OverT Bio Raises $16 Million, Tapping Innovative Reprogramming of Immune Cells to Deliver Next-Generation Therapies

On May 06, 2024 OverT Bio, a data-driven company working to unlock the curative potential of cell therapies in solid tumors, reported that it has raised $16 million in seed funding (Press release, OverT Bio, MAY 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234642713]). The round was co-led by ARTIS Ventures and Wing VC, with participation from Fusion Fund, OMX Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, Gaingels, Civilization Ventures, Hawktail, and Cancer Research Institute. The funding will go toward expanding discovery platforms focused on addressing the primary barriers for cell therapy, leading to durable and curative treatments for advanced solid tumors.

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OverT is the first to use patients’ immune response to cancer to find new receptors and targets that can be applied across the human population. The team searches the entire human genome to find new ways to make cell therapies more durable and capable of destroying cancers. The foundational science has been featured in leading scientific and medical journals, such as Nature and The New England Journal of Medicine.

"Cell therapies have shown, at least in blood cancers, that we can aim to completely cure patients that have even the most advanced diseases rather than just prolong their survival," said Dr. Mat Legut, co-founder and CEO of OverT. "With OverT’s ability to rapidly screen and engineer thousands of genes, we are building next-generation therapies to cure advanced cancers of the solid tissues."

OverT Bio combines cutting-edge cell engineering technologies with big data approaches to address major unmet medical needs in solid tumors. OverT has developed unique massively parallel genetic screening, single-cell multiomic, and synthetic biology platforms to build next-generation cell therapies. OverT’s core platform searches every gene in the genome to identify the best genetic modifications to endow immune cells with novel properties. The company has also built a similarly high-throughput approach to discover new receptors and targets that are both safe and efficacious.

"The OverT team is supercharging cell therapies and finding new cures for cancer," said Sara Choi, partner at Wing VC. "They’re a company that thinks differently and is guided by cutting-edge science – new ways to reprogram T cells, a new class of safe and broadly cancer-specific receptors often ignored by most immunologists. We look forward to supporting the team as they explore the edges of what’s possible in biotech."

"Everything OverT does is based on a patient-centric mission and focused on developing therapies that extend and enhance the lives of cancer patients," said Dr. Vasudev Bailey, partner at ARTIS Ventures. "OverT’s approaches to modifying cell behavior and for receptor discovery are highly differentiated from everything else out there. Instead of making incremental tweaks to existing therapies, OverT is making bold bets on how to create truly transformative cell therapies."

Leveraging decades of experience in cell therapy and immunology, OverT’s founding team has built a large intellectual property portfolio encompassing multiple discovery platforms and preclinical assets. Co-founder and CEO, Dr. Mat Legut, is an immunologist and entrepreneur with a track record of translating discoveries into clinical products, and co-founder, Dr. Neville Sanjana, is a faculty member at the New York Genome Center and NYU, and a pioneer in CRISPR and high-throughput functional genomics.

To learn more about OverT, please visit overt.bio.

Boundless Bio to Present at the Citizens JMP Life Sciences Conference 2024

On May 06, 2024 Boundless Bio (Nasdaq: BOLD), a clinical-stage oncology company interrogating extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) biology to deliver transformative therapies to patients with previously intractable oncogene amplified cancers, reported that Boundless Bio Chief Financial Officer, Jami Rubin, will present at the Citizens JMP Life Sciences Conference 2024 (Press release, Boundless Bio, MAY 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234642712]).

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The podium presentation is scheduled for Monday, May 13, in New York, NY, at 1:00 p.m. ET. A live and archived webcast of the presentation will be accessible under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section of Boundless Bio’s website.

Results from Pivotal Clinical Study Demonstrate Potential of Nucleix’s Bladder EpiCheck® to Improve Disease Recurrence Detection in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) Surveillance

On May 06, 2024 Nucleix, a liquid biopsy company revolutionizing cancer treatment by detecting the disease earlier, reported that the results from the company’s North American pivotal clinical study evaluating the performance of Bladder EpiCheck as a non-invasive and objective novel methylation-based PCR urine test for the surveillance of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) recurrence were presented in a podium presentation at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting 2024 in San Antonio, Texas (Press release, Nucleix, MAY 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234642711]). The data presented demonstrated Bladder EpiCheck’s potential to improve timely disease recurrence detection and compliance with NMIBC surveillance.

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"The results from our pivotal clinical study not only underscore the potential of Bladder EpiCheck as a non-invasive method for tumor recurrence detection in patients previously diagnosed with NMIBC but also signal a transformative shift in NMIBC surveillance," said Aharona Shuali, MD, MBA, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Nucleix. "The sensitivity, specificity and high predictive values demonstrated by Bladder EpiCheck are consistent with our European study and further support the utilization of the test to monitor for tumor recurrence in conjunction with cystoscopy in patients previously diagnosed with NMIBC. These data supported Bladder EpiCheck’s 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2023." Dr. Shuali added, "A strong anticipatory positive signal was demonstrated in patients with a positive Bladder EpiCheck result, despite negative cystoscopy and cytology, meaning these patients are at increased risk for recurrence in the following year."

"Due to its high recurrence rate, bladder cancer requires frequent and long-term surveillance with cystoscopy, and this is a burden both for patients and health systems," said Brant Inman, MD, MS, Chin-Hardie Chair of Urologic Oncology and Professor of Urology and Oncology at Western University (London, Canada). "The performance of Bladder EpiCheck in this clinical trial demonstrates its potential to be used as a non-invasive test for detecting bladder cancer recurrence. Ongoing research will determine if Bladder EpiCheck can be used to replace some cystoscopies and thereby reduce the burden of bladder cancer surveillance for patients and health systems alike."

During the AUA Annual Meeting on May 5, 2024, these results were presented by Dr. Inman in a podium presentation titled "Pivotal Study Evaluating Performance of Bladder EpiCheck, an FDA cleared test, in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer."

About Bladder EpiCheck

Bladder EpiCheck provides physicians and their patients with a simple, objective urine test for recurrent bladder cancer. The test analyzes subtle disease-specific changes in DNA methylation markers, with high sensitivity and specificity. Bladder EpiCheck is intended for use as a non-invasive method for detection of NMIBC recurrence in conjunction with standard of care methods. Bladder EpiCheck is CE-marked and available in Europe for primary and recurrent bladder cancer and upper tract urinary cancer, and FDA 510(k) cleared for bladder cancer recurrence in the United States. It is commercially available in Europe and soon in the United States.

Final Five-Year Analysis of Phase 3 Data With ADSTILADRIN® (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg) Shows Durable Bladder Preservation and Consistent Long-Term Safety in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC

On May 06, 2024 Ferring Pharmaceuticals reported the final 60-month follow-up data from the Phase 3 study of ADSTILADRIN (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg) were presented at the American Urological Association (AUA) 2024 Annual Meeting (Press release, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, MAY 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234642710]). The study demonstrated an 80% overall survival rate and 49% cystectomy-free survival rate at Month 60 in adult patients with high-risk, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors (±Ta/T1), and in patients with high-grade Ta/T1 without CIS. These data, which are the longest follow-up of efficacy and safety data reported for a novel agent for BCG-unresponsive NMIBC, were simultaneously published ahead of print and will be included in the July issue of The Journal of Urology.

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ADSTILADRIN is the first and only intravesical non-replicating adenoviral vector-based gene therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in patients with high-risk BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS with or without papillary tumors. The mechanism of action of ADSTILADRIN is designed to deliver the human interferon-alfa 2b gene (IFNα2b) directly into the bladder to enable secretion of interferon alfa-2b protein with a single treatment every three months.

"ADSTILADRIN represents a novel treatment option for BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with a convenient quarterly dosing pattern for patients," said Vikram M. Narayan, Assistant Professor at Emory University Department of Urology, Director of Urologic Oncology at Grady Memorial Hospital, who presented the five-year results at AUA. "Oftentimes, disease recurrence and progression can lead to bladder removal surgery, so it is important that ADSTILADRIN allowed bladder preservation in nearly half of the patients in the CIS cohort and two-thirds of those in the Ta/T1 cohort after five years."

About the Phase 3 ADSTILADRIN Data and Final Five-Year Analysis in BCG-Unresponsive NMIBC
These new data are part of the final five-year follow-up analysis from the Phase 3 study which included two cohorts: patients with CIS ± Ta/T1 (CIS cohort) and patients with high-grade Ta/T1 without CIS (papillary disease [PD cohort]). Patients with NMIBC who fully met the criteria of being BCG-unresponsive, as defined by the 2018 FDA Guidance for Industry, were enrolled in the study.

Patients with NMIBC CIS±Ta/T1 and high-grade Ta/T1 papillary disease (without CIS) received ADSTILADRIN 75 mL intravesical instillation (3×1011 viral particles) once every three months for up to 12 months (quarterly dosing), or until unacceptable toxicity or recurrent high-grade (HG) NMIBC. Retreatment in patients who did not achieve a complete response at three months after a single dose was not allowed, per the protocol. Three clinical trials in the existing multi-year ADSTILADRIN studies program that were previously announced include retreatment.

