On June 5, 2023 Galera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a pipeline of novel, proprietary therapeutics that have the potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer, reported data from the Phase 3 ROMAN trial demonstrating avasopasem manganese (avasopasem) improved preservation of kidney function and reduced cisplatin-related chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Galera Therapeutics, JUN 5, 2023, View Source [SID1234632472]). Patients in the ROMAN trial received standard-of-care radiation therapy with concurrent cisplatin. These kidney results are in addition to the ROMAN data showing a significant reduction in severe oral mucositis (SOM) in these patients, which form the basis of the avasopasem New Drug Application (NDA) currently under priority review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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"The demonstrated improvement in kidney function and reductions in cisplatin-related CKD following treatment suggest that avasopasem has the potential to significantly reduce known kidney toxicities associated with cisplatin and other platinum-based chemotherapies," said Mel Sorensen, M.D., Galera’s President and CEO. "In addition to a reduction in reported renal toxicity adverse events during treatment, benefits to kidney function were observed soon after cessation of cisplatin therapy, with CKD reduced by 50 percent in the avasopasem treatment arm at one year, regardless of cisplatin dosing schedule. Our Phase 3 ROMAN trial demonstrated avasopasem’s ability to reduce SOM, a debilitating toxicity induced by radiotherapy, and our NDA for this indication is currently under FDA priority review. The pre-specified exploratory analysis of CKD presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) suggests a potential additional protective clinical benefit for patients undergoing treatment with cisplatin in multiple cancers."

Highlights from the Phase 3 ROMAN data presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper):

Avasopasem was associated with significant improvements in preservation of kidney function compared to placebo based on mean change in estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) compared to baseline, beginning by 3 months through the one-year end of follow-up
Avasopasem was associated with a significant reduction in incidence of grade 3+ CKD according to KDIGO1 criteria (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2)
10% of patients treated with avasopasem had grade 3+ CKD, compared to 20% of patients in the placebo arm at one-year follow-up (relative risk 0.55, p=0.0043)
Reductions in CKD were consistent across cisplatin dosing schedules
Avasopasem was associated with reduced incidence of cisplatin-related renal adverse events during treatment
This prospectively-defined exploratory analysis of the Phase 3 ROMAN trial included patients undergoing the standard-of-care regimen of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with concurrent cisplatin. The effect of avasopasem on kidney function was assessed throughout treatment and every three months for one year following seven weeks of therapy. Grade 3+ CKD was defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2.

The presentation is available on Galera’s website at View Source

About Avasopasem
Avasopasem manganese 90 mg (avasopasem, or GC4419) is a selective dismutase mimetic in development for the reduction of radiotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis (SOM) in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) and for the reduction of radiotherapy-induced esophagitis in patients with lung cancer. The FDA has granted Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations to avasopasem for the reduction of SOM induced by radiotherapy. Avasopasem is currently under FDA priority review for radiotherapy-induced SOM in patients with HNC undergoing standard-of-care treatment.

On June 5, 2023 Domain Therapeutics ("Domain" or "the Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative drug candidates in immuno-oncology targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), reported the nomination of a drug candidate, a Negative Allosteric Modulator (NAM) of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), DT-9045, with first-in-class potential for immuno-oncology, particularly for fibrotic tumors (Press release, Domain Therapeutics, JUN 5, 2023, View Source [SID1234632471]).

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Domain carefully selects its immuno-oncology assets using its proprietary cross-validation platform that includes preclinical and clinical data to identify and validate GPCR targets involved in immunosuppressive mechanisms. Through this precision research strategy, backed by two decades of deep-expertise in understanding GPCRs, the Company has developed a novel series of potent and selective PAR2 NAMs. PAR2 is a novel therapeutic target in oncology and immuno-oncology, involved in several processes such as tumor proliferation, resistance to immunotherapy and fibrosis.

Domain nominated DT-9045 as a first-in-class PAR2 NAM clinical candidate based on its added-value, unique properties and greater therapeutic potential in comparison to biologics targeting PAR2 currently in the clinic by several competitors. DT-9045 has demonstrated proof-of-concept efficacy in syngeneic models potentiating the anti-tumor activity of an anti-PD1 treatment.

The Company’s PAR2 NAM approach is particularly advantageous compared to competitors due to its unique pharmacological features:

G-protein biased NAM activity on PAR2 (with no impact on the b-Arrestin pathway and ligand-induced receptor internalization),
unsurmountable property enabling preservation of efficacy even at high concentrations of ligand that could be found in the tumor microenvironment
activity maintained at acidic pH, typical to inflammatory and tumoral environment
Domain has established a clear biomarker strategy guiding the clinical positioning for DT-9045 and with pre-IND studies in progress, the Company’s expectations are for Phase I ascending dose studies in recurrent or metastatic solid tumors to start by mid-2025.

Dr. Pascal Neuville, CEO of Domain Therapeutics, commented: "The nomination of our first-in-class PAR2 NAM drug candidate, DT-9045, is an exciting step forward for Domain Therapeutics and for cancer treatment in general. With its unique features of modulating the immune system response and playing a role in immunosuppression triggered by the tumor, this asset shows unmatched potential to expand the responsiveness of immunotherapy and increase the success rate of non-responding patients. Applying our precision research, we are making steady progress in building our portfolio of assets with best-in-class and first-in-class potential. We look forward to bringing DT-9045 to the clinic by mid-2025 as we work to unlock new cancer treatment possibilities."

