New Cologuard® Modeling Data Show Patient Navigation Matters When Reaching Underserved Populations for Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening

On October 25, 2021 Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS) reported that data from modeling analyses that demonstrate Cologuard (mt-sDNA), with its included patient navigation system, provides a greater reduction in incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT), when it included outreach, with or without a mailed annual FIT, using real world adherence rates in a simulated Medicaid population (Press release, Exact Sciences, OCT 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234591899]). Cologuard remained cost-effective in all the real-world adherence scenarios modeled. The modeling analyses were consistent with the CISNET Colorectal Working Group models when using 100% adherence rates.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Cologuard Data Models Impact on CRC Incidence, Mortality and Cost Effectiveness in a Medicaid Population
The Exact Sciences Laboratories Patient Navigation Program features on-demand phone support, reminder phone calls, texts and emails at no additional cost with each Cologuard test ordered.

These new data, generated from the CRC-AIM microsimulation model, will be presented in an ACG Presidential Award-winning poster titled, "Cost-Effectiveness of Stool-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Using Reported Real-World Adherence Rates in a Medicare Population." (P1181)

"Colorectal cancer screening rates need improvement, and they are particularly low in vulnerable populations,"1 said Paul Limburg, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Screening at Exact Sciences. "Exact Sciences Laboratories’ patient navigation program answers any question around sample collection and offers phone and text reminders to complete the testing process. It is a way to help all patients, including vulnerable patients, prioritize their health and get up to date with CRC screening."

Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer impacting both men and women in the U.S. Earlier detection of colorectal cancer through effective screening has been shown to improve clinical outcomes.2,3

All abstracts and posters presented at the meeting can be accessed through this link. Additional Cologuard abstracts accepted for presentation include:

Adherence to colorectal cancer screening and associated healthcare resource utilization, a longitudinal analysis in US Medicare population with ten years follow-up (PO246)

Colorectal cancer screening rates and associated characteristics among US Medicare beneficiaries aged 66-75 years old in 2016-2018 (PO245)

Impact of mt- sDNA in a colorectal cancer screening clinical practice: a real-world survey (PO247)

Multitarget stool DNA testing has a high positive predictive value for colorectal neoplasia on the second round of testing (P1318)

Initial colorectal cancer screenings after turning 50-year-old and follow-up screening patterns after positive FIT or multitarget stool DNA testing among average-risk population (P1330)

Colorectal cancer screening and adherence rates among average-risk population enrolled in a national health insurance provider during 2009-2018 (P2345)

Angel Pharmaceuticals Announces Approval of IND Application in China for ITK Inhibitor CPI-818

On October 25, 2021 Angel Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. ("Angel Pharma") reported that its IND application for CPI-818, a small molecule ITK inhibitor, has been approved by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) to initiate clinical trials in patients with relapsed/refractory T-cell lymphomas (TCL) in China (Press release, Angel Pharmaceuticals, OCT 25, 2021, prnewswire.com/news-releases/angel-pharmaceuticals-announces-approval-of-ind-application-in-china-for-itk-inhibitor-cpi-818-301407424.html [SID1234591915]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

CPI-818, the first-and-only ITK inhibitor in clinical development, has been shown to selectively inhibit ITK (interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase) without effect on related kinases such as RLK (resting lymphocyte kinase) and BTK (Bruton’s tyrosine kinase). Angel Pharma licensed the rights to CPI-818 from Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRVS) for development, manufacturing and commercialization in China. Corvus is studying CPI-818 in a multi-center Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in patients with several types of TCL in the U.S. and Asia. Overall, CPI-818 has been shown to be well-tolerated, and has shown anti-tumor activity in peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) and in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. As reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) in December 2020, 2 of 7 patients with refractory PTCL experienced responses to treatment with CPI-818; one complete response and one partial response.

"This marks an important milestone in our efforts to bring this potential first-in-class innovative drug to patients in China. We are excited about working with top lymphoma experts in China to accelerate the development of CPI-818 to address unmet clinical need." said Richard A. Miller, M.D., co-founder and chairman of Angel Pharmaceuticals.

Professor Song Yuqin, Director of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), Secretary-General of the Anti-Lymphoma Alliance of the CSCO, and Deputy Director of Lymphoma Department at Peking University Cancer Hospital, said: "Relapsed/refractory T-cell lymphoma is a challenging group of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Current five-year overall survival rates for the majority of patients are 10-30%. We are very pleased that Angel Pharmaceuticals brought the only clinical phase ITK inhibitor to China. We hope that the clinical development of the product in China progress successfully to benefit patients with relapsed/refractory T-cell lymphoma."

About CPI-818

CPI-818 is an investigational small molecule drug given orally that has selectively inhibited ITK (interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase) in preclinical studies. It was designed to possess dual properties: to block malignant T-cell growth and to modulate immune responses. ITK, an enzyme, is expressed predominantly in T-cells and plays a role in T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell lymphomas and leukemias, as well as in normal immune function. Interference with ITK signaling can modulate immune responses to various antigens. The Company believes the inhibition of specific molecular targets in T-cells may be of therapeutic benefit for patients with T-cell lymphomas and in patients with autoimmune diseases. Corvus is conducting a Phase 1b/2 trial in patients with refractory T-cell lymphomas in the U.S. and Angel Pharmaceuticals, which has rights to CPI-818 in China, is leading a global trial in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) T-cell lymphomas.

CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Enters into Exclusive Worldwide Research Collaboration and Licensing Agreement with Scriptr Global for Stitchr™ RNA Assembly Technology to Develop Gene Therapy Product Targeting Dystrophinopathies

On October 25, 2021 CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading China-based global rare disease-focused biopharmaceutical company committed to the research, development and commercialization of transformative therapies, reported that it has entered into a research collaboration and license agreement with Scriptr Global, Inc., for the development of a gene therapy treatment targeting dystrophinopathies (Press release, CANbridge Life Sciences, OCT 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234591931]). CANbridge will gain exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize a gene therapy candidate for the treatment of dystrophinopathies, using Scriptr Global’s Stitchr platform, a proprietary ribozyme-mediated RNA assembly technology. Scriptr Global will be responsible for research, while CANbridge will assume all responsibilities for development, manufacturing, regulatory, and commercialization.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The financial terms of the agreement include an upfront payment, development and sales payments, upon hitting certain milestones, as well as royalties based on net sales.

"We are pleased to be aligning with Scriptr Global and the Stitchr technology platform, which we believe has the potential to revolutionize the dystrophinopathy gene therapy field," said James Xue, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman and CEO of CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

"The need for a transformative therapeutic approach for those individuals and families impacted with dystrophinopathies is great. Scriptr Global is delighted to undertake this important work with CANbridge utilizing Scriptr Global’s novel platform technology," stated Keith Alkek, Co-Founder Chairman and CEO of Scriptr Global, Inc.

About dystrophinopathies

Dystrophinopathies are X-linked genetic muscular diseases which include Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and DMD-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). DMD usually presents in early childhood and is characterized by rapidly progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, leading to loss of ambulation by about 12 years of age. BMD is characterized by later-onset skeletal muscle weakness. Cardiomyopathy is a common cause of morbidity and death in both DMD and BMD patients. DCM is characterized by left ventricular dilation and congestive heart failure, usually with no clinical evidence of skeletal, or voluntary muscle involvement. The incidence of DMD is estimated to be 1/3,500 – 1/5,000 male births worldwide and 1/4,560 in China. The incidence of BMD is estimated to be 1/18500 – 1/30,000 male births, according to the National Organization for Rare Disease and published peer reviews. The prevalence of DCM is unknown.

Alkermes Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for Nemvaleukin Alfa in Combination With Pembrolizumab for the Treatment of Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

On October 25, 2021 Alkermes plc (Nasdaq: ALKS) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to nemvaleukin alfa (nemvaleukin), the company’s novel, investigational, engineered interleukin-2 (IL-2) variant immunotherapy, in combination with pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (Press release, Alkermes, OCT 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234591900]). The FDA previously granted Fast Track designation and Orphan Drug designation to nemvaleukin for the treatment of mucosal melanoma.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"This Fast Track designation in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer highlights the potential clinical utility of nemvaleukin in combination with pembrolizumab in this difficult-to-treat disease for which there is no approved immunotherapy and there remains significant need for new treatment options," said Craig Hopkinson, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research & Development at Alkermes. "We are excited to initiate our planned ARTISTRY-7 phase 3 trial in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, as we advance nemvaleukin toward potential registration and seek to help patients living with this disease."

Fast Track is an FDA process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review, of potential therapies that seek to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. A drug candidate that receives Fast Track designation is eligible for more frequent communication with the FDA throughout the drug development process and a rolling and/or priority review of its marketing application if relevant criteria are met. For more information on Fast Track designation, please visit the FDA’s website, available at View Source

About Nemvaleukin Alfa (nemvaleukin)
Nemvaleukin is an investigational, novel, engineered fusion protein comprised of modified interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the high affinity IL-2 alpha receptor chain, designed to preferentially expand tumor-killing immune cells while avoiding the activation of immunosuppressive cells by selectively binding to the intermediate-affinity IL-2 receptor complex. The selectivity of nemvaleukin is designed to leverage the proven anti-tumor effects of existing IL-2 therapy while mitigating certain limitations.

About the ARTISTRY Clinical Development Program
ARTISTRY is an Alkermes-sponsored clinical development program evaluating nemvaleukin as a potential immunotherapy for cancer. The ARTISTRY program is comprised of multiple clinical trials evaluating intravenous and subcutaneous dosing of nemvaleukin, both as a monotherapy and in combination with the anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in patients with advanced solid tumors. Ongoing trials in the ARTISTRY program include: ARTISTRY-1, ARTISTRY-2, ARTISTRY-3 and ARTISTRY-6.

Lantern Pharma to Host Third Quarter 2021 Operating & Financial Results Conference Call on Monday, November 1, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. ET

On October 25, 2021 Lantern Pharma (NASDAQ: LTRN), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company using its proprietary RADR artificial intelligence ("A.I.") platform to transform the cost, pace, and timeline of oncology drug discovery and development, reported that it will host a conference call on Monday, November 1, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (Press release, Lantern Pharma, OCT 25, 2021, View Source;financial-results-conference-call-on-monday-november-1-2021-at-430-pm-et-301407949.html [SID1234591916]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Management intends to discuss the financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 and provide guidance on upcoming milestones. The call will be led by Panna Sharma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lantern Pharma. He will be joined on the call by other members of the management team.

A replay of the conference call will be available on the investor relations section of the Company’s website: ir.lanternpharma.com.