On December 9, 2019 Sesen Bio (Nasdaq: SESN), a late-stage clinical company developing targeted fusion protein therapeutics for the treatment of patients with cancer, reported that on December 6, 2019, the Company initiated the submission of its Biologics License Application (BLA) for Vicinium for the treatment of BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) under Rolling Review to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Press release, Sesen Bio, DEC 9, 2019, View Source [SID1234552128]). Vicinium was granted Fast-Track Designation by the FDA in 2018.
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"There remains a significant unmet medical need in NMIBC that has also been further complicated by the ongoing BCG shortage," said Dr. Thomas Cannell, president and chief executive officer of Sesen Bio. "The initiation of the rolling BLA for Vicinium marks a tremendous achievement for Sesen Bio and an important step forward in our efforts to help save and renew the lives of patients with cancer."
The Company has submitted completed non-clinical and clinical modules, and a partially completed Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) module. The Company anticipates completing the BLA submission with the finalization of the CMC module in 2020. If the FDA accepts the BLA filing, the Company plans to request a Priority Review.
In addition, Dr. Cannell will host a conference call and webcast on Monday, December 16th at 8 AM ET to provide a regulatory update for Vicinium.
To participate in the conference call, please dial (844) 831-3025 (domestic) or (315) 625-6887 (international) and refer to conference ID 5285284. The webcast can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.sesenbio.com. The replay of the webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.sesenbio.com for 60 days following the call.
About Vicinium
Vicinium, a locally-administered fusion protein, is Sesen Bio’s lead product candidate being developed for the treatment of high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Vicinium is comprised of a recombinant fusion protein that targets epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antigens on the surface of tumor cells to deliver a potent protein payload, Pseudomonas Exotoxin A. Vicinium is constructed with a stable, genetically engineered peptide tether to ensure the payload remains attached until it is internalized by the cancer cell, which is believed to decrease the risk of toxicity to healthy tissues, thereby improving its safety. In prior clinical trials conducted by Sesen Bio, EpCAM has been shown to be overexpressed in NMIBC cells with minimal to no EpCAM expression observed on normal bladder cells. Sesen Bio is currently conducting the Phase 3 VISTA trial, designed to support the registration of Vicinium for the treatment of high-risk NMIBC in patients who have previously received a minimum of two courses of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and whose disease is now BCG-unresponsive. Additionally, Sesen Bio believes that cancer cell-killing properties of Vicinium promote an anti-tumor immune response that may potentially combine well with immuno-oncology drugs, such as checkpoint inhibitors. The activity of Vicinium in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC is also being explored at the US National Cancer Institute in combination with AstraZeneca’s immune checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab.