PTC Therapeutics to Present at the Evercore ISI 3rd Annual HealthCONx Conference

On November 19, 2020 PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTCT) reported that management will present a company overview at Evercore ISI 3rd Annual HealthCONx Conference on Tuesday, December 1st at 11:45 a.m. ET (Press release, PTC Therapeutics, NOV 19, 2020, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ptc-therapeutics-to-present-at-the-evercore-isi-3rd-annual-healthconx-conference-301174099.html [SID1234571448]).

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 presentation will be webcast live on the Events and Presentations page under the investor relations section of PTC Therapeutics’ website at www.ptcbio.com and will be archived for 30 days following the presentation. It is recommended that users connect to PTC’s website several minutes prior to the start of the webcast to ensure a timely connection.

Varian and the Cincinnati Children’s/UC Health Proton Therapy Center Announce Initial Patient Treated in the FAST-01 First Human Clinical Trial of FLASH Therapy for Cancer

On November 19, 2020 Varian (NYSE: VAR) and the Cincinnati Children’s/UC Health Proton Therapy Center today reported the start of the first clinical trial of FLASH therapy as part of the recently opened FAST-01 study (FeAsibility Study of FLASH Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Symptomatic Bone Metastases) (Press release, Varian Medical Systems, NOV 19, 2020, View Source [SID1234571447]). The clinical trial involves the investigational use of Varian’s ProBeam particle accelerator modified to enable radiation therapy delivery at ultra-high dose rates (dose delivered in less than 1 second) and is being conducted at the Cincinnati Children’s/UC Health Proton Therapy Center with John C. Breneman M.D., Medical Director of the center, serving as principal investigator.

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 first clinical trial patient was treated this week. The FAST-01 study is expected to enroll up to 10 patients with bone metastases to evaluate clinical workflow feasibility, treatment-related side effects, and efficacy of treatment as assessed by measuring pain relief of trial participants. The clinical trial, informed by years of preclinical work, was designed by experts at Varian and multiple centers in the FlashForwardTM Consortium, including Cincinnati’s Children’s/UC Health Proton Therapy Center and the New York Proton Center.

"Treating the first patient in this FLASH clinical trial is a milestone that many thought was still years ahead of us," said Kolleen Kennedy, Chief Growth Officer and President of Proton Therapy Solutions at Varian. "There was overwhelming support from Dr. Breneman and his team for this clinical trial, which was designed in collaboration with the FlashForward Consortium and with significant contributions from the New York Proton Center. These efforts help Varian safely advance potential therapy options towards our vision of a world without fear of cancer."

Breneman noted that, because this is the first in human trial of FLASH radiotherapy, it will build a foundation for extending this therapy to other types of cancer treatments.

"Trials using FLASH radiotherapy for lung cancer and other malignancies are currently being developed," said Breneman, a UC Health radiation oncologist and a professor emeritus at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. "Using FLASH treatment for these cancers could deliver higher cancer-killing doses without causing inordinate side effects, which would be a real advance."

"FLASH therapy has the potential to be practice changing and dramatically improve the experience of cancer care for a new generation of patients. The launch of the first FLASH clinical trial, a project that has come to fruition after years of intensive study, is an important milestone in the progress of radiation therapy," said FlashForward Consortium member Dr. Charles B. Simone, II, FACRO, Chief Medical Officer at New York Proton Center. "We are optimistic that the results of the FAST clinical development program will transform the way the industry approaches treatment. The New York Proton Center is proud to be a partner in this future-focused study."

John Perentesis, MD, Director of the Division of Oncology & Cancer Programs at Cincinnati Children’s, said FLASH is potentially a transformational advance for cancer treatment for many patients."If the side effects of radiation on the normal tissues surrounding a tumor can be significantly reduced, the dose of radiation to treat a cancer can be greatly increased," Perentesis said. "This would raise hope to cure malignancies that respond to radiation but aren’t completely cured at current doses, including pediatric brain tumors like DIPG/pontine glioma and medulloblastoma, sarcomas, and neuroblastoma."

Syngene and Deerfield Discovery and Development (3DC) sign 5-year strategic collaboration

On November 19, 2020 Syngene International and Deerfield Discovery and Development Corporation (3DC), the drug discovery and development subsidiary of Deerfield Management Company (Deerfield), reported that they have signed an agreement to collaborate to advance therapeutic discovery projects, from target validation through to pharmacological proof of concept and preclinical evaluation (Press release, Syngene International, NOV 19, 2020, View Source [SID1234571446]). This five-year collaboration unites the core skills of the investment management company Deerfield, through its drug discovery and development arm 3DC, and Syngene’s integrated drug discovery (IDD) services.

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!

Syngene’s Managing Director and CEO, Jonathan Hunt, said: "Syngene will deliver fully integrated therapeutic discovery programs for 3DC. Syngene is an industry-leading collaboration partner for pharma, biotech, and venture capital firms, and we are delighted to have 3DC as a major strategic partner. Their reputation for identifying highly promising science is a great fit with our ability to lead and deliver world-class scientific execution for their growing portfolio."

"This collaboration forms an important part of our execution strategy. When we identify a promising biological target, our goal is to discover and deliver the best possible therapeutic agent to the clinic as quickly and safely as possible," said Mike Foley, Ph.D., CEO of 3DC. "We believe the Syngene-Deerfield collaboration may provide critical new therapeutic options with pace and efficiency that could improve the lives of many patients."

3DC has selected Syngene as a key execution partner for a developing portfolio of molecular entities, spanning multiple therapeutic areas and modalities. The ultimate goal is to deliver much-needed benefit to patients suffering from serious, unmet medical needs through innovation, scale, quality, and speed-to-market.

The collaboration will start with immediate effect and is expected to run for an initial cycle of 5 years.

Ampersand Announced Today the $670 Million Closing of the Ampersand Continuation Fund ("AMP-CF") with Confluent Medical Technologies as Core Asset

On November 19, 2020 Ampersand Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm dedicated to growth-oriented investments in the healthcare sector, reported the oversubscribed, $670 million closing of the Ampersand Continuation Fund together with related investment vehicles ("AMP-CF") (Press release, Ampersand Medical Group, NOV 19, 2020, View Source [SID1234571445]). AMP-CF was formed to acquire the equity interests of three portfolio companies previously held by multiple mature Ampersand funds. StepStone Group and affiliated investors ("StepStone"), a leading player in the private equity secondary market, is the lead investor in the transaction.

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!

AMP-CF provided all Ampersand limited partners the option of reinvesting their proceeds or receiving full or partial liquidity, and also admitted new limited partners who wished to invest in the growth prospects of the three portfolio companies. In addition to StepStone, AMP-CF received commitments from a broad group of secondary and primary investors, including many prior Ampersand limited partners that elected to reinvest.

Notably, the closing of the fund was completed less than 45 days after StepStone’s commitment and exceeded the $600 million target necessary to acquire the AMP-CF assets, providing additional capital to support Confluent’s continued growth.

Ampersand Partner Trevor Wahlbrink commented, "We are very pleased that AMP-CF was so well received in the marketplace. The strong response from current and new limited partners confirms our belief that creating AMP-CF was a win-win opportunity for all of Ampersand’s key constituents. All of the AMP-CF portfolio companies are high-quality assets that we know exceptionally well, and the Ampersand team remains excited about their long-term growth prospects."

Ampersand Founder and Confluent Chairman Rick Charpie noted, "With an initial five-year term, and access to capital for additional acquisitions and secondary purchases, AMP-CF positions Confluent’s management and investors to continue taking a long-term view of the Company’s future growth opportunities. As the majority investor in Confluent, we look forward to working with the Company’s exceptional management team to build on Confluent’s position as a leading designer and manufacturer of complex, finished medical devices to the world’s largest OEM’s."

Goodwin Procter LLP served as legal counsel to Ampersand. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP served as legal counsel to StepStone.

Day One Announces Preliminary Phase 1 Results for DAY101 in Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma, Receipt of Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) and New Phase 2 Study

On November 19, 2020 Day One Biopharmaceuticals reported that In PNOC014, an ongoing Phase 1 Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) network study sponsored by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, nine patients under 18 years of age with relapsed low-grade glioma have been treated with DAY101 (Press release, Day One, NOV 19, 2020, View Source [SID1234571444]).

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!

Of the eight patients with RAF fusions, two patients achieved a complete response by Response Assessment for Neuro-Oncology (RANO), three had a partial response, and three achieved prolonged stable disease. The median time to response for these patients was only 10.5 weeks, and the most common side effects were skin rash and hair color changes.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted DAY101 BTD for the treatment of pediatric patients with advanced low-grade glioma harboring RAF alteration. The FDA has also granted DAY101 Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of malignant glioma.
Day One is starting a global, single-arm, monotherapy, registration-enabling Phase 2 study of DAY101 for children and young adults with recurrent or progressive BRAF-altered low-grade gliomas.
South San Francisco, November 19, 2020: Day One Biopharmaceuticals, a company driven to develop promising new oncology therapies for both children and adults living with cancer, announced interim results from PNOC014, an ongoing Phase 1 investigator-sponsored study conducted by Dana-Farber and the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) of DAY101 in children with radiographically recurrent/progressive low-grade gliomas and other MAP kinase pathway activated tumors.

DAY101 is an investigational agent designed as an oral, once-weekly, brain-penetrant pan-RAF kinase inhibitor and is being developed by Day One for children and adults living with cancer. Over 250 patients have received DAY101 in clinical trials thus far. Early studies have demonstrated evidence of anti-tumor activity in adult and pediatric populations with specific genetic alterations in the RAS/MAP kinase pathway.

Preliminary results from PNOC014 were presented at the 25th Annual Scientific Meeting and Education Day of the Society for Neuro-Oncology, held virtually November 19-22, 2020 (CTNI-19) and can be viewed in this link by any registered attendee. The objective of the PNOC014 study is to assess the pharmacokinetics, safety and preliminary efficacy of DAY101 in children with recurrent or progressive pediatric low-grade gliomas and other RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway activated tumors. Preliminary data from the nine patients in the first three dose escalation cohorts receiving once-weekly oral DAY101 were reviewed. Linear PK and predominantly grade 1-2 dermatological side effects were observed, including one grade 3 elevation in a muscle enzyme called creatinine phosphokinase or CPK. No grade 4 adverse events have been reported based on these preliminary data. A maximum tolerated dose has not been reached. Tumor response was assessed by an independent radiologic reviewer.

"We found in an independent analysis of the nine patients treated in the ongoing Phase 1 study that the majority had responses or stable disease based upon Response Assessment for Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria," says Dr. Karen D. Wright, Senior Physician at Dana-Farber and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and principal investigator and author of the Phase 1 study.

DAY101 has been granted BTD by the FDA for the treatment of pediatric patients with an advanced low-grade glioma harboring an activating RAF alteration who require systemic therapy and who have either progressed following prior treatment or who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. The BTD is designed to speed the development and regulatory review of new medicines that are intended to treat a serious condition and that have shown encouraging early clinical results, which demonstrate substantial, meaningful improvement over available medicines and where there is significant unmet medical need. The FDA granted this designation based on all of the available clinical data from the DAY101 development program, including data from the PNOC014 study. As noted above, DAY101 has also received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of malignant glioma.

"These preliminary Phase 1 data suggest that DAY101, a CNS penetrant inhibitor of BRAF and CRAF fusions and mutations, appears to be well-tolerated and may have meaningful anti-tumor activity in pediatric patients with low-grade glioma," says Dr. Samuel Blackman, founder and Chief Medical Officer of Day One Biopharmaceuticals. "Of the eight patients with a confirmed RAF-fusion, we observed that two patients achieved a complete response, three had a partial response, and three achieved stable disease with a median time to response of 10.5 weeks. The observed complete responses, rapid onset of responses, and durability of responses observed thus far make us excited about the potential that DAY101 may have for providing meaningful clinical improvements for pediatric patients with RAF-altered low-grade gliomas in the coming years."

Pediatric low-grade glioma is the most common form of childhood brain cancer, with over a thousand new diagnoses each year in the U.S. RAF alterations, including BRAF mutations and RAF fusions, are the most common cancer-causing genetic mutations in pediatric low-grade gliomas. These genetic alterations are also found in multiple adult solid tumors. Low-grade glioma can impact a child’s health in many ways depending on tumor size and location, including vision loss and motor dysfunction. While most children with low-grade gliomas survive their cancer, children who do not achieve a cure following surgery face years of increasingly aggressive chemotherapy that can have lasting effects on learning, cognition, and quality of life. There are no FDA approved therapies for pediatric low-grade glioma, and current treatments are associated with significant acute and life-long adverse effects. As a result, the unmet medical need for these patients remains high.

The PNOC014 trial is supported by the PLGA Fund at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, the Team Jack Foundation, Team Nathan, Day One, the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number P50 CA 165962 as part of the prestigious SPORE grant for Targeted Therapies in Gliomas awarded to Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women’s Hospital under Dr.’s Tracey Batchelor and Mario Suva and for which Dr. Wright is co-Principal Investigator on project 1 with co-collaborators Dr. Michael Eck and Dr. Daphne Haas-Kogan.

"Day One is launching a global Phase 2 monotherapy trial concurrent with the ongoing Phase 1 trial, evaluating the efficacy and safety of DAY101 administered orally, once-a-week in pediatric patients with relapsed or progressive low-grade glioma harboring a BRAF-alteration. The study will be conducted in collaboration with PNOC, is called FIREFLY-1 and PNOC026, and is intended to support DAY101 registration," noted Dr. Jeremy Bender, CEO of Day One. "Day One’s rapid clinical, manufacturing, and regulatory execution of the DAY101 program demonstrates the commitment of this capable team. Children with cancer and their families are waiting for more options."