Zejula (niraparib) shows durable and sustained long-term progression-free survival benefit in the PRIMA study of first-line platinum-responsive advanced ovarian cancer

On September 9, 2022 GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) reported long-term data from the phase III PRIMA (ENGOT-OV26/GOG-3012) study showing Zejula (niraparib) maintained a sustained and clinically meaningful progression-free survival (PFS) benefit as a maintenance therapy in patients with first-line ovarian cancer following a response to platinum-based chemotherapy (Press release, GlaxoSmithKline, SEP 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234619309]). Importantly, this benefit was sustained across all biomarker subgroups, including BRCAm, HRd and HRp. Results from the updated efficacy analysis will be presented on 11 September at the 2022 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (9-13 September).

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After a median three and a half years follow up, this ad hoc analysis showed:
In the HRd population, Zejulamaintained a clinically significant risk reduction of progression or death of 48% compared to placebo (HR 0.52; 95% CI, (0.40–0.68); p<0.0001). The estimated probability of no progressive disease or death at four years was 38% for Zejula vs 17% for placebo, respectively.
Zejula maintained a durable PFS benefit in the overall population (HR 0.66; 95% CI, (0.56–0.79); p<0.0001).The estimated probability of no progressive disease or death at four years in the overall population was 24% for Zejula vs 14% for placebo, respectively.

The HRp population also demonstrated a clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of progression or death by 35% compared to placebo (HR 0.65; 95% CI, (0.49–0.87); p<0.0038).
Overall survival data are not yet mature based on the prespecified analysis plan.
Hesham Abdullah, SVP, Global Head of Oncology Development, GSK said: "Patients can face a high risk of recurrence when diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer. The updated analysis of this study shows that Zejula can help patients potentially achieve a long-term remission."

Zejula’s safety profile remained consistent with the primary analysis and no new safety signals were identified. The most common grade three or higher adverse events with Zejula included thrombocytopenia (40%), anaemia (32%), and neutropenia (21%). Long-term monotherapy treatment with Zejula is associated with a low rate of discontinuation due to adverse events, a potential factor in achieving sustained therapeutic benefit. Long-term tolerability data on the individualised starting dose will be presented.

Dr Antonio Gonzalez-Martin, Primary Investigator for PRIMA and Director, Department of Medical Oncology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, said: "This pivotal study provides evidence that patients treated with niraparib maintenance therapy after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy can achieve sustained progression-free survival and maintain remission over time, which is critically important in the management of advanced ovarian cancer, and particularly reassuring for those at high-risk of recurrence. The long-term results not only show the ongoing benefit of niraparib for our trial participants, but offer hope for the future of patients with advanced ovarian cancer."
Zejula is the only once-daily oral monotherapy maintenance treatment approved in the US and the European Union (EU) for patients with first-line platinum-responsive advanced ovarian cancer regardless of biomarker status.

About ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is the 8th most common cancer in women worldwide.[1] Despite high response rates to platinum-based chemotherapy in the front-line setting, approximately 85% of patients will experience disease recurrence.[2] Once the disease recurs, it is rarely curable, with decreasing time intervals to each subsequent recurrence.
About Zejula (niraparib)
Niraparib is an oral, once-daily PARP inhibitor that is currently being evaluated in multiple pivotal trials. GSK is building a robust niraparib clinical development programme by assessing activity across multiple tumour types and by evaluating several potential combinations of niraparib with other therapeutics. The ongoing development programme for niraparib includes several combination studies.

About PRIMA
PRIMA is a double-blind, randomised phase III study designed to evaluate niraparib versus placebo in first-line Stage III or IV ovarian cancer patients. The study assessed the efficacy of niraparib as maintenance treatment, as measured by progression-free survival. Patients with a response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy were randomised 2:1 to niraparib or placebo. The trial was amended to include an individualised niraparib starting dose of 200 mg once-daily in patients with baseline weight <77kg and/or platelet count <150K/μL and 300 mg in all other patients.
Important Information for Zejula in the EU
Indication
Zejula is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with advanced epithelial (FIGO Stages III and IV) high-grade ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who are in response (complete or partial) following completion of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.
Refer to the Zejula Prescribing Information for a full list of adverse events and the complete important safety information in the EU.

PURMX Therapeutics Receives the "University Venture Award Special Prize" at the University Venture A

On September 8, 2022 PURMX Therapeutics (headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan; Hidetoshi Tahara, President & CEO; hereinafter referred to as "the Company") reported the company has received the "Special Award for Academic Startups" at the "Award for Academic Startups" hosted by the National Science and Technology Agency (JST) for the fiscal year 2022 (Press release, PURMX Therapeutics, SEP 8, 2022, View Source [SID1234653370]). (headquartered in Hiroshima City, Japan; President: Hidetoshi Tahara; hereinafter referred to as "the Company") has received the "Special Award for Academic Startups" at the "Award for Academic Startups" organized by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) for fiscal year 2022.

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OncoBone Ventures enters into 3 co-operation framework agreements

On September 8, 2022 OncoBone Ventures (www.oncoboneventures.com), a UK start-up biotech company seeking to develop novel therapies for cancer patients with currently incurable bone metastases, reported the signing of Co-operation Framework Agreements ("Agreements") with three partners ("Partners"), Okayama University in Japan (www.okayama-u.ac.jp), University of Bradford in UK (www.bradford.ac.uk) and The Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB) in Taiwan (www.dcb.org.tw) (Press release, OncoBone Ventures, SEP 8, 2022, View Source [SID1234636483]).

