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Precision BioSciences Receives Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Application Covering PBCAR19B, a Stealth Cell, CD19 Allogeneic CAR T Candidate for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

On January 25, 2021 Precision BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: DTIL) a clinical stage biotechnology company dedicated to improving life with its wholly proprietary ARCUS genome editing platform, reported it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent application covering PBCAR19B, a next-generation, stealth cell, CD19 product candidate for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) (Press release, Precision Biosciences, JAN 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234574253]).

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The allowed composition claims of U.S. Patent Application No. 16/908,030 encompass genetically-modified human T cells comprising the Company’s PBCAR19B construct, which is inserted within the T cell receptor alpha constant (TRAC) locus. Once issued, patents arising from this patent family will have standard expiration dates in April 2040.

"This patent, when issued, will cover important design elements of our PBCAR19B stealth cell candidate, which is engineered to knock down expression of beta-2 microglobulin to reduce killing of CAR T cells by cytotoxic T cells, and to reduce CAR T cell rejection by natural killer cells," said Derek Jantz, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of Precision BioSciences. "Additionally, PBCAR19B CAR T cells are generated using a single gene editing step by inserting one cassette, encoding all the necessary elements, into the TRAC locus. Not only will this patent strengthen our intellectual property portfolio, it will further distinguish our ARCUS-based allogeneic CAR T development approach."

About PBCAR19B

PBCAR19B is a next-generation, stealth cell candidate for patients with CD19-positive malignancies such as relapsed/refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. PBCAR19B is designed to improve the persistence of allogeneic CAR T cells following infusion by reducing rejection by T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. In addition to the CAR gene, the stealth vector includes a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) that suppresses expression of beta-2 microglobulin (B2M), a component of Class 1 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules found on the cell surface. Reducing or knocking down Class 1 MHC expression on allogeneic CAR T cells has been shown to reduce CAR T cell killing by cytotoxic T cells. The stealth vector also carries an HLA-E gene intended to reduce rejection of CAR T cells by NK cells that can be stimulated as a result of reduced MHC molecule expression on the cell surface. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted the Investigational New Drug application for PBCAR19B, and the Phase 1 clinical study is expected to begin by mid-2021.

Exelixis Announces Initiation of Phase 1 Trial Evaluating XL102 as a Single Agent and in Combination with Other Anti-Cancer Agents in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors

On January 25, 2021 Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL) reported that initiation of the first-in-human phase 1 trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary anti-tumor activity of XL102 alone or in combination with other anti-cancer agents in patients with inoperable locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors (Press release, Exelixis, JAN 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234574252]). XL102 is a potent, selective and orally bioavailable inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7), an important regulator of the cell cycle that has been implicated in cancer.

"The initiation of our first-in-human phase 1 trial of XL102 is an important step in our commitment to developing novel medicines that can help patients with cancer," said Gisela Schwab, M.D., President, Product Development and Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Exelixis. "The potential of this novel CDK7 inhibitor has been shown in preclinical studies demonstrating anti-proliferative activity and an ability to induce cell death in multiple cancer cell lines. We are excited to begin this trial and look forward to the possibility of helping more patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors."

The XL102-101 trial is a phase 1, open-label dose-escalation and cohort-expansion study evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, anti-tumor activity and effect on biomarkers of XL102 administered orally alone and in multiple combination regimens in up to 298 patients with advanced solid tumors. The study will include patients with advanced solid tumors for whom either life-prolonging therapies do not exist or available therapies are intolerable or no longer effective. It will begin with a dose-escalation stage to determine the maximum tolerated dose or recommended dose of XL102 as a single agent and in combination therapy. In the subsequent cohort-expansion stage, XL102 will be evaluated in patients with certain types of ovarian, breast and prostate cancers. The goal of the cohort-expansion stage is to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of XL102, as assessed per the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1, as well as its safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile.

About XL102

XL102 is a potent, selective and orally bioavailable covalent inhibitor of CDK7, which is an important regulator of the cellular transcriptional and cell cycle machinery. CDK7 helps regulate cell cycle progression, with overexpression observed in multiple cancers, such as breast and gastric. In preclinical studies, XL102 revealed potent anti-proliferative activity, induced cell death in a large panel of cancer cell lines and caused tumor growth inhibition and regression in xenograft models, demonstrating its potential as a targeted antitumor agent.

XL102 (previously known as AUR102) was in-licensed by Exelixis from Aurigene in 2020. Exelixis has assumed responsibility for the future clinical development, commercialization and global manufacturing of XL102.

Calquence approved in Japan for the treatment of relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

On January 25, 2021 AstraZeneca’s Calquence (acalabrutinib), a next-generation, selective Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, reported that it has been approved in Japan for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) (including small lymphocytic lymphoma [SLL]) (Press release, AstraZeneca, JAN 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234574251]).

The approval by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare was based on positive results from the ASCEND Phase III trial and a Phase I trial in Japanese patients, showing Calquence monotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) versus a standard treatment of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody, combined with the physician’s choice of idelalisib, a PI3-kinase inhibitor or bendamustine, a chemotherapy.

In the ASCEND trial, Calquence reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 69% (hazard ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.49, p<0.0001). These results were published in Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2020.1

CLL is the most common type of adult leukaemia across the globe but is considered a rare disease in Japan and East Asia, representing between 1% and 2% of patients diagnosed with leukaemia.2-4

Dai Maruyama, MD, PhD, Director, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan said: "Today’s news marks great progress for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in Japan. As the ASCEND trial showed, Calquence provides a significant improvement in progression-free survival compared with current standard therapies. Treatment with a safe and tolerable regimen remains paramount for these patients who often require ongoing therapy for many years."

Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Oncology Business Unit, said: "Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is less prevalent in Japan than other regions, yet patients remain in need of innovative treatment options. This approval of Calquence offers patients in Japan a new, chemo-free, tolerable treatment option with uncompromised efficacy and the potential to positively impact quality of life."

In the ASCEND Phase III trial, an estimated 88% of patients with relapsed or refractory CLL treated with Calquence remained alive and free from disease progression after 12 months compared with 68% of patients on rituximab combined with idelalisib or bendamustine. After a median follow up of 16.1 months, median PFS was not reached with Calquence monotherapy versus 16.5 months in the control arm.1

The safety and tolerability of Calquence were consistent with its established profile.1 Final results of the ASCEND Phase III trial were presented at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) and 2020 European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) virtual meetings and demonstrated the long-term (median 22-month follow-up) efficacy and tolerability of Calquence in CLL.5,6

Calquence is approved for the treatment of CLL and SLL in the US and is approved for the treatment of CLL in the EU and in several other countries worldwide in the 1st-line and relapsed or refractory settings. Calquence is also approved in the US and several other countries for the treatment of adult patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior therapy. Calquence is not currently approved for the treatment of MCL in Japan or the EU.

As part of a broad development programme, Calquence is being assessed in more than 20 AstraZeneca-sponsored clinical trials for the treatment of patients with B-cell malignancies including CLL, MCL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia, follicular lymphoma, and other haematologic malignancies.

A Japanese Phase I/II trial based on the ELEVATE TN Phase III trial is currently underway for the treatment of 1st-line CLL.

CLL
CLL is the most common type of leukaemia in adults, with an estimated 114,000 new cases globally in 2017, and the number of people living with CLL is expected to grow with improved treatment as patients live longer with the disease.7-10 In CLL, too many blood stem cells in the bone marrow become abnormal lymphocytes and these abnormal cells have difficulty fighting infections. As the number of abnormal cells grows there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This could result in anaemia, infection, and bleeding.7 B-cell receptor signalling through BTK is one of the essential growth pathways for CLL.

ASCEND
ASCEND (ACE-CL-309) was a global, randomised, multicentre, open-label Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy of Calquence in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL. In the trial, 310 patients were randomised (1:1) into two arms. Patients in the first arm received Calquence monotherapy (100mg twice daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity). Patients in the second arm received physician’s choice of either rituximab, a CD20 monoclonal antibody, in combination with idelalisib, a PI3-kinase inhibitor, or rituximab in combination with bendamustine, a chemotherapy.1

The primary endpoint was PFS assessed by an Independent Review Committee (IRC), and key secondary endpoints included investigator-assessed PFS, IRC- and investigator-assessed overall response rate and duration of response, as well as overall survival, patient-reported outcomes and time to next treatment.1 ASCEND is the first randomised Phase III trial to directly compare a BTK inhibitor as monotherapy to these combinations in relapsed or refractory CLL.

AstraZeneca in haematology
Leveraging its strength in oncology, AstraZeneca has established haematology as one of four key oncology disease areas of focus. The Company’s haematology franchise includes two medicines approved in the US and a robust global development programme for a broad portfolio of potential blood cancer treatments. Acerta Pharma serves as AstraZeneca’s haematology research and development arm. AstraZeneca partners with like-minded science-led companies to advance the discovery and development of therapies to address unmet need.

