Senhwa Biosciences Presents Positive Cholangiocarcinoma Data

On January 15, 2021 Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. (TPEx: 6492), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on next generation DNA Damage Response (DDR) therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, reported that promising clinical data from their global phase 1b/2 trial, evaluating the combination of Silmitasertib plus Gemcitabine and Cisplatin compared to Gemcitabine and Cisplatin alone in the frontline treatment of patients with Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) will be presented at the 2021 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI Cancers Symposium in San Francisco (Press release, Senhwa Biosciences, JAN 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234574066]).

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The study met its primary endpoint during an interim analysis by demonstrating a statistically significant difference in the Silmitasertib plus Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Arm. These findings indicate a clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) (P<0.05). Consequently, the trial was stopped early once superior efficacy was confirmed.

"We are encouraged by the preliminary efficacy evidence demonstrated by Silmitasertib in combination with Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in patients with locally advanced or metastatic CCA. The addition of Silmitasertib with Gemcitabine and Cisplatin fulfills an unmet need for the effective treatment for CCA and could change the standard of care, ultimately saving more lives," said Dr. John Soong, Chief Medical Officer of Senhwa Biosciences.

The 2021 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI Cancer poster titled "Silmitasertib (CX-4945) in Combination with Gemcitabine and Cisplatin as First-Line Treatment for Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma, a Phase 1b/2 Study" is summarized here:

Key Study Population and Outcomes Definition:

A total of 88 patients were enrolled and define the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, of which 87 of these patients received Silmitasertib in the phase 1b (n=50) and phase 2 (n=37) portions of the study:

All 87 patients were included in the safety population.
55 patients were able to complete at least one full cycle of therapy, without dosing interruption or dose reductions and form the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population.
The primary efficacy outcome measure was assessed with PFS.
Preliminary Efficacy Analysis:

The efficacy findings for Silmitasertib compare favorably with those reported in the literature for Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in the BT22 study (which included 6-weekly tumor scans, as in our study; the BT22 study looked at Gemcitabine alone verses Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in combination):

Median PFS in the mITT population (11.2 months) is a clinically meaningful improvement when compared to the study’s Phase II control group (5.8 months). PFS was approximately 5 months longer than in the BT22 study (5.8 months)
Median OS (Overall Survival) in the mITT population (17.4 months) was approximately 6 months longer than in the BT22 study (11.2 months)
The ORR (Overall Response Rate) in the mITT population (32.1%) was higher than in the BT22 study (19.5%).
The DCR (Disease Control Rate in the mITT population (79.3%) was also higher than that in the BT22 study (68.3%).
Preliminary Safety Analysis:

Almost all patients receiving Silmitasertib (99%) experienced at least 1 TEAE (Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events), although most were mild or moderate in severity.
The most common Silmitasertib treatment-related TEAEs were diarrhea (66%), nausea (51%), vomiting (33%), and fatigue (31%).
Conclusions:

This interim analysis shows that Silmitasertib in combination with Gemcitabine and Cisplatin shows promising preliminary efficacy evidence in patients with locally advanced or metastatic CCA.
The TEAE profile of Silmitasertib compares favorably with that of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in the BT22 study, with a lower incidence of hematological AEs (Adverse Events) of 21–39% versus 58.5–87.8%.
66% of patients had a reduction in their CA 19-9 levels.
Based on these findings a randomized phase 3 trial is planned.
These findings will be presented at a virtual session of Poster Highlights at 2:30 PM-3:15 PM (PST) on Jan. 17, 2021 at the Annual ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI Cancers Symposium (online, due to Covid-19).

About Silmitasertib

Silmitasertib is a first-in-class small molecule drug that targets CK2 and acts as a CK2-inhibitor. Silmitasertib is safe and well-tolerated in humans. To date, three Phase I trials of Silmitasertib in cancer patients have been completed; currently, there is one ongoing Phase I and two ongoing Phase II studies. In December 2016, Silmitasertib was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma. In July 2020, Silmitasertib was granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to treat Medulloblastoma by the U.S. FDA. An eIND was granted by the U.S. FDA on August 27, 2020, to Dr. Rayyan at BUMCP to treat a patient with severe COVID-19.

