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MEDIGENE PRESENTS DATA ON THE SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTION OF AML DC VACCINES AT AACR CONFERENCE

On April 19, 2018 Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, Prime Standard, TecDAX) reported that researchers from Medigene and Oslo University Hospital presented a poster on the generation of dendritic cell vaccines for Medigene’s ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Chicago, USA (Press release, MediGene, APR 19, 2018, View Source [SID1234525552]).

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Dr. Kai Pinkernell, Chief Medical and Chief Development Officer (CMO/CDO) of Medigene, commented: "These results clearly demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of our production protocol for high numbers of clinical grade TLR7/8-polarized fast mature DCs from heavily pretreated AML patients, allowing for long-term vaccination of trial subjects."

A total of 20 patients with an average age of 59 years (range 24 – 73 years) were recruited to this ongoing trial. For vaccine production, autologous apheresis material was collected from each patient. Following isolation of DC precursor cells, fast DC generation was performed using Medigene’s proprietary TLR7/8-agonist containing maturation cocktail. The final DC vaccine product was cryopreserved in multiple aliquots prepared to deliver 5-10 million cells per vaccine dose.

Successful production runs of dendritic cells for vaccination were achieved for all 20 AML patients. An additional apheresis for a second production run in order to generate sufficient vaccine doses for the intended treatment period was performed during the trial for only 4 out of the 20 patients enrolled in the trial.

The production runs were performed at the Department of Cellular Therapy at the Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
To view the abstract of the poster entitled "Generation of clinical grade autologous TLR7/8-polarized fast dendritic cell vaccines for active immunotherapy of patients with AML" please visit: tiny.cc/12mtry

About Medigene’s DC vaccines: The platform for the development of antigen-tailored DC vaccines is the most advanced of Medigene’s highly innovative and complementary immunotherapy platforms. Currently Medigene evaluates its DC vaccines in a company-sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells of our immune system. Their task is to take up, process and present antigens on their cell surface, which enables them to activate antigen-specific T cells for maturation and proliferation. This way T cells can recognize and eliminate antigen-bearing tumor cells. Dendritic cells can also induce natural killer cells (NK cells) to attack tumor cells. The team of Medigene Immunotherapies scientists has developed new, fast and effective methods for generating dendritic cells ex-vivo, which are able to activate both T cells and NK cells. The DC vaccines are developed from autologous (patient-derived) precursor cells, isolated from the patient’s blood, and can be loaded with tumor-specific antigens to treat different types of cancer. Medigene’s DC vaccines are in development for the treatment of minimal residual disease or for use in combination therapies.

About Medigene’s DC vaccine clinical trial: Medigene’s Phase I/II trial (NCT02405338) includes 20 AML patients who show complete remission after standard chemotherapy, but who are not eligible for stem cell transplantation that would reduce the risk of a relapse. All patients will be vaccinated with Medigene’s DC vaccines for two years. The primary objective is to assess safety and feasibility of the active immunotherapy with Medigene’s dendritic cells. Secondary objectives of the study are induction of immune responses, overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), control of minimal residual disease (MRD) and time to progression (TTP).

About acute myeloid leukaemia (AML): Acute myeloid leukaemia is a malignant disease of the hematopoietic system, affecting mainly adults above 60 years of age. In Germany, about 3,600 incidences are registered annually.

AML is caused by uncontrolled growth of dysfunctional hematopoietic precursor cells in the bone marrow. These cells prevent the generation of normal blood cells, causing a drop in erythrocytes and platelets, for example. Typical symptoms of AML include anemia, fever, increased risk of infection, and blood coagulation disorder. AML progresses rapidly and may be fatal within a few weeks if untreated.

AML is treated initially with intensive chemotherapy. Another treatment option is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Unfortunately, the majority of patients suffer a relapse. Only about 15 – 20% of the patients show long-term remission after conventional chemotherapy. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only treatment option that offers a more positive prognosis.

Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, ISIN DE000A1X3W00, Prime Standard, TecDAX) is a publicly listed biotechnology company headquartered in Martinsried near Munich, Germany. The company is developing highly innovative immunotherapies to target various forms and stages of cancer. Medigene concentrates on the development of personalized T cell-based therapies, with associated projects currently in pre-clinical and clinical development.