AstraZeneca in oncology
AstraZeneca has a deep-rooted heritage in oncology and offers a quickly growing portfolio of new medicines that has the potential to transform patients’ lives and the Company’s future. With seven new medicines launched between 2014 and 2020, and a broad pipeline of small molecules and biologics in development, the Company is committed to advance oncology as a key growth driver for AstraZeneca focused on lung, ovarian, breast and blood cancers.

By harnessing the power of six scientific platforms – Immuno-Oncology, Tumour Drivers and Resistance, DNA Damage Response, Antibody Drug Conjugates, Epigenetics, and Cell Therapies – and by championing the development of personalised combinations, AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer treatment and one day eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

Calquence met primary efficacy endpoint in head-to-head trial against ibrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

On January 25, 2021 AstraZeneca reported that Positive high-level results from the ELEVATE-RR Phase III trial showed Calquence (acalabrutinib) met the primary endpoint demonstrating non-inferior progression-free survival (PFS) for adults with previously treated, high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) compared to ibrutinib (Press release, AstraZeneca, JAN 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234574250]).

The trial also met a key secondary endpoint for safety, showing patients treated with Calquence had statistically significantly lower incidence of atrial fibrillation compared to patients treated with ibrutinib. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rate that can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.1 Further hierarchical testing revealed no difference for Grade 3 or higher infections or Richter’s transformation. There was a descriptive trend for numerically favourable overall survival. Overall, the safety and tolerability of Calquence were consistent with the profile seen in the broader Calquence clinical development programme.

ELEVATE-RR is the first Phase III trial to compare two Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors in patients with CLL, the most common type of leukaemia in adults.2 Patients diagnosed with high-risk CLL may experience rapid worsening of their disease, requiring treatment.3

José Baselga, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, said: "With over forty months of follow-up, today’s results confirm that Calquence, a selective BTK inhibitor, displays superior safety in atrial fibrillation without compromising efficacy. The totality of the data confirm our confidence in the favourable benefit-risk profile of Calquence."

The data will be presented at a forthcoming medical meeting and shared with health authorities.

CLL
CLL is the most common type of leukaemia in adults, with an estimated 114,000 new cases globally in 2017, and the number of people living with CLL is expected to grow with improved treatment as patients live longer with the disease.2,4-6 In CLL, too many blood stem cells in the bone marrow become abnormal lymphocytes and these abnormal cells have difficulty fighting infections. As the number of abnormal cells grows, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This could result in anaemia, infection, and bleeding.4 B-cell receptor signalling through BTK is one of the essential growth pathways for CLL.

ELEVATE-RR
ELEVATE-RR (ACE-CL-006) is a randomised, multicentre, open-label Phase III non-inferiority trial of Calquence versus ibrutinib in patients with previously treated CLL with high-risk features (presence of 17p deletion and/or 11q deletion). In the trial, 533 patients were randomised (1:1) into two arms. Patients in the first arm received Calquence (100mg orally twice daily) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients in the second arm received ibrutinib (420mg orally once daily) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.7

The primary endpoint for the trial was PFS assessed by an independent review committee (non-inferiority; tested after 250 events). Secondary endpoints included incidence of atrial fibrillation, incidence of treatment-emergent Grade 3 or higher infections, incidence of Richter’s transformation (a condition in which CLL changes into an aggressive form of lymphoma) and overall survival.7

Calquence
Calquence (acalabrutinib) is a next-generation, selective inhibitor of BTK. Calquence binds covalently to BTK, thereby inhibiting its activity.8,9 In B-cells, BTK signalling results in activation of pathways necessary for B-cell proliferation, trafficking, chemotaxis, and adhesion.8

Calquence is approved for the treatment of CLL and small lymphocytic lymphoma in the US and approved for CLL in the EU and several other countries worldwide. Calquence is under regulatory review in Japan for relapsed or refractory CLL. A Phase I trial is currently underway in Japan for the treatment of 1st-line CLL.

In the US and several other countries, Calquence is also approved for the treatment of adult patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior therapy. The US MCL indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. Calquence is not currently approved for the treatment of MCL in Europe or Japan.

