On August 6, 2015Acceleron Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: XLRN), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutic candidates that regulate cellular growth and repair, reported a corporate update and reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 (Filing, 8-K, Acceleron Pharma, AUG 6, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507061]).

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"In the second quarter, we presented promising new longer-term treatment data from our luspatercept programs. These results further reinforce our excitement about the potential of luspatercept to help patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and beta-thalassemia. We and our collaboration partner, Celgene, look forward to starting pivotal trials in both of these indications by the end of this year," said John Knopf, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Acceleron. "At Acceleron, we remain focused on bringing innovative therapies to patients, and we are continuing to advance and expand our earlier stage pipeline as well. We have scheduled our first Research and Development Day for investors on October 23, 2015. At that meeting, we will review our clinical and preclinical programs, including a first look at top-line data from the phase 1 trial with our candidate muscle agent, ACE-083."

Recent Highlights and Current Updates

Development Programs
Hematology

• Completed enrollment and treatment in the luspatercept phase 2 dose escalation study in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) – Enrollment and treatment ongoing in the phase 2 dose escalation beta-thalassemia study.

• Long-term phase 2 extension studies ongoing with luspatercept in both MDS and beta-thalassemia – Patients who completed their 3-month treatment in the MDS or beta-thalassemia dose escalation studies were eligible to enroll in the 12-month MDS or beta-thalassemia extension study. Enrollment in the MDS extension study is complete and enrollment in the beta-thalassemia extension study is ongoing.

• Presented luspatercept phase 2 data supporting the advancement to phase 3 clinical trials at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper)’s annual meeting – In lower risk MDS patients, which represent a large majority of patients affected by the disease, longer-term treatment with luspatercept led to sustained increases in hemoglobin levels and transfusion independence. In both transfusion and non-transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia patients, luspatercept generated durable increases in hemoglobin levels, reductions in transfusion burden and improvements in iron overload. Based on these promising data, Acceleron and Celgene are advancing luspatercept to phase 3 clinical trials in MDS and beta-thalassemia.

• Luspatercept granted Fast Track designations for beta-thalassemia – The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designations to luspatercept for two separate indications—the use of luspatercept for the treatment of patients with transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia and the use of luspatercept for the treatment of patients with non-transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia.

Oncology

• Presented preliminary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) phase 2 data showing that the combination of dalantercept and axitinib generated encouraging, progression-free survival – In 2nd through 4th line RCC patients, the aggregate median progression-free survival (PFS) rate for the combination of dalantercept and axitinib across all three dose levels of dalantercept tested was 8.3 months. The median PFS has not yet been reached for the 0.9 mg/kg dose group, which has been chosen as the dose level for the randomized Part 2 stage of this study.

Muscle Diseases

• Completed enrollment and treatment in ACE-083 phase 1 clinical trial – The phase 1 study of ACE-083, a therapeutic candidate designed to selectively increase muscle mass and strength in the muscle into which it is administered, has completed enrollment and treatment in healthy volunteers.

• Advanced and expanded pipeline – Acceleron is advancing several promising preclinical programs, particularly those designed to increase muscle mass and strength. Our goal is to advance a fifth, internally discovered therapeutic candidate into clinical trials by the end of 2016.

Upcoming Milestones and Events

• Phase 3 clinical trials with luspatercept in MDS and beta-thalassemia expected to start by year-end – Acceleron and Celgene plan to initiate pivotal programs for luspatercept in beta-thalassemia and MDS by year-end.

• Acceleron Research and Development (R&D) Day scheduled for Friday October 23, 2015 – Acceleron will hold its first R&D Day on Friday morning, October 23, 2015 in New York City.

• ACE-083 phase 1 clinical data – Preliminary, top-line data from the ACE-083 phase 1 clinical trial will be presented at the Acceleron R&D Day on October 23.

• Data from a new preclinical muscle program expected to be presented at the World Muscle Society annual meeting – Acceleron plans to present data from a new preclinical program, ACE-2494, at the World Muscle Society’s 20th International Congress in Brighton, UK, which runs from September 30 to October 4, 2015.

Financial Results
• Cash Position – Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2015 were $156.6 million. As of December 31, 2014 the company had cash and cash equivalents of $176.5 million. Acceleron expects that its cash, cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2015 will be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations into the second half of 2017.

On August 6, 2015 Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. ("Mirati") (NASDAQ: MRTX) reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 and provided an update on its drug development programs (Filing, 8-K, Mirati, AUG 6, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507097]).

