On September 9, 2024 Candid Therapeutics, Inc. ("Candid"), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing potentially transformative drugs to address autoimmune diseases, reported its official launch today (Press release, Candid Therapeutics, SEP 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234646464]).

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Recent groundbreaking clinical data has showcased the pivotal role of a specific subset of immune cells, B lymphocytes, in autoimmune diseases. B lymphocytes lead to autoimmune pathology by producing autoantibodies that attack the body’s own tissues and also through antigen presentation and cytokine release. Selective depletion of B lymphocytes has shown unprecedented clinical efficacy in highly refractory patients across multiple autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and myasthenia gravis. Candid is developing T-cell engager ("TCE") antibodies that can deplete specific B lymphocyte cell populations and aims to be the first company to bring these novel therapies to market.

To accelerate development of and position Candid to become the leader in TCE antibodies for autoimmune diseases, Candid acquired Vignette Bio and TRC 2004 through a simultaneous three-way merger and multi-step financing. This acquisition integrates two cutting-edge bispecific TCEs:

CND106, a BCMAxCD3 bispecific antibody from Vignette Bio, which was initially founded by Foresite Labs who exclusively licensed ex-China rights for the drug candidate from EpimAb Biotherapeutics.
CND261, a CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody from TRC 2004, which was established through a collaboration between Two River and Third Rock Ventures who exclusively licensed ex-China rights for the drug candidate from Genor Biopharma.
CND106 and CND261 have both completed Phase 1 dose escalation studies with combined data in over 130 oncology patients. Both drug candidates have shown potential to become best-in-class therapies for various autoimmune diseases.
The founding Candid team includes an accomplished set of seasoned entrepreneurs who have repeatedly advanced nascent ideas into late-stage development products and commercialization.

Ken Song, MD as Chairman, President and CEO has successfully led several life science companies with over $5.5 billion in realized shareholder value. Most recently he led RayzeBio, a radiopharmaceutical company, from concept to Phase 3 in just over 3 years and negotiated a $4.1 billion sale of the company earlier this year to Bristol Myers Squibb.
Timothy Lu, MD, PhD as Chief Medical and Scientific Officer was instrumental in the clinical development of novel oral IL-17 drugs for autoimmune diseases at DICE Therapeutics which was acquired last year by Eli Lilly, where he stayed on until joining the Candid team.
Bernie Huyghe, PhD as Chief Technology Officer has over 30 years of experience in manufacturing of biologics and other complex therapeutic products and prior to Candid, was overseeing two Phase 3 antibody programs at Viridian Therapeutics.
Arvind Kush as Chief Financial and Business Officer has had an illustrious career first as a managing director in healthcare banking at Bank of America before transitioning to RayzeBio as CFO where he navigated a highly successful oversubscribed IPO in September 2023.
In conjunction with the merger, Candid has successfully raised over $370 million in capital from an extensive roster of investors, which includes a recently completed financing co-led by Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, Fairmount, TCGX, and venBio Partners. Other notable healthcare investors supporting the company include Foresite Capital, Third Rock Ventures, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Samsara BioCapital, Qiming Venture Partners USA, OrbiMed, Boxer Capital, Redmile Group, Vida Ventures, Two River, Franklin Templeton, LifeSci Venture Partners, Mirae Asset Capital Life Science, Polaris Innovation Fund, Soleus Capital and other reputable institutional and mutual fund investors. This substantial financial backing highlights strong investor confidence in Candid’s purposeful approach and strategic vision, positioning the company for significant impact in bringing forth first-in-class therapies to patients with autoimmune diseases.

"TCE antibodies have the most promise as scalable and patient friendly drugs to deplete B cells for treatment of a myriad of autoimmune conditions and represents a once in a generation development opportunity," said Dr. Ken Song, Chairman, President, and CEO of Candid Therapeutics. "The drugs we are developing at Candid have the potential to go above and beyond the clinical and commercial success of Humira and Rituxan and I am thrilled to be leading the Candid team knowing we can possibly make history by changing the paradigm in how autoimmune diseases are treated."

On September 9, 2024 Immunotherapy innovator ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX), reported positive results from its QUILT 3.055 trial demonstrating long-term extended survival of 14 months to as much as five years for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being treated with checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) (Press release, ImmunityBio, SEP 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234646433]). An oral presentation of the data was presented by John Wrangle, M.D., MPH, Associate Professor, Medical University of South Carolina, at the World Congress on Lung Cancer in San Diego on Sunday, September 8 in the session titled "Novel Immunotherapy Strategies and Combinations."