As part of an extensive clinical development programme, AstraZeneca and Acerta Pharma are currently evaluating Calquence in more than 20 company-sponsored clinical trials. Calquence is being developed for the treatment of multiple B-cell blood cancers including CLL, MCL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia, follicular lymphoma, and other haematologic malignancies.

Advaxis Reports Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Results and Provides a Business Update

On January 25, 2021 Advaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADXS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of immunotherapy products reported its financial results for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 and provides a business update (Press release, Advaxis, JAN 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234574249]).

Fiscal Year 2020 and Recent Key Accomplishments:

Presented updated clinical data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of ADXS-503 as a monotherapy and in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the 2020 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting
In the Part B combination arm, reported disease control rate of 67% and overall response rate of 17% in first six evaluable patients with immediate prior progression on KEYTRUDA
Reported durable and sustained tumor control, with confirmed stable disease and a partial response lasting out to 10 months
Biomarker data across 9 patients across trial arms confirmed on-mechanism activation of innate and adaptive immune responses to ADXS-503 with activation of cytotoxic -and/or memory CD8+ T cells as well as 100% efficient priming by ADXS-503
Across trial arms, ADXS-503 appeared safe and well tolerated as a monotherapy and in combination with KEYTRUDA with no added toxicities from combination therapy
Initiated ADXS-503 Part B combination arm efficacy expansion which will enroll up to 15 patients to evaluate the potential of ADXS-503 in combination with KEYTRUDA to restore and/or enhance responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitors in PD-1/L-1 refractory NSCLC patients
Initiated ADXS-503 Part C combination arm to evaluate ADXS-503 in combination with KEYTRUDA as a first line treatment in patients with metastatic NSCLC that would receive KEYTRUDA alone as per label indication with PD-L1 expression ≥ 1% or who are unfit to receive the standard of care regimen of KEYTRUDA in combination with platinum based-chemotherapy
Announced FDA Clearance of new Investigational New Drug (IND) application for ADXS-504 for the treatment of prostate cancer at a leading medical institution
Announced common stock purchase agreement for up to $20 million of common stock with Lincoln Park Capital
Announced an at-the-market offering program for up to $40 million of common stock with A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, as sales agent
Announced closing of $9.2 million public offering of common stock and warrants, with proceeds being used to fund continued development and expansion of our product pipeline, including investment in our ADXS-HOT program and for general corporate purposes
Cash runway currently anticipated to take the Company into fiscal second quarter of 2022
Management Commentary

"Fiscal year 2020 was transformative for Advaxis, with important clinical and biomarker data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 study of ADXS-503 in NSCLC which now consistently show the potential of ADXS-503 to synergistically enhance and/or restore sensitivity to checkpoint inhibitors," said Kenneth A. Berlin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Advaxis. "Based on these encouraging results, we have prioritized this study, beginning enrollment in the expansion of Part B to further evaluate the promising signals of sustained clinical benefit observed in Part B in NSCLC patients with immediate prior progression on KEYTRUDA, as well as Part C, which will evaluate ADXS-503 in combination with KEYTRUDA in the first line setting. We remain confident that our clinical strategy will explore the full potential of ADXS-503 to improve responses to checkpoint inhibitors across diverse clinical settings and patient populations, and are highly enthusiastic about the on-mechanism innate and adaptive immune stimulation seen in our broadly accessible, off-the-shelf neoantigen immunotherapy. In addition to these encouraging data, our strengthened balance sheet ensures our continued momentum with the ADXS-HOT program as we advance our Lm-technology to expand the reach of checkpoint inhibitors."

Balance Sheet Highlights

As of October 31, 2020, Advaxis had cash and cash equivalents of $25.2 million. The Company used $21.9 million in cash to fund operations during fiscal year 2020, mainly attributed to funding research and development and general and administrative activities. Throughout fiscal year 2020, the Company continued to prioritize its strategic pipeline across all programs and reduced its annual operating expenses by approximately $12.2 million, or nearly 31%.

Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Information
Research and development expenses for fiscal year 2020 were $15.6 million, compared with $26.7 million for fiscal year 2019. The $11.1 million decrease was primarily attributable to decreases in clinical trial costs, laboratory costs, drug manufacturing process validation and drug stability studies.

General and administrative expenses for fiscal year 2020 were $11.1 million, compared to $12.2 million for fiscal year 2019.

The net loss for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 was $26.5 million or $0.43 per share based on about 61 million weighted average shares outstanding. This compares with a net loss for fiscal year 2019 of $16.6 million or $1.09 per share based on 15.2 million weighted average shares outstanding.