On May 17, 2018 Tarveda Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing Pentarins as a new class of potent and selective cancer medicines, reported that it will present Phase 1 results from a Phase 1/2a study of PEN-221 in patients with neuroendocrine tumors or small cell lung cancer at the 2018 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting occurring June 1-5, 2018 in Chicago IL (Press release, Tarveda Therapeutics, MAY 17, 2018, View Source [SID1234526784]).

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The data presented will describe the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of PEN-221, a miniature drug conjugate containing a peptide ligand that is highly selective in targeting the somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) that is conjugated to the potent payload DM1. SSTR2 is a cell surface target that is overexpressed in a variety of solid tumor cancers. PEN-221 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2a trial in patients with gastrointestinal midgut neuroendocrine tumors, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, or small cell lung cancer.

"We are very pleased to have completed the Phase 1 portion of our Phase 1/2a clinical trial for PEN-221 on schedule and to present the data from the Phase 1 trial evaluating PEN-221 at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)," said Drew Fromkin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tarveda. "We are encouraged by the data from studies of PEN-221 to date and look forward to advancing the Phase 2a portion of the study for PEN-221 as well as our Phase 1 trial for PEN-866."

Details of the poster presentation are as follows:

Title: First in human phase 1/2a study of PEN-221 somatostatin analog (SSA)-DM1 conjugate for patients (PTS) with advanced neuroendocrine tumor (NET) or small cell lung cancer (SCLC): Phase 1 results.
Abstract Number: 4097
Date: June 3, 2018
Time: 8:00 – 11:30 AM CT
Location: Hall A

About Pentarins
Tarveda is developing Pentarins, potent and selective miniature drug conjugates with high affinity for specific cell surface and intracellular targets. Pentarins are engineered to bind to their tumor cell targets and provide sustained release of their potent therapeutic payloads deep into solid tumor tissue. Comprised of a targeting ligand conjugated to a potent cancer cell killing agent through a tuned chemical linker, Pentarins are designed to overcome the deficits of both larger antibody drug conjugates and small molecules that limit their therapeutic effectiveness against solid tumors. Together, the components of Tarveda’s Pentarins have distinct, yet synergistic, anticancer attributes: the small size of Pentarins allows for rapid and deep penetration into the tumor tissue, the ligand’s targeting ability allows for specific binding and retention in tumor cells, and the chemical linker is tuned to optimize the release of the potent, cell killing payload inside the cancer cells for efficacy.

On May 17, 2018 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX:ONC) (OTCQX:ONCYF), currently developing REOLYSIN (pelareorep), an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus turning cold tumors hot, reported an investigator sponsored study (IST) supported by Merck Inc (Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, MAY 17, 2018, View Source [SID1234534183]). (Merck), Northwestern University (Northwestern) and Oncolytics. This study is an extension of the previously reported phase 1 study (REO 024) that will investigate pelareorep in combination with Merck’s anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda, to treat second line pancreatic cancer patients. The study, run by the principal investigator of REO 024, Dr. Devalingham Mahalingam, will plan to enroll approximately 40 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and will be conducted at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

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"This study using Merck’s Keytruda is our second I-O combination in human trials after our multiple myeloma study in combination with Celgene’s Imnovid and Revlimid," said Dr. Matt Coffey, President and CEO of Oncolytics Biotech. "We’re very happy with Merck’s increased involvement in our pancreatic studies and believe combining pelareorep with Keytruda poses an exciting opportunity to lay additional groundwork towards our ultimate goal – to expand the use of check point inhibitors as anti-cancer agents by promoting an inflamed phenotype in the tumor, or turning cold tumors hot."

"REO 024, a phase 1b study combining pelareorep and Keytruda in second line pancreatic patients, was designed to evaluate safety and tolerability of the combination," said Dr. Mahalingam, Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "The results from that study demonstrated that the combination is safe, but also that there was early evidence of clinical activity, including one patient that had a partial response lasting 17.4 months and two with stable disease of 126 days and 277 days. This new phase two study will enroll patients with advanced pancreatic cancer failing front line chemotherapy and will primarily evaluate overall response rate of the combination therapy. The study will also provide important biomarker data determined by analysis of pre- and post-treatment biopsies and blood-based immune markers."

Final study design and other details will be announced upon enrollment of the first patient, expected in the third quarter 2018.

On May 17, 2018 Triumvira Immunologics, a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing a novel platform for engineering T cells to attack cancers, today formally reported the appointments of Sabine Chlosta, MD, PhD, as Chief Medical Officer, and Jon Irvin as Vice President, Finance (Press release, Triumvira Immunologics, MAY 17, 2018, View Source [SID1234526750]).

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"We are delighted to expand our executive management team with Dr. Chlosta and Mr. Irvin," said Paul Lammers, MD, MSc., President and CEO of Triumvira Immunologics. "We look forward to leveraging Sabine’s extensive experience in immuno-oncology and clinical trial oversight as we work to develop and commercialize innovative therapies that will empower a patient’s own immune system to tackle serious and life-threatening diseases."

"In addition, Jon’s finance expertise in the pharmaceutical and technology industries will be a strong asset to Triumvira as we build our company to bring new treatments to patients in need," Lammers added.

Prior to Triumvira, Sabine Chlosta consulted for Aurora BioPharma, a start-up company developing CAR-T cells in solid tumors and was previously a Senior Medical Director at Merck & Co. where she played a key role in the development of its PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda in Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and oversaw trials in other indications, as well. Earlier in her career, Dr. Chlosta was a medical director at Glycomimetics where she helped launch the company’s first trial in cancer. She began her industry career as a Fellow in Oncology Drug Development at Novartis overseeing clinical pharmacology trials with a small molecule and helped launch their CAR-T lymphoma program with Kymriah. Dr. Chlosta is a board-certified pediatric hematologist oncologist out of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College.

"Triumvira is poised for growth and success in T cell therapy, and I am thrilled to be part of the team to take our innovative TAC technology into the clinic," said Dr. Chlosta.

Jon Irvin was the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance at Mirna Therapeutics, a publicly traded biotechnology company, before joining Triumvira. He also served in executive financial positions for Voxpath Networks, Inc., a telecommunications and intellectual property company, Reddwerks Corporation, a software company, Esoterix, Inc., a medical laboratory company, Topaz Technologies, a pharmaceutical software company, and BioNumerik Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. Mr. Irvin previously worked with Ernst & Young’s life science practice in Palo Alto, California.

Irvin commented, "It’s exciting to be a part of this growing team as we develop our novel platform to treat patients’ unmet medical needs."

On May 17, 2018 BioClin Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage drug development company reported that data will be presented from its ongoing Phase 1b/2 study of B-701, a first-in-class anti-fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) monoclonal antibody, plus docetaxel for metastatic bladder cancer at a poster session at the 2018 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) meeting being held June 1-5, 2018 in Chicago, IL (Press release, BioClin Therapeutics, MAY 17, 2018, View Source [SID1234526785]).

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The details of the poster presentation are as follows:

[Abstract 4534]
FIERCE-21: Phase 1b/2 study of Docetaxel + B-701, a Selective Inhibitor of FGFR3, in Relapsed or Refractory (R/R) Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma (mUCC).

Joaquim Bellmunt, M.D., Ph.D., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Session: Genitourinary (Nonprostate) Cancer
Poster Session Date/Time: Saturday, June 3, 2018, 8:00 – 11:30 a.m., CDT, Hall A

On May 16, 2018 Sensei Biotherapeutics, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company developing immuno-oncology therapies that teach the immune system to recognize and attack cancer, reported the appointment of John Celebi, M.B.A., as President and Chief Executive Officer (Press release, Sensei Biotherapeutics, MAY 16, 2018, View Source [SID1234526734]). He also joins the company’s board of directors. Mr. Celebi brings more than two decades of leadership experience with innovative and growing biotechnology companies, most recently in the field of cancer immunotherapies.

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The appointment of Mr. Celebi as President and Chief Executive Officer occurs at a time when Sensei is emerging with a focused immuno-oncology strategy, promising clinical data from the Phase I trial of its lead drug candidate SNS-301, and the proprietary SPIRIT drug development platform that is generating a pipeline of innovative immuno-oncology therapies. SNS-301 and the SPIRIT platform originated at Panacea Pharmaceuticals which has become Sensei Biotherapeutics. Sensei’s growing team of 14 employees is focused on its growth strategy in
immuno-oncology, operating out of its new 30,000 square foot laboratory and office space.

"I am delighted to join Sensei at this exciting time when we have the opportunity to apply our SPIRIT platform to develop immuno-oncology therapies with an innovative mechanism for detecting and eliminating cancer. We are encouraged by the clinical data that is emerging for our lead drug candidate, SNS-301, which we are advancing to lead the way in our strategy to build a precision pipeline of immuno-oncology therapies through companion diagnostics," said Mr. Celebi. "Sensei is well positioned to leverage our unique technology to develop novel
therapies with the potential to achieve our mission to have a positive and profound impact for
cancer patients."

"We welcome John’s strong experience and strategic business acumen to help build our vision and future for Sensei," said Hossein Ghanbari, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Board Chair of Sensei Biotherapeutics, and the company’s original co-founder and Chief Executive Officer.

"John’s oncology background and accomplished track record in biotech will serve Sensei exceptionally well as we move forward with our innovative immuno-oncology platform and advance new medicines for patients." Mr. Celebi has a distinguished track record for growing innovative entrepreneurial biotechnology companies, including in the field of oncology. Previously, Mr. Celebi served as the Chief Operating Officer of X4 Pharmaceuticals where he established and oversaw the company’s oncology business strategy. He also served as Chief Business Officer of Igenica Biotherapeutics, Inc., an immunotherapy company formed by The Column Group, 5AM Ventures, Orbimed and Third Rock Ventures, where he established key academic and industry relationships, including with MedImmune. He has extensive transactional and alliance management experience. Previously, he served as Vice President of Business Development, New Product Planning and Alliance Management at ArQule, Inc., where he played a central role
in the formation of alliances with Roche, Daiichi-Sankyo, and Kyowa Hakko Kirin. Mr. Celebi was one of the early employees at Tularik, Inc., where he conducted drug discovery and basic research for an anti-viral drug program. Mr. Celebi received an M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.S. in Biophysics from the University of California, San Diego.