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The phase 2b study of ANKTIVA (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln) in combination with checkpoint inhibitors KEYTRUDA or OPDIVO in multiple tumor types including NSCLC who failed CPI showed long-term overall survival of 57 percent (49/86) and 34 percent (29/86) at 12 and 18 months respectively, exceeding the current standard of care.

"Most NSCLC patients experience progression following checkpoint inhibitors, with average survival well under a year when checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies fail our patients," said Dr. Wrangle. "The QUILT-3.055 study enrolled patients relapsed after CPI and CPI in combination with chemotherapy and showed that, regardless of prior therapy, adding the IL-15-based superagonist ANKTIVA to their therapy could rescue checkpoint activity likely through activation of NK cells, CD4+, CD8+, and memory T cells. The survival rate in these patients on their 2nd or 3rd line of cancer therapy is impressive and exceeds what you might expect from the current standard of care."

About the QUILT-3.055 Study

Non-small cell lung cancer occurs when malignant cells form in the lung’s tissue and it accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., accounting for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.

The QUILT-3.055 study examined overall survival in 86 patients with 2nd and 3rd line+ NSCLC who were previously treated and failed either CPI alone or failed CPI in combination with chemotherapy. These patients had received no intervening therapy. Patients received ANKTIVA 15 mcg/kg subcutaneously every 3 weeks in combination with the same checkpoint inhibitor they previously received and on which they had progressed.

The median OS (n=86) was 14.1 months (95% CI 11.7, 17.4) with survival ranging up to 58 months. Overall survival for PDL1+ve (>1%) (N=53) was 13.8 months (95% CI 10.2, 16.2) versus PDL1-ve (N=33) of 15.8 months (95% CI 11.5, 24.0). The ANKTIVA adverse event profile was consistent with CPI alone with no cytokine release syndrome observed. Only 10% of participants had any grade ≥3 ANKTIVA-related adverse events. The study demonstrates long-term survival at ≥12 and ≥18 months of 49/86 (57%) and 29/86 (34%) patients respectively.

ANKTIVA plus CPI therapy in 2nd line or greater NSCLC demonstrated long-term median OS, independent of PDL1 status, and independent of prior lines of therapy in patients with acquired resistance to CPI. These findings support the novel mechanism of action of ANKTIVA to rescue CPI activity through the activation of NK and T cells, driving long-term memory, with median overall survival of 57% and 34% at 12 and 18 months, respectively, exceeding the standard of care.

Based on the results of the QUILT 3.055 study and other trials involving ANKTIVA with checkpoint inhibitors, ImmunityBio is opening Phase 3 trials of ANKTIVA plus KEYTRUDA or OPDIVO in 1st and 2nd line NSCLC.

"The clinical trial protocol was designed such that the duration of experimental therapy with ANKTIVA plus CPI was 24 months, and thereafter no further ANKTIVA doses were administered. Despite this, the results demonstrated that 27% of the participants survived beyond the 2-year therapy period, indicating the potential benefit of ANKTIVA to activate memory T cells and prolonged therapeutic benefit after study treatment was completed," said Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., Executive Chairman, Founder and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at ImmunityBio. "Based on this study, the ResQ studies have been activated as randomized Phase 3 trials in both 1st. and 2nd line NSCLC by combining ANKTIVA with pembrolizumab or nivolumab versus standard of care. The current results presented at World Congress on Lung Cancer confirm that by activating the body’s natural immune system and proliferating natural killer cells, killer T cells, and memory T cells, this IL-15 superagonist boosts, or rescues, the checkpoint inhibitor likely by reactivating MHC1 expression on the tumor. We are excited at the potential of converting a MHC-ve cold tumor to a MHC+ve hot tumor and evolving the field of immunotherapy beyond T cells."

About ANKTIVA

The cytokine interleukin-15 (IL-15) plays a crucial role in the immune system by affecting the development, maintenance, and function of key immune cells—NK and CD8+ killer T cells—that are involved in killing cancer cells. By activating NK cells, ANKTIVA overcomes the tumor escape phase of clones resistant to T cells and restores memory T cell activity with resultant prolonged duration of complete response.

ANKTIVA is a first-in-class IL-15 agonist IgG1 fusion complex, consisting of an IL-15 mutant (IL-15N72D) fused with an IL-15 receptor alpha, which binds with high affinity to IL-15 receptors on NK, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. This fusion complex of ANKTIVA mimics the natural biological properties of the membrane-bound IL-15 receptor alpha, delivering IL-15 by dendritic cells and drives the activation and proliferation of NK cells with the generation of memory killer T cells that have retained immune memory against these tumor clones. The proliferation of the trifecta of these immune killing cells and the activation of trained immune memory results in immunogenic cell death, inducing a state of equilibrium with durable complete responses. ANKTIVA has improved pharmacokinetic properties, longer persistence in lymphoid tissues, and enhanced anti-tumor activity compared to native, non-complexed IL-15 in-vivo.

