On September 4, 2018 TESARO, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSRO), an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company, reported it has initiated the second stage of the JASPER study that is designed to assess clinical benefit of ZEJULA in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody in first-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (Press release, TESARO, SEP 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234529255]). The decision to advance the trial was based on achieving the protocol defined response criteria in the initial cohort of 16 treated patients with high PD-L1 expression, of which 14 were evaluable for a response. Nine of the 14 patients had objective responses by RECIST criteria at the time of the analysis1; with all 14 patients experiencing tumor shrinkage.

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"These JASPER data provide preliminary evidence that the combination of ZEJULA and an anti-PD-1 antibody could be active as a first-line treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer and high levels of PD-L1 expression," said Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., President and COO of TESARO. "In the second stage of the trial, 36 additional patients will be enrolled and treated with ZEJULA in combination with TSR-042, our anti-PD-1 antibody. TSR-042 is the foundation of our lung cancer strategy, and is also being studied as a monotherapy in our GARNET trial in anti-PD-(L)1 naïve patients who have progressed on chemotherapy, and in combination with TSR-022, our anti-TIM-3 antibody, in AMBER, a study in late-line NSCLC patients that have progressed after anti-PD-(L)1 therapy. We look forward to sharing lung cancer data from both GARNET and AMBER at the Society for the Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in November."

About the JASPER Clinical Trial
JASPER is a Phase 2, open-label, single arm trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ZEJULA in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody for the treatment of first-line NSCLC. Patients were enrolled in stage 1 of the study and received a starting dose of 200 milligrams of niraparib once per day and 200 milligrams Q3 weeks of an anti-PD-1 antibody. The primary endpoint of stage 1 of the study was objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST. Other endpoints include durability of response, disease control rate, progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety and tolerability.

About ZEJULA (Niraparib)
Niraparib is marketed in the United States and Europe under trade name ZEJULA. ZEJULA (niraparib) is a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. In preclinical studies, ZEJULA concentrates in the tumor relative to plasma, delivering greater than 90% durable inhibition of PARP 1/2 and a persistent antitumor effect.

ZEJULA (niraparib) Select Important Safety Information
Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (MDS/AML) was reported in patients treated with ZEJULA in some clinical studies. Discontinue ZEJULA if MDS/AML is confirmed.

Hematologic adverse reactions (thrombocytopenia, anemia and neutropenia) have been reported in patients treated with ZEJULA. Do not start ZEJULA until patients have recovered from hematological toxicity caused by previous chemotherapy (≤ Grade 1). Monitor complete blood counts weekly for the first month, monthly for the next 11 months of treatment, and periodically after this time.

Hypertension and hypertensive crisis have been reported in patients treated with ZEJULA. Monitor blood pressure and heart rate monthly for the first year and periodically thereafter during treatment with ZEJULA. Closely monitor patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension.

Based on its mechanism of action, ZEJULA can cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception during treatment and for six months after receiving the final dose. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants from ZEJULA, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment with ZEJULA and for one month after receiving the final dose.

On September 4, 2018 OncoSec Medical Incorporated (OncoSec) (NASDAQ: ONCS), a company developing intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, reported that it has secured a $15 million investment from Alpha Holdings, Inc. (KOSDAQ: 117670) as part of a value focused, fundamental strategic investment centered on the clinical development of OncoSec’s lead immunotherapy product candidate, TAVO (tavokinogene telseplasmid) (Press release, OncoSec Medical, SEP 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234529254]). TAVO enables the intratumoral delivery of DNA-based interleukin-12 (IL-12), a naturally occurring protein with powerful immune-stimulating functions.

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"This investment from Alpha Holdings is a testament to the growth of OncoSec and the momentum building behind our rapidly advancing TAVO programs, which are designed to enable the intratumoral delivery of IL-12 to stimulate the body’s immune system to target and attack cancer," said Daniel J. O’Connor, President and Chief Executive Officer of OncoSec. "In addition to increasing our current capital, aligning with Alpha Holdings provides an opportunity to strengthen our presence in South Korea and Asia, while developing a long-term relationship with a company that, like OncoSec, recognizes the potential of our TAVO platform to expand the larger, multibillion-dollar checkpoint market, which has yet to be fully unlocked across multiple cancer types."

Alpha Holdings is a leading Korean company engaged in the design, development, service and manufacture of system semiconductors, as well as the development of biotechnologies and thermal compound materials. Since 2002, Alpha Holdings has successfully carried out many projects as a major partner of Samsung Advanced Foundry Eco-system (SAFE) of Samsung Electronics. Alpha Holdings, a listed company in the KOSDAQ Market, was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea.

"In targeting opportunities for growth, we believe the biotechnology sector and the immunotherapy space in particular, offer significant potential," said Hee Do Koo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Holdings. "Our investment in OncoSec is a prime example of this vision and our mission to align ourselves with biotechnology companies developing innovative technologies to treat large patient populations in need of new, more efficacious treatment modalities."

