Uncategorized – Page 2069 – 1stOncology™: Cancer Intelligence Service

Elevation Oncology Announces Promising Initial Data from Phase 1 Clinical Trial Evaluating EO-3021 in Patients with Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic Solid Tumors Likely to Express Claudin 18.2

On August 6, 2024 Elevation Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELEV), an innovative oncology company focused on the discovery and development of selective cancer therapies to treat patients across a range of solid tumors with significant unmet medical needs, reported promising initial data from the dose escalation portion of the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of EO-3021 in patients with advanced, unresectable or metastatic solid tumors likely to express Claudin 18.2, including gastric, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), pancreatic or esophageal cancers (Press release, Elevation Oncology, AUG 6, 2024, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=elevation-oncology-announces-promising-initial-data-from-phase-1-clinical-trial-evaluating-eo-3021-in-patients-with-advanced-unresectable-or-metastatic-solid-tumors-likely-to-express-claudin-18-2 [SID1234645415]).

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"Gastric and GEJ cancers are devastating diseases, which occur frequently in the U.S. and globally and which, despite recent advancements, still have high levels of mortality," said Kohei Shitara, M.D., Chief, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East in Kashiwa, Japan and principal investigator on the Phase 1 clinical trial. "There is a particular need for highly selective therapies that benefit patients with Claudin 18.2-expressing tumors. To that end, I am excited by the initial data with EO-3021, which suggest it could change the treatment paradigm for a significant portion of patients with gastric or GEJ cancer. I am excited to evaluate EO-3021 in the expansion portion of this Phase 1 clinical trial."

"We are pleased to share initial data from our Phase 1 clinical trial of EO-3021," said Valerie Malyvanh Jansen, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Elevation Oncology. "EO-3021 was designed to maximize efficacy while minimizing the potential for free MMAE, with the goal of offering patients an improved safety profile and physicians a more readily combinable agent. We are encouraged to see the benefits of EO-3021’s site-specific conjugation translate clinically, with minimal MMAE-associated toxicities observed in our Phase 1 trial. Coupled with the promising anti-tumor activity reported in patients with gastric or GEJ cancer, the data suggest that EO-3021 is a potential best-in-class Claudin 18.2 antibody drug conjugate. We look forward to advancing into monotherapy dose expansion and initiating our combination cohorts in the months ahead, as well as reporting additional data from our ongoing trial in the first half of 2025."

Data from the Ongoing Phase 1 Clinical Trial

EO-3021 was evaluated in the dose escalation stage of a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced, unresectable or metastatic solid tumors likely to express Claudin 18.2, including gastric, GEJ, pancreatic or esophageal cancers. As of the data cutoff date of June 10, 2024, 32 patients had been treated in the dose escalation portion of the Phase 1 clinical trial at four dose levels (ranging from 1.0 mg/kg to 2.9 mg/kg once every three weeks (Q3W), including 26 patients with gastric or GEJ cancer. The median age was 65 years (ranging from 45 to 83) and the median number of prior lines of therapy was three (ranging from one to seven).

Initial Safety Data

As of the data cutoff of June 10, 2024, EO-3021 was observed to be generally well-tolerated. No Grade 4 or 5 treatment-related adverse events were reported, and less than 10% of patients discontinued EO-3021 due to adverse events. Importantly, no neutropenia or peripheral neuropathy/hypoesthesia, both known toxicities associated with monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), were observed in the safety population of 32 patients treated with EO-3021.

Across all grades, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events (reported in ≥20% of patients) were nausea (56%), decreased appetite (47%), fatigue (41%) and diarrhea (28%). Four dose-limiting toxicities (one each of Grade 3 fatigue, encephalopathy, worsening decreased appetite, and Grade 2 decreased appetite requiring a dose reduction at Cycle 2) were observed at the 2.9 mg/kg dose level, leading to the decision to select the 2.0 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg Q3W doses for evaluation in the dose expansion portion of the Phase 1 trial.

Initial Efficacy Data in Gastric and GEJ Cancer

As of the data cutoff date of June 10, 2024, 15 patients with gastric or GEJ cancers were evaluable for efficacy with measurable disease, at least one post-baseline scan, and available Claudin 18.2 IHC results. Seven of these 15 patients (47%) had tumors with Claudin 18.2 expression in ≥20% of tumor cells at IHC 2+/3+. Claudin 18.2 expression was determined retrospectively using a Claudin 18.2-specific IHC assay.

In seven patients with Claudin 18.2 in ≥20% of tumor cells at IHC 2+/3+, the objective response rate (ORR) was 42.8% (three confirmed partial responses, one of which was confirmed following the June 10, 2024, data cutoff) and the disease control rate (DCR) was 71.4%, including two patients with stable disease (SD).
In eight patients with Claudin 18.2 in <20% of tumor cells at IHC 2+/3+, the ORR was 0% and the DCR was 50%, including four patients with SD.
Clinical Development Plans for EO-3021

Elevation Oncology plans to initiate enrollment in the dose expansion portion of the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial, further exploring two doses of EO-3021: 2.0 mg/kg IV Q3W and 2.5 mg/kg IV Q3W. These doses were selected with the goal of further characterizing EO-3021 in order to select an optimized dose for further clinical development.

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary anti-tumor activity of EO-3021 in patients with gastric or GEJ cancer, who have progressed on or after standard therapy or who are intolerable of available standard therapy. An exploratory objective of the study is to assess the association of Claudin 18.2 expression and objective response. Additionally, data from the dose escalation portion of Elevation Oncology’s Phase 1 trial suggest that a biomarker patient selection strategy will be an important component of future clinical development. Elevation Oncology is working to identify the appropriate biomarker threshold and plans to introduce a biomarker cutoff as part of the dose expansion portion of this Phase 1 trial. Elevation Oncology expects to share additional data from the Phase 1 trial, including from the dose expansion cohort, in the first half of 2025.

Additionally, Elevation Oncology plans to expand its ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial to include combination cohorts evaluating EO-3021 for the treatment of advanced or metastatic gastric or GEJ cancer in the first- and second-line setting. As previously disclosed, the combination cohorts will evaluate EO-3021 in combination with ramucirumab, a VEGFR2-inhibitor, in the second-line setting, and in combination with dostarlimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, in the first-line setting. Elevation Oncology expects to initiate dosing in the combination portion of the Phase 1 trial by year-end 2024.

Conference Call Information

Elevation Oncology will host a live conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET today to discuss the initial safety and efficacy data announced today. Participants may register for the conference call here. It is recommended that participants join the call ten minutes prior to the scheduled start.

A webcast of the call will also be available on the Events page of Elevation Oncology’s investor relations website at View Source The archived webcast will be available on the website approximately two hours after the conference call and will be available for 90 days following the call.

About EO-3021

EO-3021 (also known as SYSA1801) is a differentiated, clinical-stage antibody drug conjugate (ADC) with best-in-class potential comprised of an immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets Claudin 18.2. EO-3021 is site-specifically conjugated to the monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) payload via a cleavable linker with a drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of 2. Claudin 18.2 is a specific isoform of Claudin 18 that is normally expressed in gastric epithelial cells. During malignant transformation, the tight junctions may become disrupted, exposing Claudin 18.2 and allowing them to be accessible by Claudin 18.2 targeting agents. Elevation Oncology is evaluating EO-3021 in a Phase 1 study (NCT05980416) in patients with advanced, unresectable or metastatic solid tumors likely to express Claudin 18.2 including gastric, gastroesophageal junction, pancreatic or esophageal cancers.

Elevation Oncology has the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize EO-3021 in all global territories outside Greater China.

Precigen Announces Proposed $30 Million Public Offering of Common Stock

On August 6, 2024 recigen, Inc. (Nasdaq: PGEN) reported it has commenced a $30.0 million underwritten public offering of its common stock. In addition, Precigen intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $4.5 million of common stock (Press release, Precigen, AUG 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234645431]). The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the size or terms of the offering. All of the shares in the proposed offering are to be sold by Precigen.

Stifel is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

The public offering will be made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and became effective on January 17, 2024. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and base prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained, when available, from Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Attention: Prospectus Department, One Montgomery Street, Suite 3700, San Francisco, CA 94104, by telephone at +1(415) 364-2720 or by email at [email protected]. The final terms of the offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC.

Summit Therapeutics Reports Financial Results and Operational Progress for the Second Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024

On August 6, 2024 Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SMMT) ("Summit," "we," or the "Company") reported its financial results and provides an update on its operational progress for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2024 (Press release, Summit Therapeutics, AUG 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234645448]).

Operational & Corporate Updates

Our operational progress continues with ivonescimab (SMT112), an investigational, potentially first-in-class bispecific antibody combining the effects of immunotherapy via a blockade of PD-1 with the anti-angiogenesis effects associated with blocking VEGF into a single molecule:
In January 2023, we closed our Collaboration and License Agreement with Akeso Inc. (Akeso, HKEX Code: 9926.HK) for ivonescimab (SMT112), with which over 1,800 patients have now been treated in clinical studies globally. At the initial time of the deal, Summit received rights to develop and commercialize ivonescimab in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan.
In June 2024, the agreement was amended and, as a result, expanded to also include Latin America, including Mexico and all countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Africa to Summit’s license territories for ivonescimab. Akeso retains development and commercialization rights for the rest of the world, including China.
Since in-licensing ivonescimab, we have launched a late-stage clinical development program in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are actively enrolling two registrational Phase III trials in the following proposed indications:
HARMONi: Ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who have progressed after treatment with a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), with enrollment completion expected in the second half of 2024, and
HARMONi-3: Ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy in first-line metastatic squamous NSCLC patients, with the first patient having been treated in the fourth quarter of 2023.
In late May 2024, positive results were announced from the Phase III HARMONi-A trial which were subsequently presented at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) (ASCO 2024) and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). HARMONi-A, a single-region, randomized, double-blinded Phase III study in patients with NSCLC who have progressed following an EGFR-TKI, achieved its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) for patients receiving ivonescimab in combination with doublet chemotherapy (pemetrexed and carboplatin). The HARMONi-A trial was conducted in China and sponsored by Akeso with data generated and analyzed by Akeso. This is a clinical setting where PD-1 monoclonal antibodies have previously been unsuccessful in Phase III global clinical trials.
Patients (n=322) experienced a 54% reduction in disease progression or death as compared to placebo plus doublet chemotherapy (HR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.34 – 0.62; p<0.001). In a pre-specified subgroup PFS analysis of patients who received a previous third-generation TKI, a hazard ratio of 0.48 was observed. The Phase III study was considered to have demonstrated a tolerable safety profile and a low discontinuation rate of ivonescimab for adverse events.
Additionally, on May 30, 2024, Akeso announced that HARMONi-2, in which ivonescimab was administered as a monotherapy, resulted in a statistically significant improvement in PFS when compared to monotherapy pembrolizumab in patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors had positive PD-L1 expression (PD-L1 tumor proportion score, or TPS, ≥1%). The PFS benefit was demonstrated across clinical subgroups, including those with PD-L1 low expression (PD-L1 TPS 1-49%), PD-L1 high expression (PD-L1 TPS ≥50%), squamous and non-squamous histologies, as well as other high-risk patients.
These results are unprecedented as ivonescimab is the first known drug to achieve clinically meaningful efficacy benefit over pembrolizumab in a randomized Phase III clinical trial in NSCLC. The HARMONi-2 trial was conducted in China and sponsored by Akeso with data generated and analyzed by Akeso. Previously, Akeso announced that it intends to release the results from this study at an upcoming medical conference later in the year.
In July 2024, we announced a five-year strategic collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson) to accelerate the development of ivonescimab in several solid tumors across multiple clinical trials. Under the agreement, MD Anderson will lead multiple clinical trials to evaluate the safety and potential clinical benefit of ivonescimab, including the possibility of identifying biomarkers through additional research activities. Leveraging the clinical infrastructure and research expertise of MD Anderson, the collaboration is designed to quickly discover opportunities for ivonescimab, including several tumors outside of the current development plan. Early work may include certain types of renal cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, skin cancer, and breast cancer, as well as glioblastoma.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, we also strengthened our Board of Directors with the appointment of two new members:
In April 2024, the Company appointed Mostafa Ronaghi, PhD, to its Board of Directors. Dr. Ronaghi is the Co-Founder and Executive Board Member of Cellanome. He was previously the Chief Technology Officer at Illumina, Inc. from 2008 to 2021. While at Illumina, in 2016, Dr. Ronaghi co-founded GRAIL, a next-gen liquid biopsy platform for cancer detection. Dr. Ronaghi holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.
In June 2024, the Company appointed Jeff Huber to its Board of Directors. Mr. Huber is the Co-Founder and General Partner of Triatomic Capital Private LP, a venture capital firm. Prior to founding Triatomic, Mr. Huber was the Founding CEO and Vice Chairman of GRAIL, Inc. Prior to GRAIL, he was a Senior Vice President at Alphabet Inc. (formerly Google Inc.). Mr. Huber holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Financial Highlights

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, & Short-term Investments

In June 2024, we received and accepted an unsolicited offer from an institutional investor to purchase 22,222,222 shares of the Company’s common stock at $9.00 per share, a premium to the closing price on Friday, May 31, 2024, for aggregate gross and net proceeds to the Company of approximately $200.0 million.
On August 6, 2024, we intend to file a Form S-3 in order to register the above referenced 22.2 million shares that were purchased in June 2024.
Aggregate cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments were $325.8 million and $186.2 million at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Research and development tax credits were $1.3 million and $1.8 million at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Updated Cash Guidance

Based on the Company’s current operating plans and its existing cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, we updated our cash guidance. We believe we have sufficient cash to fund operations into the fourth quarter of 2025.
GAAP and Non-GAAP Research and Development (R&D) Expenses

GAAP R&D expenses according to generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP") were $30.8 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $9.5 million for the same period of the prior year.
Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $27.3 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $8.8 million for the same period of the prior year.
GAAP Acquired In-Process Research and Development (Acquired IPR&D) Expenses

GAAP Acquired IPR&D expenses were $15.0 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to zero for the same period of the prior year. Second quarter 2024 GAAP Acquired IPR&D expenses of $15.0 million related to our upfront consideration pursuant to the June 2024 license agreement amendment with Akeso.
GAAP and Non-GAAP General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses

GAAP G&A expenses were $14.0 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $6.3 million for the same period of the prior year.
Non-GAAP G&A expenses were $6.4 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $5.2 million for the same period of the prior year.
GAAP and Non-GAAP Operating Expenses

GAAP operating expenses were $59.8 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $15.8 million for the same period of the prior year. Second quarter 2024 GAAP R&D expenses included $15.0 million acquired in-process research and development expense related to our upfront consideration pursuant to the June 2024 license agreement amendment with Akeso.
Non-GAAP operating expenses were $33.7 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $13.9 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase is primarily due to expansion of clinical study and development costs related to ivonescimab and increases in people cost as we continue to build out our R&D team.
GAAP and Non-GAAP Net Loss

GAAP net loss in the second quarter of 2024 and 2023 was $60.4 million or $(0.09) per basic and diluted share, and $14.7 million or $(0.02) per basic and diluted share, respectively.
Non-GAAP net loss in the second quarter of 2024 and 2023 was $34.3 million or $(0.05) per basic and diluted share, and $12.8 million or $(0.02) per basic and diluted share, respectively.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release includes measures that are not in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("Non-GAAP measures"). These Non-GAAP measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, Summit’s reported GAAP results, and may be different from Non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these Non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Summit management uses these non-GAAP measures for internal budgeting and forecasting purposes and to evaluate Summit’s financial performance. Summit management believes the presentation of these Non-GAAP measures is useful to investors for comparing prior periods and analyzing ongoing business trends and operating results. For further information regarding these Non-GAAP measures, please refer to the tables presenting reconciliations of our Non-GAAP results to our U.S. GAAP results and the "Notes on our Non-GAAP Financial Information" that accompany this press release.

Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Call

Summit will host an earnings call this morning, Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 9:00am ET. The conference call will be accessible by dialing (888) 210-3702 (toll-free domestic) or (646) 960-0191 (international) using conference code 5785899. A live webcast and instructions for joining the call are accessible through Summit’s website www.smmttx.com. An archived edition of the webcast will be available on our website after the call.

About Ivonescimab

Ivonescimab, known as SMT112 in Summit’s license territories, the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Latin America, including Mexico and all countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Africa, and as AK112 in China and Australia, is a novel, potential first-in-class investigational bispecific antibody combining the effects of immunotherapy via a blockade of PD-1 with the anti-angiogenesis effects associated with blocking VEGF into a single molecule. Ivonescimab displays unique cooperative binding to each of its intended targets with multifold higher affinity when in the presence of both PD-1 and VEGF.

This could differentiate ivonescimab as there is potentially higher expression (presence) of both PD-1 and VEGF in tumor tissue and the tumor microenvironment (TME) as compared to normal tissue in the body. Ivonescimab’s tetravalent structure (four binding sites) enables higher avidity (accumulated strength of multiple binding interactions) in the TME with over 18-fold increased binding affinity to PD-1 in the presence of VEGF in vitro, and over 4-times increased binding affinity to VEGF in the presence of PD-1 in vitro (Zhong, et al, SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper), 2023). This tetravalent structure, the intentional novel design of the molecule, and bringing these two targets into a single bispecific antibody with cooperative binding qualities have the potential to direct ivonescimab to the tumor tissue versus healthy tissue. The intent of this design, together with a half-life of 6 to 7 days (Zhong, et. al., SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper), 2023), is to improve upon previously established efficacy thresholds, in addition to side effects and safety profiles associated with these targets.

Ivonescimab was engineered by Akeso Inc. (HKEX Code: 9926.HK) and is currently engaged in multiple Phase III clinical trials. Over 1,800 patients have been treated with ivonescimab in clinical studies globally.

Summit has begun its clinical development of ivonescimab in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), commencing enrollment in 2023 in two multi-regional Phase III clinical trials, HARMONi and HARMONi-3.

HARMONi is a Phase III clinical trial which intends to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who have progressed after treatment with a 3rd generation EGFR TKI (e.g., osimertinib).

HARMONi-3 is a Phase III clinical trial which is designed to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic squamous NSCLC.

In addition, Akeso has recently had positive read-outs in two single-region (China), randomized Phase III clinical trials for ivonescimab in NSCLC, HARMONi-A and HARMONi-2.

HARMONi-A was a Phase III clinical trial which evaluated ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who have progressed after treatment with an EGFR TKI.

HARMONi-2 is a Phase III clinical trial evaluating monotherapy ivonescimab against monotherapy pembrolizumab in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have positive PD-L1 expression (PD-L1 TPS >1%).

Ivonescimab is an investigational therapy that is not approved by any regulatory authority in Summit’s license territories, including the United States and Europe. Ivonescimab was approved for marketing authorization in China in May 2024.

About Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is believed to impact approximately 600,000 people across the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and Japan.1 NSCLC is the most prevalent type of lung cancer and represents approximately 80% to 85% of all incidences.2 Among patients with non-squamous NSCLC, approximately 15% have EGFR-sensitizing mutations in the United States and Europe.3 Patients with squamous histology represent approximately 25% to 30% of NSCLC patients.

Precigen Strategically Prioritizes Portfolio to Focus on First Potential Gene Therapy Launch

On August 6, 2024 Precigen, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative gene and cell therapies to improve the lives of patients, reported a strategic reprioritization of the Company’s clinical portfolio and streamlining of resources, including a reduction of over 20% of its workforce, to focus on potential commercialization of the PRGN-2012 AdenoVerse gene therapy for the treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) (Press release, Precigen, AUG 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234646014]).

These strategic changes substantially reduce required resources for non-priority programs and will enable the Company to focus on pre-commercialization efforts on PRGN-2012, including supporting submission of a rolling biologics license application (BLA) under an accelerated approval pathway anticipated in the second half of 2024, conducting the confirmatory clinical trial, and manufacturing of commercial product. Additionally, the Company will continue acceleration of commercial readiness efforts for a potential launch in 2025, led by the Company’s new Chief Commercial Officer, Phil Tennant.

Strategic prioritization will also include:

PRGN-2009 AdenoVerse Gene Therapy Clinical Trials: The Company plans to continue PRGN-2009 Phase 2 trials under a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer and in newly diagnosed HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. PRGN-2009 clinical trial enrollment at non-NCI clinical sites will be paused.
UltraCAR-T Clinical Programs: The Company has completed enrollment of the Phase 1b trial for PRGN-3006 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which received Fast Track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and is preparing for an end of Phase 1b meeting with the FDA to discuss next steps. The Company will pause all other UltraCAR-T clinical programs, including PRGN-3005 and PRGN-3007. The Company will minimize UltraCAR-T spend and focus on strategic partnerships to further advance UltraCAR-T programs.
Preclinical Programs: The Company will pause all preclinical programs.
ActoBio: The Company has initiated a shutdown of its Belgium-based ActoBio subsidiary operations, including planned elimination of all ActoBio personnel. In conjunction with this shutdown, ActoBio’s portfolio of intellectual property will be made available for prospective transactions.
"We are on track toward our goal of submitting a rolling BLA for PRGN-2012 in the second half of this year and we are pleased to announce that the confirmatory clinical trial, an important step guided by the FDA to support an accelerated approval, has already been initiated and is actively enrolling patients," said Helen Sabzevari, PhD, President and CEO of Precigen. "These prioritization steps enhance our ability to rapidly prepare for potential commercialization of PRGN-2012, which if approved, we believe has the safety, efficacy, and route of administration profile to be the first and best-in-class therapy for RRP patients."

Please refer to the Company’s 8-K filing for additional details.

Precigen: Advancing Medicine with Precision
Precigen (Nasdaq: PGEN) is a dedicated discovery and clinical stage biopharmaceutical company advancing the next generation of gene and cell therapies using precision technology to target the most urgent and intractable diseases in our core therapeutic areas of immuno-oncology, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. Our technologies enable us to find innovative solutions for affordable biotherapeutics in a controlled manner. Precigen operates as an innovation engine progressing a preclinical and clinical pipeline of well-differentiated therapies toward clinical proof-of-concept and commercialization. For more information about Precigen, visit www.precigen.com or follow us on X @Precigen, LinkedIn or YouTube.

AdenoVerse
Precigen’s AdenoVerse platform utilizes a library of proprietary adenovectors for the efficient gene delivery of therapeutic effectors, immunomodulators, and vaccine antigens designed to modulate the immune system. Precigen’s gorilla adenovectors, part of the AdenoVerse library, have potentially superior performance characteristics as compared to current competition. AdenoVerse gene therapies have been shown to generate high-level and durable antigen-specific T-cell immune responses as well as an ability to boost these responses via repeat administration. Superior performance characteristics and high yield manufacturing of AdenoVerse vectors leveraging UltraVector technology allows Precigen to engineer cutting-edge investigational gene therapies to treat complex diseases.

About PRGN-2012 AdenoVerse Gene Therapy
PRGN-2012 is an investigational off-the-shelf AdenoVerse gene therapy designed to elicit immune responses directed against cells infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) 6 or HPV 11 for the treatment of RRP. PRGN-2012 was the first to receive Breakthrough Therapy Designation and an accelerated approval pathway for RRP from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). PRGN-2012 received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA and from the European Commission. Results from the Phase 1 portion of the Phase 1/2 study were published in the peer-reviewed journal, Science Translational Medicine, a leading publication from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Pivotal data was presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting.

Trademarks
Precigen, AdenoVerse, UltraVector, and Advancing Medicine with Precision are trademarks of Precigen and/or its affiliates.

