Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Completes Target Enrollment in the INTRIGUE Phase 3 Clinical Study of QINLOCK® (Ripretinib) in Patients with Second-Line Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

On November 30, 2020 Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:DCPH) reported the completion of its target enrollment in the INTRIGUE Phase 3 clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of QINLOCK in patients with second-line gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) (Press release, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, NOV 30, 2020, View Source [SID1234571945]). QINLOCK, the Company’s switch-control tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is currently approved in the U.S., Canada, and Australia for patients with fourth-line GIST.

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"We are pleased to announce the completion of target enrollment for our Phase 3 INTRIGUE study in patients with second-line GIST," said Matthew L. Sherman, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Deciphera Pharmaceuticals. "This marks an important step forward to potentially bringing QINLOCK to an early-stage GIST population and establishing QINLOCK as the best-in-class treatment for this disease. We look forward to announcing top-line results for this study in the second half of 2021. I am grateful to the patients and their families, investigators, and our employees who have helped us reach this milestone."

The INTRIGUE Phase 3 clinical study is a randomized, global, multicenter, open-label study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of QINLOCK compared to sunitinib in patients with GIST previously treated with imatinib. This study was designed to support regulatory approvals in second-line GIST patients in the United States, Europe, and other major markets. Approximately 426 patients were randomized 1:1 to either QINLOCK 150 mg once daily or sunitinib 50 mg once daily for four weeks followed by two weeks without sunitinib. The primary efficacy endpoint is median progression-free survival (mPFS) as determined by independent radiologic review using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Secondary endpoints as determined by independent radiologic review using modified RECIST include Objective Response Rate (ORR) and Overall Survival (OS). The study is being conducted at 122 investigational sites in 22 countries.

About QINLOCK (ripretinib)

QINLOCK is a switch-control tyrosine kinase inhibitor that was engineered to broadly inhibit KIT and PDGFRA mutated kinases by using a dual mechanism of action that regulates the kinase switch pocket and activation loop. QINLOCK inhibits primary and secondary KIT mutations in exons 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, and 18 involved in GIST, as well as the primary exon 17 D816V mutation. QINLOCK also inhibits primary PDGFRA mutations in exons 12, 14, and 18, including the exon 18 D842V mutation, involved in a subset of GIST.

QINLOCK is approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of adult patients with advanced GIST who have received prior treatment with three or more kinase inhibitors, including imatinib. It is also approved by Health Canada for the treatment of adult patients with advanced GIST who have received prior treatment with imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib and by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration for the treatment of adult patients with advanced GIST who have received prior treatment with three or more kinase inhibitors, including imatinib.

About GIST

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a cancer affecting the digestive tract or nearby structures within the abdomen, most often presenting in the stomach or small intestine. GIST is the most common sarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract, with approximately 4,000 to 6,000 new GIST cases each year in the United States and a similar incidence rate in European and other countries. Most cases of GIST are driven by a spectrum of mutations. The most common primary mutations are in KIT kinase, representing approximately 80% of cases, or in PDGFRA kinase, representing approximately 6% of cases. Current therapies are unable to inhibit the full spectrum of primary and secondary mutations, which drives resistance and disease progression. Estimates for 5-year survival range from 48% to 90%, depending on the stage of the disease at diagnosis.

Merck to Present at the 2020 Evercore ISI 3rd Annual HealthCONx Virtual Conference

On November 30, 2020 Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, reported that Robert M. Davis, chief financial officer and executive vice president, Merck Global Services, is scheduled to participate in a virtual fireside chat at the Evercore ISI 3rd Annual HealthCONx Conference on Dec. 2, 2020, at 9:40 a.m. EST (Press release, Merck & Co, NOV 30, 2020, View Source [SID1234571944]).

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Investors, analysts, members of the media and the general public are invited to listen to a live audio webcast of the presentation at View Source

Imago BioSciences Expands Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Bomedemstat (IMG-7289) for the Treatment of Myelofibrosis into Hong Kong

On November 30, 2020 Imago BioSciences, Inc., ("Imago") a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative treatments for myeloid diseases, reported the expansion of its global Phase 2b clinical study evaluating bomedemstat (IMG-7289) for the treatment of advanced myelofibrosis (MF) into Hong Kong, where the first patient has now been enrolled and dosed at the Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital and the University of Hong Kong (Press release, Imago BioSciences, NOV 30, 2020, View Source [SID1234571943]). Myelofibrosis is a rare bone marrow cancer that interferes with the production of blood cells.

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In addition to Hong Kong, the Phase 2b study continues to actively enroll patients in the U.S., U.K., and E.U. The study is in the final stages of completing enrollment and continues to dose patients to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy.

"Patients with myelofibrosis around the world are still in need of new treatment options," said Hugh Young Rienhoff, Jr. M.D., Chief Executive Officer, Imago BioSciences. "We are progressing well with enrollment and are pleased to continue expanding our global Phase 2 study into new geographies like Hong Kong. We are encouraged by the signs of clinical activity and safety of bomedemstat as a treatment alternative for patients who do not benefit from the current standards of care."