ANKTIVA was recently approved by the FDA for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer CIS with or without papillary tumors. For more information, visit Anktiva.com.

Indication and Important Safety Information

INDICATION AND USAGE

ANKTIVA is an interleukin-15 (IL-15) receptor agonist indicated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for the treatment of adult patients with BCG-unresponsive nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Risk of Metastatic Bladder Cancer with Delayed Cystectomy. Delaying cystectomy can lead to the development of muscle invasive or metastatic bladder cancer, which can be lethal. If patient with CIS do not have a complete response to treatment after a second induction course of ANKTIVA with BCG, reconsider cystectomy.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

For lntravesical Use Only. Do not administer by subcutaneous or intravenous routes. Instill intravesically only after dilution. Total time from vial puncture to the completion of the intravesical instillation should not exceed 2 hours.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common (≥15%) adverse reactions, including laboratory test abnormalities, are increased creatinine, dysuria, hematuria, urinary frequency, micturition urgency, urinary tract infection, increased potassium, musculoskeletal pain, chills and pyrexia.

For more information about ANKTIVA, please see the Full Prescribing Information at www.anktiva.com. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to FDA.

Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-332-1088. You may also contact lmmunityBio at 1-877-ANKTIVA (1-877-265-8482)

On September 9, 2024 Phanes Therapeutics, Inc. (Phanes), a clinical stage biotech company focused on innovative drug discovery and development in oncology, reported that the first patient has been dosed in the clinical study of PT886 in combination with chemotherapy (Press release, Phanes Therapeutics, SEP 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234646449]). Dosing has been completed in two cohorts: one for first-line treatment of pancreatic cancers and another for second-line treatment of gastric, gastroesophageal junction cancers.

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PT886 is a first-in-class native IgG-like bispecific antibody (bsAb) targeting claudin 18.2 and CD47. It was granted orphan drug designation (ODD) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer by the FDA in 2022 and was granted Fast Track designation for the treatment of patients with metastatic claudin 18.2-positive pancreatic adenocarcinoma earlier this year. In 2023, Phanes entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with Merck (known as MSD outside the US and Canada) to study PT886 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab).

The multi-center Phase I/II clinical trial of PT886 (NCT05482893), known as the TWINPEAK study, is currently evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of PT886 in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric, gastroesophageal junction and pancreatic cancers that have progressed after all available standard therapy or for which standard therapy has proven to be ineffective, intolerable, or is considered inappropriate. A Phase I clinical trial of PT886 is also ongoing in China (CTR20241655).

On September 9, 2024 ALX Oncology Holdings Inc., ("ALX Oncology" or "the Company") (Nasdaq: ALXO), an immuno-oncology company developing therapies that block the CD47 immune checkpoint pathway, reported that management will participate in the 2024 Cantor Fitzgerald Global Healthcare Conference being held in New York City on September 17 – 19, 2024 (Press release, ALX Oncology, SEP 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234646419]).

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Format: Fireside chat with analyst, Li Watsek and 1×1 meetings
Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Time: 1:55 PM ET
Webcast link: Available here

The live webcast of the fireside chat can be accessed by visiting the Investors section of ALX Oncology’s website at Events under the News and Events tab. A replay of the webcast will be archived for up to 90 days following the fireside chat date.

On September 9, 2024 IMUNON, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMNN), a clinical-stage company in late-stage development with its DNA-mediated immunotherapy, reported that it will hold its first Ovarian Cancer R&D Day on September 18, 2024 at the Harvard Club (35 West 44th Street) in New York City (Press release, IMUNON, SEP 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234646434]). The event will feature presentations and updates on the development program for IMNN-001, Imunon’s investigational therapy currently in development for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Presentations from KOLs including clinical study investigators, immunology and biostatistics experts and company management will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern time, followed by lunch and informal conversations with presenters from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern time.

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Plans for the Ovarian Cancer R&D Day event follow IMUNON’s recent announcement of positive topline data from its randomized Phase 2 OVATION 2 Study of IMNN-001 showing that treatment was associated with an 11.1 month increase in median OS in the intent-to-treat population, representing a 35% improvement in survival among patients with advanced disease.

The R&D Day program will include insights from thought leaders with expertise in ovarian cancer and immunology and principal investigators from IMNN-001 clinical studies. The agenda will include a review of the OVATION 2 Study results, assessments of oncology clinical trial endpoints and a discussion of the potential role of IMNN-001 in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. In addition, IMUNON management will review next steps in the development program for IMNN-001 and the potential impact treatment could have on standard of care.

