Alligator Bioscience’s Phase 2 mitazalimab Pancreatic Cancer Data Published in The Lancet Oncology

On June 3, 2024 Alligator Bioscience (Nasdaq Stockholm: ATORX) reported the publication of positive Phase 2 data on its lead drug candidate mitazalimab in first line metastatic pancreatic cancer in The Lancet Oncology. The journal is an internationally trusted source of clinical, and global health knowledge (Press release, Alligator Bioscience, JUN 3, 2024, View Source [SID1234643992]). With an Impact Factor of 51.1, it is the world-leading clinical oncology research journal.

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With a 5-year overall survival rate of less than 5%, current systemic therapies for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) are associated with poor outcomes. Data presented in The Lancet Oncology, from the OPTIMIZE-1 trial of mitazalimab in combination with mFOLFIRINOX, showed a confirmed ORR of 40.4% in 57 evaluable patients (unconfirmed ORR was 50.9%). Median DoR was 12.5 months and the median OS was 14.3 months. Median Progression Free Survival (PFS) was 7.7 months. These data compare favorably to the historically reported outcomes with FOLFIRINOX (ORR 31.6%, mDoR 5.9 months, mOS 11.1 months and mPFS 6.4 months)[1]. The recently approved new treatment regimen of NALIRIFOX was associated with an ORR of 42%, mDoR of 7.3 months, mPFS 7.4 months and a mOS of 11.1 months.[2]

"The long-lasting responses and related biomarker associations reported in OPTIMIZE-1 are highly encouraging, demonstrating a critical immunomodulatory contribution of mitazalimab. The increase in ORR and PFS, compared to FOLFIRINOX alone, are superior outcomes and we believe that the reported depth and duration of response are strong indicators that the observed increases in survival will remain evident," said Prof. Jean-Luc van Laethem, Head of the Digestive Oncology Department of Erasme Hospital (ULB) Brussels, Principal Investigator of the OPTIMIZE-1 trial and lead author of the article in The Lancet Oncology. "Furthermore, mitazalimab showed a favorable safety profile and it could offer better quality of life for pancreatic patients who currently have few treatment options. The data from OPTIMIZE-1 are very promising and are strongly supportive of the continued development of mitazalimab and mFOLFIRINOX in mPDAC, in a confirmatory trial."
OPTIMIZE-1, an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, Phase 1b/2 study, assessed the safety and efficacy of mitazalimab (CD40 mAb agonist) in combination with standard of care chemotherapy mFOLFIRINOX.

The DoR and OS are expected to improve further, as a majority of the patients were still alive at the time of the analysis (cut-off date November 2023). The OPTIMIZE-1 results compare favorably to the previously reported outcomes with FOLFIRINOX[1] as well as more recently reported data of the NALIRIFOX regimen in the NAPOLI 3 Phase 3 trial[2]. The OS at 12 months in OPTIMIZE-1 was 59.3%, compared to 48.1% for FOLFIRINOX[1] and 45.6% for NALIRIFOX[2].

"This publication in The Lancet Oncology is an important validation of the highly promising results of our OPTIMIZE-1 mitazalimab study. A substantial number of patients were either in the treatment or in the follow-up at the time of the primary analysis. Consequently, the 18-month survival follow-up data, which we expect at the end of June 2024, should provide further important insights into the potential of mitazalimab," said Søren Bregenholt, CEO of Alligator Bioscience.
Click here for the full article in The Lancet Oncology.

Title:
Combining CD40 agonist mitazalimab with mFOLFIRINOX in previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (OPTIMIZE-1): a single-arm, multicentre phase 1b/2 study.
Provisional Publication Date: June 1st, 2024
Article Number: 24TLO0432

Two posters (abstracts 2569 and 4133) detailing the positive OPTIMIZE-1 data were presented on June 1 at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting.

[1] Conroy et al., N Engl J Med 2011; 364:1817-1825; DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1011923
[2] Wainberg et al., Lancet 2023; 402(10409):1272-1281; DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01366-1

About pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the 12th largest cancer by number of patients. It is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer death in the western world by 2030. There are about 200,000 annual cases in the U.S. and the EU, with very poor prognosis: five-year survival is about 10% and median survival about 6 months. For 80% of patients, the only option is chemotherapy that offers only marginal benefit. FOLFIRINOX is expected to be the preferred first line regimen in the U.S. and the EU for patients with good performance status.

Alector to Participate in the Goldman Sachs 45th Annual Global Healthcare Conference

On June 3, 2024 Alector, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALEC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, reported that management will participate in a fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs 45th Annual Global Healthcare Conference on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 1:20 p.m. ET (Press release, Alector, JUN 3, 2024, View Source [SID1234643991]).

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A live webcast of the fireside chat will be available on the "Events & Presentations" page within the Investors section of the Alector website at View Source A replay will be available on the Alector website for 90 days following the event.

HUTCHMED Highlights Publication of Phase III FRUTIGA Results in Nature Medicine

On June 3, 2024 HUTCHMED (China) Limited ("HUTCHMED") (Nasdaq/AIM:​HCM; HKEX:​13) reported that results from FRUTIGA, HUTCHMED’s Phase III trial of fruquintinib in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of second-line advanced gastric cancer in China, were published in Nature Medicine (Press release, Hutchison China MediTech, JUN 3, 2024, View Source [SID1234643928]). Updated efficacy data in key subgroups and data on quality of life (QoL) within this publication were also presented on June 1 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) ("ASCO") 2024 Annual Meeting.

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Fruquintinib is a selective oral inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors ("VEGFRs") 1, 2 and 3. It works as an anti-cancer therapy by blocking tumor angiogenesis, a proliferation of blood vessels that is critical for cancer growth. The VEGFR pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer, which is the fifth most common malignant cancer worldwide, with 1.1 million new cases per year[1]. The FRUTIGA trial results published by Nature Medicine suggest that fruquintinib could be another effective treatment option for gastric cancer patients.

FRUTIGA was a 1:1 randomized, double-blind, Phase III study conducted across 35 sites in China (NCT03223376). It evaluated fruquintinib in combination with paclitaxel chemotherapy, compared with paclitaxel monotherapy, for second-line treatment in 703 patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. The study was declared positive due to a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival ("PFS"), one of two dual primary endpoints. Median PFS for patients who received fruquintinib plus paclitaxel was 5.6 months, compared to 2.7 months for those who received paclitaxel monotherapy (stratified hazard ratio ["HR"] = 0.569; p < 0.0001). An improvement was also observed in the dual primary endpoint of median overall survival ("OS"), (9.6 months vs. 8.4 months) but this was not statistically significant. Fruquintinib plus paclitaxel demonstrated statistically significant improvements in multiple other endpoints including objective response rate ("ORR"), disease control rate (DCR) and duration of response (DoR). It was well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with expectations and previously reported studies.[2]

In further analysis of key subgroups presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper), PFS and OS results were consistent with the primary analysis compared to the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. There was a clear PFS benefit observed for fruquintinib plus paclitaxel in the majority of subgroups, with particular benefit in both PFS and OS in the intestinal-type and lymph node metastasis subgroups. An exploratory post-hoc analysis for patients with lymph node metastasis revealed superior benefits of fruquintinib versus placebo in PFS, OS, ORR, disease control rate and duration of response. A possible mechanism for this effect is fruquintinib’s potent inhibition of VEGFR­‑3, which is closely linked to lymph node metastasis and tumor invasion. Further analysis of patient-reported quality of life ("QoL") revealed no adverse impact on QoL at end of treatment compared to current standard of care. Together, these additional findings, alongside previously reported results, support fruquintinib plus paclitaxel as another treatment option in this indication.

Key results from FRUTIGA were previously disclosed at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Plenary Series Session on February 6, 2024, with the full presentation available here.[3]

Fruquintinib is approved in China and the United States for the treatment of certain patients with metastatic colorectal cancer ("CRC"). A New Drug Application ("NDA") for fruquintinib in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of second-line advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma in China was accepted for review by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in April 2023.

About Gastric Cancer
Gastric cancer is a cancer that starts in the stomach. It is the fifth most common cancer worldwide in 2020. It was estimated to have caused approximately 770,000 deaths worldwide.[4] In China, it was estimated that over 478,000 people were diagnosed with gastric cancer, and approximately 374,000 people died from gastric cancer.[5]

About Fruquintinib
Fruquintinib is a selective oral inhibitor of VEGFR-1, -2 and -3. VEGFR inhibitors play a pivotal role in inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. Fruquintinib was designed to have enhanced selectivity that limits off-target kinase activity, allowing for high drug exposure, sustained target inhibition, and flexibility for its potential use as part of combination therapy. Fruquintinib has demonstrated a manageable safety profile and is being investigated in combinations with other anti-cancer therapies.

About Fruquintinib Approval in China
In China, fruquintinib is co-developed and co-marketed by HUTCHMED and Eli Lilly and Company under the brand name ELUNATE. It was included in the China National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) in January 2020. The approval was based on data from the FRESCO study, a Phase III pivotal registration trial of fruquintinib in 416 patients with metastatic CRC in China, which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA. Since its launch in China and as of mid‑2023, more than 80,000 colorectal cancer patients have been treated with fruquintinib.

About Fruquintinib Approval in the U.S.
Takeda has the exclusive worldwide license to further develop, commercialize, and manufacture fruquintinib outside of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Fruquintinib received approval in the U.S. in November 2023, where it is marketed by Takeda under the brand name FRUZAQLA. The approval was based on data from two large, randomized, controlled Phase III trials: the multi-regional FRESCO-2 trial, data from which were published in The Lancet, along with the FRESCO trial conducted in China, showing consistent benefit among a total of 734 patients treated with fruquintinib. Safety profiles were consistent across trials. Please see FRUZAQLA full Prescribing Information here.

Nanobiotix Announces New Data Showing Disease Control and Tumor Response in Patients Treated With RT-Activated NBTXR3 Followed By anti-PD-1 For 2l+ R/M HNSCC Naïve or Resistant to Prior anti-PD-1 Therapy

On June 2, 2024 NANOBIOTIX (Euronext: NANO –– NASDAQ: NBTX – the ‘‘Company’’), a late-clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering nanoparticle-based therapeutic approaches to expand treatment possibilities for patients with cancer and other major diseases, reported new data from Study 1100, a US Phase 1 dose escalation and dose expansion study evaluating radiotherapy-activated NBTXR3 followed by anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors ("ICIs") as a second-or-later line ("2L+") therapy for patients with advanced solid and metastatic tumors (Press release, Nanobiotix, JUN 2, 2024, View Source [SID1234644020]). These data were presented by Study 1100 Coordinating Investigator Colette Shen, MD, PhD, at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology ("ASCO 2024").

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"Novel approaches to improving response rates and reversing resistance to anti-PD-1 are an urgent unmet need for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer," said Study 1100 Coordinating Investigator Ari Rosenberg, MD. "The opportunity to ‘prime’ immune activity prior to the administration of anti-PD-1 through radiotherapy-activated NBTXR3’s unique mechanism of action represents a promising potential new treatment approach for patients."

Abstract #6035: Early signs of efficacy in patients with anti-PD-1 naïve and anti-PD-1 resistant HNSCC treated with NBTXR3/SBRT in combination with nivolumab and pembrolizumab in the phase 1 trial Study 1100
Colette Shen11, Jessica Frakes2, Trevor Hackman1, Jiaxin Niu3, Jared Weiss1, Jimmy Caudell2, George Yang2, Tanguy Seiwert4, Paul Chang5, Septimiu Murgu5, Siddharth Sheth1, Shetal Patel1, Kedar Kirtane2, David Rolando6, Pavel Tyan6, Omar I. Vivar6, Zhen Gooi5, Aditya Joolori5, Ari Rosenberg5

Consistently Favorable Safety and Injection Feasibility

At the data cutoff, NBTXR3 injection followed by standard RT and anti-PD-1 therapy was feasible and well tolerated in 68 heavily pretreated patients with 2L+ R/M-HNSCC (Intention-to-Treat population; "ITT")

Serious Grade 3+ adverse events related to the combined therapeutic regimen (injection procedure, RT, NBTXR3, or anti-PD-1) occurred in 8.8% (6/68) of patients.
Early Signals of Efficacy

Anti-PD-1 Naïve Patients

Anti-PD-1 Naïve Population Evaluable for Tumor Response (n=25)

48.0% (12/25) overall response rate ("ORR") as per RECIST 1.1(3 CR; 9 PR)
76.0% (19/25) disease control rate ("DCR") as per RECIST 1.1
48.0% (12/25) all target lesions response (≥ 30% change in target lesion sum of diameters; see below)

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at View Source

Anti-PD-1 Naïve ITT Population for Preliminary Survival Analysis (n=33)

7.3 months mPFS
26.2 months mOS
Median follow up of 99 days at data cutoff
Notable Baseline Characteristics in the Anti-PD-1 Naïve Population

75.0% of anti-PD-1 naïve patients for whom CPS testing data were available (12/16) had CPS < 20
10 anti-PD-1 naïve patients for whom HPV status data were available had HPV-positive R/M-HNSCC of the oropharynx
At least 33.3% (11/33) of anti-PD-1 naïve patients had at least 2 prior lines of therapy
Anti-PD-1 Resistant Patients

Anti-PD-1 Resistant Population Evaluable for Tumor Response (n=25)

28.0% (7/25) ORR as per RECIST 1.1 (2 CR; 5 PR)
68.0% (17/25) DCR as per RECIST 1.1
36.0% (9/25) all target lesions response

*One patient is in pathological complete response and has been included as a complete response in this figure

Anti-PD-1 Resistant ITT Population for Preliminary Survival Analysis (n=35):

4.2 months mPFS
7.8 months mOS
31.8 months mOS2 (OS from first anti-PD-1 dose prior to joining Study 1100)
Median follow up of 90 days at data cutoff
Notable Baseline Characteristics in the Anti-PD-1 Resistant Population

57.7% of anti-PD-1 resistant patients for whom CPS testing data were available (15/26) had CPS < 20
12 anti-PD-1 resistant patients for whom HPV status data were available had HPV-positive R/M-HNSCC of the oropharynx
At least 88.6% (31/35) of anti-PD-1 resistant patients had at least 2 prior lines of therapy
At least 83.0% (29/35) of anti-PD-1 resistant patients had progressive disease when entering Study 1100
"We are excited to see the emergence of several innovative therapeutic approaches to improving treatment outcomes for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer in clinical trials. However, it is clear that many of these new product candidates are prioritizing patients in specific settings, while NBTXR3 remains active regardless of several prior prognostic factors such as lines of therapy, CPS score, HPV status, and resistance to therapy," said Louis Kayitalire, Nanobiotix chief medical officer. "In Study 1100, NBTXR3’s unique mechanism of action could enable a broader population of patients to potentially benefit from therapy, and we look forward to continuing to develop radiotherapy-activated NBTXR3 followed by anti-PD-1 for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer."

Investigators concluded that promising early signals of efficacy were observed in Study 1100 patients with naïve or resistant 2L+ R/M-HNSCC who received RT-activated NBTXR3 followed by anti-PD-1. Disease control was observed in both naïve and resistant R/M-HNSCC patients, highlighting the potential for NBTXR3 in this population. Overall, these results warrant further exploration in randomized trials for both naïve and resistant R/M-HNSCC patients.

"These new data from Study 1100 continue to provide encouraging signals that radiotherapy-activated NBTXR3 followed by anti-PD-1 could potentially improve response rates and reverse resistance to anti-PD-1 in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer," said Study 1100 Coordinating Investigator Colette Shen, MD, PhD. "The safety, feasibility, and early signals of efficacy we have observed to date support further evaluation in randomized clinical trials."

Nanobiotix expects to provide first data from cohort 3 of the Study 1100 dose expansion part (advanced cancers other than R/M-HNSCC with lung, liver, or soft tissue metastases) in 2025.

Nanobiotix Investor Call

Nanobiotix will host a conference call and webcast featuring Nanobiotix chief executive officer and chairman of the executive board, Laurent Levy, following the poster session on Sunday June 2nd, 2024, at 12:00 PM EDT / 6:00 PM CEST.

Details for the call are as follows:

Audio-only dial-in link: click here

Webcast link: click here

Participants can use the audio-only link above to register and obtain dial-in instructions to listen to the presentation via phone and ask questions during the Q&A session, or participants can use the webcast link to register and listen and watch the slide presentation online; the replay version will be available under the same webcast link shortly after the presentation and will be archived on the Company’s website at www.nanobiotix.com. It is recommended to join 10 minutes prior to the event start. Participants are invited to email their questions in advance to [email protected].

About NBTXR3

NBTXR3 is a novel, potentially first-in-class oncology product composed of functionalized hafnium oxide nanoparticles that is administered via one-time intratumoral injection and activated by radiotherapy. Its proof-of-concept was achieved in soft tissue sarcomas for which the product received a European CE mark in 2019. The product candidate’s physical mechanism of action (MoA) is designed to induce significant tumor cell death in the injected tumor when activated by radiotherapy, subsequently triggering adaptive immune response and long-term anti-cancer memory. Given the physical MoA, Nanobiotix believes that NBTXR3 could be scalable across any solid tumor that can be treated with radiotherapy and across any therapeutic combination, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Radiotherapy-activated NBTXR3 is being evaluated across multiple solid tumor indications as a single agent or in combination with anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, including in NANORAY-312—a global, randomized Phase 3 study in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancers. In February 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration granted regulatory Fast Track designation for the investigation of NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy, with or without cetuximab, for the treatment of patients with locally advanced HNSCC who are not eligible for platinum-based chemotherapy—the same population being evaluated in the Phase 3 study.

Given the Company’s focus areas, and balanced against the scalable potential of NBTXR3, Nanobiotix has engaged in a collaboration strategy to expand development of the product candidate in parallel with its priority development pathways. Pursuant to this strategy, in 2019 Nanobiotix entered into a broad, comprehensive clinical research collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to sponsor several Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies evaluating NBTXR3 across tumor types and therapeutic combinations. In 2023, Nanobiotix announced a license agreement for the global co-development and commercialization of NBTXR3 with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV.

Puma Biotechnology Announces Presentation of Findings from a Phase II Study of Alisertib in Endocrine-Resistant Metastatic Breast Cancer (TBCRC 041)

On June 2, 2024 Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical company, reported the presentation of biomarker findings from a Phase II randomized clinical trial of alisertib alone vs. alisertib + fulvestrant for the treatment of patients with endocrine and CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDK 4/6i) resistant, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-negative), hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer (TBCRC 041; Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02860000) at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting currently being held in Chicago (Press release, Puma Biotechnology, JUN 2, 2024, View Source [SID1234643965]). The Phase II trial was conducted through the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium (TBCRC). Results were published by Tufia Haddad et al. (JAMA Oncology, March 2023) and reported promising clinical activity in both arms (overall response rate 19.6% vs. 20.0% and median progression-free survival 5.6 months vs. 5.4 months for alisertib vs. alisertib + fulvestrant, respectively) and a tolerable safety profile.

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The poster (Abstract #1037, Poster Bd #15), entitled, "Molecular profiling of serial liquid biopsy specimens utilizing cell free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in TBCRC 041: A phase II study of alisertib in endocrine resistant metastatic breast cancer (MBC)," was presented at the Breast Cancer – Metastatic Poster Session by Karthik Giridhar, MD, Mayo Clinic, on June 2 at 9:00 a.m. CDT.

Somatic mutations from cell-free DNA derived from pre-treatment plasma were identified in ESR1 (n=45; 56.38%), PIK3CA (n=39; 48.8%), PTEN (n=13; 16.3%), and AKT1 (n=9; 11.3%). Patients with PIK3CA mutation experienced decreased progression-free survival (PFS) (HR 1.8; 95%CI: 1.1 -2.9, p=0.0225) while ESR1 mutation did not impact PFS (p=0.594).

Circulating tumors cells (CTCs) and methylated tumor fraction percentage (mTF) were evaluated in pre-treatment and at the end of cycle 1 (EOC1). Lower CTCs in pre-treatment samples were associated with longer PFS (7.4 months for CTC count <5 vs. 4.5 months for CTC count ≥5, HR=1.8; 95%CI: 1.1-3.0; p=0.018). In EOC1 plasma, lower mTF was associated with longer PFS (11.5 months for mTF ≤1% vs. 3.2 months for mTF>1%, HR 3.0; 95% CI: 1.6-5.2, p<0.001). Additional biomarker analyses are underway.

"Aurora Kinase A has potential importance in the setting of endocrine- and CDK4/6i-resistance," stated Tufia Haddad, MD, Professor of Oncology and Co-Leader of Platform and Digital Innovation, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Further understanding of which patients may derive the greatest benefit to alisertib in the evolving landscape of endocrine- and CDK4/6i-resistant metastatic breast cancer may help us to focus on biomarker-defined populations that can be studied in future clinical trials of alisertib."

Dr. Giridhar, a co-investigator of the trial, said, "We are pleased to have had the opportunity to evaluate liquid biopsy biomarkers for TBCRC 041. Ongoing biomarker analysis from this and future trials of alisertib in endocrine- and CDK4/6i-resistant breast cancer may help clarify which patients could benefit most from alisertib."

Alan H. Auerbach, Chief Executive Officer and President of Puma Biotechnology, said, "We are committed to the development of alisertib in biomarker-focused populations. Results from this biomarker analysis contribute to our understanding of which patients may derive greatest benefit from treatment with alisertib and may support our forthcoming clinical studies of alisertib-based therapy in endocrine- and CDK4/6i-resistant metastatic breast cancer."