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The Agreements include preclinical testing of therapeutic assets developed by Partners for the treatment of cancer. The role of OncoBone Ventures will be to evaluate the efficacy of the therapeutic assets in preclinical bone metastasis models, followed by safety assessments for those assets that demonstrate good efficacy for bone metastases.

Dr. Jussi Halleen, CEO of OncoBone Ventures comments: "We are delighted to have signed these Co-operation Agreements with such prestigious institutions. The Agreements will provide a consistent basis for our future co-operation with the Partners within an agreed framework."

Dr. Rushil V. Patel named 2022 recipient of The Conquer Cancer – Anna Braglia Endowed Young Investigator Award (YIA) in Cancer Supportive Care

On September 8, 2022 Helsinn Group ("Helsinn"), a fully integrated, global biopharma company with a diversified pipeline of innovative oncology assets, in conjunction with Conquer Cancer, the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Foundation, reported Dr. Rushil V. Patel as the 2022 recipient of the Conquer Cancer – Anna Braglia Endowed Young Investigator Award (YIA) in Cancer Supportive Care (Press release, Helsinn, SEP 8, 2022, View Source [SID1234619491]).

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Helsinn established the Anna Braglia Endowed Young Investigator Award (YIA) through an endowment to Conquer Cancer. The Young Investigator Award (YIA) funds physicians, determined by Conquer Cancer, who are in the final years of their training to aid their transition from a fellowship program to a faculty appointment. The YIA is a one-year $50,000 grant that aims to promote quality research in clinical oncology.

Dr. Patel will study the cultural values and related preferences regarding palliative care of the Hindu community in the Charlotte, North Carolina metropolitan area of the United States, to identify common themes. Once these themes have been identified, Dr. Patel and his team will prepare a survey to be shared with Hindu patients and caregivers from other US cities, to further understand palliative care preferences in Hindu communities throughout the US.

Dr. Patel is a third-year hematology/oncology fellow at the Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. He received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before completing internal medicine residency training at Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina. Following his residency, Dr. Patel completed a hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where he became interested in how religion and spirituality influenced palliative care for cancer patients. After this, Dr. Patel was then selected as the Frances Young Tang Research Fellow in Palliative Medicine and completed a study on the spiritual and palliative care needs of hospitalized cancer patients who identified with the Dharmic religions. Dr. Patel has also completed the University of Michigan’s one-year Integrative Oncology Scholars Program.

The Conquer Cancer – Anna Braglia Endowed YIA in Cancer Supportive Care was established in 2016 to honor the life of Anna Braglia, the wife of Helsinn Group Founder and Chairman, Gabriele Braglia, and mother of Helsinn Group Executive Chairman, Riccardo Braglia, following her passing in 2015.

Giorgio Calderari, Helsinn Group CEO, commented: "Dr. Patel’s research into how different cultural minorities view palliative care is a cause that resonates with Helsinn and we are impressed by his passion to make a difference within these communities. At Helsinn, we strive to develop treatments and provide the best support for cancer patients and their families and are pleased to be able to support important research projects like the one Dr. Patel is leading."

Dr. Rushil V. Patel, commented: "Receiving the Young Investigator Award for a subject that is so close to my heart is a true honor. Being recognized by both Conquer Cancer and Helsinn is a great validation of the work we are doing, and I am hopeful that through this project we will be able to bridge the gap in palliative care across different communities."

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On September 8, 2022, Nascent Biotech Inc. (the "Company") reported that closed an agreement with Platinum Point Capital LLC ("Platinum"), an unrelated third party. Platinum is loaning the Company $500,000.00 (Filing, 8-K, Nascent Biotech, SEP 8, 2022, View Source [SID1234619349]). The first tranche of $250,000.00 will be paid at Closing. In connection with the loan, the Company is issuing Platinum its Convertible Debentures (the "Debentures"). The first Debenture is for $250,000.00, has a maturity date of one year and is due on September 6, 2023. The interest rate is six percent (6%) per annum. The Debenture may be converted at the lesser of $0.30 per share or eighty percent (80%) of the lowest VWAP of the Company’s common stock for ten consecutive trading days immediately prior to the conversion date. The Debenture may be prepaid in accordance with the terms set forth in the Debenture. The Debenture also contains certain representations, warranties, covenants, and events of default including, among other things, if the Company becomes delinquent in its periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). If an event of default occurs, the amount of the principal and interest rate due under the Debentures increases.

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Platinum will not affect any conversion which will result in its holding more than 9.99% of our common stock. The Debenture provides for certain penalties for failure to timely deliver stock and contains other protective provisions for Platinum. $250,000 principal amount of the Debenture has been funded and the next tranche of $250,000 will be due when the Company’s registration statement, covering the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debenture and upon exercise of a warrant that the Company has issued as part of the transaction, is declared effective.

As part of this transaction, the Company and Platinum entered into to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated September 6, 2022 (the "SPA"). The Company also issued a warrant to Platinum to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for a period of two years, expiring on September 6, 2024, at an exercise price of $0.60 per share.

In connection with the Debenture and SPA, the Company also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement obligating the Company to register with the SEC the shares issuable upon conversion of the Debentures and issuable upon exercise of the Warrant.

The foregoing descriptions of the terms of the Debenture, the Warrant, the SPA, and the Registration Rights Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the complete text of the documents attached as Exhibits 4.1 through 4.2 and Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

On September 9, 2022, the Company repaid the $275,000 convertible note dated April 7, 2022 (the "Note") that the Company had issued to Platinum. The conversion terms for the Note were the lower of $0.075 per share or 80% of the lowest VWAP of the Company’s common stock for the 10 consecutive trading days immediately prior to the conversion date.