On February 16, 2016 Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) reported its ARIA oncology information system and Eclipse treatment planning software have been named "2015/2016 Category Leader" in the "Best in KLAS: Software and Services Report" by KLAS, an independent research firm specializing in monitoring and reporting on the performance of healthcare vendors (Press release, InfiMed, FEB 16, 2016, View Source [SID:1234509075]).

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In use in some 3,200 cancer treatment centers around the world, ARIA was named the "2015/2016 Category Leader" for Oncology software. ARIA is a comprehensive electronic medical record and image management system that aggregates patient data into an organized, oncology-specific medical chart with functional components for managing clinical, administrative and financial operations for medical, radiation and surgical oncology. The ARIA system provides a seamless flow of information for managing the patient’s entire journey—from diagnosis through follow-up.

ARIA users shared these comments posted on KLASresearch.com: a director stated, "ARIA is a great solution. It works well for both medical and radiation oncology." While a CIO shared these comments about the ARIA solution: "ARIA is tightly linked with the functionality of our linear accelerator, and that is incredible. That connection is what makes ARIA very valuable to our oncologists and radiologists. The linear accelerator is controlled through the software, so the charting and things we do with patients become almost invisible. All the documentation we have to do is automatically put in to the system. On the oncology side, all the formulas are streamlined. Doctors don’t have to look for a lot of things. There are a lot of customized fields doctors can set up."

For more information on ARIA, visit View Source

Named a "2015/2016 Category Leader" for Treatment Planning software for the third year in a row, the market and technology-leading Eclipse software is in use at some 3,400 cancer treatment centers around the world. The software creates an optimized radiotherapy treatment plan based on a physician’s dose instructions, and information about the size, shape and location of the tumor to be treated with radiation. The Eclipse software incorporates unique features such as RapidPlan knowledge-based planning, which makes it easier and faster to plan sophisticated cancer treatments like intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), and RapidArc radiotherapy.

In comments posted on KLASresearch.com, a vice president who uses Eclipse said: "We really like Eclipse and feel it is the very best treatment planning software out there." A physicist using Eclipse stated: "We find it very easy to create good, efficient dose management using the system."

For more information on Eclipse, visit View Source

"These rankings acknowledge the hard work the Varian team has done. Working closely with oncology clinicians and administrators has allowed us to understand their needs, enhance the ARIA information system and Eclipse software, and provide the best-in-class tools for fighting cancer," said Kolleen Kennedy, president of Varian’s Oncology Systems business.

The 2015/2016 Best in KLAS report, published at the end of January, ranks healthcare vendors and their solutions by the professionals who use them—healthcare providers. For a full list of Best in KLAS winners, Global (Non-U.S.) Best in KLAS winners, and Category Leaders, visit View Source

On February 15, 2016 Sandoz together with leading global charity World Child Cancer (WCC), reported a new health initiative in the Philippines, aimed at improving the standard of care for children suffering from cancer (Press release, Sandoz, FEB 15, 2016, View Source [SID:1234510072]).

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Cancer survival rates for children in the Philippines are less than 20%, compared to an average of 80% in developed countries. The goal of the new partnership, further details of which will be announced next month, is to help "even the odds" by supporting the development of specialist treatment centers in the island region of Mindanao.

Paul Geymayer, Sandoz regional head for Asia-Pacific, says: "This pilot project will take simple, pragmatic measures to attack cancer where it is most vulnerable: among underprivileged children suffering from forms of cancer that are absolutely treatable if given access to medicines, medical information and professional healthcare. Our goal is to make cancer care accessible to more children on the island, enhance the standard of care and improve survival rates."

Jon Rosser, World Child Cancer CEO adds: "In the Philippines, there are approximately 3,500 new cases of childhood cancer every year, with two-thirds diagnosed only at advanced stages. More than 80% of patients live too far away from a treatment center to access the care they need and many are forced to discontinue treatment due to costs and travel difficulties. "However, many of these cases are curable and this project will help to ensure that these children are able to access the care they need".

The WCC partnership highlights Sandoz’s commitment to address key global healthcare challenges by pioneering new approaches to increase access to medicine.

On February 15, 2016 GtreeBNT Co., Ltd., reported it has entered into an agreement with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) to acquire the rights to OKN-007, a new investigational drug for the treatment of glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer (Press release, GtreeBNT Co, FEB 15, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514931]).

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Under a new company, Oblato, Inc., GtreeBNT will assume exclusive rights to the compound, which was developed by OMRF researchers Rheal Towner, Ph.D., and Robert Floyd, Ph.D.

OKN-007 has been evaluated as a novel therapeutic that protects nerves and reduces both necrosis and glioblastoma cell proliferation by eliminating reactive oxygen species, a known cause of cancer. In studies at OMRF, the drug reduced tumor size and increased lifespan in animal models of glioblastoma. An estimated 12,000 Americans are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year, according to the American Brain Tumor Foundation.

OKN-007 has undergone phase I-B clinical testing at the University of Oklahoma’s Stephenson Cancer Center, where physicians assessed its safety in patients suffering from glioblastoma.

