On September 13, 2018 SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SLS) ("SELLAS" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel cancer immunotherapies for a broad range of cancer indications, reported that the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved orphan medicinal product designation (OMPD) for galinpepimut-S (GPS), the Company’s lead product candidate, for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) (Press release, Sellas Life Sciences, SEP 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234529423]). GPS is licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and targets the Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) protein, which is present in an array of tumor types. GPS has also been granted orphan drug designation and fast track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of MM.

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"This OMPD endorsement by the COMP of the EMA for GPS in MM complements the orphan designation awarded by the US FDA for this product in the same indication," said Angelos Stergiou, MD, ScD h.c., President and Chief Executive Officer of SELLAS. "The results from our open-label Phase 2 study reinforce the potential of GPS to serve as a therapy for high-risk MM patients in the post-autotransplant maintenance setting. The innovative nature and unique mechanism of action for GPS provide a promising potential addition to the current arsenal of therapies in this indication. We continue to work closely with the FDA and EMA, as well as multiple myeloma KOLs to further advance the clinical development of GPS in this malignancy and look forward to gaining further insights on the potential therapeutic role of GPS in high-risk MM patients."

The EMA orphan medicinal product designation is granted to medicines being developed for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition with a prevalence of not more than five in 10,000 people in the European Union. Orphan designations are granted by decisions of the European Commission based on opinions from the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products within EMA. EMA orphan drug designation benefits include protocol assistance, access to the EU centralized authorization procedure, reduced EU regulatory filing fees and 10 years of market exclusivity across the EU.

About the Phase 2 Trial of GPS in Multiple Myeloma

The open-label Phase 2 study consisted of 19 patients with multiple myeloma who had high-risk cytogenetics at initial diagnosis and remained at least minimal residual disease (MRD)-positive after a successful autologous stem cell transplant ("ASCT"). GPS was administered to patients in the study who achieved a stable disease or better status (per International Myeloma Working Group criteria) following ASCT. GPS was evaluated as consolidation therapy (on top of lenalidomide or bortezomib) to potentially stimulate a highly-specific immune response against WT1 in order to prevent or delay myeloma progression. Median progression-free survival (PFS) of 23.6 months was reported in this high-risk disease setting, compared to historically inferior outcomes while on an immunomodulatory drug (IMID) or proteasome inhibitor post-ASCT maintenance. Median overall survival has not been reached to date. GPS stimulated time-dependent and robust CD4+ T cell or CD8+ T cell immune responses (IRs) specific for all four WT1 peptides within GPS, two of which are heteroclitic (mutated, by design). In addition, GPS stimulated similar IRs against the two counterpart native peptides. The IRs were confirmed in up to 91% of patients across HLA allele types, with multivalent IRs emerging in up to 64% of patients. Multifunctional cross-epitope T cell reactivity was observed in 75% of patients to antigenic epitopes against which hosts were not specifically immunized, in a pattern akin to epitope spreading. A link of clinical activity to antigen-specific immune responses was suggested.

About Galinpepimut-S (GPS)

GPS is a heteroclitic multivalent, multi-peptide cancer immunotherapeutic agent composed of four peptides, addressing over 20 epitopes, and derived from the WT1 protein, which has been ranked by the National Cancer Institute as a top priority among cancer antigens for immunotherapy. Importantly, because the WT1 antigen is overexpressed in many malignancies, and is not found in most normal tissues, GPS has the potential to be a broad immunotherapy, effective across a multitude of diverse cancer types and patient populations.

On September 13, 2018 AngioDynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANGO), a leading provider of innovative, minimally invasive medical devices for vascular access, peripheral vascular disease, and oncology, reported that it will report financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 before the market open on Thursday, September 27, 2018 (Press release, AngioDynamics, SEPT 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234529419]). The Company’s management will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET the same day to discuss the results.

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To participate in the conference call, dial 1-877-407-0784 (domestic) or 1-201-689-8560 (international) and refer to the passcode 13683219.

This conference call will also be webcast and can be accessed from the "Investors" section of the AngioDynamics website at www.angiodynamics.com. The webcast replay of the call will be available at the same site approximately one hour after the end of the call.

A recording of the call will also be available from 11:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, September 27, 2018, until 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 4, 2018. To hear this recording, dial 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international) and enter the passcode 13683219.

On September 13, 2018 Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:KPTI), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, reported that updated clinical data from the Phase 2b STORM (Selinexor Treatment of Refractory Myeloma) study evaluating selinexor, the Company’s lead, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compound, in heavily pretreated patients with penta-refractory multiple myeloma, were presented during an oral session at the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) 2018 Annual Meeting on September 13, 2018, in Houston (Press release, Karyopharm, SEPT 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234529418]). Sundar Jagannath, MD, Director of the Multiple Myeloma Program, Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) at Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and principal investigator of the STORM study, presented the data in a session entitled, "Phase 2b Results of the STORM Study: Oral Selinexor plus Low Dose Dexamethasone (Sd) in Patients with Penta-Refractory Myeloma."

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"The additional Phase 2b clinical results presented today are very encouraging for the patients suffering from penta-refractory multiple myeloma and their families. Most notably, the overall response rate (ORR) for patients treated with oral selinexor and dexamethasone (dex; Sd) was 26.2% with median duration of response (DOR) of 4.4 months based on the Independent Review Committee (IRC) assessment, along with a median overall survival (OS) across the entire study of 8.6 months," said Dr. Jagannath. "Of particular significance, for the nearly 40% of patients who had a minimal response (MR) or better, the median survival was 15.6 months, which provided the opportunity for a meaningful clinical benefit for patients on the STORM study with advanced penta-refractory myeloma that is difficult to treat."

Dan Vogl, MD, MSCE, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, commented, "The results from the Phase 2b STORM study showed that selinexor resulted in a meaningful clinical benefit in this heavily pretreated patient population. This includes patients treated with the most modern combination therapies and most exciting experimental therapies. For example, the overall response rate was 29.1% in patients who had previously been treated with daratumumab combination regimens, and the two patients on the STORM study who had previously received investigational CAR-T cell therapy both achieved partial responses on selinexor and dexamethasone. These results provide further evidence that selective inhibition of nuclear export could be an effective strategy for myeloma therapy and of selinexor’s potential to be a new option for patients with penta-refractory multiple myeloma."

"Patients with highly resistant myeloma have very few treatment options available, which underscores the urgent need for the advancement of therapies with novel mechanisms, like selinexor," said Sharon Shacham, PhD, Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Karyopharm. "The 26.2% ORR from the STORM study is particularly meaningful considering that 96% of the patients had myeloma refractory to Kyprolis, Pomalyst and Darzalex, and nearly 70% of patients had disease that was confirmed to be refractory to all five of the standard of care myeloma drugs, Revlimid, Velcade, Pomalyst, Kyprolis, and Darzalex. These results reinforce the potential of selinexor in this difficult to treat patient population. Following our recent submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for selinexor with low dose dexamethasone, we are making great strides in building our key commercial capabilities as we prepare for a potential initial market launch, which could be as early as the first half of 2019. We also remain on track to submit a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the first quarter of 2019 for conditional approval in the same disease indication."

Karyopharm has submitted an NDA to the FDA, with a request for accelerated approval for oral selinexor with low dose dexamethasone as a new treatment for patients with penta-refractory multiple myeloma. Selinexor has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in multiple myeloma and Fast Track designation for the patient population evaluated in the STORM study. The Company also plans to submit a MAA to the EMA in the first quarter of 2019 with a request for conditional approval. In parallel, Karyopharm is conducting the pivotal, randomized Phase 3 BOSTON study evaluating selinexor in combination with the proteasome inhibitor Velcade and dex (SVd) for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have had one to three prior lines of therapy. The Company expects to complete enrollment in the BOSTON study by the end of 2018, with top-line data anticipated in 2019. Assuming a positive outcome, Karyopharm plans to use the results from the BOSTON study to support an application for full approval of selinexor in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Development of selinexor in other disease indications, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, liposarcoma, endometrial cancer and other malignancies remains on track.

Phase 2b STORM Results

These clinical results are from Part 2 of the international, multi-center, single-arm Phase 2b STORM (Selinexor Treatment of Refractory Myeloma) study, which enrolled 122 heavily pretreated patients (median of seven prior treatment regiments) with penta-refractory myeloma. Each patient started 80mg oral selinexor twice weekly in combination with low-dose dexamethasone (dex; 20mg twice weekly). Patients with penta-refractory myeloma have previously received the two proteasome inhibitors (PIs), Velcade (bortezomib) and Kyprolis (carfilzomib), the two immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), Revlimid (lenalidomide) and Pomalyst (pomalidomide), and the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody Darzalex (daratumumab), as well as alkylating agents, and their disease is refractory to glucocorticoids, at least one PI, at least one IMiD, Darzalex and their most recent therapy.

For the STORM study’s primary objective, oral selinexor achieved a 26.2% ORR, which included two stringent complete responses (sCRs), six very good partial responses (VGPRs) and 24 partial responses (PRs) in these patients with penta-refractory myeloma. The two sCRs were negative for minimal residual disease, one at the level of 1×10-6 and one at 1×10-4; this is particularly significant in this penta-refractory population. The ORR in patients who had previously received Darzalex combination therapy (n=86) was 29.1%. The Disease Control Rate for patients who had achieved stable disease or better was 78.6%. All responses were confirmed by an IRC. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.7 months and the median DOR was 4.4 months (range <1 to 9.9 months). Median OS across the study was 8.6 months. Median OS in the ~40% of patients with at least a MR on selinexor + dex was 15.6 months compared to a median OS of 1.7 months in patients whose disease progressed or were not evaluable (p<0.0001). The short median OS of patients with no response to selinexor is consistent with the lack of available effective therapies for the very heavily pretreated population who entered the study.

Across the relevant patient population, side effects of oral selinexor were generally predictable and often managed with dose adjustments and/or supportive care, with safety results that were consistent with those previously reported from Part 1 of this study (Vogl et al., J Clin Oncol, 2018) and from other selinexor studies. As anticipated, the most common non-hematologic treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were largely Grade 1/2 and included fatigue (70%), nausea (69%), anorexia (52%) and weight loss (47%). The most common Grade 3/4 AEs were cytopenias (thrombocytopenia (54%) and anemia (29%)) and were generally not associated with clinical sequelae. No significant major organ toxicities were observed, and bleeding and infection rates were low.

Conference Call Information

Karyopharm will host a conference call tomorrow, Friday, September 14, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the Phase 2b STORM clinical data presented at the SOHO 2018 Annual Meeting. The call will feature recognized myeloma experts Drs. Sundar Jagannath and Dan Vogl, along with members of the Karyopharm executive leadership team. To access the conference call, please dial (855) 437-4406 or (484) 756-4292 (international) at least five minutes prior to the start time and refer to conference ID: 8474737. The call will also be webcast live on the Company’s website, View Source An audio recording of the call will be available under "Events & Presentations" in the "Investors" section of Karyopharm’s website approximately two hours after the event.

On September 13, 2018 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) reported that it has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of a new first-in-class cancer drug candidate, a small molecule compound discovered by Prof. Waldemar Priebe at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and known as WP1066 (Press release, Moleculin, SEPT 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234529417]). The compound has been shown in animal models to both inhibit an important cell signaling protein STAT3 that is involved in cell growth and proliferation and considered critical to tumor development, while also stimulating an immune response. The first glioblastoma patient has received the initial doses of WP1066, which were apparently well tolerated, in the physician-sponsored IND (investigational new drug) study at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

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Built from the chemical backbone of the active ingredient in propolis, a natural product of honey bees, WP1066 is the first anticancer agent with drug-like properties that consistently inhibits the activated form of STAT3 within cancer cells, a target that has been long-sought because of its broad range of tumor promoting effects.

