Dynavax to Present at the H.C. Wainwright Global Investment Conference

On May 16, 2022 Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: DVAX), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing innovative vaccines, reported that Ryan Spencer, Chief Executive Officer, will present at the H.C. Wainwright Global Investment Conference, being held May 23-26, 2022 (Press release, Dynavax Technologies, MAY 16, 2022, https://investors.dynavax.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dynavax-present-hc-wainwright-global-investment-conference [SID1234614638]).

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The on demand presentation will be available, beginning Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 7:00 a.m. E.T. and may be accessed through the "Events & Presentations" page on the "Investors" section of the Company’s website at View Source

Miravo Healthcare™ Announces First Quarter 2022 Results

On May 16, 2022 Nuvo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX:MRV; OTCQX:MRVFF) d/b/a Miravo Healthcare (Miravo or the Company), a Canadian-focused healthcare company with global reach and a diversified portfolio of commercial products, reported its financial and operational results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 (Press release, Nuvo Pharmaceuticals, MAY 16, 2022, View Source [SID1234614654]). For further details on the results, please refer to Miravo’s Management, Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2022, which are available on the Company’s website (www.miravohealthcare.com). All figures are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.

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Key Developments

Three months ended March 31, 2022 include the following:

Total revenue was $15.6 million, an increase of 8% compared to $14.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Adjusted total revenue(1) was $15.7 million, an increase of 8% compared to $14.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Net income was $2.0 million compared to net loss of $18.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $3.1 million, a decrease of 28% compared to $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Revenue related to the Blexten franchise, Cambia and Suvexx was $8.1 million, an increase of 38% compared to revenue of $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Total Canadian prescriptions of Blexten, Cambia and Suvexx increased by 21%, 1% and 120%, respectively compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021.
The Company repaid $3.5 million (US$2.8 million) of the Amortization Loan to Deerfield Management Company, L.P. (Deerfield).
As at March 31, 2022, cash and cash equivalents were $26.5 million.
(1)

Non-IFRS financial measure. These measures are not recognized under IFRS and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. See the Non-IFRS Measures section for definitions, reconciliations and the basis of presentation of the Company’s non-IFRS measures.

Business Update

In May 2022, Miravo become aware that the United States’ Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved Apotex Inc.’s abbreviated new drug application for a generic version of Pennsaid 2% on May 6, 2022. Miravo’s partner in the United States owns the Pennsaid 2% intellectual property rights in the United States and has carriage and full decision-making authority with respect to any litigation related to this matter. Miravo is the exclusive manufacturer of Pennsaid 2% for its U.S. partner. The entry of a generic version of Pennsaid 2% may have a material and adverse impact on Miravo’s Production and Service Business segment.
In May 2022, Miravo filed U.S., Canadian, European and PCT patent applications for a reformulated and improved version of Resultz. This new formulation maintains the original 5-minute treatment claim, but is now enhanced with a 100% effectiveness claim for killing nits (the lice eggs) in addition to head lice. The Company believes this enhanced efficacy against nits adds value to existing Resultz partners, as well as other companies active in the head lice category globally who may be interested in licensing the technology. The Company will begin the partnering process for this new intellectual property during Q2 2022. Additional basic development work is anticipated to be conducted to support the new product.
In February 2022, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey granted a motion for summary judgment filed by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Inc. (Dr. Reddy’s). As a result, the asserted claims of Nuvo Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) DAC’s (Miravo Ireland) U.S. Patent Nos. 8,858,996 (the ‘996 Patent) and 9,161,920 (the ‘920 Patent) related to Vimovo in the U.S. were found to be invalid. Both the ‘996 and the ‘920 patents were to expire May 31, 2022. Miravo Ireland and its partner have not appealed this decision.
In February 2022, Blexten for pediatric use in patients 4 years of age and older* was commercially launched in Canada. The pediatric use includes two new dosage formats; a 2.5mg/mL oral solution and a 10mg orodispersible tablet (quick melt) for the treatment of the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria (such as itchiness and hives). The pediatric formats are available to patients with a prescription from their healthcare provider.
"Our Commercial Business segment continues to perform well with Q1 year-over-year adjusted total revenue growth driven by increased Blexten, Suvexx and Cambia prescriptions. Our final $375,000 sales-based milestone for the Blexten business was triggered during the quarter. This payment recognized the achievement of $60 million in cumulative net sales of Blexten in Canada – a milestone we are very proud of. As we look to the remainder of 2022, we anticipate continued year-over-year quarterly growth in the Commercial Business segment consistent with the seasonality this business has experienced in the past," said Jesse Ledger, Miravo’s President & CEO. "The financial impact of generic competition on our U.S. Vimovo royalty stream is now fully realized resulting in revenue stabilization in our Licensing and Royalty Business segment moving forward. Certain shipments to international customers were produced, but due to COVID-related delays, were not delivered in time to be recognized as revenue during Q1 in our Production and Service Business segment. While our business continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are encouraged to see increasing numbers of patient/physician visits and look forward to a return to pre-COVID activity levels in the coming quarters."

First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Adjusted total revenue was $15.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $14.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The $1.2 million increase in adjusted total revenue in the current quarter was primarily attributable to an increase of $2.4 million of revenue in the Commercial Business segment, offset by a decrease of $0.9 million of revenue in the Production and Service Business segment combined with a decrease of $0.3 million in the Licensing and Royalty Business segment.

Revenue attributable to the Commercial Business segment increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 due to a $2.2 million increase in sales of the Company’s promoted products (Blexten, Cambia, Suvexx and NeoVisc) and a $0.2 million increase in sales of the Company’s mature products.

* Blexten (bilastine) is indicated for the symptomatic relief of nasal and non-nasal symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria (e.g. pruritus and hives) in patients 4 years of age and older with a body weight of at least 16 kg.

The Production and Service Business segment revenue decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to a decrease in Pennsaid 2% product sales, slightly offset by an increase in sales of Pennsaid and Resultz.

The decrease in revenue attributable to the License and Royalty business segment during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was primarily attributable to a $0.5 million reduction in U.S. Vimovo royalty revenue due to a step-down in royalty to 5% of net sales compared to 10% of net sales in the comparative quarter, as well as a $0.1 million reduction in the Company’s Vimovo ex-U.S. royalties. In the current quarter, the decline in license revenue was offset by a $0.2 million milestone payment related to a sublicensee agreement for Vimovo ex-U.S.

Adjusted EBITDA was $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, a $0.9 million increase in gross profit from the Commercial Business segment was more than offset by a $0.3 million decrease in the contribution from the License and Royalty Business segment, a $0.7 million decrease in gross profit contribution from the Production and Service Business segment and a $0.9 million increase in G&A expenses.

Non-IFRS Measures

The Company discloses non-IFRS financial measures (adjusted total revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and cash value of loans) and non-IFRS ratios (adjusted EBITDA per share and net debt leverage ratio) that are not recognized under and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. Accordingly, such measures are not necessarily comparable and may not have been calculated in the same way as similarly named financial measures presented by other companies. These measures should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for related financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS. The Company believes that shareholders, investment analysts and other readers find such measures and ratios helpful in understanding and assessing the Company’s financial performance. We utilize these measures in managing our business, including as means of performance measurement, cash management, debt compliance and assessing leverage and borrowing capacity. Because non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios do not have standardized meanings prescribed under IFRS, securities regulations require that such measures be clearly defined, identified, and for non-IFRS financial measures, reconciled to their nearest IFRS measure. The applicable definition, calculation and reconciliation of each such measure used in this press release is provided below.

Adjusted Total Revenue

The Company defines adjusted total revenue as total revenue, plus amounts billed to customers for existing contract assets, less revenue recognized upon recognition of a contract asset. Management believes adjusted total revenue is a useful supplemental measure to determine the Company’s ability to generate cash from its customer contracts used to fund its operations.

The following is a summary of how adjusted total revenue is calculated, reconciled to the nearest IFRS measure:

EBITDA refers to net income (loss) determined in accordance with IFRS, before depreciation and amortization, net interest expense (income) and income tax expense (recovery). The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA, plus amounts billed to customers for existing contract assets, inventory step-up expenses, stock-based compensation expense, loss on fair value of derivative liabilities, loss on fair value of contingent and variable consideration, impairment loss, foreign currency loss, other losses less revenue recognized upon recognition of a contract asset, stock-based compensation recovery, gain on fair value of derivative liabilities, gain on fair value of contingent and variable consideration, impairment recovery, foreign currency gain and other income. Management believes adjusted EBITDA is a useful supplemental measure to determine the Company’s ability to generate cash available for working capital, capital expenditures, debt repayments, interest expense and income taxes.

