On December 3, 2021 Servier and the pharmatech Aqemia reported that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to accelerate the discovery of small molecule therapeutic drug candidates in immuno-oncology (Press release, Servier, DEC 3, 2021, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=immuno-oncologie-servier-et-aqemia-cooperent-pour-la-decouverte-de-medicaments-a-laide-de-lia [SID1234596431]).

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This collaboration will use Aqemia’s technology based on artificial intelligence and quantum physics. Aqemia will take responsibility for the AI-based design to deliver optimized molecules that fulfill several small molecule design goals. Unlike most AI-based technologies that need experimental data to train their algorithms prior to starting the design, Aqemia will tackle the project from the earliest stage of the drug discovery by generating its own data with quantum and statistical physics-based calculations.

Olivier Nosjean, Head of Open Innovation and Scientific Affairs at Servier R&D: "This collaboration with Aqemia is a concrete example of Servier working side by side with a start-up to create value for both parties, working jointly to accelerate therapeutic innovation for patients. This collaboration is the result of the Start-up @ Servier program, where an initial phase of joint work allows us to carry out a key study or pilot application of a technology, before entering into a classic collaboration. This is our first application of this Start-up @ Servier model, and we are very happy to see it take shape with Aqemia, which is such a promising collaboration."

On December 3, 2021 HUTCHMED (China) Limited ("HUTCHMED") (Nasdaq/AIM: HCM; HKEX:13) reported that, following the 2021 negotiations with the China National Healthcare Security Administration ("NHSA"), on January 1, 2022 the updated National Reimbursement Drug List ("NRDL") will continue to include ELUNATE (fruquintinib) and will now include SULANDA (surufatinib) (Press release, Hutchison China MediTech, DEC 3, 2021, View Source [SID1234596427]).

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Christian Hogg, Chief Executive Officer of HUTCHMED, said, "We welcome the addition of SULANDA into the NRDL, along with the renewal of ELUNATE. The NRDL has made it possible for novel therapies to gain wide reach across the country for diseases with large patient populations."

ELUNATE was first included in the NRDL on January 1, 2020, for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer ("CRC"). CRC was the third most diagnosed form of cancer by incidence in China in 2020, with an estimated 450,000 to 550,000 new cases each year[1].

SULANDA was approved in China for the treatment of advanced non-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors ("NETs") in December 2020 and for advanced pancreatic NETs in June 2021. In China, there were an estimated 71,300 newly diagnosed NET patients in 2020, with potentially up to 300,000 patients living with the disease.[2]

HUTCHMED’s third oncology drug, ORPATHYS (savolitinib), is the first and only approved MET inhibitor in China for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC") with MET exon 14 skipping alterations. It was also included in the 2021 negotiations with the NHSA, however HUTCHMED and AstraZeneca, its partner on ORPATHYS, declined inclusion in the NRDL for 2022. This position will be reassessed next year ahead of the next NRDL update. In China, there are an estimated 13,000 newly diagnosed NSCLC patients with MET exon 14 skipping alterations each year.1

About the NRDL
In recent years, the government in China has placed great importance on improving the public affordability of drug use. The NHSA regularly convenes a broad network of experts in medicine, pharmacology and pharmaco­economics to identify innovative drugs to be considered for inclusion in the NRDL. This has led to expansion of reimbursement of Category B drugs, which increasingly include novel oncology drugs. Reimburse­ment of Category B drugs requires varying degrees of copayment from patients, depending on their province of residence or type of NHSA insurance scheme enrollment. Agreements for all included drugs are generally renewed every two years.

In this latest update of the NRDL, the NHSA is adding or renewing over 30 Category B oncology drugs, including ELUNATE and SULANDA. Effective January 1, 2022, included NRDL drugs are expected to be made available in all state-run hospital pharmacies in China and reimbursement will commence for patients included in NHSA insurance schemes.

About fruquintinib (ELUNATE in China)
Fruquintinib is a highly selective and potent oral inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors ("VEGFRs") -1, -2 and -3. VEGFR inhibitors play a pivotal role in blocking tumor angiogenesis. Fruquintinib was designed to improve kinase selectivity to minimize off-target toxicities, improve tolerability and provide more consistent target coverage. The generally good tolerability in patients to date, along with fruquintinib’s low potential for drug-drug interaction based on preclinical assessment, suggests that it may also be highly suitable for combinations with other anti-cancer therapies.

