QuiremScout® awarded top 3 most innovative medical device in the 2019 Belgian Galenus prize

On December 9, 2020 Quirem Medical, a Terumo company, reported that it is awarded top 3 innovative medical device in the 2019 Belgian Galenus prize with the innovative Holmium-166 SIRT diagnostic scout dose product QuiremScout (Press release, Quirem Medical, DEC 9, 2020, View Source [SID1234573385]).

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The Galenus prize recognizes and rewards outstanding achievements that improve the global human condition through the development of innovative therapies1. It was created in France in 1970 by a pharmacist named Roland Mehl with the aim to advance pharmaceutical research. Recently, the Prix Galien award is also granted to innovative medical devices.2

The role of QuiremScout microspheres is to evaluate the expected safety and efficacy of the Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT). QuiremScout microspheres are based on the same Holmium-166 microspheres as the therapeutic treatment (QuiremSpheres). QuiremScout microspheres are intended to evaluate lung-shunt3 and extrahepatic deposition3 as part of the SIRT work-up. Moreover, they are intended for evaluation of the intrahepatic distribution3 during the work-up, which can be used to plan the SIRT treatment.4

Currently, 99mTc-MAA is most often used during the pre-treatment work-up of the SIRT treatment algorithm3.

However, QuiremScout has recently proven to be more accurate in terms of intrahepatic targeting5 and lung shunt assessment6 compared to 99mTc-MAA during the work-up. The usage of QuiremScout microspheres may allow physicians to improve their SIRT treatment planning.3

Recent clinical results continue to support the validation of QuiremScout microspheres in patient selection and planning as part of the Holmium Platform, such as the latest publication in the Lancet Oncology Journal from UMC Utrecht for the non-randomized HEPAR PLuS study7, which included Neuroendocrine tumor (NET) patients with liver metastasis after systemic radiation therapy with 177Lu-Dotatate.

The Holmium platform consists of three integrated products (QuiremScout, QuiremSpheres & Q-suite), which equips physicians with the necessary tools to optimize SIRT outcomes through more individualized treatment.

"QuiremScout is part of the Holmium platform that enables physicians to perform Selective intra-arterial radiation therapy. This technology uniquely allows a fine patient selection and individualized treatment for better outcomes. At Terumo, we are proud of this important recognition by the community.", said Laurent Domas, Vice President Global Interventional Oncology & Therapy Development, Terumo Interventional Systems.

Oncternal Therapeutics Increases Previously Announced Bought Deal to $75.0 Million

On December 9, 2020 Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel oncology therapies, reported that due to demand, the underwriter has agreed to increase the size of the previously announced offering and purchase on a firm commitment basis 16,666,667 shares of common stock of the Company, at a price to the public of $4.50 per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions (Press release, Oncternal Therapeutics, DEC 9, 2020, View Source [SID1234576290]). The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about December 14, 2020, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

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H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

The Company also has granted to the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,495,000 shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The gross proceeds to Oncternal, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses and assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase additional common stock, are expected to be approximately $75.0 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including expenses related to the clinical and preclinical development of cirmtuzumab and TK216, preclinical development of its ROR1 CAR-T program, and for working capital.

The shares of common stock are being offered by Oncternal pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-222268) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on December 22, 2017 and declared effective by the SEC on January 5, 2018. The offering of the shares of common stock is made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the shares of common stock being offered has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at View Source." target="_blank" title="View Source." rel="nofollow">View Source A final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the shares of common stock being offered will be filed with the SEC. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained, when available, on the SEC’s website at View Source or by contacting H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC at 430 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by phone at (646) 975-6996 or e-mail at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

Syndax Announces Pricing of Public Offering of Common Stock

On December 9, 2020 Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Syndax," the "Company" or "we") (Nasdaq: SNDX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline of cancer therapies, reported the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 5,434,783 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $23.00 per share (Press release, Syndax, DEC 9, 2020, View Source [SID1234572493]). The gross proceeds to Syndax from this offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $125 million. The offering is expected to close on December 11, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. Additionally, Syndax granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 815,217 additional shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the shares of common stock in the offering will be sold by Syndax.

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Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Citigroup and Cowen are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. BTIG is acting as lead manager for the offering. Baird is acting as co-manager for the offering.

The shares are being offered pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement previously filed and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov. When available, copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from: Goldman Sachs and Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by emailing [email protected]; or Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Services, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by phone at (800) 831-9146; or Cowen and Company, LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, or by email at [email protected], or by phone at (833) 297-2926.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Any offer, if at all, will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, which are a part of the effective registration statement.

Oncolytics and SOLTI Report Clinical Synergy of Pelareorep with Checkpoint Inhibitors at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

On December 9, 2020 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC) and SOLTI-Innovative Breast Cancer Research reported an electronic poster at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) with data from the AWARE-1 window-of-opportunity study in patients with early-stage breast cancer showing pelareorep delivers a significant boost known to increase the effectiveness of checkpoint inhibitors (Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, DEC 9, 2020, View Source [SID1234572519]).

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In the AWARE-1 study, a collaboration between Oncolytics Biotech and SOLTI, early-stage breast cancer patients are treated with pelareorep, with or without atezolizumab (Tecentriq), plus an appropriate therapy for each patient’s breast cancer subtype, followed by surgery. The SABCS poster includes 17 out of the 20 HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients comprising the study’s first two cohorts, the targeted patient population for our intended phase 3 study. Treatment with pelareorep increased the CelTIL score in tumor biopsies, which has been associated with improved clinical outcomes. In addition, pelareorep treatment dramatically upregulated PD-L1 expression in the tumor microenvironment (TME). These findings highlight the potential of pelareorep to act synergistically with checkpoint inhibitors and also provides a basis for the near doubling of overall survival observed in a prior phase 2 trial when pelareorep was added to chemotherapy in HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients (link to PR, link to poster).

"AWARE-1 data demonstrate pelareorep’s consistent remodeling of the tumor immune environment," said Dr. Aleix Prat, M.D., Ph.D., Translational Investigator of AWARE-1, SOLTI President and Head of the Medical Oncology Department at Hospital Clinic in Barcelona. "Pelareorep seems to train the immune system to target cancer cells while simultaneously promoting tumor inflammation and priming a response to immune checkpoint blockade. This demonstrates pelareorep’s potential to overcome the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment which could limit checkpoint inhibitor efficacy."

Key data and conclusions from the SABCS poster include:

72% of evaluated patients (n=18) saw an increase in CelTIL, the study’s primary endpoint that is associated with favorable clinical outcomes.
The maximum percentage increase in CelTIL (~300%) was achieved in a cohort 2 patient receiving pelareorep in combination with checkpoint blockade therapy.
On average, there was a 105-fold increase in TME PD-L1 expression (n=13) from baseline (pre-pelareorep administration) to surgery (21-days post-administration).
Tumor microenvironment PD-L1 expression increased in all evaluated patients (n=13).
Preliminary imaging mass cytometry analysis showed pelareorep treatment promoted broad anti-tumor changes in the TME, including enhanced CD8+ T cell activation and the recruitment of memory T cells.
Thomas Heineman, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head of Clinical Development and Operations at Oncolytics, commented, "In the AWARE-1 study, pelareorep delivered consistent increases in tumor PD-L1 expression and recruitment of anti-cancer immune cells into tumors, as well as increases in CelTIL score for over 70% of the patients. This is highly encouraging given the association between CelTIL and clinical outcomes, and we hope to observe the same success from our phase 2 BRACELET-1 trial, which is exclusively enrolling HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients."

Andrew de Guttadauro, President of Oncolytics Biotech U.S. and Global Head of Business Development, added, "Immune deserts or immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments limit tumor PD-L1 expression levels and thereby limit regulatory approval and commercial success of checkpoint inhibitors in certain breast and other malignancies. AWARE-1 data show that pelareorep can alter the tumor microenvironment and induce robust PD-L1 expression, highlighting the potential of pelareorep to boost the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors and increase the proportion of patients eligible for these therapies. We expect this synergistic potential to enable the continued execution of our strategy to develop pelareorep-based therapies in collaboration with industry leaders."

The electronic poster, titled "A window-of-opportunity study with atezolizumab and the oncolytic virus pelareorep in early breast cancer (REO-027, AWARE-1)" is available in the SABCS virtual poster hall and on the Posters & Publications page of Oncolytics’ website (LINK).

Ongoing ‘trial-in-progress’ posters giving an overview of Oncolytics’ IRENE and BRACELET-1 study designs were also presented at SABCS and are available at the same locations.

About AWARE-1

AWARE-1 is an open-label window-of-opportunity study in early-stage breast cancer enrolling 38 patients into five cohorts:

Cohort 1 (n=10), HR+ / HER2- (pelareorep + letrozole)
Cohort 2 (n=10), HR+ / HER2- (pelareorep + letrozole + atezolizumab)
Cohort 3 (n=6), TNBC (pelareorep + atezolizumab)
Cohort 4 (n=6), HR+ / HER2+ (pelareorep + trastuzumab + atezolizumab)
Cohort 5 (n=6), HR- / HER2+ (pelareorep + trastuzumab + atezolizumab)
The study combines pelareorep, with or without atezolizumab, and the standard of care therapy according to breast cancer subtype. Patients are biopsied as part of their initial breast cancer evaluation, then again on day three following initial treatment, and a final tissue sample after three weeks, on the day of their mastectomy. Data generated from this study are intended to confirm that the virus is acting as a novel immunotherapy and to provide comprehensive biomarker data by breast cancer subtype. The primary endpoint of the study is overall CelTIL (a measurement of cellularity and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes). Secondary endpoints for the study include CelTIL by breast cancer subtype, safety, and tumor and blood-based biomarkers.

For more information about the AWARE-1 study, refer to View Source

Tecentriq (atezolizumab) is a registered trademark of Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with over two million new cases diagnosed in 2018, representing about 25 percent of all cancers in women. Incidence rates vary widely across the world, from 27 per 100,000 in Middle Africa and Eastern Asia to 85 per 100,000 in Northern America. It is the fifth most common cause of death from cancer in women globally, with an estimated 522,000 deaths.

Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. These cells usually form a tumor that can often be seen on an x-ray or felt as a lump. The malignant tumor (cancer) is getting worse when the cells grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body.

About Pelareorep

Pelareorep is a non-pathogenic, proprietary isolate of the unmodified reovirus: a first-in-class intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The compound induces selective tumor lysis and promotes an inflamed tumor phenotype through innate and adaptive immune responses to treat a variety of cancers and has been demonstrated to be able to escape neutralizing antibodies found in patients.

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 [SID1234572537]). 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.