On October 24, 2019 Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SYRS), a leader in the development of medicines that control the expression of genes, reported that updated clinical data from its ongoing Phase 2 trial evaluating SY-1425, its first-in-class selective retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) agonist, in combination with azacitidine, continue to demonstrate high complete response rates, rapid onset of action and a favorable tolerability profile in a genomically defined subset of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who are not suitable candidates for standard intensive chemotherapy (Press release, Syros Pharmaceuticals, OCT 24, 2019, View Source [SID1234542486]). These data are being presented at the European School of Haematology (ESH) 5th International Conference Acute Myeloid Leukemia "Molecular and Translational": Advances in Biology and Treatment in Estoril, Portugal.

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"I am very encouraged by these data. AML patients continue to need new treatment options, despite recent advances in the field, that are well-tolerated and can be used in combination to extend survival and improve quality of life," said Stéphane de Botton, M.D., Head of Acute Myeloid Malignancies at Institut Gustave Roussy and a clinical investigator in the Phase 2 trial of SY-1425. "These data show that SY-1425, a targeted therapy, in combination with azacitidine is highly active in a subset of patients that can be readily identified and that the combination is generally well-tolerated even in very sick AML patients. I believe SY-1425 is a promising combination agent with the potential to provide a meaningful benefit for a subset of AML patients, and I look forward to its continued development."

"These data mark an important milestone in the development of SY-1425," said David A. Roth, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Syros. "SY-1425 in combination with azacitidine continues to demonstrate high complete response rates, rapid onset of action and a favorable tolerability profile in RARA-positive AML patients. As we study the combination in more patients, we are also seeing a high rate of transfusion independence and early evidence of durable responses. We are gratified to see our discovery of this novel patient subset, as defined by our RARA biomarker, translating into clinical benefit. These results demonstrate the power of our gene control platform to identify which genes to modulate in which patients to maximize the chances of providing them with a profound benefit. We look forward to continuing to evaluate SY-1425 in our ongoing study and to reporting potential proof-of-concept data next year in RARA-positive relapsed or refractory AML patients."

Updated Clinical Data on SY-1425 in Combination with Azacitidine in Newly Diagnosed, Unfit AML Patients

Syros presented updated data from its Phase 2 trial of SY-1425 in combination with azacitidine, a standard-of-care hypomethylating agent, in newly diagnosed unfit AML patients. The trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of the combination in patients with either the RARA or IRF8 biomarker, as well as in patients without the biomarkers. All patients were treated with azacitidine administered at standard daily doses of 75 mg/m2 intravenously or subcutaneously for seven days, followed by SY-1425 administered at 6 mg/m2/day orally, divided in two doses, for the remainder of each 28-day cycle.

As of Aug. 22, 2019, 40 newly diagnosed unfit AML patients had been enrolled in the trial and were eligible for the safety analysis. The median age of patients enrolled in the study was 76. Of the 17 biomarker-positive patients evaluable for response, 13 were RARA-positive and four were IRF8-positive. Enrollment in the newly diagnosed unfit cohorts of the ongoing Phase 2 trial is nearly complete. Syros will continue to follow patients enrolled in the trial to further characterize the overall profile of the combination, including safety, efficacy and durability of response.

Clinical Activity Data

62% complete response (CR) and complete response with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) rate, as defined by Revised International Working Group, IWG, criteria), in RARA-positive patients.

54% CR rate in RARA-positive patients, consisting of seven CRs, including three molecular CRs and three cytogenetic CRs.

Most initial responses were seen at the first response assessment.

Duration of these responses in RARA-positive patients was up to 344 days, with three of the eight responding patients having responses lasting beyond seven months at the time of the data cutoff.

82% of RARA-positive patients achieved or maintained transfusion independence.

Responses were seen in RARA-positive patients across AML risk groups, including patients with mutations that are typically associated with poor outcomes.

In patients with only the IRF8-biomarker, the CR/CRi rate was 0%, supporting Syros’ decision to use RARA as the sole biomarker for patient selection in SY-1425 clinical trials going forward. Based on data from 112 newly diagnosed patients screened for its clinical trial, Syros believes that approximately 30% of newly diagnosed AML patients are RARA-positive.

In the 22 response-evaluable RARA-negative patients, the CR/CRi rate was 27%, which is consistent with the published response rates of 18-29% observed in newly diagnosed unfit AML patients treated with single-agent azacitidine.

Safety Data

SY-1425 in combination with azacitidine was generally well-tolerated with no evidence of increased toxicities beyond what is seen with either SY-1425 or azacitidine alone.

Rates of myelosuppression, including neutropenia, were comparable to reports of single-agent azacitidine in this AML population.

The majority of non-hematologic AEs were low grade.

Across all grades and causalities, the most commonly reported AEs were nausea (38%), decreased appetite (38%), constipation (33%), fatigue (33%) and peripheral edema (30%).

The most commonly reported Grade 3 or higher AEs (all causality) were thrombocytopenia (25%), anemia (23%), and febrile neutropenia (23%).

The poster presented at ESH is now available on the Publications and Abstracts section of the Syros website at www.syros.com.

The ongoing Phase 2 trial is actively enrolling patients with relapsed or refractory AML patients who are positive for the RARA biomarker. Syros expects to report potential proof-of-concept from the cohort in relapsed or refractory AML patients in 2020. Additional details about the Phase 2 trial of SY-1425 can be found using the identifier NCT02807558 at www.clinicaltrials.gov.