On February 19, 2016 Kancera reported that the company has developed a new series of ROR inhibitors that show improved pharmaceutical properties which will allow preclinical studies of their effect on e.g. solid tumors (Press release, Kancera, FEB 19, 2016, View Source [SID:1234511317]). These results have prompted Kancera to concentrate the investments in the ROR project to small molecule inhibitors and terminate the product development of a ROR-based vaccine. Furthermore, Kancera reported results from the Fractalkine project showing that KAN0440567 after oral administration to mice effectively blocks the function of the Fractalkine receptor in mice.

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During the fourth quarter 2015, the ROR project succeeded to develop a new series of compounds in the ROR project that can be maintained in an active concentration in the blood for 10 hours in mice. This can be compared with the approximately 2.5 hours shown by Kancera’s first drug candidate KAN0439834 in the same type of measurement. This progress now provides us with new opportunities to test the effect of ROR inhibitors in several preclinical models of severe human cancers.

Kancera’s evaluation of peptide sequences for vaccine development has shown that the selected ROR-peptides do not generate an immune response that corresponds to the effect achieved with Kancera’s small molecule inhibitors. Against this background, Kancera has now chosen to terminate the vaccine product development and bring back the vaccine project to academic research. Thus, Kancera will concentrate the ROR-project investments to the development of small molecule inhibitors.

During the fourth quarter 2015, in collaboration with Prof. Mia Phillipson, Uppsala University, Kancera has demonstrated that oral administration of the Fractalkine receptor antagonist KAN0440567 (also referred to as AZD8797) to mice, effectively blocks the function of the Fractalkine receptor. This is a first step in the ongoing studies to examine the effect of this substance against cancer of the pancreas in a preclinical model of the disease.

Further information on these results can be found in Kancera’s Interim Report for Q4, 2015, which is published today.

About the ROR project
ROR is a family of receptors, ROR1 and ROR2. The ROR receptors mediate signals for growth and survival. Originally ROR was linked to fetal development, but it is now known that they also contribute to cancer cell development and proliferation. Professor Håkan Mellstedt, Kancera´s co-founder and professor at the Karolinska Institute, and his colleagues have shown that Kancera´s ROR inhibitors have the ability to kill cells from tumors in pancreas and leukemia cells. Professor Mellstedt and his colleagues as well as independent researchers have shown that ROR is also active as a target in prostate, breast, skin and lung cancer.

Because ROR primarily generates a survival and growth signal to tumor cells but is inactive in healthy cells in adults, there are good prospects that a drug directed against ROR hit the tumor much harder than the surrounding healthy cells. Kancera and Professor Mellstedt have shown that inhibition of ROR leads to that cancer cells eliminate themselves by cellular suicide. Against this background, there are reasons to anticipate that a ROR-targeted drug is both safer and more effective than several chemotherapies currently used to treat cancer.

About the Fractalkine project
Fractalkine is an immune regulatory factor that sends signals via the CX3CR1 receptor, also called G-protein coupled receptor 13 (GPCR13). In the healthy individual, Fractalkine and its receptor regulate migration of immune cells from the blood capillary wall into areas where the immune system is needed. Animal studies show that Fractalkine and its receptor are not essential for survival and that important immune functions remain intact indicating that inhibition of the Fractalkine signaling by a drug probably will be tolerated without significant adverse effects. Fractalkine and its receptor have been linked to the growth and proliferation of pancreatic, breast and prostate cancer. Also, cancer cells that have the Fractalkine receptor on their surface migrate towards nerve ends that have Fractalkine on their surface. Thus, cancer cells are led to surround and apply pressure on nerves and thereby cancer pain may arise. Another proposed mechanism for how Fractalkine and its receptor affect the development of tumors is that they contribute to the transformation of the body’s macrophages from being a threat against the cancer (the M1 form) to supporting the cancer (the M2 form). This mechanism is also suggested as a predictive factor for responsiveness to the new immuno-oncology drugs that act through PD-1 and PD-L1 such as nivolumab, pembrolizumab and pidilizumab. During 2014 and 2015 studies have been published demonstrating that the absence of Fractalkine in tumor cells is a significant marker for how successful the immuno-oncology treatment is expected to be (see e.g. the publication in Nature on November 27, 2014, Vol. 515, pp 563). In the light of these observations, there are good reasons to further study if inhibition of the Fractalkine signaling with KAN0440567 (AZD8797) has the potential to increase the proportion of patients responding to the new immuno-oncology drugs that act through PD-1 and PD-L1.

