Personalis Forms Research Collaboration to Better Predict Immunotherapy Response for Gastroesophageal Cancer

On October 4, 2022 Personalis, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSNL) reported that t has joined with Duke University and Olink Proteomics AB to form a research collaboration to study the effects of immunotherapy on advanced gastroesophageal cancer (Press release, Personalis, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621692]). Specifically, the collaboration will focus on identifying composite biomarkers—those that integrate multiple biological entities into a single readout—to help guide therapeutic decision making.

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Gastroesophageal cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, with nearly 50% of patients having developed unresectable or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapy is currently the standard of care for patients with this type of advanced disease; however, its effectiveness is often diminished as many patients develop therapeutic resistance. When this happens, the median overall survival for patients drops to less than 9 months.

Fortunately, pembrolizumab, an immunotherapeutic targeting PDL1/PD1, has been approved by the FDA for use in patients with chemorefractory gastroesophageal cancer. The effectiveness of this biologic has inspired significant interest in applying it as a first-line, standard of care treatment for patients with advanced disease.

To that end, the goal of the collaborative study is to characterize key tumor and immunological responses to pembrolizumab and, in so doing, shine light on the potential mechanisms that lead to either sensitivity or resistance to immunotherapeutics in gastroesophageal cancer. By detailing how tumors respond to treatment at the genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic levels, the team aims to uncover biomarkers that may help physicians predict tumor responses to pembrolizumab and adjust treatment strategies accordingly.

"Biomarkers that predict and characterize tumor responses to anti-PDL1/PD1 therapy remain poorly understood, largely due to the complex and multifaceted interactions between the tumor and immune system. Through comprehensive plasma and tumor immune profiling, we aim to clarify the interconnected roles of tumor genomics and proteomics, as well as the development of composite biomarkers to clinically predict and follow immunotherapy response," said Andrew Nixon, PhD, Director of the Phase I Biomarker Laboratory, Duke University School of Medicine.

"This study has the potential to identify the mechanisms of immune resistance in metastatic gastroesophageal cancer, which may enable strategies to optimize response rates to existing immunotherapies and develop novel therapeutics that overcome resistance," said Marijana Rucevic, PhD, Senior Scientific Director, Olink Proteomics. "We are honored to participate in this essential and exciting research effort with Duke and Personalis, and to further direct the strengths of Olink’s PEA technology against the growing challenge of cancer drug development and personalized cancer treatment."

"We believe the clinical management of cancer can substantially improve with early determination of patient response and by accurately informing changes to treatment regimens. Such determinations offer the potential to avoid unnecessary toxicities and increase survival," said Dr. Richard Chen, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of R&D at Personalis. "By collaborating with researchers at Duke and Olink, we hope to accelerate advances in oncology practice via ultra-sensitive MRD detection."

Personalis’ ImmunoID NeXT Platform will be used for characterization of tumor genomic and transcriptomic alterations, as well as differences between responders and non-responders. Additionally, Personalis’ NeXT Personal assay will be used to analyze circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) collected from patients in order to profile and accurately track molecular residual disease (MRD) over the course of therapy. Olink Explore panels will be used to analyze plasma samples and tumor tissues from metastatic gastroesophageal cancer patients being treated with anti-PD1 and anti-PD1/chemotherapy.

About NeXT Personal

NeXT Personal is a next-generation, tumor-informed liquid biopsy assay designed to detect and quantify MRD and recurrence in patients previously diagnosed with cancer. The assay is designed to deliver industry-leading MRD sensitivity down to the 1 part-per-million range, an approximately 10- to 100-fold improvement over other available technologies. It leverages whole genome sequencing of a patient’s tumor to identify up to 1,800 specially selected somatic variants that are subsequently used to create a personalized liquid biopsy panel for each patient. This may enable earlier detection across a broader variety of cancers and stages, including typically challenging early-stage, low mutational burden, and low-shedding cancers. NeXT Personal is also designed to simultaneously detect and quantify clinically relevant mutations in ctDNA that may be used in the future to help guide therapy when cancer is detected. These include known targetable cancer mutations, drug resistance mutations, and new variants that can emerge and change over time, especially under therapeutic pressure.

Cellarity Announces Close of $121 Million Series C Financing

On October 4, 2022 Cellarity, a life sciences company founded by Flagship Pioneering to transform the way medicines are created, reported the completion of a $121 million Series C financing, bringing its total funding raised to date to $274 million (Press release, Cellarity, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621691]). In addition to participation by Flagship Pioneering and other Series B investors, four new investors participated, including Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. and Hanwha Impact Partners . The proceeds of the financing will be used to grow Cellarity’s talent base, strengthen its platform, and advance its pipeline toward the clinic.

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"We welcome our new investors and appreciate the continued support of our current investors," said Fabrice Chouraqui, PharmD, CEO of Cellarity and a CEO-Partner at Flagship Pioneering. "By shifting the focus from a single target to the underlying cellular dysfunction, our platform unravels the complexity of disease biology to create medicines never before possible. We have already made significant progress in confirming the unique capability of our platform with the development of compounds that have been validated in vitro and in vivo, including in higher species. With this financing, we plan to advance our pipeline and showcase the immense possibilities of our approach."

To create medicines, Cellarity looks beyond individual molecular targets and instead focuses on the whole cell. The company uses single-cell technologies to identify cellular drivers during the transition from health to disease and applies proprietary deep learning models to create drugs that reverse disease at the level of the cell. Cellarity has developed unique capabilities to link biology and chemistry with high dimensional, transcriptomic data to design medicines against the cellular signature of the disease. The Cellarity platform provides critical insights into cellular dysfunction and reveals new biology through which we can address a range of diseases, including those which presently lack a known druggable target.

"Cellarity is truly rewriting the rules of drug creation. Disease isn’t driven by one mechanism or protein, so Cellarity has developed the ability to solve disease through the lens of the entire cell," said Stephen Berenson, Chairperson of Cellarity’s Board of Directors and Managing Partner at Flagship Pioneering. "Since the cell is a fuller representation of disease, the platform is uniquely designed to drive higher translatability and clinical success, creating important new medicines for internal pipeline development as well as with partners."

Pfizer Announces Positive Topline Results from Phase 3 TALAPRO-2 Trial

On October 4, 2022 Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported positive topline results from the Phase 3 TALAPRO-2 study of TALZENNA (talazoparib), an oral poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, in combination with XTANDI (enzalutamide) compared to placebo plus XTANDI in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), with or without homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutations (Press release, Pfizer, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621690]). The study met its primary endpoint with a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) compared with placebo plus XTANDI. The results of the primary endpoint exceeded the pre-specified hazard ratio of 0.696.

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Results showed a trend toward improved overall survival, a key secondary endpoint, at the time of the analysis, but these data are not yet mature. Benefits were also observed in other secondary endpoints, including investigator assessed rPFS, prostate specific antigen (PSA) response, time to PSA progression, and overall response rate. Other secondary endpoints are being analyzed. At the time of topline analysis, the safety of TALZENNA plus XTANDI were generally consistent with the known safety profile of each medicine.

"XTANDI is a global standard of care, with overall survival demonstrated in mCRPC, non-metastatic CRPC, and metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC)," said Chris Boshoff, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Development Officer, Oncology and Rare Disease, Pfizer Global Product Development. "We are very pleased with the strong findings from TALAPRO-2, and although no definitive conclusions can be made across trials, the rPFS appears to be the longest observed in a randomized trial in this setting. These data highlight the potential for TALZENNA in combination with XTANDI, if approved, to become a new standard of care for mCRPC, irrespective of HRR gene mutation status. We look forward to discussing these data with global health authorities."

"These exciting results from TALAPRO-2 underscore our long-standing commitment to men living with prostate cancer and delivering the next scientific breakthroughs," said Suneet Varma, Global Oncology and U.S. President, Pfizer. "Based on these compelling combination data with XTANDI, we believe TALZENNA in prostate cancer may become the next potential blockbuster opportunity in our leading Pfizer Oncology portfolio, subject to regulatory approval."

Detailed results from TALAPRO-2 will be submitted for presentation at a near-term medical congress. These data will also be shared with global regulatory authorities to potentially support a regulatory filing.

TALZENNA or the combination of TALZENNA plus XTANDI have not been approved by any regulatory agency for the treatment of mCRPC. In addition to the TALAPRO-2 trial, the combination of TALZENNA plus XTANDI is being investigated in the TALAPRO-3 trial (NCT04821622), a global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study in men with HRR-deficient mCSPC.

About Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is a cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland and has progressed despite medical or surgical treatment to lower testosterone. Approximately 10%–20% of prostate cancer patients develop mCRPC within 5−7 years of diagnosis,1 and in the U.S., in 2020, approximately 60-90 thousand cases of the three million prostate cancer cases were mCRPC.2

About TALAPRO-2

The Phase 3 TALAPRO-2 trial is a two-part, two-cohort, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that enrolled 1,095 patients with mCRPC (with no systemic treatments initiated after documentation of mCRPC) at sites in the U.S., Canada, Europe, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region. The study included two patient cohorts: all-comers (n=750) and those with HRR mutations (HRRm; n=380). Patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or who had bilateral orchiectomy in the trial were randomized to receive TALZENNA 0.5 mg/day plus XTANDI 160mg/day, or placebo plus XTANDI 160 mg/day.

The primary endpoint of the trial is radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS), defined as the time from the date of randomization to first objective evidence of radiographic progression by blinded independent review, or death, whichever occurs first, in both cohort 1 (all-comers) and cohort 2 (those with HRRm). The trial is still ongoing for cohort 2. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, objective response rate, duration of response and PSA response.

For more information on the TALAPRO-2 trial (NCT03395197) go to www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About TALZENNA (talazoparib)

TALZENNA (talazoparib) is an inhibitor of PARP enzymes, which play a role in the DNA damage repair response. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that TALZENNA blocks PARP enzyme activity and traps PARP at the site of DNA damage, leading to decreased cancer cell growth and cancer cell death. TALZENNA is being evaluated in several ongoing clinical trials in prostate cancer, as well as other novel combinations with targeted therapies in various solid tumors. TALZENNA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2018 for the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA)-mutated (gBRCAm) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Indication in the U.S.

TALZENNA (talazoparib) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA)-mutated (gBRCAm) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for TALZENNA.

TALZENNA (talazoparib) Important Safety Information

Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (MDS/AML) have been reported in patients who received TALZENNA. Overall, MDS/AML has been reported in <1% (3 out of 787, 0.4%) of solid tumor patients treated with TALZENNA in clinical studies. The duration of TALZENNA treatment in these three patients prior to developing MDS/AML was 4 months, 24 months, and 60 months respectively. These patients had received previous chemotherapy with platinum agents and/or other DNA damaging agents including radiotherapy.

Myelosuppression consisting of anemia, leukopenia/neutropenia, and/or thrombocytopenia have been reported in patients treated with TALZENNA. Grade ≥3 anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia were reported, respectively, in 39%, 21%, and 15% of patients receiving TALZENNA. Discontinuation due to anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia occurred, respectively, in 0.7%, 0.3%, and 0.3% of patients.

Monitor complete blood counts for cytopenia at baseline and monthly thereafter. Do not start TALZENNA until patients have adequately recovered from hematological toxicity caused by previous therapy. If hematological toxicity occurs, dose modifications (dosing interruption with or without dose reduction) are recommended. With respect to MDS/AML, for prolonged hematological toxicities, interrupt TALZENNA and monitor blood counts weekly until recovery. If the levels have not recovered after 4 weeks, refer the patient to a hematologist for further investigations. If MDS/AML is confirmed, discontinue TALZENNA.

TALZENNA can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Advise women of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 7 months following the last dose. A pregnancy test is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating TALZENNA treatment. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential or who are pregnant to use effective contraception during treatment with TALZENNA and for at least 4 months after receiving the last dose. Based on animal studies, TALZENNA may impair fertility in males of reproductive potential. Advise women not to breastfeed while taking TALZENNA and for at least 1 month after receiving the last dose because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants.

The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) of any grade for TALZENNA vs chemotherapy were fatigue (62% vs 50%), anemia (53% vs 18%), nausea (49% vs 47%), neutropenia (35% vs 43%), headache (33% vs 22%), thrombocytopenia (27% vs 7%), vomiting (25% vs 23%), alopecia (25% vs 28%), diarrhea (22% vs 26%), and decreased appetite (21% vs 22%).

The most frequently reported Grade ≥3 adverse reactions (≥10%) for TALZENNA vs chemotherapy were anemia (39% vs 5%), neutropenia (21% vs 35%), and thrombocytopenia (15% vs 2%).

The most common lab abnormalities (≥25%) for TALZENNA vs chemotherapy were decreases in hemoglobin (90% vs 77%), leukocytes (84% vs 73%), lymphocytes (76% vs 53%), neutrophils (68% vs 70%), platelets (55% vs 29%), and calcium (28% vs 16%) and increases in glucose (54% vs 51%), aspartate aminotransferase (37% vs 48%), alkaline phosphatase (36% vs 34%), and alanine aminotransferase (33% vs 37%).

Coadministration with P-gp inhibitors or BCRP inhibitors may increase TALZENNA exposure. If coadministering with the P-gp inhibitors amiodarone, carvedilol, clarithromycin, itraconazole, or verapamil is unavoidable, reduce the TALZENNA dose to 0.75 mg once daily. When the P-gp inhibitor is discontinued, increase the TALZENNA dose (after 3–5 half-lives of the P-gp inhibitor) to the dose used prior to the initiation of the P-gp inhibitor. When coadministering TALZENNA with other known P-gp inhibitors or BCRP inhibitors, monitor patients for potential increased adverse reactions.

For patients with moderate renal impairment, the recommended dose of TALZENNA is 0.75 mg once daily. For patients with severe renal impairment, the recommended dose of TALZENNA is 0.5 mg once daily. No dose adjustment is required for patients with mild renal impairment. TALZENNA has not been studied in patients requiring hemodialysis.

Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information and Patient Information for TALZENNA (talazoparib) at www.TALZENNA.com.

About XTANDI (enzalutamide) and Important Safety Information

XTANDI (enzalutamide) is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC).

Overall survival benefit has been observed in patients treated with XTANDI in mCRPC, nmCRPC, and mCSPC.

Warnings and Precautions

Seizure occurred in 0.5% of patients receiving XTANDI in seven randomized clinical trials. In a study of patients with predisposing factors for seizure, 2.2% of XTANDI-treated patients experienced a seizure. It is unknown whether anti-epileptic medications will prevent seizures with XTANDI. Patients in the study had one or more of the following predisposing factors: use of medications that may lower the seizure threshold, history of traumatic brain or head injury, history of cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack, and Alzheimer’s disease, meningioma, or leptomeningeal disease from prostate cancer, unexplained loss of consciousness within the last 12 months, history of seizure, presence of a space occupying lesion of the brain, history of arteriovenous malformation, or history of brain infection. Advise patients of the risk of developing a seizure while taking XTANDI and of engaging in any activity where sudden loss of consciousness could cause serious harm to themselves or others. Permanently discontinue XTANDI in patients who develop a seizure during treatment.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) There have been reports of PRES in patients receiving XTANDI. PRES is a neurological disorder that can present with rapidly evolving symptoms including seizure, headache, lethargy, confusion, blindness, and other visual and neurological disturbances, with or without associated hypertension. A diagnosis of PRES requires confirmation by brain imaging, preferably MRI. Discontinue XTANDI in patients who develop PRES.

Hypersensitivity reactions, including edema of the face (0.5%), tongue (0.1%), or lip (0.1%) have been observed with XTANDI in seven randomized clinical trials. Pharyngeal edema has been reported in post-marketing cases. Advise patients who experience any symptoms of hypersensitivity to temporarily discontinue XTANDI and promptly seek medical care. Permanently discontinue XTANDI for serious hypersensitivity reactions.

Ischemic Heart Disease In the combined data of four randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies, ischemic heart disease occurred more commonly in patients on the XTANDI arm compared to patients on the placebo arm (2.9% vs 1.3%). Grade 3-4 ischemic events occurred in 1.4% of patients on XTANDI versus 0.7% on placebo. Ischemic events led to death in 0.4% of patients on XTANDI compared to 0.1% on placebo. Monitor for signs and symptoms of ischemic heart disease. Optimize management of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. Discontinue XTANDI for Grade 3-4 ischemic heart disease.

Falls and Fractures occurred in patients receiving XTANDI. Evaluate patients for fracture and fall risk. Monitor and manage patients at risk for fractures according to established treatment guidelines and consider use of bone-targeted agents. In the combined data of four randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies, falls occurred in 11% of patients treated with XTANDI compared to 4% of patients treated with placebo. Fractures occurred in 10% of patients treated with XTANDI and in 4% of patients treated with placebo.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity The safety and efficacy of XTANDI have not been established in females. XTANDI can cause fetal harm and loss of pregnancy when administered to a pregnant female. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with XTANDI and for 3 months after the last dose of XTANDI.

Adverse Reactions (ARs)

In the data from the four randomized placebo-controlled trials, the most common ARs (≥ 10%) that occurred more frequently (≥ 2% over placebo) in XTANDI-treated patients were asthenia/fatigue, back pain, hot flush, constipation, arthralgia, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and hypertension. In the bicalutamide-controlled study, the most common ARs (≥ 10%) reported in XTANDI-treated patients were asthenia/fatigue, back pain, musculoskeletal pain, hot flush, hypertension, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, and weight loss.

In AFFIRM, the placebo-controlled study of metastatic CRPC (mCRPC) patients who previously received docetaxel, Grade 3 and higher ARs were reported among 47% of XTANDI-treated patients. Discontinuations due to adverse events (AEs) were reported for 16% of XTANDI-treated patients. In PREVAIL, the placebo-controlled study of chemotherapy-naive mCRPC patients, Grade 3-4 ARs were reported in 44% of XTANDI patients and 37% of placebo patients. Discontinuations due to AEs were reported for 6% of XTANDI-treated patients. In TERRAIN, the bicalutamide-controlled study of chemotherapy-naive mCRPC patients, Grade 3-4 ARs were reported in 39% of XTANDI patients and 38% of bicalutamide patients. Discontinuations with an AE as the primary reason were reported for 8% of XTANDI patients and 6% of bicalutamide patients.

In PROSPER, the placebo-controlled study of non-metastatic CRPC (nmCRPC) patients, Grade 3 or higher ARs were reported in 31% of XTANDI patients and 23% of placebo patients. Discontinuations with an AE as the primary reason were reported for 9% of XTANDI patients and 6% of placebo patients.

In ARCHES, the placebo-controlled study of metastatic CSPC (mCSPC) patients, Grade 3 or higher AEs were reported in 24% of XTANDI-treated patients. Permanent discontinuation due to AEs as the primary reason was reported in 5% of XTANDI patients and 4% of placebo patients.

Lab Abnormalities: Lab abnormalities that occurred in ≥ 5% of patients, and more frequently (> 2%) in the XTANDI arm compared to placebo in the pooled, randomized, placebo-controlled studies are neutrophil count decreased, white blood cell decreased, hyperglycemia, hypermagnesemia, hyponatremia, and hypercalcemia.

Hypertension: In the combined data from four randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials, hypertension was reported in 12% of XTANDI patients and 5% of placebo patients. Hypertension led to study discontinuation in < 1% of patients in each arm.

Drug Interactions

Effect of Other Drugs on XTANDI Avoid strong CYP2C8 inhibitors, as they can increase the plasma exposure to XTANDI. If co-administration is necessary, reduce the dose of XTANDI.

Avoid strong CYP3A4 inducers as they can decrease the plasma exposure to XTANDI. If co-administration is necessary, increase the dose of XTANDI.

Effect of XTANDI on Other Drugs Avoid CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index, as XTANDI may decrease the plasma exposures of these drugs. If XTANDI is co-administered with warfarin (CYP2C9 substrate), conduct additional INR monitoring.

Journey Medical Corporation to Participate in Upcoming October 2022 Investor Conferences

On October 4, 2022 Journey Medical Corporation ("Journey Medical") (Nasdaq: DERM), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of dermatological conditions, reported that Claude Maraoui, President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in two upcoming investor conferences (Press release, Fortress Biotech, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621689]).

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Details of the events are as follows:

Roth Inaugural Healthcare Opportunities Conference: The company will present on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 12:15 p.m. ET and will participate in one-on-one meetings during the conference, which will be held at The Yale Club in New York City.
LD Micro Main Event XV Conference: The company will present on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. PT and will also participate in one-on-one meetings during the conference, which will be held at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles.

Cue Biopharma Granted FDA Fast Track Designation for CUE-101 for the Treatment of Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

On October 4, 2022 Cue Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: CUE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of injectable biologics designed to selectively engage and modulate tumor-specific T cells directly within the patient’s body, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to CUE-101, its lead clinical drug candidate from the CUE-100 series of interleukin 2 (IL-2)-based biologics, for the treatment of patients with human papilloma virus (HPV16+) recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA) (Press release, Cue Biopharma, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621688]).

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"We are very pleased to have received Fast Track designation from the FDA for CUE-101. This designation not only underscores the large unmet need for patients with R/M head and neck cancer who currently rely on available non-targeted therapies, but also highlights the potential of CUE-101 to provide a significant clinical benefit," said Dr. Matteo Levisetti, senior vice president, Clinical Development of Cue Biopharma. "To date in its Phase 1b clinical trials, CUE-101 has demonstrated a favorable tolerability profile and single-agent anti-tumor activity in monotherapy as well as encouraging anti-tumor clinical activity in combination with pembrolizumab, supporting the potential to improve overall survival (OS) for these patients. We look forward to providing periodic updates and remain committed to advancing the development of CUE-101 to provide patients with a potentially more effective and better tolerated treatment option. We anticipate initiating a registrational trial for CUE-101 monotherapy by mid-2023."

Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drug candidates to treat serious conditions and fulfill an unmet medical need. A therapeutic candidate that receives Fast Track designation may be eligible for more frequent interactions with the FDA to discuss the therapeutic candidate’s development plan. Therapeutic candidates with Fast Track designation may be eligible for accelerated approval and priority review if supported by clinical data.

CUE-101 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1b trial (NCT03978689) as a monotherapy for the treatment of second line and beyond patients with HPV16+ R/M HNSCC and as a first-line treatment in a Phase 1 dose escalation and expansion trial in combination with KEYTRUDA for the same patient population.

About HPV+ Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer
Human papilloma virus (HPV)-positive cancers account for more than 20,000 deaths each year in the U.S. and Europe. The majority of these cancers are driven by HPV16 which carries the E7 antigen targeted by CUE-101. Despite treatment with current standard of care, the majority of patients with metastatic disease will experience recurrence, significantly affecting quality of life and often leading to untimely death.

About CUE-101
CUE-101 is Cue Biopharma’s lead clinical drug candidate from the CUE-100 series of interleukin 2 (IL-2)-based biologics. It is designed to activate and expand HPV16 tumor-specific T cells by presenting two signals or "cues" to T cells. Signal #1 incorporates the HPV E7 protein, harbored by HPV-induced cancer cells, to provide selectivity through interaction with the HPV-specific T cell receptor. Signal #2 consists of an engineered IL-2 variant to stimulate the activity of T cells. To date, Cue Biopharma has established initial proof of concept with CUE-101 as a monotherapy and believes that the CUE-100 series has the potential to treat multiple cancer indications. CUE-101 is currently being evaluated for the treatment of HPV16+ driven R/M HNSCC as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA).