Everest Medicines Announces CTA Approval by China NMPA for Phase 3 Trial of Sacituzumab Govitecan-Hziy for Metastatic Urothelial Cancer

On January 6, 2021 Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Greater China and other parts of Asia, reported that the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of the People’s Republic of China has approved a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for sacituzumab govitecan-hziy for the treatment of patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) (Press release, Everest Medicines, JAN 6, 2021, View Source [SID1234573590]).

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With this CTA, Everest Medicines plans to enroll patients in China as part of the Phase 3, global, multicenter, open-label randomized controlled TROPiCS-04 trial. The trial will evaluate sacituzumab govitecan-hziy compared with standard of care chemotherapeutic options in subjects with metastatic or locally advanced unresectable urothelial cancer who have progressed after prior therapy with a platinum-based regimen and anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) therapy. Subjects will be randomized to receive either sacituzumab govitecan-hziy or Treatment of Physician’s Choice (TPC), including paclitaxel, docetaxel, and vinflunine.

Positive results from the pivotal Phase 2 TROPHY U-01 study of sacituzumab govitecan-hziy in 113 mUC patients, presented at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2020 annual conference, confirmed earlier study results showing sacituzumab govitecan-hziy has significant activity and is safe in patients with heavily pretreated mUC who progressed on both platinum-based chemotherapy and checkpoint inhibitors (CPI). Results from the study showed that sacituzumab govitecan-hziy achieved a 27% overall response rate (ORR) and a median duration of response (DOR) of 5.9 months in heavily pre-treated patients with mUC. Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy has received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in this indication.

"Based on the compelling results generated to date, we believe that sacituzumab govitecan-hziy has the potential to offer patients with mUC a new treatment option, which may advance current standards of care and treatment," said Yang Shi, Chief Medical Officer for Oncology at Everest Medicines. "Urothelial cancer is one of the most common urologic malignancies in China, with both incidence and mortality rates gradually increasing in recent years. We look forward to working with investigators and patients to initiate this study in China."

About Urothelial Cancer

Urothelial cancer is a type of cancer that begins in urothelial cells that line the urethra, bladder, ureters, renal pelvis, and some other organs that make up the urinary system. According to Frost & Sullivan, in 2019, the incidence of urothelial cancer reached 76.4 thousand in China.

About Sacituzumab Govitecan-Hziy

Sacituzumab govitecan-hziy is a first-in-class, antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed at TROP-2, a membrane antigen that is over-expressed in many common epithelial cancers. Under a licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc., Everest Medicines has exclusive rights to develop, register, and commercialize sacituzumab govitecan-hziy for all cancer indications in Greater China, South Korea, and certain Southeast Asian countries.

TRIGR Therapeutics Announces Publication of TR009/ABL001, Dual Angiogenic Bispecific Antibody Targeting VEGF/DLL4, in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences

On January 6, 2021 TRIGR Therapeutics, Inc. ("TRIGR"), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of multi-targeted angiogenic and immunomodulatory bispecific antibodies for oncology and certain ischemic indications, reported the publication of a manuscript in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, highlighting the pre-clinical development of TR009, the Company’s investigational dual angiogenic bispecific antibody targeting VEGF/DLL4 (Press release, TRIGR Therapeutics, JAN 6, 2021, View Source [SID1234573589]).

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TRIGR Therapeutics holds the global rights to TR009 (a.k.a ABL001/NOV1501), outside of the Republic of Korea. ABL Bio (KOSDAQ: 298380), a premier biotechnology company focused on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, licensed the worldwide rights to TRIGR in November 2018.

As described in the paper "ABL001 [TR009], a Bispecific Antibody Targeting VEGF and DLL4, with Chemotherapy, Synergistically Inhibits Tumor Progression in Xenograft Models" the authors report that TR009 demonstrates more potent in vitro and in vivo biological activity compared to VEGF or DLL4 targeting monoclonal antibodies alone. Further, TR009, in combination with paclitaxel and irinotecan in human gastric and colon cancer xenograft models synergistically inhibited tumor progression as compared to each monotherapy. Tumor vessel regression and apoptotic tumor cell induction were noted along with TR009’s mechanistic effect on tumor vessel normalization. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor blood vessels showed marked reduction of expression levels of VEGFR-2 and DLL4, dual targets of TR009, in tumor endothelial cells after TR009 treatment. Consistent with previous studies, the data strongly support that VEGF/VEGFR signaling interacts with DLL4/Notch signaling in the tumor vasculature; the facilitation of immune cell infiltration via dual blockade of VEGF and DLL4 also suggests a rationale for TR009 in combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

These pre-clinical findings are consistent with preliminary data from TR009 ongoing Phase 1 Dose Escalation/Expansion Monotherapy and Phase 1B Combination studies (n~60 patients). As a single agent, TR009 has demonstrated a 67% Clinical Benefit Rate, with deep and sustained partial responses per RECIST criteria in heavily pre-treated colorectal and gastric cancer patients that have failed at least 3 lines of prior therapy and become resistant to multi-VEGF (Avastin, Stivarga, Cyramza), EGFR, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and chemotherapies. The Phase 1B results testing the safety of TR009 in combination with irinotecan or paclitaxel, have also shown deep and sustained partial responses in difficult to treat 3rd / 4th line Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (Biliary Tract Cancer) and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients that have failed multiple lines of chemo, biological therapy, and anti-PD-1. TR009 has been safety administered up to 17.5mg/kg dose with no dose limiting toxicities (DLT). In contrast to historical DLL4 and other Notch targeted therapies, the administration of TR009 has not been hampered by pulmonary hypertension or other cardiac toxicities. Further updates on these studies will be provided later in 2021.

Amgen To Present At The 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

On January 6, 2021 Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) reported that it will present at the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference at 11:50 a.m. PT on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 (Press release, Amgen, JAN 6, 2021, View Source [SID1234573588]). Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen, will present at the conference. Live audio of the presentation can be accessed from the Events Calendar on Amgen’s website, www.amgen.com, under Investors. A replay of the webcast will also be available on Amgen’s website for at least 90 days following the event.

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Alkermes to Present at the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

On January 6, 2021 Alkermes plc (Nasdaq: ALKS) reported that its Chief Executive Officer, Richard Pops, will provide a corporate overview and update at the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (Press release, Alkermes, JAN 6, 2021, View Source [SID1234573587]). The presentation will take place virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. EST (3:00 p.m. GMT), followed by a question and answer session. The live webcast may be accessed under the Investors tab on www.alkermes.com and will be archived for 14 days.

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Nektar Therapeutics’ President and CEO, Howard Robin, to Present at the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Virtual Healthcare Conference

On January 6, 2021 Nektar Therapeutics’ (Nasdaq: NKTR) President and Chief Executive Officer, Howard Robin,reported to present at the upcoming 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Virtual Healthcare Conference on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:50 a.m. Pacific Time (Press release, Nektar Therapeutics, JAN 6, 2021, View Source [SID1234573586]). The presentation and Q&A session will be accessible via a Webcast through a link posted on the Investor Events Calendar section of the Nektar website: View Source This webcast will be available for replay until February 10, 2021.

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