Enterome to attend the Jefferies 2018 Global Healthcare Conference in New York

On June 4, 2018 ENTEROME SA, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering innovative therapies to treat microbiome-associated diseases with a focus on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and immuno-oncology (IO) indications, reported that it will attend the Jefferies 2018 Global Healthcare Conference (Press release, Enterome, JUN 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234527116]). The conference will be held in New York, June 5-8 and features an extensive range of public and private healthcare companies across the Biopharmaceuticals, Life Sciences, Healthcare Services, Healthcare IT and Medical Technology sectors. It hosted over 2,600 attendees in 2017.

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Clovis Oncology Submits Application to EMA to Expand Use of Rubraca®? (rucaparib) to Include Maintenance Treatment for Women with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

On June 4, 2018 Clovis Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLVS) reported the submission of a regulatory application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as part of a type II variation seeking to expand the marketing authorization for Rubraca (rucaparib) to include maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum based chemotherapy (Press release, Clovis Oncology, JUN 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234527114]).

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On May 29, 2018, Rubraca became the first PARP inhibitor licensed in the EU as a monotherapy treatment for women with recurrent ovarian cancer. It is currently indicated for adult patients with platinum sensitive, relapsed or progressive, BRCA mutated (germline and/or somatic), high-grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who have been treated with two or more prior lines of platinum based chemotherapy, and who are unable to tolerate further platinum based chemotherapy. The Rubraca Summary of Product Characteristics is available on the European Medicines Agency website.

This submission is based on the positive results from the phase 3 ARIEL3 study, which evaluated rucaparib in the ovarian cancer maintenance treatment setting among three populations: 1) BRCA mutant (BRCAmut+) 2) HRD positive inclusive of BRCAmut+ and, 3) all patients treated in ARIEL3. ARIEL3 successfully achieved its primary endpoints, extending investigator assessed progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo in all patients treated, regardless of BRCA status. Safety findings from the ARIEL3 trial were consistent with previous clinical trials.

Based on the timing of this submission, the company anticipates an opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) by end of 2018.

About the ARIEL3 Clinical Trial

The ARIEL3 pivotal study of rucaparib is a confirmatory randomized, double-blind study comparing the effects of rucaparib against placebo to evaluate whether rucaparib given as a maintenance treatment to platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients can extend the period of time for which the disease is controlled after a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. The study enrolled 564 patients with high-grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer. To be eligible for the study, participants had to have received at least two prior platinum-based treatment regimens, been sensitive to the penultimate platinum regimen, and achieved a complete or partial response to their most recent platinum-based regimen. There were no genomic selection criteria for this study. Trial participants were randomized 2:1 to receive 600 milligrams of rucaparib twice daily (BID) or placebo.

About Rubraca (rucaparib)

Rucaparib is an oral, small molecule inhibitor of PARP1, PARP2 and PARP3 being developed in multiple tumor types, including ovarian, metastatic castration-resistant prostate, and bladder cancers, as monotherapy, and in combination with other anti-cancer agents. Exploratory studies in other tumor types are also underway. Clovis holds worldwide rights for rucaparib. Rucaparib is an unlicensed medical product outside of the U.S. and Europe.

Rubraca EU Authorized Use

Rucaparib is licensed for adult patients with platinum sensitive, relapsed or progressive, BRCA mutated (germline and/or somatic), high-grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who have been treated with two or more prior lines of platinum based chemotherapy, and who are unable to tolerate further platinum based chemotherapy.

Click here to access the current Summary of Product Characteristics. Healthcare professionals should report any suspected adverse reactions via their national reporting systems.

Rubraca U.S. FDA Approved Indications and Important Safety Information

Rubraca is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.

Rubraca is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with deleterious BRCA mutation (germline and/or somatic) associated epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have been treated with two or more chemotherapies and selected for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for Rubraca.

Select Important Safety Information

Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) occur uncommonly in patients treated with Rubraca, and are potentially fatal adverse reactions. In approximately 1100 treated patients, MDS/AML occurred in 12 patients (1.1%), including those in long term follow-up. Of these, 5 occurred during treatment or during the 28-day safety follow-up (0.5%). The duration of Rubraca treatment prior to the diagnosis of MDS/AML ranged from 1 month to approximately 28 months. The cases were typical of secondary MDS/cancer therapy-related AML; in all cases, patients had received previous platinum-containing regimens and/or other DNA damaging agents.

Do not start Rubraca until patients have recovered from hematological toxicity caused by previous chemotherapy (≤ Grade 1).

Monitor complete blood counts for cytopenia at baseline and monthly thereafter for clinically significant changes during treatment. For prolonged hematological toxicities (> 4 weeks), interrupt Rubraca or reduce dose (see Dosage and Administration (2.2) in full Prescribing Information) and monitor blood counts weekly until recovery. If the levels have not recovered to Grade 1 or less after 4 weeks or if MDS/AML is suspected, refer the patient to a hematologist for further investigations, including bone marrow analysis and blood sample for cytogenetics. If MDS/AML is confirmed, discontinue Rubraca.

Based on its mechanism of action and findings from animal studies, Rubraca can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Apprise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months following the last dose of Rubraca.

Most common adverse reactions in ARIEL3 (≥ 20%; Grade 1-4) were nausea (76%), fatigue/asthenia (73%), abdominal pain/distention (46%), rash (43%), dysgeusia (40%), anemia (39%), AST/ALT elevation (38%), constipation (37%), vomiting (37%), diarrhea (32%), thrombocytopenia (29%), nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infection (29%), stomatitis (28%), decreased appetite (23%), and neutropenia (20%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities in ARIEL3 (≥ 25%; Grade 1-4) were increase in creatinine (98%), decrease in hemoglobin (88%), increase in cholesterol (84%), increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (73%), increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (61%), decrease in platelets (44%), decrease in leukocytes (44%), decrease in neutrophils (38%), increase in alkaline phosphatase (37%), and decrease in lymphocytes (29%).

Most common adverse reactions in Study 10 and ARIEL2 (≥ 20%; Grade 1-4) were nausea (77%), asthenia/fatigue (77%), vomiting (46%), anemia (44%), constipation (40%), dysgeusia (39%), decreased appetite (39%), diarrhea (34%), abdominal pain (32%), dyspnea (21%), and thrombocytopenia (21%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities in Study 10 and ARIEL2 (≥ 35%; Grade 1-4) were increase in creatinine (92%), increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (74%), increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (73%), decrease in hemoglobin (67%), decrease in lymphocytes (45%), increase in cholesterol (40%), decrease in platelets (39%), and decrease in absolute neutrophil count (35%).

Co-administration of rucaparib can increase the systemic exposure of CYP1A2, CYP3A, CYP2C9, or CYP2C19 substrates, which may increase the risk of toxicities of these drugs. Adjust dosage of CYP1A2, CYP3A, CYP2C9, or CYP2C19 substrates, if clinically indicated. If co-administration with warfarin (a CYP2C9 substrate) cannot be avoided, consider increasing frequency of international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring.

Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breast-fed children from Rubraca, advise lactating women not to breastfeed during treatment with Rubraca and for 2 weeks after the last dose.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Clovis Oncology, Inc. at 1-844-258-7662.

Click here for full Prescribing Information and additional Important Safety Information.

Checkpoint Therapeutics to Participate in June Investor Conferences

On June 4, 2018 Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. ("Checkpoint") (NASDAQ: CKPT), a clinicalstage, immuno-oncology biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development andbcommercialization of novel treatments for patients with solid tumor cancers, reported that James F. Oliviero, President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in two investor conferences in June (Press release, Checkpoint Therapeutics, JUN 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234527113]).

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• Jefferies 2018 Global Healthcare Conference on Friday, June 8, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. EDT at the Grand Hyatt in New York City

• JMP Securities Life Sciences Conference on Thursday, June 21, 2018, at 12:30 p.m. EDT at the St. Regis New York in New York City

Live webcasts of the presentations will be available on the Events page of the Investors & Media section
of Checkpoint’s website: www.checkpointtx.com. An archived replay of the webcast will be available for
approximately 30 days following the presentation.

Insights from ASCO 2018

1stOncology’s ‘Commercial Interests at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2018‘ report highlights the landscape of commercial oncology drug development presenting abstracts at the 2018 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) meeting. Below is some interesting headline points our analyst team picked from ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2018, but if you would like to get the full picture, we invite you to 48 hours of free access to our ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2018 whitepaper. Sign up here for your free access.

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Two out of Five Drugs at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2018 are in Immuno-Oncology:

Five Interesting Startups Presenting Abstracts at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2018:

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There are close to 30 First-in-Class Drug Targets at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2018:

 

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Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Presents Update on Tepotinib in Advanced Lung Cancer at ASCO 2018

ASCO Abstract #
Tepotinib (c-Met kinase inhibitor): 9082, 9016; M7824 (TGF-ß trap/anti-PD-L1): 3007, 9017, 2566; M2698 (dual p70S6k/Akt inhibitor): 2584; M6620 (ATR inhibitor): 2549; M3814 (DNA-PK):2518

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Data from an ongoing Phase II tepotinib study show anti-tumor clinical activity in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutations
Patients with advanced lung cancer harboring MET exon 14 mutations currently have a poor prognosis and limited treatment options
Safety data are consistent with data previously reported, with no new safety signals identified

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company which operates its healthcare business in the U.S. and Canada as EMD Serono, reported that the investigational, targeted therapy tepotinib[*] has shown clinical activity in an ongoing Phase II study of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutations. Data from the VISION trial will be presented during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2018 Annual Meeting in Chicago, June 1-5, 2018 (Press release, Merck KGaA, JUN 3, 2018, View Source [SID1234527388]).

