National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Publishes Medtech Innovation Briefing on Paige Prostate

On December 2, 2021 Paige, the global leader in AI-based diagnostic software in pathology, reported that the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a Medtech Innovation Briefing (MIB) on Paige Prostate, a clinical-grade artificial intelligence (AI)-based diagnostic software system that aids pathologists in detecting, grading and measuring prostate tumors in biopsies obtained from patients at risk of prostate cancer (Press release, Paige AI, DEC 2, 2021, View Source [SID1234596414]).* This marks the first-ever MIB for a digital pathology product.

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NICE conducted a systematic literature review and thoroughly evaluated five peer-reviewed clinical utility studies that included a total of 3,444 prostate needle biopsies. Based on the evidence evaluated, Paige Prostate may be an effective addition to standard care to increase sensitivity in detecting prostate cancer, and it may also help more efficient analysis to support the demands of high caseloads in the field.

"We are pleased that NICE has conducted a fastidious review of the available clinical literature on Paige Prostate, guided by neutrality and the strictest criteria," said David Klimstra, M.D., Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Paige. "This MIB will help decision makers in the NHS and beyond to assess the value and potential of Paige Prostate."

MIBs are commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS) in England and are designed to support NHS and social care commissioners and staff who are considering using new medical devices. The briefing includes a description of Paige Prostate technology, how it is used, clinical and technical evidence and perspectives from expert pathologists consulted in the development of the MIB.

"Ultimately, we aim to measurably improve outcomes and experiences for patients, which is why we developed Paige Prostate to have the highest standards of performance and robustness. This first-ever digital pathology NICE advice for clinicians will further help bring these systems into real-world clinical use to fully realize their potential," said Thomas J. Fuchs, Dr.Sc., Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at Paige, and Dean of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health at Mount Sinai. "We are pleased to see that the UK is leading the way in the adoption of digital pathology tools. This NICE advice provides important information to clinicians so that they access essential information on this system was developed, and its potential to further impact routine clinical practice."

Additionally, Paige is currently working with Oxford University and regional NHS partners to study Paige Prostate prospectively in a real-world pathology laboratory setting and generate new health economics evidence as part of a successful Phase 4 NHSx Artificial Intelligence Health and Care Award.

Read the full MIB here: View Source

* In the U.S., Paige received FDA market authorization to assist pathologists in the detection of foci that are suspicious for prostate cancer. Outside of the U.S., Paige Prostate is CE-marked for the detection, grading and quantification of prostate tumors for use in laboratories and hospitals in the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the UK. FullFocus is FDA cleared and CE-marked. The products are otherwise available for research use only in other territories.

SQZ Biotechnologies Lead Cell Therapy Candidate Generated Monotherapy Clinical Response Correlated with Substantial CD8 T Cell Tumor Infiltration in HPV+ Solid Tumor at Highest Dose

On December 2, 2021 SQZ Biotechnologies Company (NYSE: SQZ), a cell therapy company developing novel treatments for multiple therapeutic areas, reported interim results from the highest-dose monotherapy cohort of its ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SQZ-PBMC-HPV, an investigational cell therapy being evaluated in certain patients with advanced or metastatic Human Papillomavirus positive (HPV16+) solid tumors (Press release, SQZ Biotech, DEC 2, 2021, View Source [SID1234596397]). In an abstract published today by the European Society for Medical Oncology Immuno-Oncology (ESMO-IO) Congress, taking place December 8-11, the company reported that a highly treatment experienced patient in the highest-dose cohort demonstrated a radiographic response in conjunction with substantial increases in CD8 T cell tumor infiltration and PD-L1 expression – both markers of tumor inflammation. The cell therapy was generally well tolerated and no dose limiting toxicities were observed in the final monotherapy stage of the trial.

