CG Oncology Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 Clinical Trial of CG0070, an Oncolytic Immunotherapy, in Combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Unresponsive to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin

On December 9, 2020 CG Oncology, Inc., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, reported the first patient has been dosed in CORE1, a Phase 2 clinical trial of CG0070 in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), for the treatment of patients with Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) unresponsive to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) (Press release, CG Oncology, DEC 9, 2020, View Source [SID1234572531]).

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"We are motivated to advance this crucially important program, despite the challenges presented under the current global pandemic," said Arthur Kuan, CEO of CG Oncology. "CG0070, an oncolytic immunotherapy which has been administered to over 100 patients for the treatment of NMIBC, may potentially exhibit additional effect when combined with KEYTRUDA, which earlier this year was the first therapy in approximately 20 years approved for this indication."

Under a previously announced clinical collaboration with Merck relating to the investigation of CG0070 used in combination with pembrolizumab, the goal of CORE1, which will enroll up to 35 patients, is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CG0070 plus KEYTRUDA for the treatment of NMIBC unresponsive to BCG.

More information can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT04387461

KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA.

About CG0070

CG0070, a selective oncolytic immunotherapy based on a modified adenovirus type 5 backbone that contains a cancer-selective promoter and a GM-CSF transgene, destroys bladder tumor cells through their defective retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway. CG0070 was designed to replicate inside tumor cells with dysfunctional Rb pathways, causing tumor cell lysis and immunogenic cell death. The rupture of cancer cells releases tumor-derived antigens and GM-CSF, which stimulates a systemic anti-tumor immune response. In advanced clinical trials, CG0070 is a safe and efficacious agent in NMIBC following BCG failure. CG0070 is currently in late-stage clinical trials across a variety of solid cancers, as a monotherapy or in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Stellar Results from Kintor’s GT90001 and Opdivo Combo Therapy in the Second-line Treatment of Advanced Liver Cancer: ORR Reached up to 40%

On December 9, 2020 Kintor Pharmaceutical Limited (HKEx: 9939) reported that the Group has collected positive data in phase II clinical trials of combination therapy of ALK-1 (GT90001) antibody and PD-1 (Nivolumab or Opdivo) antibody for the second line therapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma ("HCC") in Taiwan (the "Phase II Clinical Trial") (Press release, Suzhou Kintor Pharmaceuticals, DEC 9, 2020, View Source [SID1234572549]). The preliminary data of the ongoing Phase II Clinical Trial showed positive efficacy and safety results. The data collected in the Phase II Clinical Trial will be released at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GI) to be held between January 15-17, 2021.

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Poster presentation
Abstract Title:
Safety and efficacy of combination of GT90001, an anti-activin receptor-like kinase-1 (ALK-1) antibody, and nivolumab in patients with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Abstract Number: 326
First Author: Chiun Hsu, MD

GT90001 is a fully humanised monoclonal antibody that inhibits ALK-1/TGF-β signal transduction and tumor angiogenesis and a potential first-in-class antibody for which we obtained an exclusive global license from Pfizer, Inc. in February 2018. The Phase II Clinical Trial was commenced on May 7, 2019 in Taiwan to evaluate the safety and efficacy of GT90001 in combination therapy with Nivolumab in patients with advanced HCC who were progressed on or intolerant to first line therapy with Sorafenib or Lenvatinib.

The Phase II Clinical Trial (NCT03893695) was a single-arm, open-ended and two-stage clinical trial. The Phase II Clinical Trial mainly observed the safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity of the combination therapy of GT90001 and Nivolumab. In the first stage (safety evaluation cohort), six patients were enrolled in the dose group of 7mg/kg of GT90001 biweekly and 3mg/kg of Nivolumab biweekly. In the second stage (expanded cohort), 14 patients were enrolled at the same dose for combination therapy. According to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) v1.1, patients received treatment until experiencing disease progression or intolerable toxicity was developed. The primary efficacy endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR) assessed by the investigators.

