On April 9, 2024 Diakonos Oncology Corp., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, reported an interim analysis of the Phase 1 open label trial of DOC1021 showing substantially increased survival of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients well beyond the expected median overall survival (mOS) of 12.7 months for patients receiving the standard of care (SOC) (Press release, Diakonos Oncology, APR 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234641970]). The median overall survival for the trial of newly diagnosed GBM has not yet been reached with 12-month survival among evaluable patients currently is 88%.

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The analysis was presented in a poster at the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting. Twelve of 16 patients with newly diagnosed GBM remain alive with no serious adverse events attributable to DOC1021. As a result, DOC1021 has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the FDA.

"These very encouraging results support our confidence in the potential for our dendritic cell vaccines to significantly improve the lives of patients with the most deadly cancers," said Mike Wicks, Diakonos CEO. "DOC1021 is a first-of-its kind dendritic cell vaccine that represents an entirely new strategy for engaging a complete immune response against a patient’s cancer."

Findings from the ongoing analysis, presented April 8, 2024 at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), also reveal that with an average 12.9 months of follow up among the 16 newly diagnosed GBM patients enrolled in the study, median overall survival has yet to be reached. The company expects to begin Phase 2 trials of DOC1021 for GBM patients within the next year and is conducting two other clinical development programs in pancreatic cancer (NCT04157127) and angiosarcoma (NCT05799612).

Both newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM patients were enrolled in the Phase 1 study (NCT04552886) and received DOC1021 across four dose levels following SOC treatment. The first GBM patient enrolled in October 2021 survived more than two years. Each of the next four patients enrolled survived more than 15 months, and two remain alive at 20.3 months and 17.5 months, despite receiving less than 25% of the projected therapeutic dose.

In addition, Diakonos’ trial has been commended on its inclusive trial design. Fifty-six percent of patients enrolled likely would have been excluded from other GBM clinical trials due to issues such as progression prior to treatment, subtotal resection status, or advanced age. Despite their challenging prognosis, these patients saw a statistically significant improvement in expected overall survival of 7.7 months for similar patients. The trial did exclude patients with IDH mutation status as such patients are no longer classified as GBM.

Diakonos’ dendritic cell vaccines are made with a patient’s own immune cells combined with RNA and proteins prepared from a sample of their tumor. This unique approach allows targeting of the complete cancer antigen profile without any genetic modification. Based on a discovery that unlocks the antiviral immune response, the vaccines harness a powerful natural immune signaling pathway that targets and eliminates cancer cells as if they were virally infected.

On April 9, 2024 Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI) ("Calidi"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a new generation of targeted immunotherapies, reported the presentation of new data detailing the molecular mechanisms of action underlying the immunomodulatory role of Calidi’s therapies at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Meeting 2024, in San Diego, California (Press release, Calidi Biotherapeutics, APR 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234641969]). The poster, titled "Deciphering anticancer mechanisms of oncolytic virus-loaded stem cells," will be presented on April 9, 2024, during the Chemotherapy, Radiation, and Vaccine Mediated Immunity session.

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"Calidi’s novel approach to treating cancer has always centered around the stem cell as a means of protecting, delivering, and potentiating our tumor-killing virotherapeutic payloads. We believe this novel approach using allogeneic stem cells differentiates our technology and offers the potential of our platforms, CLD-101 and CLD-201, to serve as universal, off-the-shelf, options for patients needing improved therapeutic outcomes in their treatments for cancer," said Allan Camaisa, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Calidi Biotherapeutics.

"The data presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), in close collaboration with our long-standing partners at City of Hope, describes how stem cells may improve anticancer actions of oncolytic viruses, by not only protecting and potentiating virotherapy, but by secreting immunomodulatory molecules into the tumor microenvironment. We are excited to continue research in the field of oncology by better understanding the mechanism of action for Calidi’s lead assets, and their potential treatment for solid tumors," said Antonio F. Santidrian, Chief Scientific Officer of Calidi Biotherapeutics.

Antitumor virotherapies are capable of selectively eradicating tumor cells without endangering healthy cells in the body. Viruses that enter the body are immediately inactivated by the immune system. Calidi is developing two platforms, CLD-101 and CLD-201, that consist of oncolytic viruses loaded into stem cells, designed to cloak the tumor-killing viruses from the immune system. In the studies presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), scientists at Calidi Biotherapeutics and City of Hope researched the stem cells secretome transcriptomic of CLD-101 and CLD-201. The transcriptomic analysis showed that immunomodulatory cytokines, and chemokines, are induced following oncolytic virus infection demonstrating a potential immunotherapeutic role of the cells, in addition to the delivery and protection of the oncolytic viruses. Together these findings suggest that the enhanced antitumor actions of Calidi’s therapies are partially due to the alterations in the stem cells’ secretome, reinforcing the potential of the company’s novel approach to treat solid tumors.

Calidi previously announced that its partner, City of Hope, dosed the first patient in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating CLD-101 in recurrent high-grade glioma patients. The company expects to report a clinical update in the second quarter of 2024. A previously completed Phase 1 dose escalation clinical trial showed CLD-101 was well-tolerated and demonstrated stimulation of an antitumor immune response. The company expects to start clinical trials with CLD-201 by the end of 2024, subject to the company’s continued ability to raise the capital necessary to fund its clinical development programs.

This poster will be posted to the "Scientific Publications" section of the Calidi Biotherapeutics website following the conclusion of the conference.

On April 9, 2024 Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SYRS), a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new standards of care for the frontline treatment of hematologic malignancies, reported that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation to tamibarotene in combination with azacitidine and venetoclax for the treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with RARA overexpression as detected by an FDA approved test in adults who are over age 75 years or who have comorbidities that preclude the use of intensive induction chemotherapy (Press release, Syros Pharmaceuticals, APR 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234641968]). Tamibarotene, an oral first-in-class selective retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) agonist, is currently being evaluated in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine for the treatment of newly diagnosed AML patients with RARA gene overexpression.

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"We are pleased to receive Fast Track designation for tamibarotene for the treatment of AML. This designation reflects the tremendous need for a safe and effective therapy, which can improve the clinical outcomes and prognosis among people diagnosed with AML, many of whom cannot tolerate intensive treatment," said David A. Roth, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Syros Pharmaceuticals. "We are particularly encouraged to secure Fast Track designation following initial randomized data from a prespecified interim analysis of our ongoing SELECT-AML-1 clinical trial, in which treatment with our RARα agonist, tamibarotene, in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine resulted in a 100% CR/CRi rate compared with a 70% CR/CRi rate for the comparator of venetoclax and azacitidine. Additionally, tamibarotene in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine demonstrated no added toxicity relative to venetoclax and azacitidine alone. We look forward to sharing additional data from SELECT-AML-1 later this year, and to potentially accelerate the delivery of tamibarotene as a new frontline option for the approximately 30% of AML patients who are positive for RARA overexpression."

Fast Track is a process designed by the FDA to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drug candidates intended to treat serious conditions and for which nonclinical or clinical data demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical need. The purpose is to facilitate development and expedite review of drugs to treat serious and life-threatening conditions, to bring the approved products to patients earlier. A therapeutic candidate that receives Fast Track designation may be eligible for more frequent interactions with the FDA to discuss the therapeutic candidate’s development plan. Therapeutic candidates with Fast Track designation may also be eligible for priority review and accelerated approval if supported by clinical data.

Syros is evaluating tamibarotene in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine in newly diagnosed, unfit AML patients with RARA overexpression in the ongoing SELECT-AML-1 Phase 2 trial. In December 2023, Syros announced initial randomized data from SELECT-AML-1, demonstrating a 100% CR/CRi (complete response/complete response with incomplete hematologic recovery) rate in response-evaluable patients (nine of nine) treated with the triplet regimen of tamibarotene, venetoclax and azacitidine, as compared to 70% among patients (seven of ten) treated with venetoclax and azacitidine alone, with corresponding CR rates of 78% vs 30%, respectively. The median time to CR/CRi response was rapid; all patients treated with the triplet regimen achieved a CR/CRi by the end of cycle one. Consistent with prior clinical experience, tamibarotene in combination with approved doses of venetoclax and azacitidine was generally well tolerated, and the overall safety profile demonstrated no additive toxicities or new safety signals, and no evidence of increased myelosuppression compared to treatment with the doublet combination of venetoclax and azacitidine. Syros expects to report additional data from SELECT-AML-1 in 2024.

Syros is also evaluating tamibarotene in combination with azacitidine in newly diagnosed higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients with RARA overexpression in the SELECT-MDS-1 Phase 3 trial. As recently announced, enrollment to support the pivotal primary efficacy analysis was completed in the first quarter of 2024, and pivotal complete response data is expected by the middle of the fourth quarter of 2024. In January 2023, the FDA granted Fast Track Designation to tamibarotene for the treatment of HR-MDS patients with RARA overexpression.

On April 9, 2024 Brenus Pharma reported groundbreaking results during the American Association Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual meeting 2024 – San Diego (April 5-10) (Press release, Brenus Pharma, APR 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234641967]).

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"Efficacy of the STC-10101 a new allogeneic cancer vaccine in different colorectal cancer models" | Abstract 5003 View Source

This communication confirms the ability of Brenus’ next gen immunotherapy, STC-1010, to fight against resistant colorectal tumors with excellent tolerability.

Additionally, multi-omics analysis of STC-1010 batches confirmed consistent quality and batch-to-batch reproducibility, through standardized and scalable production.

STC-1010 was tested in several models extrapolating human conditions (ex-vivo; in-ovo,) using PBMCs from different donors. Results showed a significant immune response activation coupled with a massive and robust tumor killing that has been consistent with our 3 latest STC1010 batches manufactured. Metastasis reduction has also been shown with in-ovo model.

Results show the potential of STC-1010 in clinical settings to treat patients with colorectal cancer causing 9.7 million death per year.

On April 9, 2024 Synthekine Inc., an engineered cytokine therapeutics company, reported positive initial results from a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial of its α/β biased IL-2 partial agonist, STK-012, for the treatment of advanced solid tumors (Press release, Synthekine, APR 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234641966]). The data were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2024 in San Diego. STK-012 is a first-in-class α/β-IL-2R biased partial agonist engineered to selectively stimulate CD25+ antigen-activated T cells, which are associated with potent anti-tumor activity, and avoid broad stimulation of other lymphocytes, such as natural killer (NK) cells, which are associated with IL-2 toxicity. In the results presented, which included 47 patients treated in Phase 1a dose escalation, STK-012 monotherapy demonstrated a favorable safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile.

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"The promise of IL-2 in the treatment of solid tumors has yet to be realized as IL-2 analogues developed to date have had limited efficacy and an unacceptable toxicity profile," said Naiyer Rizvi, M.D., chief medical officer of Synthekine. "We are excited to report multiple objective responses with STK-012 monotherapy, driven by robust induction of interferon‐gamma (IFNγ) and selective expansion of antigen activated T cells. At the same time, we do not see the severe toxicities typically associated with IL-2 treatments, such as hypotension, capillary leak syndrome (CLS), or transaminitis. We look forward to completing the dose expansion portion of this study to further evaluate its potential for patients."

Synthekine initiated the Phase 1b portion of its study in September 2023 after successfully completing the Phase 1a dose-escalation portion. The Phase 1b portion of the study includes dose expansion cohorts to evaluate STK-012 as monotherapy at the candidate recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) in selected solid tumor types, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Along with the Phase 1a results, Synthekine presented a case study on a subject with Stage IV ccRCC treated with STK-012 monotherapy in the ongoing Phase 1b portion of the study. The subject had 2 prior lines of therapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitor, before starting on STK-012 and went on to achieve a confirmed partial response with 85% reduction in target lesion size as best overall response.

The poster, titled "Initial results from a Phase 1a/1b study of STK-012, a first-in-class α/β IL-2 receptor biased partial agonist in advanced solid tumors (NCT05098132)," will be presented today at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) from 9 am to 12:30 pm PT. The poster will be on poster board 11 in the session "First-in-Human Phase I Clinical Trials 2." Following presentation at the meeting, the poster will be available on Synthekine’s website. For additional information about the trial, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov using the identifier NCT05098132.

STK-012 Initial Phase 1a Monotherapy Dose Escalation Data

As of February 26th, 2024, 47 subjects were treated with STK-012 monotherapy at 7 dose levels across the 2 dosing schedules (QW and Q3W) in the Phase 1a
Majority of patients (60%) had three or more prior lines of therapy in the advanced setting and 79% had received prior immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)
Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were reversible with standard management and mostly Grade 1 or 2 in severity
Most common TRAEs (≥10% of subjects) were maculopapular rash, fatigue, injection site reaction, nausea, diarrhea, pruritis, vomiting, and arthralgia
Based on observed PK (half-life of ~4 days), only the Q3W schedule was advanced beyond the 0.75 mg dose during the STK-012 monotherapy dose escalation
STK-012 demonstrated selectivity (pSTAT5 induction) for T cells that express IL-2Rα (CD25)
STK-012 demonstrated dose proportional increase in IFNγ and activated proliferating CD8 T cells
STK-012 showed limited expansion of NK cells and Tregs
Of 40 efficacy evaluable subjects, partial response (PR) was observed in 3 (RCC, NSCLC and HNSCC) and 12 had stable disease (SD) as their best overall response (BOR) by RECIST V1.1
In the subset of 15 subjects who were ICI refractory and minimally pretreated (≤ 2 prior lines), 3 had BOR of PR and 6 had BOR of SD
Durability of response was observed in multiple subjects