Targovax to present at the 4th Annual Next Gen Immuno-Oncology Virtual Congress-US Edition

On June 28, 2021 Targovax ASA, reported that Victor Levitsky, Chief Scientific Officer of Targovax, is invited to present at the 4th Annual Next Gen Immuno-Oncology Virtual Congress-US Edition (Press release, Targovax, JUN 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234584397]).

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4th Annual Next Gen Immuno-Oncology Virtual Congress-US Edition, virtual
Date: 29 June 2021
Presenter: Victor Levitsky (CSO)
Time: 14:15 EDT / 20:15 CET
Title: Clinical efficacy and immuno-modulatory properties of oncolytic adenovirus ONCOS-102

Onconova Therapeutics Provides An Update On The Phase 1/2a Trial Of Rigosertib-Nivolumab Combination In KRAS+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

On July 28, 2021 Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONTX) ("Onconova"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer, reported an update on the investigator-initiated Phase 1/2a trial of oral rigosertib plus nivolumab in advanced metastatic KRAS mutated (KRAS+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Press release, Onconova, JUN 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234584413]). The clinical data to date provide preliminary evidence of potential anti-cancer activity of rigosertib-nivolumab combination therapy in advanced metastatic KRAS+ non-small cell lung cancer and show that the maximum tolerated dose of rigosertib in combination with nivolumab was not reached in the three cohorts of the trial’s dose-escalation phase. Patients enrolled in this trial have failed multiple lines of prior therapy and all have failed immune checkpoint inhibitors in various combinations.

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The trial continues to recruit patients as part of the expansion phase at the highest dose of oral rigosertib defined in the current protocol. Based on the positive preliminary findings from the trial, a protocol amendment is being prepared that would allow for the evaluation of increased rigosertib doses in combination with the full dose of intravenous nivolumab, as recommended per its product label.

"The preliminary results from this Phase 1/2a trial are very encouraging and demonstrate the potential of rigosertib to address a critical unmet medical need by overcoming checkpoint inhibitor resistance in KRAS mutated lung adenocarcinoma," said Mark S. Gelder, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Onconova. "The observation of preliminary evidence of efficacy in combination with acceptable safety of the doublet in this extremely challenging patient population provides a promising signal. This phase 1 study supports the preclinical observation in melanoma of the up regulation of crucial cell surface molecules by rigosertib which may synergize with immune checkpoint blockade, as recently published in Molecular Cancer, and strongly supports the continued clinical development of rigosertib-checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy. We look forward to the presentation of preliminary data at the upcoming 3rd Annual RAS Targeted Drug Development Summit taking place September 21-23, 2021, and at a future major medical meeting as the data mature."

Steven M. Fruchtman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Onconova, commented, "This Phase 1/2a trial is an important part of our investigator-initiated study program, which enables us to pursue opportunities to develop rigosertib in high-need KRAS mutated indications while maintaining our primary focus on our lead ON 123300 program. We are very pleased both with the safety and preliminary efficacy signal we have seen from the KRAS mutated NSCLC trial to date, considering the multiple lines of therapy many of these patients have previously failed, including checkpoint inhibitors in various combinations. We are supportive of the plan to expand dose-escalation of rigosertib to determine the optimal recommended Phase 2 dose of the combination; and are eagerly anticipating results of important correlative science that is part of the trial. We look forward to the trial’s continued progress and would like to thank the investigator and his team for conducting the trial, as well as the patients who are participating."

About the Investigator-initiated Phase 1/2a Trial
This Phase 1/2a trial is designed to evaluate the combination of rigosertib and nivolumab in advanced KRAS+ metastatic lung adenocarcinoma patients who have progressed on standard of care with anti-PD-1 monotherapy or anti-PD-1 in combination with chemotherapy. It includes a dose-escalating Phase 1 portion followed by a Phase 2a dose-expansion portion. Patients in the trial receive oral rigosertib twice daily on days 1-21, and intravenous nivolumab on days 1 and 15 of 28-day cycles. The primary endpoints of the trial are safety assessments and overall response rate. Secondary endpoints include progression free survival and overall survival. For more information on the trial, see ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04263090.

