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VBL Therapeutics Provides Update on OVAL, a Phase 3 Registration Enabling Study of VB-111 in Ovarian Cancer

On June 15, 2021 VBL Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VBLT) reported an update on its ongoing OVAL Phase 3 study investigating ofranergene obadenovec (VB-111), for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (Press release, VBL Therapeutics, JUN 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234584020]).

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The Company was notified by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that clearance of new VB-111 batches for use in the U.S. is currently pending the completion of a technical review by the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) group, which is evaluating the comparability of VB-111 manufacturing between different source sites. Until new batches are cleared, the Company anticipates a temporary shortage of study drug supply for the U.S. Accordingly, recruitment of new patients in the U.S. will be temporarily paused. Treatment will continue as usual for all U.S. patients currently enrolled. To-date, the study has enrolled approximately 75% of the planned 400-patients.

"Our team is working to provide the requested information to the FDA as quickly as possible," said Dror Harats, M.D., CEO of VBL Therapeutics. "Since receipt of the notification, we have submitted some of the requested information, and are preparing the remaining documentation, which we believe can be completed and submitted to the agency in the next two to three months. We do not expect a material change to our data readout timelines. We are in regular contact with the FDA and taking the steps necessary to minimize disruption to the trial in the U.S."

VBL recently amended the primary endpoint of OVAL based upon requested changes by the Company that were reviewed by the FDA. OVAL now includes a second, separate primary endpoint, of progression free survival (PFS), in addition to the original primary endpoint of the trial, overall survival (OS). Successfully meeting either primary endpoint is expected to be sufficient to support BLA submission.

About the OVAL study (NCT03398655)
OVAL is an international Phase 3 randomized pivotal registration enabling clinical trial that compares a combination of VB-111 and paclitaxel to placebo plus paclitaxel, in patients with platinum resistant ovarian cancer. The study is planned to enroll approximately 400 patients. OVAL is conducted in collaboration with the GOG Foundation, Inc., an independent international non-profit organization with the purpose of promoting excellence in the field of gynecologic malignancies.

About VB-111 (ofranergene obadenovec)
VB-111 is an investigational anti-cancer gene-therapy agent that is being developed to treat a wide range of solid tumors. VB-111 is a unique biologic agent that is designed to use a dual mechanism to target solid tumors. Its mechanism combines blockade of tumor vasculature with an anti-tumor immune response. VB-111 is administered as an IV infusion once every 6-8 weeks. It has been observed to be well-tolerated in >300 cancer patients and demonstrated activity signals in an "all comers" Phase 1 trial as well as in three tumor-specific Phase 2 studies. VB-111 has received an Orphan Designation for the treatment of ovarian cancer from the European Commission. VB-111 has also received orphan drug designation in both the US and Europe, and fast track designation in the US, for prolongation of survival in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. VB-111 demonstrated proof-of-concept and survival benefit in Phase 2 clinical trials in radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer and recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (NCT01711970)

Enlivex Announces Issuance of New European Patent Covering Therapeutic Compositions of Allocetra and CAR-T Immunotherapies for Inhibition or Reduction of Cytokine Storms Associated with CAR-T Therapies for Cancer

On June 15, 2021 Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd., (Nasdaq: ENLV, the "Company"), a clinical-stage macrophage reprogramming immunotherapy company targeting diseased macrophages in patients with sepsis, COVID-19 and solid tumors, reported that the European Patent Office has issued European patent No. 3,258,943 covering AllocetraTM, the Company’s immunotherapy product candidate. The new patent’s title is "COMBINATION IMMUNE THERAPY AND CYTOKINE CONTROL THERAPY FOR CANCER TREATMENT", and is expected to provide added intellectual property protection for therapeutic compositions of AllocetraTM and CAR-T immunotherapies for inhibition or reduction of cytokine storms associated with CAR-T therapies for cancer (Press release, Enlivex Therapeutics, JUN 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234584019]).

Oren Hershkovitz, PhD, CEO of Enlivex, stated, "We are pleased to have this patent granted in Europe, which adds to existing AllocetraTM patents in various countries around the world. Specifically, this new patent further strengthens our existing intellectual property portfolio covering the use of AllocetraTM for cancer therapy."

AllocetraTM is being developed as a universal, off-the-shelf cell therapy designed to reprogram macrophages into their homeostatic state. Diseases such as solid cancers, sepsis, COVID-19 and many others reprogram macrophages out of their homeostatic state. These non-homeostatic macrophages contribute significantly to the severity of the respective diseases. By restoring macrophage homeostasis, AllocetraTM has the potential to provide a novel immunotherapeutic mechanism of action for life-threatening clinical indications that are defined as "unmet medical needs", as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with leading therapeutic agents.

Caris Life Sciences and Elevation Oncology Announce Joint Discovery and Development Collaboration Focused on Oncogenic Fusions and Driver Mutations

On June 15, 2021 Caris Life Sciences, a leading innovator in molecular science and artificial intelligence focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine, and Elevation Oncology, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of precision medicines for patients with genomically defined cancers, reported a strategic collaboration to jointly identify oncogenic fusions and mutations that are driver alterations (Press release, Elevation Oncology, JUN 15, 2021, https://elevationoncology.com/caris-life-sciences-and-elevation-oncology-announce-joint-discovery-and-development-collaboration-focused-on-oncogenic-fusions-and-driver-mutations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=caris-life-sciences-and-elevation-oncology-announce-joint-discovery-and-development-collaboration-focused-on-oncogenic-fusions-and-driver-mutations [SID1234584018]). Together, Caris and Elevation Oncology will discover and develop therapeutics targeting these newly identified alterations.

Under the terms of the agreement, Caris and Elevation Oncology will jointly evaluate potential targets, some of which are not currently actionable by an existing therapeutic, identified on an ongoing basis by analyzing Caris’ Whole Transcriptome Sequencing (WTS) and Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) data. The companies can then elect to initiate a novel drug discovery program for those targets, or pursue licensing or product acquisitions, while retaining exclusive access to all targets selected by the parties.

"Caris is dedicated to advancing precision oncology for patients. We are thrilled to build upon our strategic relationship with Elevation Oncology and deepen the connection between molecular diagnostics and clinical development," said David Spetzler, M.S., Ph.D., MBA, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Caris Life Sciences. "By pairing our unique insight into potential genomic driver alterations gained through Caris’ market-leading molecular profiling capabilities with Elevation Oncology’s strength in executing innovative clinical oncology programs in genomically-defined populations, we aim to further close the gap between target identification and clinical investigation for potential new therapeutics."

"Through this collaboration between Elevation Oncology and Caris, we hope to demonstrate how biopharmaceutical and molecular medicine companies can work hand in hand to realize visions that are shared across the precision oncology community," said Shawn M. Leland, PharmD, RPh, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Elevation Oncology. "At Elevation Oncology, we believe every cancer patient deserves the opportunity to be matched with an actionable, purposely selected therapeutic that is precisely targeted to their tumor’s unique genomic biomarkers. In Caris, we have found a collaborator who both shares this vision as a leader in genomic testing and who can provide real-world insights into emerging or underserved genomically-defined patient populations. Together, we believe we are pioneering a platform to accelerate the development of precision therapeutics and build toward a future where patients have the option of a matched therapy for every driver alteration – no matter how rare."

Caris Molecular Intelligence, the company’s proprietary, comprehensive tumor profiling approach assesses all 22,000 genes in both DNA and RNA, and proteins – unique to an individual’s cancer – to reveal a molecular blueprint in order to guide more precise and individualized treatment decisions. Caris’ CODEai is the most comprehensive data solution in the industry, with cancer treatment information and clinical outcomes data for over 244,000 patients covering over 1,000,000 data points per patient. The analysis of oncogenic fusions and mutations that are driver alterations for assessment under the collaboration will be conducted on both the historical dataset that has been compiled by Caris, and on an ongoing basis from the future tumor profiling data routinely generated from Caris’ platforms over the term of the agreement.

Therapeutics selected by the parties, and subsequent companion diagnostics, will be developed on a cost-sharing basis with revenue being shared on any approved therapeutics.

Sutro Biopharma to Participate in Two Virtual Investor Conferences in June

On June 15, 2021 Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRO), a clinical-stage drug discovery, development and manufacturing company focused on the application of precise protein engineering and rational design to create next-generation cancer and autoimmune therapeutics, reported that Chief Executive Officer, Bill Newell, will participate in two virtual investor conferences in June (Press release, Sutro Biopharma, JUN 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234584017]).

Presentation Details
JMP Securities Life Sciences Conference

Format: Fireside Chat

Date: Thursday, June 17, 2021

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT

Raymond James Human Health Innovations Conference

Format: Panel Session

Panel Title: Targeted Oncology 2: Antibody Drug Conjugates

Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Time: 10:40 a.m. ET / 7:40 a.m. PT

Live webcasts of each presentation can be accessed through the Events and Presentations page of the Investor Relations section on the company’s website at www.sutrobio.com. Archived replays of the webcasts will be available on the company’s website for approximately 30 days following each live presentation.

FDA Authorizes ImmunityBio Study of Anktiva and PD-L1 t-haNK to Increase Effectiveness of Trodelvy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

On June 15, 2021 ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, reported it has received FDA authorization to conduct a Phase 1b/2 open-label study to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of its superagonist Anktiva (N-803, an IL-15 superagonist) and PD-L1 targeted high-affinity natural killer (t-haNK) cells in combination with standard chemo and Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy), in subjects with advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (Press release, NantKwest, JUN 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234584016]). The study may provide data indicating whether this combination can increase the effectiveness of Trodelvy in patients who have failed to respond to other treatments.

Triple-negative breast cancer is a serious, aggressive cancer with a high mortality rate. While Trodelvy displayed efficacy against TNBC in phase 3 testing, only a third of third-line patients respond to it, and less than 17% of them continue to respond after a year. ImmunityBio proposed this new study based on data from a Phase 1 trial (NCT03387085) with Anktiva and the company’s haNK cells that elicited a significant response rate in refractory TNBC. Anktiva and PD-L1 t-haNK when used in combination with Trodelvy may show additive or even synergistic effects, greatly increasing the response rate and, importantly, durability of responses.

"Antibody-drug conjugates like Trodelvy have made tremendous progress in giving patients with TNBC more and higher-quality time, but we believe Anktiva could potentially fill remaining treatment gaps and offer patients additional hope," said Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., Founder and Executive Chairman of ImmunityBio. "We’re conducting multiple studies with Anktiva across different tumor types, in some cases in combination with our NK cell line, that are designed to determine if they can enhance the activity of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies like Trodelvy—and, ultimately, provide patients with longer, progression-free survival."

The strategy behind this approach is to attack the tumor in two distinct, complementary ways—with Trodelvy delivering the initial blow by targeting the protein Trop-2 displayed by many TNBC cells and delivering a chemotherapy payload while Anktiva recruits key cells of the immune system, including NK and T cells, to continue fighting the tumor. To further unleash the power of the immune system, PD-L1 t-haNK will be introduced.

QUILT 3.058 Study Details

This phase 1b/2 open-label study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of sacituzumab govitecan-hziy in combination with chemoimmunotherapy (cyclophosphamide, N-803, and PD-L1 t-haNK) in subjects with TNBC after at least two prior treatments for metastatic disease.

The study consists of two phases and the maximum total enrollment for this study is 79 subjects.

The phase 1b portion of the study will be conducted in 2 parts: part 1 will involve dose escalation using a 3 + 3 design, and part 2 will involve the expansion of the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of sacituzumab govitecan-hziy plus chemoimmunotherapy. The phase 2 portion of the study will be based on Simon’s two-stage optimal design.
In phases 1b and 2, all subjects will receive sacituzumab govitecan-hziy plus chemo- and immuno-therapy: cyclophosphamide, N-803, and PD-L1 t-haNK on a 3-week schedule. . The dose of sacituzumab govitecan-hziy will be dependent on dose level cohort for phase 1b and will be set at the RP2D for phase 2. The doses of cyclophosphamide, N-803, and PD‑L1 t haNK will remain the same in all dose level cohorts and phases.
An estimated 2.3 million women globally were diagnosed with breast cancer last year and 685,000 died from it. Triple negative breast cancer is an especially aggressive form of the disease and accounts for 10% to 15% of breast cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. TNBC tests negative for estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein. Therefore, TNBC does not respond to hormonal therapy or medicines that target ER, PR, or HER2 and other treatment options are limited, particularly after initial lines of therapy have failed. Innovative treatment approaches, such as the combination of Trodelvy, Anktiva, and PD-L1 t-haNK with chemotherapy described here may offer new hope to these advanced TNBC patients.