"Patients living with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutations have limited treatment options available to them and typically face poor clinical outcomes," said investigator Enriqueta Felip, M.D., Medical Oncologist, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO). "More than half of the patients in the Phase II VISION study had an investigator-assessed confirmed response, demonstrating the potential of tepotinib and the need to further evaluate this precision medicine option."

Initial data from the Phase II VISION study of tepotinib in patients living with advanced NSCLC harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutations will be presented today at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) during the "Lung Cancer-Non-Small Cell Metastatic" poster discussion session, 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. CDT. Treatment with tepotinib led to a confirmed complete response (CR) or confirmed partial response (PR) in 53.6% (15/28) and stable disease (SD) in 17.9% (5/28) of patients based on investigator assessment. Based on independent assessment of updated data from 28 patients (patients with at least 2 post-baseline assessments or who discontinued for any reason), 42.9% (12/28) had a PR and 21.4% (6/28) had SD.

In this ongoing study, the safety data are consistent with that observed in previous studies; no new safety signals have been identified to date. A total of 26 out of 38 patients with data available experienced treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), most commonly Grade 1/2 peripheral edema (13 patients) and diarrhea (10 patients). Seven patients reported Grade 3 TRAEs, including asymptomatic amylase increase (2 patients) and one instance each of: asthenia, generalized edema, aspartate aminotransferase increase, gamma-glutamyl transferase increase, lipase increase, hyperkalemia, dizziness and pneumonia. Four patients experienced serious TRAEs, with one instance of pneumonia, generalized edema, asthenia and dizziness, and interstitial lung disease. The VISION study is continuing to enroll patients harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutations from Europe, United States and Japan.

"These data support our plans to continue with the clinical development of tepotinib in this particularly aggressive, advanced lung cancer. Patients with this form of non-small cell lung cancer currently have a poor prognosis and limited treatment options," said Luciano Rossetti, M.D., Executive Vice President, Global Head of Research & Development at the biopharma business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "Tepotinib is an important late-stage investigational therapy and a key part of our strategic focus on innovative precision medicines."

Tepotinib, discovered in-house at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is an investigational inhibitor of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase. Alterations of the c-Met signaling pathway are found in various cancer types and correlate with aggressive tumor behavior and poor clinical prognosis. Tepotinib has been designed with the potential to improve outcomes in aggressive tumors that have a poor prognosis and harbor these specific mutations. In March, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare granted SAKIGAKE ‘fast-track’ designation to tepotinib in patients with NSCLC harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutations.

Presentation Date
Title Lead Author Abstract # / Time (CDT) Location

Tepotinib
Poster Sessions
Can duration of
response be used
as a surrogate
endpoint for
overall survival
in advanced
non-small cell Boris M Sun, Jun 03, 8:00
lung cancer? Pfeiffer 9082 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Hall A
Poster Discussion
Tepotinib in
patients with
advanced
non-small cell
lung cancer
(NSCLC) harboring
MET exon
14-skipping
mutations: Phase Enriqueta Sun, Jun 03, 11:30
II trial. Felip, M.D. 9016 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Arie Crown Theater

In addition to tepotinib, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is sharing data from across its oncology and immuno-oncology pipeline at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2018, including investigational immunotherapy M7824 and updates from its DNA Damage Response portfolio. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is committed to exploring an array of targets and taking creative scientific approaches to developing novel therapies for hard-to-treat cancers.

*Tepotinib is the recommended International Nonproprietary Name (INN) for the c-Met kinase inhibitor (MSC 2156119J). Tepotinib is currently under clinical investigation and not approved for any use anywhere in the world.

About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Globally, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the second most common in women,[1] responsible for more deaths than colon, breast and prostate cancer combined.[2] NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 80 to 85% of all lung cancers.[3] MET exon 14 skipping mutations occur in 3-4% of lung cancers.[5],[6] The five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread (metastasized) to other areas of the body is 1%.[4]

About Tepotinib

Tepotinib is an investigational, small-molecule inhibitor of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase discovered in-house at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Alterations of the c-Met signaling pathway are found in various cancer types and correlate with aggressive tumor behavior and poor clinical prognosis. Tepotinib is currently being investigated in a Phase II study in NSCLC.

About SAKIGAKE

SAKIGAKE designation is granted by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, promoting research and development in Japan and aiming at early practical application for innovative pharmaceutical products, medical devices and regenerative medicines. SAKIGAKE designation can reduce a drug’s review period down from 12 months to a target of 6 months.

The system’s objective is to designate drugs that have the potential of prominent effectiveness against serious and life-threatening diseases in order to make them available to patients in Japan ahead of the rest of the world.

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