Fruquintinib is marketed in China under the brand name ELUNATE for the treatment of metastatic CRC. It is currently under clinical development for the treatment of gastric cancer and metastatic breast cancer, and in combination with PD-1 monoclonal antibodies, including with tislelizumab (BGB-A317, developed by BeiGene, Ltd.) and sintilimab (TYVYT in China, IBI308, developed by Innovent Biologics, Inc.). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") granted Fast Track Designation for the development of fruquintinib for treating metastatic CRC in June 2020. A Phase III registration study of fruquintinib in metastatic CRC, FRESCO-2, is currently underway in the U.S., Europe, Japan and Australia.

HUTCHMED retains all rights to fruquintinib outside of China. In China, HUTCHMED is partnered with Eli Lilly and Company. Since October 2021, HUTCHMED has been responsible for development and execution of all on-the-ground medical detailing, promotion and local and regional marketing.

About surufatinib (SULANDA in China)
Surufatinib is a novel, oral inhibitor that selectively inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity associated with VEGFR and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), which both inhibit angiogenesis, and colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R), which regulates tumor-associated macrophages, promoting the body’s immune response against tumor cells. Its unique dual mechanism of action may be very suitable for possible combinations with other immunotherapies, where there may be synergistic anti-tumor effects.

Surufatinib is marketed in China under the brand name SULANDA for the treatment of patients with advanced NETs. It is currently under clinical development in combination with anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies, including with tislelizumab and toripalimab (TUOYI, developed by Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd.). A U.S. FDA New Drug Application (NDA) submission was accepted in June 2021, followed by a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) submission to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) validated in July 2021. In the U.S., surufatinib was granted Fast Track Designations for development in pancreatic and non-pancreatic NETs in April 2020, and Orphan Drug Designation for pancreatic NETs in November 2019.

HUTCHMED currently retains all rights to surufatinib worldwide.

About savolitinib (ORPATHYS in China)
Savolitinib is an oral, potent, and highly selective MET inhibitor that has demonstrated clinical activity in advanced solid tumors. It blocks atypical activation of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase pathway that occurs because of mutations (such as exon 14 skipping alterations or other point mutations) or gene amplification.

Savolitinib is marketed in China under the brand name ORPATHYS for the treatment of patients with NSCLC with MET exon 14 skipping alterations who have progressed following prior systemic therapy or are unable to receive chemotherapy. It is currently under clinical development for multiple tumor types, including lung, kidney, and gastric cancers, as a single treatment and in combination with other medicines.

In 2011, following its discovery and initial development by HUTCHMED, AstraZeneca and HUTCHMED entered a global licensing agreement to jointly develop and commercialize savolitinib. Joint development in China is led by HUTCHMED, while AstraZeneca leads development outside of China. HUTCHMED is responsible for the marketing authorization, manufacturing and supply of savolitinib in China. AstraZeneca is responsible for the commercialization of savolitinib in China and worldwide. Sales of savolitinib are recognized by AstraZeneca.

On December 3, 2021 AstraZeneca reported that it will underscore its ambition to redefine care with new data from across its portfolio of innovative medicines at the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) 7-10 December 2021 (Press release, AstraZeneca, DEC 3, 2021, View Source [SID1234596424]).

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Fourteen AstraZeneca medicines and potential new medicines from the pipeline will be featured across 33 abstracts showcasing the Company’s leadership across different types and stages of breast cancer, including three oral presentations.

Breast cancer is now the most diagnosed cancer worldwide with an estimated 2.3 million people diagnosed in 2020.1

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "Continuing our year of breakthroughs in breast cancer, our data at SABCS will reinforce the practice-changing potential of Enhertu with new analyses from the DESTINY-Breast03 trial. Early data from the BEGONIA and TROPION-PanTumor01 trials demonstrate great promise in treating patients who have limited treatment options. These data build on our decades of experience in pioneering medicines to redefine care for patients."

Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Oncology Business Unit, AstraZeneca, said: "Progress in breast cancer increasingly involves more personalised approaches to treating patients across subtypes and stages of disease, which is a key focus of our data at this year’s SABCS. Our extensive knowledge of breast cancer disease biology and the patient experience fuel our ambition to deliver medicines that can truly revolutionise and reshape treatment for every type of breast cancer patient."