The following is a summary of how EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are calculated, reconciled to the nearest IFRS measure:

(1) Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022 includes $0.3 million for deferred income tax due to the utilization of loss carryforwards that were previously recognized [$0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021].

(2) The Company’s derivative liabilities are measured at fair value through profit or loss at each reporting date. As a result of the decrease in the share price in the current quarter and a decrease in the volatility of the Company’s shares, amongst other inputs, the value of the Company’s derivative liabilities decreased and the Company recognized a net non-cash gain of $3.3 million on the change in fair value of derivative liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Management to Host Conference Call/Webcast

Miravo’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Meeting) will be held as an online meeting only. The Meeting will take place on Monday, May 16, 2022 (today) at 9:00 a.m. Registered shareholders can attend the Meeting online, vote shares electronically if they have not voted by proxy in advance of the Meeting in accordance with the proxy instructions, and submit questions during the Meeting. You will need to have your 16-digit Control Number (the Control Number) to participate in the Meeting. If you are a shareholder and do not have a Control Number or if you are not a Miravo shareholder, you can attend the Meeting as a guest, but you will not be able to vote at the Meeting.

The link to participate in the Meeting is: www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/mrv2022. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the Virtual Shareholder Meeting log in page.

VYANT BIO REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2022 RESULTS AND PROVIDES STRATEGIC AND BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

On May 16, 2022 Vyant Bio, Inc. ("Vyant Bio", "Company") (Nasdaq: VYNT) is an innovative biotechnology company reinventing drug discovery for complex neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders (Press release, Vyant Bio, MAY 16, 2022, View Source [SID1234614670]). The Company’s central nervous system ("CNS") drug discovery platform combines human-derived organoid models of brain disease, scaled biology, and machine learning. Today, Vyant Bio expects to file its Form 10-Q for the First Quarter 2022 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and will report its First Quarter 2022 highlights and business updates this afternoon in a conference call and webcast scheduled for 4:30 pm ET.

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"During the first quarter of 2022, we progressed our scientific work by using our proprietary drug discovery platform centered on human iPSC-derived neurospheroids to unveil novel targets and potentially disease-modifying therapeutics to treat patients suffering from severe neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. We are validating important data that we believe will demonstrate our ability to de-risk the selection of therapeutics that can rescue a disease phenotype. We believe current preclinical models are not sufficiently predictive, and many current therapies for CNS disorders only address the symptoms and do not reverse the effects of neurological diseases. Our focus during the first 90 days of 2022 was to progress our platform validation efforts to advance our CNS programs that are designed to identify disease-modifying therapeutics, consistent with our plans and prior disclosures to our shareholders," stated Jay Roberts, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

"As we highlighted in our last earnings conference call, we believe our focus on complex neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders addresses significant unmet medical needs, and will lead to the identification of important, disease modifying therapies for major causes of death and disability worldwide. Our Rett patient-derived neural spheroids show a robust and reproducible disease-specific phenotype that can be quantified in an unbiased manner across dozens of endpoints. By phenotypic screening of our Rett neural spheroids, we identified VYNT-0126 which has consistently shown a dose-dependent unique rescue of the RTT functional phenotype with a differentiated mechanism of action from other Rett syndrome clinical candidates. Our ongoing work on CDKL5 and familial Parkinson’s disease has further established that our discovery platforms represent a new, unique robust model for human-first CNS drug discovery" stated Dr. Robert Fremeau, Chief Scientific Officer of Vyant Bio.

FIRST QUARTER 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $16.4 million as of March 31, 2022. The Company implemented two new vehicles to facilitate the raising of additional equity capital at the Company’s option with the finalization of the Lincoln Park Equity line of credit allowing access to raise up to $15 million, as well as signing a $14.5 million ATM with Canaccord Genuity. The Company’s current cash balances, future proceeds from the sale of vivoPharm and future proceeds from the equity line of credit and ATM are expected to fund operations well into 2023.

During the first quarter of 2022, the Company continued the process of divesting the vivoPharm business which is expected to complete in 2022. Therefore, the vivoPharm business is classified as a "held-for-sale" asset, and its financial information as "discontinuing operations".

The Company’s loss from continuing operations aggregated $4.4 million in the first quarter of 2022 and included non-cash depreciation and amortization as well as stock-based compensation expenses of $98 thousand and $278 thousand, respectively, and one-time severance charges of $437 thousand. Discontinuing operations net loss for the March 31, 2022 quarter aggregated $4.8 million and included a non-cash impairment charge of $4.3 million resulting from changed market conditions for contract research organizations from December 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022.

Total revenue from continuing operations increased 49.3%, or $100 thousand, to $303 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared with $222 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Cost of goods sold – service from continuing operations totaled $38 thousand and $64 thousand, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, resulting in a cost of goods sold of 40% and 66%, respectively, of service revenue.

Cost of goods sold – product costs decreased by 12%, or $48 thousand to $348 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared with $396 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Research and development expenses increased by 89%, or $731 thousand, to $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 from $820 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2021. This increase is principally due a $336 thousand increase in payroll-related and consulting expenses, a $315 thousand increase in research and development activities at our Maple Grove facility, and $48 thousand related to moving to a new facility in California.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 128%, or $1.5 million, to $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared with $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The 2021 period reflects the Company as a privately-held company whereas the 2022 period reflect the Company as a publicly-held company. The quarter ended March 31, 2022 includes incremental $564 thousand of payroll-related expenses, including one-time contractual severance benefits for two former employees of $437 thousand. The Company incurred incremental professional services fees of $472 thousand in the first quarter of 2022 as compared with the same prior-year period related to accounting, audit and other professional services and incurred $418 thousand of additional insurance expense.

Vyant Bio’s Conference Call and Webcast and Information

Vyant Bio’s management will host a conference call on Monday, May 16, 2022 at 4:30pm ET to discuss the first quarter 2022 results and provide strategic business updates as well as answer questions. Event information is below:

The live event will be recorded and available for replay. The conference call and webcast details are also included inside the Investors section of the Vyant Bio corporate website at www.vyantbio.com.

Orna Therapeutics Announces First-in-Class, Breakthrough Data Demonstrating Potential of Circular RNA Platform at ASGCT 2022

On May 16, 2022 Orna Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of fully engineered circular RNA (oRNA) therapies, reported that data from its lead isCAR program that validates the potential of the company’s novel oRNA technology and LNP delivery platform (Press release, Orna Therapeutics, MAY 16, 2022, View Source [SID1234614686]). Based on advances in the expression of oRNA as well as its delivery to immune cells, Orna has demonstrated tumor suppression and eradication in an animal model pointing to the possibility that oRNA-LNP based cancer therapies could eventually overtake cell therapies .

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Additional data to be presented demonstrate the utility of Orna’s proprietary FoRCE screening platform which has enabled the company to discover and characterize a major new resource for protein expression based on internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs). Orna will also present data showing the development of novel immunotropic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), and the potential of oRNA in genetic muscle disease and vaccines. View full presentations from ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) on our website here.

"At Orna, we’ve created the world’s leading circular RNA company and are building a platform and pipeline with the potential to change the way we treat disease," said Tom Barnes, PhD, Orna’s Chief Executive Officer and oral presenter at ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper). "Presented for the first time, these data suggest our oRNA technology and LNP delivery favorably combine to maximize our reach into multiple therapeutic areas – validating our expanded pipeline beyond cancer to include muscle genetic diseases and vaccines."

isCAR: Revolutionizing CAR-T Cell Therapy with the Possibility of Eradicating Tumors
Our lead program is an in situ CAR therapy that combines oRNA and custom engineered LNPs to create modified immune cells within the patient. This easily redosable format would not require patient lymphodepletion and would allow for reliable dose control, overcoming barriers of ex vivo CAR-T therapies. Data being presented demonstrate that oRNA-LNP can eradicate cancer cells in an animal model. Additional iterative data in rodents and non-human primates gives Orna confidence that this may successfully translate into humans.

"We are excited about the preclinical results in our lead isCAR program as we clearly see the opportunity to overcome significant hurdles in current ex vivo approaches, suggesting that oRNA-LNP based cancer therapies may eventually overtake cell therapies," said Robert Mabry, PhD and Chief Scientific Officer at Orna. "We believe that data from iterative animal studies can support our plans to deliver in situ CAR-T therapies to the clinic."

