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AbbVie and Calico Announce Extension of Groundbreaking Collaboration

On June 26, 2018 AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, and Calico, a company focused on aging research and therapeutics, reported an extension of their collaboration to discover, develop and bring to market new therapies for patients with age-related diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer (Press release, AbbVie, JUN 26, 2018, View Source [SID1234527472]).

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Calico is the Alphabet-backed life sciences company that is led by former Genentech chairman and CEO Arthur D. Levinson, Ph.D. With more than 150 employees, Calico has established a world-class research and development facility in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Working together with AbbVie, Calico pursues discovery-stage research and development. AbbVie provides scientific and clinical development support and will lend its commercial expertise to lead future development and commercialization activities. Since 2014, the collaboration between the two companies has produced more than two dozen early-stage programs addressing disease states across oncology and neuroscience and yielded new insights into the biology of aging.

"We’ve built a successful collaboration – both scientifically and culturally – that is advancing cutting-edge science," said Michael Severino, M.D., executive vice president, research and development, chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "Calico has attracted an outstanding team of world-class scientists and the extension of this collaboration allows us to further build on the research we’ve done to identify transformative treatment options for patients with age-related diseases."

"Our collaboration with AbbVie has fully met our high expectations," said Dr. Levinson. "Our initial agreement created a unique partnership and this extension will accelerate further our efforts to understand the science of aging to advance novel therapies for patients."

Under the terms of the agreement, the collaboration between the two companies is now extended for an additional three years. Calico will be responsible for research and early development until 2022 and will advance collaboration projects through Phase 2a through 2027. AbbVie will continue to support Calico in its early R&D efforts and, following completion of Phase 2a studies, will have the option to manage late-stage development and commercial activities. Both parties will share costs and profits equally. AbbVie and Calico will each commit to contribute an additional $500 million to the collaboration.

DelMar Pharmaceuticals Announces Accelerated Patient Enrollment of Phase 2 Trial in MGMT-unmethylated Recurrent GBM

On June 26, 2018 DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DMPI) ("DelMar" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new cancer therapies, reported the patient enrollment data for its Phase 2 open-label clinical trial of VAL-083 in bevacizumab (Avastin)-naïve recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (rGBM) patients with MGMT-unmethylated status (Press release, DelMar Pharmaceuticals, JUN 26, 2018, View Source [SID1234527471]).

This trial is being conducted at MD Anderson Cancer Center and as of June 15, 2018, has enrolled 33 of the planned 48 patients. The trial is designed to determine the impact of VAL-083 treatment on overall survival compared to historical reference control.

"We are pleased with the accelerated patient enrollment of our ongoing VAL-083 Phase 2 trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Presently, the trial is approximately six months ahead of schedule and based on the trial’s protocol design, we anticipate the primary endpoint of median overall survival to be reached approximately three months after the final patient is enrolled," said Saiid Zarrabian, President and Chief Executive Officer of DelMar.

About VAL-083

VAL-083 (dianhydrogalactitol) is a "first-in-class," DNA-targeting agent that introduces interstrand DNA cross-links at the N7-position of guanine leading to DNA double-strand breaks and cancer cell death. VAL-083 has demonstrated clinical activity against a range of cancers including GBM and ovarian cancer in historical clinical trials sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute ("NCI"). DelMar has demonstrated that VAL-083’s anti-tumor activity is unaffected by common mechanisms of chemoresistance in vitro. Further details regarding these studies can be found at:

View Source

VAL-083 has been granted an orphan drug designation by the U.S. FDA Office of Orphan Products for the treatment of glioma, medulloblastoma and ovarian cancer, and in Europe for the treatment of malignant gliomas. VAL-083 has been granted fast-track status for the treatment of recurrent GBM by the US FDA.

Allergan to Report Second Quarter 2018 Earnings and Host Conference Call and Webcast

On June 26, 2018 Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) reported that it intends to release second quarter 2018 financial results on Thursday, July 26, 2018, prior to the open of U.S. financial markets (Press release, Allergan, JUN 26, 2018, View Source [SID1234527470]).

Allergan will host a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 26, 2018 to discuss its financial results. The dial-in number to access the call is U.S./Canada (877) 251-7980, International (706) 643-1573, and the conference ID is 67781714.

A taped replay of the conference call will also be available beginning approximately two hours after the call’s conclusion, and will remain available through 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time on August 26, 2018. The replay may be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, and entering the conference ID 67781714.

To access the webcast, please visit Allergan’s Investor Relations website at View Source;. A replay of the webcast will also be available on Allergan’s Investor Relations website.

Istari Oncology Announces NEJM Publication of Phase 1 Trial Results in Patients with Recurrent Glioblastoma Treated with PVSRIPO

On June 26, 2018 Istari Oncology, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on novel immuno-oncology and immunotherapy platforms for the treatment of glioblastoma and a wide variety of tumors, reported publication of the results of a Phase 1 trial of PVSRIPO in recurrent glioblastoma in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) (Press release, Istari Oncology, JUN 26, 2018, View Source [SID1234527467]). This trial was conducted by The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke.

In this trial of 61 adult patients, overall survival at 24 and 36 months was 21%, compared to 14% at 24 months, and 4% at 36 months in matched historical controls. Three patients receiving PVSRIPO have survived beyond 60 months.

"The impressive results with PVSRIPO in this trial are the best we have seen to date in patients with recurrent glioblastoma and provide hope for these patients whose typical survival time is less than a year," said Henry S. Friedman, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Istari and James B. Powell, Jr. Professor of Neuro-Oncology and the Division Chief for Neuro-Oncology in The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center in the Department of Neurosurgery at Duke. "Based on the observation that the receptor for PVSRIPO, CD155, is present on almost all solid tumors, we look forward to future trials in other cancers, as well as glioblastoma, both alone and in combination with other agents, as we strive to provide hope for these patients as well."

The primary objective of the Phase 1 study was to determine the toxicity profile and Phase 2 dose for intratumoral convection enhanced delivery of PVSRIPO in WHO grade IV malignant glioma (glioblastoma). The secondary objective was to estimate overall survival compared to an historical control group. From May 2012 to May 2017, 61 consecutive adult patients with recurrent WHO grade IV malignant glioma with measurable disease were enrolled in the study that evaluated seven doses. The median overall survival for all 61 PVSRIPO patients was 12.5 months compared to 11.3 months for the matched historical control group. However, the overall survival of PVSRIPO patients reached a plateau beginning at 24 months with 24- and 36-month overall survival of 21%, while the overall survival in the matched historical control continued to decline with 24-month overall survival of 14%, and 36-month overall survival of 4%. Of these survivors, two patients are beyond 70 months, and one patient is beyond 60 months.

Adverse events affecting more than 20% of patients in the dose-expansion phase included headaches (52%), pyramidal tract syndrome (hemiparesis) (50%), seizure (45%), dysphasia (28%), and cognitive disturbance (25%). The NEJM publication is available at View Source

A multi-center Phase 2 trial of PVSRIPO alone and in combination with chemotherapy in adults with recurrent glioblastoma is currently enrolling, with a primary endpoint of 24-month survival. A Phase 1 trial of PVSRIPO in pediatric patients with recurrent glioblastoma is also currently enrolling. For additional information on clinical trials with PVSRIPO, please visit View Source

Positive preclinical data for PVSRIPO has been generated in multiple solid tumor models, both alone and in combination with other agents, including checkpoint inhibitors. Phase 1 trials are currently planned for PVSRIPO in breast carcinoma and melanoma.

About PVSRIPO
PVSRIPO is the Sabin type 1 polio vaccine, genetically modified so it cannot harm or kill normal cells. PVSRIPO is a prototypic oncolytic recombinant polio virus vaccine that recognizes the poliovirus receptor CD155, which is widely expressed in neoplastic cells of all solid tumors except Burkitt’s lymphoma, and in major immune components of the tumor microenvironment. PVSRIPO has been granted Breakthrough Status and Orphan Status by the FDA.

About Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer, comprising 52% of patients with primary brain tumors. There are approximately 13,000 patients diagnosed with GBM in the United States annually and approximately 18,000 in the European Union. Despite aggressive treatment, survival for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients is usually less than 20 months, and for patients with recurrence, which occurs in 98% of patients, survival is usually less than 12 months.

The Swedish oncology company Oncorena appoints new CEO

On June 26, 2018 Oncorena reported a completely new and potentially groundbreaking treatment for patients with metastatic kidney cancer (Press release, Oncorena, JUN 26, 2018, View Source [SID1234527466]). The company is approaching a more intense development phase that will require a full-time CEO. Lars Grundemar has served as the Chief Scientific Officer of Oncorena and he will now assume the CEO position on July 1, 2018.

Dr. Jan Törnell has successfully led Oncorena since 2013 as part-time CEO. Because of other ongoing commitments, he is unable to fill this position full-time.

Lars Grundemar, M.D., Ph.D. has more than 20 years leadership experience from the global pharmaceutical industry with assignments in major corporations and different countries in Europe and in the US. Dr. Grundemar has been leading multiple drug development projects across various therapeutic areas, including oncology. He has established new departments and introduced novel ways to improve research and development functions.

"We are excited to work with Lars Grundemar as CEO to bring Oncorena into the clinical phase in the near future," says Bengt-Åke Bengtsson, Chairman of the Board of Oncorena. "We would also like to thank Jan Törnell for his excellent leadership through the company’s preclinical development phase."

"I am very honored over this trust and look forward to this challenge. It’s a great privilege to be able to contribute to the development of a novel therapeutic principle to combat cancer and to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from kidney cancer," says Lars Grundemar, new CEO of Oncorena.

"I strongly believe in the success for Oncorena and I’m certain that the company is in the best of hands moving forward. I will make every effort to contribute to a smooth transition for Lars Grundemar into his new role as CEO," says Jan Törnell, currently CEO of Oncorena.

For further information, please contact
Bengt-Åke Bengtsson, Chairman of the Board, Oncorena AB,
[email protected], phone +46 (0)70 746 0000

Lars Grundemar, CEO of Oncorena from July 1, [email protected],
phone +46 (0) 76 209 5518

Jan Törnell, CEO, Oncorena AB, [email protected]
phone +46 (0)70 676 0008

About kidney cancer
Approximately 1,000 patients are affected by kidney cancer annually in Sweden and around 600 of them die. 80% of the patients are between 40 and 69 years of age when they are diagnosed (median age 63 years). The disease can often be cured with surgery if detected in time, but unfortunately the diagnosis is often made when the tumor has already spread to other organs. The prognosis is then considerably less favorable and certain groups have a median survival of only approx. 1.5 years. Today the disease is treated with various types of targeted and immuno-active drugs, often with severe side effects, and standard chemotherapy drugs have only very limited effect. There is therefore a great need for new, effective and safe drugs.

About the project
The substance, orellanine, originally emanates from a mushroom and has been ingested by mistake by a number of people. The effects are well documented and are limited to the kidneys. As the target group for the treatment is patients with metastatic kidney cancer who are undergoing dialysis the side effect profile is believed to be relatively mild. Experimental studies indicate that the effect may be dramatically positive. The preclinical studies will be completed during 2018, whereupon the clinical study is expected to start in the spring of 2019. Learn more at www.oncorena.com.