At 12 months after initial treatment, patients had a biopsy of five sites (dome, trigone, right and left lateral wall, and posterior wall) in the bladder. Patients with no evidence of high-grade recurrence continued receiving ADSTILADRIN once every three months at the discretion of their treating physician, entering an additional four-year treatment and monitoring phase.

Data Show ADSTILADRIN is a Well-Tolerated and Novel Treatment Option for BCG-unresponsive NMIBC
Median follow-up was 50.8 months (IQR 39.1-60.0), with 26.8% receiving five instillations and 7.6% receiving treatment for 57 months. Among patients who were high-grade recurrence free (HGRF) at Month 3, 13 patients were followed and remained HGRF at month 57. The Kaplan-Meier (KM)-estimated probability of remaining HGRF for at least 57 months was 13.2% and 32.7% in the CIS and PD cohorts, respectively.

The overall survival at 60 months was 76.3% in the CIS cohort and 85.9% in the PD cohort. The cystectomy-free survival rate at Month 60 was 43.2.% and 58.7% in the CIS and PD cohorts, respectively. Clinical progression to muscle invasion was rare in the trial population and seen in only 3.3% of all patients (four with CIS and one with Ta/T1) over the five-year follow-up period.

Most treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) experienced by patients were transient Grade 1 or 2 (66% of all patients studied), and <4% of patients experienced Grade 3 TEAEs with the most common being discharge around the catheter during instillation, fatigue, bladder spasm, urgency to urinate, chills, dysuria, pyrexia, and urinary incontinence. There were no Grade 4 or 5 TEAEs, no treatment-related deaths, and no new safety signals reported with long-term follow-up.

"These positive five-year follow-up data from our Phase 3 trial continue to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of ADSTILADRIN for NMIBC patients who no longer respond to BCG therapy," said Pierre-Yves Berclaz, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Science and Medical Officer, Ferring Pharmaceuticals. "This first-of-its-kind study adds to the body of evidence from our 24-month and 36-month data results and makes ADSTILADRIN the only novel agent with five-year data. With ADSTILADRIN, Ferring has pioneered gene therapy for NMIBC, representing a critical advancement that offers patients renewed hope for more time without disease progression and radical treatment. We look forward to enlarging the body of evidence for ADSTILADRIN with our expanded clinical trial program, which we announced earlier this year."

If you are a healthcare provider interested in the ADSTILADRIN clinical trial program, please visit www.abletrials.com.

About ADSTILADRIN
ADSTILADRIN (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg) is the first and only FDA-approved intravesical non-replicating gene-therapy for the treatment of adult patients with high-risk Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors. It is a non-replicating adenovirus vector-based therapy containing the gene interferon alfa-2b, administered locally as a monotherapy by catheter directly into the bladder once every three months. The vector enters the cells of the bladder wall, releasing the active gene and causing the bladder’s cell walls to secrete high and transient local expression of interferon alfa-2b protein, a naturally-occurring protein the body uses to fight cancer. This approach essentially turns the bladder wall cells into interferon microfactories, enhancing the body’s own natural defenses against the cancer.

ADSTILADRIN has been studied in a clinical trial program that includes 157 patients with high-grade, BCG-unresponsive NMIBC who had been treated with adequate BCG previously and did not see benefit from additional BCG treatment (full inclusion criteria published on clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02773849).1

About Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)
NMIBC is a form of bladder cancer that is present in the superficial layer of the bladder and has not invaded deeper into the bladder or spread to other parts of the body.2 In the United States, bladder cancer is the seventh most common cancer, fourth among men,3-4 and it is estimated that there will be approximately 83,190 new cases of bladder cancer in the U.S. in 2024.5 Historically, 75% of bladder cancer presents as NMIBC.6 In patients with high-risk NMIBC, intravesical BCG remains the first-line standard-of-care. However, more than 50% of patients who receive initial treatment with BCG will experience disease recurrence and progression within one year, with many developing BCG-unresponsive disease.5 Current treatment options for BCG-unresponsive patients are very limited, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend cystectomy (partial or complete removal of the bladder).7

INDICATION
ADSTILADRIN is a non-replicating adenoviral vector-based gene therapy indicated for the treatment of adult patients with high-risk Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CONTRAINDICATIONS: ADSTILADRIN is contraindicated in patients with prior hypersensitivity reactions to interferon alfa or to any component of the product.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS:

