BerGenBio Announces NCI Clinical Collaboration with UT Health San Antonio and Sobi

On May 28, 2024 BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors for severe unmet medical needs, reported that it has entered into a clinical trial agreement with the Mays Cancer Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) (STO:SOBI), a specialized international biopharmaceutical company (Press release, BerGenBio, MAY 28, 2024, View Source [SID1234643751]).

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The parties will collaborate to study BerGenBio’s selective AXL inhibitor, bemcentinib, in combination with Sobi’s pacritinib in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. The clinical study is externally funded and is complementary to BerGenBio’s ongoing Ph1b/2a clinical study in first-line Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients with mutations in the STK11 gene.

Bemcentinib is a first-in-class, selective, oral once-a-day inhibitor of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, a promising therapeutic target for serious diseases. Pacritinib (marketed as VONJO) is a JAK2 inhibitor indicated for treatment of myelofibrosis, a bone marrow disorder, and works by blocking certain growth factors and cytokines.

The clinical study will advance the ground-breaking work of Josephine A. Taverna, MD, a thoracic oncologist at the Mays Cancer Center and Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Taverna’s prior research has demonstrated that AXL and JAK-STAT3 work together to transmit signals that promote tumor growth and metastasis in advanced lung cancer. The study will be performed in collaboration with Sobi and will be led by Dr. Taverna as the principal investigator and is funded by a grant received from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Martin Olin, Chief Executive Officer of BerGenBio stated, "We are excited to work with two stellar partners to bring this intriguing area of research to patients. This study will further extend our knowledge of the role of selective AXL inhibition with bemcentinib in lung cancer, our area of highest strategic focus."

Dr. Taverna commented, "Our data suggests that targeting the AXL-STAT3 pathway with bemcentinib and pacritinib can prevent tumor cells from recruiting tumor-associated macrophages and other aggressive host cells into the tumor microenvironment, disrupting tumor growth and metastatic spread. Understanding this discovery could shed light on novel therapeutic strategies for lung cancer."

Bio-Thera and STADA Reach Exclusive Agreement for BAT2506, a Proposed Golimumab Biosimilar, in the EU and UK

On May 28, 2024 Bio-Thera Solutions (688177:SH), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of innovative therapies and biosimilars, and global specialty, generic and consumer healthcare medicines company STADA Arzneimittel AG reported to have have reached an exclusive commercialization and license agreement for BAT2506, a biosimilar candidate to Simponi (golimumab) (Press release, BioThera Solutions, MAY 28, 2024, View Source [SID1234643750]).

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Under the agreement, Bio-Thera Solutions ("Bio-Thera") will maintain responsibility for development, manufacturing, and supply of BAT2506. STADA Arzneimittel AG ("STADA") will have exclusive rights to commercialize the product in the European Union (EU), the UK, Switzerland and selected other countries.

Bio-Thera will receive an upfront payment of US$10 million, as well as further development and commercial milestones of up to US$147.5 million, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions.

"STADA is one of the premier biosimilar companies in Europe, and we are pleased to establish a partnership with STADA for BAT2506", said Dr. Shengfeng Li, CEO of Bio-Thera. "We look forward to working with STADA to bring BAT2506 to immunology patients in Europe."

"With global sales in 2023 of US$2.2 billion, including more than US$1 billion outside of the US, golimumab represents a compelling opportunity to broaden patient access to biological treatments and build scale in immunology alongside our approved adalimumab and ustekinumab biosimilars. Bio-Thera’s broad expertise in biologic medicines, including with two biosimilars already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, makes it an attractive partner for STADA," commented STADA’s head of Global Specialty, Bryan Kim.

Golimumab is a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that targets tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- α), a pro-inflammatory molecule. Binding of golimumab to TNF-α results in reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3), and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), all inflammatory markers.

West to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conference

On May 28, 2024 West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST), a global leader in innovative solutions for injectable drug administration, reported that it will present at the William Blair 44th Annual Growth Stock Conference in Chicago, IL on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 8:00 AM CT (Press release, West Pharmaceutical Services, MAY 28, 2024, https://www.westpharma.com/investors/press-releases?utm_source=SitecoreSend&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Investors_Email&campaignid=null&utm_content=28_May_2024&utm_term=null&creative=null&device=null&matchtype=null#2024-may-28-west-to-participate-in-upcoming-investor-conference [SID1234643749]).

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A live audio webcast of the event will be available in the "Investors" section of the Company’s website at www.westpharma.com. Replay of the webcasts will be available for approximately 90 days after the event.

Merus’ Petosemtamab in Combination with Pembrolizumab Interim Data Demonstrates Robust Response Rate and Favorable Safety Profile in 1L r/m HNSCC

On May 28, 2024 Merus N.V. (Nasdaq: MRUS) (Merus, the Company, we, or our), a clinical-stage oncology company developing innovative, full-length multispecific antibodies (Biclonics and Triclonics), reported interim clinical data as of a March 6, 2024 data cutoff from the ongoing phase 1/2 trial of the bispecific antibody petosemtamab in combination with pembrolizumab (Press release, Merus, MAY 28, 2024, View Source [SID1234643748]). These data will be presented by Dr. Jerome Fayette M.D. Ph.D., Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting on Monday, June 3 at 8 a.m. CT.

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"In this interim dataset, petosemtamab in combination with pembrolizumab has demonstrated clinically meaningful activity in first line head and neck cancer, with a 67% response rate overall, observed across tumor PD-L1 expression levels and HPV status and with encouraging safety," said Bill Lundberg, M.D., President, Chief Executive Officer of Merus. "I’m excited to announce plans to initiate a phase 3 registration trial of petosemtamab in combination with pembrolizumab, regardless of HPV status, in first line, PD-L1 expressing, head and neck cancer, which we expect will start by year end 2024."

"Despite recent advancements, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma remains a deadly disease with limited treatment options," added Dr. Fayette. "Based on these data, I’m optimistic petosemtamab, in combination with pembrolizumab, has the potential to become a new standard of care for patients with previously untreated head and neck cancer."

Petosemtamab (MCLA-158: EGFR x LGR5 Biclonics): Solid Tumors

Rapid oral presentation title: Petosemtamab (MCLA-158) with pembrolizumab as first-line (1L) treatment of recurrent/metastatic (r/m) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): Phase 2 study
Observations in the presentation include:

As of a March 6, 2024 data cutoff date, 45 patients (pts) were treated
26 patients were enrolled as of the abstract cutoff date
The efficacy population consisted of 24 patients who had the opportunity for 4 or more months follow up, with ≥2 treatment cycles and ≥1 post-baseline tumor assessment; or who discontinued early due to disease progression or death
Two patients were not included: One patient withdrew consent prior to first tumor assessment and the other patient discontinued due to toxicity with less than 2 cycles of treatment
Response rates overall (N=24): 67%, including 1 confirmed complete response, 12 confirmed partial responses (PRs) and 3 unconfirmed PRs (all of whom confirmed after the data cutoff) by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1. per investigator assessment, including
3 of 4 patients with HPV associated cancer responded
Responses observed across PD-L1 levels (CPS 1-19: 60% [6/10]; CPS ≥ 20: 71% [10/14])
At the time of data cutoff, 32 patients of the 45 enrolled, remained on treatment, including 14 of 16 responders and 18 of the initial 26 patients enrolled
Median follow up of 3.6 months for the 45 patients
In 45 patients the combination was well tolerated and no significant overlapping toxicities with pembrolizumab were observed
Treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were reported in 45 pts
Most were Grade (G) 1 or 2 in severity (no G4–5 were observed)
Infusion-related reactions (composite term) were reported in 38% (all Gs) and 7% (G3) of pts, most occurred during the first infusion and resolved
Presentation Details:
Abstract #: 6014
Session Title: Head and Neck Cancer
Session Date and Time: June 3, 2024, 8:00-9:30 a.m. CT

As full presentations become available at the 2024 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, they will contemporaneously be available on the Merus website.

Company Conference Call and Webcast Information
Merus will hold a conference call and webcast for investors on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. ET. A replay will be available after the completion of the call in the Investors and Media section of our website for a limited time.

Date & Time: May 28, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. ET
Webcast link: Available on our website
Dial-in: Toll Free: 1 (800) 715-9871/ International: 1 (646) 307-1963
Conference ID: 4160163

FDA Grants Priority Review to Genentech’s Inavolisib for Advanced Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer With a PIK3CA Mutation

On May 28, 2024 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s New Drug Application and granted Priority Review to inavolisib, an investigational oral therapy, in combination with palbociclib (Ibrance) and fulvestrant (Press release, Genentech, MAY 28, 2024, View Source [SID1234643747]). The inavolisib-based regimen was evaluated in adult patients with PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, following recurrence on or within 12 months of completing adjuvant endocrine treatment.

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The Priority Review is based on the positive Phase III INAVO120 results, which showed the inavolisib-based regimen more than doubled progression-free survival, reducing the risk of disease worsening or death by 57% compared to palbociclib and fulvestrant alone (15.0 months vs. 7.3 months; hazard ratio [HR]=0.43, 95% CI: 0.32-0.59, p<0.0001) in the first-line setting. Overall survival (OS) data were immature at the time of primary analysis, but a clear positive trend was observed (stratified HR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43-0.97, p=0.0338 [boundary of 0.0098]). Follow-up for OS is continuing to the next analysis.

"The addition of inavolisib to standard of care treatment significantly delayed disease progression in the first-line setting and has the potential to extend survival for people with metastatic breast cancers that harbor PIK3CA mutations," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Genentech’s chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "We welcome the FDA’s Priority Review designation for inavolisib, which underscores the urgency to bring this potential best-in-class treatment option to patients as quickly as possible."

The PIK3CA mutation is found in approximately 40% of HR-positive metastatic breast cancers. Early testing for mutations like PIK3CA prior to initiating first-line treatment can help identify people who may benefit from targeted therapy.

Based on the Priority Review designation, the FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act date of November 27, 2024. Data from INAVO120 are also being used for filing submissions to other global health authorities, including the European Medicines Agency. Priority Review designation is granted to medicines that the FDA has determined to have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a disease.

Genentech recently announced the inavolisib-based regimen has been granted FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation based on INAVO120, the 29th for Genentech’s oncology portfolio. Additional analyses of INAVO120 will be presented in an oral abstract session at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, taking place May 31 – June 4.

Inavolisib is currently being investigated in three company-sponsored Phase III clinical studies (INAVO120, INAVO121, INAVO122) in PIK3CA-mutated locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in various combinations. We continue to evaluate potential clinical development program expansion opportunities to address patient unmet needs in various tumor types across oncology.

About inavolisib

Inavolisib is an investigational, oral targeted treatment with best-in-class potential that could provide well-tolerated, durable disease control and potentially improved outcomes for people with PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, who often have a poor prognosis and are in urgent need of new treatment options. Inavolisib has been designed to help minimize the overall burden and toxicity of treatment and is differentiated from other PI3K inhibitors due to its high potency and specificity for the PI3K alpha isoform versus other isoforms, and unique mechanism of action that facilitates the degradation of mutated PI3K alpha.

About the INAVO120 study

The INAVO120 study [NCT04191499] is a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of inavolisib in combination with palbociclib and fulvestrant versus placebo plus palbociclib and fulvestrant in people with PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose disease progressed during treatment or within 12 months of completing adjuvant endocrine therapy and who have not received prior systemic therapy for metastatic disease.

The study included 325 patients, who were randomly assigned to either the investigational or control treatment arm. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival, as assessed by investigators, defined as the time from randomization in the clinical trial to the time when the disease progresses, or a patient dies from any cause. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, objective response rate, and clinical benefit rate.

Beyond INAVO120, inavolisib is currently being investigated in two additional company-sponsored Phase III clinical studies in PIK3CA-mutated locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in various combinations:

in combination with fulvestrant versus alpelisib plus fulvestrant in HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer post cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor and endocrine combination therapy (INAVO121; NCT05646862), and
in combination with dual HER2 blockade versus dual HER2 blockade and optional physician’s choice of endocrine therapy as a maintenance treatment in HER2-positive disease (INAVO122; NCT05894239).

About Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

HR-positive breast cancer is the most prevalent type of all breast cancers, accounting for approximately 70% of cases. A defining feature of HR-positive breast cancer is that its tumor cells have receptors that attach to one or both hormones – estrogen or progesterone – which can contribute to tumor growth. People diagnosed with HR-positive metastatic breast cancer often face the risk of disease progression and treatment side effects, creating a need for additional treatment options. The PI3K signaling pathway is commonly dysregulated in HR-positive breast cancer, often due to activating PIK3CA mutations, which have been identified as a potential mechanism of intrinsic resistance to standard of care endocrine therapy in combination with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors.