Takeda and HUTCHMED Announce Marketing Authorization Application of Fruquintinib for Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Validated by the European Medicines Agency

On June 15, 2023 Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) and HUTCHMED (China) Limited (Nasdaq/AIM: HCM, HKEX: 13) ("HUTCHMED") reported that the European Medicines Agency ("EMA") has validated and accepted for regulatory review the marketing authorization application ("MAA") for fruquintinib, a highly selective and potent inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors ("VEGFR") -1, -2 and -3 for the treatment of adult patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer ("CRC") (Press release, Hutchison China MediTech, JUN 15, 2023, View Source [SID1234632743]). If approved, fruquintinib will be the first and only highly selective inhibitor of all three VEGF receptors approved in the E.U. for previously treated metastatic CRC.1,2

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"European patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have not benefitted from a treatment advancement in over a decade," said Awny Farajallah, M.D., head of Global Medical Affairs Oncology at Takeda. "We are thrilled to have submitted the marketing authorization application to the EMA, bringing us one step closer to potentially offering this innovative therapy to patients with advanced disease. We believe fruquintinib has the potential to address the longstanding unmet need for patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer regardless of their biomarker status, and we look forward to working with the regulators throughout the process."

The MAA for fruquintinib includes results from the Phase III FRESCO-2 trial along with data from the Phase III FRESCO trial conducted in China. FRESCO-2 is a global Phase III multi-regional clinical trial (MRCT) conducted in the U.S., Europe, Japan and Australia investigating fruquintinib plus BSC vs. placebo plus BSC in patients with previously treated metastatic CRC. The FRESCO-2 trial met its primary and key secondary endpoints, showing a significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival ("OS") and progression-free survival ("PFS"), respectively. Fruquintinib has been generally well tolerated in patients to date.

"Based on fruquintinib’s clinical profile to date, we are optimistic about its potential as a choice for patients and physicians in the E.U. who find treatment options to be limited for previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer," said Dr. Michael Shi, Head of R&D and Chief Medical Officer, HUTCHMED. "We believe the EMA validation of the marketing authorization application for fruquintinib represents an exciting initial step toward advancing treatment for patients in Europe and look forward to supporting Takeda as it pursues this goal."

The validation follows the acceptance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") of a new drug application ("NDA"), announced on May 25, 2023, which was granted Priority Review and assigned Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of November 30, 2023. Submission of an NDA to the Japan Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) is also planned in 2023. Fruquintinib is currently approved in China under the brand name ELUNATE. Approval in China was based on the results of the FRESCO study, a Phase III pivotal registration trial of fruquintinib in 416 patients with metastatic CRC in China, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA, in June 2018 (NCT02314819).3 In March 2023, HUTCHMED and Takeda closed an exclusive licensing agreement to further the global development, commercialization and manufacture of fruquintinib outside of China.

About Fruquintinib

Fruquintinib is a highly selective and potent oral inhibitor of VEGFR -1, -2 and -3. VEGFR inhibitors play a pivotal role in blocking tumor angiogenesis. Fruquintinib was designed to improve kinase selectivity with the intention of minimizing off-target toxicities, improving tolerability and providing more consistent target coverage. Fruquintinib has been generally well tolerated in patients to date and is being investigated in combinations with other anti-cancer therapies.

About FRESCO-2

The FRESCO-2 study is a multi-regional clinical trial conducted in the U.S., Europe, Japan and Australia investigating fruquintinib plus BSC vs placebo plus BSC in patients with previously treated metastatic CRC. As previously disclosed, the 691-patient study met its primary endpoint of OS in patients with metastatic CRC who had progressed on standard chemotherapy and relevant biologic agents and who had progressed on, or were intolerant to, TAS-102 and/or regorafenib. In addition to OS, a statistically significant improvement in PFS, a key secondary endpoint, was observed. Fruquintinib has been generally well tolerated in patients to date. Summary results were initially presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress in September 2022.4 Additional details of the study may be found at clinicaltrials.gov, using identifier NCT04322539.

About CRC

CRC is a cancer that starts in either the colon or rectum. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, CRC is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide, associated with more than 935,000 deaths in 2020.5 In the U.S., it is estimated that 153,000 patients will be diagnosed with CRC and 53,000 deaths from the disease will occur in 2023.6 In Europe, CRC was the second most common cancer in 2020 with approximately 520,000 new cases and 245,000 deaths. In Japan, CRC was the most common cancer with an estimated 148,000 new cases and 60,000 deaths in 2020.5 Although early-stage CRC can be surgically resected, metastatic CRC remains an area of high unmet need with poor outcomes and limited treatment options. Some patients with metastatic CRC may benefit from personalized therapeutic strategies based on molecular characteristics; however, most patients have tumors that do not harbor actionable mutations.

