Invenra and Oxford BioTherapeutics Enter Collaboration to Discover Novel Therapeutic Antibodies Targeting Cancer

On June 15, 2015 Invenra, Inc., a pre-clinical stage bio-pharmaceutical company focused on next-generation therapeutic human antibodies and antibody derivatives, and Oxford BioTherapeutics (OBT), an international, clinical stage biotechnology company developing a range of innovative antibody-based therapeutics for cancer, reported a collaboration to identify and characterize a panel of fully human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against a novel cancer target that OBT has identified utilizing its OGAP discovery platform (Press release, Invenra, JUN 25, 2015, View Source [SID1234570590]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Under the terms of the agreement, OBT will make an initial payment to Invenra upon successful delivery of a panel of novel mAbs confirmed to meet mutually agreed design goals and specifications. OBT will be responsible for all further development of the therapeutic product candidates. Assuming successful development, Invenra could receive further milestone payments and royalties on net sales of therapeutic and diagnostic products. In addition, OBT obtains diagnostic product rights from Invenra and will have the option of developing diagnostic products. Further financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Invenra’s proprietary platform is based on ultra-high throughput technology to synthesize hundreds of thousands of full-length antibodies via cell-free expression and release them into nanowells, where they can be directly and quickly interrogated against cells in a multi-plexed fashion with a diverse set of immunotypic and biologically relevant assays. The Invenra technology allows rapid identification of high affinity mAbs with the broadest epitope coverage possible while simultaneously performing direct phenotypic screening to isolate those mAbs with the most relevant biological activity, thus leading to the selection of the best lead compounds for further development.

OBT’s proprietary target discovery platform, OGAP (Oxford Genome Anatomy Project), incorporates one of the world’s largest proprietary cell-membrane focused proteomic databases, with data on over 5,000 cancer membrane proteins providing unique, highly-qualified oncology targets that are selected for optimal ADC activity.

Keith Wilson, OBT’s chief scientific officer, said, "OBT is passionate about developing targeted cancer therapies for patients, and we are excited to be working with Invenra on a new approach to pursue mAb-based therapies. This collaboration leverages the complementary expertise of our two companies in identifying optimal mAbs against targets differentially expressed in cancer."

Roland Green, CEO and president of Invenra, said, "This collaboration is a major milestone for Invenra as a company and a validation of our innovative technology. We are delighted to be collaborating with Oxford BioTherapeutics to identify best-in-class antibodies against their novel oncology target. In addition, this collaboration with OBT fits well within our business model, whereby we are making our technology available to a select group of companies while continuing to develop our own internal proprietary pipeline of therapeutic product candidates."

TESARO Announces Six Abstracts to be Presented at the 2015 Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Annual Meeting

On June 25, 2015 TESARO reported the presentation of six abstracts at the 2015 Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC/ISOO) Annual Meeting, June 25 to 27, 2015, in Copenhagen (Press release, TESARO, JUN 25, 2015, View Source [SID:1234505804]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Presentation Details:

Efficacy and safety of rolapitant for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) over multiple cycles of highly- or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC; MEC)
Abstract: 11-03-O, Oral Presentation, Friday, June 26, 2015 from 5:45 PM to 7:15 PM

Impact of rolapitant on quality of life (QoL) in patients (pts) receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC) and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC)
Abstract: 11-38-P, Poster Presentation, Friday, June 26, 2015

Rolapitant for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in non-anthracycline/cyclophosphamide (A/C) moderately emetogenic therapy (MEC)
Abstract: 11-39-P, Poster Presentation, Friday, June 26, 2015

Efficacy and safety of rolapitant for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients (pts) using anthracycline-cyclophosphamide (AC)-based chemotherapy
Abstract: 11-11-P, Poster Presentation, Friday, June 26, 2015

Pharmacokinetics of rolapitant administered intravenously following single ascending and multiple ascending doses in healthy volunteers
Abstract: 11-20-P, Poster Presentation, Friday, June 26, 2015

Effect of the CYP3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole on the pharmacokinetics of rolapitant, a novel NK-1 receptor antagonist
Abstract: 11-07-P, Poster Presentation, Friday, June 26, 2015

Rolapitant is an investigational product candidate that has not been approved by any regulatory agency.