"At this year’s ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) meeting, we presented initial clinical data on our lead tyrosine kinase inhibitor, MGCD265, which clearly demonstrated significant tumor regression in non-small lung cancer patients with MET gene alterations. With pre-clinical and clinical data showing anti-tumor activity, we are confident that targeting MET driver alterations is a clinically valid approach, and we look forward to initiating a Phase 2 registration-enabling study by the end of the year," said Charles M. Baum, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO, Mirati. "We also recently announced a clinical trial collaboration with our spectrum-selective HDAC inhibitor, mocetinostat. The Phase 1-2 study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of mocetinostat, in combination with durvalumab, an investigational anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. We are excited about this combination, as mocetinostat may enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, potentially leading to improved therapies for patients."

Recent and Upcoming Pipeline Highlights

MGCD265: Molecularly targeted kinase inhibitor

· 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting: Presented data demonstrating preliminary evidence of clinical activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, including clear tumor regression and improvement in clinical symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath

· The first three patients selected for MET gene alterations in the dose expansion cohort showed clear evidence of tumor regression as early as the first scan. All three patients have extensive disease and failed several prior therapies before being treated with MGCD265

· Demonstrated that MGCD265 was well tolerated

· The poster can be found on the Company’s website at www.mirati.com

· Additional information about this clinical trial of MGCD265 is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov using identifier: NCT00697632

· The Company expects to initiate a single arm Phase 2 registration-enabling study in NSCLC by the end of the year

MGCD516: Molecularly targeted kinase inhibitor

· 2015 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting: Presented the clinical trial design of the Phase 1, open label, single agent study designed to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) and clinical activity of MGCD516 in patients with advanced solid tumors, with an initial focus on NSCLC

· The poster can be found on the Company’s website at www.mirati.com

· Additional information about this clinical trial of MGCD516 is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov using identifier: NCT02219711

· The Company expects to establish a Phase 2 dose and initiate expansion cohorts in selected patients by the end of the year

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Mocetinostat: Molecularly targeted epigenetic inhibitor

· Announced a clinical trial collaboration to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mocetinostat in combination with durvalumab (MEDI4736), an investigational anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. The initial Phase 1-2 study will be evaluated in patients with NSCLC

· 2015 Annual ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Meeting: Presented the clinical trial design of the mocetinostat Phase 2 study in patients with previously treated, locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the bladder harboring inactivating mutations or deletions of the histone acetyltransferase genes CREBBP and/or EP300

· The poster can be found on the Company’s website at www.mirati.com

· Additional information about this clinical trial of mocetinostat is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov using identifier: NCT02236195

· The two Phase 2 trials evaluating mocetinostat (one in bladder cancer, the other in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma) are ongoing with initial clinical data anticipated later in the year

Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments were $58.9 million at June 30, 2015, compared to $29.3 million at December 31, 2014. In February 2015, the Company successfully completed a public offering of 2.6 million shares of its common stock, generating net proceeds of $48.4 million.

Research and development expenditures for the second quarter of 2015 were $11.3 million, compared to $7.1 million for the same period in 2014. Research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2015 were $19.5 million, compared to $12.1 million for the same period in 2014. The increases in research and development expenses primarily reflect costs to advance the clinical development of its three oncology development programs, MGCD265, MGCD516 and mocetinostat. General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2015 were $4.2 million, compared to $3.0 million for the same period in 2014. General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2015 were $8.0 million, compared to $5.7 million for the same period in 2014. The increases in general and administrative expenses primarily reflect higher, non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

Other income and expense, net, for the second quarter of 2015 was income of $0.1 million compared to expense of $0.9 million for the same period in 2014. Other income and expense, net, for the six months ended June 30, 2015 was income of $0.1 million compared to expense of $6.6 million for the same period in 2014. Other income and expense, net, for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2014 primarily reflects losses arising from the change in fair value of our warrant liability. During 2014, we amended the warrant agreements to allow for the warrants to be denominated in U.S. dollars. The amended warrants qualified for equity classification and were reclassified into stockholders’ equity.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2015 was $15.4 million, or $0.95 per share, compared to net loss of $11.0 million, or $0.82 per share for the same period in 2014. Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2015 was $27.4 million, or, $1.74 per share, compared to net loss of $24.7 million, or $1.83 per share for the same period in 2014.

(Filing, 10-Q, Synta Pharmaceuticals, AUG 6, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507078])

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On August 6, 2015 Celsion Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSN), an oncology drug development company, reported updated results from its retrospective analysis of the Company’s 701-patient HEAT Study of ThermoDox, Celsion’s proprietary heat-activated liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin in combination with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in primary liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Press release, Celsion, AUG 6, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507062]). As of July 15, 2015, the latest overall survival (OS) analysis demonstrated that in a large, well bounded, subgroup of patients (n=285, 41% of the HEAT Study patients), treatment with a combination of ThermoDox and optimized RFA provided an average 58% improvement in OS compared to optimized RFA alone. The Hazard Ratio (HR) at this analysis is 0.63 (95% CI 0.43 – 0.93) with a p-value of 0.0198. Median overall survival for the ThermoDox group has been reached which translates into a 25.4 month (2.1 year) survival benefit over the optimized RFA group (79 months for the ThermoDox plus optimized RFA group versus 53.6 months for the optimized RFA only group).

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In the most recent post-hoc analysis of the HEAT Study, data continued to support and further strengthen ThermoDox’s potential to significantly improve OS compared to an RFA control in patients with lesions that undergo optimized RFA treatment for 45 minutes or more. Findings from this analysis apply to patients with single HCC lesions (64.4% of the HEAT Study population) from both size cohorts of the HEAT Study (3-5 cm and 5-7 cm), representing a subgroup of 285 patients. Additional findings from this most recent analysis specific to the Chinese cohort of patients with single lesions (74% of the HEAT Study Chinese patient population) showed a 75% improvement (HR = 0.57 with a p-value of 0.08) in OS for the ThermoDox plus optimized RFA group compared to optimized RFA only group. Patients in the Chinese cohort with single lesions between 3-5 cm showed a doubling of improvement (HR = 0.50 with a p-value of 0.06) in OS when treated with ThermoDox plus optimized RFA.

"These results from the HEAT study reinforce the potential for ThermoDox in combination with an optimized RFA regimen to serve as an effective treatment option that could significantly improve overall survival in primary liver cancer patients," stated Dr. Nicholas Borys, Celsion’s senior vice president and chief medical officer. "The data from our study suggests a greater than two year median survival advantage for the ThermoDox plus optimized RFA group, a meaningful finding given that few treatments are effective in prolonging survival in HCC. We look forward to continued analyses from the maturing HEAT Study data in China and learning more about how this regimen can prolong survival in this deadly cancer.

"The continuing strength of the HEAT Study data reinforces our confidence in ThermoDox as the first and only front line therapy for newly diagnosed HCC patients and further improves the risk profile of our Phase III OPTIMA Study, currently enrolling patients in 12 countries globally," said Michael H. Tardugno, Celsion’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Equally important is the maturing data and the remarkable clinical benefit seen in the Chinese patient cohort. This large 221 patient subgroup represents a country with over 50% of the world’s incidence (over 400,000 new cases) of HCC every year. These specific findings, along with the 25.4 months improvement in time to death seen in the global population, strengthen our options for discussions with the CFDA to identify a faster path to commercialization."

The Phase III OPTIMA Study is expected to enroll up to 550 patients in up to 75 clinical sites in the United States, Europe, China and Asia Pacific, and will evaluate ThermoDox in combination with optimized RFA, which will be standardized to a minimum of 45 minutes across all investigators and clinical sites for treating lesions three to seven centimeters, versus standardized RFA alone. The primary endpoint for the trial is Overall Survival, which is supported by post-hoc analysis of data from the Company’s 701 patient HEAT Study, where optimized RFA has demonstrated the potential to significantly improve survival when combined with ThermoDox. The statistical plan calls for two interim efficacy analyses by an independent Data Monitoring Committee (iDMC).

On August 6, 2015 Oncothyreon Inc. (NASDAQ:ONTY) reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 (Press release, Oncothyreon, AUG 6, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507100]).

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Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was $10.9 million, or $0.11 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of $6.0 million, or $0.09 per basic and diluted share, for the comparable period in 2014. The $4.9 million increase in net loss was primarily attributable to the difference in the change in the fair value of warrant liability of $4.3 million. The increase in net loss was also due to increases in research and development expenses of $0.3 million and increases in general and administrative expenses of $0.2 million.

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2015 was $18.8 million, or $0.19 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of $15.6 million, or $0.22 per basic and diluted share, for the comparable period in 2014. The $3.2 million increase in net loss was attributable to the difference in the change in the fair value of warrant liability of $1.7 million, increases in research and development expenses of $1.3 million and increases in general and administrative expenses of $0.2 million.

As of June 30, 2015, Oncothyreon’s cash, cash equivalents and investments were $70.0 million, compared to $63.7 million at December 31, 2014, an increase of $6.3 million, or 9.9 percent. The increase was primarily attributable to net proceeds of $22.4 million from the closing of concurrent but separate underwritten offerings of common stock and Series B convertible preferred stock in February 2015, partially offset by $15.6 million of cash used in operations during the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Financial Guidance

Oncothyreon believes the following financial guidance to be correct as of the date provided. Oncothyreon is providing this guidance as a convenience to investors and assumes no obligation to update it.

Oncothyreon currently expects operating expenses in 2015 to be lower than in 2014, which included the upfront payment to Array BioPharma Inc. for the exclusive license to ONT-380. Oncothyreon currently expects cash used in operations in 2015 to be approximately $32.0 – $34.0 million.