Verastem Oncology Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants

On June 15, 2023 Verastem Oncology, (Nasdaq: VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new medicines for patients with cancer, reported that it intends to offer and sell shares of its common stock and pre-funded warrants in an underwritten public offering (Press release, Verastem, JUN 15, 2023, View Source [SID1234632734]). In connection with the proposed offering, Verastem Oncology intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the 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 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. All of the securities to be sold in the offering are to be sold by Verastem Oncology.

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RBC Capital Markets and Cantor are acting as joint book-running managers and representatives of the underwriters for the proposed offering.

Verastem Oncology intends to use the net proceeds from the proposed public offering for (i) continued research and development of its product candidates (ii) potential launch of avutometinib and defactinib in low-grade serous ovarian cancer, and (iii) working capital and other general corporate purposes.

A shelf registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the public offering of the securities described above was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 6, 2022. The offering will be made only by means of a written prospectus and prospectus supplement that form a part of the registration statement. Before you invest, you should read the preliminary prospectus supplement relating to and describing the terms of such public offering, the accompanying base prospectus, and the related registration statement and other documents that Verastem Oncology has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Verastem Oncology and the proposed offering. These documents, when available, are free and can be found by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the proposed offering may be obtained, when available, by contacting RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY, 10281, or by telephone at (877) 822-4089 or by email at [email protected] or Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Attention: Capital Markets, 499 Park Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10022, by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the 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.

Mustang Bio Announces Final Results from Follicular Lymphoma Cohort of Single-Institution Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial of MB-106, CD20-Targeted Autologous CAR T Therapy

On June 15, 2023 Mustang Bio, Inc. ("Mustang" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: MBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on translating today’s medical breakthroughs in cell and gene therapies into potential cures for difficult-to-treat cancers and rare genetic diseases, reported that final data from the follicular lymphoma ("FL") cohort of the single-institution Phase 1/2 clinical trial of MB-106 demonstrate treatment with the CD20-targeted, autologous CAR T-cell therapy resulted in high overall response ("ORR") and complete response ("CR") rates and CAR T persistence in FL patients (Press release, Mustang Bio, JUN 15, 2023, View Source [SID1234632733]). MB-106 is being developed in a collaboration between Mustang and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center ("Fred Hutch") to treat patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas ("B-NHLs") and chronic lymphocytic leukemia ("CLL").

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The final FL cohort results from the Phase 1/2 clinical trial being conducted at Fred Hutch were presented by Mazyar Shadman, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor and physician at Fred Hutch and University of Washington, at the 17th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma ("17-ICML").

"MB-106 continues to show promise as a viable treatment option for patients with FL and other B-NHLs, as evidenced by a 95% overall response rate in the FL cohort of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial, including a patient previously treated with a CD19 CAR T-cell therapy who remains in remission," said Dr. Shadman. "Importantly, MB-106 was infused in an outpatient setting except for the first patient at each dose level, further highlighting the potential of this therapy to fill an unmet need in FL and other B-NHLs. We look forward to the publication of the final data in a peer-reviewed journal in the near future."

A total of 20 patients with relapsed FL with confirmed CD20 expression participated in the study and had day 28 assessment. Median age was 63 years (range: 44 – 81), and median prior lines of treatment was 4 (range: 1 – 12). High-risk features included patients with progression of disease within 24 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy (POD24) (n=15; 75%), history of histologic transformation (n=4, 20%), prior treatment with a CD19 target CAR T (n=1, 5%). ORR was 95% (19/20), and CR rate was 80% (16/20). Patients who received higher dose levels (3.3 x 106 and 1.0 x 107 cells/kg) had an ORR of 100% and a CR rate of 91%. Ten patients are in remission over one year, seven of whom are over two years. One patient, previously treated with a CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapy, achieved a CR and remains in remission after 18 months. From a safety profile perspective, all cytokine release syndrome ("CRS") events were grade 1 (n=5; 25%) or grade 2 (n=1; 5%), with no grade ≥ 3 CRS events. There was no occurrence of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome of any grade.