Argos Therapeutics Reports Results of Interim Analysis of the ADAPT Trial and Announces Review of Strategic Alternatives

On April 19, 2018 Argos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ARGS), an immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of individualized immunotherapies based on the Arcelis precision immunotherapy technology platform, reported interim results from its randomized, active controlled, open-label, multi-center Phase 3 ADAPT trial of Rocapuldencel-T in combination with sunitinib/standard-of-care for the treatment of newly diagnosed metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Based on these results, the Company has decided to discontinue the trial (Press release, Argos Therapeutics, APR 19, 2018, View Source [SID1234525551]).

As previously reported, a total of 462 patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma were enrolled in the ADAPT trial and randomized 2:1 between combination treatment with Rocapuldencel-T and sunitinib (combination arm) vs. sunitinib monotherapy (control arm) after undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy. The Company recently submitted a protocol amendment to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration providing for four co-primary endpoints focused on various measures of survival. Based upon review of the interim data, the Company does not believe that it would achieve these endpoints if the trial were to be continued. After consulting with the principal investigators of the trial, the Company has therefore decided to discontinue the trial and has informed the FDA of its decision.

The most recent interim analysis was conducted after 51 new events (deaths) had occurred since the time of the February 2017 interim analysis. Median overall survival for the intent-to-treat patient population, one of the four co-primary endpoints, was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The estimated median overall survival for the combination arm was 28.2 months (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 23.4, 35.2) compared to 31.2 months (95% CI: 23.0, 44.5) for the control arm. The hazard ratio was 1.10 (95% CI: 0.85, 1.42). The two other co-primary endpoints that were evaluated at this time, including overall survival for the patients who remained alive at the time of the February 2017 interim analysis and overall survival for all patients for whom at least 12 months of follow-up was available, also did not demonstrate a favorable result. A fourth endpoint, five-year survival, was not evaluated because there was insufficient data at this time to perform this analysis.

Based on a review of the status of its internal programs, resources and capabilities, Argos plans to explore a wide range of strategic alternatives that may include a potential merger or sale of the Company, among other potential alternatives that could maximize both near and long-term value for our shareholders. The Company has retained Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated to serve as its financial advisor in the process.

Argos does not have a defined timeline for the exploration of strategic alternatives and is not confirming that the process will result in any strategic alternative being announced or consummated. Argos does not intend to discuss or disclose further developments during this process unless and until its Board of Directors has approved a specific action or otherwise determined that further disclosure is appropriate.

Argos also today reported that it does not expect to regain compliance with The Nasdaq Capital Market continued listing requirements by the April 24, 2018 deadline. As a result, Argos expects that its common stock will be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market and that trading in the Company’s common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market will be suspended effective at the open of business on April 23, 2018. The Company has filed an application to transfer trading and quotation of its common stock to the OTCQB Venture Market, operated by OTC Markets Group Inc., under its current trading symbol "ARGS," effective as of April 23, 2018. Quotation and trading information for the common stock will be available on www.otcmarkets.com.

TESARO to Announce First-Quarter 2018 Financial Results on May 3, 2018

On April 19, 2018 TESARO, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSRO) reported that it will announce first-quarter 2018 financial results on Thursday, May 3, 2018, after the close of the U.S. financial markets (Press release, TESARO, APR 19, 2018, View Source [SID1234525550]). TESARO’s senior management team will host a conference call and live audio webcast at 4:15 p.m. ET on May 3, 2018 to discuss the Company’s operating results for the quarter in greater detail, as well as the status of its development programs.

This quarterly earnings call will be available via phone and webcast. The conference call dial-in information is listed below. To access the webcast, please log on to the TESARO website at www.tesarobio.com at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to ensure adequate time for any software downloads that may be required.

TESARO will host a conference call and live audio webcast to discuss its first-quarter financial results.

WHEN: Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 4:15 p.m. ET
LIVE DOMESTIC & CANADA CALL-IN: (877) 853-5334
LIVE INTERNATIONAL CALL-IN: (970) 315-0307
THIS CALL WILL ALSO BE BROADCAST LIVE, LISTEN ONLY, VIA THE WEB AT: www.tesarobio.com

A replay will be available for 30 days at www.tesarobio.com.

Onconova Presents Data on Dual Inhibitor of CDK4/6 + ARK5 at American Association for Cancer Research 2018 Annual Meeting

On April 19, 2018 Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ONTX), a Phase 3 clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products to treat cancer, reported an advance in pre-clinical development and the presentation of new data for investigational ON 123300, a novel dual inhibitor of CDK4/6 + ARK 5 with potential application across a variety of cancers (Press release, Onconova, APR 19, 2018, View Source [SID1234525549]).