Presenters during the R&D Day event will include (listed in order of presentations):

Sid Kerkar, M.D., T cell biology review editor, Frontiers in Immunology. Dr. Kerkar will discuss the important role of IL-12 in treating cancer.
William Bradley, M.D., Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Bradley will discuss the data highlighting the safety and efficacy of IMNN-001.
L.J. Wei, Ph.D., Professor of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Wei will discuss the opportunity to combine PFS and OS to provide a clinically interpretable evaluation of the IMNN-001 treatment effect.
Amir Jazaeri, M.D., Vice Chair for Clinical Research, Director, Gynecologic Cancer Immunotherapy Program, Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Jazaeri will discuss the ongoing Phase 1/2 study of IMNN-001 in combination with bevacizumab in advanced ovarian cancer, for which he serves as principal investigator, including the importance of minimal residual disease and early translational insights.
Premal Thakker, M.D, David & Lynn Mutch Distinguished Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Chief of Gynecologic Oncology, Interim Director of Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Research, Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, and the OVATION 2 Study Chair. Dr. Thaker will discuss the OVATION 2 topline results and their clinical significance beyond the reported topline results.
IMUNON executives at the R&D Day event will include:

Stacy R. Lindborg, Ph.D., President and CEO, will provide an overview of treatment for women newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer and discuss how IMNN-001 has the potential to change the paradigm as well as planning for a Phase 3 registration study.
Khursheed Anwar, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, will review the company’s TheraPlas technology platform, among other topics.
IMUNON strongly encourages in-person attendance to facilitate networking and direct engagement with speakers and management. For those unable to attend in person, a webcast will be available using the same registration link as above.

OVATION 2 Study Topline Results

OVATION 2 evaluated the dosing, safety, efficacy and biological activity of intraperitoneal administration of IMNN-001 in combination with neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) of paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients newly diagnosed with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer. Treatment in the neoadjuvant period is designed to shrink the tumors as much as possible for optimal surgical removal after three cycles of chemotherapy. Following NACT, patients undergo interval debulking surgery, followed by three additional cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy to treat any residual tumor. This open-label study enrolled 112 patients who were randomized 1:1 and evaluated for safety and efficacy to compare NACT plus IMNN-001 versus standard-of-care NACT. In accordance with the study protocol, patients randomized to the IMNN-001 treatment arm could receive up to 17 weekly doses of 100 mg/m2 in addition to NACT.

As announced on July 30, 2024, highlights from patients treated with IMNN-001 plus standard-of-care in a first-line treatment setting include:

An 11.1 month increase in median overall survival (OS) compared with standard-of-care alone in the intent-to-treat population (ITT).
A hazard ratio in the ITT population of 0.74, which indicates a 35% improvement in survival.
Among the approximately 90% of trial participants who received at least 20% of specified treatments per-protocol in both study arms, patients in the IMNN-001 arm had a 15.7 month increase in median OS, representing a further extension of life with a hazard ratio of 0.64, a 56% improvement in survival.
For the nearly 40% of trial participants treated with a poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, the hazard ratio decreased further to 0.41, with median OS in the IMNN-001 treatment arm not yet reached at the time of database lock, compared with median OS of 37.1 months in the standard-of-care treatment arm.
About IMNN-001 Immunotherapy

Designed using IMUNON’s proprietary TheraPlas platform technology, IMNN-001 is an IL-12 DNA plasmid vector encased in a nanoparticle delivery system that enables cell transfection followed by persistent, local secretion of the IL-12 protein. IL-12 is one of the most active cytokines for the induction of potent anticancer immunity acting through the induction of T-lymphocyte and natural killer cell proliferation. IMUNON previously reported positive safety and encouraging Phase 1 results with IMNN-001 administered as monotherapy or as combination therapy in patients with advanced peritoneally metastasized primary or recurrent ovarian cancer, and completed a Phase 1b dose-escalation trial (the OVATION 1 Study) of IMNN-001 in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer.

About Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the sixth deadliest malignancy among women in the U.S. There are approximately 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer every year and approximately 70% are diagnosed in advanced Stage III/IV. Epithelial ovarian cancer is characterized by dissemination of tumor in the peritoneal cavity with a high risk of recurrence (75%, Stage III/IV) after surgery and chemotherapy. Since the five-year survival rates of patients with Stage III/IV disease at diagnosis are poor (41% and 20%, respectively), there remains a need for a therapy that not only reduces the recurrence rate, but also improves overall survival. The peritoneal cavity of advanced ovarian cancer patients contains the primary tumor environment and is an attractive target for a regional approach to immune modulation.