From July 9, 2019 to September 30, 2020, among the 20 evaluable patients, eight patients (40.0%) were observed partial remission (PR). The side effects were well tolerated and manageable. The pharmacokinetic parameters of GT90001 and Nivolumab are similar to those of monotherapy.

Dr. Tong Youzhi, the founder, Chairman and CEO of Kintor Pharmaceutical, said, "Upon obtaining the exclusive global rights of GT90001, Kintor has implemented the development strategy to combine GT90001 with immunotherapy. GT90001, in combination with Nivolumab, has showed positive efficacy and safety results. We are actively initiating MRCT phase II/III clinical trials in China and US for the treatment of advanced HCC. Meanwhile, we are exploring innovative therapies for the treatment of other solid tumors."

About GT90001

GT90001 is a fully human monoclonal antibody against ALK-1 (Activin Receptor-Like Kinase-1, Activin Receptor-Like Kinase-1). Kintor Pharmaceutical obtained the global exclusive development, production and commercialization rights from Pfizer in 2018. ALK-1 antibody can inhibit tumor blood vessel growth, reduce blood flow and angiogenesis by blocking the ALK-1 receptor pathway, thereby slowing tumor growth and changing the tumor microenvironment. As a potential first-in-class innovative drug in the world, it is expected to be used in the treatment of various solid tumors.Pfizer has conducted two phase I clinical trials on GT90001 in the United States, Italy, South Korea and Japan, which showed good safety and preliminary effectiveness in more than 100 patients with advanced solid tumors. Currently, Kintor Pharmaceutical is conducting phase II clinical trial of GT90001 combined with Nivolumab (PD-1 antibody) for the treatment of advanced liver cancer in Taiwan.

Greenwich LifeSciences Announces Poster Presentation of Five Year Data for GP2 Phase IIb Clinical Trial, Showing 0% Recurrence of Breast Cancer

On December 9, 2020 Greenwich LifeSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLSI) (the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of GP2, an immunotherapy to prevent breast cancer recurrences in patients who have previously undergone surgery, reported the publication of a poster for the GP2 Phase IIb clinical trial final efficacy analysis at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in a virtual format (Press release, Greenwich LifeSciences, DEC 9, 2020, View Source [SID1234572603]). The CEO of Greenwich LifeSciences, Snehal Patel, also recorded an audio track providing an overview. The full poster with figures, tables, and audio can be accessed or downloaded here on the Company website, as well as on the conference website by attendees.

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The poster presents the final 5 year follow-up disease-free survival curves evaluating the reduction of breast cancer recurrences for both HER2/neu 3+ (Figure 1) and HER2/neu 1-2+ (Figure 2) patient populations, including the demographics (Table 1) for stage of cancer, hormone receptor status, node status, and prior treatment with chemotherapy, radiation, endocrine therapy, or trastuzumab (Herceptin).

Mr. Patel commented, "The poster presented at the SABCS is important because the Kaplan Meier survival curves and demographic data further validate our promising HER2 3+ Phase IIb data and support our plan to commence a Phase III trial in 2021. Recurring breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women. Approximately 50% of women with recurring breast cancer do not respond to Herceptin or Kadcyla, resulting in metastatic breast cancer and a poor prognosis. Approximately 80-85% of metastatic breast cancer patients do not survive. By addressing this unmet need, GP2 may reach a potential market exceeding $5 billion."

The conclusions of the poster are as follows:

‒ The trial met all of its clinical endpoints for HER2/neu 3+ patients, concluding that the first 6 intradermal injections of GP2+GM-CSF safely elicited a potent immune response and reduced recurrence rates to 0% in HER2/neu 3+ patients, who received a standard course of Herceptin after surgery. This reduction of recurrence rate was maintained over the gold standard of 5 years of follow-up. A pivotal Phase III trial is being initiated to treat HER2/neu 3+ patients in the neoadjuvant setting.

‒ GP2 may also be effective when administered in combination with Herceptin based therapeutics in HER2/neu 1-2+ patient populations or other HER2/neu expressing cancers.