Titan Pharmaceuticals Announces Pricing of $9.7 Million Registered Direct Offering

On January 15, 2021 Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTNP) reported it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain accredited institutional investors to purchase approximately $9.7 million of its common stock in a registered direct offering and warrants to purchase common stock in a concurrent private placement (Press release, Titan Pharmaceuticals, JAN 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234574065]). The combined purchase price for one share of common stock and each warrant will be $3.55.

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Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Titan has agreed to sell 2,725,000 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,725,000 shares of common stock. The warrants will be immediately exercisable, will expire on the five year and six-month anniversary of the issuance date and will have an exercise price of $3.55 per share.

Titan expects the net proceeds from the registered direct offering and concurrent private placement to be approximately $8.9 million after deducting the placement agent’s fees and other estimated offering expenses. The offering is expected to close on or about January 20, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Maxim Group LLC is acting as the sole placement agent in connection with the offering.

The shares of common stock are being offered pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-230742), which was declared effective by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 24, 2019. The warrants issued in the concurrent private placement and shares issuable upon exercise of such warrants were offered in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and have not been registered under the Act or applicable state securities laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sales of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. A prospectus supplement relating to the shares of common stock and warrants will be filed by Titan with the SEC. When available, copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the registered direct offering, together with the accompanying prospectus, can be obtained at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from Maxim Group LLC, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10174, Attention: Syndicate Department, or via email at [email protected] or telephone at (212) 895-3745.

Enveric Biosciences Inc. Announces Closing of $10 Million Registered Direct Offering

On January 15, 2021 Enveric Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENVB) ("Enveric" or the "Company"), a patient-first biotechnology company developing novel cannabinoid medicines to improve quality of life for cancer patients, reported the closing on January 14, 2021, of its $10 million registered direct offering consisting of the purchase and sale of 2,221,358 shares of Enveric’s common stock and common stock equivalents, at a purchase price of $4.5018 per share (Press release, Enveric Biosciences, JAN 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234574064]). Also, Enveric has issued to the investors unregistered warrants to acquire 1,666,019 shares of Common Stock at $4.9519 per share, exercisable immediately and terminating five years after the date of issuance.

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The net proceeds to Enveric from the offering after deducting financial advisory fees and other costs and expenses were approximately $9 million. Enveric intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Palladium Capital Group, LLC acted as a financial advisor to the issuer.

The shares of common stock (but not the warrants or the shares of common stock underlying the warrants) were offered by Enveric pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-233260) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on August 14, 2019, and declared effective by the SEC on November 19, 2019. The offering of the securities (other than the warrants and the shares of common stock underlying the warrants) was made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. The final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the shares of common stock being offered were filed with the SEC. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus can be obtained on the SEC’s website at View Source

The warrants described above were offered in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the shares of common stock underlying the warrants, have not been registered under the Act, or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the warrants and underlying shares of common stock may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Act and such applicable state securities laws. Enveric has agreed to register the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants for resale pursuant to a customary registration rights agreement.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

ENHERTU® Approved in the U.S. for the Treatment of Patients With Previously Treated HER2 Positive Advanced Gastric Cancer

On January 15, 2021 Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) and AstraZeneca’s ENHERTU (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) reported that it has been approved in the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2 positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen (Press release, Daiichi Sankyo, JAN 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234574063]).

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In the U.S., gastric cancer is more frequently diagnosed in the advanced stage, with only approximately 5% of patients surviving five years.1,2 Approximately one in five gastric cancers are HER2 positive.3

"Patients with metastatic HER2 positive gastric cancer with progression following first-line treatment have historically faced poor outcomes, including low response to treatment and rapid disease progression," said Ronan Kelly, MD, MBA, Director of the Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Chair of Immunology at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. "This approval represents the first time a HER2 directed medicine has demonstrated a significant improvement in survival compared to chemotherapy for patients following initial treatment in the metastatic setting and it has the potential to become the new standard of care for this patient population."

Regular approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was based on the positive results from the randomized pivotal DESTINY-Gastric01 phase 2 trial, in which ENHERTU demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR) versus chemotherapy (irinotecan or paclitaxel) in patients with advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma who had progressed on at least two prior regimens including trastuzumab, a fluoropyrimidine and a platinum-containing chemotherapy. ENHERTU is approved with Boxed WARNINGS for interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis and embryo-fetal toxicity.

