Foghorn Therapeutics Announces Clinical Data from Phase 1 Study of FHD-286 in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

On June 28, 2023 Foghorn Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: FHTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new class of medicines that treat serious disease by correcting abnormal gene expression, reported data from the Phase 1 dose escalation safety study of FHD-286 in metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) (Press release, Foghorn Therapeutics, JUN 28, 2023, View Source [SID1234632961]). These data reinforce the safety and tolerability profile of FHD-286. At this time, the company does not plan to advance FHD-286 in uveal melanoma.
"The clinical data further support the safety and tolerability of FHD-286 and build on the previously disclosed AML/MDS data. In the study, nine patients had stable disease and one patient had a durable partial response," said Adrian Gottschalk, President and Chief Executive Officer of Foghorn. "However, Foghorn does not plan to pursue this indication on its own. We plan to initiate dosing the FHD-286 combination study in relapsed/refractory AML during the third quarter of 2023 and continue to invest in our promising pre-clinical programs such as Selective-BRM, CBP, EP300, and ARID1B."
FHD-286 Phase 1 Dose Escalation Study Data in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

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The trial evaluated 73 metastatic uveal melanoma patients who had been treated with a median of two prior therapies across nine different cohorts. The doses evaluated included four continuous daily doses: 2.5mg (n=2), 5.0mg (n=12), 7.5mg (n=17), and 10.0mg (n=9); and five intermittent 1 week on/1 week off dose cohorts: 10.0mg (n=10), 15.0mg (n=9), 17.5mg (n=3), 20.0mg (n=5), and 22.5mg (n=6).
Clinical data seen in the Phase 1 dose escalation study reinforced the safety and tolerability profile of FHD-286. The most common treatment-related adverse events were dysgeusia, fatigue, AST increase, nausea/vomiting, dry mouth, and rash. The most common treatment-related grade 3 events or higher included anemia, asthenia, ALP increase, hypokalemia, muscular weakness, and rash.
Forty-seven of the 73 patients on study had target lesions for evaluation. One patient had a durable partial response and remained on treatment for over 16 months, and nine patients had stable disease. Tumor reductions in target lesions were also observed in eight patients. The clinical activity seen in the study was further supported by reductions in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Preliminary data on immune modulation markers in the tumor microenvironment also support a combination path forward with checkpoint inhibitors.

The Company plans to present the full results at a future scientific meeting.

Foghorn plans to dose the first patient in a Phase 1 study of FHD-286 in combination with decitabine or cytarabine in relapsed and/or refractory AML patients in the third quarter of 2023.

About FHD-286
FHD-286 is a highly potent, selective, allosteric and orally available, small-molecule, enzymatic inhibitor of BRG1 (SMARCA4) and BRM (SMARCA2), two highly similar proteins that are the ATPases, or the catalytic engines of the BAF complex, one of the key regulators within the chromatin regulatory system. In preclinical studies, FHD-286 has shown anti-tumor activity across a broad range of malignancies including both hematologic and solid tumors. FHD-286 is being developed for relapsed and/or refractory AML, and the company plans to commence a Phase 1 study, in combination with decitabine or cytarabine, in the third quarter of 2023.

About Uveal Melanoma
Uveal (intraocular) melanoma is a rare eye cancer that forms from cells that make melanin in the iris, ciliary body, and choroid, and is the most common eye cancer in adults. It is diagnosed in about 2,000 adults every year in the United States and occurs most often in lightly pigmented individuals with a median age of 55 years, however, it can occur in all races and at any age. UM metastasizes in approximately 50% of cases, leading to very poor prognosis. This press release refers to data gathered on an ongoing basis from our open-label Phase 1 trial in FHD-286 for uveal melanoma.

About AML
Adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow and the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. AML is a diverse disease associated with multiple genetic mutations. It is diagnosed in about 20,000 people every year in the United States.

CORMEDIX INC. ANNOUNCES PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK AND PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS

On June 28, 2023 CorMedix Inc. (Nasdaq: CRMD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic products for the prevention and treatment of life-threatening diseases and conditions, reported that it intends to offer and sell shares of its common stock, and in lieu of common stock to certain investors that so chose, pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of its common stock, in an underwritten public offering (Press release, CorMedix, JUN 28, 2023, View Source [SID1234632958]). All of the shares and pre-funded warrants to be sold in the offering will be offered by CorMedix. In addition, CorMedix intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of shares of its common stock offered in the public offering (including shares underlying the pre-funded warrants), at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

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RBC Capital Markets, Truist Securities and JMP Securities, a Citizens Company, are acting as book-running managers for the offering.

CorMedix intends to use the net proceeds from the proposed public offering for general corporate purposes, commercialization efforts, research and development, and working capital and general expenditures.

The securities described above are being offered by CorMedix pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-258756) which was initially filed by CorMedix with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on August 12, 2021, and was declared effective by the SEC on August 20, 2021.

The securities will be offered only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering that form a part of the registration statement. A preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at View Source Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to the offering, as well as copies of the final prospectus supplement, when available, may be obtained from RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281, by telephone at (877) 822-4089, or by email at [email protected]; Truist Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 3333 Peachtree Road NE, 9th floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, by telephone at (800) 685-4786, or by email at [email protected]; or JMP Securities LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 600 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, California 94111, by telephone at (415) 835-8985, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Checkpoint Therapeutics Announces Presentation of New Cosibelimab Pharmacokinetic Data Supporting Extended-Interval Dosing

On June 28, 2023 Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. ("Checkpoint") (Nasdaq: CKPT), a clinical-stage immunotherapy and targeted oncology company, reported that new pharmacokinetic ("PK") modeling data on cosibelimab supporting the extension to an every-three-week dosing regimen were presented today at the Population Approach Group Europe ("PAGE") 2023 annual meeting, taking place in A Coruña, Spain (Press release, Checkpoint Therapeutics, JUN 28, 2023, View Source [SID1234632957]).

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The poster presentation, entitled "Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of PD-L1 Checkpoint Inhibitor Cosibelimab in Subjects with Advanced Cancers," compares cosibelimab exposures from over 200 patients enrolled in the multicenter, multiregional pivotal trial of cosibelimab in which cohorts of patients were dosed at either 800 mg every two weeks ("Q2W") or 1200 mg every three weeks ("Q3W"). The patient exposure results provide evidence that cosibelimab dosed at 800 mg Q2W and 1200 mg Q3W intervals are comparable based on the PK-related criteria outlined in U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") guidance for supporting alternative dosing regimens for PD-L1 antibodies. These data support the proposed 1200 mg Q3W commercial dosing regimen for cosibelimab included in the Biologics License Application ("BLA") for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma currently under review by the FDA with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act ("PDUFA") goal date of January 3, 2024.

These most recent results build on the previous presentation of PK and target occupancy data showing that cosibelimab doses of 800 mg Q2W and 1200 mg Q3W are both expected to achieve over 99% PD-L1 target occupancy throughout the respective dosing intervals to restore T-cell function in order to induce an anti-tumor response.

"We are firmly committed to improving all aspects of cancer care, including a focus on providing greater flexibility and convenience in administering cosibelimab upon its potential U.S. marketing approval in early January as a treatment for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma," said James Oliviero, President and Chief Executive Officer of Checkpoint. Mr. Oliviero continued, "These data further support the comparability of the two-week and three-week dosing regimens for cosibelimab and are included in the BLA submission currently under FDA review. If approved, based on its unique mechanism of action and compelling efficacy and safety profile, we believe cosibelimab has the potential to capture significant market share as a differentiated and possibly best-in-class treatment for patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, which we estimate to be a $1.6 billion U.S. market opportunity."

A copy of the poster presentation is available here.

Additional information on the meeting can be found on the PAGE website, www.page-meeting.org.

Black Diamond Therapeutics Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock

On June 28, 2023 Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDTX), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing MasterKey therapies that target families of oncogenic mutations in patients with genetically defined cancers, reported that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of $75.0 million of shares of its common stock (Press release, Black Diamond Therapeutics, JUN 28, 2023, View Source [SID1234632955]). Black Diamond also intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $11.25 million of shares of its common stock. All of the shares in the proposed offering are to be sold by Black Diamond. The proposed offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

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Piper Sandler is acting as sole book-running manager for the proposed offering. Wedbush PacGrow is acting as the lead manager for the proposed offering.

The shares are being offered by Black Diamond pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement that was previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 14, 2022 and declared effective by the SEC on November 22, 2022 (File No. 333-268341). The offering is being made only by means of a written prospectus and prospectus supplement that form a part of the registration statement. A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to and describing the terms of the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the offering may also be obtained from Piper Sandler & Co., Attention: Prospectus Department, 800 Nicollet Mall, J12S03, Minneapolis, MN 55402, by telephone at (800) 747-3924, or by email at [email protected].

The final terms of the offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC.

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 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 jurisdiction.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On June 27, 2023, Arcus Biosciences, Inc. ("Arcus") and Gilead Sciences, Inc. ("Gilead") reported to have entered into a Second Amended and Restated Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the "A&R Purchase Agreement"), which amends and restates in its entirety the Amended & Restated Common Stock Purchase Agreement entered into between Arcus and Gilead on January 31, 2021 (the "2021 SPA") (Filing, 8-K, Arcus Biosciences, JUN 28, 2023, View Source [SID1234632953]). Pursuant to the A&R Purchase Agreement, Gilead will purchase from Arcus 1,010,000 shares of Arcus common stock at a purchase price of $19.26 per share, subject to customary closing conditions. All other terms of the 2021 SPA, including Gilead’s option to purchase additional shares from Arcus, up to a maximum of 35% of Arcus’s then-outstanding common stock, from time to time until July 13, 2025, remain unchanged.

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The foregoing is only a brief description of the material terms of the A&R Purchase Agreement and does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties thereunder and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to Arcus’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.