ADC Therapeutics Announces Completion of Enrollment of Phase 3 Confirmatory Clinical Trial of ZYNLONTA® in Combination with Rituximab in 2L+ Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

On December 30, 2024 ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT), a commercial-stage global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), reported the completion of enrollment in LOTIS-5, the Phase 3 confirmatory trial evaluating ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) in combination with rituximab (Lonca-R) in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL) (Press release, ADC Therapeutics, DEC 30, 2024, View Source [SID1234649363]). ZYNLONTA previously received accelerated approval for the treatment of r/r DLBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy from the FDA in 2021.

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"This milestone for LOTIS-5 brings us a step closer to providing a potential combination treatment in the 2L+ DLBCL setting that we believe will offer competitive efficacy with favorable safety and a convenient dosing schedule, well-suited for use in patients across care settings," said Mohamed Zaki, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "We anticipate sharing topline results of the primary endpoint analysis by the end of 2025 once the pre-specified number of events is reached and potentially submitting our supplemental BLA to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first quarter of 2026."

The randomized, open‐label, two‐part, two‐arm, multicenter study is designed to confirm accelerated approval and may support potential label expansion into 2L+ in combination with rituximab. Twenty patients were enrolled in part 1 of a non-randomized safety run‐in. As previously reported, the results showed an overall response rate (ORR) by central review of 80% (16/20) with a complete response (CR) rate of 50% (10/20) and no new safety signals.

In part 2, patients with 2L+ DLBCL are randomized 1:1 to receive fixed-dose ZYNLONTA with rituximab or rituximab‐gemcitabine‐oxaliplatin (R‐GemOx). The primary endpoint of LOTIS-5 is progression-free survival with secondary endpoints of overall survival, ORR, CR rate and duration of response as well as frequency and severity of adverse events. Topline results of the primary endpoint analysis are anticipated by the end of 2025 once the required number of pre-specified events is reached followed by regulatory submission to the FDA in Q1 2026 and potential approval in late 2026.

For more information about LOTIS-5, please visit View Source (identifier NCT04384484).

About ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl)
ZYNLONTA is a CD19-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC). Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, ZYNLONTA is internalized by the cell, where enzymes release a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) payload. The potent payload binds to DNA minor groove with little distortion, remaining less visible to DNA repair mechanisms. This ultimately results in cell cycle arrest and tumor cell death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (NOS), DLBCL arising from low-grade lymphoma and also high-grade B-cell lymphoma. The trial included a broad spectrum of heavily pre-treated patients (median three prior lines of therapy) with difficult-to-treat disease, including patients who did not respond to first-line therapy, patients refractory to all prior lines of therapy, patients with double/triple hit genetics and patients who had stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy prior to their treatment with ZYNLONTA. This indication is approved by the FDA under accelerated approval and in the European Union under conditional approval based on overall response rate and continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. Please see full prescribing information including important safety information about ZYNLONTA at www.ZYNLONTA.com.

ZYNLONTA is also being evaluated as a therapeutic option in combination studies in other B-cell malignancies and earlier lines of therapy.

Bridge Biotherapeutics to Present at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

On December 30, 2024 Bridge Biotherapeutics (KQ288330), a clinical-stage biotech company based in South Korea developing novel drugs for fibrosis and cancer, reported that James Jungkue Lee, Founder and CEO of Bridge Biotherapeutics, will present at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Thursday, January 16, 2025 (Press release, Bridge Biotherapeutics, DEC 30, 2024, View Source [SID1234649362]).

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Location: Georgian Room (Mezzanine Level) at The Westin St. Francis

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025

Time: 9:45-10:25 a.m. PST

During the conference, Bridge Biotherapeutics will also meet with potential partners and investors as the Company is looking for Business Development opportunities for further development of BBT-877, a novel drug candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Top-line results from the Phase 2 study of BBT-877 are expected in April 2025.

CARsgen Announces Positive Topline Results from China GC/GEJ Pivotal Phase II Clinical Trial of Claudin18.2 CAR-T (Satri-cel)

On December 30, 2024 CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2171.HK), a company focused on innovative CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, reported the positive results from the pivotal Phase II clinical trial CT041-ST-01(NCT04581473) (Press release, Carsgen Therapeutics, DEC 30, 2024, View Source [SID1234649361]). This study is an open-label, multicenter clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of satricabtagene autoleucel ("satri-cel", CT041) (an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate against Claudin18.2) in subjects with Claudin18.2 expression-positive, advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancers that have failed at least 2 prior lines therapy. Patients were 2:1 randomly assigned to receive treatment of satricabtagene autoleucel infusion or treatment of physician’s choice (including paclitaxel, docetaxel, irinotecan, apatinib, or nivolumab). The primary endpoint of the trial is progression-free survival (PFS) assessed by the Independent Review Committee (IRC). The study met its primary endpoint of a statistically significant improvement in PFS assessed by IRC for patients treated with satri-cel infusion as compared to treatment of physician’s choice (paclitaxel, docetaxel, irinotecan, apatinib, or nivolumab). Previous data demonstrates that the safety profile of satricabtagene autoleucel was manageable.