In the DESTINY-Gastric01 trial, patients (n=126) in the ENHERTU treatment arm had a 41% reduction in the risk of death versus patients (n=62) treated with chemotherapy (based on a hazard ratio [HR] of 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-0.88; p=0.0097) at a pre-specified interim analysis with a median OS of 12.5 months [95% CI 9.6-14.3] versus 8.4 months [95% CI 6.9-10.7] with chemotherapy.

Confirmed ORR, assessed by independent central review, was a major efficacy outcome. Results showed a confirmed ORR of 40.5% [95% CI 31.8-49.6] with ENHERTU compared to 11.3% [95% CI 4.7-21.9] with chemotherapy. Patients treated with ENHERTU had a 7.9% complete response rate (n=10) and a 32.5% partial response rate (n=41) compared to a complete response rate of 0% (n=0) and a partial response rate of 11.3% (n=7) for patients treated with chemotherapy. Additionally, ENHERTU showed a median duration of response (DoR) of 11.3 months [95% CI 5.6-NR] versus 3.9 months [95% CI 3.0-4.9] with chemotherapy.

ENHERTU also demonstrated a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.6 months [95% CI 4.3-6.9] compared to 3.5 months [95% CI 2.0-4.3] (HR=0.47; 95% CI 0.31-0.71) with chemotherapy.

Results from the DESTINY-Gastric01 trial were presented at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) meeting and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.4

ENHERTU is approved with Boxed WARNINGS for interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis and embryo-fetal toxicity. The safety of ENHERTU was evaluated in 187 patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2 positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma in DESTINY-Gastric01. The most common adverse reactions (≥20%), including laboratory abnormalities, were hemoglobin decreased, white blood cell count decreased, neutrophil count decreased, lymphocyte count decreased, platelet count decreased, nausea, decreased appetite, anemia, aspartate aminotransferase increased, fatigue, blood alkaline phosphatase increased, alanine aminotransferase increased, diarrhea, hypokalemia, vomiting, constipation, blood bilirubin increased, pyrexia, and alopecia. In DESTINY-Gastric01, of the 125 patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2 positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg, interstitial lung disease occurred in 10% of patients. Median time to first onset of ILD was 2.8 months (range: 1.2 to 21.0).

"ENHERTU is the first antibody drug conjugate to receive approval in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with metastatic gastric cancer, and represents a major advance in managing this difficult-to-treat disease," said Antoine Yver, MD, MSc, Executive Vice President and Global Head, Oncology Research and Development, Daiichi Sankyo. "This second indication in the U.S. represents an important step forward in our ambitious plan to accelerate the development of ENHERTU across a broad range of HER2 targetable cancers."

"Today’s approval of ENHERTU represents the first HER2 directed medicine approved in a decade for patients with HER2 positive metastatic gastric cancer," said Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Oncology Business Unit, AstraZeneca. "The results from the DESTINY-Gastric01 trial highlight the potential to change clinical practice, showing a forty-one percent improvement in survival and a response rate more than three times higher with ENHERTU compared to chemotherapy. We are thrilled to bring this important medicine to more patients and physicians in the U.S."

This is the second regulatory approval for ENHERTU in the U.S. ENHERTU is also approved in the U.S. under accelerated approval, and in Japan, under the conditional early approval system, for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer who have received two or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting based on the DESTINY-Breast01 trial. ENHERTU is also approved in Japan for HER2 positive unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer that has progressed after chemotherapy based on the DESTINY-Gastric01 trial.

ENHERTU previously received Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with previously treated HER2 positive metastatic gastric cancer, as well as Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for patients with gastric cancer, including gastroesophageal junction cancer. Two additional phase 2 trials, DESTINY-Gastric02 and DESTINY-Gastric03, are underway, further evaluating the use of ENHERTU in patients with HER2 positive metastatic gastric cancer.

Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca are committed to ensuring that patients in the U.S. who are prescribed ENHERTU can access the medication and receive necessary financial support. Provider and patient support, reimbursement and distribution for ENHERTU in the U.S. will be accessible by visiting www.ENHERTU4U.com or calling 1-833-ENHERTU (1-833-364-3788).

Please visit www.ENHERTU.com for full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS, and Medication Guide.

About Gastric Cancer
Gastric (stomach) cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer mortality with a five-year survival rate of 5% for metastatic disease; there were approximately one million new cases reported in 2020 and more than 768,000 deaths.2,5 In the U.S., it is estimated that 27,600 new cases of gastric cancer were diagnosed in 2020 and more than 11,000 people died from the disease.6

Approximately one in five gastric cancers are HER2 positive.3 HER2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor growth-promoting protein expressed on the surface of many types of tumors including breast, gastric, lung and colorectal cancer. Gastric cancer is usually diagnosed in the advanced stage, but even when diagnosed in earlier stages of the disease, the survival rate remains modest.1 Recommended first-line treatment for HER2 positive advanced or metastatic gastric cancer is combination chemotherapy plus trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 medicine, which has been shown to improve survival outcomes when added to chemotherapy. For patients with metastatic gastric cancer that progresses following initial treatment with a trastuzumab-based regimen, there were previously no other approved HER2 targeted medicines prior to the approval of ENHERTU.3

About DESTINY-Gastric01
DESTINY-Gastric01 is an open-label, multi-center, randomized, pivotal phase 2 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of ENHERTU (6.4 mg/kg) versus investigator’s choice of chemotherapy in a primary cohort of 188 patients from Japan and South Korea with HER2 positive (defined as IHC3+ or IHC2+/ISH+), advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma who had progressed on two or more prior treatment regimens including trastuzumab, a fluoropyrimidine and platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive ENHERTU or investigator’s choice of chemotherapy (paclitaxel or irinotecan monotherapy). Patients were treated with ENHERTU 6.4mg/kg once every three weeks or chemotherapy.

The main efficacy outcome measures were ORR assessed by independent central review according to RECIST v1.1 and OS in the intent-to-treat population. Additional efficacy outcome measures were PFS and DoR.

About ENHERTU
ENHERTU (trastuzumab deruxtecan; fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki in the U.S.) is a HER2 directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC). Designed using Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary DXd ADC technology, ENHERTU is the lead ADC in the oncology portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo and the most advanced program in AstraZeneca’s ADC scientific platform.

ADCs are targeted cancer medicines that deliver cytotoxic chemotherapy ("payload") to cancer cells via a linker attached to a monoclonal antibody that binds to a specific target expressed on cancer cells. ENHERTU is comprised of a humanized anti-HER2 IgG1 monoclonal antibody with the same amino acid sequence as trastuzumab attached to a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload, an exatecan derivative, via a tetrapeptide-based cleavable linker.

ENHERTU (5.4 mg/kg) is approved in the U.S. under accelerated approval, and in Japan, under the conditional early approval system, for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer who have received two or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting based on the DESTINY-Breast01 trial, and received a CHMP positive opinion in December 2020 as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer who have received two or more prior anti-HER2 based regimens. ENHERTU (6.4 mg/kg) is also approved in the U.S. and Japan for the treatment of previously treated patients with HER2 positive metastatic gastric cancer based on the DESTINY-Gastric01 trial.

About the ENHERTU Clinical Development Program
A comprehensive development program is underway globally with nine pivotal trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of ENHERTU monotherapy across multiple HER2 targetable cancers including breast, gastric and lung cancers. Trials in combination with other anticancer treatments, such as immunotherapy, are also underway.

In May 2020, ENHERTU received BTD in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have a HER2 mutation and with disease progression on or after platinum-based therapy.

In March 2020, the European Medicines Agency’s CHMP granted ENHERTU accelerated assessment for the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer who have received two or more prior anti-HER2 based regimens.

About the Collaboration between Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca
Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca entered into a global collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize ENHERTU (a HER2 directed ADC) in March 2019, and datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd; DS-1062; a TROP2 directed ADC) in July 2020, except in Japan where Daiichi Sankyo maintains exclusive rights. Daiichi Sankyo is responsible for manufacturing and supply of ENHERTU and datopotamab deruxtecan.

U.S. Important Safety Information for ENHERTU

Indications
ENHERTU is a HER2-directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate indicated for the treatment of adult patients with:

Unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received two or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting.

