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Argos Therapeutics Enters into Strategic Research Agreement with Adaptive Biotechnologies

On June 15, 2016 Argos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ARGS), an immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of truly individualized immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer based on the Arcelis technology platform, reported that it is partnering with Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, based in Seattle, Washington, to study precise response patterns to Argos’ investigational immunotherapies (Press release, Argos Therapeutics, JUN 15, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513356]).

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Under the agreement, Adaptive will use its patented immune profiling immunoSEQ Assay to enable a more in-depth characterization of the immune response induced by Argos’s lead product candidate, AGS-003, which is currently being studied in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and bladder cancer. In addition, Argos is developing its second Arcelis product candidate, AGS-004, for the treatment and the possible eradication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in patients with HIV-infection or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The application of Adaptive’s immune profiling technology in this setting will enable Argos to further characterize with greater precision the transfer of specific genetic signatures from each patient’s HIV, through AGS-004, to a specific immune response against each patient’s unique virus population.

"We are very excited to be entering into this important research agreement with Adaptive Biotechnologies," said Dr. Charles Nicolette, Argos’s chief scientific officer. "Adaptive is our preferred partner because of their established expertise in offering high-throughput immune receptor repertoire characterization and advanced bioinformatics that are ideally suited to analyze precision of target-specific immune activation enabled by Arcelis administration with higher resolution."

"Argos is on the cutting edge of precision immunotherapy with their advanced Phase 3 immuno-oncology agent, and platform extension into individualized HIV treatment," said Chad Robins, Adaptive’s president, chief executive officer and co-founder. "As the leader in immunosequencing, Adaptive’s technology is well-suited to uncover the dynamics of the adaptive immune system response to Argos’ therapies."

LTX-315 in two oral presentations at WPC in Boston 14-16 June 2016

On June 14, 2016 Lytix Biopharma In collaboration with Adaptive Biotechnologies (Seattle, USA), reported that they have investigated changes in T cell clonality before and after treatment of murine B16 melanomas with LTX-315 (Press release, Lytix Biopharma, JUN 14, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514841]). At the World Preclinical Congress to be held in Boston this week, Sharon Benzeno from Adaptive Biotechnologies will present data showing that LTX-315 significantly enhances T cell infiltration and T cell clonality in B16 melanomas. The results indicate that LTX-315 has the potential to convert non-T cell inflamed tumors into T-cell inflamed tumors. Since immunotherapy normally is more effective in subsets of patients with a T cell inflamed tissue, LTX-315 may increase the number of patients responding to immunotherapy. In collaboration with Oncodesign (Dijon, France) Lytix has shown promising results by combining LTX-315 and the immune checkpoint blockade inhibitor anti-PD-L1. Phillippe Slos from Oncodesign will present data demonstrating that LTX-315 in combination anti-PD-L1 enhance the delay of tumor growth compared to each compound alone in the murine mammary carcinoma model EMT-6.

World Preclinical Congress (WPC) is a key networking event for those involved in preclinical research and features conferences, training seminars and short courses that cover the very latest in preclinical strategies and technologies, to enable better and faster decisions in drug discovery.

Transgenomic Accelerates Commercialization of ICE COLD-PCR (ICP) amid Plans to Expand Cancer Product Line Ten-Fold

On June 14, 2016 Transgenomic, Inc. (TBIO), (NASDAQ: TBIO), reported plans to expand its ICE COLD-PCR (ICP)-powered cancer assays ten-fold over the next 18 months, targeting a portfolio of more than 200 exons/mutations expected to be available to partners, cancer researchers, drug developers and clinicians by 2018 (Press release, Transgenomic, JUN 14, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513324]). Multiplexed ICP technology’s ultra-high sensitivity down to 0.01% makes it possible to run ICP assays using either tissue, blood or serum samples on any sequencing platform. Recently-released studies indicate high concordance between ICP detection tests and assays produced using conventional technology, with the added benefit that the ICP tests detected mutations in both plasma and tissue samples that were missed by conventional methods.

The expanded ICP cancer test menu will be released over the course of the next 18 months, with about 10 new exons/mutations expected to be issued every 6-8 weeks. The new tests will available in several formats–for use by TBIO’s partners and licensees, through TBIO’s Biomarker Discovery Services group and Oncology CLIA laboratory, as well as through its ICEme kits, which customers can run on Sanger, NGS and other platforms in their own laboratories. The focus, as with TBIO’s current menu of detection tests and panels, will be on actionable mutations relevant to cancer treatment decisions, with priority given to mutations requested by customers along with those newly validated by cancer researchers. The company also intends to incorporate some of the added mutations into panels for use with specific cancers and tumor types.

TBIO President and CEO Paul Kinnon commented, "The rapidly growing use of genomic testing as an essential part of cancer treatment makes this a good time to build on the foundation we have created over the past year and to exponentially expand the menu of tumor exons/mutations that can be tested using our ICP technology. We have refined and industrialized the development of new tests, as we demonstrated with the recent rapid development and release of our EGFR C797S ICP assay. We therefore believe that our ambitious goal of offering more than 200 exons/mutations by 2018 is achievable. We are optimistic that the accuracy, versatility, ease of use and rapid turnaround of ICP cancer testing, along with its availability in multiple formats and on a variety of platforms, will generate strong demand as we expand the test menu. We look forward to working with a range of customers and diagnostic laboratory partners to apply the power of TBIO’s expanded ICP product line to accelerate cancer research and improve patient outcomes."

ICE COLD-PCR achieves its ultra-high sensitivity through selective amplification of mutant DNA. The result is up to a 500-fold increase in sensitivity in identifying mutations with the most precise sequence alteration detection rates available. ICP was originally developed by the laboratory of Dr. Mike Makrigiorgos at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which has exclusively licensed rights to the technology to Transgenomic.

Sanofi Announces Expiration of Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period Regarding Proposed Acquisition of Medivation

On June 14, 2016 Sanofi reported the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR) in connection with Sanofi’s intent to acquire Medivation, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDVN) (Press release, Sanofi, JUN 14, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513297]). This milestone further supports Sanofi’s belief that the all cash acquisition proposal, which is not subject to any financing condition, would provide the highest level of transaction certainty to Medivation shareholders .

As announced on April 28, 2016, Sanofi proposed to acquire Medivation for $52.50 per share, representing an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $9.4 billion.

Infinity Reports Topline Results From DYNAMO™, A Phase 2 Monotherapy Study Of Investigational Molecule Duvelisib In Refractory Indolent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

On June 14, 2016 Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: INFI) reported that DYNAMO, a registration-focused Phase 2 monotherapy study evaluating the efficacy and safety of duvelisib, an investigational, oral, dual inhibitor of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)-delta and PI3K-gamma, in patients with refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) met its primary endpoint of overall response rate (Press release, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, JUN 14, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513312]). In the study, duvelisib demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 46 percent, all of which were partial responses, among 129 patients with iNHL. The majority of reported side effects were reversible and clinically manageable.

"While the DYNAMO study met its primary endpoint, we hoped that treatment with duvelisib as a monotherapy would have provided a larger clinical benefit for patients with advanced indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a difficult-to-treat disease," stated Adelene Perkins, president and chief executive officer at Infinity. "We plan to seek feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine our next steps with respect to duvelisib in indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma."

In addition, Infinity and AbbVie are in ongoing, collaborative discussions to explore next steps for the parties’ collaboration. Pending the resolution of these business discussions, AbbVie and Infinity have also agreed to pause the AbbVie-sponsored Phase 1b/2 study evaluating duvelisib in combination with venetoclax.

Infinity is also undertaking a strategic restructuring that will close down its discovery research organization, impacting 46 members of the Infinity team, or 21 percent of the workforce.

"This restructuring is a necessary step to preserve financial resources as we explore options for duvelisib and the advancement of IPI-549, our second clinical program," stated Adelene Perkins, president and chief executive officer. "These were very difficult decisions that were undertaken, and I would like to personally express my deep appreciation to the very talented and dedicated Citizen-Owners impacted by the restructuring for their tremendous contributions to Infinity."

Infinity expects to provide updated 2016 financial guidance following the resolution of these strategic activities. The previous financial guidance for 2016 should no longer be relied upon.

DYNAMO Study Details
DYNAMO, a Phase 2 single-arm study, evaluated the efficacy and safety of duvelisib (25 mg twice daily) as a monotherapy in 129 patients with follicular lymphoma (n = 83), small lymphocytic lymphoma (n = 28) or marginal zone lymphoma (n = 18) whose disease has progressed and who are refractory to rituximab and to either chemotherapy or radioimmunotherapy. The primary endpoint of the study was overall response rate as assessed by an independent review committee.

In the study, the overall response rate was 46 percent, all of which were partial responses. The overall response rate was 41 percent among patients with follicular lymphoma, 68 percent among patients with small lymphocytic lymphoma and 33 percent among patients with marginal zone lymphoma.

In the overall study population, the majority of side effects were reversible and clinically manageable. The most common ≥ Grade 3 side effects that occurred in at least 10 percent of patients in the study were neutropenia (28 percent), diarrhea (15 percent), thrombocytopenia (13 percent) and anemia (12 percent). Twenty percent of patients experienced ≥ Grade 3 infection.

Infinity expects to submit data from the DYNAMO study for presentation at an upcoming scientific conference.

Conference Call Information
Infinity will host a conference call today, June 14, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the duvelisib data, the restructuring and other corporate developments. A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed in the Investors/Media section of Infinity’s website at www.infi.com. To participate in the conference call, please dial 1-877-316-5293 (domestic) and 1-631-291-4526 (international) five minutes prior to start time. The conference ID number is 33224813. An archived version of the webcast will be available on Infinity’s website for 30 days.

About NHL
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the seventh leading site of new cancer cases among men and women.1 Follicular Lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent (slow growing) form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and accounts for about 22 percent of all newly diagnosed cases of NHL worldwide.1 Follicular lymphoma is considered incurable2, and the majority of FL patients diagnosed and treated will experience a pattern of relapse after sequential treatment regimens.3

About Duvelisib
Duvelisib is an investigational dual inhibitor of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)-delta and PI3K-gamma, two proteins that are known to help support the growth and survival of malignant B-cells. PI3K signaling may lead to the proliferation of malignant B-cells and is thought to play a role in the formation and maintenance of the supportive tumor microenvironment.4,5,6 AbbVie and Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are jointly researching and developing duvelisib in various cancer types.

Duvelisib is being evaluated in several studies, including a Phase 3 study in combination with other agents in patients with previously treated follicular lymphoma7 and a Phase 3 study in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia8. Duvelisib is an investigational compound and its safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by the FDA or any other health authority.