IDEAYA Announces IDE397 Phase 1 Clinical Pharmacodynamic Data and Phase 2 Initiation of Darovasertib and Crizotinib Combination

On June 28, 2021 IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:IDYA), a synthetic lethality focused precision medicine oncology company committed to the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics, reported that updates for its Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating IDE397 in patients having solid tumors with MTAP deletion and Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating darovasertib combination therapies in metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM) (Press release, Ideaya Biosciences, JUN 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234584430]).

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"The observation of a clinical pharmacodynamic signal in the initial cohorts of the IDE397 dose escalation study is significant. Modulation of plasma SAM is evidence of target engagement and supports our preclinical observations that IDE397 is a highly potent and active MAT2A inhibitor," said Mark Lackner, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Head of Biology and Translational Sciences of IDEAYA Biosciences.

"We continue to be encouraged by the early clinical responses observed in the daraovasertib combination treatments in heavily pretreated patients and are excited to initiate our Phase 2 clinical trial to further evaluate the darovasertib and crizotinib combination in MUM patients," said Matthew Maurer, M.D., Vice President, Head of Clinical Oncology and Medical Affairs, IDEAYA Biosciences.

IDE397 in MTAP Deletion Solid Tumors

IDEAYA is evaluating IDE397, a potent and selective small molecule inhibitor targeting methionine adenosyltransferase 2a (MAT2A), as monotherapy in the dose escalation portion of a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients having solid tumors with methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) deletion, a patient population estimated to represent approximately 15% of solid tumors.

The company is currently enrolling patients in the third cohort of the dose escalation portion of the IDE397 clinical trial. Four clinical trial sites are currently open for enrollment with an additional five sites targeted in the second half 2021. IDEAYA has entered into a collaboration with Tempus Labs to identify additional patients for the open clinical sites. The enrolled patients have tumors with MTAP deletion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic cancer and thymic cancer. As of June 25, 2021, IDE397 has been generally well tolerated with only grade 1 drug-related adverse events, including constipation, nausea and fatigue. There were no reported drug-related serious adverse events, and no reported myelosuppression, or changes to bilirubin or to aminotransaminase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes.

IDEAYA has met the criteria to initiate a IDE397 tumor biopsy cohort arm in each of the first two cohorts of the dose escalation study, with observed clinical pharmacodynamic (PD) modulation of plasma S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) satisfying the clinical protocol threshold of approximately 60% or greater. The PD data showed a maximal plasma SAM reduction from baseline of 68.9% and 88.0% for the first (n=2) and second (n=3) cohorts, respectively. The clinical protocol threshold was established based on IDE397 preclinical in vivo efficacy data in MTAP-deletion xenograft models. The company plans to obtain pre-treatment and post-treatment tumor biopsies from patients enrolled into this tumor biopsy cohort to evaluate tumor PD response, including measurement of tumor SAM and tumor symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA) biomarkers.

The PD data to be obtained from the IDE397 tumor biopsy cohort is expected to support an option data package for review by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in consideration of whether to exercise its exclusive option to develop and commercialize IDE397. The GSK option is exercisable within a certain period after IDEAYA delivers a data package comprising preclinical data and clinical data from the IDE397 monotherapy dose escalation portion of the Phase 1 clinical trial, including safety and tolerability data, pharmacokinetic data, and pharmacodynamic modulation of SAM and tumor SDMA. IDEAYA is leading early clinical development of IDE397. If GSK exercises its option and pays an option exercise fee of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), GSK will lead later stage global clinical development and costs will be shared with GSK responsible for 80% and IDEAYA responsible for 20%. If GSK exercises the option, IDEAYA will be eligible to receive future development and regulatory milestones of up to $465 million, 50% of U.S. net profits, tiered royalties on global ex-U.S. net sales ranging from high single digit to sub-teen double digit percentages and certain commercial milestones of up to $475 million.

Darovasertib Combinations in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma (MUM)

IDEAYA is executing on its strategy to evaluate darovasertib combinations in MUM, including combinations of darovasertib and crizotinib, and independently, darovasertib and binimetinib, in each case under a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Pfizer Inc.

The company initiated Phase 2 of the clinical trial evaluating darovasertib and crizotinib combination in MUM based on observed early clinical activity of this combination. In the first cohort of the dose escalation portion of the Phase 1 clinical trial, an earlier-reported unconfirmed partial response of 54.3% tumor reduction has subsequently confirmed with a 56.5% tumor reduction in a subsequent scan, which represents the deepest response observed to date in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating darovasertib as monotherapy or in combinations.

Drug-related adverse events observed in the darovasertib and crizotinib combination arm in MUM as of June 22, 2021 based on preliminary data from an unlocked database, primarily include: serious adverse events of syncope and hypotension, each of which resolved with patients continuing dosing; and adverse events that occurred in at least two treated patients of nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, edema, decreased appetite, rash, hypotension and syncope. The observed syncope and hypotension were transient, often occurring in the first week of dosing, and are being managed / mitigated through a one week run-in dosing regimen and by limiting use of certain concurrent medications such as diuretics.

In the darovasertib and binimetinib combination arm of the Phase 1 clinical trial, an earlier-reported unconfirmed partial response of 40.5% tumor reduction has been confirmed with a 51.7% tumor reduction in a subsequent scan.

Drug-related adverse events observed in the darovasertib and binimetinib combination arm in MUM, as of June 22, 2021 data cutoff based on preliminary data and analysis from an unlocked database, primarily include: serious adverse events of liver toxicity, nausea and vomiting, syncope and fall; and adverse events that occurred in greater than 10% of patients of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, edema, fatigue, hypotension and creatine phosphokinase increase.

As of June 22, 2021, IDEAYA has enrolled 30 MUM patients in the darovasertib and binimetinib combination arm, and 15 MUM patients in the darovasertib and crizotinib combination arm. IDEAYA is targeting a further clinical data update for darovasertib combination(s) in the second half of 2021. The company is planning to obtain FDA regulatory guidance on potential registration-enabling trial design for darovasertib monotherapy and/or darovasertib combination(s) in MUM in the second half of 2021 or the first half of 2022, respectively.

Philogen to present at the 5th Annual EU Investor Tour on July 13-14, 2021

On June 28, 2021 Philogen reported that it is attending the 5th Annual EU Summer Investor Virtual Tour organized by Solebury Trout & Venrock on July 13-14, 2021 (Press release, Philogen, JUN 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234584929]).

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Co-founder, CEO and CSO, Prof. Dario Neri to give a presentation on July 13th at 12.00pm ET / 6.00pm CEST.

Polyphor provides update on the Phase III FORTRESS study of balixafortide in patients with advanced HER2 negative breast cancer

On June 28, 2021 Polyphor AG (SIX: POLN), a research driven clinical stage, Swiss biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering and developing best-in-class molecules in oncology and antimicrobial resistance reported that its global Phase III study, FORTRESS, evaluating balixafortide (POL6326) in combination with eribulin for the treatment of patients with HER2 negative, locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, did not meet its co-primary endpoint (Press release, Polyphor, JUN 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234584398]).

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At the primary analysis, balixafortide plus eribulin showed no improvement in the objective response rate (ORR) compared with eribulin alone (13.0% versus 13.7%; p=1.00) in the third line and later population (n=330 patients) followed for a minimum of 6 months. The clinical benefit rate, a key secondary endpoint indicating a stable disease or any confirmed response for a duration of at least 6 months as assessed by the IRC (independent radiological committee) was observed in 16.7% of patients in the balixafortide plus eribulin arm and 19.6% in the eribulin alone arm. The study confirmed the positive safety and tolerability profile of balixafortide in line with the previously reported Phase Ib study. Polyphor will continue to analyze the data, review with the experts and will decide about the future of the study in mid-July.

The board of directors is undergoing a strategic assessment and will consider a full range of options regarding the future of the company and will provide an update not later than end of July.

"Given the high unmet medical need for patients with HER2 negative breast cancer in a late stage of the disease, we are disappointed that the FORTRESS study did not meet its coprimary endpoint," says Gökhan Batur, CEO of Polyphor. "We thank all the patients, investigators and healthcare professionals as well as our employees for their active participation in this study."

About the FORTRESS study

The FORTRESS study (POL6326-009) is an international, multicenter, randomized active-controlled, open-label Phase III trial which investigates the efficacy, safety and tolerability of intravenous balixafortide given with eribulin versus eribulin alone in the treatment of HER2 negative, locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. The study had randomized 432 patients with HER2 negative MBC with at least 344 patients receiving third or subsequent line and 88 patients receiving second line chemotherapy.

About balixafortide

Balixafortide (POL6326) is a potent, specific, and highly selective antagonist of the chemokine receptor CXCR4, a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that regulates the trafficking and homing of both cancer cells and cells of the patient’s immune system.