"There is currently no cure for glioblastoma, and the development of new treatments is a very important unmet need," said GtreeBNT and Oblato’s President and Chief Executive Officer Won S. Yang, Ph.D. "Oblato will conduct glioblastoma clinical trials on patients in the U.S. and will work to develop this new drug worldwide. With our history of work in the orphan drug market, this new drug fits well into our portfolio and matches the goals of GtreeBNT."

Oblato will initiate additional trials to study the efficacy and safety of this investigational drug in larger patient populations. At this time, OKN-007 is administered as an infusion. This agreement will provide the resources to expand the size of the patient cohort and to eventually develop an oral form of the drug.

Since 2014, GtreeBNT has been focusing on the development and commercialization of biopharmaceutical drugs, particularly first-in-class medications for ophthalmic indications, such as dry eye disease and the orphan ocular disease neurotrophic keratopathy. By acquiring the rights to OKN-007, GtreeBNT has expanded its interests to developing cancer treatments. Due to GtreeBNT’s highly experienced and qualified team, it is able to rapidly bring early clinical stage drugs to market.

"GtreeBNT’s focus on rare and orphan disease indications makes them an attractive partner to help us take the next steps in getting this drug to market," said OMRF Vice President of Technology Ventures Manu Nair. "Their ultimate goal is to see OKN-007 benefit patients living with this terrible disease. The company’s interest in the project and its ability to work quickly makes them an excellent fit for us."

Through execution of this agreement, it is expected that GtreeBNT will advance toward becoming a leading biopharmaceutical company that is able to consistently grow by securing worldwide exclusive rights to develop and commercialize new drugs to treat various diseases, including glioblastoma and ophthalmic indications.

"Right now, there is no effective treatment for glioblastoma," said OMRF’s Nair. "Patients typically receive a prognosis of 12 to 18 months from their initial diagnosis. We hope this new partnership can change those numbers for the better."

On February 12, 2016 Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (OTCQB: XBIO), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next-generation biologic drugs and novel oncology therapeutics ("Xenetic") reported that OPKO Health, Inc. (NYSE: OPK) has acquired an approximate 6.3% interest in Xenetic (Press release, Xenetic Biosciences, FEB 12, 2016, View Source [SID1234537813]).

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Commenting on the investment in Xenetic, Dr. Phillip Frost, CEO and Chairman of OPKO Health, Inc., stated, "Xenetic has many novel technologies that address unmet needs in various orphan cancer indications, and we believe the science and the clinical strategy have the promise to create significant shareholder value."

Scott Maguire, President and Chief Executive Officer of Xenetic commented, "We are proud to have OPKO Health as one of our largest shareholders joining our other strategic shareholders, Baxalta and Serum Institute of India. Dr. Frost has an outstanding track record in creating shareholder value in our industry."

On February 12, 2016 Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) reported that the UK High Court decided the Alimta (pemetrexed disodium) vitamin regimen patent would not presently be infringed by Actavis marketing pemetrexed trometamol in the UK, France, Italy and Spain with instructions to dilute the product only with dextrose solution (Press release, Eli Lilly, FEB 12, 2016, View Source [SID:1234509078]).

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In June of 2015, the UK Court of Appeal held that Lilly’s patent would be indirectly infringed by Actavis marketing certain alternative salt forms of pemetrexed with instructions to dilute the product with saline solution. However, the Court of Appeal left open the question of whether an alternative salt form with instructions to dilute only in dextrose solution would infringe.

The court based its decision of non-infringement on Actavis complying with its stated intentions as to how it will market its product and certain circumstances not changing over the remaining life of the patent. In its decision, the UK court accepts that it is not able to predict what will happen in the future and expressly allows either party to ask for the decision to be revisited if there is a material change of circumstances at any point in the remaining life of the patent, which expires in June 2021.

Lilly plans to seek permission to appeal today’s decision to the UK Court of Appeal.

In major European countries, the compound patents for Alimta expired in December 2015. The Alimta vitamin regimen patents expire in June 2021.

"We strongly disagree with the ruling by the UK High Court granting a declaration of non-infringement on the Alimta vitamin regimen patents under these circumstances. We plan to seek permission to appeal this ruling," said Michael J. Harrington, senior vice president and general counsel for Lilly.

In addition, Lilly has applied for permission to appeal the direct infringement aspect of the June 2015 Court of Appeal decision to the UK Supreme Court. That request is pending.

In a separate proceeding in the first quarter of 2015, the Dusseldorf Court of Appeal ruled the Alimta vitamin regimen patent would not be infringed by a generic competitor that has stated intent to market pemetrexed dipotassium in Germany after the compound patent expiration in December 2015. Lilly has recently been granted permission to appeal this ruling to the Federal Supreme Court of Germany, which is scheduled to be heard mid-2016. Lilly has also recently received a preliminary injunction against a different generic competitor to restrict marketing of a copycat pemetrexed product.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, a generic competitor unilaterally withdrew its appeal in the case regarding the validity of the Alimta vitamin regimen patent before the Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO). In view of the withdrawal of the appeal, the decision of the Opposition Division of the EPO finding the patents valid is final, and there cannot be further validity challenges to the vitamin regimen patents for Alimta centrally before the EPO.