Excerpts of the poster are below:

Poster PS10-23: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Poster Presentation of Median 5 Year Top-Line Data

The median 5 year top-line data described below was presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in a poster on December 9, 2020, entitled "Five year median follow-up data from a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blinded, multicenter, Phase IIb study evaluating the reduction of recurrences using HER2/neu peptide GP2+GM-CSF vs. GM-CSF alone after adjuvant trastuzumab in HER2 positive women with operable breast cancer."

The final analysis of the GP2 prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blinded, multicenter Phase IIb trial investigating GP2+GM-CSF administered in the adjuvant setting to node-positive and high-risk node-negative breast cancer patients with tumors expressing any degree of HER2 (immuno-histochemistry [IHC] 1-3+) (NCT00524277) is now complete with 5 year follow-up. The trial enrolled HLA-A02 patients randomized to receive GP2+GM-CSF versus GM-CSF alone. The trial’s primary objective was to determine if treatment with GP2, a HER2-derived peptide, reduces recurrence rates.

Each enrolled and consented subject was randomized and scheduled to receive a total of 6 GP2+GM-CSF (500 mcg GP2:125 mcg GM-CSF) or placebo (125 mcg GM-CSF alone) intradermal injections every 3-4 weeks as part of the Primary Immunization Series ("PIS") for the first 6 months and 4 GP2+GM-CSF booster or placebo intradermal injections every 6 months thereafter. Boosters were introduced during the trial, thus some patients did not receive all 4 boosters.

This 168 patient (Intent to Treat, "ITT": n=180) basket trial across 16 clinical sites explored 96 HER2 3+ patients, who received a standard course of trastuzumab after surgery and subsequently completed the full PIS or placebo, starting the PIS at median 17.1 months after surgery, and 72 HER2 1-2+ patients, who did not receive trastuzumab after surgery and subsequently completed the full PIS or placebo, starting the PIS at median 10.8 months after surgery. Subject disease characteristics are described in Table 1 of the poster.

Since GP2 is synergistic with trastuzumab, and the HER2 1-2+ patients did not receive trastuzumab, it was prespecified to compare recurrence rates ITT versus per protocol in these 2 distinct, independently reported populations, excluding those patients who did not complete the PIS.

Figure 1 of the poster depicts evidence that disease free survival ("DFS") is more likely in HER2 3+ GP2-treated subjects. After 5 years of follow-up, the Kaplan-Meier estimated 5-year DFS rate in the 46 HER2 3+ patients treated with GP2+GM-CSF, if the patient completed the PIS, was 100% versus 89.4% (95% CI:76.2, 95.5%) in the 50 placebo patients treated with GM-CSF (p = 0.0338). As shown in Table 1, the treated versus placebo HER2 3+ patients were well-matched, where approximately 53% were stage T1, 41% were stages T2-T4, 55% were node positive, 58% were hormone receptor positive and received endocrine therapy, 77% received adjuvant radiation, 77% received adjuvant chemotherapy, and 89% received trastuzumab.

GP2 was shown to be well tolerated with no SAEs and elicited a potent immune response measured by local skin tests and immunological assays, which suggest peak immunity is reached at 6 months upon completion of the PIS.

About SABCS

The 43rd annual SABCS has grown to be the industry’s premier breast cancer conference for basic, translational, and clinical cancer research professionals. It is well-known for presenting the latest breast cancer data from all over the world. More than 7,500 health care professionals from more than 90 countries attend annually. Baylor College of Medicine became a joint sponsor of SABCS in 2005. The Cancer Therapy & Research Center at UT Health Science Center San Antonio and American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) began collaborations with SABCS in 2007. For more information, please visit the conference website at: View Source

About Breast Cancer and HER2/neu Positivity

One in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over her lifetime, with approximately 266,000 new breast cancer patients and 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in 2018. HER2/neu (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) protein is a cell surface receptor protein that is expressed in a variety of common cancers, including in 75% of breast cancers at low (1+), intermediate (2+), and high (3+ or over-expressor) levels.

Invitae to Present New Data Supporting Genetic Testing for All Breast Cancer Patients at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

On December 9, 2020 Invitae (NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, reported three studies demonstrating the benefits of genetic testing for all breast cancer patients, impacting treatment decisions and cancer screening for patients and their families (Press release, Invitae, DEC 9, 2020, View Source [SID1234572489]). The studies, which will be presented at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), add to the evidence supporting universal access to genetic information for all breast cancer patients.

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Invitae’s (NVTA) mission is to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medical practice to improve the quality of healthcare for billions of people. www.invitae.com (PRNewsFoto/Invitae Corporation)

"It’s clear that current guidelines are too restrictive and, as a result, many patients with breast cancer whose care could be improved by access to precision medicine approaches are being missed. Universal testing for all patients with solid tumor cancer, including breast cancer, can help inform treatment and improve outcomes for patients," said Robert Nussbaum, M.D., chief medical officer of Invitae. "These data, taken together with many other studies that demonstrate the utility of universal testing for cancer patients, show the time has come to expand testing guidelines to ensure all breast cancer patients and their families can benefit from incorporating genetic information into their care."

In a prospective, multi-center study of breast cancer patients, one in eight patients had inherited genetic variants that could increase their risk of more aggressive disease and inform treatment choices. Despite the patients having inherited genetic variants, testing rates among patients’ families remained low, even when cost was not a barrier. These findings in breast cancer patients were part of a landmark study across various solid tumor cancers recently published in JAMA Oncology.

Findings of a second study at the meeting underscore the impact germline testing can have on patient outcomes. In the longitudinal study, researchers evaluated the clinical outcomes of breast cancer patients who had undergone testing as part of a registry that included patients who met testing criteria and those who did not. Notably, 60% of patients who received targeted chemotherapy based on germline variants were in the group that did not meet testing criteria, highlighting the possibility that certain beneficial treatments and management changes could be inappropriately withheld from patients if restrictive criteria persist.

The third study at the meeting examined select international germline genetic testing criteria from Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, and its impact on limiting access to testing in patients and their families who may benefit from this information. The study applied the international testing criteria to a cohort of previously tested U.S. breast cancer patients and found that more than 70% of patients with pathogenic variants would have been excluded using current guidelines to allocate germline testing. Furthermore, >80% of the pathogenic variants detected in these out-of-criteria patients were in genes with published management guidelines. This study demonstrates that current international guidelines for genetic testing are overly restrictive and miss actionable findings that could benefit breast cancer patients and their families.

Invitae presentations at 2020 SABCS:

Poster Session 8: Wednesday, December 9 at 8:00 a.m. CT

Pathogenic variants in hereditary cancer syndrome genes are prevalent among breast cancer patients not meeting various ex-U.S. genetic testing guidelines. Presented by Sarah Nielsen, MS, LCGC
Longitudinal clinical outcomes of a multi-center universal genetic testing registry. Presented by Peter Beitsch, MD
Spotlight Poster Discussion 10: Friday, December 11, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. CT

Universal genetic testing in breast cancer patients: A multi-center, prospective study. Presented by Brenda Ernst, MD

RxPONDER Study Results Demonstrate that the Oncotype DX® Test Can Now Spare Chemotherapy Use in the Majority of Women with Node-positive Early-stage Breast Cancer

On December 9, 2020 Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS) reported that data from the Rx for Positive Node, Endocrine Responsive Breast Cancer, or RxPONDER, trial successfully defined the benefit of chemotherapy in early-stage, node-positive breast cancer patients with Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score results of 0 to 25 (Press release, Exact Sciences, DEC 9, 2020, View Source [SID1234572515]). First results from the study, led by the independent SWOG Cancer Research Network, and sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), identified the majority of women with 1-3 positive nodes who received no benefit from chemotherapy.i The data will be presented on December 10 at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

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RxPONDER showed a different effect of chemotherapy based on Recurrence Score results for postmenopausal and premenopausal women. Postmenopausal women with Recurrence Score results 0-25 were not observed to show benefit from chemotherapy and may avoid the associated side effects of the treatment. Importantly, no chemotherapy benefit was observed regardless of the number of affected nodes, tumor grade, or size. Two-thirds of the women in the trial were postmenopausal.

The first results also demonstrated, after a median of five years of follow-up, that premenopausal women with Recurrence Score results 0-25 were observed to have a statistically significant chemotherapy benefit, with an average improvement in distant recurrence rates at 5 years of 3%.

Approximately 85% of women with node- positive disease have Recurrence Score results of 0 to 25. ii Postmenopausal and premenopausal women with Recurrence Score results 26-100 were not included in the study because investigators reviewed prior studies and determined that this patient group had chemotherapy benefit. The SWOG investigators intend to publish the detailed RxPONDER results in a peer-reviewed publication.

"Every day in clinics around the world, physicians wrestle with the question of how to best treat women with this common form of breast cancer," said study lead author Kevin Kalinsky, MD, a long-time SWOG investigator and director of the Glenn Family Breast Center at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. "These results are practice changing and demonstrate that the great majority of postmenopausal women can be spared unnecessary chemotherapy and receive only hormone therapy. This should bring more clarity to physicians and some relief for patients."

Approximately 25% of patients diagnosed with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer have tumor that has spread to their lymph nodes and two out of three are postmenopausal.iii The vast majority of these patients currently receive chemotherapy.iv

"With the RxPONDER and TAILORx trials, there is now definitive and undeniable clarity on who does and who does not benefit from chemotherapy among early-stage breast cancer patients, with either node-negative or node positive disease," said Steven Shak, MD, chief medical officer at Exact Sciences. "These long-awaited results, which continue to build on the body of evidence supporting the role of the Oncotype DX test in shaping clinical practice, are estimated to impact tens of thousands of women worldwide."

One of the largest clinical trials in women with node-positive HR+, HER2- early breast cancer, RxPONDER is a prospective, randomized Phase III study conducted at 632 sites in nine countries – the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Ireland, France, Spain, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. The study enrolled more than 5,000 women with up to three positive nodes. Women with a Recurrence Score result 0-25 were randomized for treatment with hormone therapy alone or chemotherapy followed by hormone therapy. Randomized patients were stratified based on their Recurrence Score result, menopausal status, and the type of lymph node surgery.

The use of the Oncotype DX test in early-stage breast cancer is supported by prospective outcomes from more than 17,000 patients with node-positive disease and more than 83,000 patients with node-negative disease, including the TAILORx study. Results from TAILORx, published in 2018, showed that the Oncotype DX test identifies the vast majority of women with node-negative disease who receive no substantial benefit from chemotherapy (approximately 80%), as well as the important minority for whom chemotherapy can be life-saving.

About Oncotype DX
The Oncotype DX portfolio of breast, colon and prostate cancer tests applies advanced genomic science to reveal the unique biology of a tumor in order to optimize cancer treatment decisions. In breast cancer, the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test is the only test that has been shown to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit as well as recurrence in invasive breast cancer. Additionally, the Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score test predicts the likelihood of recurrence in a pre-invasive form of breast cancer called DCIS. In prostate cancer, the Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score test predicts disease aggressiveness and further clarifies the current and future risk of the cancer prior to treatment intervention, and the Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect test helps determine which patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) are resistant to androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapies. The Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect test is performed by Epic Sciences at its centralized, CLIA-certified laboratory in San Diego and offered exclusively by Exact Sciences. With more than 1 million patients tested in more than 90 countries, the Oncotype DX tests have redefined personalized medicine by making genomics a critical part of cancer diagnosis and treatment. To learn more about Oncotype DX tests, visit www.OncotypeIQ.com, www.MyBreastCancerTreatment.org or www.MyProstateCancerTreatment.org.