Actinium Initiates Second Dosing Cohort of Novel Combination Trial with Actimab-A and CLAG-M Salvage Regimen at Medical College of Wisconsin

On February 4, 2019 Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) ("Actinium" or the "Company") reported that the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) has started dosing patients in the second cohort of its novel trial of Actimab-A in combination with CLAG-M in patients with relapsed or refractory AML or Acute Myeloid Leukemia (Press release, Actinium Pharmaceuticals, FEB 4, 2019, View Source [SID1234533052]). This trial is evaluating the impact that the addition of targeted internalized radiation via Actimab-A to the salvage chemotherapy regimen CLAG-M will have on safety and tolerability, response rates, rates of BMT or bone marrow transplant, PFS or progression-free survival, and OS or overall survival.

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Dr. Mark Berger, Chief Medical Officer of Actinium, said, "This trial represents an exciting advancement of our CD33 program that is aligned with our clinical strategy to pursue combinations utilizing our ARC drug candidates. We are pleased to be moving ahead with MCW to the second cohort of this trial and we are optimistic that our ARC combination strategy will have a positive impact on patient outcomes by improving response rates, duration of responses and/or increasing the rate of patients receiving a bone marrow transplant. Chemotherapy and external radiation are routinely used in combination in several cancers but despite being radiation sensitive, AML is not treated with external radiation given its diffuse nature. Therefore, the ability to deliver radiation internally in a targeted fashion to AML cells with potency and tolerability gives us great confidence in our ARC approach. In addition, this trial is particularly important as AML patients with relapsed or refractory disease face a poor prognosis with limited treatment options."

In this Phase 1 combination trial patients are administered the salvage chemotherapy regimen CLAG-M, which consists of cladribine, cytarabine, filgrastim, and mitoxantrone, followed by a single dose of Actimab-A. Actimab-A is an ARC or Antibody Radiation-Conjugate that consists or the CD33 targeting monoclonal antibody lintuzumab labelled with the alpha-particle emitting isotope Ac-225 or Actinium-225. In the first dose cohort, patients received 0.25 uCi/kg of Actimab-A. This combination trial is designed as a 3+3 dose escalation study. No dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) were reported in the first patient cohort. As a result, and per the study protocol, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at MCW has authorized the initiation of the second dosing cohort, in which patients will receive 0.50 uCi/kg of Actimab-A. Assuming no DLTs are observed in the second cohort, three patients will be treated and the study will progress to the third and final cohort will study Actimab-A at a dose of 0.75 uCi/kg.

Sandesh Seth, Actinium’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Actinium, said, "In recent months, Actinium’s R&D and clinical teams have worked together to identify opportunities to further utilize our ARCs in combination with other therapeutic modalities. As a result, we are exploring multiple R&D and clinical initiatives with ARC based combination therapies. With the ARC combination strategy solidified as a corporate focus, we are delighted to see this positive progress from our first Actimab-A combination trial with CLAG-M. We are confident that the use of targeted radiation will prove synergistic with multiple modalities and open several therapeutic opportunities that are not possible with any other technology. We look forward to making continued progress on this front including the planned clinical trials with Actimab-A and venetoclax."

AskAt Granted Use Patent for EP4 Receptor Antagonist for the Treatment of Cancer by the China National Intellectual Property Administration

On February 3, 2019 AskAt reported that received a Notice of Allowance dated January 18, 2019 from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) in connection with Application No. 201510982848.3, a use patent for AskAt’s EP4 receptor antagonist for the treatment of cancer (Press release, AskAt, FEB 3, 2019, View Source [SID1234535036]).

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GeneQuantum Healthcare and MITRO Biotech Enter into Strategic Cooperation to Develop Next Generation Radionuclide Conjugates

On February 3, 2019 GeneQuantum Healthcare of Suzhou and MITRO Biotech of Nanjing reported that signed the "Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Next Generation Radionuclide Conjugates Development" in Nanjing. Dr. Gang Qin, President of GeneQuantum and Dr. Xinping Li, CEO of MITRO, attended the signing ceremony with their teams (Press release, GeneQuantum Healthcare, FEB 3, 2019, View Source [SID1234553991]).

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In pursuit of achieving mutually beneficial win-win cooperation, the two parties intend to integrate the leading bioconjugation platform of GeneQuantum and the unique advantages of MITRO in radiolabeling and molecular imaging technique to jointly develop next generation radionuclide conjugates for rapid and efficient companion diagnosis and precision target therapy on tumors.

"Since its establishment, GeneQuantum has been committed to building a differentiated innovation platform to solve the key challenges of the biopharmaceutical industry. Based on our proprietary ligase dependent conjugation technology (LDC), GeneQuantum has gradually established intelligent automatic conjugation system (iLDC) with concurrent fully integrated manufacturing process; combined with our comprehensive quality system which meets global standard, GeneQuantum can provide a holistic solution for the efficient development and manufacturing of any kinds of site-specific bioconjugates. MITRO, on the other hand, has a unique radionuclide production and labeling technology platform," said Dr. Gang Qin. "We are pleased to work with a distinctive and leading technology partner such as MITRO to develop next generation radionuclide conjugates for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, meeting the unmet clinical needs of cancer patients worldwide."

"MITRO focuses on the development and application of isotope labeling and molecular imaging technology, and is committed to establishing a biomedical innovation and transformation research platform, using the advanced isotope labeling and molecular imaging technology to develop new drugs," said Dr. Xinping Li. "We are glad to work with GeneQuantum Healthcare based on our mutual interest of advanced medicine. This cooperation will fully integrate the technical and resource advantages of GeneQuantum in site-specific bioconjugation and MITRO in isotope labeling and non-invasive molecular imaging technology. The collaboration will create an internationally competitive platform of radionuclide bioconjugates for medical use. This will contribute to the most efficient non-invasive diagnosis of cancer and precise targeted therapy, as well as a systemic solution of novel biomedical drug development."

Pfizer Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for Vizimpro® (dacomitinib) for the First-line Treatment of Adult Patients with Locally Advanced Or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with EGFR-Activating Mutations

On February 1, 2019 Pfizer reported that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion recommending Vizimpro (dacomitinib) 45 mg, as monotherapy, be granted marketing authorization in the European Union (EU) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-activating mutations (Press release, Pfizer, FEB 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234533014]). The CHMP’s opinion will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC).

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Vizimpro was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations as detected by an FDA-approved test. It was also recently approved in Japan for EGFR gene mutation-positive, inoperable or recurrent NSCLC.

"Patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer, a disease that is associated with low overall survival rates, are in need of more treatment options. This positive CHMP opinion is an important step toward bringing this treatment to patients in Europe as a potential new first-line treatment option," said Chris Boshoff, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Development Officer, Oncology, Pfizer Global Product Development. "Vizimpro’s development is a direct result of Pfizer’s focus on precision drug development to create tailored options that improve patient outcomes."

The Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for Vizimpro was based on results from ARCHER 1050, a randomized, multicenter, multinational, open-label, Phase 3 study conducted in patients with locally advanced unresectable, or metastatic NSCLC harboring EGFR exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1; with no prior therapy for metastatic disease or recurrent disease with a minimum of 12 months disease-free after completion of systemic therapy. A total of 452 patients were randomized 1:1 to Vizimpro 45 mg (n=227) or gefitinib 250 mg (n=225).

About Vizimpro (dacomitinib)

Vizimpro is an oral, once-daily, irreversible pan-human epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor for first-line treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-activating mutations.

Vizimpro is approved in the U.S. for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations as detected by an FDA-approved test. Vizimpro is also approved in Japan for EGFR gene mutation-positive, inoperable or recurrent NSCLC. The applications in the US and Japan were reviewed and approved under the Priority Review program.

In 2012, Pfizer and SFJ Pharmaceuticals entered into a collaborative development agreement to conduct ARCHER 1050 across multiple sites. SFJ is a global drug development company, which provides a unique and highly customized co-development partnering model for the world’s top pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Under the terms of this agreement, SFJ Pharmaceuticals provided the funding and conducted the trial to generate the clinical data used to support this application. Pfizer retains all rights to commercialize Vizimpro globally.

About ARCHER 1050

The efficacy of Vizimpro was demonstrated in ARCHER 1050, a global Phase 3 head-to-head trial conducted in patients with locally advanced unresectable, or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations, with no prior therapy for metastatic disease or recurrent disease with a minimum of 12 months disease-free after completion of systemic therapy. A total of 452 patients were randomized 1:1 to Vizimpro 45 mg (n=227) or gefitinib 250 mg (n=225). Randomization was stratified by region and EGFR mutation status. The primary endpoint of the study was progression-free survival (PFS) as determined by blinded Independent Radiology Central (IRC) review. Key secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR), overall survival (OS), and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

VIZIMPRO (dacomitinib) IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FROM THE U.S. PRESCRIBING INFORMATION

There are no contraindications for VIZIMPRO.

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Severe and fatal ILD/pneumonitis occurred in patients treated with VIZIMPRO and occurred in 0.5% of the 394 VIZIMPRO-treated patients; 0.3% of cases were fatal. Monitor patients for pulmonary symptoms indicative of ILD/pneumonitis. Withhold VIZIMPRO and promptly investigate for ILD in patients who present with worsening of respiratory symptoms which may be indicative of ILD (e.g., dyspnea, cough, and fever). Permanently discontinue VIZIMPRO if ILD is confirmed.

Diarrhea: Severe and fatal diarrhea occurred in patients treated with VIZIMPRO. Diarrhea occurred in 86% of the 394 VIZIMPRO-treated patients. Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea was reported in 11% of patients and 0.3% of cases were fatal. Withhold VIZIMPRO for Grade 2 or greater diarrhea until recovery to less than or equal to Grade 1 severity, then resume VIZIMPRO at the same or a reduced dose depending on the severity of diarrhea. Promptly initiate anti-diarrheal treatment (loperamide or diphenoxylate hydrochloride with atropine sulfate) for diarrhea.

Dermatologic Adverse Reactions: Rash and exfoliative skin reactions occurred in patients treated with VIZIMPRO. Rash occurred in 78% of the 394 VIZIMPRO-treated patients. Grade 3 or 4 rash was reported in 21% of patients. Exfoliative skin reactions of any severity were reported in 7% of patients. Grade 3 or 4 exfoliative skin reactions were reported in 1.8% of patients. Withhold VIZIMPRO for persistent Grade 2 or any Grade 3 or 4 dermatologic adverse reaction until recovery to less than or equal to Grade 1 severity, then resume VIZIMPRO at the same or a reduced dose depending on the severity of the dermatologic adverse reaction. The incidence and severity of rash and exfoliative skin reactions may increase with sun exposure. At the time of initiation of VIZIMPRO, initiate use of moisturizers and appropriate measures to limit sun exposure. Upon development of Grade 1 rash, initiate treatment with topical antibiotics and topical steroids. Initiate oral antibiotics for Grade 2 or more severe dermatologic adverse reactions.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: VIZIMPRO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to the fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with VIZIMPRO and for at least 17 days after the final dose.

Adverse Reactions: The most common (>20%) adverse reactions were diarrhea (87%), rash (69%), paronychia (64%), stomatitis (45%), decreased appetite (31%), dry skin (30%), decreased weight (26%), alopecia (23%), cough (21%), and pruritus (21%). The most common (≥1%) serious adverse reactions were diarrhea (2.2%) and interstitial lung disease (1.3%).

Drug Interactions: Concomitant use with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) decreases dacomitinib concentrations, which may reduce VIZIMPRO efficacy. Avoid the concomitant use of PPIs with VIZIMPRO. As an alternative to PPIs, use locally-acting antacids or an H2-receptor antagonist. Administer VIZIMPRO at least 6 hours before or 10 hours after taking an H2-receptor antagonist. Concomitant use of VIZIMPRO increases the concentration of drugs that are CYP2D6 substrates which may increase the risk of toxicities of these drugs. Avoid concomitant use of VIZIMPRO with CYP2D6 substrates where minimal increases in concentration of the CYP2D6 substrate may lead to serious or life-threatening toxicities.

Lactation: Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants from VIZIMPRO, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with VIZIMPRO and for at least 17 days after the last dose.

Hepatic Impairment: No dose adjustment is recommended in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. The recommended dose of VIZIMPRO has not been established for patients with severe hepatic impairment.

Renal Impairment: No dose adjustment is recommended for patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. The recommended dose of VIZIMPRO has not been established for patients with severe renal impairment.

Please see full prescribing information at www.VIZIMPRO.com.

About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with more than two million new cases diagnosed globally in 2018.1 About 85 percent of all lung cancers are identified as non-small cell, and approximately 75 percent of these are metastatic, or advanced, at diagnosis.2

EGFR is a protein that helps cells grow and divide. When the EGFR gene is mutated it can cause the protein to be overactive resulting in cancer cells to form. EGFR mutations may occur in 10 to 35 percent of NSCLC tumors globally, and most common activating mutations are deletions in exon 19 and exon 21 L858R substitution, which together account for more than 80 percent of known activating EGFR mutations. The disease is associated with low survival rates and disease progression remains a challenge.1,2

Virometix today announced the appointment of Anna Sumeray as Chief Executive Officer.

On February 1, 2019 Virometix reported the appointment of Anna Sumeray as Chief Executive Officer (Press release, Virometix, Feb 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234561508]).

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Virometix, a privately held biotechnology company developing a new generation of vaccines and immunotherapeutic drugs for the prevention and treatment of infectious and oncology diseases, reported the appointment of Anna Sumeray as Chief Executive Officer. She succeeds Arin Ghasparian, who will remain member of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors wishes to thank Mr Ghasparian for his valuable contribution to the development of the Company, as Chief Executive Officer during the last six years.

Anna Sumeray brings more than 25 years of business leadership in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Ms. Sumeray currently serves as Managing Partner of Alacrita, a global life science consulting firm where she is responsible for the European operations and Commercial Practice. Prior to this, she was responsible for building the European entity for ARIAD pharmaceuticals from the ground up and achieved the successful launch of ponatinib in Europe across 17 countries.

Ms. Sumeray began her career in the life science industry at Amgen in business analysis and strategic planning, and moved to Novartis where she progressed through successive positions of increasing responsibility, including Head of Novartis Ophthalmics Global Business Development and Licensing and roles with P&L responsibility at Novartis Oncology in Finland, Novartis Oncology Germany and Nephrology and Transplantation at Sandoz.

She is also the owner of BioVault, an investment and consultancy company for start-up biotech companies and has been advising management of and making private investments in early-stage ventures for over 20 years.

A fluent speaker of several languages, Anna holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Bachelor of Sciences in biochemistry from the University of Birmingham.

Pierre Morgon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Virometix commented: "We are delighted to welcome Anna as Chief Executive Officer of Virometix. Her 25 years’ of diverse experience across diverse types of organizations and her track record of developing international businesses will be key advantages for the expansion of Virometix."

Anna Sumeray, incoming Chief Executive Officer of Virometix, added, "I am joining the Virometix team with great enthusiasm and look forward to contributing my skills and experience to the advancement of the Virometix development activities and international partnering."