On July 4, 2024 NH TherAguix (NHT), a phase II clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel nanomedicine solutions for precision radiotherapy in oncology, reported the publication of a pioneering study in American Chemical Society (ACS) Nano, a high impact factor journal (Press release, NH TherAguix, JUL 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234644679]). The study, titled "Theragnostic gadolinium-based nanoparticles safely augment X-ray radiation effects in patients with cervical cancer", provides compelling evidence supporting the use of AGuIX nanoparticles to selectively enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy in cervical cancer treatment.

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AGuIX: A nanodrug capable of improving the precision and effectiveness of radiotherapy

The culmination of over a decade of research, AGuIX nanoparticles are designed to meet the critical medical need for more effective cancer treatments, including advanced cervical cancer. These gadolinium-based nanoparticles enhance MRI contrast, allowing for precise tumor visualization, and significantly amplify the radiation dose delivered to tumor tissues, thereby improving the efficacy of radiotherapy.

Study Highlights:
Safety and Tolerance: The Phase I clinical trial involving 12 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer demonstrated that AGuIX nanoparticles have an excellent safety profile, with no dose-limiting toxicities and no severe side effects observed, especially when combined with brachytherapy or cisplatinum-based chemoradiation.

Enhanced Imaging and Treatment: Based on AGuIX quantification through MRI, treating physicians can determine the optimal radiotherapy dose for each patient.

Efficacy: All patients (n=12) achieved complete remission of the primary tumor, with only one instance of distant tumor recurrence, i.e. 8% compared to 30-40% recurrence according to historical studies. The study confirms the relationship between tumor accumulation, quantification, and encouraging tumor response signals: an estimated dose enhancement factor of about 15% at 2 Gy per tumor has been observed, a meaningful increase that generates a biological response sufficient to achieve tumor control and improved outcomes for patients.

Rapid Clearance: The nanoparticles are rapidly cleared from the body, minimizing potential side effects and allowing for efficient imaging and treatment cycles.

Dr. Olivier de Beaumont, CMO of NH TherAguix, emphasized the significance of these findings: "This study marks a significant advancement in the use of AGuIX as a novel option for cancer treatment. The ability to quantify AGuIX concentration in correspondence with tumor response signals with high precision opens new avenues for personalized medicine in oncology using companion MRI-based information."

Vincent Carrère, CEO of NH TherAguix, commented: "We are thrilled to announce this important publication in ACS Nano. I would like to thank the teams at IGR, especially Professors C. Chargari and E. Deutsch, for this remarkable clinical and translational work. It highlights the transformative potential of AGuIX in enhancing radiotherapy for cervical cancer patients. These promising results reinforce our commitment to advancing innovative cancer treatments and improving patient outcomes."

On July 4, 2024 HUTCHMED (China) Limited ("HUTCHMED") (Nasdaq/AIM:​HCM; HKEX:​13) reported that the New Drug Application ("NDA") for tazemetostat for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory ("R/R") follicular lymphoma ("FL") has been accepted for review and granted Priority Review by the China National Medical Products Administration ("NMPA") (Press release, Hutchison China MediTech, JUL 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234644677]).

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Tazemetostat is a first-in-class methyltransferase inhibitor of EZH2 developed by Epizyme, Inc. ("Epizyme"), an Ipsen company. Tazemetostat is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for the treatment of certain patients with R/R FL and certain patients with advanced epithelioid sarcoma ("ES") under the FDA accelerated approval program. It is also approved by the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for certain patients with R/R FL. HUTCHMED entered into a strategic collaboration to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize tazemetostat in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

This China NDA is supported by results from a multicenter, open-label, Phase II bridging study in China, and clinical studies conducted by Epizyme outside China.

Tazemetostat was approved for use in the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (Hainan Pilot Zone) in May 2022, under the Clinically Urgently Needed Imported Drugs scheme, for the treatment of certain patients with ES and FL consistent with the label as approved by the FDA. Tazemetostat was approved in the Macau Special Administrative Region ("SAR") in March 2023 and in the Hong Kong SAR in May 2024.

About Follicular Lymphoma
FL is a subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma ("NHL"). FL accounts for approximately 17% of NHL. In 2020, there were an estimated 16,000 and 13,000 new cases of FL in China and the U.S., respectively.[1],[2],[3]

About Tazemetostat Clinical Development in China
Tazemetostat is a first-in-class methyltransferase inhibitor of EZH2 developed by Epizyme, an Ipsen company. HUTCHMED entered into a strategic collaboration to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize tazemetostat in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

42 patients were enrolled in the Phase II bridging study in China. The primary objective was to evaluate the objective response rate ("ORR") of tazemetostat for the treatment of patients with R/R FL whose disease harbor EZH2 mutations. The secondary objectives included duration of response ("DoR"), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety and pharmacokinetics of tazemetostat for the treatment of R/R FL patients whose disease do or do not harbor EZH2 mutations. Results of the study will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming medical conference (NCT05467943).

HUTCHMED is participating in Ipsen’s SYMPHONY-1 study, leading it in China. This is an international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, 3-stage, biomarker-enriched, confirmatory Phase Ib/III study, which is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tazemetostat in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide (R²) in patients with R/R FL after at least one prior line of therapy (NCT04224493).

About Tazemetostat approval in the United States
Tazemetostat is a methyltransferase inhibitor indicated in the United States for the treatment of:

Adults and pediatric patients aged 16 years and older with metastatic or locally advanced ES not eligible for complete resection.
Adult patients with R/R FL whose tumors are positive for an EZH2 mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test and who have received at least two prior systemic therapies.
Adult patients with R/R FL who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options.
These indications are approved under accelerated approval by the U.S. FDA based on ORR and DoR. Continued approval for these indications may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
The most common (≥20%) adverse reactions in patients with ES are pain, fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, vomiting and constipation. The most common (≥20%) adverse reactions in patients with FL are fatigue, upper respiratory tract infection, musculoskeletal pain, nausea and abdominal pain.

Please see the U.S. Full Prescribing Information for TAZVERIK (tazemetostat).

TAZVERIK is approved in Japan with the indication of relapsed or refractory EZH2 gene mutation-positive FL (only when standard treatment is not applicable).

TAZVERIK is a registered trademark of Epizyme Inc., an Ipsen company.

On July 4, 2024 Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) reported that the phase II/III SKYSCRAPER-06 study, evaluating tiragolumab plus Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and chemotherapy versus pembrolizumab and chemotherapy as an initial (first-line) treatment for people with previously untreated, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, did not meet its primary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) at its primary analysis with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.27 [95% CI: 1.02,1.57] and overall survival (OS) at its first interim analysis with a HR of 1.33 [95% CI: 1.02, 1.73], which was immature (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, JUL 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234644669]). The combination of tiragolumab plus Tecentriq and chemotherapy showed reduced efficacy in both PFS and OS compared to the comparator arm in the intent-to-treat population, which includes the phase II and phase III cohorts. The overall safety profile remains consistent with the safety profile previously observed for the combination of tiragolumab plus Tecentriq and chemotherapy, and no new or unexpected findings were identified. Based on these results, patients and investigators will be unblinded and we intend to halt the study. A communication will be sent to the investigators and results will be shared with health authorities and subsequently presented at an upcoming medical meeting.

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"These results are disappointing as it was our hope that this combination might yield improved outcomes for people living with metastatic non-squamous lung cancer," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "We are thankful to all of the patients and healthcare professionals involved in the study, and we will leverage the learnings to inform our scientific understanding of the anti-TIGIT pathway and new avenues in cancer research."

Ongoing phase III studies are investigating treatment settings and indications distinct from SKYSCRAPER-06. Based on today’s results, we will evaluate any relevant changes needed to the ongoing tiragolumab programme.

About SKYSCRAPER-06 study
SKYSCRAPER-06 is a global phase II/III, randomised, placebo-controlled and double-blinded study evaluating tiragolumab plus Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and chemotherapy as an initial (first-line) treatment versus pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in 542 people with non-squamous non- small cell lung cancer. Primary endpoints are overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

About tiragolumab
Tiragolumab is an investigational novel immune checkpoint inhibitor with an intact Fc region. Tiragolumab selectively binds to TIGIT, a novel inhibitory immune checkpoint which suppresses the immune response to cancer. Based on preclinical research, tiragolumab is thought to work as an immune amplifier with other cancer immunotherapies such as Tecentriq (atezolizumab). The TIGIT pathway is distinct but complementary to the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway. Dual blockade with tiragolumab and Tecentriq may help overcome immune suppression and restore the immune response.