CDK inhibitors have emerged as promising and potentially targeted large market cancer therapies. ON 123300 has the potential to overcome many of the limitations of current generation CDK4/6 inhibitors. Onconova believes that ON 123300 may act as a single agent, due to the unique targeting of ARK5, as well as CDK 4 and 6, making it potentially suitable for indications that may not be responsive to the current generation of CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Onconova and HanX Biopharmaceuticals, the Company’s Greater China collaboration partner for ON 123300, recently completed the pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These discussions provided guidance for the manufacturing of ON 123300 and the pre-clinical development plan for the submission of an IND application.

The data from preclinical studies demonstrates that there is a differential metabolism of ON 123300 in male versus female rodents. As a result, the drug exposure is almost 2-3 fold higher in female rats. Based upon preclinical animal liver microsome studies, this differential effect appears to be limited to rodents, and is not observed in preclinical studies with human liver microsomes. Based on the metabolism data from other species, relevant species have been selected along with the dosing strategy to be implemented in GLP toxicological studies to be conducted by HanX. As a part of the pre-clinical development program, Onconova and HanX announced a collaborative program in December 2017, wherein the remaining IND enabling studies will be funded by and conducted by HanX.

Onconova previously reported that ON 123300 was found to be as active as Palbociclib (Pfizer’s Ibrance) in a preclinical Rb + ve xenograft model. Moreover, the molecule may have the potential advantage of reduced neutropenia when compared to Palbociclib based upon this model.

Ramesh Kumar, President and CEO of Onconova, commented, "At the end of March, we received pre-IND guidance from the FDA, which provides a path towards filing an IND and then starting clinical trials. Our partner, HanX, has initiated GMP manufacturing and will be initiating GLP pre-clinical studies based on the guidance provided by the FDA, and we look forward to advancing ON 123300 into clinical development."

Faming Zhang, Ph.D., founder and Chairman of HanX, commented, "We are pleased to have completed the process chemistry and have initiated GMP manufacturing for ON 123300. GLP toxicology studies are planned and we will be undertaking additional preclinical studies to enhance the profile of this novel compound. In collaboration with Onconova, our goal is to simultaneously file the IND in the USA and China, as soon as possible. Once an IND is in place, HanX plans to initiate Phase 1 studies in China and also participate in more advanced global clinical trials."

A copy of the presentation is available by visiting the Scientific Presentations section of Onconova’s website.

Additional Clinical Studies Supporting the Benefits of OMIDRIA® Presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators Annual Meeting

On April 19, 2018 Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ: OMER) reported that the results of four real-world clinical studies evaluating the benefits of OMIDRIA (phenylephrine and ketorolac intraocular solution) 1% / 0.3% were presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators Annual Meeting held in Washington, D.C., April 13-17, 2018 (Press release, Omeros, APR 19, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2343403 [SID1234525548]). The studies examined the use of OMIDRIA in both routine and complex cataract surgery cases performed in high-volume surgery centers, with and without femtosecond laser.

The first presentation, a retrospective analysis, assessed whether the use of OMIDRIA in femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) – a procedure that is known to cause miosis (pupil constriction) due to the increased inflammation generated by the laser – leads to a reduction in the need for pupil expansion devices and in surgical time. Investigators compared 100 consecutive femtosecond-assisted cataract procedures in which epinephrine was used in the irrigation solution to 100 consecutive femtosecond-assisted procedures performed with OMIDRIA. In the epinephrine group, 12 eyes (12 percent) required a Malyugin Ring to maintain or improve pupil size versus 2 eyes (2 percent) in the OMIDRIA group (p=0.009). Surgical times in the OMIDRIA group were reduced by an average of 78 seconds compared to those in the epinephrine group (p = 0.007). The authors conclude that use of OMIDRIA achieves faster surgery and a more manageable pupil.1

The second clinical study assessed the effects of OMIDRIA on pupil dilation when used early in patients undergoing both FLACS and traditional cataract surgery. A total of 77 patients underwent either traditional phacoemulsification (n=57) or FLACS (n=20), all of whom received OMIDRIA in the irrigation solution and administered through the side-port incision at the beginning of the case. Pupil diameter was measured before and after OMIDRIA administration as well as prior to intraocular lens (IOL) insertion. In the traditional phacoemulsification cases, the mean pupil diameter was 6.65 mm at baseline and 7.42 mm intraoperatively before IOL insertion. Similarly, in the FLACS group, the mean pupil diameter was 6.69 mm at baseline and 7.65 mm prior to IOL insertion. The study demonstrates that OMIDRIA is effective in maintaining and even increasing pupil size in traditional as well as in femtosecond laser-assisted cataract procedures, which, without OMIDRIA, frequently induce miosis.2

A third study evaluated the effect of OMIDRIA on pupil dilation, iris billowing and iris prolapse in patients at high risk for intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS). The randomized, double-masked, investigator-initiated study enrolled 50 male subjects (50 eyes) who had been exposed to tamsulosin (Flomax), a prostate drug that causes IFIS, prior to cataract surgery. The 50 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either OMIDRIA or control. All subjects underwent routine cataract surgery recorded endoscopically from the perspective of the ophthalmic microscope. Investigators assessed pupil diameter and IFIS symptoms in all 50 subjects (50 eyes). Mean pupil diameter during surgery for the control group was 5.92mm and was 7.08mm for the OMIDRIA-treated group (p < 0.001). Symptoms of IFIS were observed in all 25 (100 percent) patients in the control group and in only 3 (12 percent) of patients who received OMIDRIA. Iris prolapse occurred in 14 (56 percent) subjects in the control group versus 3 (12 percent) in the OMIDRIA group. Iris billowing, graded according to a new grading scale for intraoperative iris abnormalities, averaged 2.36 in the control group and 1.68 in the treatment group, with Stage 3 (severe) billowing seen in 10 (40 percent) vehicle subjects and 1 (4 percent) treatment subject. All of the comparisons related to IFIS symptoms were statistically significant with p < 0.001. The authors conclude that OMIDRIA offers significant benefits in IFIS cases and could reduce the complexity and unpredictability of such cases.3

A fourth study assessed clinical outcomes and surgical practice patterns for cataract patients treated with either OMIDRIA or epinephrine. This retrospective chart review included patients who received treatment at one of two clinics by a single surgeon practicing at both locations. A total of 635 eyes in 375 patients underwent cataract surgery with either OMIDRIA (n=275) or epinephrine (n=360) in the irrigation solution. Mean surgical time was significantly shorter with OMIDRIA versus epinephrine (16.5 min vs 17.8 min; p = 0.006), and only 6 (2.2 percent) pupil expansion devices were required in the OMIDRIA group vs 24 (6.7 percent) in the epinephrine group (p = 0.008). Investigators conclude that OMIDRIA reduced surgical time and decreased the need for pupil expansion devices compared to the use of intracameral epinephrine.4

Detailed descriptions of all four clinical studies have been accepted for publication by, or are planned for submission to, peer-reviewed journals.

About OMIDRIA

Omeros’ OMIDRIA (phenylephrine and ketorolac intraocular solution) 1% / 0.3% is the first and only FDA-approved product of its kind and is marketed in the U.S. for use during cataract surgery or intraocular lens replacement to maintain pupil size by preventing intraoperative miosis (pupil constriction) and to reduce postoperative ocular pain. OMIDRIA also is the only NSAID-containing product FDA-approved for intraocular use. In post-launch studies across conventional and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, OMIDRIA has been shown (1) to be effective in patients with intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS), pseudoexfoliation and other ophthalmic conditions, (2) to significantly reduce complication rates, use of pupil-expanding devices, and surgical times, and (3) to significantly improve uncorrected visual acuity on the first day following cataract surgery. While OMIDRIA is broadly indicated for use in cataract surgery, the above outcomes are not in its currently approved labeling. Surgical time was not an endpoint in the OMIDRIA Phase 3 clinical trials and did not reach statistical significance in post hoc analysis of the Phase 3 data.

Important Safety Information for OMIDRIA

Systemic exposure of phenylephrine may cause elevations in blood pressure. In clinical trials, the most common reported ocular adverse reactions at two percent or greater are eye irritation, posterior capsule opacification, increased intraocular pressure, and anterior chamber inflammation; incidence of adverse events was similar between placebo-treated and OMIDRIA-treated patients. OMIDRIA must be added to irrigation solution prior to intraocular use.