This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.
Locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen.
WARNING: INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE and EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pneumonitis, including fatal cases, have been reported with ENHERTU. Monitor for and promptly investigate signs and symptoms including cough, dyspnea, fever, and other new or worsening respiratory symptoms. Permanently discontinue ENHERTU in all patients with Grade 2 or higher ILD/pneumonitis. Advise patients of the risk and to immediately report symptoms.
Exposure to ENHERTU during pregnancy can cause embryo-fetal harm. Advise patients of these risks and the need for effective contraception.
Contraindications
None.

Warnings and Precautions
Interstitial Lung Disease / Pneumonitis
Severe, life-threatening, or fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD), including pneumonitis, can occur in patients treated with ENHERTU. Advise patients to immediately report cough, dyspnea, fever, and/or any new or worsening respiratory symptoms. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of ILD. Promptly investigate evidence of ILD. Evaluate patients with suspected ILD by radiographic imaging. Consider consultation with a pulmonologist. For asymptomatic ILD/pneumonitis (Grade 1), interrupt ENHERTU until resolved to Grade 0, then if resolved in ≤28 days from date of onset, maintain dose. If resolved in >28 days from date of onset, reduce dose one level. Consider corticosteroid treatment as soon as ILD/pneumonitis is suspected (e.g., ≥0.5 mg/kg/day prednisolone or equivalent). For symptomatic ILD/pneumonitis (Grade 2 or greater), permanently discontinue ENHERTU. Promptly initiate systemic corticosteroid treatment as soon as ILD/pneumonitis is suspected (e.g., ≥1 mg/kg/day prednisolone or equivalent) and continue for at least 14 days followed by gradual taper for at least 4 weeks.

Metastatic Breast Cancer
In clinical studies, of the 234 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, ILD occurred in 9% of patients. Fatal outcomes due to ILD and/or pneumonitis occurred in 2.6% of patients treated with ENHERTU. Median time to first onset was 4.1 months (range: 1.2 to 8.3).

Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric Cancer
In DESTINY-Gastric01, of the 125 patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg, ILD occurred in 10% of patients. Median time to first onset was 2.8 months (range: 1.2 to 21.0).

Neutropenia
Severe neutropenia, including febrile neutropenia, can occur in patients treated with ENHERTU. Monitor complete blood counts prior to initiation of ENHERTU and prior to each dose, and as clinically indicated. For Grade 3 neutropenia (Absolute Neutrophil Count [ANC] <1.0 to 0.5 x 109/L) interrupt ENHERTU until resolved to Grade 2 or less, then maintain dose. For Grade 4 neutropenia (ANC <0.5 x 109/L) interrupt ENHERTU until resolved to Grade 2 or less. Reduce dose by one level. For febrile neutropenia (ANC <1.0 x 109/L and temperature >38.3ºC or a sustained temperature of ≥38ºC for more than 1 hour), interrupt ENHERTU until resolved. Reduce dose by one level.

Metastatic Breast Cancer
In clinical studies, of the 234 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who received ENHERTU 5.4mg/kg, a decrease in neutrophil count was reported in 62% of patients. Sixteen percent had Grade 3 or 4 decrease in neutrophil count. Median time to first onset of decreased neutrophil count was 23 days (range: 6 to 547). Febrile neutropenia was reported in 1.7% of patients.

Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric Cancer
In DESTINY-Gastric01, of the 125 patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg, a decrease in neutrophil count was reported in 72% of patients. Fifty-one percent had Grade 3 or 4 decreased neutrophil count. Median time to first onset of decreased neutrophil count was 16 days (range: 4 to 187). Febrile neutropenia was reported in 4.8% of patients.

Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Patients treated with ENHERTU may be at increased risk of developing left ventricular dysfunction. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decrease has been observed with anti-HER2 therapies, including ENHERTU. In the 234 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who received ENHERTU, two cases (0.9%) of asymptomatic LVEF decrease were reported. In DESTINY-Gastric01, of the 125 patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg, no clinical adverse events of heart failure were reported; however, on echocardiography, 8% were found to have asymptomatic Grade 2 decrease in LVEF. Treatment with ENHERTU has not been studied in patients with a history of clinically significant cardiac disease or LVEF <50% prior to initiation of treatment.

