Trishula Therapeutics Presents Positive Results from Phase 1 Trial of TTX-030 in First-Line Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Patients

On September 16, 2024 Trishula Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage, privately held biotechnology company, reported final results from a Phase 1 trial of TTX-030, a potential first-in-class, anti-CD39 antibody, in patients with first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer (Press release, Trishula Therapeutics, SEP 16, 2024, View Source [SID1234646673]). Results were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

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"The Phase 1 results demonstrated a strong median overall survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer following treatment with TTX-030 combinations as well as marked benefit in those with high levels of tumor HLA-DQ biomarker expression," said Anil Singhal, Chief Executive Officer of Trishula Therapeutics. "These findings have led to our currently enrolling global, randomized Phase 2 ELTIVATE study with results expected in 2026."

The Phase 1 trial evaluated TTX-030 in combination with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, with or without budigalimab (an investigational anti-PD-1 antibody), as first-line treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In the efficacy-evaluable population (n=57) consisting of 92% first-line metastatic and 8% locally advanced nonresecetable patients, the objective response rate (ORR) was 30%, with 3 complete responses; the median progression free survival (mPFS) was 7.5 months (95%CI 5.2, 9.4); and median overall survival was 19.1 months (9.8, NR). Analysis of pre-treatment tumor biopsies identified a subset of patients with a high expression of an immune-associated biomarker, HLA-DQ (HLA-DQhigh) and favorable clinical outcomes with TTX-030 combinations. Of the 28 HLA-DQhigh patients, the ORR was 46%, mPFS was 9.6 months (95% CI 3.9, 11.8), and mOS of 21.9 months (9.8, NR).

Both treatment combinations were well-tolerated, with only five patients (8%) discontinuing treatment due to adverse events (AEs). The most frequent AEs were those expected from the standard of care chemotherapy backbone without an increase in frequency or severity.

"Prior evaluation of immune checkpoint treatment has demonstrated limited benefit in this patient population and new approaches are needed. These results are very encouraging, especially in the biomarker high patients and warrant further investigation of TTX-030 for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer," said Zev Wainberg, MD, Professor of Medicine, UCLA.

TTX-030 is currently being evaluated as first-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the global Phase 2 ELTIVATE trial (NCT06119217) that is randomizing approximately 180 patients into three study arms: TTX-030 and chemotherapy (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel); TTX-030 plus budigalimab and chemotherapy; or chemotherapy alone. The primary endpoint of the trial is progression-free survival (PFS) in a biomarker-enriched (HLA-DQhigh) population. Secondary endpoints include PFS in the overall population, safety, objective response rate, duration of response and overall survival. Further information on the study can be found at (clinicaltrials.gov link).

About TTX-030

TTX-030 is a potential first-in-class, anti-CD39 antibody designed to inhibit the activity of CD39, an enzyme that converts adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to adenosine monophosphate (AMP), the initial step in the generation of adenosine in the tumor microenvironment. TTX-030 prevents the formation of immune-suppressive extracellular adenosine and maintains high levels of immune-activating extracellular ATP, stimulating dendritic and myeloid-derived cells promoting both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity.

Trishula is continuing to develop TTX-030 in collaboration with AbbVie Inc.

Aethlon Medical Announces Activation of Royal Adelaide Hospital to Begin Patient Screening and Enrollment in Hemopurifier® Cancer Trial

On September 16, 2024 Aethlon Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEMD), a medical therapeutic company focused on developing products to treat cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases, reported that the Cancer Clinical Trial Unit at Royal Adelaide Hospital was activated on September 10, 2024 to begin screening and enrolling patients in its safety, feasibility and dose-finding clinical trial of the Hemopurifier in patients with solid tumors who have stable or progressive disease during anti-PD-1 monotherapy treatment, such as Keytruda (pembrolizumab) or Opdivo (nivolumab) (AEMD-2022-06 Hemopurifier Study) (Press release, Aethlon Medical, SEP 16, 2024, View Source [SID1234646672]). The trial will be conducted by Prof. Michael Brown and his staff at the Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, CALHN, Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia.

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The activation follows the previously announced approval by the Human Research Ethics Committee at Central Adelaide Local Health Network on June 13, 2024, and the Research Governance office at Royal Adelaide Hospital, on September, 3 2024, as well as the notification of the Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) and completion of a Site Initiation Visit on September 9, 2024.

"The activation of the investigative site at the Royal Adelaide Hospital marks a significant milestone for Aethlon, allowing the site to screen and enroll patients in this important clinical trial," stated Steven LaRosa, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Aethlon Medical. "We look forward to working closely with Prof. Brown and his staff, and with our Contract Research Organizations (CROs), NAMSA and ReSQ Clinical Research, to begin enrollment and data collection. Going forward, we plan to activate a second site in Australia and also expect to receive an Ethics Committee approval for a clinical site in India."