Importantly, activated STAT3 supports the survival and proliferation of tumor cells, evasion of the immune response and metastasis to distant organs, as well as angiogenesis (growth of blood vessels) essential for tumor growth. Activated STAT3 is not only connected with directly supporting tumor activity, but also suppressing the immune system, making this target even more important to cancer therapy.

With the support of extensive preclinical studies demonstrating high antitumor activity and the critically important ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, WP1066 in this Phase 1 clinical trial will focus on treating aggressive brain tumors which all share a grim prognosis. The intent is to eventually treat up to 15 relapsed brain cancer patients over the next six to eight months. Phase 1 clinical trials typically focus on exploring safe and well tolerated doses, as well as evaluating initial signals of effectiveness. Each treatment is completed over three weeks.

"Treating the first brain tumor patient with WP1066 is the start of a very exciting and encouraging program for doctors treating the worst types of brain cancers. There has been very little progress in recent years toward improved therapies for glioblastoma and other aggressive primary or metastatic brain tumors. WP1066 has shown extremely promising results based on animal studies where we have seen inhibition of tumor growth and improvements in survival," said Dr. Sandra Silberman, a world-renowned oncologist and Moleculin’s Chief Medical Officer. "This is based on the fact that although STAT3 has long been identified as an important target for treating tumors, for years most efforts have focused on attempts to indirectly inhibit STAT3 from upstream signaling, not from within the cancer cell itself. WP1066 appears to be unique in its ability in vitro and in animal models to consistently and directly inhibit the activated form of STAT3 and produce significant anticancer effects, including tumor growth inhibition and increased life span of treated animals."

"This represents a major milestone for Moleculin," commented Walter Klemp, Chairman and CEO. "There has been tremendous enthusiasm within the oncology community for targeting STAT3, a key molecular hub of multiple pathways promoting tumor growth. Although the industry has been struggling to find a way to target STAT3, we at Moleculin believe that most of these efforts have been mechanistically misguided and ended in failure because their approach would ultimately be ineffective at adequately blocking the activation of STAT3 and lack the necessary drug-like properties to succeed. The opportunity to test a unique STAT3 therapy in these patients is significant in supporting Moleculin’s mission to provide benefit for those who need new and better treatments."

How WP1066 Works in Tumor Cells

WP1066 is a small molecule compound that can not only directly kill tumor cells, but also has the ability to overcome the tumor’s ability to evade the natural immune response, which would otherwise be working to eliminate the cancerous activity. This compound is a first in class drug candidate capable of down-regulating the activated form of STAT3, a target that has been long-sought because of its role in supporting the survival and growth of tumor cells.

The compound has been shown to prevent tumor progression and increase survival in a wide range of animal models by directly attacking tumors and blocking the cell signaling by STAT3 that supports tumor development and simultaneously suppressing regulatory T cells (Tregs), which then allows stimulation of an enhanced natural anti-tumor immune response. The compound’s dual functions have been shown to increase survival in a wide range of animal models, which have been documented in more than 50 peer-reviewed articles.

On September 12, 2018 Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX:HBP), (FSE:HBP) ("Helix" or the "Company"), an immuno-oncology company developing innovative drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, reported that its collaborator ProMab Biotechnologies, Inc. ("ProMab") paper entitled ‘CAR-T cells Based on Novel BCMA Monoclonal Antibody Block Multiple Myeloma Cell Growth’ is published in Cancers – an open access journal (View Source) (Press release, Helix BioPharma, SEP 12, 2018, View Source [SID1234530407]).

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The paper describes research and validation work on the antibody that the companies are co-developing for a CAR-T application against multiple myeloma. Data described in the paper include in vitro work and proof-of-concept CAR-T animal studies. This paper adds to the recent presentation ProMab has made at the CAR-TCR 2018 Summit in Boston.

"I want to congratulate the ProMab team for publishing the excellent work they have conducted on this antibody,’ said Heman Chao, Helix’s Chief Executive Officer. "This data set is significant to our European clinical development plan for CAR-T. I look forward to continuing our collaboration with ProMab."