FoRCE: Formulated oRNA Cell-based Evaluation Platform
Orna is also presenting new data from our proprietary FoRCE screening platform, which captures the entire oRNA production, formulation, and evaluation process in an arrayed and automated format. In a first application, Orna has screened and characterized thousands of IRES elements in multiple primary human cell types. IRES identification and development is critical for optimizing oRNA function via tunable protein expression. Orna has discovered many novel IRES elements that drive oRNA expression to levels well above those of standard IRES elements, including some that show differential activity across cell types. These results open a new technological toolkit for driving protein expression from circular RNA.

Breadth of Platform
Orna has extended its oRNA-LNP technology into several other indications including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and vaccines and believes there are many additional opportunities this technology can bring to existing therapeutics.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD):
Orna will present data highlighting the ease of working with very large oRNAs. Data demonstrate, for the first time, non-viral delivery of a large, full-length, dystrophin-encoding RNA in human cells, as well as in vivo delivery of smaller length versions in mouse models. These data are an encouraging first step on the path to delivering full-length gene therapy to patients with DMD.

Vaccines:
Orna is investigating the suitability of oRNA combined with intramuscularly administered immunotropic LNPs for vaccine applications, including for COVID-19. The oRNA half-life observed in muscle and immune cells, combined with the intramuscular administration of immunotropic lipids, suggests that oRNA-LNP technology may be beneficially applied to vaccine development.

Conference presentation details are shared below.

Oral Presentations:
In situ CAR Therapy Using oRNA Lipid Nanoparticles Regresses Tumors in Mice
Presenter: Tom Barnes, Ph.D., CEO
Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 16, 2022 from 9:10 – 9:45 a.m. ET in Room 207
Session: Scientific Symposium: Function and Therapeutics Applications of Circular RNAs (circRNAs)

Discovery of Translation Initiation Elements Enabled by a Parallel Arrayed Screen of Full-length Viral UTRs in Synthetic Circular RNA
Presenter: Alexander Wesselhoeft, Ph.D., Director, Molecular Biology
Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 16, 2022 from 11:30 – 11:45 a.m. ET in Salon H
Session: Oral Abstract Session: Oligonucleotide Therapeutics

Poster Presentations:
Improved Immune Cell Expression with Circular RNA (oRNA) in vivo
Presenter: Kevin Kauffman, Ph.D., Principal Scientist
Date/Time/Location: Monday, May 16, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. ET in Hall D
Session: Poster Session: Oligonucleotide Therapeutics I

Systemic Delivery of Circular RNA Encoding Partial Dystrophins and Expression in Skeletal Muscle
Presenter: Tatiana Fontelonga, Ph.D., Scientist
Date/Time/Location: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. ET in Hall D
Session: Poster Session: Oligonucleotide Therapeutics II

Press Release: Sarclisa® (isatuximab) combination provides unprecedented median progression free survival in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma receiving a proteasome inhibitor therapy

On May 15, 2022 Sanofi reported that Latest results from the Phase 3 IKEMA clinical trial evaluating Sarclisa (isatuximab) in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) demonstrated a median progression free survival (mPFS) of 35.7 months (Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.58; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 25.8 to 44.0; n=179), compared to 19.2 months in patients treated with Kd alone (95% CI: 15.8 to 25.1; n=123), as evaluated by an Independent Review Committee (Press release, Sanofi, MAY 15, 2022, View Source [SID1234614557]). These results, presented at the Controversies in Multiple Myeloma World Congress, represent the longest mPFS among studies investigating a proteasome inhibitor backbone in the second-line setting for the treatment of relapsed multiple myeloma (MM). These data will also be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology on May 19.

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Philippe Moreau, MD
Head of the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of Nantes, France
"The increase in progression free survival, observed consistently across all subgroups, when adding Sarclisa to carfilzomib and dexamethasone is remarkable in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma in a proteasome inhibitor combination. Relapse is common in multiple myeloma, creating the need for differentiated second-line treatments that provide patients a longer period of time without disease progression. This updated analysis reinforces the potential for Sarclisa to become a new standard of care for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma."

A PFS analysis following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommendations on censoring rules, as applied in the approved U.S. prescribing information, showed an mPFS of 41.7 months for Sarclisa added to Kd (Sarclisa combination therapy) compared to 20.8 months in patients treated with Kd alone (HR 0.59; 95% CI: 27.1 to Not Calculable [NC]).

Time to next treatment for patients treated with Sarclisa combination therapy was 44.9 months (HR 0.55; 95% CI: 31.6 to NC) versus those treated with Kd alone at 25 months (95% CI: 17.9 to 31.3). Time to next treatment measured the interval from the date of randomization1 to the date of commencement of the next line of therapy, thereby allowing for measurement of the period of therapeutic benefit.2

Peter C. Adamson, MD
Global Head of Oncology Clinical Development and Pediatric Innovation at Sanofi
"To observe progression free survival of more than three years in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma when Sarclisa was added to a proteasome inhibitor backbone of therapy is unprecedented and reinforces our confidence in Sarclisa as a potential best in class anti-CD38 antibody."

The safety and tolerability of Sarclisa observed in this analysis were consistent with the safety profile of Sarclisa in other clinical trials, with no new safety signals observed. For the Sarclisa combination therapy and Kd groups, the most common adverse events were infusion related reaction (45.8%, 3.3%), diarrhea (39.5%, 32%), hypertension (37.9%, 35.2%), upper respiratory tract infection (37.3%, 27%), fatigue (31.6%, 20.5%), dyspnoea (30.5%, 22.1%), pneumonia (27.1%, 21.3%), back pain (25.4%, 21.3%), insomnia (25.4%, 24.6%), and bronchitis (24.3%, 12.3%). Treatment exposure in the Sarclisa combination therapy arm was 30 weeks longer than in the control arm. Treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of ≥ Grade 3 were reported in 83.6% of patients treated with Sarclisa combination therapy and in 73% of those treated with Kd alone. Serious TEAEs were higher in the Sarclisa combination therapy arm versus Kd alone (70.1% versus 59.8%). No difference was observed after exposure adjustment."

These results will be discussed with regulatory authorities at a future date.

About the IKEMA trial

The randomized, multi-center, open label Phase 3 IKEMA clinical trial enrolled 302 patients with relapsed MM across 69 centers spanning 16 countries. All study participants had received one to three prior anti-myeloma therapies. During the trial, Sarclisa was administered through an intravenous infusion at a dose of 10mg/kg once weekly for four weeks, then every other week for 28-day cycles in combination with carfilzomib twice weekly at the 20/56mg/m2 dose and dexamethasone at the standard dose for the duration of treatment. The primary endpoint of IKEMA was progression free survival. Secondary endpoints included overall response rate, the rate of complete response or better, the rate of very good partial response or better, rate of minimal residual disease-negativity, overall survival and safety.3

About Sarclisa

Sarclisa is a monoclonal antibody that targets a specific epitope on the CD38 receptor on multiple myeloma (MM) cells. It is designed to work through multiple mechanisms of action including programmed tumor cell death (apoptosis) and immunomodulatory activity. CD38 is highly and uniformly expressed on the surface of MM cells, making it a potential target for antibody-based therapeutics such as Sarclisa.

Based on the Phase 3 ICARIA-MM study, Sarclisa is approved in a number of countries, including the U.S. and EU, in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with relapsed refractory MM (RRMM) who have received ≥2 prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor. Based on the Phase 3 IKEMA study, Sarclisa is also approved in multiple countries in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone, including in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with RRMM who have received 1–3 prior lines of therapy and in the European Union for patients with MM who have received at least 1 prior therapy. In the U.S., the generic name for Sarclisa is isatuximab-irfc, with irfc as the suffix designated in accordance with Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products Guidance for Industry issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Sarclisa continues to be evaluated in multiple ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in combination with current standard treatments across the MM treatment continuum. It is also under investigation for the treatment of other hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The safety and efficacy of these additional uses have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority worldwide.

For more information on Sarclisa clinical trials, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About multiple myeloma

MM is the second most common hematologic malignancy,4 with more than 130,000 new diagnoses of MM worldwide yearly.5 Despite available treatments, MM remains an incurable malignancy and is associated with significant patient burden. Since MM does not have a cure, most patients will relapse. Relapsed MM is the term for when the cancer returns after treatment or a period of remission. Refractory MM refers to when the cancer does not respond or no longer responds to therapy.