About Tecentriq (atezolizumab)
Tecentriq is a cancer immunotherapy approved for some of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of cancer. Tecentriq was the first cancer immunotherapy approved for the treatment of a certain type of early-stage (adjuvant) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tecentriq is also approved in countries around the world, either alone or in combination with targeted therapies and/or chemotherapies, for various forms of metastatic NSCLC, certain types of metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC), PD-L1-positive metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), BRAF V600 mutation-positive advanced melanoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS).

Tecentriq is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), which is expressed on tumour cells and tumour-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, Tecentriq may enable the activation of T-cells. Tecentriq is a cancer immunotherapy that has the potential to be used as a foundational combination partner with other immunotherapies, targeted therapies and various chemotherapies across a broad range of cancers.

In addition to intravenous infusion, Tecentriq has been approved as a subcutaneous formulation in over 40 countries. The approved indications for Tecentriq SC mirror those of Tecentriq IV.

On July 3, 2024 (the "Effective Date"), Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") and Curia Global, Inc., f/k/a Albany Molecular Research, Inc. ("AMRI") and Curia New Mexico, LLC (together with AMRI, "Curia") reported to have entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release ("Settlement Agreement") relating to the settlement of all their claims and counterclaims in Curia Global, Inc. v. Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AAA Case No. 01-23-0000-2937, American Arbitration Association (the "AAA Arbitration"), and Curia Global, Inc. v. Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Index No. 651064/2023, Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (the "NY Court Action") and other claims and disputes relating to these proceedings.

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As previously disclosed, the AAA Arbitration relates to disputes arising from the parties’ Vasopressin Commercial Supply Agreement, dated April 15, 2018 ("Vasopressin CSA"), and the NY Court Action relates to disputes arising from the parties’ PEMFEXY Master Development and Supply Agreement, dated March 26, 2021 (the "PEMFEXY MSA"). The Company and Curia have agreed to a mutual release of all claims arising from or concerning the Vasopressin CSA (other than any future indemnity claims that may be asserted related to defects or product liability), or the allegations, claims or counterclaims in the AAA Arbitration or the NY Court Action, in addition to payment, covenants, representations and other terms, the material terms of which are summarized below. The parties’ releases are subject to the payment of the full settlement amount and the passage of a specified time period thereafter with no Events of Default (as described below). The Settlement Agreement provides that the settlement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing by either party. The PEMFEXY MSA remains in effect.

Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Curia $26.5 million in accordance with the following payment schedule: $10.0 million within one business day of the Effective Date (paid on July 5, 2024); $10.0 million on or before February 17, 2025; and $6.5 million on or before July 7, 2025. In addition, Curia has filed a Stipulation of Discontinuance with Prejudice in the NY Court Action pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and the parties have agreed to take all other necessary steps to cause the prompt dismissal with prejudice of all claims in the NY Court Action, including the withdrawal of the appeal in the NY Court Action.The parties have jointly submitted a request to the arbitrators in the AAA Arbitration to issue a final award on consent recording the settlement.

Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, an Event of Default occurs upon a failure by the Company to pay when due any of the settlement payments described above, and specified bankruptcy and insolvency events with respect to the Company.

The foregoing description of the material terms of the Settlement Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Settlement Agreement, which the Company intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

On July 3, 2024 Delta-fly pharma reported the enrollment of patients in the Phase III clinical trial of DFP-14323 in combination with Afatinib (20 mg/day) versus Afatinib (40 mg/day) alone in stage III/IV non-small cell lung cancer patients with uncommon EGFR mutation positive that was approved by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in Feb. 2024, has started as of today in Japan (Press release, Delta-Fly Pharma, JUL 3, 2024, View Source [SID1234644673]).

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This Phase III clinical trial will be conducted at 30 sites with NSCLC experts in Japan and the superiority of the add-on effect of DFP-14323 on progression-free survival (PFS) as primary endpoint will be confirmed.

As DFP-14323 selectively binds to the aminopeptidase N, which is widely expressed on various cells, as lung cancer and inflammatory cells, it is expected to be effective in the treatment of patients with refractory cancer and when the superiority of the add-on effect can be confirmed in this study, it is expected to provide a novel cancer immunotherapy that is independent of EGFR mutation types, uncommon or common mutation.

We will accelerate the progress of the trial by expanding this Phase III clinical trial outside of Japan to Asian countries with large numbers of EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer patients, and at the same time, we will promote out-licensing activities to Asian pharmaceutical companies.

Please find out the innovation for the miserable cancer patients by Delta-Fly Pharma Inc. (TOKYO: 4598) and contact with us.