On March 23, 2017 Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPHM) (NASDAQ:PPHMP), a biopharmaceutical company committed to improving patient lives by manufacturing high quality products for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and advancing its proprietary R&D pipeline, reported that four preclinical abstracts and one clinical abstract have been accepted for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper), to be held April 1 – 5, 2017 in Washington, D.C (Press release, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, MAR 23, 2017, View Source [SID1234518245]).

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Peregrine scientists and collaborators will present positive findings from multiple studies of the company’s phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeting antibodies in combination with other anti-tumor agents, including results from two Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center studies that evaluate the use of a bavituximab equivalent in combination with immune stimulating therapies. The following abstracts will be presented:
Abstract Number: 574
Session: PO.IM02.02 – Checkpoints 1
Presentation Title: Phosphatidylserine targeting antibody in combination with tumor radiation and immune checkpoint blockade promotes anti-tumor activity in mouse B16 melanoma
Presentation Day/Time: Sunday, April 2, 2017, 1:00 – 5:00 PM Eastern
Location: Section 25
Poster Board Number: 8
Author Institutions: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tustin, CA
Abstract Number: 1651
Session: PO.IM02.08 – Tumor Microenvironment and Checkpoints
Presentation Title: Targeting phosphatidylserine in combination with adoptive T cell transfer eliminates advanced tumors without off-target toxicities in a melanoma preclinical model
Presentation Day/Time: Monday, April 3, 2017, 8:00 – 12:00 PM Eastern
Location: Section 27
Poster Board Number: 29
Author Institutions: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tustin, CA
Abstract Number: CT159
Session: PO.CT02 – Phase III Clinical Trials and Phase II/III Clinical Trials in Progress
Presentation Title: IFN-γ analysis in blood and tissue as a potential prognostic and/or predictive biomarker
Presentation Day/Time: Monday, Apr 3, 2017 1:00 – 5:00 PM Eastern
Location: Section 33
Poster Board Number: 25
Author Institution: Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Tustin, CA
Abstract Number: 3652
Session: PO.IM02.05 – BITES Bispecifics and Checkpoints
Presentation Title: Combinational activity of LAG3 and PD-1 targeted therapies is significantly enhanced by the addition of phosphatidylserine targeting antibodies and establishes an anti-tumor memory response in murine triple negative breast cancer
Presentation Day/Time: Tuesday, April 4, 2017, 8:00 – 12:00 PM Eastern
Location: Section 26
Poster Board Number: 25
Author Institution: Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Tustin, CA
Abstract Number: 3657
Session: PO.IM02.05 – BITES Bispecifics and Checkpoints
Presentation Title: Phosphatidylserine-targeting antibodies enhance anti-tumor activity of a tumor vaccine in a HPV-induced tumor model
Presentation Day/Time: Tuesday, April 4, 2017, 8:00 – 12:00 PM Eastern
Location: Section 26
Poster Board Number: 30
Author Institutions: Immunovaccine, Inc., Halifax, NS, Canada; Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tustin, CA
Bavituximab is an investigational monoclonal antibody that targets PS. Signals from PS inhibit the ability of immune cells to recognize and fight tumors. Bavituximab is believed to override PS mediated immunosuppressive signaling by blocking the engagement of PS with its receptors as well as by sending an alternate immune activating signal. Previous studies demonstrated PS-targeting antibodies shift the functions of immune cells in tumors, resulting in multiple signs of immune activation and anti-tumor responses.
Peregrine’s clinical development strategy for bavituximab currently focuses on small, early-stage, proof-of-concept trials evaluating the drug in combination with other cancer treatments. As part of this approach the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has awarded grants to support three different clinical trials of bavituximab treatment combinations. These trials will evaluate novel bavituximab combinations in glioblastoma, head and neck cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma including an immunotherapy combination. Additionally, Peregrine continues to advance its pre-clinical collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with the goal of evaluating combinations of bavituximab with other checkpoint inhibitors and immune stimulatory agents. The intent behind this strategy is to focus our research and development spending to further validate bavituximab’s combination potential as we seek to advance the program though a pharmaceutical or biotechnology partner.