Under the terms of the agreement, Alpha Holdings has committed to purchase a total of $15 million worth of shares of common stock from OncoSec at $1.50 per share. The purchase is to be made in two tranches, each subject to a six-month holding requirement. Further details of the transaction can be found in the Form 8-K filed by the Company describing the agreement

On September 4, 2018 Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) reported that it will present at 2018 B. Riley FBR Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, September 4th and at the Maxim Rights Offering Conference on Thursday, September 6th, both of which are being held in New York City (Press release, Actinium Pharmaceuticals, SEP 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234529253]).

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The Company’s Chief Medical Officer, Mark Berger, M.D, will participate in a panel at the B. Riley FBR Healthcare Conference. Details of the panel are as follows:

Title:

Antibody-drug Conjugates are a Waning Technology

Date:

September 4, 2018

Time:

12:50 pm ET

Location:

New York Marriott East Side, Stuyvesant Room

On September 4, 2018 Advaxis, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADXS), a late-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of immunotherapy products, and OS Therapies LLC, a clinical-stage therapeutic company focused on the identification, development and commercialization of treatments for osteosarcoma, reported that Advaxis has granted a license to OS Therapies for the use of ADXS31-164, also known as ADXS-HER2, for evaluation in the treatment of osteosarcoma in humans (Press release, Advaxis, SEP 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234529250]).

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Osteosarcoma is an aggressive cancerous tumor that forms in bone. Although it is rare, osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer, and is most frequently found in children and young adults. Current treatment options are limited and there have been no new treatment options in more than thirty years.

Under the terms of the license agreement, OS Therapies, in collaboration with the Children’s Oncology Group (COG)1, will be responsible for the conduct and funding of a clinical study evaluating ADXS-HER2 in recurrent, completely resected osteosarcoma. Advaxis will receive an upfront payment, reimbursement for product supply and other support, clinical, regulatory, and sales-based milestone payments, and royalties on future product sales. Additional details of the financial terms have not been disclosed.

"Advaxis is pleased to license ADXS-HER2 to OS Therapies for human clinical trials in osteosarcoma. ADXS-HER2, which is already approved in the U.S. for the adjuvant treatment of osteosarcoma in canines, has the potential to provide a new treatment option for human osteosarcoma patients," said Kenneth A. Berlin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Advaxis. "As Advaxis is primarily focused on developing neoantigen-directed therapeutics, this license agreement will allow for the clinical potential of ADXS-HER2 to be explored in osteosarcoma without financial support from Advaxis, building on earlier work performed by us with ADXS-HER2 in a Phase 1 clinical trial."

"The OS Therapies mission is to develop and commercialize new therapeutics for the treatment of osteosarcoma, a deadly and extremely underserved pediatric cancer. We are excited about the opportunity to evaluate ADXS-HER2 in this indication, as its clinical profile has shown promise to date," said Paul Romness, Chief Executive Officer of OS Therapies. "Our initial focus is on the most common genetic mutation found in osteosarcoma, and we believe that HER2, and more specifically ADXS-HER2, holds potential to impact the treatment paradigm."

1 The Children’s Oncology Group (www.childrensoncologygroup.org), a member of the NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research with over 10,000 experts worldwide working in over 200 COG member institutions. COG’s mission is to improve the cure rate and outcome for all children with cancer.

On September 3, 2018 STORM Therapeutics, the drug discovery company focused on the discovery of small molecule therapies modulating RNA epigenetics, and The University of Cambridge reported that they have been granted a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) (Press release, STORM Therapeutics, SEP 3, 2018, View Source [SID1234561043]). The Grant, of up to £240,000, is to develop an analysis platform using the data warehouse software InterMine to help STORM advance its cancer research.

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STORM has established a pipeline of drug discovery programmes to develop novel, first-in-class drugs for the treatment of specific cancers and other diseases with high unmet medical need.

Keith Blundy, Chief Executive of STORM Therapeutics said: "Biology is an extremely fast paced, changing area. STORM is on the cutting edge of cancer research and keeping up with the data that is constantly being generated is vital. Previously, this data has been spread across a number of silos and gathering all of this information, as well as being able to analyse it efficiently, can be costly and prone to error. Through the KTP programme STORM is now partnered with an open-source data warehouse, InterMine, specifically for the integration and analysis of complex biological data, making it easy to query and analyse."

Gos Micklem, Principal Investigator for the InterMine project based at the Department of Genetics at the University of Cambridge said: "We are excited by this KTP award and the opportunity to collaborate with STORM. We see benefits on both sides – STORM gains our experience in large-scale data integration and the freely available open-source InterMine platform, while the adaptations that will be made to accommodate their data and interests will improve InterMine for the benefit of the broader community."

The KTP programme helps businesses in the UK by linking them with an academic organisation, enabling them to bring in new skills and the latest academic thinking to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project.