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"We are excited to present detailed interim clinical findings from the highest dose monotherapy cohort of our ongoing SQZ-PBMC-HPV Phase 1/2 study at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper)-IO," said Armon Sharei, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SQZ Biotechnologies. "These data build upon the initial readout in lower dose cohorts presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual conference earlier this year. The latest clinical response data and biomarker findings further increase our enthusiasm for the SQZ APC program as we advance into the combination stage with checkpoint inhibitors."

Data on the highest dose cohort of SQZ-PBMC-HPV-101, including biomarker and tumor response findings, will be shared as an oral presentation at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper)-IO on December 9. See presentation information below.

The combination stage of the trial is enrolling with checkpoint inhibitors targeting the PD-(L)1 and CTLA-4 pathways. Available clinical trial data and scientific literature suggest that SQZ APCs could work synergistically with checkpoint inhibitors due to their CD8 tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) driving mechanism.

Trial Highlights from ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) IO Abstract 565

SQZ-PBMC-HPV-101 Phase 1/2 trial has four dose-escalating monotherapy cohorts ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 x10e6 cells per kg
A total of 18 patients were treated across four cohorts and patients had an average of 3.5 prior lines of systemic cancer therapy
Across all cohorts the investigational therapy was generally well-tolerated, and no dose-limiting toxicities were observed
No grade 2 or higher treatment-related severe adverse events, or grade 3 adverse events, were observed in the highest-dose cohort
In the highest-dose cohort with five patients evaluable, one patient who had been heavily treated with PD-1 inhibitors before entering the trial demonstrated radiographic response as well as substantial increases in CD8 T cell tumor infiltration and PD-L1 expression
The highest-dose monotherapy stage continues enrollment to further characterize the investigational therapy in single agent settings.

ESMO-IO Presentation Details

Oral Presentation: Thursday, December 9 at 12:10 pm CET
Presentation Number: 48MO
Abstract Title: SQZ-PBMC-HPV-101: Preliminary results of a first-in-human, dose-escalation study of a cell-based vaccine in HLA-A*02+ patients with recurrent, locally advanced, or metastatic HPV16+ solid tumors

Lead Author: Jong Chul Park, MD, Medical Oncologist and Investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

The ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper)-IO presentation will be on the Events & Presentations section of the company’s website on December 9 at 12:10 pm CET.

Conference Call
The company will host a conference call and webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, December 9 to discuss the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper)-IO presentation. Participants can join via webcast link or by dialing 1-877-805-7920 (domestic) or 1-629-228-0702 (international) five minutes prior to the start of the call. An archived webcast will be accessible for 90 days after the event.

SQZ-PBMC-HPV-101 Trial Design
SQZ-PBMC-HPV is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of HPV16+ advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Patients must be positive for the human leukocyte antigen serotype HLA-A*02. The investigational candidate, which targets E6 and E7 oncoproteins, is being studied as a monotherapy and in combination with immuno-oncology agents. The study’s primary outcome measures in the monotherapy and combination phases of the trial include safety and tolerability. Antitumor activity is a secondary outcome measure in both the monotherapy and combination stages of the trial, and manufacturing feasibility is a secondary outcome measure in the monotherapy phase of the trial. The monotherapy phase of the study includes escalating dose cohorts with a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) window of 28 days and is designed to identify a recommended phase 2 dose. The planned combination phase of the study will include SQZ-PBMC-HPV and checkpoint inhibitors. DLT will be measured over 42 days.

About Human Papillomavirus Positive Cancers
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common viruses worldwide and certain strains persist for many years leading to cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in the United States HPV+ tumors represent 3% of all cancers in women and 2% of all cancers in men, resulting in over 39,000 new cases of HPV+ tumors every year. HPV infection is larger outside of the U.S., and according to the International Journal of Cancer HPV+ tumors account for 4.5% of all cancers worldwide, resulting in approximately 630,000 new cases every year. According to the CDC, HPV infection plays a significant role in the formation of more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers, and most cases of vaginal (75%), oropharyngeal (70%), vulval (70%) and penile (60%) cancers.

Munich Re, Canada (Life) Announces Partnership with McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation to Advance Cutting-Edge Cardiovascular Disease Research

On December 2, 2021 Munich Reinsurance Company’s Canadian life branch (Munich Re) reported that partnership with the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation to advance cutting-edge cardiovascular disease research (Press release, McGill University, DEC 2, 2021, View Source [SID1234596415]). As part of this partnership, Munch Re will help fund an innovative research project at the cutting-edge of science, MyHeart Counts Canada. In addition, Munich Re will collaborate with the project’s lead investigator, Abhinav Sharma MD, PhD., to incorporate an insurance cohort into the study to help fuel better outcomes for insured populations.

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MyHeart Counts is a revolutionary smartphone app created at Stanford University in the United States as part of a research study to understand better how to keep hearts healthy. It allows users to see how their physical activity and lifestyle affect their cardiovascular health by tracking their movement using their phone or wearable fitness tracker. The app then provides assessments that measure risk and teaches users how to improve their heart health.

Dr. Sharma, a cardiologist at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montreal, was part of the Stanford team that created MyHeart Counts, and now he is bringing the app to Canadians. MyHeart Counts Canada will improve the heart health of Canadians from coast to coast while allowing Dr., Sharma and his team to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that lead to cardiovascular disease – one of the leading causes of death in Canada.

"Munich Re is proud to partner with the MUHC Foundation and support this innovative research project spearheaded by Dr. Sharma," said Bernard Naumann, President and CEO, Munich Re, Canada (Life). "The utilization of digital health technologies to improve cardiovascular health is an important area of interest for us. As one of the world’s leading life reinsurers, we constantly strive to improve our knowledge of cardiovascular disease in its myriad manifestations, and apply these advances in our risk assessment paradigm. We look forward to understanding how digital technologies will improve cardiovascular outcomes and ultimately both the quality of life and life expectancy"

Dr Sharma added, "I am grateful to Munich Re for supporting the development of MyHeart Counts Canada. Cardiovascular disease kills millions of people worldwide each year, and their generous support will help us better understand why heart disease develops and what we can do to prevent it."

"Munich Re’s investment in and support of MyHeart Counts Canada has the potential to change the lives of millions. While the app will benefit its users in the short term, the new insights into cardiovascular disease prevention will benefit everyone, now and in the future," commented Julie Quenneville, President, and CEO, McGill University Health Centre Foundation.

Integra Therapeutics secures €4.5-million in funding from Advent France Biotechnology, Invivo Capital and Takeda Ventures

On December 2, 2021 Integra Therapeutics, a biotechnology company that is creating next-generation gene writing tools to boost the efficiency and safety of advanced therapies, reported the company has completed its first round of funding for €4.5 million with Advent France Biotechnology (France), Invivo Capital (Spain) and Takeda Ventures (USA) (Press release, Integra Therapeutics, DEC 2, 2021, View Source [SID1234654526]).

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Integra Tx was founded in late 2020 as a spin-off of Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) based on technology developed in the Translational Synthetic Biology Lab led by Dr Marc Güell (EMBO Young Investigator, National Research Award for Young Talent and co-founder of two biotech firms).

The great potential of this novel gene writing technology lies in the fact that it resolves some of the main technical limitations of gene therapy: it can be used to paste DNA sequences of any size gene with high precision. Advanced therapies are one of the pillars of the medicine of the future and are aimed at both preventing and treating genetic and oncological diseases that, for now, are incurable.

The funds raised in this round will allow Integra Tx to complete the prototype of the new gene writing technology platform, carry out preclinical validation using in vivo and ex vivo models, and manage its patent portfolio in 2022 and 2023. After that, the company plans to open a Series A round to seek regulatory approval and carry out clinical trials with patients.

