Kura Oncology to Participate in Cantor Global Healthcare Conference

On September 10, 2024 Kura Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: KURA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer, reported its participation in the upcoming Cantor Global Healthcare Conference being held in New York (Press release, Kura Oncology, SEP 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234646472]). Troy Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to participate in a fireside chat at 1:20 p.m. ET / 10:20 a.m. PT on September 17, 2024.

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A live audio webcast of the fireside chat will be available in the investor section of Kura’s website at www.kuraoncology.com with an archived replay available following the live event.

Innovent Delivers Oral Presentation on Phase 1 Clinical Data of IBI363 (First-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias Bispecific Antibody Fusion Protein) in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer at the 2024 WCLC

On September 10, 2024 Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases, reported the presentation of Phase 1 clinical data (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04085185) for IBI363 (first-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody fusion protein) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer at the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) (Press release, Innovent Biologics, SEP 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234646488]). Currently, Innovent is conducting Phase 1/2 clinical trials in China, U.S. and Australia to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of IBI363 in subjects with advanced solid tumors.

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First-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody IBI363 in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer in a Phase 1 study

This update on previously reported Phase 1 results focuses on the safety and efficacy of IBI363 in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As of the follow-up data cutoff date of August 2, 2024, 134 patients were enrolled and received IBI363 monotherapy (up to 3 mg/kg Q3W), with 95.5% having received prior PD-(L)1 immunotherapy. The median duration of IBI363 exposure was 10 weeks, and 77.6% remained on treatment. In the group of 125 patients having at least one post-baseline tumor assessment, the overall ORR was 20.8% and DCR was 74.4%.
IBI363 demonstrated encouraging efficacy signals in IO-treated squamous NSCLC, with a trend toward relatively higher ORR and DCR in the 3 mg/kg Q3W group (n=29)compared to the 1/1.5 mg/kg Q2W/Q3W group (n=27) (see table below). Despite relatively short follow-up time for the 3mg/kg Q3W subgroup, among the 18 patients who had at least 12 weeks of follow-up or end of study, the ORR and DCR were 50% and 88.9%, respectively.
Patients with at least 1
tumor assessment

sqNSCLC

1/1.5 mg/kg
(N=27)

3 mg/kg
(N=29)

3 mg/kg

with at least 12 weeks of follow-up
(N=18)

Best overall response, n (%)

Partial Response (PR)

6*

10**

9***

Stable Disease (SD)

13

16

7

Progressive Disease (PD)

8

2

2

Not Evaluable (NE)

0

1

0

ORR, % (95% CI)

22.2% (8.6, 42.3)

34.5% (17.9, 54.3)

50.0% (26.0, 74.0)

DCR, % (95% CI)

70.4% (49.8, 86.2)

89.7% (72.6, 97.8)

88.9% (65.3, 98.6)

*6 patients had confirmed PR; **9 out 10 patients had confirmed PR; ***8 of 9 patients had confirmed PR.

As of the data cutoff date, for patients with squamous NSCLC who were treated with IBI363 at 1/1.5 mg/kg, the median follow up time was 7.5 months, and the median PFS was 5.5 months (95% CI, 1.5-8.3); currently, the 12-month PFS rate is 30.7%, showing a long-term benefit advantage of immunotherapy. The median PFS was not reached for subjects who received 3mg/kg Q3W.
Similar responses were observed among squamous NSCLC patients with PD-L1 TPS<1% (n=22) and TPS≥1% (n=22) treated across the 1/1.5 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg doses, with ORRs of 36.4% and 31.8% respectively, suggesting IBI363 has efficacy regardless of PD-L1 expression.
IBI363 has a manageable safety profile. The most common treatment related adverse events (TRAEs) included arthralgia, anemia, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and rash. Overall, 20.1% of patients experienced TRAEs ≥ grade 3 and 6.0% experienced TRAE leading to treatment discontinuation. In the 3 mg/kg Q3W subgroup (n=57), 17.5% experienced TRAEs ≥ grade 3 and 5.3% experienced TRAEs leading to treatment discontinuation. The safety profile was consistent with the overall population. No new safety signals were identified.
Given that IBI363 has shown encouraging efficacy signals and good tolerability, this study continues to investigate the long-term efficacy and safety and to determine the RP2D in NSCLC. Additional studies are also underway to evaluate IBI363 in combination with other therapies and in other solid tumors. Relevant data and analyses will be shared in future academic conferences or publications.