Assess LVEF prior to initiation of ENHERTU and at regular intervals during treatment as clinically indicated. When LVEF is >45% and absolute decrease from baseline is 10-20%, continue treatment with ENHERTU. When LVEF is 40-45% and absolute decrease from baseline is <10%, continue treatment with ENHERTU and repeat LVEF assessment within 3 weeks. When LVEF is 40-45% and absolute decrease from baseline is 10-20%, interrupt ENHERTU and repeat LVEF assessment within 3 weeks. If LVEF has not recovered to within 10% from baseline, permanently discontinue ENHERTU. If LVEF recovers to within 10% from baseline, resume treatment with ENHERTU at the same dose. When LVEF is <40% or absolute decrease from baseline is >20%, interrupt ENHERTU and repeat LVEF assessment within 3 weeks. If LVEF of <40% or absolute decrease from baseline of >20% is confirmed, permanently discontinue ENHERTU. Permanently discontinue ENHERTU in patients with symptomatic congestive heart failure.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risks to a fetus. Verify the pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to the initiation of ENHERTU. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 7 months following the last dose of ENHERTU. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for at least 4 months after the last dose of ENHERTU.

Additional Dose Modifications
Thrombocytopenia
For Grade 3 thrombocytopenia (platelets <50 to 25 x 109/L) interrupt ENHERTU until resolved to Grade 1 or less, then maintain dose. For Grade 4 thrombocytopenia (platelets <25 x 109/L) interrupt ENHERTU until resolved to Grade 1 or less. Reduce dose by one level.

Adverse Reactions
Metastatic Breast Cancer
The safety of ENHERTU was evaluated in a pooled analysis of 234 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who received at least one dose of ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg in DESTINY-Breast01 and Study DS8201-A-J101. ENHERTU was administered by intravenous infusion once every three weeks. The median duration of treatment was 7 months (range: 0.7 to 31).

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 20% of patients receiving ENHERTU. Serious adverse reactions in >1% of patients who received ENHERTU were interstitial lung disease, pneumonia, vomiting, nausea, cellulitis, hypokalemia, and intestinal obstruction. Fatalities due to adverse reactions occurred in 4.3% of patients including interstitial lung disease (2.6%), and the following events occurred in one patient each (0.4%): acute hepatic failure/acute kidney injury, general physical health deterioration, pneumonia, and hemorrhagic shock.

ENHERTU was permanently discontinued in 9% of patients, of which ILD accounted for 6%. Dose interruptions due to adverse reactions occurred in 33% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose interruption were neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, upper respiratory tract infection, fatigue, nausea, and ILD. Dose reductions occurred in 18% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose reduction were fatigue, nausea, and neutropenia.

The most common (≥20%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were nausea (79%), white blood cell count decreased (70%), hemoglobin decreased (70%), neutrophil count decreased (62%), fatigue (59%), vomiting (47%), alopecia (46%), aspartate aminotransferase increased (41%), alanine aminotransferase increased (38%), platelet count decreased (37%), constipation (35%), decreased appetite (32%), anemia (31%), diarrhea (29%), hypokalemia (26%), and cough (20%).

Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric Cancer
The safety of ENHERTU was evaluated in 187 patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma in DESTINY-Gastric01. Patients intravenously received at least one dose of either ENHERTU (N=125) 6.4 mg/kg once every three weeks or either irinotecan (N=55) 150 mg/m2 biweekly or paclitaxel (N=7) 80 mg/m2 weekly for 3 weeks. The median duration of treatment was 4.6 months (range: 0.7 to 22.3) in the ENHERTU group and 2.8 months (range: 0.5 to 13.1) in the irinotecan/paclitaxel group.

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 44% of patients receiving ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg. Serious adverse reactions in >2% of patients who received ENHERTU were decreased appetite, ILD, anemia, dehydration, pneumonia, cholestatic jaundice, pyrexia, and tumor hemorrhage. Fatalities due to adverse reactions occurred in 2.4% of patients: disseminated intravascular coagulation, large intestine perforation, and pneumonia occurred in one patient each (0.8%).

ENHERTU was permanently discontinued in 15% of patients, of which ILD accounted for 6%. Dose interruptions due to adverse reactions occurred in 62% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose interruption were neutropenia, anemia, decreased appetite, leukopenia, fatigue, thrombocytopenia, ILD, pneumonia, lymphopenia, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, and hypokalemia. Dose reductions occurred in 32% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose reduction were neutropenia, decreased appetite, fatigue, nausea, and febrile neutropenia.

The most common (≥20%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were hemoglobin decreased (75%), white blood cell count decreased (74%), neutrophil count decreased (72%), lymphocyte count decreased (70%), platelet count decreased (68%), nausea (63%), decreased appetite (60%), anemia (58%), aspartate aminotransferase increased (58%), fatigue (55%), blood alkaline phosphatase increased (54%), alanine aminotransferase increased (47%), diarrhea (32%), hypokalemia (30%), vomiting (26%), constipation (24%), blood bilirubin increased (24%), pyrexia (24%), and alopecia (22%).

Use in Specific Populations

Pregnancy: ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risks to a fetus. There are clinical considerations if ENHERTU is used in pregnant women, or if a patient becomes pregnant within 7 months following the last dose of ENHERTU.
Lactation: There are no data regarding the presence of ENHERTU in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with ENHERTU and for 7 months after the last dose.
Females and Males of Reproductive Potential: Pregnancy testing: Verify pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiation of ENHERTU. Contraception: Females: ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for at least 7 months following the last dose. Males: Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for at least 4 months following the last dose. Infertility: ENHERTU may impair male reproductive function and fertility.
Pediatric Use: Safety and effectiveness of ENHERTU have not been established in pediatric patients.
Geriatric Use: Of the 234 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, 26% were ≥65 years and 5% were ≥75 years. No overall differences in efficacy were observed between patients ≥65 years of age compared to younger patients. There was a higher incidence of Grade 3-4 adverse reactions observed in patients aged ≥65 years (53%) as compared to younger patients (42%). Of the 125 patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with ENHERTU 6.4 mg/kg in DESTINY-Gastric01, 56% were ≥65 years and 14% were ≥75 years. No overall differences in efficacy or safety were observed between patients ≥65 years of age compared to younger patients.
Hepatic Impairment: In patients with moderate hepatic impairment, due to potentially increased exposure, closely monitor for increased toxicities related to the topoisomerase inhibitor.

Arcus Biosciences Presents Promising Initial Data from Phase 1 Portion of ARC-8 Study for AB680 in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

On January 15, 2021 Arcus Biosciences, Inc. (NYSE:RCUS), an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company working to create best-in-class cancer therapies, reported preliminary data from the dose-escalation portion of its ARC-8 Phase 1/1b study, evaluating the safety and tolerability of AB680, the first small-molecule CD73 inhibitor to enter the clinic, in metastatic pancreatic cancer at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2021 Virtual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI) (Press release, Arcus Biosciences, JAN 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234574062]).

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The ongoing, open-label, multicenter trial is a Phase 1/1b study evaluating the safety profile and clinical activity of AB680 in combination with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (NP/Gem) and zimberelimab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, as a first-line treatment in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Preliminary Safety Results (as of the safety DCO of Nov. 11th 2020)
19 patients had received AB680 plus NP/Gem plus zimberelimab at doses of AB680 ranging from 25 to 100 mg, administered once every two weeks.
Across all four dose-escalation cohorts, no significant additive toxicity from AB680 plus NP/Gem plus zimberelimab has been observed beyond that expected from NP/Gem plus anti-PD-1 combined.
One dose-limiting toxicity (Grade 2 autoimmune hepatitis) occurred in the 50mg AB680 cohort; the event resolved completely with steroid treatment, and the patient resumed study treatment, including immunotherapy, without subsequent autoimmune events.
The most common treatment emergent adverse events (AE) were fatigue (68%), anemia (53%), alopecia (42%), diarrhea (42%) and neutrophil count decrease (42%). These AE results are very similar to what would be expected with NP/Gem alone.
Since the safety DCO, no additional dose-limiting toxicities have been reported.
Preliminary Efficacy Results (as of the efficacy DCO of Dec. 9th 2020)
17 out of 19 patients enrolled in the Phase 1 dose-escalation portion of the study were evaluable for response, and 16 of the evaluable patients remained on active treatment at the time of the efficacy DCO.
88% (15/17) of patients experienced at least some shrinkage of their lesions.
41% ORR (7/17) was observed for the AB680 combination across all dose-escalation cohorts, including one patient who converted to a complete response for both target and non-target lesions since the efficacy DCO.
Of the partial responses (PRs), 3 are confirmed responses and of the 4 unconfirmed responders, 3 responded at the first tumor assessment and the fourth responded at the second tumor assessment, and all remain on study.
For patients that had been on drug for more than 16 weeks, an 85% disease control rate (11/13) was achieved with the AB680 combination.
Treatment benefit appears durable; of the evaluable patients from the first three dose-escalation cohorts, 10 of 12 (83%) continue on treatment with a median time on treatment of 180 days.
The last drug to be approved in the first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer setting is Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel). As stated in the FDA approved label for Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) for use in combination with gemcitabine in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer:
The ORR from the registrational Phase 3 study was 23%.1,2
A 48% DCR (>16 weeks) was achieved in the registrational Phase 3 study.
"Based on the results to date, 100mg of AB680 every two weeks has been selected as the dose for the Phase 1b expansion portion of the trial. Given the lack of toxicity observed from the addition of AB680 to chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 therapy to date, we are also evaluating a 125mg every two weeks cohort," said Bill Grossman, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Arcus. "We believe that AB680 has the potential to represent the first meaningful advancement for the treatment of pancreatic cancer since Abraxane was approved in 2013. Assuming AB680 continues to show encouraging clinical activity in the ongoing expansion portion of the trial, we expect to open a randomized control arm in ARC-8 shortly."

