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argenx announces publication of seminal data supporting the therapeutic potential of ARGX-110 for acute myeloid leukemia in the Journal of Experimental Medicine

On December 29, 2016 argenx (Euronext Brussels: ARGX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on creating and developing differentiated therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of cancer and severe autoimmune diseases, reported the publication of new preclinical data on the CD70/CD27 pathway that provide further rationale for ARGX-110 therapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Press release, arGEN-X, DEC 29, 2016, View Source [SID1234517235]). ARGX-110, a SIMPLE Antibody(TM) targeting CD70, is currently being evaluated in a Phase I/II study in combination with azacitidine in newly diagnosed AML patients.

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Data published by argenx collaborator Prof. Adrian Ochsenbein at the University of Bern, demonstrate that CD70/CD27 is highly expressed on AML blasts and leukemic stem cells in newly diagnosed AML patients, regardless of cytogenetic factors, or the patient’s risk class. The published data show the CD70/CD27 pathway to be critical in the biology of leukemic stem cells, and therapeutic intervention using a CD70-targeted antibody to enable selective targeting of leukemic stem cells without impacting hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in a survival benefit in preclinical AML models.

"The published data from Prof Ochsenbein’s lab continue to support our rationale to evaluate ARGX-110 in newly diagnosed AML patients based on the important presence of the CD70 target in the disease pathogenesis and its demonstrated role in survival," commented Nicolas Leupin, MD, Chief Medical Officer of argenx. "We are very committed to our recently initiated Phase I/II study of ARGX-110 in combination with standard of care azacitidine as we believe this target represents an innovative and differentiated approach to the disease, further proven by this seminal data underscoring the role of CD70 in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)."

A link to the abstract can be accessed at: View Source

About ARGX-110
ARGX-110 is a SIMPLE Antibody(TM) targeting CD70, an immune checkpoint target involved in hematological malignancies, several solid tumors and severe autoimmune diseases. ARGX-110 works in three ways: i) blocks growth of tumor cells, ii) kills cancer cells and iii) restores immune surveillance against tumors (Silence K. et al. mAbs 2014; 6 (2):523-532). ARGX-110 is currently being evaluated in hematological and solid tumors. Preclinical work on ARGX-110 in AML was done in collaboration with the Tumor Immunology Lab of Prof. A. F. Ochsenbein at the University of Bern. Prof. Ochsenbein won the prestigious 2016 Otto Naegeli Prize for their breakthrough research on CD70/CD27 signaling with therapeutic potential for cancer patients.

About AML
AML is a neoplasia of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells that build up in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. AML has the lowest 5-year survival rate of all blood malignancies (~5-20%) and primarily affects the eldery. Patients above 65 years old are unfit for stem cell transplantation and are often put on palliative treatment. Around 40% of these patients receive azacitidine, as it has been shown to improve the overall survival rate.
-Azacitidine (Vidaza, Celgene)-

BAVARIAN NORDIC INITIATES TRIAL OF CV301 IN COMBINATION WITH NIVOLUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER

On December 29, 2016 Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA, OTC: BVNRY) reported the initiation of a clinical trial combining its proprietary cancer immunotherapy candidate, CV301, with the anti-PD-1 drug, OPDIVO (nivolumab) from Bristol-Myers Squibb (Press release, Bavarian Nordic, DEC 29, 2016, View Source [SID1234517234]). The study is enrolling patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have failed prior therapy.

The trial will begin with a Phase 1 safety component, enrolling up to 40 patients; the Phase 2 portion of the study will enroll 120 patients who will be randomized to receive either nivolumab (monotherapy) or a combination of CV301 and nivolumab. The study will enroll patients from up to 20 clinical sites throughout the United States. Detailed information on the trial can be found at View Source

The rationale for this combination approach is for the vaccine to generate a tumor specific T cell response and allow the checkpoint inhibitor to maintain that immune effect by preventing the tumor from turning that response off.

While the primary endpoint of the study is overall survival, numerous secondary endpoints including response rate, progression free survival and duration of response will be evaluated and offer the potential for an early efficacy signal, prior to an overall survival endpoint.

"We are pleased to announce the initiation of this study, which marks the entry for Bavarian Nordic into lung cancer. While CV301 has shown the ability to generate immune responses to tumor-associated antigens in a variety of cancers, this study is the first seeking proof-of-concept for a promising combination approach and we look forward to the results as well as to advance CV301 as combination therapy in additional indications over the next years," said Paul Chaplin, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic.

About CV301
CV301 is an immunotherapy candidate which is being developed under a CRADA with the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

CV301 targets two tumor-associated antigens, CEA and MUC-1, which are over-expressed in multiple solid tumors, including lung, bladder and colorectal cancer. Similar to PROSTVAC, CV301 uses a prime/boost dosing schedule. CV301 incorporates a modified version of vaccinia (MVA-BN, a proprietary technology of Bavarian Nordic) as a priming dose, followed by multiple fowlpox boosts, and encodes the TRICOM costimulatory molecules.

A precursor version of CV301 has been tested in six NCI-sponsored clinical trials in various cancers, and a Phase 2 study in bladder cancer is currently ongoing. More than 300 patients have been treated with the product candidate.

About OPDIVO (nivolumab)
Marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb, OPDIVO is an immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-PD-1 therapy) approved for treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC in the second line setting, among other indications. OPDIVO has demonstrated superior overall survival across histologies, versus chemotherapy, in two pivotal Phase 3 trials in patients with advanced NSCLC.

PRIMA BIOMED ANNOUNCES FIRST CLINICAL DATA FROM COMBINATION OF IMP321 WITH ANTI-PD1

On December 29, 2016 Prima BioMed Ltd (ASX: PRR; NASDAQ: PBMD) ("Prima" or the "Company") reported interim data for its TACTI-mel (Two ACTive Immunotherapeutics in melanoma) clinical trial program for IMP321 in unresectable or metastatic melanoma patient (Press release, Prima Biomed, DEC 29, 2016, View Source [SID1234517233])s. The Database Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) confirmed that IMP321 is safe and well tolerated at the first dose level when used in combination with a PD-1 blocking antibody and dose escalation can continue as planned.

In this first-in-man combination Phase I study, IMP321 is combined with the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA). Patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma that had suboptimal or no responses to KEYTRUDA have been receiving IMP321 plus KEYTRUDA to help boost their immune responses and increase the tumour response rate to KEYTRUDA.

Initial data show no safety concerns from the combination with IMP321 at 1 mg dosage. No drug related serious adverse events have been reported and the DSMB approved the continuance of the dose escalation as planned. The trial will now proceed to the next dose level of 6 mg.

Prima’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frédéric Triebel, said: "The majority of metastatic melanoma patients do not respond well to KEYTRUDA, a key reason being that their tumours are poorly infiltrated by activated T cells expressing PD-1. By introducing IMP321, a first-in-class Antigen Presenting Cell (APC) activator, these patients may now be able to repopulate their tumour with more activated T cells which are responsive to KEYTRUDA. So, by combining the effect of ‘pushing the gas’ with IMP321 and ‘releasing the brake’ with KEYTRUDA we propose a rational therapeutic approach to increase the response rate by further boosting anti-tumour CD8 T cells."

Further data updates in terms of safety and activity could be expected throughout 2017.

About IMP321
IMP321, a first-in-class Antigen Presenting Cell (APC) activator based on the immune checkpoint LAG-3, represents one of the first proposed active immunotherapy drugs in which the patient’s own immune system is harnessed to respond to tumour antigenic debris created by chemotherapy. As an APC activator IMP321 boosts the network of dendritic cells in the body that can respond to tumour antigens for a better anti-tumour CD8 T cell response.

Aptose Biosciences Provides Update on APTO-253 Development

On December 29, 2016 Aptose Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:APTO) (TSX:APS), a clinical-stage company developing new therapeutics and molecular diagnostics that target the underlying mechanisms of cancer, reported an update on the development of APTO-253, its investigational compound for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Press release, Aptose Biosciences, DEC 29, 2016, View Source [SID1234517231]). The company has successfully manufactured multiple batches of a new drug product formulation for APTO-253, including a batch that has been stable and soluble for over six months. However, Aptose will have to repeat the production of the fourth batch, a 40L batch that was the intended clinical supply, because of a correctable engineering design incompatibility during the filling process. Aptose expects the batch records and release specifications from such a new batch, along with the stability and sterility data, to be provided to the FDA during the first quarter of 2017.

The need to strengthen the filling process is not a reflection on the drug substance or new formulation, both of which continue to perform favorably. Indeed, the new formulation demonstrates an increase of three times plasma drug exposure as compared to the prior formulation and may have the potential to create additional intellectual property for the company. Aptose also demonstrated that APTO-253 acts by inhibiting expression of the c-Myc oncogene without toxicity to normal bone marrow and blood cells, thereby potentially increasing the likelihood of application to additional cancer indications.

"We remain committed to the development of APTO-253, a small molecule agent that may provide benefit to an important patient population," said William G. Rice, Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "While we have encountered delays in manufacturing activities, we also have continued mechanistic and pharmacokinetic testing of APTO-253 which heighten its viability.

In parallel, we also continue to advance the development of CG’806, an exciting preclinical compound for patients with FLT3-driven AML and certain B-cell malignancies."

In November of last year, Aptose’s phase 1b trial of APTO-253 was temporarily suspended because of the report of an operational difficulty with an IV infusion pump at a clinical site. The company has spent the year identifying the root cause of the clogging issue and actively evaluating multiple formulation and production methodologies in order to improve solubility and stability characteristics and select the best approach to optimizing the delivery of the product to patients with the goal of re-entering the clinic. Aptose is currently working on submitting information requested by the FDA as a result of the development of a new drug product that does not cause filter clogging or pump stoppage during simulated infusion studies.

ImmunoGen Announces Mirvetuximab Soravtansine Phase 1 Expansion Cohort Results in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology

On December 28, 2016 ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq:IMGN), a leader in the expanding field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer, reported that results from the Phase 1 expansion cohort evaluating mirvetuximab soravtansine (IMGN853) in patients with folate receptor alpha (FRα)-positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (Press release, ImmunoGen, DEC 28, 2016, View Source [SID1234517221]). The data demonstrate the potential clinical benefit of mirvetuximab soravtansine for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

"Standard single-agent therapy for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer typically has a response rate below 20% and median progression-free survival below four months," said Kathleen Moore, M.D., Associate Professor, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, and lead author of the publication. "Mirvetuximab soravtansine generated encouraging efficacy and tolerability data in the Phase 1 trial that suggest the potential to improve clinical outcomes for this patient population."

The Phase 1 expansion cohort enrolled 46 patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer whose tumors were positive for FRα. Patients were dosed with mirvetuximab soravtansine once every three weeks. Mirvetuximab soravtansine demonstrated single-agent activity in the 46-patient cohort with a 26% confirmed response rate and median progression free survival (PFS) of 4.8 months. In a subset of 23 patients with low, medium or high FRα, who had received three or fewer prior lines of therapy, there was a 39% objective response rate (ORR) and median PFS of 6.7 months. On the basis of the study findings and additional data demonstrating the importance of FRα expression levels with mirvetuximab soravtansine, the Company has designed the Phase 3 FORWARD I study to enroll patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with one to three prior therapies and with medium or high FRα. This group of patients in the Phase 1 expansion cohort exhibited a 44% ORR and a median PFS of 6.7 months.1

Mirvetuximab soravtansine exhibited a manageable safety profile. Adverse events (AEs) were generally mild with the majority being grade 1 or grade 2 (least severe grades). The most commonly observed AEs were diarrhea, blurred vision, nausea, and fatigue.

"These results demonstrate that mirvetuximab soravtansine is active in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, with encouraging response rates and progression-free survival combined with a manageable safety profile," said Anna Berkenblit, M.D., Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of ImmunoGen. "On the basis of these findings, we have moved confidently into a Phase 3 registration study evaluating this promising agent against the standard of care in the platinum-resistant setting. In addition, we are evaluating combination regimens to assess mirvetuximab soravtansine in expanded patient populations and will begin reporting data from these combinations in mid-2017."

The publication, "Safety and Activity of Mirvetuximab Soravtansine (IMGN853), a Folate Receptor Alpha-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer: A Phase I Expansion Study," is available on the Journal of Clinical Oncology website.

About Mirvetuximab Soravtansine

Mirvetuximab soravtansine (IMGN853) is the first FRα-targeting ADC. It uses a FRα-binding antibody to target the ADC specifically to FRα-expressing cancer cells and a potent anti-tumor agent, DM4, to kill the targeted cancer cells.

Mirvetuximab soravtansine is ImmunoGen’s lead program and is now in Phase 3 testing as a single agent for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The candidate is also being assessed in combination regimens for both platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive disease in Phase 1b/2 FORWARD II trial.

About Ovarian Cancer and FRα

In 2016, approximately 22,300 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. and more than 14,200 women will die from the disease.2 ImmunoGen estimates that 60% of ovarian cancer cases have medium or high FRα expression.

Standard first-line therapy for ovarian cancer is a platinum-based regimen. Once the cancer becomes platinum-resistant, treatment options include single-agent cytotoxic therapies such as pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, paclitaxel, or topotecan.