Advaxis Provides 2015 Half-Year Review and Outlook

On June 25, 2015 Advaxis reported it will hold a business update conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET highlighting year-to-date accomplishments and key near-term goals (Press release, Advaxis, JUN 25, 2015, View Source [SID:1234505803]). The call is intended to provide Advaxis investors and stakeholders with a recap of the Company’s achievements in the first half of 2015 and an overview of milestones anticipated throughout the remainder of the year and into 2016.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

A live broadcast of the conference call will be available by direct dial at 1-888-401-4669 in the U.S. or 1-719-325-2458 outside of the U.S.; Conference Passcode 7209396, or by live webcast available online at this URL: View Source

The call will be recorded and available for playback through July 9 by dialing 1-877-870-5176 in the U.S. and 1-858-384-5517 outside of the U.S.; Replay Passcode 7209396. In addition, the webcast will be available for replay at the URL above.

"We are pleased with our accomplishments during the past six months as we continue to strengthen our proprietary immunotherapy platform," said Daniel J. O’Connor, President and CEO of Advaxis. "In addition to the significant progress in R&D, we are financially strong and now have the resources to fully execute on and expand our clinical development programs."

UPCOMING MILESTONES

Advaxis anticipates the following operational milestones throughout the remainder of 2015 and into 2016.

Lm Technology Immunotherapy Clinical Programs:

ADXS-HPV

Commence enrollment in the Phase 3, registration quality trial, AIM2CERV.

Complete enrollment in Stage 2 of the ongoing GOG-0265 Phase 2 trial of ADXS-HPV in persistent or recurrent cervical cancer being conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), anticipating up to 38 patients enrolled by June 30, 2016 with Final Stage 1 safety and efficacy data to be presented at an upcoming major medical meeting in 2015. Final study data (Stage 1 and 2) to be available in the first half of 2017.

Enroll the first patient this summer in a collaborative Phase 1/2 study of ADXS-HPV in combination with AstraZeneca/MedImmune’s MEDI4736 in cervical cancer and HPV-associated head and neck cancer in second half of 2015 with data available in the first half of 2016.

Complete enrollment in Part A (dose escalation) of our Phase 1 study evaluating higher doses of ADXS-HPV immunotherapy and repeat cycles of treatment with data available from Part A in 2016.

Complete enrollment of the Mount Sinai investigator-sponsored Phase 1/2 study of ADXS-HPV in patients with HPV-associated head and neck cancer. Data to be available in the first half of 2016.

Commence enrollment in a Phase 2 study in patients with HPV-associated metastatic anal cancer by year’s end with data available in the second half of 2016.

Commence enrollment in the second half of 2015 on the Phase 1/2 combination study with Incyte Corporation’s (Incyte) IDO-1 inhibitor.

ADXS-PSA

Complete enrollment in Part A (dose escalation) in the first half of 2016 in the Phase 1/2 study of ADXS-PSA as a monotherapy or in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Data to be available in second half of 2016.

ADXS-HER2

Enroll the first patient in a Phase 1 first-in-human trial of ADXS-HER2 in metastatic HER2 expressing solid tumors in the second half of 2015 with data to be available in the second half of 2016.
Initiate a clinical study of ADXS-HER2 in pediatric osteosarcoma in partnership with the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) in 2016.
Secure conditional license for ADXS-HER2 (also known as AT-014) for the treatment of canine osteosarcoma from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2016.

Business:

Advaxis continues to seek partnerships for its Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) Technology that will enable additional research in combination with other cancer therapies and novel immunotherapies. Advaxis currently retains full commercial rights to its programs.
Advaxis continues to explore options for retaining a Latin American partner for ADXS-HPV to collaborate on co-development and registration in this important region.

FIRST HALF 2015 REVIEW

Since issuing its previous business update in January 2015, Advaxis achieved several regulatory, clinical, business and operational milestones during the first half of 2015.

Lm Technology Immunotherapy Clinical Programs:

ADXS-HPV

GOG’s Phase 2 Study of ADXS-HPV for the Treatment of Persistent or Recurrent Cervical Cancer Achieved Stage 1 Safety and Efficacy Criteria; GOG Began Enrolling Patients in Stage 2 of the Study
On January 28, Advaxis announced that GOG-0265 Phase 2 open-label clinical study of ADXS-HPV in patients with persistent or recurrent cervical cancer with documented disease progression being conducted by the GOG, has completed its first stage and has met the predetermined safety and efficacy criteria required to proceed into the second stage of patient enrollment. The GOG began enrolling patients in Stage 2 of the ongoing Phase 2 trial and expects the study to be fully enrolled by the end of 2015.

Advaxis and GOG to Collaborate on Phase 3 Study of ADXS-HPV in High Risk, Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer; Filed a SPA
On January 7, Advaxis announced a clinical trial collaboration agreement with the GOG for a planned Phase 3 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of ADXS-HPV in high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer. On June 15, Advaxis announced the submission of a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Phase 3 study and plans to initiate the study by the end of 2015, depending on the length of the SPA process.

Advaxis Treated First Patient in Phase 1/2 Study of ADXS-HPV for Recurrent Cervical Cancer
On March 19, Advaxis announced that the first patient was dosed in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating higher doses and repeat cycles of ADXS-HPV in persistent, metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer, based on encouraging survival data seen previously with a lower dose in this patient population.

FDA Cleared IND for Phase 2 Study of ADXS-HPV and Incyte’s epacadostat for HPV-Associated Early Stage Cervical Cancer
On June 1, Advaxis announced the clearance of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the FDA to conduct a Phase 2 study of ADXS-HPV alone or in combination with Incyte’s investigational oral indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitor, epacadostat, for the treatment of early stage HPV-associated cervical cancer. The trial is expected to begin patient enrollment in the second half of 2015.

Advaxis and RTOG Foundation to Collaborate on a Pivotal Phase 2/3 Study of ADXS-HPV in Anal Cancer
On April 6, Advaxis announced entering into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Foundation to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ADXS-HPV in a pivotal Phase 2/3 anal cancer trial, which will be run by NRG Oncology.

Preliminary Data from a Phase 1/2 Study of ADXS-HPV in HPV-Associated Anal Cancer Presented at the 2015 IANS Scientific Meeting
On March 16, Advaxis announced that preliminary data from an ongoing Brown University Oncology Research Group investigator-sponsored Phase 1/2 clinical study investigating ADXS-HPV in combination with chemoradiation in HPV-associated locally advanced anal cancer were presented at the International Anal Neoplasia Society (IANS) 2015 Scientific Meeting. Based upon these preliminary data, this study has the potential to transition to a Phase 2/3 registration quality study to be conducted by RTOG.

ADXS-PSA

Advaxis and Merck Initiated Enrollment in the Phase 1/2 Study of ADXS-PSA in Combination with Anti-PD-1 Therapy KEYTRUDA, in Advanced Prostate Cancer
On April 8, Advaxis and Merck announced enrollment has commenced in the Phase 1/2 KEYNOTE-046 clinical trial evaluating ADXS-PSA as a monotherapy and in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), in previously treated mCRPC.

ADXS-HER2

FDA Accepted IND for First-in-Human Trial of ADXS-HER2; Advaxis to Initiate Phase 1b Study in Patients with Metastatic HER2 Expressing Solid Tumors
On January 22, Advaxis announced the FDA cleared its IND to conduct a Phase 1b clinical study evaluating the safety and tolerability of ADXS-HER2 as a monotherapy in patients with metastatic HER2 expressing solid tumors. The clinical trial will be the first-in-human study of ADXS-HER2 and is expected to begin patient enrollment in the summer of 2015.

Preliminary Data from Phase 1 Study of ADXS-HER2 in Canine Osteosarcoma Presented at the 2015 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Meeting
On April 20, preliminary data from one clinical and two preclinical studies demonstrating the survival outcomes and anti-tumor effects of Advaxis’s Lm Technology immunotherapies in various settings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2015. Data from the ongoing Phase 1 clinical study of ADXS-HER2 in combination with palliative radiation suggested that ADXS-HER2 delayed tumor progression and prolonged overall survival in 10 pet dogs with spontaneous osteosarcoma that were not candidates for primary tumor removal (amputation). The commercial rights to the veterinary indications for ADXS-HER2 have been licensed to Aratana Therapeutics.

Business & Operations:

Advaxis Completed Two Successful Rounds of Financing
Advaxis has raised approximately $140 million in fewer than two years and has approximately $100 million in cash on the balance sheet.

Advaxis Completed Leadership Hires In Core Business Functions
Advaxis’s new hires secured leadership positions in manufacturing, regulatory affairs and clinical operations. The industry experience and caliber of these executives highlights that Advaxis has become a company able to attract premier staff from the industry.

Advaxis and Sorrento Formed a Collaboration to Evaluate Combinations of Advaxis’s Lm Technology Product Candidates and Sorrento’s Immunomodulatory Antibodies
Advaxis entered into a non-exclusive research and clinical trial collaboration agreement with Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (Sorrento) to evaluate combinations of the company’s immunotherapy candidates, including ADXS-HPV, ADXS-PSA and ADXS-HER2, with Sorrento’s fully human antibodies targeting immune checkpoints, including GITR, OX40, LAG-3 and TIM-3.