Professor Jianya Zhou, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, stated: "Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with non-small cell lung cancer accounting for approximately 80% of cases[1]. While PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have shown promising efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer, most patients eventually develop primary or secondary resistance to these immune checkpoint inhibitors. For NSCLC patients who fail IO therapy, effective treatment options are limited, with chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, achieving only about an ORR of 10% and a median PFS of under 4 months[2]. As a key cytokine that activates tumor-specific CD8+T cells, IL-2 complements immune checkpoint inhibitors in its MOA. Combining PD-1 with IL-2 may reverse the exhaustion of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells and help overcome immune resistance. As a PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific molecule, IBI363 has demonstrated promising antitumor activity in IO-resistant, driver gene wild-type NSCLC, with clinical benefits shown in both ORR and PFS. Additionally, its manageable safety profile, even at higher doses, provides confidence in its therapeutic potential."

Dr. Hui Zhou, Senior Vice President of Innovent, stated: "We are pleased to present the latest data on IBI363 in lung cancer at WCLC. The data highlights the promising trend of IBI363 showing better ORR and DCR at higher doses, alongside a manageable safety profile. Although the follow-up period for the 3 mg/kg dose group is still relatively short, we anticipate more mature data from longer-term follow-up and expect to see its potential as an immunotherapy for long-term survival benefits to patients. Meanwhile, in non-small cell lung cancer, particularly in IO-treated squamous NSCLC, IBI363 has demonstrated potent anti-tumor effects regardless of PD-L1 expression levels. This indicates that IBI363 could potentially offer breakthroughs in treating cold tumors with low or absent PD-L1 expression. We will continue to advance the clinical exploration of IBI363 in squamous NSCLC and other tumor types."

About IBI363 (First-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody fusion protein)

IBI363 is a first-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody fusion protein developed independently by Innovent Biologics. It functions by both blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and activating the IL-2 pathway. The IL-2 arm of IBI363 is designed to maintain its affinity for IL-2Rα while reducing binding to IL-2Rβ and IL-2Rγ, thereby minimizing toxicity. The PD-1 binding arm not only blocks PD-1 but also selectively delivers IL-2. This approach targets and activates tumor-specific T cells that express both PD-1 and IL-2Rα, leading to more precise and effective activation of this T cell subpopulation. IBI363 has demonstrated robust antitumor activity in various tumor-bearing pharmacological models, including those resistant to PD-1 resistance and models of metastasis. In response to urgent clinical needs, Innovent is conducting clinical studies in China, the United States and Australia to further explore the efficacy and safety of IBI363 in advanced tumors.

MannKind to Present at 2024 Cantor Fitzgerald Global Healthcare Conference

On September 10, 2024 MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD), a company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative inhaled therapeutic products and devices for patients with endocrine and orphan lung diseases, reported that Chief Financial Officer Chris Prentiss and Dr. Wasim Fares Therapeutic Area Head, Orphan Lung Diseases, will share updates during a fireside chat at the 2024 Cantor Fitzgerald Global Healthcare Conference in New York (Press release, Mannkind, SEP 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234646473]).

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The fireside chat will take place on Wednesday, September 18 beginning at 1:20 p.m. Eastern Time. A link to the live audio webcast of the session will be available on MannKind Corporation’s website at: View Source An archived, recorded version will also be available on the website for approximately 30 days following the conference.

‘Highly Accurate’: Telix’s Phase III ZIRCON Trial for Kidney Cancer Imaging Published in The Lancet Oncology

On September 10, 2024 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited reported that primary results from its Phase III ZIRCON[1] trial have been published in The Lancet Oncology, reporting that Telix’s first-in-class investigational PET[2] agent, TLX250-CDx (Zircaix[3], 89Zr-girentuximab), is highly accurate in detecting and characterising clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in patients with indeterminate renal masses (IRMs) (Press release, Telix Pharmaceuticals, SEP 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234646489]).

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In this peer-reviewed manuscript, Professor Brian Shuch (University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA) and colleagues report results from this prospective, open-label, multicentre, Phase III trial in which 300 patients with an IRM ≤7cm (cT1) received TLX250-CDx. Authors conclude that TLX250-CDx "has a favourable safety profile and is a highly accurate, non-invasive imaging modality for the detection and characterisation of ccRCC, which has the potential to be practice changing."

Authors explain that small masses in the kidney are increasingly being detected incidentally when patients undergo abdominal imaging, often for other health conditions, contributing to "an era of gross overtreatment". Diagnosis and treatment are limited by current imaging techniques, and renal mass biopsy is invasive, which can often lead to complications. Up to 30% of patients undergo unnecessary surgery, removing masses that are later determined to be benign[4]. If confirmed, however, ccRCC is the most common and aggressive form of kidney cancer, and delays in diagnosis can significantly reduce survival rates.

Professor Brian Shuch, MD, Director of the Kidney Cancer Program and the Alvin & Carrie Meinhardt Endowed Chair in Kidney Cancer Research at UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology, and a ZIRCON principal investigator, said, "Until now, assessing whether renal masses are cancerous has been difficult and often involves invasive surgery or percutaneous biopsy. This is because standard imaging technology – either a CT or MRI scan – cannot reliably differentiate between benign or malignant renal lesions or provide information about disease biology.

"The challenges and uncertainty in diagnosing ccRCC underscore a critical unmet need for a new, non-invasive technique that accurately detects and differentiates ccRCC from other renal masses in patients, to inform clinical decision making. The ZIRCON trial has shown that TLX250-CDx is a breakthrough technology that can address this need."

TLX250-CDx is a zirconium-89 (89Zr) radiolabelled monoclonal antibody that targets carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), a tumour-associated antigen highly expressed in ccRCC. Following successful Phase I and II trials to establish safety and preliminary efficacy, the ZIRCON trial was designed to assess sensitivity and specificity of TLX250-CDx PET/CT imaging to non-invasively detect ccRCC in patients with cT1 IRMs (≤7 cm in diameter) who underwent nephrectomy, using central histological confirmation as standard of truth.

Key findings of the ZIRCON trial, outlined in the paper, include:

89Zr-girentuximab PET/CT imaging accurately detected ccRCC in patients with cT1 IRM (≤7cm), demonstrating a mean sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 87% and positive predictive value of 93%
89Zr-girentuximab PET/CT imaging has high diagnostic performance for detection and characterisation of small and very small renal masses
The primary and secondary endpoints were met by all three radiology readers and exceeded pre-specified thresholds. Inter-reader variability indicated robust agreement among the readers and intra-reader variability was 100%, indicating perfect agreement
No safety concerns associated with the administration of 89Zr-girentuximab were revealed
Imaging performed 5±2 days after administration is sufficient to visualise and assess ccRCC lesions, with the flexible imaging window offering several advantages for patient management
The non-invasive nature of this technique may be especially beneficial to those at risk of complications from a surgical renal mass biopsy.
Dr David N. Cade, Chief Medical Officer at Telix said, "The results of the ZIRCON trial make a compelling case for TLX250-CDx as a breakthrough product for kidney cancer imaging, and validate CAIX as a novel target to accurately identify renal cell carcinoma.

"Professor Shuch and his co-investigators, at 36 sites worldwide, found that its high diagnostic performance, including for very small lesions, may support early and accurate diagnosis, inform patient risk stratification and clinical decision making, and reduce over- and under-treatment. We believe this result will lead to improved patient outcomes".

If approved by the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), TLX250-CDx will be the first and only targeted PET agent specifically for kidney cancer to be commercially available in the U.S.

The full paper can be found at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(24)00402-9/fulltext

About TLX250-CDx (Zircaix3)

TLX250-CDx (Zircaix3) is an investigational radiodiagnostic PET agent that is under development to characterise IRMs as ccRCC or non-ccRCC in a non-invasive manner. Telix’s pivotal Phase III ZIRCON trial evaluating TLX250-CDx in 300 patients, of which 284 were evaluable, was completed in 2022 and met all primary and secondary endpoints[5].

PDX Pharma’s PETTRA drug candidate has been awarded to Phase II

On September 10, 2024 PDX Pharma reported that it has successfully met all the milestones of our Phase I SBIR and has received approval from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to advance to the Phase II project, valued at $2 million (Press release, PDX Pharmaceuticals, SEP 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234646513]). This project (R44CA285233) focuses on the development of our nanotherapeutic, PETTRA (PLK1 and EGFR Targeted Therapy and Radiation Sensitizer). PETTRA is built upon our patented nanoparticle delivery platform, Pdx-NP, which enables the co-delivery of an anti-EGFR antibody (serving as both a cancer-homing agent and an EGFR inhibitor) and PLK1 siRNA (killing cancer cells and sensitizing them to radiation). We have overcome the limitations of traditional nanoparticle delivery systems, achieving a long circulation half-life (e.g., 25 hours in monkeys), a tenfold increase in siRNA accumulation in tumors, and specific delivery to target cells (by 5 to 8-fold over normal cells). Additionally, we have demonstrated excellent PLK1 gene knockdown (e.g., 84%) and significant tumor inhibition (e.g., 91%) in mouse models. We would like to extend our gratitude to the NCI for their continued support and congratulate our team on this achievement!

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