On February 19, 2016, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration approved palbociclib (IBRANCE Capsules, Pfizer, Inc.) in combination with fulvestrant for the treatment of women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following endocrine therapy.
In February 2015, FDA granted accelerated approval for palbociclib in combination with letrozole for the treatment of HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer as initial endocrine based therapy in postmenopausal women.

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Today’s approval is based on the demonstration of an improvement in progression – free survival (PFS) in an international, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, multicenter study comparing palbociclib plus fulvestrant to placebo plus fulvestrant. Women enrolled had HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression on or after prior adjuvant or metastatic endocrine therapy.

A total of 521 pre- and postmenopausal women were randomized (2:1) to either palbociclib plus fulvestrant or placebo plus fulvestrant until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Palbociclib was administered orally at a dose of 125 mg daily for 21 consecutive days followed by 7 days off treatment. Fulvestrant was administered intramuscularly at a dose of 500 mg on days 1, 15, 29 and once monthly thereafter. Pre- or perimenopausal women were enrolled in the study and received the LHRH agonist, goserelin, for at least 4 weeks prior to and for the study’s duration.

Among the 521 patients, 80% were postmenopausal, all patients had received prior systemic therapy, and 75% had received a previous chemotherapy regimen. Twenty-five percent had not received prior therapy for metastatic disease, 60% had visceral metastases, and 23% had bone only disease.

The major efficacy outcome measure was investigator-assessed PFS evaluated according to RECIST V1.1. The study demonstrated an improvement in PFS with a hazard ratio of 0.46 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.59; p<0.0001). The median PFS was 9.5 versus 4.6 months for patients treated in the palbociclib plus fulvestrant and placebo plus fulvestrant arms, respectively.

Safety data was evaluated in 345 patients who received palbociclib plus fulvestrant. The most common (greater than or equal to 10%) of grade 1-4 adverse reactions were neutropenia, leukopenia, infections, fatigue, nausea, anemia, stomatitis, headache, diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, constipation, vomiting, alopecia, rash, decreased appetite, and pyrexia. The most common (greater than or equal to 5%) grade 3-4 adverse reactions were neutropenia (66%) and leukopenia (31%).

The most frequently reported serious adverse reactions in patients receiving palbociclib plus fulvestrant were infections, pyrexia, neutropenia, and pulmonary embolism). Dose reductions due to an adverse reaction of any grade occurred in 36% of patients and permanent discontinuation associated with an adverse reaction occurred in 6% of patients.

The recommended dose and schedule of palbociclib is 125 mg daily for 21 consecutive days followed by 7 days off treatment in combination with fulvestrant treatment. The dose and schedule of fulvestrant is 500 mg intramuscularly on days 1, 15, 29 and once monthly thereafter.

Palbociclib is being approved prior to the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of April 15, 2016. This application was granted Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy Designation. A description of these expedited programs is in the Guidance for Industry: Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions-Drugs and Biologics, available at: View Source

Full prescribing information is available at:
View Source

Healthcare professionals should report all serious adverse events suspected to be associated with the use of any medicine and device to FDA’s MedWatch Reporting System by completing a form online at View Source, by faxing (1-800-FDA-0178) or mailing the postage-paid address form provided online, or by telephone (1-800-FDA-1088).

On February 19, 2016 The board of directors of Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) reported that they have approved the fiscal year 2016 fourth quarter cash dividend of $0.38 per ordinary share, representing a 25 percent increase over the prior year (Press release, Medtronic, FEB 19, 2016, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2140914 [SID:1234509122]). This quarterly declaration is consistent with the dividend announcement made by the company in June 2015. Medtronic has increased its annual dividend payment for the past 38 consecutive years, and is a constituent of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index. The dividend is payable on April 15, 2016, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 24, 2016. While a portion of the dividend may be treated for U.S. tax purposes as a return of capital, the company expects that potentially as early as next fiscal year, its dividend will be treated completely as a distribution of earnings for U.S. tax purposes. Additional information about the tax treatment of the dividend is available by clicking on the Investors link through the Medtronic website at www.medtronic.com.