Advaxis Formed a Clinical Trial Collaboration With Incyte to Evaluate Investigational Combination of Two Novel Cancer Immunotherapies for Early Stage Cervical Cancer
Advaxis established an agreement with Incyte to investigate the combination of ADXS-HPV together with Incyte’s investigational IDO1 inhibitor, epacadostat. The recently accepted IND for the Phase 2 study evaluating ADXS-HPV as a monotherapy and in combination with epacadostat in patients with early stage HPV-associated cervical cancers is expected to start in the second half of 2015.

Provectus Biopharmaceuticals’ Poster Presentation Displayed on Phase 3 Study of PV-10 at 5th European Post-Chicago Melanoma / Skin Cancer Meeting

On June 25, 2015 Provectus Biopharmaceuticals reported that its poster presentation titled "Trials in Progress: Intralesional Rose Bengal vs Systemic Chemotherapy for Treatment of Locally Advanced Cutaneous Melanoma" is on display at the 5th European Post-Chicago Melanoma / Skin Cancer Meeting in Munich, Germany (Press release, Provectus Pharmaceuticals, JUN 25, 2015, http://www.pvct.com/pressrelease.html?article=20150625.1 [SID:1234505801]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The poster presentation will be open in the Royal Ballroom of the Leonardo Royal Hotel, in Munich, Germany throughout the entirety of the conference. The conference will run June 25-26, 2015.

Additionally, Dr. Vernon Sondak (Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA) will present on PV-10 during "Symposium III – New Drugs and Trials I: Immunotherapy" to be held Thursday, June 25, from 17:40 – 17:48 (5:40PM – 5:48PM local time), also in the Royal Ballroom.

To access the poster, visit: http://www.pvct.com/publications/Post-Chicago-Munich-2015.pdf

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Granted Key European Patent for Its Lead Clinical Drug Candidate Bavituximab

On June 25, 2015 Peregrine Pharmaceuticals reported that the European Patent Office (EPO) has granted Patent Number 2,269,656, titled "Selected Antibodies Binding to Aminophospholipids and their Use in Treatment, Such as Cancer" (Press release, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, JUN 25, 2015, View Source [SID:1234505806]). This important patent covers bavituximab as a composition of matter and for use in treating cancer including in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, such as with docetaxel.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The new patent covers bavituximab as a composition of matter, a range of related antibodies, including humanized and chain-shuffled antibodies and other sequence variations and their broad use in any diagnosis or therapy. The new patent also covers antibody drug conjugates, diagnostic and imaging constructs, liposomal and pharmaceutical combinations of bavituximab and related antibodies.

Know more, wherever you are:
Latest on Antibodies in Oncology, book your free 1stOncology demo here.

"This is a key part to our European patent strategy for bavituximab and an important addition to our intellectual property portfolio, which now numbers more than 140 worldwide issued patents and pending applications for our bavituximab oncology program," said Shelley Fussey, vice president of intellectual property at Peregrine. "The granting of this patent enhances the ongoing expansion and strengthening of the company’s intellectual property portfolio surrounding its immuno-oncology pipeline and our commitment to executing future global strategic collaborations and partnerships."

This patent currently provides intellectual property rights in validated European countries through July, 2023 and could be eligible for extension of patent term under the European Union’s Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) process. This patent was granted to The University of Texas System and is exclusively licensed to Peregrine Pharmaceuticals.

Peregrine’s lead immunotherapy candidate, bavituximab, is in Phase III development for the treatment of second-line non-small cell lung cancer (the SUNRISE trial) along with several investigator-sponsored trials evaluating additional oncology indications. The Company is also advancing its plans to initiate additional bavituximab clinical trials, including a Phase II trial in non-small cell lung cancer in combination with Opdivo (Nivolumab) and a Phase II/III trial in locally advanced or metastatic HER2 negative breast cancer in combination with either docetaxel or paclitaxel.

Peregrine’s antibodies target and bind to phosphatidylserine (PS), a highly immunosuppressive molecule normally located on the interior of cellular membranes, but, following stresses in the tumor environment, becomes exposed on tumor cells and cells that line tumor blood vessels, helping tumors to evade immune detection. PS-targeting antibodies block this immunosuppressive signal, thereby enabling the immune system to better recognize and fight the tumor. Preclinical data show that the combination of bavituximab and inhibitors of immune checkpoints reduce tumor-suppressive factors including myeloid-derived suppressor cells and confer increased tumor-specific immunity when compared to either treatment alone.