Dr. John Stagg, Principal investigator at the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Canada and Member of Domain Therapeutic’s Scientific Advisory Board, commented: "Working closely with Domain, we were able to identify the PAR2 therapeutic target that can potentially pave the way to new GPCR-based immunotherapies and deliver more efficient therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. I look forward to advising the team through the next stages to progress the clinical development of DT-9045 through our fruitful collaboration."

Furthermore, Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAF) are involved in fibrosis mediated immunoresistance leading to failure of several therapies in the clinic. The role of PAR2 in CAF modulation opens a novel therapeutic avenue for the treatment of solid tumors, including those involving fibrosis such as pancreatic or lung cancers.

On June 5, 2023 Nucleai, a leader in AI-powered spatial biology, and Adlai Nortye, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative immuno-oncology therapies, reported a strategic partnership to identify, validate and test novel H&E-based biomarkers across Adlai Nortye’s Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials (Press release, Debiopharm, JUN 5, 2023, View Source [SID1234632470]). The collaboration will initially focus on identifying subjects that could derive benefit from Buparlisib treatment in metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck (SCCHN) patients and will expand to other indications and clinical trials.

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Nucleai’s expertise in extracting and analyzing quantitative spatial features from pathology images, combined with Adlai Nortye’s expertise in drug development and immunotherapy enables a novel and differentiated approach to drug development. Together, they aim to leverage spatial biology to further understand the tumor microenvironment and translate these findings into actionable biomarkers for use in clinical trials.

"We are excited to partner with Adlai Nortye to bring novel spatial biomarkers to the forefront of drug research and development," said Oscar Puig, VP Translational Medicine and Diagnostics at Nucleai. "The ability to explore, quantify and visualize complex spatial relationships in the tumor microenvironment provides a unique opportunity to transform how therapies are developed, and we look forward to support Adlai Nortye’s mission to disrupt immunotherapy."

"The partnership between Nucleai and Adlai Nortye signifies a joint commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific innovation and accelerating the development of next-generation treatments. By bridging the gap between spatial biology and clinical practice, the collaboration aims to revolutionize patient care and improve outcomes for cancer patients," said Lars Birgerson, President and CMO at Adlai Nortye.

On June 5, 2023 Day One Biopharmaceuticals presented its corporate presentation (Presentation, Day One, JUN 5, 2023, View Source [SID1234632469]).

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On June 5, 2023 Compugen Ltd. (Nasdaq: CGEN) (TASE: CGEN) a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company and a pioneer in computational target discovery, reported data to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, showing that Compugen’s COM701 (anti-PVRIG) in triple combination with nivolumab and BMS-986207 (anti-TIGIT) demonstrated preliminary signal of durable anti-tumor activity in patients with recurrent, metastatic MSS endometrial cancer with a favorable safety profile. Preliminary translational data showed an association between greater peripheral immune activation and clinical benefit (Press release, Compugen, JUN 5, 2023, View Source [SID1234632466]). The poster presentation takes place today, June 5, 2023.

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"Despite recent advances in the standard of care for patients with recurrent, metastatic MSS endometrial cancer, there remains a significant need for additional treatment options for these patients," said Drew W. Rasco, M.D., Associate Director of Cancer Research at START Center for Cancer Care, San Antonio, Texas. "It is encouraging to see preliminary durable anti-tumor activity with a favorable safety profile in these patients treated with the triple combination of COM701, nivolumab and BMS-986207. Importantly, one-third of the patients included had prior exposure to an anti-PD-(L)1 making these a particularly hard to treat patient population with a significant unmet medical need. A patient with prior treatment refractory disease to standard of care lenvatinib and pembrolizumab, experienced a partial response and remained on treatment with triple combination for almost 7 months pointing to the potential contribution of blocking PVRIG and TIGIT to the benefit seen. It is also noteworthy that clinical benefit, defined as a partial response or stable disease greater than 100 days, correlated with peripheral immune activation as shown by the translational data to be presented."

Henry Adewoye, MD., Chief Medical Officer of Compugen, added, "I am delighted to see the preliminary data we have reported, including a confirmed partial response in a patient with endometrial carcinosarcoma, a rare hard-to-treat histologic type of endometrial cancer that is not typically responsive to standard of care therapies. The translational findings in patients with clinical benefit are also in line with the mechanistic rationale of the combination. Although the number of patients enrolled is small, these data and the clinical signal reported support our hypothesis of blocking the DNAM-1 axis with anti-PVRIG, TIGIT and PD-1 antibodies. This preliminary data complements previous data we presented in patients with hard-to-treat platinum resistant ovarian cancer and metastatic microsatellite stable colorectal cancer. It supports a COM701 mediated mechanism of action and further development of this triple immunotherapy combination as another potential option in treating cancer."

The abstract is published on the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) virtual platform and the publication section of Compugen’s website. The poster will be available today from 1:15pm CDT on the publication section of Compugen’s website.