Manuel Litchman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Mustang, commented, "We are encouraged by the MB-106 data from the FL cohort presented by Dr. Shadman at 17-ICML from the Fred Hutch Phase 1/2 clinical trial, as well as the data from the Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia cohort that he recently presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) 2023 Hybrid Congress. The data underscore the great potential of MB-106 to treat a range of hematologic malignancies. We look forward to reporting initial data from our multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial of MB-106 shortly."

For more information on the multicenter clinical trial, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov using the identifier NCT05360238 for the multicenter trial.

Scientists at Fred Hutch played a role in developing these discoveries, and Fred Hutch and certain of its scientists may benefit financially from this work in the future.

About MB-106 (CD20-targeted autologous CAR T-Cell Therapy)
CD20 is a membrane-embedded surface molecule which plays a role in the differentiation of B-cells into plasma cells. The CAR T was developed by Mustang’s research collaborator, Fred Hutch, in the laboratories of the late Oliver Press, M.D., Ph.D., and Brian Till, M.D., Associate Professor in the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutch, and was exclusively licensed to Mustang in 2017. The lentiviral vector drug substance used to transduce patients’ cells to create the MB-106 drug product produced at Fred Hutch has been optimized as a third-generation CAR derived from a fully human antibody, and MB-106 is currently in a Phase 1/2 open-label, dose-escalation trial at Fred Hutch in patients with B-NHLs and CLL. The same lentiviral vector drug substance produced at Fred Hutch will be used to transduce patients’ cells to create the MB-106 drug product produced at Mustang Bio’s Worcester, MA, cell processing facility for administration in the planned multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial that is now open to enrollment under Mustang Bio’s IND. It should be noted that Mustang Bio has introduced minor improvements to its cell processing to facilitate eventual commercial launch of the product. In addition, prior to commercial launch, Mustang Bio will replace the Fred Hutch lentiviral vector drug substance with vector produced at a commercial manufacturer. Additional information on the trials can be found at View Source using the identifier NCT05360238 for the multicenter trial and NCT03277729 for the ongoing trial at Fred Hutch. Mustang Bio has entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement pursuant to which it has agreed to sell, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, its leasehold interest in its cell processing facility and expects to enter into a manufacturing services agreement with the prospective purchaser to provide for the continued production of the MB-106 drug product. For additional information, please refer to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Mustang Bio with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on May 22, 2023.

FDA Approves Genentech’s Columvi, the First and Only Bispecific Antibody With a Fixed-Duration Treatment for People With Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

On June 15, 2023 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified or large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) arising from follicular lymphoma, after two or more lines of systemic therapy (Press release, Genentech, JUN 15, 2023, View Source [SID1234632732]). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate and durability of response in the Phase I/II NP30179 study. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. Columvi will be available in the United States in the coming weeks.

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"People with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who have gone through multiple lines of therapy have a poor prognosis and desperately need additional treatment options," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "As an off-the-shelf, fixed-duration treatment providing durable response rates, we believe Columvi could change the way this aggressive lymphoma is treated, reinforcing our dedication to bringing innovative treatment options to people with critical unmet needs."

DLBCL is an aggressive, hard-to-treat disease and is the most common form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the United States. While many people with DLBCL are responsive to treatment, the majority of those who relapse or are refractory to subsequent treatments have poor outcomes.

"Patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma may experience rapid progression of their cancer and often urgently need an effective treatment option that can be administered without delay," said Krish Patel, M.D., Director of the Lymphoma Program at the Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle and investigator of the Columvi Phase I/II NP30179 study. "Experience from clinical trials demonstrates that Columvi can provide patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma a chance for complete remission with a fixed-duration immunotherapy and that such remissions can potentially be sustained after the end of their treatment."

The FDA accelerated approval is based on positive results from the Phase I/II NP30179 study of Columvi given as a fixed course for 8.5 months in 132 patients with DLBCL who had relapsed or were refractory to prior therapies, including about one-third (30%) who had received prior CAR T-cell therapy. Additionally, 83% were refractory to their most recent therapy. Results showed patients treated with fixed-duration Columvi achieved durable remission, with 56% of patients achieving an overall response (OR; 74/132 [95% confidence interval (CI): 47-65]) and 43% of patients achieving a complete response (CR; 57/132 [95% CI: 35-52]). Over two-thirds of those who responded continued to respond for at least nine months (68.5% [95% CI: 56.7-80.3]). The OR rate is the combination of CR rate (a disappearance of all signs and symptoms of cancer) and partial response rate (a decrease in the amount of cancer in the body). The median duration of response was 1.5 years (18.4 months [95% CI: 11.4-not estimable]). Data from the NP30179 study were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Among 145 patients who received Columvi in the study, the most common adverse events (AEs) were cytokine release syndrome (CRS; 70%), which may be serious or life-threatening, musculoskeletal pain (21%), fatigue (20%) and rash (20%). CRS was generally low grade (52% experienced Grade 1, and 14% experienced Grade 2).

Columvi is the first and only CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody for the treatment of R/R DLBCL that is given for a defined period of time. Unlike treat-to-progression approaches where treatment is given indefinitely until the cancer progresses or the therapy cannot be tolerated, Columvi is administered in 13 intravenous infusions over a maximum of 12 cycles (including step-up dosing) or until disease progression or the treatment cannot be tolerated, whichever occurs first. After Cycle 1, Columvi is administered once every three weeks. Designed to be completed in approximately 8.5 months, Columvi offers people with R/R DLBCL a target end date for their course of treatment and the possibility of a treatment-free period. Additionally, Columvi is a chemotherapy-free treatment option that is off-the-shelf and ready for infusion. Patients are pretreated with a single dose of obinutuzumab seven days prior to starting Columvi. Patients are also given a corticosteroid, an antipyretic (fever-reducing medicine) and an antihistamine as premedications to reduce the risk of CRS.

Columvi is part of Genentech’s broad and industry-leading CD20xCD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody clinical development program. This includes the Phase III STARGLO study evaluating Columvi in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GemOx) versus rituximab in combination with GemOx in patients with DLBCL who have been treated with one or more previous therapies and are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant. Genentech’s hematology bispecific antibody portfolio also includes Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab-axgb), which was granted accelerated approval by the FDA in December 2022 for the treatment of adult patients with R/R follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Genentech is exploring the potential of both Columvi and Lunsumio as monotherapies and in combination with other therapies, including Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq), in earlier lines of treatment with the goal of providing patients with long-lasting outcomes. This robust development program includes two Phase III studies: CELESTIMO, investigating Lunsumio plus lenalidomide in second line plus (2L+) FL, and SUNMO, investigating Lunsumio plus Polivy in 2L+ DLBCL. Columvi received its first worldwide approval in Canada, and the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recently granted a positive opinion recommending its approval.

Genentech is committed to helping people access the medicines they are prescribed and will be offering comprehensive services for people prescribed Columvi to help minimize barriers to access and reimbursement. For people who qualify, Genentech plans to offer patient assistance programs through Genentech Access Solutions. More information is also available at 866-4ACCESS/866-422-2377 or View Source

About the NP30179 Study
The NP30179 study [NCT03075696] is a Phase I/II, multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation and expansion study evaluating the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm) in people with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Outcome measures include complete response rate by an independent review committee (primary endpoint), overall response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, safety and tolerability (secondary endpoints).

About Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive (fast-growing) blood cancer and is the most common form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in the U.S. While many people with DLBCL are responsive to treatment, the majority of those who relapse or are refractory to subsequent treatments have poor outcomes. DLBCL not otherwise specified is the most common category of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and accounts for about 80% or more of cases. It applies to cases that do not fall into any specific disease subgroups of LBCL.

About Large B-Cell Lymphoma Arising from Follicular Lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common slow-growing (indolent) form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), accounting for about one in five cases. It typically responds well to treatment but is often characterized by periods of remission and relapse. The disease typically becomes harder to treat each time a patient relapses, and early progression can be associated with poor long-term prognosis. As part of the natural history of FL, it can transform to more aggressive malignancies, including large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), one of the most aggressive (fast-growing) blood cancers.

About Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm)
Columvi is a CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody designed with a novel 2:1 structural format. Columvi targets both T cells, a type of immune cell, and B cells, which are cancerous in DLBCL. Columvi is engineered to have one region that binds to CD3, a protein on T cells, and two regions that bind to CD20, a protein on B cells, which can be healthy or cancerous. This dual-targeting brings the T cell in close proximity to the B cell, activating the release of cancer cell-killing proteins from the T cell that result in the death of B cells. A robust clinical development program for Columvi is ongoing, investigating the molecule as a monotherapy and in combination with other medicines for the treatment of people with B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and other blood cancers.

Columvi U.S. Indication

Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm) is a prescription medicine to treat adults with certain types of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) that has come back (relapsed) or that did not respond to previous treatment (refractory), and who have received 2 or more prior treatments for their cancer.

It is not known if Columvi is safe and effective in children.

The conditional approval of Columvi is based on response rate and durability of response. There are ongoing studies to establish how well the drug works.

What is the most important information I should know about Columvi?

Columvi can cause Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), a serious side effect that is common during treatment with Columvi, and can also be serious and lead to death.

Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of CRS, including:

fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
chills or shaking
fast or irregular heartbeat
dizziness or light-headedness
trouble breathing
shortness of breath
Due to the risk of CRS, you will receive Columvi on a "step-up dosing schedule".

A single dose of a medicine called obinutuzumab will be given to you on the first day of your first treatment cycle (Day 1 of Cycle 1).
You will start the Columvi step-up dosing schedule a week after the obinutuzumab dose. The step-up dosing schedule is when you receive smaller "step-up" doses of Columvi on Day 8 and Day 15 of Cycle 1. This is to help reduce your risk of CRS. You should be hospitalized during your infusion and for 24 hours after receiving the first step-up dose on Day 8. You should be hospitalized during your infusion and for 24 hours after receiving the second step-up dose on Day 15 if you experienced CRS during the first step-up dose.
You will receive your first full dose of Columvi a week after the second step-up dose (this will be Day 1 of Cycle 2).
If your dose of Columvi is delayed for any reason, you may need to repeat the "step-up dosing schedule".
If you had more than mild CRS with your previous dose of Columvi, you should be hospitalized during and for 24 hours after receiving your next dose of Columvi.
Before each dose of Columvi, you will receive medicines to help reduce your risk of CRS and infusion-related reactions.
Your healthcare provider will monitor you for CRS during treatment with Columvi and may treat you in a hospital if you develop signs and symptoms of CRS. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop your treatment with Columvi if you have severe side effects.

Carry the Columvi Patient Wallet Card with you at all times and show it to all of your healthcare providers. The Columvi Patient Wallet Card lists the signs and symptoms of CRS you should get emergency medical help for right away.

What are the possible side effects of Columvi?

Columvi may cause serious side effects, including:

Cytokine Release Syndrome.
Neurologic problems. Columvi can cause serious neurologic problems that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for neurologic problems during treatment with Columvi. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in neurologic problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of neurologic problems, including:
headache
confusion and disorientation
difficulty paying attention or understanding things
trouble speaking
sleepiness
memory problems
numbness, tingling, or weakness of the hands or feet
dizziness
shaking (tremors)
Serious Infections. Columvi can cause serious infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for signs and symptoms of infection and treat you as needed. Tell your health care provider right away if you develop any signs of an infection, including: fever, chills, weakness, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat.
Growth in your tumor or worsening of tumor related problems (tumor flare). Tell your healthcare provider if you get any of these signs or symptoms of tumor flare:
tender or swollen lymph nodes
pain or swelling at the site of the tumor
chest pain
cough
trouble breathing

The most common side effects of Columvi include: CRS, muscle and bone pain, rash, and tiredness.

The most common severe abnormal lab test results with Columvi include: decreased white blood cells, decreased phosphate (an electrolyte), increased uric acid levels, and decreased fibrinogen (a protein that helps with blood clotting).

Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop treatment with Columvi if you develop certain side effects.

Before receiving Columvi, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have an infection
have kidney problems
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Columvi may harm your unborn baby
Females who are able to become pregnant:

Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with Columvi.
You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose of Columvi. Talk to your healthcare provider about what birth control method is right for you during this time.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Columvi.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Columvi may pass into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose of Columvi.

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What should I avoid while receiving Columvi?

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities if you develop dizziness, confusion, shaking (tremors), sleepiness, or any other symptoms that impair consciousness until your signs and symptoms go away. These may be signs and symptoms of neurologic problems.

These are not all the possible side effects of Columvi. Talk to your health care provider for more information about the benefits and risks of Columvi.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or View Source You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see Important Safety Information, including Serious Side Effects, as well as the Columvi full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide or visit View Source

About Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab-axgb)
Lunsumio is a first-in-class CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody designed to target CD20 on the surface of B cells and CD3 on the surface of T cells. This dual targeting activates and redirects a patient’s existing T cells to engage and eliminate target B cells by releasing cytotoxic proteins into the B cells. A robust clinical development program for Lunsumio is ongoing, investigating the molecule as a monotherapy and in combination with other medicines, for the treatment of people with B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, including follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and other blood cancers.

Lunsumio U.S. Indication

Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab-axgb) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with follicular lymphoma whose cancer has come back or did not respond to previous treatment, and who have already received two or more treatments for their cancer.

It is not known if Lunsumio is safe and effective in children.

The conditional approval of Lunsumio is based on response rate. There are ongoing studies to establish how well the drug works.

What is the most important information I should know about Lunsumio?

Lunsumio may cause Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), a serious side effect that is common during treatment with Lunsumio and can also be severe or life-threatening.

Get medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of CRS at any time, including:

fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
chills
low blood pressure
fast or irregular heartbeat
tiredness or weakness
difficulty breathing
headache
confusion
feeling anxious
dizziness or light-headedness
nausea
vomiting
Due to the risk of CRS, you will receive Lunsumio on a "step-up dosing schedule."

The step-up dosing schedule is when you receive smaller "step-up" doses of Lunsumio on Day 1 and Day 8 of your first cycle of treatment
You will receive a higher dose of Lunsumio on Day 15 of your first cycle of treatment
If your dose of Lunsumio is delayed for any reason, you may need to repeat the step-up dosing schedule
Before each dose in Cycle 1 and Cycle 2, you will receive medicines to help reduce your risk of CRS

Your healthcare provider will check you for CRS during treatment with Lunsumio and may treat you in a hospital if you develop signs and symptoms of CRS. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop your treatment with Lunsumio, if you have severe side effects.

What are the possible side effects of Lunsumio?

Lunsumio may cause serious side effects, including:

Neurologic problems. Your healthcare provider will check you for neurologic problems during treatment with Lunsumio. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in neurologic problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of neurologic problems during or after treatment with Lunsumio, including:
headache
numbness and tingling of the arms, legs, hands, or feet
dizziness
confusion and disorientation
difficulty paying attention or understanding things
forgetting things or forgetting who or where you are
trouble speaking, reading, or writing
sleepiness or trouble sleeping
tremors
loss of consciousness
seizures
muscle problems or muscle weakness
loss of balance or trouble walking
Serious infections. Lunsumio can cause serious infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will check you for signs and symptoms of infection before and during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of infection during treatment with Lunsumio, including:
fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher
chest pain
tiredness
shortness of breath
painful rash
sore throat
pain during urination
feeling weak or generally unwell
Low blood cell counts. Low blood cell counts are common during treatment with Lunsumio and can also be severe. Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell counts during treatment with Lunsumio. Lunsumio may cause the following low blood cell counts:
low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Low white blood cells can increase your risk for infection
low red blood cell counts (anemia). Low red blood cells can cause tiredness and shortness of breath
low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). Low platelet counts can cause bruising or bleeding problems
Growth in your tumor or worsening of tumor related problems (Tumor flare). Lunsumio may cause serious or severe worsening of your tumor. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of these signs or symptoms of tumor flare during your treatment with Lunsumio: tender or swollen lymph nodes, chest pain, cough, trouble breathing, and pain or swelling at the site of the tumor

Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or permanently stop treatment with Lunsumio if you develop severe side effects.

The most common side effects of Lunsumio include: tiredness, rash, fever, and headache.

The most common severe abnormal lab test results with Lunsumio include: decreased phosphate, increased glucose, and increased uric acid levels.

Before receiving Lunsumio, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have ever had an infusion reaction after receiving Lunsumio
have an infection, or have had an infection in the past which lasted a long time or keeps coming back
have or have had Epstein-Barr Virus
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lunsumio may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Lunsumio
Females who are able to become pregnant:

your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with Lunsumio
you should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of Lunsumio
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Lunsumio passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of Lunsumio

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What should I avoid while receiving Lunsumio?

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities if you develop dizziness, confusion, tremors, sleepiness, or any other symptoms that impair consciousness until your signs and symptoms go away. These may be signs and symptoms of CRS or neurologic problems.

These are not all the possible side effects of Lunsumio. Talk to your health care provider for more information about the benefits and risks of Lunsumio.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or View Source You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see Important Safety Information, including Serious Side Effects, as well as the Lunsumio full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide or visit View Source

About Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq)

Polivy is a first-in-class anti-CD79b antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). The CD79b protein is expressed specifically in the majority of B cells, an immune cell impacted in some types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), making it a promising target for the development of new therapies. Polivy binds to cancer cells such as CD79b and destroys these B cells through the delivery of an anti-cancer agent, which is thought to minimize the effects on normal cells. Polivy is being developed by Genentech using Seagen ADC technology and is currently being investigated for the treatment of several types of NHL.

Polivy U.S. Indication
Polivy is a prescription medicine used with other medicines (a rituximab product, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone) as a first treatment for adults who have moderate to high risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified (NOS) or high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL).

Polivy is a prescription medicine used with other medicines, bendamustine and a rituximab product, to treat DLBCL in adults who have progressed after at least 2 prior therapies.

Important Safety Information

Possible serious side effects

Everyone reacts differently to Polivy therapy, so it’s important to know what the side effects are. Some people who have been treated with Polivy have experienced serious to fatal side effects. Your doctor may stop or adjust your treatment if any serious side effects occur. Be sure to contact your healthcare team if there are any signs of these side effects.

Nerve problems in your arms and legs: This may happen as early as after your first dose and may worsen with every dose. Your doctor will monitor for signs and symptoms, such as changes in your sense of touch, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, nerve pain, burning sensation, any muscle weakness, or changes to your walking pattern
Infusion-related reactions: You may experience fever, chills, rash, breathing problems, low blood pressure, or hives within 24 hours of your infusion
Low Blood Cell Counts: Treatment with Polivy can cause severe low blood cell counts. Your doctor will monitor your blood counts throughout treatment with Polivy
Infections: If you have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, cough, or pain during urination, contact your healthcare team. Your doctor may also give you medication before giving you Polivy, which may prevent some infections, and will monitor your blood counts throughout treatment with Polivy. Treatment with Polivy can cause severe low blood cell counts
Rare and serious brain infections: Your doctor will monitor closely for signs and symptoms of these types of infections. Contact your doctor if you experience confusion, dizziness or loss of balance, trouble talking or walking, or vision changes
Tumor lysis syndrome: Caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. Signs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of energy
Potential harm to liver: Some signs include tiredness, weight loss, pain in the abdomen, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes. You may be at higher risk if you already had liver problems or you are taking other medication

Side effects seen most often

The most common side effects of Polivy when used as a first treatment in DLBCL with the medicines rituximab product, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone include

Nerve problems in arms and legs
Nausea
Tiredness or lack of energy
Diarrhea
Constipation
Hair Loss
Redness and sores of the lining of the mouth, lips, throat, and digestive tract

Polivy may lower your red or white blood cell counts and increase uric acid levels.

The most common side effects of Polivy when used in DLBCL after at least 2 prior therapies with other medicines, bendamustine and a rituximab product include

Low blood cell counts (platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells)
Nerve problems in arms and legs
Tiredness or lack of energy
Diarrhea
Nausea
Fever
Decreased appetite
Infections
Polivy may not be for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you are

Pregnant or think you are pregnant: Data have shown that Polivy may harm your unborn baby
Planning to become pregnant: Women should avoid getting pregnant while taking Polivy. Women should use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after their last Polivy treatment. Men taking Polivy should use effective contraception during treatment and for 5 months after their last Polivy treatment
Breastfeeding: Women should not breastfeed while taking Polivy and for 2 months after the last dose

These may not be all the side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information about the benefits and risks of Polivy treatment.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or View Source You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see the full Prescribing Information and visit View Source for additional Important Safety Information.

SELLAS Life Sciences Announces Abstract Accepted for Presentation at International Gynecologic Cancer Society Annual Meeting

On June 15, 2023 SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLS) ("SELLAS’’ or the "Company"), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for a broad range of cancer indications, reported acceptance of an abstract for a poster presentation at the Annual Global Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS 2023) which will be held November 5-7, 2023, in Seoul, South Korea (Press release, Sellas Life Sciences, JUN 15, 2023, View Source [SID1234632730]).

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Presentation Details:

Title: Phase 1/2 study of galinpepimut-S plus pembrolizumab combination in patients with WT1+ platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in 2nd/3rd line of therapy

Presenter: Roisin E. O’Cearbhaill, M.D., Research Director, Gynecologic Medical Oncology Service; Clinical Director, Solid Tumor, Cellular Therapy Service; and Associate Attending Physician Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Presentation Type: Poster Presentation

The full abstract will be published by IGCS 2023 on October 17, 2023.