Bomedemstat is an inhibitor of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), an epigenetic regulator critical for self-renewal of malignant myeloid cells and the differentiation of myeloid progenitors. Data presented at the 25th European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Annual Congress in June demonstrated that the first-in-class LSD1 inhibitor was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities or safety signals. Furthermore, recent data demonstrates the potential of bomedemstat as a monotherapy in intermediate-2 and high-risk patients with myelofibrosis who have become intolerant of, resistant to or are ineligible for a Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor.

Bomedemstat was recently granted PRIME (PRIority MEdicines) designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of MF. The EMA reviewed bomedemstat non-clinical and clinical data from the ongoing Phase 2 study. The PRIME initiative was launched by the EMA in 2016 to provide proactive and enhanced support to the developers of promising medicines with the view of accelerating their evaluation to reach patients faster.

About Bomedemstat (IMG-7289)

Bomedemstat is an orally available small molecule discovered and developed by Imago BioSciences that inhibits lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1 or KDM1A), an enzyme shown to be vital in cancer stem/progenitor cells, particularly neoplastic bone marrow cells. In non-clinical studies, bomedemstat demonstrated robust in vivo anti-tumor efficacy across a range of myeloid malignancies as a single agent and in combination with other therapeutic agents. Bomedemstat is an investigational agent currently being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT03136185, NCT04262141, NCT04254978 and NCT04081220).

Bomedemstat has U.S. FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designation for the treatment of myelofibrosis and essential thrombocythemia, Orphan Drug Designation for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and PRIME designation by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of MF.

Bomedemstat is being evaluated in two open-label Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of advanced myelofibrosis (MF) and essential thrombocythemia (ET), bone marrow cancers that interfere with the production of blood cells. MF patients who are resistant to a Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor are eligible for the study of bomedemstat. ET patients who have failed one standard of care treatment are eligible for the bomedemstat ET study.

Celleron Therapeutics Spins Out SynOx Therapeutics which Secures EUR 37M to Develop Emactuzumab

On November 30, 2020 Celleron Therapeutics, the UK-based company developing personalised medicines for cancer patients, reported the formation of a new spin out, SynOx Therapeutics, as a vehicle for the continued development of emactuzumab as an effective treatment for tenosynovial giant cell tumours (Press release, Celleron, NOV 30, 2020, View Source [SID1234571942]).

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Celleron established SynOx Therapeutics to complete clinical development and obtain marketing approval for emactuzumab. SynOx Therapeutics has attracted €37M venture funding co-led by life science investors HealthCap and Medicxi, joined by Forbion and Gimv. The investment allows SynOx to complete the development of emactuzumab for the treatment of diffuse tenosynovial giant cell tumours (dTGCT).

Emactuzumab is a clinical-stage humanised CSF-1R targeted antibody designed to deplete macrophages in tumour tissue. It has shown a favourable safety profile in patients and encouraging efficacy for TGCT, a rare disease characterised by the proliferation of macrophages in the synovial tissue of the joint and tendon sheath.

Professor Nick La Thangue, Chief Executive Officer of Celleron and SynOx commented: "We are very excited to be working on emactuzumab and feel privileged to be supported by a strong syndicate of leading investors. The successful launch of SynOx, as a single asset company with dedicated funding, reflects Celleron’s business model of spinning-out new assets and securing independent funding".

Professor David Kerr, Chief Medical Officer of Celleron and SynOx commented: "SynOx’s focus is on developing emactuzumab to provide the best possible therapeutic agent for patients suffering from TGCT, which remains a very debilitating disease with limited clinical options. I am sure that our deep understanding of emactuzumab’s mechanism of action will yield other tractable disease targets"

Vivoryon Therapeutics AG Announces Conversion into Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V.

On November 30, 2020 Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: VVY) reported that it has completed its conversion into an N.V., a public company under the laws of the Netherlands (naamloze vennootschap, "N.V.") effective from 28 November 2020 (Press release, Vivoryon Therapeutics, NOV 30, 2020, View Source [SID1234571935]). The Company will from that moment operate under the registered name Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. and its statutory seat will be in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, while the administrative headquarters and the business operations will remain in Germany with locations in Halle (Saale) and Munich. The new legal form has no impact on the Company’s day-to-day operations.

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As a consequence of the conversion, the shareholders of Vivoryon Therapeutics AG will automatically become shareholders of Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V.. The shares will be trading under a new ISIN NL00150002Q7. The last trading date of the shares under the ISIN DE0007921835 and the first trading day of the shares under the new ISIN NL00150002Q7 will be announced as soon as possible by a press release . The central securities depository for the shares under ISIN NL00150002Q7 will be Euroclear Nederland (Nederlands Centraal Instituut voor Giraal Effectenverkeer B.V.). Trading in Vivoryon Therapeutics shares will not be affected by the conversion.

Dr. Ulrich Dauer, Chief Executive Officer of Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V., commented: "This conversion into anN.V. reflects the continued international focus of Vivoryon Therapeutics. We are convinced that this corporate transformation will be a gateway to new international investors and may also provide access to additional capital markets, such as the US stock market via an ADR program or a full NASDAQ listing, even though there are currently no specific plans in this regard. We look forward to continuing to execute on our growth strategy with additional opportunities gained by this corporoate conversion."