On November 14, 2018 RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: RDHL) (Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange: RDHL) ("RedHill" or the "Company"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on proprietary drugs for gastrointestinal diseases and cancer, reported a poster presentation on YELIVA (opaganib, ABC294640)1 for multiple myeloma at the upcoming EORTC-NCI-AACR (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) Symposium2 on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, on Friday, November 16th in Dublin (Press release, RedHill Biopharma, NOV 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234531300]).

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The abstract3 (poster board number PB-045), which will be presented by Yubin Kang, MD, of Duke Health, is entitled "Sphingosine kinase 2 (SK2) targeting in the treatment of multiple myeloma: preclinical and phase I studies of opaganib, an SK 2 inhibitor, in multiple myeloma". The abstract describes data from preclinical studies and a Phase Ib/II study conducted by Dr. Kang with YELIVA for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

The open-label, dose escalation Phase Ib/II study evaluating YELIVA in patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma that were previously treated with proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs is ongoing at Duke University Medical Center. Enrollment for the Phase Ib portion of the study has been completed with a total of 11 patients enrolled and treated in three dose cohorts. Results from the Phase Ib portion of the study did not show any dose-limiting toxicities. Additionally, while efficacy was not the primary endpoint of the Phase I study, it was observed that out of 10 evaluable subjects, two subjects had stable disease for over four months and one patient achieved a very good partial response (VGPR).
In addition, results from preclinical studies demonstrated that SK2 is overexpressed in multiple myeloma cell lines and in human multiple myeloma specimens and plays a critical role in myeloma cell growth, proliferation and survival. Additional preclinical studies described in the abstract demonstrated that treatment with YELIVA effectively inhibited myeloma tumor growth in vitro and in vivo in mouse xenograft models. The authors conclude that YELIVA as a single agent or in combination with a B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) inhibitor has the potential for treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients that were previously treated with proteosome inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents.

The Phase Ib/II study with YELIVA for multiple myeloma is supported by a $2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) awarded to Apogee Biotechnology Corp., in conjunction with Duke University, with additional support provided by RedHill.

Dr. Yubin Kang, MD, associate professor in the division of hematologic malignancies and cellular therapy in the department of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, is the lead investigator for the Phase Ib/II study with YELIVA for multiple myeloma, as well as the head of the laboratory performing the preclinical studies.

YELIVA is a proprietary, first-in-class, orally-administered, sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2) selective inhibitor being developed by RedHill and targeting multiple oncology, inflammatory and gastrointestinal indications. A single-arm Phase IIa study evaluating the activity of YELIVA as a single agent in patients suffering from advanced, unresectable intrahepatic, perihilar and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is being conducted at renowned clinical institutions in the U.S.

About YELIVA (opaganib, ABC294640):
YELIVA (opaganib, ABC294640), a new chemical entity, is a Phase II-stage, proprietary, first-in-class, orally-administered, sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2) selective inhibitor with anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities, targeting multiple oncology, inflammatory and gastrointestinal indications. By inhibiting SK2, YELIVA blocks the synthesis of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid-signaling molecule that promotes cancer growth and pathological inflammation. SK2 is an innovative molecular target for anticancer therapy because of its critical role in catalyzing the formation of S1P, which is known to regulate cell proliferation and activation of inflammatory pathways. YELIVA was originally developed by U.S.-based Apogee Biotechnology Corp. and completed multiple successful preclinical studies in oncology, inflammation, GI and radioprotection models, as well as a Phase I clinical study in cancer patients with advanced solid tumors. YELIVA received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. The development of YELIVA was funded to date primarily by grants and contracts from U.S. federal and state government agencies awarded to Apogee Biotechnology Corp., including the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

The ongoing studies with YELIVA (opaganib, ABC294640) for cholangiocarcinoma, multiple myeloma and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov, a web-based service by the U.S. National Institute of Health, which provides public access to information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies.