Incyte Reports 2018 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Financial Results, Provides 2019 Financial Guidance and Provides Updates on Key Clinical Programs

On February 14, 2019 Incyte Corporation (Nasdaq:INCY) reported its 2018 fourth quarter and year-end financial results, 2019 guidance and provides a status update on the Company’s development portfolio (Press release, Incyte, FEB 14, 2019, View Source [SID1234533310]).

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"Sales of Jakafi were strong in 2018, which is a testament to its well-established efficacy and safety profile, and we continue to work with the FDA to facilitate the review of the GVHD indication" stated Hervé Hoppenot, Chief Executive Officer, Incyte. "Our late-stage product portfolio provides us with multiple additional opportunities to accelerate revenue growth. Our submission to the FDA seeking marketing approval of pemigatinib in patients FGFR2 translocated cholangiocarcinoma is expected later this year, as is the submission, by Novartis, for the approval of capmatinib in patients with MET exon-14 skipping non-small cell lung cancer. Results from the pivotal trial of itacitinib in newly-diagnosed GVHD patients are expected later this year, as are the results of two additional pivotal trials of ruxolitinib in patients with steroid-refractory GVHD, as well as proof-of-concept data from the trial of ruxolitinib cream in patients with vitiligo. Success with these product candidates would not only serve to further diversify our sources of revenue, but would also illustrate the productivity of the research and development group at Incyte."

Portfolio Update

Oncology — key highlights

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently extended the review of the sNDA seeking approval of ruxolitinib (JAK1/JAK2) for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD, assigning a new Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of May 24, 2019. The sNDA is supported by data from REACH1, which were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December. Incyte is prepared for an immediate launch in the U.S. should ruxolitinib be approved in this new indication.

Phase 3 trials of ruxolitinib in patients with steroid-refractory GVHD (REACH2 [acute]; REACH3 [chronic]) are expected to deliver results in the second half of 2019, as is the Phase 3 trial of itacitinib (JAK1) in patients with steroid-naïve acute GVHD (GRAVITAS-301).

The FDA has recently granted pemigatinib (FGFR) Breakthrough Therapy designation for the treatment of previously treated, advanced/metastatic or unresectable FGFR2 translocated cholangiocarcinoma. The FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy designation is designed to expedite the development and review of drugs for serious conditions that have shown encouraging early clinical results and may demonstrate substantial improvements over available medicines.

The NDA seeking approval of pemigatinib for the second-line treatment of patients with FGFR2 translocated cholangiocarcinoma is expected to be submitted in the third quarter of 2019, and we are now recruiting patients into a pivotal trial of pemigatinib for the first-line treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. A pivotal program for the first-line treatment of patients with bladder cancer is planned to launch this year. Based on data generated from ongoing trials in patients with FGFR-driven cholangiocarcinoma, bladder cancer, and 8p11 MPN, Incyte is planning to initiate a pivotal tumor-agnostic trial evaluating pemigatinib in patients with driver-activations of FGF/FGFR later this year.

Status updates for Incyte’s later-stage clinical programs are provided below.

Indication

Status Update

Ruxolitinib
(JAK1/JAK2)

Steroid-refractory acute GVHD

sNDA accepted for Priority Review (based on REACH1), review period extended by three months; Phase 3 (REACH2)

Ruxolitinib
(JAK1/JAK2)

Steroid-refractory chronic GVHD

Phase 3 (REACH3)

Ruxolitinib
(JAK1/JAK2)

Essential thrombocythemia

Phase 2 (RESET)

Ruxolitinib
(JAK1/JAK2)

Refractory myelofibrosis

Phase 2 in combination with parsaclisib (PI3Kδ), INCB53914 (PIM) or itacitinib (JAK1)

Itacitinib
(JAK1)

Treatment-naïve acute GVHD

Phase 3 (GRAVITAS-301)

Itacitinib
(JAK1)

Treatment-naïve chronic GVHD

Phase 3 (GRAVITAS-309)

Itacitinib
(JAK1)

NSCLC

Phase 1/2 in combination with osimertinib (EGFR)

Pemigatinib
(FGFR1/2/3)

Bladder cancer

Phase 2 (FIGHT-201)

Pemigatinib
(FGFR1/2/3)

Cholangiocarcinoma

Phase 2 (FIGHT-202); Phase 3 (FIGHT-302) now recruiting

Pemigatinib
(FGFR1/2/3)

8p11 MPN

Phase 2 (FIGHT-203)

Pemigatinib
(FGFR1/2/3)

Solid tumors with driver activations of FGF/FGFR

Pivotal program in preparation

INCMGA0012
(PD-1)(1)

Solid tumors

Phase 2 trials (MSI-high endometrial cancer, merkel cell carcinoma, anal cancer)

Parsaclisib
(PI3Kδ)

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Phase 2 (CITADEL-203, follicular lymphoma), (CITADEL-204, marginal zone lymphoma), (CITADEL-205, mantle cell lymphoma)

(1) INCMGA0012 licensed from MacroGenics

Incyte also has a portfolio of compounds in proof-of-concept trials, as detailed below.

Small molecules

Monoclonal antibodies

Bispecific antibodies

INCB53914 (PIM)

INCAGN1876 (GITR)(2)

MCLA-145 (PD-L1xCD137)(3)

INCB59872 (LSD1)

INCAGN1949 (OX40)(2)

INCB62079 (FGFR4)

INCAGN2390 (TIM-3)(2)

INCB81776 (AXL/MER)

INCAGN2385 (LAG-3)(2)

INCB01158 (ARG)(1)

Epacadostat (IDO1)

INCB86550 (PD-L1)

Notes:

(1) INCB01158 development in collaboration with Calithera

(2) Discovery collaboration with Agenus

(3) MCLA-145 development in collaboration with Merus

Inflammation / autoimmunity (IAI) — key highlights

Further to randomized Phase 2 data presented in 2018, a Phase 3 program of ruxolitinib cream in patients with atopic dermatitis was initiated in December 2018. Data are expected to be available in 2020.

Data from the randomized Phase 2 trial of ruxolitinib cream in patients with vitiligo are expected in 2019, and a Phase 3 program in the same patient population is planned.

A Phase 2 trial of itacitinib in patients with ulcerative colitis has recently been initiated, as have Phase 2 trials of parsaclisib for the treatment of patients with pemphigus vulgaris, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and Sjögren’s syndrome.

Indication

Status Update

Ruxolitinib cream
(JAK1/JAK2)

Atopic dermatitis

Phase 3

Ruxolitinib cream
(JAK1/JAK2)

Vitiligo

Phase 2; Phase 3 in preparation

INCB54707
(JAK1)

Hidradenitis suppurativa

Phase 2

Itacitinib
(JAK1)

Ulcerative colitis

Phase 2

Parsaclisib
(PI3Kδ)

Pemphigus vulgaris, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Sjögren’s syndrome

Phase 2

Partnered — key highlights

Lilly and Incyte recently announced that the first two Phase 3 trials of baricitinib as a treatment for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, BREEZE-AD1 and BREEZE-AD2, met the primary efficacy endpoint compared to placebo. Lilly plans to share the full results from both studies at future scientific venues, as well as the topline data from other ongoing Phase 3 trials later this year.

Further to Phase 2 data presented in 2018, Novartis expects to submit an NDA for capmatinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and MET exon 14 skipping mutations this year.

Indication

Status Update

Baricitinib (JAK1/JAK2)(1)

Atopic dermatitis

Phase 3

Baricitinib (JAK1/JAK2)(1)

Systemic lupus erythematosus

Phase 3

Baricitinib (JAK1/JAK2)(1)

Psoriatic arthritis

Phase 3 in preparation (at Lilly)

Baricitinib (JAK1/JAK2)(1)

Severe alopecia areata

Phase 2/3

Capmatinib (MET)(2)

Non-small cell lung cancer, liver cancer

NDA (NSCLC patients with MET exon 14 skipping mutations) expected this year (by Novartis)

(1) Worldwide rights to baricitinib licensed to Lilly: approved as Olumiant in multiple territories globally for certain patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis

(2) Worldwide rights to capmatinib licensed to Novartis

2018 Fourth-Quarter and Year-End Financial Results

The financial measures presented in this press release for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 have been prepared by the Company in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), unless otherwise identified as a Non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that Non-GAAP information is useful for investors, when considered in conjunction with Incyte’s GAAP disclosures. Management uses such information internally and externally for establishing budgets, operating goals and financial planning purposes. These metrics are also used to manage the Company’s business and monitor performance. The Company adjusts, where appropriate, for both revenues and expenses in order to reflect the Company’s core operations. The Company believes these adjustments are useful to investors by providing an enhanced understanding of the financial performance of the Company’s core operations. The metrics have been adopted to align the Company with disclosures provided by industry peers. Reconciliations of GAAP net income (loss) to Non-GAAP net income for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 have been included at the end of this press release.

Guidance related to research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses does not include estimates associated with any potential future strategic transactions.

Non-GAAP information is not prepared under a comprehensive set of accounting rules and should only be used in conjunction with and to supplement Incyte’s operating results as reported under GAAP. Non-GAAP measures may be defined and calculated differently by other companies in our industry.

Revenues For the quarter ended December 31, 2018, GAAP net product revenues of Jakafi were $380 million as compared to $302 million for the same period in 2017, representing 26 percent growth. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, GAAP net product revenues of Jakafi were $1.4 billion as compared to $1.1 billion for the same period in 2017, representing 22 percent growth. For the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, GAAP net product revenues of Iclusig (ponatinib) were $19 million. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, GAAP net product revenues of Iclusig were $80 million as compared to $67 million for the same period in 2017.

For the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, GAAP product royalties from sales of Jakavi (ruxolitinib), which has been out-licensed to Novartis outside of the United States, were $55 million and $195 million, respectively, as compared to $48 million and $152 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. For the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, GAAP product royalties from sales of Olumiant, which has been out-licensed to Lilly globally, were $14 million and $40 million, respectively, as compared to $5 million and $9 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2017.

For the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, GAAP milestone and contract revenues earned from our collaborative partners were $60 million and $180 million, as compared to $70 million and $175 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. Non-GAAP revenues exclude milestone revenues.

For the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, total GAAP revenues were $528 million and $1.9 billion, respectively, as compared to $444 million and $1.5 billion, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. Total Non-GAAP revenues for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were $468 million and $1.7 billion, respectively, as compared to $374 million and $1.4 billion, respectively, for the same periods in 2017.

Cost of product revenues GAAP cost of product revenues for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was $26 million and $94 million, respectively, as compared to $22 million and $79 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. Non-GAAP cost of product revenues for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was $21 million and $73 million, respectively, as compared to $17 million and $58 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. Non-GAAP cost of product revenues excludes the amortization of licensed intellectual property for Iclusig relating to the acquisition of the European business of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Research and development expenses GAAP research and development expenses for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were $304 million and $1.2 billion, respectively, as compared to $447 million and $1.3 billion, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. The decrease in GAAP research and development expenses over the prior year quarter and twelve month period was driven primarily by a decrease in upfront consideration and milestone expenses related to our collaboration agreements.

Non-GAAP research and development expenses for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were $274 million and $1.0 billion, respectively, as compared to $274 million and $865 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. Non-GAAP research and development expenses for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 exclude the cost of stock-based compensation of $26 million and $101 million, respectively, and upfront consideration and milestones to our collaborative partners of $5 million and $52 million, respectively. Non-GAAP research and development expenses for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 exclude the cost of stock-based compensation of $23 million and $90 million, respectively, upfront consideration and milestones paid to our collaborative partners of $150 million and $359 million, respectively, and an asset impairment charge of $12 million.

Selling, general and administrative expenses GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were $108 million and $434 million, respectively, as compared to $98 million and $366 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. The increase in GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses from the prior year quarter and twelve month periods were driven by an increase in donations to independent non-profit patient assistance organizations in the United States and additional costs related to the commercialization of Jakafi.

Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were $97 million and $387 million, respectively, as compared to $87 million and $324 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses exclude the cost of stock-based compensation.

Change in fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration GAAP change in fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was expense of $7 million and $26 million, respectively, as compared to $10 million and $8 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2017.

Unrealized loss on long term investments GAAP unrealized loss on long term investments for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was $22 million and $44 million, respectively, as compared to $22 million and $24 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. The unrealized loss on long term investments for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 represents the fair market value adjustments of the Company’s investments in Agenus, Calithera, Merus, and Syros.

Expense related to senior note conversions GAAP expense related to senior note conversions for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $0 million and $55 million, respectively, related to the conversions of certain of our 2018 and 2020 convertible senior notes.

Net income (loss) GAAP net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 was $69 million, or $0.32 per basic and diluted share, as compared to net loss of $150 million, or $0.71 per basic and diluted share for the same period in 2017. GAAP net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was $109 million, or $0.52 per basic and $0.51 per diluted share, as compared to net loss of $313 million, or $1.53 per basic and diluted share for the same period in 2017.

Non-GAAP net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 was $87 million, or $0.41 per basic and $0.40 per diluted share, as compared to Non-GAAP net income of $4 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted share for the same period in 2017. Non-GAAP net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was $224 million, or $1.06 per basic and $1.04 per diluted share, as compared to Non-GAAP net income of $131 million, or $0.64 per basic and $0.62 per diluted share for the same period in 2017.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities position As of December 31, 2018, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $1.4 billion as compared to $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2017.

(1)Adjusted to exclude the amortization of licensed intellectual property for Iclusig relating to the acquisition of the European business of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(2) Adjusted to exclude the estimated cost of stock-based compensation and milestones.

(3) Adjusted to exclude the estimated cost of stock-based compensation.

(4) Adjusted to exclude the change in fair value of estimated future royalties relating to sales of Iclusig in the licensed territory relating to the acquisition of the European business of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Future Non-GAAP financial measures may also exclude upfront and ongoing milestones relating to third-party collaboration partners, impairment of goodwill or other assets, changes in the fair value of equity investments in our collaboration partners, non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of the initial discount on our 2020 Senior Notes and the impact on our tax provision of discrete changes in our valuation allowance position on deferred tax assets.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Incyte will hold a conference call and webcast this morning at 8:00 a.m. EDT. To access the conference call, please dial 877-407-3042 for domestic callers or 201-389-0864 for international callers. When prompted, provide the conference identification number, 13686537.

If you are unable to participate, a replay of the conference call will be available for 30 days. The replay dial-in number for the United States is 877-660-6853 and the dial-in number for international callers is 201-612-7415. To access the replay you will need the conference identification number, 13686537.

The conference call will also be webcast live and can be accessed at www.incyte.com in the Investors section under "Events and Presentations".

About Incyte

Incyte Corporation is a Wilmington, Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information on Incyte, please visit the Company’s website at www.incyte.com.

Follow @Incyte on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Incyte.

About Jakafi (ruxolitinib)

Jakafi is a first-in-class JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of people with polycythemia vera (PV) who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea. Jakafi is also indicated for treatment of people with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF), including primary MF, post—polycythemia vera MF, and post—essential thrombocythemia MF.

Jakafi is marketed by Incyte in the United States and by Novartis as Jakavi (ruxolitinib) outside the United States.

About Iclusig (ponatinib) tablets

Iclusig targets not only native BCR-ABL but also its isoforms that carry mutations that confer resistance to treatment, including the T315I mutation, which has been associated with resistance to other approved TKIs.

In the EU, Iclusig is approved for the treatment of adult patients with chronic phase, accelerated phase or blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who are resistant to dasatinib or nilotinib; who are intolerant to dasatinib or nilotinib and for whom subsequent treatment with imatinib is not clinically appropriate; or who have the T315I mutation, or the treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia-chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) who are resistant to dasatinib; who are intolerant to dasatinib and for whom subsequent treatment with imatinib is not clinically appropriate; or who have the T315I mutation.

Incyte has an exclusive license from ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., since acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, to develop and commercialize Iclusig in the European Union and 22 other countries, including Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, Israel and Russia.

Vor Biopharma Completes $42 Million Series A Financing Round to Advance Lead Cell Therapy Product Candidate for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

On February 14, 2019 Vor Biopharma, an immuno-oncology company pioneering engineered hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies, reported a $42 million Series A financing round led by 5AM Ventures and RA Capital Management (Press release, Vor BioPharma, FEB 14, 2019, View Source [SID1234533328]). Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc . (JJDC), Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), and Osage University Partners also participated in the round along with Vor Co-founder PureTech Health. Vor plans to use the proceeds from the financing to advance its lead HSC-based candidate for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) towards the clinic, and to further build its pipeline to treat hematologic malignancies.

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"Vor’s unique and patented technology platform for enabling targeted immunotherapies using engineered HSCs has the potential to disrupt the treatment landscape for hematologic malignancies," said Kush Parmar, M.D., Ph.D., Managing Partner at 5AM Ventures who has joined the Vor Biopharma Board of Directors as Executive Chair. "We are excited to work with Vor to drive this next chapter of growth forward."

"The need for new therapies for hematologic malignancies is dire. I am gratified that this discovery from my lab continues to advance towards the clinic. This new platform may enable more patients to benefit from the life-saving potential of targeted immunotherapies," said Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., D.Phil, Vor Co-founder and Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University. "I look forward to further engaging with the scientific community when we publish our results in peer-reviewed journals."

"We are excited about Vor’s bold and novel approach to potentially revolutionize the way stem cell transplants are used to treat severe hematologic cancers," said Joshua Resnick, M.D., Managing Director at RA Capital who has also joined the Vor Biopharma Board of Directors.

Vor’s engineered HSC technology platform is designed to address fundamental limitations of today’s immunotherapies. Vor’s approach has the potential to expand the reach of targeted immunotherapies to a broad range of patient populations and hematological malignancies by enabling new dosing paradigms for cancer-targeted immunotherapies, which can substantially improve the therapeutic window for efficacy and improve patient safety.

"We are delighted to welcome this terrific syndicate of investors, who share our passion, commitment, and vision for bringing Vor’s potentially life-saving new therapies to patients with acute myeloid leukemia and other hematologic malignancies," said Bharatt Chowrira, J.D., Ph.D., Board of Directors at Vor Biopharma and President and Chief of Business & Strategy at PureTech Health

Orion’s and Bayer’s darolutamide shows substantial efficacy and a favourable safety profile in the treatment of prostate cancer in the ARAMIS trial

On February 14, 2019 Orion’s and Bayer’s reported that darolutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) significantly extends metastasis-free survival with a favorable safety profile compared to placebo plus ADT in non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (Press release, Orion Biotechnology, FEB 14, 2019, View Source [SID1234533350]).

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Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

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Statistically significant improvement in metastasis-free survival (MFS), with a median MFS of 40.4 months with darolutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) versus placebo plus ADT (18.4 months).

Positive trend in overall survival with a 29% reduction in risk of death at interim analysis (P=0.045).

Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar for darolutamide plus ADT and placebo plus ADT.

Health-related quality of life was maintained.
First results from the Phase III ARAMIS trial with the androgen receptor antagonist darolutamide were presented in an oral presentation at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract: 140 – ARAMIS

Results from the pivotal Phase III ARAMIS trial in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) showed a statistically significant improvement in metastasis-free survival (MFS) with darolutamide plus standard of care (ADT) compared to placebo plus ADT (HR=0.41, 95% CI 0.34-0.50; P<0.001). This translates to a 59 percent reduction in the risk of metastasis or death. The median MFS was 40.4 months in the darolutamide arm compared with 18.4 months for the placebo arm – an overall improvement in median MFS of 22 months.

A positive trend in overall survival (OS) was also observed (HR=0.71, 95% CI 0.50-0.99; P=0.045), and all other secondary endpoints demonstrated a benefit in favor of darolutamide. Importantly, the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) with greater than or equal to 5 percent frequency or of grade 3-5 was comparable between darolutamide and placebo arms; only fatigue occurred in more than 10 percent of patients (darolutamide plus ADT resulted in 12.1 percent versus 8.7 percent in patients with placebo plus ADT). Quality of life outcomes were similar between the treatment groups.

These data were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU) in San Francisco and published simultaneously in The New England Journal of Medicine.

"In addition to a benefit in MFS, a favorable safety profile is critical for these largely asymptomatic nmCRPC patients because treatment decisions can impact their overall well-being, prognosis, compliance with the treatment as well as other medications that are typical for this patient population. These data are exciting for the prostate cancer community; they not only show darolutamide’s significant efficacy in preventing the spread of prostate cancer, but also its favorable tolerability profile that, once approved, may allow patients to continue their day-to-day life without adding any burden," said Karim Fizazi, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine at the Institut Gustave Roussy, University of Paris Sud, France.

"Prostate cancer patients are still in need of treatments that are not only effective but also safe without adverse events that would compromise their quality of life. Orion is working hard to bring innovative treatments to cancer patients. With the positive results of ARAMIS trial we together with Bayer are one step closer of bringing darolutamide to patients and their treating physicians", said Christer Nordstedt, PhD, MD, Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Orion Corporation.

Bayer plans to discuss the data from the ARAMIS trial with health authorities regarding the submission of new drug applications. Bayer has been granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for darolutamide in men with nmCRPC. Darolutamide is being developed jointly by Bayer and Orion Corporation.

Detailed study results

The MFS benefit observed with darolutamide was consistent across all subgroups of patients. In an interim analysis of OS, darolutamide showed a positive trend, with a 29 percent reduction in the risk of death (HR=0.71, 95% CI 0.50-0.99; P=0.045, median not reached).

In addition, darolutamide plus ADT demonstrated a significant benefit over placebo plus ADT for time to pain progression (40.3 months compared to 25.4 months; HR=0.65, 95% CI 0.53-0.79; P<0.001) and time to cytotoxic chemotherapy (median not reached compared to 38.2; HR=0.43, 95% CI 0.31-0.60; P<0.001). Another secondary endpoint, time to first symptomatic skeletal event (SSE), also demonstrated a benefit in favor of darolutamide (median not reached). Darolutamide extended progression-free survival (PFS) (36.8 months compared to 14.8 months; HR=0.38, 95% CI 0.32-0.45; P<0.001), with a 62 percent risk reduction of local progression, distant metastases or death.

Incidence of treatment-emergent AEs was similar between darolutamide and placebo; most AEs were grade 1 and 2 (55 percent with darolutamide plus ADT and 54 percent with placebo plus ADT). Compared to placebo plus ADT, darolutamide plus ADT did not increase rates of critical AEs including, but not limited to, seizures, falls, fractures, rash, cognitive disorder, mental impairment or hypertension. Patients with a history of seizure were not excluded from the study.

The results of Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO)-based endpoints (based on the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate; FACT-P, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life; EORTC-QLQ-PR25, and EQ-5D-3L questionnaires) demonstrated maintenance of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with a positive trend favoring darolutamide over placebo.

About the ARAMIS trial design

The ARAMIS trial is a randomized, Phase III, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of oral darolutamide in patients with nmCRPC who are currently being treated with ADT as standard of care and are at high risk for developing metastatic disease. 1,509 patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive 600 mg of darolutamide twice a day or placebo along with ADT.

The primary endpoint of this trial is MFS defined as time between randomization and evidence of metastasis or death. The secondary endpoints of this trial are OS, time to pain progression, time to initiation of first cytotoxic chemotherapy, time to first SSE, and characterization of the safety and tolerability of darolutamide.

About castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed malignancy in men worldwide. In 2018, an estimated 1.2 million men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and about 358,000 died from the disease worldwide. Prostate cancer is the fifth leading cause of death from cancer in men. Prostate cancer results from the abnormal proliferation of cells within the prostate gland, which is part of a man’s reproductive system. It mainly affects men over the age of 50, and the risk increases with age. Treatment options range from surgery to radiation treatment to therapy using hormone-receptor antagonists, i.e. substances that stop the formation of testosterone or prevent its effect at the target location. However, in nearly all cases, the cancer eventually becomes resistant to conventional hormone therapy.

CRPC is an advanced form of the disease where the cancer keeps progressing even when the amount of testosterone is reduced to very low levels in the body. The field of treatment options for castration-resistant patients is evolving rapidly, but until recently, there have been no effective treatment options for CRPC patients who have rising Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels while on ADT and no detectable metastases. In men with progressive nmCRPC, a short PSA doubling time has been consistently associated with reduced time to first metastasis and death.

About darolutamide

Darolutamide is a non-steroidal androgen receptor antagonist with a distinct chemical structure that binds to the receptor with high affinity and exhibits strong antagonistic activity, thereby inhibiting the receptor function and the growth of prostate cancer cells. In addition to the Phase III trial ARAMIS in men with nmCRPC, darolutamide is also being investigated in a Phase III study in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (ARASENS). Information about these trials can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Gamida Cell to Host Conference Call and Webcast to Review Data from NAM-NK and NiCord® Programs Being Presented at 2019 TCT Annual Meeting

On February 14, 2019 Gamida Cell Ltd. (Nasdaq: GMDA), a leading cellular and immune therapeutics company, reported that it will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 8:00 a.m. ET to review the data from its NAM-NK and NiCord programs being presented at the 2019 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy (TCT) Meetings of American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) and Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) (Press release, Gamida Cell, FEB 14, 2019, View Source [SID1234533329]). The meeting is taking place in Houston, Texas, February 20 – 24.

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A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed in the Investors section of Gamida Cell’s website at www.gamida-cell.com. To participate in the conference call, please dial 1-866-930-5560 (domestic) or 1-409-216-0605 (international) five minutes prior to start time. The conference ID number is 9462948. An archived version of the webcast will be available on Gamida Cell’s website for 30 days.

Details about the presentations are as follows:

Time: Wednesday, February 20, 2019, 6:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. CT (poster presentation)
Title: First-in-Human Phase I Study of Nicotinamide-Expanded Related Donor Natural Killer Cells for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma
Poster Number: 242
Lead Author: Veronika Bachanova, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of medicine, division of hematology, oncology and transplantation, University of Minnesota
Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, Level 3, Hall B

Time: Wednesday, February 20, 2019, 6:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. CT (poster presentation)
Title: Ex Vivo Nicotinamide-Expanded (NAM-Expanded) Unrelated Cord Blood Transplantation (UCB) for Refractory Severe Aplastic Anemia Results in Rapid Engraftment and Expedites Immune Recovery
Poster Number: 295
Lead Author: Joseph Clara, M.D., Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, Level 3, Hall B

Time: Saturday, February 23, 2019, 4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT (oral presentation)
Title: Rapid and Robust CD4+ and CD8+ T-, NK-, B-Cell, Dendritic Cell, and Monocyte Reconstitution after Nicotinamide-Expanded Cord Blood Transplantation
Abstract Number: 69
Lead Author: Jaap-Jan Boelens, M.D., Ph.D., Chief, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Location: Hilton Americas Houston, Grand Ballroom G

Abstracts are available on the 2019 TCT Meetings of ASBMT and CIBMTR website.

About NAM-NK
Gamida Cell applied the capabilities of its NAM-based cell expansion technology to highly functional NK cells to develop NAM-NK, an innate immunotherapy for the treatment of hematologic and solid tumors in combination with standard of care antibody therapies. NAM-NK addresses key limitations of NK cells by increasing the cytotoxicity and in vivo retention and proliferation in the bone marrow and lymphoid organs of NK cells expanded in culture. NAM-NK is in Phase 1 development through an investigator-sponsored study in patients with refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma.1

About NiCord
NiCord, the company’s lead clinical program, is under development as a universal bone marrow transplant solution for patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies. NiCord has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, making it the first bone marrow transplant alternative to receive this designation. It has also received U.S. and EU orphan drug designation. A Phase 3 clinical study evaluating NiCord in patients with leukemia and lymphoma is ongoing in the United States, Europe and Asia.2 NiCord is also being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical study in patients with severe aplastic anemia.3 The aplastic anemia investigational new drug application is currently filed with the FDA under the brand name CordIn, which is the same investigational development candidate as NiCord. For more information on clinical trials of NiCord, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

NAM-NK and NiCord are investigational therapies, and their safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other health authority.

Physicians’ Education Resource® Announces Dr. Tait Shanafelt as Keynote Speaker for the 23rd Annual International Congress on Hematologic Malignancies®: Focus on Leukemias, Lymphomas and Myeloma

On February 14, 2019 Physicians’ Education Resource (PER), a leading resource for continuing medical education (CME), reported that Tait Shanafelt, M.D., will be the keynote speaker for the 23rd annual International Congress on Hematologic Malignancies: Focus on Leukemias, Lymphomas and Myeloma (Press release, Physicians’ Education Resource, FEB 14, 2019, View Source [SID1234533330]). This year’s keynote presentation will take place Saturday, March 2, from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. at the Eden Roc Miami Beach in Florida.

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"Dr. Shanafelt brings extensive knowledge and experience in the field of physician well-being," said Phil Talamo, president of PER. "We are delighted to have him as this year’s keynote speaker for the Winter Hematology annual meeting and look forward to his discussion on ways physicians can avoid burnout and balance their lives with practicing medicine."

During his keynote presentation, "Avoiding Physician Burnout," Shanafelt will discuss strategies on how to avoid burnout and find meaning, balance and personal satisfaction in the practice of medicine. Shanafelt will also be available for a meet and greet with attendees after his keynote concludes.

Shanafelt serves as the chief wellness officer at Stanford Medicine, associate dean at the Stanford School of Medicine and director of the Stanford WellMD Center. He is an international thought leader and researcher in the field of physician well-being and its implications for quality of care. His research in this area has involved physicians at all stages of their career, from medical school to established practices, and has included several multicenter and national studies. He has numerous published works in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Internal Medicine, and JAMA. Shanafelt has also served as a keynote speaker for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Association of American Medical Colleges, American Medical Association, and American Board of Internal Medicine.

The 23rd annual congress is a three-and-a-half-day engaging and highly interactive meeting that provides community-based hematologists and medical oncologists interested in the treatment of hematologic malignancies with the opportunity to interact with internationally renowned experts in the management of leukemias, lymphomas, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms and benign hematologic malignancies. During the congress, faculty experts will review latest information on pressing topics for 2019, including the expanding role of new immunologic approaches such as chimeric antigen receptor T cells and checkpoint inhibitors, the emergence of molecular-based therapies and new cytotoxic formulations in patients with acute leukemias, and new approaches for treatment and duration of therapy among patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. The meeting will also feature several engaging Medical Crossfire discussion panels interspersed throughout the meeting to allow attendees to explore some of the most challenging clinical situations in the management of hematologic malignancies.