Elevation Oncology Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Highlights Recent Business Achievements

"Today, we announced promising initial data from our Phase 1 trial evaluating monotherapy EO-3021, which reinforce clinical proof-of-concept and support EO-3021’s potential as a best-in-class Claudin 18.2 antibody drug conjugate. We are particularly excited to see encouraging anti-tumor activity in patients with Claudin 18.2-expressing gastric or GEJ cancer, as well as a differentiated safety profile, demonstrating the value of a targeted therapeutic approach and the benefit of EO-3021’s site-specific conjugation," said Joseph Ferra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Elevation Oncology. "These results support our broad clinical development program for EO-3021 and strengthen our conviction that EO-3021 can provide meaningful benefit to patients living with gastric or GEJ cancer."

Mr. Ferra continued, "Looking ahead, we remain on track to advance into monotherapy dose expansion and initiate the combination portion of our Phase 1 trial evaluating EO-3021 by year-end, report additional monotherapy data for EO-3021 in the first half of 2025, and nominate a development candidate from our HER3-ADC program in the second half of 2024. This year has been transformative for Elevation Oncology, marked by strong execution toward our goal of bringing important treatment options to patients with significant unmet medical needs, and we are eager to continue these efforts as we advance our pipeline of differentiated ADC therapies."

Recent Business Achievements

Earlier today, Elevation Oncology announced promising initial data from the dose escalation portion of the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of EO-3021 in patients with advanced, unresectable or metastatic solid tumors likely to express Claudin 18.2, including gastric, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), pancreatic or esophageal cancers. As of the data cutoff date of June 10, 2024:
EO-3021 was observed to be generally well-tolerated. No neutropenia or peripheral neuropathy/hypoesthesia, both known toxicities associated with monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), were observed in the safety population of 32 patients treated with EO-3021.
In seven patients with Claudin 18.2 in ≥20% of tumor cells at IHC 2+/3+, the objective response rate (ORR) was 42.8% (three confirmed partial responses, one of which was confirmed following the June 10, 2024, data cutoff) and the disease control rate (DCR) was 71.4%, including two patients with stable disease (SD).
In eight patients with Claudin 18.2 in <20% of tumor cells at IHC 2+/3+, the ORR was 0% and the DCR was 50%, including four patients with SD.
A press release with further details regarding these results is available in the News Releases section of Elevation Oncology’s investor relations website at View Source
In June 2024, Elevation Oncology announced plans to expand its ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of EO-3021 to include two combination cohorts evaluating EO-3021 for the treatment of advanced gastric or GEJ cancer. Pursuant to clinical supply agreements with Lilly and Company and GSK, respectively, Elevation Oncology will evaluate EO-3021 in combination with ramucirumab, a VEGFR2 inhibitor, in the second-line setting and in combination with dostarlimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, in the front-line setting.
Expected Upcoming Milestones

EO-3021:

Initiate dosing in combination portion of the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of EO-3021 by year-end 2024.
Share additional data from the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of monotherapy EO-3021, including from the dose expansion cohort, in the first half of 2025.
HER3-ADC:

Nominate development candidate from HER3-ADC program in the second half of 2024.
Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

As of June 30, 2024, Elevation Oncology had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaling $110.8 million, compared to $83.1 million as of December 31, 2023. The increase in cash reflects net proceeds of $44.2 million, which Elevation Oncology raised through its at-the-market (ATM) facility in the first half of 2024, partially offset by cash used to fund operating activities.

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were $6.6 million, compared to $6.0 million for the second quarter of 2023. The increase in R&D expenses in the second quarter of 2024 was primarily due to increased EO-3021 clinical trial expenses.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were $4.4 million, compared to $3.8 million for the second quarter of 2023. The increase in G&A expenses in the second quarter of 2024 was primarily due to increased professional fees, including costs for accounting and legal services, and increased utilization of consultants.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was $10.5 million, compared to $10.1 million for the second quarter of 2023.

Financial Outlook

Elevation Oncology expects its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2024 to be sufficient to fund its current operations into 2026.

Conference Call Information

Elevation Oncology will host a live conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET today to discuss the initial EO-3021 safety and efficacy data announced today. Participants may register for the conference call here. It is recommended that participants join the call ten minutes prior to the scheduled start.