Currently, only approximately 30% of patients who receive pembrolizumab or nivolumab will have lasting clinical responses to these agents. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by tumors have been implicated in the spread of cancers as well as the resistance to anti-PD-1 therapies. The Aethlon Hemopurifier has been designed to bind and remove these EVs from the bloodstream, which may improve therapeutic response rates to anti-PD-1 antibodies. In preclinical studies, the Hemopurifier has been shown to reduce the number of exosomes from the plasma of cancer patient samples.

The primary endpoint of the approximately 18-patient, safety, feasibility and dose-finding trial is the incidence of adverse events and clinically significant changes in safety lab tests of Hemopurifier treated patients with solid tumors with stable or progressive disease at different treatment intervals, after a two-month run in period of PD-1 antibody, Keytruda or Opdivo monotherapy. Patients who do not respond to the therapy will be eligible to enter the Hemopurifier period of the study where sequential cohorts will receive 1, 2 or 3 Hemopurifier treatments during a one-week period. In addition to monitoring safety, the study is designed to examine the number of Hemopurifier treatments needed to decrease the concentration of EVs and whether these changes in EV concentrations improve the body’s own natural ability to attack tumor cells. These exploratory central laboratory analyses are expected to inform the design of a subsequent efficacy and safety, Premarket Approval (PMA), study required by regulatory agencies.

AVEO Oncology, an LG Chem company, Present TiNivo-2 Results and TIVO-3 Exploratory Post Immunotherapy Survival Analysis at ESMO 2024

On September 16, 2024 AVEO Oncology, an LG Chem company ("AVEO"), reported that the TiNivo-2 Phase 3 clinical trial results in patients with advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) whose tumors had progressed following prior ICI treatment were presented at the 2024 European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) congress September 13-17 in Barcelona, Spain (Press release, AVEO, SEP 16, 2024, View Source [SID1234646671]). Additionally, a follow up exploratory analysis from TIVO-3, FOTIVDA’s pivotal trial, was also presented during the conference.

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The TiNivo-2 clinical trial was designed to evaluate the treatment of FOTIVDA, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), in combination with nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, versus FOTIVDA as a single agent therapy to investigate the benefit of ICI challenge in a relapsed refractory setting.

Toni Choueiri, M.D., Director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Director of the Kidney Cancer Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Jerome and Nancy Kohlberg Chair and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and lead investigator presented the first analysis of the TiNivo-2 study results at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper). The addition of nivolumab to FOTIVDA (0.89 mg) following prior immunotherapy did not enhance efficacy over FOTIVDA (1.34 mg) alone (hazard ratio 1.10 [95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.43; P=0.49]); as such the study did not meet its primary endpoint. In pre-planned analyses of the FOTIVDA control arm, a 9.2 month median progression free survival (PFS) was observed for patients that received FOTIVDA monotherapy as second line and for patients immediately following ICI combination therapy; the experimental arm (nivolumab plus tivozanib) had a 7.3 month median PFS in the second line and a 7.4 month median PFS for patients immediately following ICI combination therapy.

The TiNivo-2 study results add to the existing body of data in RCC suggesting there is no clinical benefit derived from rechallenging patients with immunotherapy beyond progression on previous ICIs.

"We are truly grateful for the patients who participated in TiNivo-2 so that we can continue to make evidence-based advancements in RCC treatment and patient care," says Michael P. Bailey, AVEO Oncology Chief Executive Officer and President. "We are excited to share the comprehensive TiNivo-2 dataset with the oncology community; these data provide additional support on the use of FOTIVDA as an option in the second line following frontline immunotherapy combination treatment."

Dr. Choueiri comments, "The PFS results in the intent-to-treat population demonstrate the activity of tivozanib in the 2nd and 3rd lines following front line immunotherapy. The safety results were also consistent with the safety profile observed in TIVO-3."

In conjunction with the scientific presentation, the TiNivo-2 data were simultaneously published in the prestigious journal, The Lancet.

In addition to the TiNivo-2 data presentation, an exploratory long-term follow up analysis from the TIVO-3 study was presented by Dr. Miguel Zugman of the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2024. Although the post hoc analysis did not reach statistical significance, the data indicates that tivozanib trended toward improved OS compared to sorafenib, in the subset of patients previously treated with checkpoint inhibitors. The OS hazard ratio in the checkpoint inhibitor-treated subset was 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.43-1.11) favoring tivozanib.

TiNivo-2 Clinical Trial Details
Phase 3 clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tivozanib in combination with nivolumab, as compared to tivozanib as a monotherapy, in RCC patients whose tumors have progressed following prior ICI therapy.

TIVO-3 Clinical Trial Details
TIVO-3 was a Phase 3, global, open-label, parallel-arm study comparing the safety and efficacy of FOTIVDA versus sorafenib in patients with relapsed refractory advanced RCC whose disease progressed with two or three prior systemic regimens including at least one VEGFR TKI.

About FOTIVDA
FOTIVDA is an oral, next-generation VEGFR TKI. It is a potent, selective inhibitor of VEGFRs 1, 2, and 3 with a long half-life designed to improve efficacy and tolerability. AVEO received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for FOTIVDA on March 10, 2021, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory advanced RCC following two or more prior systemic therapies, based on data from the TIVO-3 trial comparing FOTIVDA to sorafenib. FOTIVDA was approved in August 2017 in the European Union and other countries in the territory of its partner Recordati UK Ltd. for the treatment of adult patients with advanced RCC. FOTIVDA was discovered by Kyowa Kirin.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Hypertension was reported in 45% of patients (22% ≥ Grade 3). Hypertensive crises were reported in 0.8% of patients. Do not initiate FOTIVDA in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Monitor for hypertension and treat as needed. Reduce the FOTIVDA dose for persistent hypertension not controlled by anti-hypertensive medications. Discontinue FOTIVDA for severe hypertension that cannot be controlled with anti-hypertensive therapy or for hypertensive crisis.

Cardiac failures were reported in 1.6% of patients (1% ≥ Grade 3); 0.6% of events were fatal. Monitor for signs or symptoms of cardiac failure during treatment with FOTIVDA. Manage with dose interruption, dose reduction, or discontinuation.

Cardiac ischemia were reported in 3.2% of patients; 0.4% of events were fatal. Arterial thromboembolic events were reported in 2.0% of patients, including death due to ischemic stroke (0.1%). Closely monitor patients at risk for, or who have a history of these events. Discontinue FOTIVDA in patients who develop severe arterial thromboembolic events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke.

Venous Thrombotic Events (VTE) were reported in 2.4% of patients, including 0.3% fatal events. Closely monitor patients who are at increased risk for these events. Discontinue in patients who develop serious VTEs.

Hemorrhagic Events were reported in 11% of patients; 0.2% of events were fatal. Use FOTIVDA with caution in patients who are at risk for or who have a history of bleeding.

Proteinuria was reported in 8% of patients (2% = Grade 3). Monitor during treatment with FOTIVDA. For moderate to severe proteinuria, reduce the dose or interrupt treatment. Discontinue in patients who develop nephrotic syndrome.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Perforation including fatal cases, has been reported in patients receiving FOTIVDA. Monitor for symptoms of GI perforation or fistula formation periodically throughout treatment with FOTIVDA. Permanently discontinue FOTIVDA in patients who develop severe or life-threatening GI perforation.

Thyroid Dysfunction events were reported in 11% of patients (0.3% ≥ Grade 3). Monitor thyroid function before and during treatment with FOTIVDA.

Wound Healing Complications: Withhold FOTIVDA for at least 24 days prior to elective surgery and do not administer for at least 2 weeks after major surgery and until adequate wound healing is observed.

Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS) can occur with FOTIVDA. Evaluate for RPLS in patients presenting with seizures, headache, visual disturbances, confusion, or altered mental function. Discontinue if signs or symptoms of RPLS occur.

Embryo-fetal Toxicity: FOTIVDA can cause fetal harm. Advise patients of the potential risk to a fetus, to avoid becoming pregnant and to use contraception during treatment and for one month after the last dose of FOTIVDA. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for one month after the last dose of FOTIVDA.

Allergic Reaction to Tartrazine: FOTIVDA 0.89 mg capsule contains FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) which may cause allergic-type reactions (including bronchial asthma) in certain susceptible patients.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Common adverse reactions include fatigue/asthenia, hypertension, diarrhea, decreased appetite, nausea, dysphonia, hypothyroidism, cough, and stomatitis.

Serious adverse reactions include bleeding (3.5%), venous thromboembolism (3.5%), arterial thromboembolism (2.9%), acute kidney injury (2.3%), and hepatobiliary disorders (2.3%).

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Avoid coadministration with strong CYP3A4 inducers.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment and for at least 1 month after the last dose.

The recommended dosage for patients with end-stage renal disease has not been established.

Reduce the FOTIVDA dose for patients with moderate hepatic impairment. The recommended dosage in patients with severe hepatic impairment has not been established.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-833-FOTIVDA (1-833-368-4832) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see full Prescribing Information for FOTIVDA (tivozanib).

Linnaeus Therapeutics Announces Presentation of Positive Clinical Data of LNS8801 in Metastatic Melanoma at 2024 ESMO Annual Meeting

On September 16, 2024 Linnaeus Therapeutics, Inc. (Linnaeus), a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel small-molecule oncology therapeutics, reported the presentation of clinical data at the 2024 ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting from its dose-expansion cohort of LNS8801 as a monotherapy in patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma who could not tolerate immunotherapy due to prior immune-related adverse events (Press release, Linnaeus Therapeutics, SEP 16, 2024, View Source [SID1234646670]).

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The poster is entitled "Efficacy of LNS8801 in melanoma patients with prior immune-related adverse events from immune-checkpoint inhibitors" (Abstract 1137P).

LNS8801 given alone was tolerable without unanticipated toxicities and demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity in patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma who had prior severe immune-related adverse events on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies. LNS8801 monotherapy treatment resulted in a disease control rate of 100% in biomarker-positive patients, with a preliminary progression-free survival of over 6 months. This includes a patient that has been on treatment for over 4.5 years with resolution of all soft-tissue lesions and no evidence of active disease in the residual bone-associated target lesion or elsewhere.

"We are extremely pleased to showcase these data at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper)," commented Patrick Mooney, MD, CEO of Linnaeus. "The data from this study demonstrate that LNS8801 is extremely safe and well tolerated and shows very promising signs of efficacy. Given that patients with prior irAEs are often prevented from receiving further immunotherapy, these patients represent a large unmet need. We look forward to generating more data in this patient population and in unresectable treatment refractory melanoma."

Linnaeus anticipates initiating a randomized controlled clinical trial in unresectable, treatment-refractory cutaneous melanoma in Q4 of this year. This study will randomize 135 biomarker-positive patients to receive LNS8801 monotherapy; LNS8801 and pembrolizumab; or physician’s choice therapy. The study will assess median progression-free survival and overall survival among the groups.

About LNS8801
LNS8801 is an orally bioavailable and highly specific and potent agonist of GPER whose activity is dependent on the expression of GPER. GPER activation by LNS8801 rapidly and durably depletes c-Myc protein levels. In preclinical cancer models, LNS8801 displays potent antitumor activities across a wide range of tumor types, rapidly shrinking tumors and inducing immune memory.

In the ongoing clinical study in humans, LNS8801 monotherapy has been safe and well tolerated. Additionally, LNS8801 has demonstrated target engagement, c-Myc protein depletion, and clinical benefit in patients with advanced cancers, and a predictive biomarker has been identified.

About Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma
Although there has been progress in the treatment of metastatic cutaneous melanoma, most patients will progress on standard of care therapies and need further treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, almost 8,000 patients die each year in the United States, highlighting the need for safe and effective therapies in the treatment-refractory setting.

WestGene Biopharma Presents Groundbreaking mRNA Vaccine Data at ESMO 2024

On September 16, 2024 WestGene Biopharma, a leading innovator in mRNA therapeutics, reported the latest clinical data for its EBV-positive tumour mRNA vaccine, WGc-043, during a mini-oral presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2024 (Press release, WestGene Biopharma, SEP 16, 2024, View Source [SID1234646669]).

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Pioneering Advances in mRNA Therapeutics

WGc-043, the world’s first mRNA therapeutic vaccine targeting EBV-positive tumors to achieve IND approval in both China and the US, demonstrated exceptional safety, immunogenicity, and anti-tumor activity in the latest clinical trials. The vaccine is being developed specifically for adult patients with advanced EBV-positive solid tumours and refractory or relapsed EBV-positive lymphomas, diseases for which there are currently no effective, low-toxicity treatment options.

Impressive Clinical Performance Recognized by ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper)

Interim clinical data presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2024 highlighted the vaccine’s ability to activate the patient’s immune system, leading to the production of cytotoxic T cells, antigen-specific antibodies and memory T cells that target and destroy cancer cells. This novel mechanism offers a promising alternative to conventional CAR-T and monoclonal antibody therapies and also aims to prevent tumor recurrence, providing a triple benefit, particularly for patients with late-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma and NK/T cell lymphoma.

Innovative Technology and Global Impact

WGc-043 is a testament to WestGene’s proprietary mRNA platform, which includes cutting-edge innovations in mRNA sequence design, novel lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems, and scalable manufacturing processes. The vaccine was developed using WestGene’s patented LNP technology, which is recognized for its superior efficacy and safety. This technology has been instrumental in overcoming the challenges associated with mRNA vaccine delivery and has positioned WestGene as a leader in the global mRNA therapeutic

Expanding Horizons in Cancer Treatment

The global market for mRNA cancer vaccines is expected to grow significantly, with estimates ranging from $230 billion to $300 billion by 2035. The success of WGc-043 at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) underscores the potential of mRNA technology not only to lead the field, but also to accelerate clinical development and provide safe, effective treatments for late-stage cancer patients.