Heron Therapeutics to Present Data From Completed Phase 3 MAGIC Study of SUSTOL® at ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium

On September 22, 2015 Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:HRTX), a biotechnology company focused on improving the lives of patients by developing best-in-class medicines that address major unmet medical needs, reported that data from Heron’s recently completed MAGIC Study of SUSTOL (granisetron) Injection, extended release, for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC), will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2015 Breast Cancer Symposium on Saturday, September 26, 2015 in San Francisco, CA (Press release, Heron Therapeutics, SEP 22, 2015, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2089440 [SID:1234507513]).
Heron will present a poster and give an oral presentation for the abstract titled "Phase III Study of APF530 versus Ondansetron with a Neurokinin 1 Antagonist + Corticosteroid in Preventing Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: MAGIC Trial."

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Presentation details are as follows:
Session Title: Oral Abstract Session B
Author/Presenter: Ian D. Schnadig, MD, Chair, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Compass Oncology
Abstract Number: 68
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 1:15 PM – 2:45 PM PT
Location: Yerba Buena Ballroom, Salon 9

Session Title: Poster Session B
Author/Presenter: Ian D. Schnadig, MD, Chair, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Compass Oncology
Poster Number: Board #A5
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 11:50 AM – 1:15 PM PT and 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM PT
Location: Yerba Buena Ballroom, Salon 8

About SUSTOL for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

SUSTOL (granisetron) Injection, extended release, which utilizes Heron’s proprietary Biochronomer drug delivery technology, is Heron’s novel, long-acting formulation of granisetron for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Granisetron, an FDA-approved 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist was selected due to its broad use by physicians based on a well-established record of safety and efficacy. SUSTOL has been shown to maintain therapeutic drug levels of granisetron for five days with a single subcutaneous injection. SUSTOL is being developed for the prevention of both acute (day 1 following the administration of chemotherapy agents) and delayed (days 2-5 following the administration of chemotherapy agents) CINV associated with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) or highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). While other 5-HT3 antagonists are approved for the prevention of CINV, SUSTOL is the first agent in the class to demonstrate efficacy in reducing the incidence of delayed CINV in patients receiving HEC, a major unmet medical need, in a randomized Phase 3 study.

Affecting 70-80% of patients undergoing chemotherapy, CINV is one of the most debilitating side effects of such treatments, often attributed as a leading cause of premature discontinuation of cancer treatment. 5-HT3 receptor antagonists have been shown to be among the most effective and preferred treatments for CINV. However, an unmet medical need exists for patients suffering from CINV during the delayed phase, which occurs on days 2-5 following the administration of chemotherapy agents. Only one 5-HT3 receptor antagonist is approved for the prevention of delayed CINV associated with MEC, and no 5-HT3 receptor antagonists are approved for prevention of delayed CINV associated with HEC.

SUSTOL was the subject of a recently completed, multi-center, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 clinical study in patients receiving HEC regimens known as MAGIC. The MAGIC study evaluated the efficacy and safety of SUSTOL as part of a three-drug regimen with the intravenous (IV) neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist fosaprepitant and the corticosteroid dexamethasone. The MAGIC study, which was conducted entirely in the U.S. using the 2011 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) guidelines for classification of emetogenic potential, is the only Phase 3 CINV prophylaxis study in a HEC population performed to date to use the currently recommended, standard-of-care, three-drug regimen as a comparator: a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, fosaprepitant, and dexamethasone. The study’s primary endpoint was achieved. Specifically, the percentage of patients who achieved a Complete Response in the delayed phase was significantly higher in the SUSTOL arm compared with the comparator arm (p=0.014). Adverse events reported in the study were generally mild to moderate in severity and of short duration, with the most common being injection site reactions (ISRs). In July 2015, Heron resubmitted its New Drug Application (NDA) for SUSTOL to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of January 17, 2016. SUSTOL is not approved by the FDA or any other regulatory authority.

NewLink Genetics Corporation Joins the Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer at PurpleStride Iowa

On September 22, 2015 NewLink Genetics Corporation (NASDAQ:NLNK), a biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of developing and commercializing novel immuno-oncology product candidates to improve the lives of patients with cancer, reported that the company will participate in PurpleStride Iowa, a Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) event to promote awareness and raise funds for the fight against pancreatic cancer, the nation’s fourth leading cause of cancer death (Press release, NewLink Genetics, SEP 22, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507512]). The PurpleStride Iowa PanCAN walk is on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m. at Raccoon River Park.

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PurpleStride Iowa is the fourth PurpleStride walk the NewLink Genetics team (a Gold Sponsor for all 2015 PurpleStride walks) will participate in following successful fundraising efforts in Boston, Austin and Los Angeles. PanCAN raises funds to advance research, support patients and create hope for the pancreatic cancer community. Money raised during the PurpleStride walks will go to personalized support for patients, research grants and advocacy efforts to increase federal funding for pancreatic cancer research.

Pancreatic cancer is expected to become the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. by 2020. It is one of the deadliest cancers, with a five-year survival rate of just seven percent. In 2015, an estimated 49,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and approximately 40,500 will die from the disease.

"Over the past 40 years, there has been little progress made towards increasing the survival rate for people with pancreatic cancer," said Charles Link, Chief Executive Officer and President of NewLink Genetics. "I am proud to count so many NewLink employees from all of our offices participating in the PurpleStride walks and working (both in and out of the office) to help find a new treatment for this devastating disease."

To join the NewLink Genetics team, or make a donation, please visit the NewLink Genetics team page. To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and how you can make a difference, visit www.pancan.org.

FDA approves new oral medication to treat patients with advanced colorectal cancer

On September 22, 2015 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported it has approved Lonsurf (a pill that combines two drugs, trifluridine and tipiracil) for patients with an advanced form of colorectal cancer who are no longer responding to other therapies (Press release, , SEP 22, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507515]).

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"The past decade has brought a new understanding around colorectal cancer, in how we can both detect and treat this often devastating disease," said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "But there are many patients who still need additional options, and today’s approval is a testament to the FDA’s commitment to work with companies to develop new drugs in disease areas where unmet needs remain."

Colorectal cancer is the third most common non-skin cancer in men and women in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute. While still the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., over the past 10 years the number of colorectal cancer cases and related deaths have decreased, due in part to screenings, such as colonoscopies.

Lonsurf is an oral medication intended to treat patients with advanced (metastatic) colorectal cancer who have been previously treated with chemotherapy and biological therapy.

The efficacy and safety of Lonsurf were evaluated in an international, randomized, double-blind study involving 800 patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer.

Study participants received Lonsurf plus best supportive care, or placebo plus best supportive care until their disease worsened or side effects became intolerable. The primary endpoint of the study was overall survival and the secondary endpoint was progression-free survival. Patients treated with Lonsurf lived an average of 7.1 months compared to 5.3 months for those treated with placebo. On average, the time to disease progression was two months for patients on Lonsurf compared to 1.7 months for patients receiving placebo.

The most common side effects of treatment with Lonsurf are anemia, a decrease in infection-fighting white blood cells (neutropenia) or blood platelets (thrombocytopenia), physical weakness, extreme tiredness and lack of energy (fatigue), nausea, decreased appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever.

The FDA recommends that health care providers obtain complete blood counts prior to starting each treatment cycle of Lonsurf and monitor patients throughout treatment, as Lonsurf may cause a severe decrease in blood cell and platelet production (myelosuppression).

Healthcare providers are also encouraged to advise women of potential risks to developing fetuses when taking Lonsurf. Women who are taking Lonsurf should not breastfeed.

Lonsurf is manufactured by Taiho Oncology Inc. in Princeton, New Jersey.

Endocyte to Present Data on EC1456 at the European Cancer Congress 2015

On September 21, 2015 Endocyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECYT), a leader in developing targeted small molecule drug conjugates (SMDCs) and companion imaging agents for personalized therapy, reported that data from ongoing phase 1 trials of Endocyte’s SMDC EC1456 will be presented at the European Cancer Congress 2015, being held Sept. 25 – 29, 2015, in Vienna, Austria (Press release, Endocyte, SEP 21, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507511]).

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The presentation materials will be available on Endocyte’s website following presentation at the conference.

Presentation is as follows:

Poster Presentation: An ongoing Phase 1 dose-escalation study of the folic acid-tubulysin in small-molecule drug conjugate (SMDC) folate-tubulysin EC1456
When: Sunday, Sept. 27, 16:45 – 18:45 p.m. CEST
Poster Session: Early Drug Development
Presenter: Martin J. Edelman, University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, Baltimore

About EC1456

EC1456 is an investigational proprietary, injectable, SMDC consisting of folate (vitamin B9) linked to a potent cytotoxic agent, tubulysin B hydrazide (TubBH). EC1456 is wholly owned by Endocyte. TubBH is a member of the tubulysin class of anti-neoplastic agents that inhibit the polymerization of tubulin into microtubules, a critical component during cell division. The targeting ligand folate, essential for cell division, has been investigated with vintafolide. EC1456 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 study in patients with advanced solid tumors (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01999738).

Nektar Presents Data Demonstrating that NKTR-214, a CD122-Biased Immunostimulatory Cytokine, Induces Durable and Specific Anti-Tumor Immunity As a Single-Agent and When Combined with Checkpoint Inhibitors in Preclinical Models

On September 21, 2015 Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) reported positive preclinical results for NKTR-214, a CD122-biased cytokine designed to preferentially stimulate the production and maintenance of tumor-killing T cells which are found naturally in the body (Press release, Nektar Therapeutics, SEP 21, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507510]). CD122, which is also known as the Interleukin-2 receptor beta subunit, is a key signaling receptor that is known to increase the proliferation of CD8-positive effector T cells, and these CD8-positive T cells comprise a key component of the tumor infiltrating lymphocytes that provide cell-mediated anti-tumor effects.1

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Results were presented this past Friday at the Inaugural CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Immunotherapy Conference in New York. NKTR-214 shows efficacy in multiple preclinical models as a single agent. Combination regimens with NKTR-214 and either anti-CTLA4 or anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor therapies resulted in durable anti-tumor immunotherapeutic effects, which persisted long after the termination of dosing.

"We are very encouraged by these remarkable preclinical findings, which show an immune-educating vaccine-like effect with the combination and sequencing of NKTR-214 and checkpoint inhibition," said Stephen Doberstein, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Nektar Therapeutics. "This is the ultimate goal of immune-oncology and we look forward to initiating our planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial of NKTR-214 in the fourth quarter of 2015."

In a preclinical tumor re-challenge study presented, sequential dosing of anti-CTLA-4 followed by NKTR-214 resulted in durable and complete responses. At 142 days following the final dose, with no additional treatment, the complete responders demonstrated sustained resistance to multiple tumor re-challenges.

In highly-resistant established melanoma tumor models, data presented show that treatment with NKTR-214 resulted in a controlled, sustained and biased T-cell activating signal and a mean ratio of CD8-positive T cells to T-regulatory cells ratio of 450:1 in the tumor infiltrating lymphocytes.

NKTR-214 Preclinical Data Presentation
The presentation entitled, "Antitumor activity of NKTR-214, a CD122-biased immunostimulatory cytokine, combined with immune checkpoint blockade requires innate and adaptive immunity," which was presented at The Inaugural International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference (CIMT) (Free CIMT Whitepaper): Translating Science into Survival by CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR can be accessed at View Source

About NKTR-214

NKTR-214 is a CD122-biased immune-stimulatory cytokine, which is designed to stimulate the patient’s own immune system to eliminate cancer cells. By biasing activation to the CD122 receptor, NKTR-214 enhances CD8-positive T cells (tumor-killing cells) in the tumor. In preclinical studies, a single dose of NKTR-214 resulted in an approximate 400-fold AUC exposure within the tumor compared with an equivalent dose of aldesleukin, an existing IL-2 therapy. This increase potentially enables, for the first time, an antibody-like dosing regimen for a cytokine.2 In dosing studies in non-human primates, there was no evidence of low blood pressure or vascular leak syndrome with NKTR-214 at predicted clinical therapeutic doses.3