"I am encouraged by the emerging safety and efficacy data from this AB680-based novel therapeutic regimen in my patients," said Johanna Bendell, MD, Chief Development Officer and Director, Drug Development Unit Nashville, Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology. "The initial response rate is promising, and thus far there has not been significant additive toxicity from AB680 to chemotherapy. There is a need for advances in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer, and this unique molecule has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with this difficult-to-treat disease. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Arcus team to further evaluate the role of AB680."

Even with recent advancements in cancer therapies, such as anti-PD-1 antibodies, additional clinical benefit over NP/Gem alone has not been demonstrated in pancreatic cancer. Overall, PDAC has a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%,1,3 and high expression of CD73 has been shown to be associated with poor prognosis.4 One hypothesis is that the presence of high adenosine levels in the tumor impairs the ability of the highly immunogenic standard-of-care chemotherapeutic regimen to generate a full T cell response. Therefore, blockade of adenosine generation by inhibiting CD73 may restore this immune response, which may be further enhanced by the addition of anti-PD-1 therapy.

Arcus expects to report more mature data from the Phase 1/1b portions of ARC-8, including data on progression-free survival, at medical conferences later this year.

Additional information about the data may be found in the poster presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GI, which is located on the Arcus website at Arcus Publications.

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Europe and the United States1 and the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide3.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most prevalent neoplastic disease of the pancreas, with high metastatic potential, accounting for more than 90% of all pancreatic malignancies and is a highly devastating disease with poor prognosis and rising incidence.5,6

Few treatment options exist for metastatic pancreatic cancer, and response rates to the standard of care therapy of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel remain very low. Based on the FDA approved label for nab-paclitaxel in combination with gemcitabine, the phase 3 registrational trial demonstrated objective and complete response rates in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer that were 23% and <1%, respectively.1,2

To date, addition of anti-PD-1 antibodies to gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in controlled clinical trials in this setting has shown no added benefit when compared to that obtained with the chemotherapy alone.7,8

About ARC-8 Study

ARC-8 is a Phase 1/1b study to evaluate safety and tolerability of AB680 + zimberelimab (AB122) + chemotherapy in patients with treatment-naive metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

For additional information on this trial (NCT04104672), please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About AB680

AB680 is an extremely potent and selective small-molecule CD73 inhibitor designed to provide differential benefits relative to monoclonal antibodies, such as greater inhibition of CD73 enzymatic activity (both soluble and cell-bound) and deeper tumor penetration. CD73 is the primary enzymatic producer of immunosuppressive adenosine in the tumor microenvironment, and high CD73 expression is associated with significantly poorer prognosis in several tumor types, including pancreatic cancer.4 By effectively eliminating CD73-derived adenosine, AB680 may improve the efficacy of treatment approaches expected to elicit anti-cancer immune responses (e.g., platinum-based chemotherapy with/without anti-PD-1 therapy). AB680 was the first small-molecule CD73 inhibitor to enter the clinic and demonstrated a favorable safety profile with a long half-life in a healthy volunteer study. AB680 is currently in a Phase 1/1b study for the treatment of first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer.