On June 10, 2024 Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI or "Calidi"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a new generation of targeted antitumor virotherapies, reported that it entered into a collaboration agreement with SIGA Technologies (Nasdaq: SIGA) in the first quarter of 2024, to support the development of Calidi’s systemic and targeted RTNova (CLD-400) virotherapy platform, which has the potential to provide a universal treatment for all tumor types (Press release, Calidi Biotherapeutics, JUN 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234644239]). Calidi will initially focus on developing the RTNova platform for lung cancer and metastatic (or advanced stage) solid tumors which account for the majority of cancer deaths.

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The long-term collaboration between Calidi and SIGA aims to harness the capabilities of SIGA’s TPOXX, an antiviral agent effective against vaccinia virus. The initial focus for the collaboration will be on testing the capacity of TPOXX to become a safety switch to manage RTNova’s spread in vivo.

"We believe RTNova is a major breakthrough, and Calidi’s novel systemic targeted virotherapy has the potential to radically shift the treatment landscape for patients across all tumor types," said Antonio F. Santidrian, Chief Scientific Officer of Calidi Biotherapeutics. "By partnering with SIGA, we will have access to a safety switch during the development process, which could provide assurance to patients, physicians, and regulatory bodies during future clinical trials. We are excited about the possibilities this collaboration brings."

RTNova, an enveloped vaccinia virus, is designed to survive in the bloodstream, target multiple tumor sites, and kill tumor cells while altering the tumor immune microenvironment. This novel therapeutic approach not only facilitates easier administration but also broadens the potential patient population who can benefit from this treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral TPOXX in July 2018 for the treatment of smallpox to mitigate the impact of a potential outbreak or bioterror attack. Preclinical studies have demonstrated TPOXX’s efficacy against all orthopoxviruses that have been tested, including vaccinia (published in The New England Journal of Medicine, July 2018). The unique mechanism of action of TPOXX coupled with published efficacy in animal studies make it an important addition to the development of vaccinia-based cancer therapies.

On June 10, 2024 Repare Therapeutics Inc. ("Repare" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: RPTX), a leading clinical-stage precision oncology company, reported the first patient has been dosed in the Company’s camonsertib monotherapy non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) expansion of the TRESR clinical trial (Press release, Repare Therapeutics, JUN 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234644238]).

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"Camonsertib has demonstrated a promising signal of prolonged progression free survival in patients with ATM-mutated NSCLC in our ongoing TRESR clinical trial. We are thrilled with the rapid and efficient expansion of this clinical trial with the treatment of the first patient less than one month from the return of camonsertib global rights to Repare," said Maria Koehler, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Repare. "Our biomarker-driven approach with camonsertib monotherapy has the potential to address the high unmet need of over 5,000 patients with ATM-mutated NSCLC in the tumor recurrence setting, across the United States, UK and top four EU markets, where unfortunately, the current standard of care provides progression free survival of approximately four months and low response rates."

The TRESR (Treatment Enabled by SNIPRx) clinical trial (NCT04497116) is a multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation and expansion Phase 1/2 clinical trial to investigate safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the anti-tumor activity of camonsertib alone or in combinations. The NSCLC expansion is expected to enroll up to 20 patients with ATR-inhibitor sensitizing mutations in NSCLC to study the efficacy of camonsertib at the recommended Phase 2 dose. With limited treatments for recurrent NSCLC, camonsertib offers a highly desirable oral therapy option with an established safety profile. Repare expects a potential data readout in the camonsertib monotherapy NSCLC expansion in 2025.

On June 10, 2024 Arcus Biosciences, Inc. (NYSE:RCUS), a clinical-stage, global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing differentiated molecules and combination therapies for people with cancer, reported the completion of patient enrollment for STAR-221, a Phase 3 study in collaboration with Gilead Sciences, evaluating the combination of the Fc-silent anti-TIGIT antibody domvanalimab plus the anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody zimberelimab and chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric, gastroesophageal junction or esophageal adenocarcinoma (Press release, Arcus Biosciences, JUN 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234644237]).

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"STAR-221 completed enrollment well ahead of schedule, driven by significant interest from the global medical community in the potential for an anti-TIGIT-based regimen to address the high unmet need in this setting," said Dimitry S.A. Nuyten, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of Arcus Biosciences. "Domvanalimab is the first and only anti-TIGIT antibody to be studied in a Phase 3 trial in upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma. We are now preparing for the readout and look forward to the potential opportunity to make a meaningful difference for patients with this disease."

Earlier this month at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, Arcus and Gilead presented results from Arm A1 of the Phase 2 EDGE-Gastric study evaluating the same regimen in the same setting as the STAR-221 Phase 3 study. Data from this arm of EDGE-Gastric showed that patients treated with domvanalimab plus zimberelimab and chemotherapy had a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 12.9 months, which exceeds the historical benchmarks for anti-PD-1 plus chemotherapy alone. Notably, nearly 60% of patients in the EDGE-Gastric study achieved PFS at 12 months, and the domvanalimab plus zimberelimab and chemotherapy regimen demonstrated sustained improvement across efficacy measures, including in those patients who have low PD-L1 expression. No unexpected safety signals were observed at the time of data cutoff, March 12, 2024. The domvanalimab plus zimberelimab and chemotherapy regimen was generally well tolerated and showed an overall safety profile consistent with the known safety profiles of each individual molecule to date.

Domvanalimab and zimberelimab are investigational molecules. Neither Gilead nor Arcus has received approval from any regulatory authority for any use of these molecules, and their safety and efficacy for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers have not been established.

About the STAR-221 Study

The ongoing, global STAR-221 trial (NCT05568095) enrolled approximately 1,050 participants with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric, gastroesophageal junction, or esophageal adenocarcinoma. The primary endpoints of the study are overall survival in PD-L1-high tumors and in the intent-to-treat population (all PD-L1 levels); secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, objective response rate and duration of response. Participants were randomized 1:1 between two arms:

1600 mg of domvanalimab intravenously (IV) every four weeks plus 480 mg of zimberelimab IV every four weeks plus FOLFOX (oxaliplatin, leucovorin, fluorouracil) every two weeks or 1200 mg of domvanalimab plus 360 mg of zimberelimab every three weeks plus CAPOX (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) every three weeks
240 mg of nivolumab IV every two weeks plus FOLFOX every two weeks or 360 mg of nivolumab plus CAPOX every three weeks
About Domvanalimab

Domvanalimab is the first and most clinically advanced Fc-silent investigational monoclonal antibody that is specifically designed with Fc-silent properties to block and bind to the T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), a checkpoint receptor on immune cells that acts as a brake on the anticancer immune response. By binding to TIGIT with Fc-silent properties, domvanalimab is believed to work by freeing up immune-activating pathways and activate immune cells to attack and kill cancer cells without depleting the peripheral regulatory T cells important in avoiding immune-related toxicity.

Combined inhibition of both TIGIT and programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) is believed to significantly enhance immune cell activation, as these checkpoint receptors play distinct, complementary roles in anti-tumor activity. Domvanalimab is being evaluated in combination with anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies, including zimberelimab, as well as other investigational cancer immunotherapies and A2a/A2b adenosine receptor antagonist etrumadenant, in multiple ongoing and planned early and late-stage clinical studies in various tumor types.

About Zimberelimab

Zimberelimab is an anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody that binds PD-1, with the goal of restoring the antitumor activity of T cells. Zimberelimab has demonstrated high affinity, selectivity and potency in various tumor types.

Zimberelimab is being evaluated in the U.S. and globally as a foundational anti-PD-1 treatment option in multiple ongoing and planned early and late-stage clinical studies in combination with other immunotherapies, including investigational Fc-silent anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody domvanalimab and A2a/A2b adenosine receptor antagonist etrumadenant.

Guangzhou Gloria Biosciences Co. Ltd., which holds commercialization rights for zimberelimab in greater China, has obtained approval for zimberelimab for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer and for relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Zimberelimab is not approved for any use in the U.S. or other regions outside of China. Gloria conducts its development and commercialization activities independent of Arcus and Gilead.

On June 10, 2024 Blue Earth Diagnostics, a Bracco company and recognized leader in the development and commercialization of innovative PET radiopharmaceuticals, reported highlights from clinical studies conducted by its collaborators at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting, June 8-11, 2024 (Press release, Blue Earth Diagnostics, JUN 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234644236]). They included interim results of a study by Emory University that evaluated POSLUMA (flotufolastat F 18) injection PET/CT with and without furosemide in men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer (BCR), as well as results of a retrospective study conducted by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) that evaluated qualitative and quantitative PET parameters in urinary activity and tumor uptake for 18F-flotufolastat and 68Ga-PSMA-11 in primary prostate cancer. The studies build upon a recently published post-hoc analysis of Blue Earth Diagnostics’ clinical studies in which POSLUMA demonstrated low urinary bladder interference that did not impact disease assessment in the vast majority of patients1. Links to the abstracts follow below.

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POSLUMA is approved and indicated for positron emission tomography (PET) of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positive lesions in men with prostate cancer with suspected metastasis who are candidates for initial definitive therapy or with suspected recurrence based on elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. 18F-Flotufolastat produced at TUM is an investigational agent for which the safety and efficacy have not been established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"The ability to gather actionable information from PSMA PET scans is important for physicians to make informed decisions about patient management for men with prostate cancer," said Eugene Teoh, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR, D.Phil., Chief Medical Officer of Blue Earth Diagnostics. "Activity in the urinary tract, especially in the urinary bladder, is a common feature of FDA-approved PSMA-PET radiopharmaceuticals which are excreted via the urine. High urinary activity can potentially obscure tumors in the prostate region and regional lymph nodes in the pelvis, which are common sites of recurrence, and interfere with accurate image interpretation."

Dr. Teoh continued, "These results reported at SNMMI support our previous experience with POSLUMA and are broadly consistent with results from our clinical trials. A post-hoc analysis of our Phase 3 clinical trials demonstrated that 96% of patients (682/712) exhibited either no urinary activity or activity that was easily distinguishable from disease1. Although furosemide usage has been widely described for other PSMA PET imaging agents as a potential means to reduce urinary activity, the POSLUMA Phase 3 trial results were achieved without its use. In cases from this Emory study where furosemide was not used, results also demonstrate the high POSLUMA detection rates in patients with low PSA levels as observed in prior Blue Earth Diagnostics clinical trials."

"These findings from Emory and TUM reinforce important clinical considerations in selecting a precision diagnostic imaging agent for PSMA-PET procedures," said David E. Gauden, D.Phil., Chief Executive Officer of Blue Earth Diagnostics. "POSLUMA provides physicians with useful information based on its performance at low PSA levels, PSMA binding and low urinary bladder activity. It is included in nationally recognized clinical oncology guidelines for prostate cancer and covered by the vast majority of insurance plans. Labeled with the radioisotope fluorine-18 (18F) to leverage high image quality, POSLUMA is widely available through the network of our commercial U.S. manufacturer and distributor, PETNET Solutions Inc, A Siemens Healthineers Company."

Highlights of the Abstracts

Impact of forced diuresis with furosemide in the evaluation of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer with 18F-rhPSMA 7.3 PET/CT: Interim analysis of an ongoing prospective trial

Interim results from a prospective study were presented by Ismaheel Lawal, MD, PhD, Resident Physician, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta Ga. The study investigated the impact of forced diuresis with furosemide during 18F-flotufolastat PET/CT imaging for further improved bladder activity and prostate bed region recurrence detection in BCR. Twelve men had completed both with- and without-furosemide PET/CT scans at the time of the interim analysis. The study assessed bladder activity by SUV, patient-level recurrence and recurrence in the prostate-bed region. The authors concluded that furosemide-augmented bladder activity reduction showed no safety issues and was feasible for 18F-flotufolastat PET/CT imaging. While recognizing detection rates without furosemide remain high and consistent with Phase 3 studies, recurrence detection may be enhanced with the use of furosemide, by further decreasing observed urinary activity, and with no impact on the radiotracer avidity in the recurrent lesion. The full abstract is available here.

Evaluation of qualitative and quantitative PET parameters in primary prostate cancer patients: double-match comparison of 18F-flotufolastat- and 68Ga-PSMA-11-PET

Results from a retrospective study were presented by Isabel Rauscher, MD, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Markt Schwaben, Germany. The study evaluated qualitative and quantitative PET parameters in urinary activity and tumor uptake for 18F-flotufolastat and 68Ga-PSMA-11 in a matched cohort of 62 patients staged for primary prostate cancer. Parameters included overall interference from bladder activity, scoring of median semi-quantitative bladder activity, presence of ureteral retention and halo artifacts, and tumor-to-bladder uptake ratio. The authors concluded that interpretation of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET was significantly more impacted by bladder activity than 18F-flotufolastat PET in the matched populations of primary prostate cancer patients. The full abstract is available here.

Indication and Important Safety Information About POSLUMA

INDICATION

POSLUMA (flotufolastat F 18) injection is indicated for positron emission tomography (PET) of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positive lesions in men with prostate cancer

with suspected metastasis who are candidates for initial definitive therapy
with suspected recurrence based on elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Image interpretation errors can occur with POSLUMA PET. A negative image does not rule out the presence of prostate cancer and a positive image does not confirm the presence of prostate cancer. The performance of POSLUMA for imaging metastatic pelvic lymph nodes in patients prior to initial definitive therapy seems to be affected by serum PSA levels and risk grouping. The performance of POSLUMA for imaging patients with biochemical evidence of recurrence of prostate cancer seems to be affected by serum PSA levels. Flotufolastat F 18 uptake is not specific for prostate cancer and may occur in other types of cancer, in non-malignant processes, and in normal tissues. Clinical correlation, which may include histopathological evaluation, is recommended.
Risk of Image Misinterpretation in Patients with Suspected Prostate Cancer Recurrence: The interpretation of POSLUMA PET may differ depending on imaging readers, particularly in the prostate/prostate bed region. Because of the associated risk of false positive interpretation, consider multidisciplinary consultation and histopathological confirmation when clinical decision-making hinges on flotufolastat F 18 uptake only in the prostate/prostate bed region or only on uptake interpreted as borderline.
POSLUMA use contributes to a patient’s overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure. Long-term cumulative radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk for cancer. Advise patients to hydrate before and after administration and to void frequently after administration. Ensure safe handling to minimize radiation exposure to the patient and health care providers.
The adverse reactions reported in ≥0.4% of patients in clinical studies were diarrhea, blood pressure increase and injection site pain.
Drug Interactions: androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and other therapies targeting the androgen pathway, such as androgen receptor antagonists, may result in changes in uptake of flotufolastat F 18 in prostate cancer. The effect of these therapies on performance of POSLUMA PET has not been established.
To report suspected adverse reactions to POSLUMA, call 1-844-POSLUMA (1-844-767-5862) or contact FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Full POSLUMA prescribing information is available at www.posluma.com/prescribing-information.pdf.

On June 10, 2024 Hudson Therapeutics reported that Shaperon (KOSDAQ 378800, CEO Seung-Yong Seong), an innovative biopharmaceutical company specializing in immune therapeutics, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dong-A ST (KOSPI 170900, CEO Min-Young Kim) for the development of nanobody-based new drugs (Press release, Shaperon, JUN 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234644235]).

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A representative from Shaperon stated, "This MOU aims to leverage Shaperon’s nanobody development platform technology and Dong-A ST’s expertise in antibody commercialization to increase development speed and commercialization potential." Additionally, they stated, "We plan to select the most effective nanobodies in mouse models with human tumor transplants by the end of this year."

Since 2021, the two companies have collaborated on developing triple nanobody antibodies for cancer treatment. This involves using nanobodies to bring killer T cells and cancer cells into proximity by binding to targets on both cell types. Shaperon will advance nanobody development using its full-cycle platform, while Dong-A ST will leverage its antibody commercialization expertise for global biopharmaceutical development.

Nanobodies, about one-tenth the size of conventional antibodies, are gaining attention for next-generation immune checkpoint inhibitors due to their high stability, solubility, and production yield. Shaperon, the only domestic company with a full-cycle platform for nanobody production, development, and analysis from alpaca immunization, is developing a diverse pipeline targeting inflammation and cancer, including immune checkpoint dual antibodies and nanobody-based therapeutics.

Shaperon, the only domestic company with a full-cycle platform for nanobody production, development, and analysis from alpaca immunization, is developing a diverse pipeline targeting inflammation and cancer. This includes immune checkpoint dual antibodies and nanobodies for infectious diseases. Shaperon is also exploring nanobody-based protein therapeutics, such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and radiopharmaceutical therapies. Recently, they published preclinical results on influenza-targeting nanobodies and presented anti-cancer PDL1-CD47 dual nanobodies at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), gaining recognition for their technological capabilities.

Janice Marie McCourt of Hudson Therapeutics in the US stated, "We have numerous global biotech companies that we met at BIO, Bio Europe, Bio Asia and the Pharm Summit conferences who are signing confidentiality agreements to license the current preclinical immune-oncology bispecific lead program, along with collaborating on Shaperon’s nanobody development platform to create bispecific and trispecific nanobody antibodies in orphan indications, immunology, inflammation, oncology and infectious disease targets that are first-in-class or best-in-class assets with significant commercial potential. We are so excited that the global R&D scientists and clinicians are excited to collaborate with us and create an impact focused on patients with significant unmet needs."