Iovance Biotherapeutics Announces Breakthrough Therapy Designation for LN-145 for Treatment of Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients Who Have Progressed on or After Chemotherapy

On May 22, 2019 Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: IOVA), a late-stage biotechnology company developing novel cancer immunotherapies based on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) technology, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to Iovance TIL therapy candidate LN-145 in recurrent, metastatic, or persistent cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy (Press release, Iovance Biotherapeutics, MAY 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234536521]).

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"We are very excited that the FDA has granted LN-145 in advanced cervical cancer Breakthrough Therapy designation. Cervical cancer patients who have progressed on or after chemotherapy have limited treatment options. We hope to bring LN-145 to these patients as quickly as possible," commented Maria Fardis, Ph.D., MBA, president and chief executive officer of Iovance. "The designation allows us to expedite our development program through more frequent interactions with the FDA and provides eligibility for rolling review and priority review."

Breakthrough Therapy designation (BTD) is designed to expedite the development and review of therapeutic candidates intended to treat serious or life-threatening diseases in the case where preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapy on a clinically significant endpoint. The FDA decision on BTD for LN-145 in advanced cervical cancer was based on clinical data from the ongoing innovaTIL-04 (C-145-04) trial. The company will present the data on June 1, 2019, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting.

Halozyme Announces argenx Has Selected Second Target Under ENHANZE® Technology Collaboration And License Agreement

On May 22, 2019 Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO), a biotechnology company developing novel oncology and drug-delivery therapies, reported that argenx has selected a second target under the collaboration and license agreement the companies announced in February 2019 (Press release, Halozyme, MAY 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234536520]).

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The second target selected for development by argenx is human complement factor C2 associated with the product candidate ARGX-117, which is being developed to treat severe autoimmune diseases. Halozyme will receive a $10 million milestone payment during the current quarter from argenx for this target nomination and potential future payments of up to $160 million subject to achievement of specified development, regulatory and sales-based milestones. Halozyme will also receive mid-single digit royalties on future commercial sales products. argenx has now selected two targets for development and can select one additional target in the future according to the terms of the collaboration and license agreement.

"We are excited about this opportunity to expand our partnership with argenx," said Dr. Helen Torley, president and chief executive officer. "Planning is well underway for the second half 2019 phase 1 study initiation for the first selected target, FcRn. This second development stage target to be used with our ENHANZE drug delivery technology is yet another example of the potential for ENHANZE to provide dosing optionality for patients. We look forward to continuing our work with argenx as they seek to improve the lives of patients suffering with severe autoimmune diseases."

About ENHANZE Technology
Halozyme’s proprietary ENHANZE drug-delivery technology is based on its patented recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme (rHuPH20). rHuPH20 has been shown to remove traditional limitations on the volume of biologics that can be delivered subcutaneously (just under the skin). By using rHuPH20, some biologics and compounds that are administered intravenously may instead be delivered subcutaneously. ENHANZE may also benefit subcutaneous biologics by reducing the need for multiple injections. This delivery has been shown in studies to reduce health care practitioner time required for administration and shorten time for drug administration.

GamaMabs Pharma to present updated results at 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting from the First-In-Human clinical study of murlentamab in advanced gynecological cancers

On May 22, 2019 GamaMabs Pharma, a biotechnology company developing optimized therapeutic antibodies targeting the Anti-Müllerian Hormone Receptor II (AMHRII) for the treatment of cancer, reported the upcoming presentation of clinical data from the First-In-Human C101 phase Ia/Ib study of murlentamab (GM102), during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, on June 1, in Chicago, USA (Press release, GamaMabs Pharma, MAY 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234536519]).

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In this study, 68 heavily pre-treated patients with advanced or recurrent AMHRII-positive epithelial ovarian (EOC), granulosa cell tumor (GCT), cervical and endometrial cancers, received murlentamab as a single agent (n=59) or in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel (n=9).

No dose limiting toxicity was reported at all doses and schedules tested, as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapy. One partial response with murlentamab single agent (RECIST 1.1) was observed in a patient with GCT. In combination with chemotherapy, 4 of 9 patients (44%) responded to treatment (1 complete and 3 partial responses). Among patients treated ≥ 6 months, 6 of 9 (67%) GCT patients with murlentamab single agent and 4 of 5 (80%) patients in combination (2 cervical and 2 endometrial cancers) had a longer Progression-Free Survival than under their previous systemic treatment (mean improvement of 3.9 and 2.1 months respectively). Blood samples from 25 patients treated with murlentamab single agent showed an increase in classical monocytes, as well as T cell and neutrophil activation.

"These updated data for these heavily pre-treated patients are really encouraging," said Pr. Alexandra Leary, Gustave Roussy Institute (France), principal investigator of the study. "We are very satisfied, especially regarding the combination with chemotherapy that supports the development of murlentamab in all gynecological cancers. This is crucial for patients with cervical cancers who have so few options. The excellent safety of the drug will allow testing combinations of murlentamab with all standard and experimental treatments."

"Murlentamab seems to rewire the tumor microenvironment and reinitiate the immunological antitumoral cascade from macrophage to cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation. It opens the field to a number of indications and combinations for murlentamab, given the AMHRII re-expression found in many solid tumors," said Dr. Isabelle Tabah-Fisch, Chief Medical Officer at GamaMabs Pharma. "In addition to these gynecological data, the first results of murlentamab in advanced colorectal cancers will be presented at the upcoming 21st ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) World Congress on GI Cancers."

Murlentamab is a first-in-class glyco-engineered (low-fucose) monoclonal antibody selectively targeting AMHRII-expressing tumors. AMHRII, an embryonic receptor involved in the regression of the Müllerian ducts in the male embryo, is constitutively expressed in ovarian granulosa cell tumors (GCT) and is re-expressed in a majority of gynecological cancers and a variety of non-gynecological cancers. Murlentamab is currently being evaluated in two clinical trials, phase 1b in gynecological cancers and phase 2 in advanced or metastatic colorectal cancers. Murlentamab exerts its anti-tumor activity through tumor-associated macrophages reprogramming, resulting in enhanced tumor phagocytosis and subsequent cytotoxic T cell reactivation.

Results will be presented at the 2019 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual meeting in Chicago, during the Developmental Immunotherapy and Tumor Immunobiology session to be held on Saturday June 1, 8:00 AM-11:00 AM (Hall A) and during the poster discussion session at 1:15 PM – 2:45 PM (Hall D).

Abstract # 2521; ‘First-in-human phase I trial of murlentamab, an anti-Mullerian-hormone receptor II (AMHRII) monoclonal antibody acting through tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) engagement, as single agent and in combination with carboplatin (C) and paclitaxel’ by A Leary and co-authors.

DiaMedica Therapeutics to Present at the 16th Annual Craig-Hallum Institutional Investor Conference on May 29, 2019

On May 22, 2019 DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: DMAC) reported that it will be participating in the 16th Annual Craig-Hallum Institutional Investor Conference on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at the Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel in Minneapolis, MN (Press release, DiaMedica, MAY 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234536518]). Management will be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with investors and attendees can contact their Craig-Hallum representative to arrange a meeting.

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Coherus BioSciences Management to Present at Jefferies 2019 Global Healthcare Conference

On May 22, 2019 Coherus BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS), reported that senior management will present at the Jefferies 2019 Global Healthcare Conference in New York City on Tuesday, June 5, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. ET (Press release, Coherus Biosciences, MAY 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234536517]).

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The audio portion of the presentation will be available on the investors page of the Coherus BioSciences website at View Source