing processes are integrated, enabling automatic production. This method allows for higher quality control compared to conventional processes that focus on product release testing, by utilizing data within the manufacturing process and reducing human-error through automation.

Eisai aims to make continuous efforts to meet the diversified needs of and increase the benefits provided to patients with cancer, their families, and healthcare professionals, by delivering TASFYGO as a new treatment option for biliary tract cancer with FGFR2 gene fusions or rearrangements.

Schrödinger to Present at Piper Sandler 36th Annual Healthcare Conference

On November 20, 2024 Schrodinger, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDGR) reported that management will participate in a fireside chat at the Piper Sandler 36th Annual Healthcare Conference (Press release, Schrodinger, NOV 20, 2024, View Source [SID1234648533]). The live presentation will take place on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET.

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The live webcast can be accessed in the "Investors" section of Schrödinger’s website and will be archived for approximately 90 days following the event.

Genprex Signs Exclusive License to Additional Gene Therapy Technologies with the University of Michigan for the Treatment of Lung Cancer

On November 20, 2024 Genprex, Inc. ("Genprex" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, reported it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with the University of Michigan, granting Genprex a worldwide, exclusive license to the University’s patent rights relating to its lead drug candidate, Reqorsa Gene Therapy (quaratusugene ozeplasmid), in combination with ALK-inhibitors for the potential treatment of ALK-EML4 positive translocated lung cancer (Press release, Genprex, NOV 20, 2024, View Source [SID1234648516]).

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"We continue to bolster our intellectual property portfolio for REQORSA, understanding that our lead drug candidate may benefit patients with many types of cancers," said Thomas Gallagher, Esq., Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Genprex. "Positive preclinical data indicate that REQORSA in combination with ALK inhibitors may provide benefit to patients with ALK-positive (ALK+) lung cancer. We are pleased to be able to protect this drug combination for a new subset of lung cancer patients, which widens our exclusivity of drug combinations with REQORSA and enhances our intellectual property position."

REQORSA in combination with ALK inhibitors could be a potential therapeutic treatment for ALK+ lung cancer. TUSC2 is a tumor suppressor gene that is frequently deleted in lung cancer. In fact, approximately 82% of all NSCLCs lack or express decreased amounts of TUSC2 tumor suppressor protein. ALK translocations are found in approximately 5% of NSCLCs. Research collaborators at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center’s Judith Tam ALK Lung Cancer Research Initiative presented positive preclinical data at the April 2024 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, reporting that REQORSA induced apoptosis in alectinib resistant EML4-ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines.

The study found that the use of REQORSA or a TUSC2-containing plasmid to overexpress TUSC2 in ALK+ NSCLC cell lines was effective in decreasing cell growth and proliferation through the activation of apoptotic pathways. Researchers believe the results of this preclinical work support further clinical study of REQORSA as an anti-ALK NSCLC treatment strategy. Genprex believes this research suggests that REQORSA may be an effective treatment in patients progressing on ALK inhibitors. To review the poster presented at the 2024 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual meeting, visit Genprex’s website.

About Reqorsa Gene Therapy

REQORSA (quaratusugene ozeplasmid) for NSCLC and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) consists of the TUSC2 gene expressing plasmid encapsulated in non-viral nanoparticles made from lipid molecules (Genprex’s ONCOPREX Delivery System) with a positive electrical charge. REQORSA is injected intravenously and specifically targets cancer cells, which generally have a negative electrical charge. REQORSA is designed to deliver the functioning TUSC2 gene to cancer cells while minimizing their uptake by normal tissue. REQORSA has a multimodal mechanism of action whereby it interrupts cell signaling pathways that cause replication and proliferation of cancer cells, re-establishes pathways for programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in cancer cells, and modulates the immune response against cancer cells.

Genprex’s strategy is to develop REQORSA in combination with currently approved therapies and believes that REQORSA’s unique attributes position it to provide treatments that improve on these current therapies for patients with NSCLC, SCLC, and possibly other cancers.

Personalis to Participate at Upcoming Investor Conferences

On November 20, 2024 Personalis, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSNL), a leader in advanced genomics for precision oncology, reported that its management team will participate at the following investor conferences (Press release, Personalis, NOV 20, 2024, View Source [SID1234648534]):

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– Piper Sandler 36th Annual Healthcare Conference
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Fireside Chat Time: 12:30 pm Eastern Time
Location: The Lotte New York Palace in New York, NY

– TD Cowen Diagnosing Tomorrow: Tools & Technologies for the Next Decade
Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024
Panel Topic: MRD – The Future Tech Stack
Panel Time: 1:30 pm Eastern Time
Location: One Vanderbilt in New York, NY