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"We are thrilled to see that satri-cel has achieved positive results in the pivotal Phase II clinical trial in China. The study demonstrates that satri-cel provides significant benefits to gastric cancer patients who have failed at least two prior lines of therapy. This represents a groundbreaking milestone for the field of CAR-T therapies against solid tumors. We anticipate submitting an NDA to the NMPA in the first half of 2025 and look forward to satri-cel becoming the world’s first CAR-T product for solid tumors, bringing hope to more patients as soon as possible. Additionally, we will continue to explore the potential of satri-cel in adjuvant therapy for gastric and pancreatic cancers, aiming to deliver even greater benefits to patients," said Dr. Zonghai Li, Founder, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer of CARsgen Therapeutics.

About Satri-cel

Satri-cel is an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate against the protein Claudin18.2 that has the potential to be the first-in-class globally. Satri-cel targets the treatment of Claudin18.2 positive solid tumors with a primary focus on gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJ) and pancreatic cancer (PC). Ongoing trials include investigator-initiated trials (CT041-CG4006, NCT03874897), a confirmatory Phase II clinical trial for advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer in China (CT041-ST-01, NCT04581473), a Phase I clinical trial for PC adjuvant therapy in China (CT041-ST-05, NCT05911217), and a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for advanced gastric or pancreatic adenocarcinoma in North America (CT041-ST-02, NCT04404595). Satri-cel was granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation by U.S. FDA for the treatment of advanced GC/GEJ with Claudin18.2-positive tumors in January 2022. Satri-cel received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA in 2020 for the treatment of GC/GEJ.

Duality Biologics Announces B7H4 ADC Milestone Achievement and License Exercise by BeiGene

On December 30, 2024 Duality Biologics ("DualityBio") reported that, BeiGene. Ltd. has exercised its exclusive option for the B7H4 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) DB1312/BG-C9074 from DualityBio, securing global development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights for the investigational product (Press release, DualityBio, DEC 30, 2024, View Source [SID1234649360]). In 2024, DualityBio received an option exercise fee and a milestone payment based on the Phase I dose-escalation advancement.

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In July 2023, DualityBio announced an agreement for BeiGene to acquire its exclusive option for a global clinical and commercial license to an investigational, preclinical ADC therapy for patients with select solid tumors. Under the terms of the agreement, DualityBio received an upfront payment, and is eligible for a payment contingent upon BeiGene exercising its option and additional payments based upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, totaling up to $1.3 billion, in addition to tiered royalties.

Verastem Oncology Announces FDA Acceptance and Priority Review of New Drug Application for Avutometinib in Combination with Defactinib for the Treatment of Recurrent KRAS Mutant Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

On December 30, 2024 Verastem Oncology (Nasdaq: VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new medicines for patients with cancer, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the New Drug Application (NDA) under the accelerated approval pathway for avutometinib, an oral RAF/MEK clamp, in combination with defactinib, an oral FAK inhibitor, for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), who received at least one prior systemic therapy and have a KRAS mutation (Press release, Verastem, DEC 30, 2024, View Source [SID1234649359]). The NDA, which was completed in October 2024, has been granted Priority Review with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of June 30, 2025. In addition, the FDA has stated that it is not currently planning to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application.

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"The FDA filing acceptance and Priority Review for the combination of avutometinib and defactinib underscores the critical unmet need among patients diagnosed with this rare and insidious disease. We are excited by today’s news and to potentially bring the first ever FDA-approved treatment specifically for recurrent KRAS mutant LGSOC to patients in the U.S.," said Dan Paterson, president and chief executive officer of Verastem Oncology. "With the acceptance of this NDA, we’re taking an important step forward in addressing a condition that has long been overlooked, and we look forward to working with the FDA during its review process and preparing for a commercial launch in mid-2025."

There are currently no FDA-approved treatments specifically for LGSOC, a rare and distinct ovarian cancer that differs from high-grade serous ovarian cancer in both its biology and how it responds to treatment. Priority Review is granted by the FDA for treatments that offer, if approved, significant improvements over available options or that provide a treatment option where no adequate or approved therapy currently exists.

The filing was based on a primary analysis of the Phase 2 RAMP 201 clinical trial that evaluated the combination of avutometinib and defactinib in patients with recurrent LGSOC. The results were presented in an oral presentation at the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) Annual Global Meeting in October 2024 and demonstrated that the combination of avutometinib plus defactinib resulted in a substantial overall response rate confirmed by blinded independent central review, with responses that were typically durable, and that the combination was generally well-tolerated in patients with recurrent KRAS mutant LGSOC. The NDA also includes supportive data from the FRAME Phase 1 trial, the first study conducted with the combination therapy in recurrent LGSOC.

The Company is currently enrolling patients with recurrent LGSOC regardless of KRAS mutation status for RAMP 301, an international Phase 3 trial, which will serve as a confirmatory study for the initial indication and has the potential to support an expanded indication regardless of KRAS mutation status.

About RAMP 201

RAMP 201 (ENGOTov60/GOG3052) (NCT04625270) is an adaptive, two-part multicenter, parallel cohort, randomized, open-label Phase 2 registration-directed trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of avutometinib alone and in combination with defactinib in patients with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC). The first part of the study (Part A) determined the selection of the go-forward regimen, which was the combination of avutometinib and defactinib versus avutometinib alone, based on overall response rates. The expansion phases of the trial (Parts B and C) are evaluating the safety and efficacy of the go-forward regimen of avutometinib 3.2 mg twice weekly and defactinib 200 mg twice daily. The Part D portion of the trial is evaluating a low dose of avutometinib in combination with defactinib to inform individualized dose reduction.

About Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (LGSOC)

LGSOC is a rare ovarian cancer that is insidious, persistent, and ultimately fatal. LGSOC is distinct and different from high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and requires different treatment. LGSOC is highly recurrent and less sensitive to chemotherapy compared to HGSOC. Approximately 6,000-8,000 women in the U.S. and 80,000 worldwide are living with this disease. LGSOC affects younger women with bimodal peaks of diagnosis at ages between 20-30 and 50-60 and has a median survival of approximately ten years. The majority of patients report a negative impact of LGSOC on their mental and physical health, fertility, and long-term quality of life. The current standard of care for this disease includes hormone therapy and chemotherapy, but there are no treatments specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat LGSOC.

About the Avutometinib and Defactinib ​​Combination

Avutometinib is an oral RAF/MEK clamp that potentially inhibits MEK1/2 kinase activities and induces inactive complexes of MEK with ARAF, BRAF, and CRAF, potentially creating a more complete and durable anti-tumor response through maximal RAS/MAPK pathway inhibition. In contrast to currently available MEK-only inhibitors, avutometinib blocks both MEK kinase activity and the ability of RAF to phosphorylate MEK. This unique mechanism allows avutometinib to block MEK signaling without the compensatory activation of MEK that appears to limit the efficacy of the MEK-only inhibitors.

Defactinib is an oral, selective inhibitor of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and proline-rich tyrosine kinase-2 (Pyk2), the two members of the focal adhesion kinase family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases. FAK and Pyk2 integrate signals from integrin and growth factor receptors to regulate cell proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion. FAK activation has been shown to mediate resistance to multiple anti-cancer agents, including RAF and MEK inhibitors.

Verastem Oncology is currently conducting clinical trials with avutometinib with and without defactinib in RAS/MAPK-driven tumors as part of its Raf And Mek Program or RAMP. Verastem is currently enrolling patients and activating sites for RAMP 301 (GOG-3097/ENGOT-ov81/NCRI) (NCT06072781), an international Phase 3 confirmatory trial evaluating the combination of avutometinib and defactinib versus standard chemotherapy or hormonal therapy for the treatment of recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC).

Verastem was granted Priority Review and a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of June 30, 2025, for its New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for the investigational combination of avutometinib and defactinib in adults with recurrent KRAS mutant LGSOC who received at least one prior systemic therapy. Verastem initiated a rolling NDA in May 2024 to the FDA and completed its NDA submission in October 2024. The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of patients with recurrent LGSOC after one or more prior lines of therapy, including platinum-based chemotherapy, in May 2021. Avutometinib alone or in combination with defactinib was also granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the treatment of LGSOC.

Verastem Oncology has established a clinical collaboration with Amgen to evaluate LUMAKRAS (sotorasib) in combination with avutometinib and defactinib in both treatment-naïve patients and in patients whose KRAS G12C mutant non-small cell lung cancer progressed on a G12C inhibitor as part of the RAMP 203 trial (NCT05074810). Verastem has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the triplet combination in April 2024. RAMP 205 (NCT05669482), a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating avutometinib and defactinib with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in patients with front-line metastatic pancreatic cancer, is supported by the PanCAN Therapeutic Accelerator Award. FDA granted Orphan Drug Designation to the avutometinib and defactinib combination for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.