Transforming the treatment of advanced breast cancers with antibody drug conjugates (ADCs)
An oral presentation will share further results from a range of patient subgroups from the DESTINY-Breast03 Phase III trial, including those with stable brain metastases and patients characterised by hormone receptor status, number of prior lines of therapy or status of visceral metastasis.

Results from DESTINY-Breast03 demonstrated superior progression-free survival (PFS) for Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) versus trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer previously treated with trastuzumab and a taxane.

In another oral presentation, updated results from the TROPION-PanTumor01 Phase I trial will continue to build promising evidence of the anti-tumour activity of datopotamab deruxtecan in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Treating breast cancer early where there is more opportunity for cure
New data on patient quality of life from the OlympiA Phase III trial of Lynparza (olaparib) will be presented as an oral presentation.

These patient-reported outcomes data will provide compelling evidence that further supports Lynparza as a potential treatment option for the adjuvant treatment of patients with germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) high-risk HER2-negative early breast cancer.

The supplemental New Drug Application of Lynparza for this indication was recently granted Priority Review by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Changing the treatment landscape with next-generation medicines and novel combinations
A poster and spotlight poster discussion will share results from the BEGONIA Phase Ib/II trial testing Imfinzi (durvalumab) combinations in advanced/metastatic TNBC with data from arm 1 (Imfinzi plus paclitaxel), arm 2 (Imfinzi, paclitaxel and capivasertib) and arm 5 (Imfinzi, paclitaxel and oleclumab), which will further demonstrate the benefits of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with other novel molecules.

Additionally, ongoing trials posters will share information about the ongoing SERENA-4 Phase III trial which evaluates our next-generation oral selective oestrogen receptor degrader (SERD) camizestrant (AZD9833) in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors in the 1st-line treatment of patients with oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, and the SERENA-6 Phase III trial of camizestrant with CDK4/6 inhibitors in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer with an ESR1 mutation.

A further ongoing trial poster will share information on the CAPItello-292 Phase III trial, evaluating the benefit of adding capivasertib (an AKT inhibitor) to the treatment regimen of Faslodex (fulvestrant) and palbociclib in patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic breast cancer.

Enhertu and datopotamab deruxtecan are developed and commercialised in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo worldwide, except in Japan where Daiichi Sankyo maintains exclusive rights. Lynparza is developed and commercialised in collaboration with MSD (Merck & Co., Inc. in the US and Canada).

Key AstraZeneca presentations during SABCS 2021

Lead author

Abstract title

Presentation details

Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan)

Hurvitz S

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd; DS-8201a) vs. trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in patients with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (mBC): results of the randomized phase 3 study DESTINY-Breast03

Presentation GS3-01

Oral – General Session 3

9 December, 2021

08:45 – 11:30 CT

14:45 – 17:30 GMT

Vaz Batista M

Trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with HER2[+] or HER2-low–expressing advanced breast cancer and central nervous system involvement: Preliminary results from the DEBBRAH phase 2 study [IIS]

Publication PD4-06

Spotlight Poster Discussion 4

8 December, 2021

17:00 – 18:30 CT

23:00 – 00:30 (+1) GMT

Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd)

Krop I

Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) in Advanced/Metastatic Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Negative (HER2−) Breast Cancer: Results From the Phase 1 TROPION-PanTumor01 Study [J101 TNBC prelim results]

Presentation GS1-05

Oral presentation – General Session 1

7 December, 2021

08:00 – 10:45 CT

14:00 – 16:45 GMT

Lynparza (olaparib)

Ganz PA

Quality of life results from OlympiA: A phase III, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of adjuvant olaparib after (neo)-adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations and high risk HER-2 negative early breast cancer

Presentation GS4-09

Oral – General Session 4

10 December, 2021

08:45 – 11:15 CT

14:45 – 17:15 GMT

Imfinzi (durvalumab)

Schmid P

BEGONIA: Phase 1b/2 study of durvalumab (d) combinations in locally advanced/metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): Results from arm 1 d + paclitaxel (p), arm 2 d + p + capivasertib (c), and arm 5 d + p + oleclumab (o)

Publication PD10-03

Spotlight Poster Discussion 10

9 December, 2021

17:00 – 18:30 CT

23:00 – 00:30 (+1) GMT

Camizestrant (AZD9833)

André F

SERENA-4: A Phase III comparison of AZD9833 (camizestrant) plus palbociclib, versus anastrozole plus palbociclib, for patients with ER-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer who have not previously received systemic treatment for advanced disease

Publication OT2-11-06

Ongoing Trials Poster Session 2

9 December, 2021

17:00 – 18:30 CT

23:00 – 00:30 (+1) GMT

Bidard FC

SERENA-6: A Phase III study to assess the efficacy and safety of AZD9833 (camizestrant) compared with aromatase inhibitors when given in combination with palbociclib or abemaciclib in patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer with detectable ESR1m who have not experienced disease progression on first-line therapy

Publication OT2-11-05

Ongoing Trials Poster Session 2

9 December, 2021

17:00 – 18:30 CT

23:00 – 00:30 (+1) GMT

Faslodex (fulvestrant) and capivasertib

Rugo HS

CAPItello-292: A phase Ib/III study of capivasertib, palbociclib and fulvestrant, versus placebo, palbociclib and fulvestrant, for endocrine therapy-resistant HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer

Publication OT2-14-01

Ongoing Trials Poster Session 2

9 December, 2021

17:00 – 18:30 CT

23:00 – 00:30 (+1) GMT

Notes

AstraZeneca in breast cancer
Driven by a growing understanding of breast cancer biology, AstraZeneca is starting to challenge, and redefine, the current clinical paradigm for how breast cancer is classified and treated to deliver even more effective treatments to patients in need – with the bold ambition to one day eliminate breast cancer as a cause of death.

AstraZeneca has a comprehensive portfolio of approved and promising compounds in development that leverage different mechanisms of action to address the biologically diverse breast cancer tumour environment.

AstraZeneca aims to continue to transform outcomes for HR-positive breast cancer with foundational medicines Faslodex and Zoladex and the next-generation oral SERD and potential new medicine camizestrant.

PARP inhibitor Lynparza is a targeted treatment option for metastatic breast cancer patients with an inherited BRCA mutation. AstraZeneca with MSD continue to research Lynparza in metastatic breast cancer patients with an inherited BRCA mutation and are exploring new opportunities to treat these patients earlier in their disease.

Building on the first approval of Enhertu, a HER2-directed ADC, in previously treated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo are exploring its potential in earlier lines of treatment and in new breast cancer settings.

To bring much needed treatment options to patients with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of breast cancer, AstraZeneca is testing immunotherapy Imfinzi in combination with other oncology medicines, including Lynparza and Enhertu, evaluating the potential of AKT kinase inhibitor, capivasertib, in combination with chemotherapy, and collaborating with Daiichi Sankyo to explore the potential of TROP2-directed ADC, datopotamab deruxtecan.

AstraZeneca in oncology
AstraZeneca is leading a revolution in oncology with the ambition to provide cures for cancer in every form, following the science to understand cancer and all its complexities to discover, develop and deliver life-changing medicines to patients.

The Company’s focus is on some of the most challenging cancers. It is through persistent innovation that AstraZeneca has built one of the most diverse portfolios and pipelines in the industry, with the potential to catalyse changes in the practice of medicine and transform the patient experience.

AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer care and, one day, eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

On December 2nd, 2021 BioRay Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "BioRay") reported that the first patient with Primary immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) had been dosed in the Phase II Clinical trial of self-developed Zuberitamab (development code: HS006) (Press release, Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical, DEC 2, 2021, View Source;a=index&classid=43&id=3 [SID1234634620]). The study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Zuberitamab (HS006) in subjects with primary persistent or chronic ITP who failed from prior therapy(ies). The leading entity of the clinical trial is Tongji Medical College, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and the principal investigator is Prof.Yu Hu.

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Zuberitamab (HS006) is a human-mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to B-lymphocyte antigen CD20 and can kill B cells via ADCC and CDC action. Zuberitamab (HS006) has demonstrated a favorable safety and efficacy profile in B-cell lymphoma in clinical trials. As B cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as primary immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and multiple sclerosis (MS), Zuberitamab (HS006) has the potential to be used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Primary immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disease characterized by thrombocytopenia. The pathogenesis of ITP is mainly due to the loss of immune tolerance to the patient’s platelet membrane antigens. The patient’s B cells produce antibodies against different platelet antigens, leading to the formation of antigen-antibody complexes, and resulting in excessive destruction of platelets in the spleen or liver. Meanwhile, thrombopoiesis is impaired. Zuberitamab (HS006) specifically clears B-lymphocytes, thereby reducing autoantibody production and platelet destruction. Zuberitamab (HS006) is expected to bring an alternative treatment optionfor ITP patients and improve their quality of life.

"Zuberitamab (HS006) is a self-developed monoclonal antibody that targets the CD20 protein on the surface of B cells. It can rapidly, thoroughly and durably remove CD20+ B cells, and this effect is reversible after drug withdrawal, " said by Dr. Haibin Wang, the Chief Medical Officer (CEO) of BioRay, "The Phase III Clinical trial of Zuberitamab (HS006) for primary treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma has completed the observation of the primary endpoint, and the study results confirmed its good safety, tolerability and efficacy, which provides strong support for the subsequent clinical development of ITP. Based on the existing achievements, BioRay will make every effort to promote its clinical research in ITP and other diseases and promote the early launch of this product in China to benefit more patients."

On December 2, 2021 Tune Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering the creation of epi-therapeutic medicines, reported it launched with its powerful and precise genetic tuning platform, TEMPO (Press release, Tune Therapeutics, DEC 2, 2021, View Source [SID1234630692]). This cutting-edge technology dials gene expression up or down to desired levels – with the potential to reverse pathways of cancer, genetic disease, and aging by changing cell fate and function at will.

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"Genetic medicine is at a tipping point," said Matt Kane, CEO of Tune Therapeutics. "We now understand that the driving force of human health and disease is not our genes, but the epigenomic elements that shape and control them. Until now, scientists and bioengineers lacked the combined understanding, clinical expertise, and technology needed to make epigenomic therapies a practical reality. Now, we have all three."

TEMPO Platform

Tune’s proprietary TEMPO platform can rapidly target and adjust the epigenomic machinery of the cell, which shapes DNA and controls gene expression. By varying specific control modules in an iterative process, TEMPO can fine-tune expression toward healthy levels – even in diseases involving multiplex or polygenic interactions.

Unlike genome editing, the tuning process does not generate double- or single-strand breaks in DNA and makes no permanent changes to the DNA sequence. This de-risks the precise targeting of entire gene networks, allowing Tune to simultaneously turn silenced genes on and dial over-expressed genes down, in a practical, therapeutic context.

Tune has already shown that TEMPO can locate epigenomic elements involved in several intractable genetic conditions – revealing targets and networks that would be invisible or inaccessible to gene editing approaches. Moreover, Tune can optimize TEMPO to command expression of individual genes or networks with remarkable specificity and precision. This opens the door to an entirely new class of epi-therapeutics.

"The exciting challenge in front of us is taking these transformative advances in technology and extending their potential for our greater society," said Charlie Gersbach, PhD, Acting Chief Scientific Officer, Tune Therapeutics. "From proof of concept in rare, single-gene disorders to common conditions that aren’t linked to a single gene mutation – but are treatable through epigenomic control and constitute the vast majority of human diseases."

Veteran Genomic Medicine Leadership Team

Tune is launching with a veteran leadership team, endowed with deep expertise in gene and cell therapy, genome editing, and epigenetics.

Matt Kane, Chief Executive Officer
Akira Matsuno, Co-Founder, President and Chief Financial Officer
Charlie Gersbach, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Acting Chief Scientific Officer
Fyodor Urnov, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Scientific Advisory Board
Heidi Zhang, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Head of Technical Operations
Blythe Sather, Ph.D., Vice President, Head of Research
In addition, Tune’s Board of Directors includes Mr. Kane, Dr. Gersbach, Ali Behbahani, M.D., (New Enterprise Associates), and co-founder Dan McHugh (Emerson Collective).

Drawing upon deep, local talent pools in Durham and Seattle, Tune has assembled two highly seasoned discovery and development teams, secured foundational intellectual property from Duke University, and raised $40 million from top-tier investors – including co-leads New Enterprise Associates and Emerson Collective, with Hatteras Venture Partners, Mission BioCapital, and others joining the round. This financing will enable Tune to rapidly advance its preclinical research, attract top-tier talent, and further develop its therapeutic platform.

"Tune is effectively pioneering a brand-new therapeutic modality," said Dr. Behbahani. "With the unbound potential of this approach, and their collective successes in the field, Tune is primed to become a transformative presence in modern biomedicine."