Risk with delayed cystectomy: Delaying cystectomy in patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS could lead to development of muscle invasive or metastatic bladder cancer, which can be lethal. If patients with CIS do not have a complete response to treatment after 3 months or if CIS recurs, consider cystectomy.
Risk of disseminated adenovirus infection: Persons who are immunocompromised or immunodeficient may be at risk for disseminated infection from ADSTILADRIN due to low levels of replication-competent adenovirus. Avoid ADSTILADRIN exposure to immunocompromised or immunodeficient individuals.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Administer ADSTILADRIN by intravesical instillation only. ADSTILADRIN is not for intravenous use, topical use, or oral administration.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS: Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during ADSTILADRIN treatment and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during ADSTILADRIN treatment and for 3 months after the last dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS: The most common (>10%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities (>15%), were glucose increased, instillation site discharge, triglycerides increased, fatigue, bladder spasm, micturition (urination urgency), creatinine increased, hematuria (blood in urine), phosphate decreased, chills, pyrexia (fever), and dysuria (painful urination).

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-332-1088. You may also contact Ferring Pharmaceuticals at 1-888-FERRING.

Please click to see the full Prescribing Information.

BostonGene and the Medical College of Wisconsin Announce the Publication and Journal Cover Feature in Gastroenterology Highlighting Transcriptomic-Based Tumor Microenvironment Classification for Precision Medicine in Pancreatic Cancer

On May 06, 2024 BostonGene, a leading provider of AI-driven molecular and immune profiling solutions, and the Medical College of Wisconsin, reported the manuscript "Transcriptomic-Based Microenvironment Classification Reveals Precision Medicine Strategies for PDAC” has published online and in print in Gastroenterology, the premier journal in the field of gastrointestinal disease (Press release, BostonGene, MAY 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234642709]). BostonGene’s artwork was also chosen for the cover of the May publication. The journal highlights original research, reviews and expert insights in adult and pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology, covering clinical, translational and basic aspects of the digestive system, liver, pancreas and nutrition. The study identified four distinct tumor microenvironment (TME) subtypes, unveiling a promising path forward in the fight against PDAC and underscoring the importance of considering TME features in personalized therapeutic strategies.

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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has long been notorious for its aggressive nature and genetic complexity, making it difficult for doctors to predict how patients will respond to treatment and for scientists to develop effective predictive biomarkers and targeted therapies. To address these unmet needs, Ben George, MD, at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in collaboration with BostonGene, led a study utilizing a transcriptomic profiling platform to classify the TME of PDAC based on functional gene expression signatures. This innovative approach analyzed data from publicly available PDAC datasets and was further validated in a clinically annotated, independent cohort of PDAC patients from the LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, part of the MCW Cancer Center.

"For a long while, the scientific community believed that pancreatic cancer was not responsive to immunotherapy, which uses a person’s own immune system to fight cancer. We’ve since made new discoveries that show that pancreatic cancer that spreads to the lungs is biologically distinct, prognostically favorable, and potentially responsive to immunotherapy compared to those that spread to the liver," said Ben George, MD, William F. Stapp Endowed Chair; Professor of Medicine and Medical Director, Cancer Clinical Trials Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin. "Together with BostonGene, we hope to further characterize the biologically distinct PDAC subtypes and investigate how different treatments can modify the TME of pancreatic cancers. Our goal is to design prospective clinical trials, which will be made available through the MCW Cancer Center, to test various immunomodulatory strategies based on these four subtypes."

As part of the collaboration, BostonGene utilized an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven algorithm to reconstruct the transcriptomic data and identified four distinct TME subtypes: immune-enriched (IE), immune-enriched with fibrosis (IE/F), fibrotic (F) and immune-depleted (D). Importantly, patients with immune-enriched subtypes, IE and IE/F, demonstrated a more favorable prognosis and showed potential responsiveness to immunotherapy than those classified as F and D.

"We’re excited to unveil our latest research, which sheds light on the intricate tumor microenvironment of PDAC," said Ben George. "These results pave the way for transcriptomic-based immunotherapeutic strategies in PDAC, bringing us closer to personalized treatment approaches for this challenging disease."

"Our findings not only define a subgroup of PDAC patients who may benefit from immunotherapeutic interventions but also sets the stage for prospective clinical trials to validate the predictive utility of these transcriptomic TME PDAC subtypes," said Nathan Fowler, MD, Chief Medical Officer at BostonGene.