"We’re very proud to be transferring our scientific knowledge and technological skills in gene editing from the lab to society. We thank all our investors for their commitment to Integra Tx and to making advanced therapies safer and more effective, and getting them to patients that urgently need them," says Dr Avencia Sánchez-Mejías, co-founder and CEO of Integra Tx. Sánchez-Mejías joined the UPF Translational Synthetic Biology Lab in 2018 after doing research at the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, the National University of Singapore and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Dr Marc Güell, co-founder and CSO of Integra Tx, explains, "the Integra Tx technology platform is very promising because it is an evolution of the CRISPR-Cas techniques. We’ve found a way to merge them with transposase and integrase proteins that have a great capacity for gene transfer and to not depend on viral vectors for transporting the components into the cell, which is a step forward in making these therapies safer." Plus, it has applications both in vivo (directly in patients) and ex vivo (outside of patients).

Matthieu Coutet, Managing Partner at Advent France Biotechnology, adds: "We decided to invest in Integra Tx because we believe in its seasoned scientific and management team. Its founders have shown a strong passion and ambition to move Integra Tx’s technology forward, combined with a proven expertise in gene editing and advanced therapies."

Dr Luis Pareras, Managing Partner at Invivo Capital, says: "We’re thrilled with the possibilities Integra Tx’s plataform can develop to solve the problem of cargo size in gene therapy. We’re also very pleased with the international syndicate supporting this seed round, in yet another example of technology transfer opportunity and the competitiveness of the biotech ecosystem in Spain."

Miles Gerson, Takeda Ventures Partner and Senior Investment Director, says: "Takeda Ventures is very excited to support Integra Tx and their next generation gene writing platform with many potential applications to benefit patients."

Karyopharm Completes Patient Recruitment in Phase 3 SIENDO Study of Selinexor in Patients with Endometrial Cancer

On December 2, 2021 Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: KPTI), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company pioneering novel cancer therapies, reported the completion of patient recruitment in the Phase 3 SIENDO study evaluating the efficacy and safety for front-line maintenance therapy with selinexor in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer (Press release, Karyopharm, DEC 2, 2021, View Source [SID1234596398]).

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Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive organs, with more than 66,000 new cases in the US in 2021.1 Unfortunately, prognosis is poor with an estimated 14,000 women progressing to advanced disease.2 There are currently no approved therapies in the maintenance setting for patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.

"There is a clear and significant need for treatments that help extend remission or delay disease progression following front-line chemotherapy treatment in patients with endometrial cancer," said Sharon Shacham, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Karyopharm. "Completing enrollment in the Phase 3 SIENDO study is an important step toward our goal of delivering a novel, front-line maintenance therapy for patients and positive data from this study will further reinforce our views on the therapeutic potential of selinexor in solid tumor indications. We anticipate reporting top-line data from this event-driven study by the end of this year or early next year."

The SIENDO study has exceeded its enrollment goal, with over 250 patients currently enrolled or in screening. The SIENDO study is a multicenter, blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety for maintenance therapy with selinexor in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. Participants with primary stage IV or recurrent disease who had a partial or complete response after a single line of at least 12 weeks of standard taxane-platinum combination chemotherapy are randomized in a 2:1 manner to receive either maintenance therapy of 80mg of selinexor taken once per week or placebo, until disease progression. The primary endpoint in the study is progression free survival with the goal of the study demonstrating a hazard ratio of 0.6.

About XPOVIO (selinexor)

XPOVIO is a first-in-class, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compound. XPOVIO functions by selectively binding to and inhibiting the nuclear export protein exportin 1 (XPO1, also called CRM1). XPOVIO blocks the nuclear export of tumor suppressor, growth regulatory and anti-inflammatory proteins, leading to accumulation of these proteins in the nucleus and enhancing their anti-cancer activity in the cell. The forced nuclear retention of these proteins can counteract a multitude of the oncogenic pathways that, unchecked, allow cancer cells with severe DNA damage to continue to grow and divide in an unrestrained fashion. Karyopharm received accelerated U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of XPOVIO in July 2019 in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least two proteasome inhibitors, at least two immunomodulatory agents, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. NEXPOVIO (selinexor) has also been granted conditional marketing authorization for adult patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma by the European Commission. Karyopharm’s supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) requesting an expansion of its indication to include the treatment for patients with multiple myeloma after at least one prior therapy was approved by the FDA on December 18, 2020. In June 2020, Karyopharm received accelerated FDA approval of XPOVIO for its second indication in adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma, after at least 2 lines of systemic therapy. Selinexor is also being evaluated in several other mid-and later-phase clinical trials across multiple cancer indications, including as a potential backbone therapy in combination with approved myeloma therapies (STOMP) and in endometrial cancer (SIENDO), among others. Additional Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies are ongoing or currently planned, including multiple studies in combination with approved therapies in a variety of tumor types to further inform Karyopharm’s clinical development priorities for selinexor. Additional clinical trial information for selinexor is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

For more information about Karyopharm’s products or clinical trials, please contact the Medical Information department at:

Tel: +1 (888) 209-9326
Email: [email protected]

XPOVIO (selinexor) is a prescription medicine approved:

In combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy (XVd).
In combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least two proteasome inhibitors, at least two immunomodulatory agents, and an anti–CD38 monoclonal antibody (Xd).
For the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B–cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma, after at least 2 lines of systemic therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trial(s).
SELECT IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Warnings and Precautions

Thrombocytopenia: Monitor platelet counts throughout treatment. Manage with dose interruption and/or reduction and supportive care.
Neutropenia: Monitor neutrophil counts throughout treatment. Manage with dose interruption and/or reduction and granulocyte colony–stimulating factors.
Gastrointestinal Toxicity: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and weight loss may occur. Provide antiemetic prophylaxis. Manage with dose interruption and/or reduction, antiemetics, and supportive care.
Hyponatremia: Monitor serum sodium levels throughout treatment. Correct for concurrent hyperglycemia and high serum paraprotein levels. Manage with dose interruption, reduction, or discontinuation, and supportive care.
Serious Infection: Monitor for infection and treat promptly.
Neurological Toxicity: Advise patients to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities until neurological toxicity resolves. Optimize hydration status and concomitant medications to avoid dizziness or mental status changes.
Embryo–Fetal Toxicity: Can cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential and males with a female partner of reproductive potential, of the potential risk to a fetus and use of effective contraception.
Cataract: Cataracts may develop or progress. Treatment of cataracts usually requires surgical removal of the cataract.
Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients with multiple myeloma who receive XVd are fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, diarrhea, peripheral neuropathy, upper respiratory tract infection, decreased weight, cataract and vomiting. Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormalities (≥10%) are thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, hypophosphatemia, anemia, hyponatremia and neutropenia. In the BOSTON trial, fatal adverse reactions occurred in 6% of patients within 30 days of last treatment. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 52% of patients. Treatment discontinuation rate due to adverse reactions was 19%.
The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients with multiple myeloma who receive Xd are thrombocytopenia, fatigue, nausea, anemia, decreased appetite, decreased weight, diarrhea, vomiting, hyponatremia, neutropenia, leukopenia, constipation, dyspnea and upper respiratory tract infection. In the STORM trial, fatal adverse reactions occurred in 9% of patients. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 58% of patients. Treatment discontinuation rate due to adverse reactions was 27%.
The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) in patients with DLBCL, excluding laboratory abnormalities, are fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, appetite decrease, weight decrease, constipation, vomiting, and pyrexia. Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormalities (≥15%) are thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, neutropenia, anemia, and hyponatremia. In the SADAL trial, fatal adverse reactions occurred in 3.7% of patients within 30 days, and 5% of patients within 60 days of last treatment; the most frequent fatal adverse reactions was infection (4.5% of patients). Serious adverse reactions occurred in 46% of patients; the most frequent serious adverse reaction was infection (21% of patients). Discontinuation due to adverse reactions occurred in 17% of patients.
Use In Specific Populations
Lactation: Advise not to breastfeed.

For additional product information, including full prescribing information, please visit www.XPOVIO.com.