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On February 19, 2015 Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new indication expanding the use of IBRANCE (palbociclib) 125mg capsules, Pfizer’s metastatic breast cancer therapy (Press release, Pfizer, FEB 19, 2016, View Source [SID:1234509116]). Now IBRANCE also is approved for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with fulvestrant in women with disease progression following endocrine therapy.1 Pfizer’s supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for IBRANCE was reviewed and approved under the FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy designation and Priority Review programs based on results from the Phase 3 PALOMA-3 trial in pre-, peri- and post-menopausal women with HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer whose disease progressed on or after prior endocrine therapy in the adjuvant or metastatic setting.1

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IBRANCE first was approved in February 2015 and also is indicated for the treatment of HR+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with letrozole as initial endocrine-based therapy in postmenopausal women.1 The indication in combination with letrozole is approved under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival (PFS). Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.1 The confirmatory Phase 3 trial, PALOMA-2, is fully enrolled.

IBRANCE is the first and only cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK 4/6) inhibitor approved by the FDA.

"Today’s news gives more women with metastatic breast cancer the opportunity to benefit from this first-in-class medicine," said Liz Barrett, global president and general manager, Pfizer Oncology. "Since IBRANCE was approved just over one year ago, physicians across the U.S. have embraced it as a standard of care in the first-line setting. The expanded approval of IBRANCE is supported by a robust body of evidence and underscores Pfizer’s continued commitment to addressing the needs of the metastatic breast cancer community. Pfizer is proud to bring forward innovative therapies like IBRANCE that make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives."

The Phase 3 PALOMA-3 trial enrolled 521 women, regardless of menopausal status, randomized 2:1 to receive IBRANCE plus fulvestrant or placebo plus fulvestrant. This trial demonstrated that IBRANCE in combination with fulvestrant, a standard of care hormonal therapy, prolonged PFS compared with placebo plus fulvestrant in women with HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer whose disease progressed on or after prior endocrine therapy.1 Women in the IBRANCE plus fulvestrant arm had a median PFS of 9.5 months (95% CI: 9.2, 11.0), a substantial improvement compared with 4.6 months (95% CI: 3.5, 5.6) in the group treated with placebo plus fulvestrant [HR 0.461 (95% CI: 0.360, 0.591), p <0.0001].1 Confirmed overall response rate in patients with measurable disease as assessed by the investigator was 24.6% for the IBRANCE plus fulvestrant arm compared to 10.9% for the placebo plus fulvestrant arm.1 Duration of response was 9.3 months in the IBRANCE plus fulvestrant arm compared with 7.6 months in the placebo plus fulvestrant arm.1

The warnings and precautions of IBRANCE include neutropenia, pulmonary embolism and embryo-fetal toxicity.1 Themost common adverse reactions (≥10%) of any grade reported in PALOMA-3 of IBRANCE plus fulvestrant vs fulvestrant plus placebo included neutropenia (83% vs 4%), leukopenia (53% vs 5%), infections (47% vs 31%), fatigue (41% vs 29%), nausea (34% vs 28%), anemia (30% vs 13%), stomatitis (28% vs 13%), headache (26% vs 20%), diarrhea (24% vs 19%), thrombocytopenia (23% vs 0%), constipation (20% vs 16%), vomiting (19% vs 15%), alopecia (18% vs 6%), rash (17% vs 6%), decreased appetite (16% vs 8%), and pyrexia (13% vs 5%). For more information, please see Important Safety Information for IBRANCE below.1

"There currently is no cure for metastatic breast cancer, so ongoing treatment is usually needed to control the spread of the disease," said Marisa Weiss, M.D., chief medical officer and founder, Breastcancer.org (link is external). "That’s why the availability of a first-of-its-kind treatment option like IBRANCE for women dealing with HR+, HER2- metastatic disease represents a very important advance."

Both palbociclib (IBRANCE) combination options are recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.2 Palbociclib plus letrozole is recommended (category 2A) as a first-line treatment for postmenopausal women with HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer.2 Palbociclib plus fulvestrant is recommended (category 1) for postmenopausal women with HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer who have progressed on endocrine therapy or premenopausal women receiving a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist.2

Pfizer believes patients should have access to the medications they need, and is committed to ensuring that patients who are prescribed IBRANCE have access to the company’s patient assistance programs. Patients in the U.S. can visit www.PfizerRxPathways.com and www.pfizercopayone.com (link is external) to learn more.

The full prescribing information for IBRANCE can be found at www.pfizer.com.

Important Safety Information

Neutropenia was the most frequently reported adverse reaction in Study 1 (75%) and Study 2 (83%). In Study 1, Grade 3 (57%) or 4 (5%) decreased neutrophil counts were reported in patients receiving IBRANCE plus letrozole. In Study 2, Grade 3 (56%) or Grade 4 (11%) decreased neutrophil counts were reported in patients receiving IBRANCE plus fulvestrant. Febrile neutropenia has been reported in about 1% of patients exposed to IBRANCE. One death due to neutropenic sepsis was observed in Study 2. Inform patients to promptly report any fever.

Monitor complete blood count prior to starting IBRANCE, at the beginning of each cycle, on Day 14 of first 2 cycles, and as clinically indicated. Dose interruption, dose reduction, or delay in starting treatment cycles is recommended for patients who develop Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) has been reported at a higher rate in patients treated with IBRANCE plus letrozole in Study 1 (5%) and in patients treated with IBRANCE plus fulvestrant in Study 2 (1%) compared with no cases in patients treated either with letrozole alone or fulvestrant plus placebo. Monitor for signs and symptoms of PE and treat as medically appropriate.

Based on the mechanism of action, IBRANCE can cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during IBRANCE treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose. IBRANCE may impair fertility in males and has the potential to cause genotoxicity. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during IBRANCE treatment and for 3 months after the last dose. Advise females to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy. Advise women not to breastfeed during IBRANCE treatment and for 3 weeks after the last dose because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants.

The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) of any grade reported in Study 1 of IBRANCE plus letrozole vs letrozole alone included neutropenia (75% vs 5%), leukopenia (43% vs 3%), fatigue (41% vs 23%), anemia (35% vs 7%), upper respiratory infection (31% vs 18%), nausea (25% vs 13%), stomatitis (25% vs 7%), alopecia (22% vs 3%), diarrhea (21% vs 10%), thrombocytopenia (17% vs 1%), decreased appetite (16% vs 7%), vomiting (15% vs 4%), asthenia (13% vs 4%), peripheral neuropathy (13% vs 5%), and epistaxis (11% vs 1%).

Grade 3/4 adverse reactions (≥10%) in Study 1 reported at a higher incidence in the IBRANCE plus letrozole group vs the letrozole alone group included neutropenia (54% vs 1%) and leukopenia (19% vs 0%). The most frequently reported serious adverse events in patients receiving IBRANCE plus letrozole were pulmonary embolism (4%) and diarrhea (2%).

Lab abnormalities occurring in Study 1 (all grades, IBRANCE plus letrozole vs letrozole alone) were decreased WBC (95% vs 26%), decreased neutrophils (94% vs 17%), decreased lymphocytes (81% vs 35%), decreased hemoglobin (83% vs 40%), and decreased platelets (61% vs 16%).

The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) of any grade reported in Study 2 of IBRANCE plus fulvestrant vs fulvestrant plus placebo included neutropenia (83% vs 4%), leukopenia (53% vs 5%), infections (47% vs 31%), fatigue (41% vs 29%), nausea (34% vs 28%), anemia (30% vs 13%), stomatitis (28% vs 13%), headache (26% vs 20%), diarrhea (24% vs 19%), thrombocytopenia (23% vs 0%), constipation (20% vs 16%), vomiting (19% vs 15%), alopecia (18% vs 6%), rash (17% vs 6%), decreased appetite (16% vs 8%), and pyrexia (13% vs 5%).

Grade 3/4 adverse reactions (≥10%) in Study 2 reported at a higher incidence in the IBRANCE plus fulvestrant group vs the fulvestrant plus placebo group included neutropenia (66% vs 1%) and leukopenia (31% vs 2%). The most frequently reported serious adverse reactions in patients receiving IBRANCE plus fulvestrant were infections (3%), pyrexia (1%), neutropenia (1%), and pulmonary embolism (1%).

Lab abnormalities occurring in Study 2 (all grades, IBRANCE plus fulvestrant vs fulvestrant plus placebo) were decreased WBC (99% vs 26%), decreased neutrophils (96% vs 14%), anemia (78% vs 40%), and decreased platelets (62% vs 10%).

Avoid concurrent use of strong CYP3A inhibitors. If patients must be administered a strong CYP3A inhibitor, reduce the IBRANCE dose to 75 mg/day. If the strong inhibitor is discontinued, increase the IBRANCE dose (after 3-5 half-lives of the inhibitor) to the dose used prior to the initiation of the strong CYP3A inhibitor. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice may increase plasma concentrations of IBRANCE and should be avoided. Avoid concomitant use of strong CYP3A inducers. The dose of sensitive CYP3A substrates with a narrow therapeutic index may need to be reduced as IBRANCE may increase their exposure.

IBRANCE has not been studied in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment or in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min).

About IBRANCE (palbociclib) 125mg capsules

IBRANCE is an oral inhibitor of CDKs 4 and 6,1 which are key regulators of the cell cycle that trigger cellular progression.3,4 IBRANCE is indicated for the treatment of HR+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with letrozole as initial endocrine based therapy in postmenopausal women, or fulvestrant in women with disease progression following endocrine therapy.1 The indication in combination with letrozole is approved under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival (PFS). Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.1

On February 19, 2016 Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HRTX), a biotechnology company focused on improving the lives of patients by developing best-in-class medicine that address major unmet medical needs, reported fourth quarter and full year 2015 financial results and highlighted recent corporate progress (Filing, 8-K, Heron Therapeutics, FEB 19, 2016, View Source [SID:1234509115]).

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Recent Corporate Progress:

In February 2016, Heron successfully demonstrated bioequivalence of HTX-019 to intravenous (IV) fosaprepitant in a study that included 100 healthy volunteers. In this study, HTX-019 demonstrated a substantially improved safety profile compared to IV fosaprepitant, which contains polysorbate 80. HTX-019, a polysorbate 80-free, IV formulation of the neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist aprepitant, is being developed for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

In February 2016, Heron initiated a placebo-controlled, dose-finding, Phase 2 clinical trial of HTX-011 for the treatment of post-operative pain in approximately 100 patients undergoing abdominoplasty. HTX-011 is a long-acting formulation of the local anesthetic bupivacaine in a fixed-dose combination with the anti-inflammatory meloxicam formulated with Heron’s Biochronomer drug delivery technology.

In January 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed Heron that it has not yet completed its review of the New Drug Application (NDA) of SUSTOL (granisetron) Injection, extended release and was unable to take action by the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of January 17, 2016. The FDA stated that it is targeting taking action in late February 2016.

"While we were disappointed that the FDA was unable to complete the review of the SUSTOL NDA by the original January 2016 PDUFA goal date, we appreciate the work of the FDA and remain confident in the potential of SUSTOL as an important option for the prevention of CINV in patients with cancer," commented Barry D. Quart, Chief Executive Officer of Heron Therapeutics. "Earlier this month, we achieved important milestones for our pipeline programs. We confirmed bioequivalence for HTX-019 compared with IV fosaprepitant and showed substantially improved tolerability of HTX-019, our polysorbate 80-free, IV formulation of aprepitant. In addition, we initiated our third Phase 2 study of HTX-011, which is evaluating HTX-011 in patients undergoing abdominoplasty."

Results of Operations

As of December 31, 2015, Heron had approximately $131.2 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, compared to $72.7 million as of December 31, 2014. The net increase in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments was primarily due to Heron’s June 2015 public equity offering that resulted in total net proceeds to us of approximately $128.2 million, partially offset by net cash used in operating activities in 2015. Based on current operating plans and projections, Heron believes that its current working capital is sufficient to fund operations through 2016.

Heron’s net cash used for operating activities for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 was $23.2 million and $78.5 million, respectively, compared to net cash used for operating activities of $12.9 million and $60.3 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2014.

Heron’s net loss for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 was $31.2 million and $97.6 million, or $0.87 per share and $2.95 per share, respectively, compared to a net loss of $20.6 million and $76.4 million, or $0.71 per share and $2.87 per share, respectively, for the same periods in 2014.

The increases in net cash used for operating activities and net loss in 2015 as compared to 2014 were primarily due to costs incurred in preparation for the commercial launch of SUSTOL, as well as clinical and manufacturing costs related to our Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies for HTX-011 and costs associated with the development of HTX-019.