On June 14, 2018 PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: PMCB), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing targeted cellular therapies for cancer and diabetes using its signature live-cell encapsulation technology, Cell-in-a-Box, reported that it has successfully completed the comprehensive characterization of its proprietary cell clone known as 22P1G (Press release, PharmaCyte Biotech, JUN 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234527315]).

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The 22P1G cells constitute the cells in the Master Cell Bank (MCB) that were prepared and tested by PharmaCyte’s contractor, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories. The cells from the MCB will serve as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in the company’s Cell-in-a Box capsules that will be used (together with low doses of the cancer prodrug ifosfamide) for the treatment of locally advanced, non-metastatic, inoperable pancreatic cancer (LAPC) in its planned clinical trial.

The comprehensive characterization studies include long-term stability of the cells, and stability of the potency of the cells as a therapeutic. All studies performed are required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

PharmaCyte’s Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth L. Waggoner, elaborated on the significance of the studies saying, "PharmaCyte is complying with all of the FDA guidelines and recommendations for all cell tests and other recent studies with the 22P1G cells. Successful completion of these studies was a pre-requisite for the approval by the FDA for us to conduct a clinical trial in patients with LAPC. Our treatment is primarily dependent upon genetically engineered live-human cells that produce a particularly potent cytochrome P450 enzyme that can activate the chemotherapy prodrug ifosfamide (clone 22P1G cells).

"With each individual batch, these cells must be stable for the long term, and the properties of the 22P1G cells must remain consistent from batch to batch. The newly completed studies provide evidence that both requirements have been met. Our pancreatic cancer treatment utilizes 22P1G cells that have been encapsulated using the Cell-in-a-Box technology. For treatment of LAPC patients, the capsules containing the cells are implanted near the pancreatic tumor so that a high local concentration of the cancer-killing ifosfamide metabolite is produced near the tumor."

On June 14, 2018 AIVITA Biomedical reported the randomization of its first patient in the Company’s Phase II clinical trial for newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer (Press release, AIVITA Biomedical, JUN 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234527445]). The double-blind study will enroll approximately 99 patients who will receive AIVITA’s patient-specific ovarian cancer vaccine, or a control agent. This milestone achievement is the first application of AIVITA’s new ROOT OF CANCER technology, a revolutionary immunotherapy that targets cancer-initiating cells.

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AIVITA has received seven patient tumor specimens from a single clinical site, and has successfully generated a treatment for each patient, yielding a 100% manufacturing success rate. Given the success of patient recruitment and manufacturing, AIVITA will now expand the clinical study to multiple centers.

"I’m very proud that our AIVITA team has so clearly demonstrated feasibility and reproducibility in manufacturing these patient-specific treatments," said Dr. Robert Dillman, AIVITA’s Chief Medical Officer. "Quick, reliable and cost-effective production is critical for the viability of both patient and company."

AIVITA’s ROOT OF CANCER technology may soon be applied to both melanoma and glioblastoma multiforme patients. The Company is seeking approval to commercialize the treatment of melanoma patients in Japan and was recently approved to conduct a Phase 2 clinical study in glioblastoma multiforme by the US FDA.

About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cause of female cancer deaths, with an estimated 22,240 new diagnoses in 2018 and 14,070 deaths. The median age at diagnosis is 63, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 50% for all, and about 35% for the two thirds who have advanced disease (stage III or IV) at the time of initial diagnosis. Current standard of care includes surgical debulking and several courses of chemotherapy.

About ROOT OF CANCER

AIVITA’s treatment is a platform technology applicable to most solid tumor types and consists of autologous dendritic cells loaded with autologous tumor antigens from autologous self-renewing tumor-initiating cells.

The ovarian Phase II double-blind study will enroll approximately 99 patients who will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either the autologous dendritic cell vaccine or autologous monocytes as a comparator.

Patients eligible for randomization and treatment will be those (1) who have undergone debulking surgery, (2) for whom a cell line has been established, (3) who have undergone leukapheresis from which sufficient monocytes were obtained, and (4) have an ECOG performance grade of 0 or 1 (Karnofsky score of 70-100%).

For additional information about AIVITA’s AVOVA-1 trial patients can visit www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02033616

On June 13, 2018 Quanterix Corporation (NASDAQ:QTRX), a company digitizing biomarker analysis with the goal of advancing the science of precision health, reported that Kevin Hrusovsky, President, Chairman and CEO of Quanterix, and Founder of Powering Precision Health (PPH), has been named by EY as a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award in the New England program (Press release, Quanterix, JUN 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234527301]). The recognition acknowledges Hrusovsky’s achievements in healthcare technology innovation, Quanterix’ outstanding financial performance, and his personal commitment to improving precision medicine and human health.

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"We are honored to be recognized by EY for this award," said Hrusovsky. "For me, this recognition represents the many people and institutions that we’ve been working with who are driving a precision health vision to eradicate and prevent some of today’s most lethal diseases, namely cancer, Alzheimer’s and infectious disease forward. It’s a privilege for us to be recognized alongside other entrepreneurs and business leaders who are all pioneers in their respective fields."

Hrusovsky has a more than 25 year-long track record commercializing disruptive technologies in the life science industry. His impressive career has been propelled by a unique leadership style marked by transparency, passion, and purpose. Since joining Quanterix less than four years ago, Hrusovsky has transformed the company from one that lacked mission and direction into a successful public entity with industry-leading technology that has the power to transform the way we diagnose and treat disease. The key is his focus on putting science first. With Hrusovsky at the helm, Quanterix now has over 200 peer-reviewed publications backing the abilities of its Simoa technology, a significant industry accomplishment. He’s also expanded the applications for Simoa in the drug development industry, with 18 out of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies having used the technology to date in over 700 clinical trials.

Two years ago, Hrusovsky realized that more needed to be done to drive a true transformation in our healthcare system. As such, he launched PPH as a forum where all key stakeholders, from the world’s leading medical professionals and innovators to patients and patient advocates, could come together to share their latest research and truly revolutionize medicine. Now in its third year, PPH has sparked a true movement, one that puts science before profits and closely examines how we can prevent diseases, not just treat them. Today PPH has more than doubled in size and is considered the leading industry conference focused on advancing precision health.

Hrusovsky also serves on the Board of Directors of several companies shaping the future of precision health, including Quanterix, BioreclamationIVT, Cell Signaling Technology, 908 Devices, SynapDx and Solect Energy. He also serves on the Educational Board of the Massachusetts Biotech Council, the Advisory Committee for the Center for Biomedical Engineering at Brown University, the Association for Laboratory Automation, the JALA Editorial Board, and the Strategy Committee of Children’s Hospital Boston.

Hrusovsky was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 28, 2018 at the Westin Boston Waterfront. Now in its 32nd year, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries throughout the world.

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 10, 2018. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the US by SAP America, the Kauffman Foundation and Merrill Corporation.

In the New England region, gold sponsors also include Boston Private Bank, fama PR, the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Nixon Peabody, True Search, and Woodruff Sawyer. New England silver sponsors include Chatham Financial, Empire Valuation Consultants, Morgan Lewis, Sullivan & Worcester, and T3 Advisors.

On June 13, 2018 Nordic Nanovector ASA (OSE: NANO) reported that it has received approval from the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK) in Norway with regard to the Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for the Archer-1 Phase 1b trial with Betalutin (177Lu-satetraxetan-lilotomab) in combination with rituximab in second-line follicular lymphoma patients (2L FL) (Press release, Nordic Nanovector, JUN 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234553498]).

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Nordic Nanovector has now received all necessary approvals to begin Archer-1 in Norway and will commence start-up activities immediately. Archer-1 is a Phase 1b clinical trial designed to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic and preliminary efficacy of the Betalutin/rituximab combination in approx. 20 2L FL patients, and the study will initially be conducted in Norway. Further countries are expected to be added later. The first patient is expected to be dosed in the second half of 2018.

On June 13, 2018 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel), followed by Avastin as a single agent, for the treatment of women with advanced (stage III or IV) ovarian cancer following initial surgical resection (Press release, Genentech, JUN 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234527302]).

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"Today’s approval is an important advance for women newly diagnosed with this type of ovarian cancer," said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "We’re committed to advancing medicines in areas of unmet need and this FDA approval of Avastin plus chemotherapy gives women with advanced ovarian cancer a new treatment option that has been shown to significantly delay disease progression or death."

"This approval represents an important milestone as the first medicine, other than chemotherapy, for women with advanced ovarian cancer after their initial surgery," said Melissa Aucoin, chief executive officer, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC). "Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the United States, and this approval underscores Genentech’s dedication to bringing new treatment options to women with gynecological cancers."

The approval for Avastin, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by Avastin as a single agent, for the treatment of women with stage III or stage IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer following initial surgical resection, is based on data from the pivotal Phase III GOG-0218 trial. Women who received Avastin in combination with chemotherapy, and continued use of Avastin alone, had a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 18.2 months compared to 12.0 months in women who received chemotherapy alone (HR=0.62; 95% CI 0.52 – 0.75, p<0.0001). This PFS benefit was achieved with a fixed-duration treatment (up to 22 cycles of Avastin total). Avastin has boxed warnings for GI perforation, surgery and wound healing complications and hemorrhage.

Avastin is now approved for ten distinct uses across six different types of cancer in the United States. This indication represents Avastin’s fourth gynecologic oncology indication in four years, including advanced cervical cancer and two different forms of ovarian cancer that recurred after platinum-based chemotherapy.

About the GOG-0218 Study

GOG-0218 (NCT00262847) is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III study in 1,873 women with previously untreated stage III or IV epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube carcinoma who already had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Participants were randomized into one of three treatment arms: chemotherapy alone (carboplatin and paclitaxel), Avastin (15 mg/kg) plus chemotherapy followed by placebo alone, or Avastin plus chemotherapy followed by Avastin alone for a total of up to 22 cycles. The primary endpoint of the study was investigator-assessed PFS and secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS). The study was conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and initial results were previously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Grade 3-4 adverse events occurring more often (≥2%) in the Avastin with chemotherapy followed by Avastin alone arm or the Avastin with chemotherapy arm versus the chemotherapy alone arm were fatigue (9%, 6%, 6%, respectively), high blood pressure (10%, 6%, 2%), decreased platelet count (21%, 20%, 15%) and decreased white blood cell count (51%, 53%, 50%).

1 Relative to the control arm; stratified hazard ratio

2 Two-sided p-value based on re-randomization test

3 Final overall survival analysis

About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer causes more deaths among women than any other gynecologic cancer in the United States. In 2018, more than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. and about 14,000 will die from the disease. About 80% of ovarian cancer cases are found at an advanced stage, when the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries. Early ovarian cancer often does not have any symptoms and when symptoms, such as abdominal swelling, bloating, abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and/or frequent urination, are present, they can be associated with other less serious conditions. Five-year survival rates worsen dramatically based on stage of diagnosis.