On October 22, 2018 Kura Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: KURA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of precision medicines for oncology, reported updated preliminary results from a Phase 2 clinical trial of its lead product candidate, tipifarnib, in squamous cell carcinomas with HRAS mutations (Press release, Kura Oncology, OCT 22, 2018, View Source [SID1234530048]). The results are being presented today at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2018 Congress in Munich. A copy of the presentation is available online at www.kuraoncology.com.

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As of the September 7, 2018 clinical data cutoff date, 17 patients with HRAS mutant head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) were enrolled in the ongoing Phase 2 trial. Tumor size reductions were observed in nine of 11 evaluable patients, with five confirmed partial responses (PRs) as defined by standard RECIST criteria, including three patients with durable responses lasting more than 17 months. A sixth patient achieved a confirmed PR after the data cutoff. Four patients had stable disease, including two patients who experienced prolonged disease stabilization lasting more than six months. Only one patient experienced progressive disease as best response.

Another patient with HRAS mutant HNSCC, who is currently being treated off-protocol, has been reported as an unconfirmed PR with a 40% tumor size reduction.

In addition, the ongoing Phase 2 trial enrolled six patients in an additional cohort of other HRAS mutant squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). One of the two evaluable patients in this cohort achieved a confirmed PR. Four patients were not evaluable as of the data cutoff date, including two patients who were pending initial efficacy assessments.

An analysis of available tumor biopsy samples (n=20) indicated a significant association between the allele frequency of HRAS mutations and a patient’s best response to tipifarnib. Patients with HRAS mutant allele frequencies as low as 1% were treated with tipifarnib. Of the 13 HNSCC/SCC patients with a tumor HRAS mutant allele frequency greater than 20%, six achieved PRs, one achieved an unconfirmed PR and is ongoing, and two experienced disease stabilization greater than six months. No meaningful clinical benefit was observed in the seven patients with an allele frequency less than 20%. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA HNSCC, provisional) indicate that patients with an HRAS mutant allele frequency greater than 20% represent approximately 5% of the overall HNSCC population.

"The results from this study indicate that tipifarnib is active in this difficult-to-treat population, with rapid and durable responses independent of prior therapy," said Alan Ho, M.D., Ph.D., of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and principal investigator of the study. "These data are particularly encouraging when we consider the high unmet need for patients with recurrent, metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, despite the introduction of immunotherapy into the treatment paradigm."

Response rates for the three therapies approved for treatment of HNSCC in the second line, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Opdivo (nivolumab) and Erbitux (cetuximab), range from 13-16%, with progression-free survival of approximately two months.

Patients in the Phase 2 trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC had a median of two prior lines of therapy (range 1-5), with confirmed responses observed in patients who had progressed on cetuximab regimens, immunotherapy or both.

Dose-limiting, treatment-emergent adverse events in the trial included hematological events and gastrointestinal disturbances, which were managed by dose interruption and/or dose reduction. When dose interruption/delay is taken into account, the median dose received by trial patients across all three cohorts was determined to be 600 mg twice daily by Cycle 2. Four of the responses in the trial were achieved at the 600 mg dose, including one patient who started dosing at 600 mg due to frailty and experienced a PR, and three patients who were dose-reduced to 600 mg and experienced a confirmed PR. Two additional patients achieved disease stabilization greater than six months.

Based on the observations from this Phase 2 trial, Kura intends to introduce a minimum tumor HRAS mutant allele frequency, anticipated to be no lower than 20%, as an entry criterion and use 600 mg orally twice daily as the starting dose in its upcoming AIM-HN registration-directed study of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC. Kura also intends to implement these modifications in its ongoing Phase 2 trial and anticipates being able to provide additional data in 2019.

"We are very encouraged by the progress reported today in the treatment of patients with HRAS mutant squamous cell carcinomas," said Antonio Gualberto, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Development and Chief Medical Officer of Kura Oncology. "These data provide

preliminary clinical evidence of successful targeting of RAS-driven tumors. Notably, we observed a significant association between HRAS mutant allele frequency and objective response. We believe this finding represents a meaningful advancement in the field of precision medicine that will help our efforts to deliver on the promise of tipifarnib as a therapy for the treatment of HNSCC. We are applying these learnings to our upcoming registration-directed trial, which remains on track to initiate by year end."

Conference Call and Webcast

Kura’s management will host a webcast and conference call at 17:00 CET / 11:00 a.m. ET today, October 22, 2018, following the conclusion of Dr. Ho’s presentation at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2018 Congress. The live call may be accessed by dialing (877) 516-3514 for domestic callers or (281) 973-6129 for international callers and using conference ID #6045389. A live webcast of the call will be available from the Investors and Media section of the company website at www.kuraoncology.com, and will be archived there for 30 days.

About Tipifarnib

Kura Oncology’s lead candidate, tipifarnib, is an inhibitor of farnesylation, a key cell signaling process implicated in cancer initiation and development. In extensive clinical trials, tipifarnib has shown compelling and durable anti-cancer activity in certain patient subsets. Leveraging advances in next-generation sequencing as well as emerging information about cancer genetics and tumor biology, the company is seeking to identify those patients most likely to benefit from tipifarnib. In addition to its development program in solid tumors with HRAS mutations, Kura has identified the CXCL12 pathway and bone marrow homing of myeloid cells as potential biomarkers of activity for tipifarnib in certain hematologic malignancies. The company expects to present biomarker-enriched data from peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2018.

On October 22, 2018 Zai Lab Limited (NASDAQ: ZLAB), a Shanghai-based innovative biopharmaceutical company, reported that the Hong Kong Department of Health has approved ZEJULA (niraparib), an oral, once-daily poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor in Hong Kong for adult patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed high grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer who are in a complete response or partial response (CR or PR) to platinum-based chemotherapy (Press release, Zai Laboratory, OCT 22, 2018, View Source [SID1234530128]). Unlike other PARP inhibitors approved in Hong Kong, ZEJULA does not require BRCA mutation or other biomarker testing prior to administration.

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"We are now in final preparations to launch ZEJULA in Hong Kong this quarter to offer an important treatment option to ovarian cancer patients," said William Liang, Chief Commercial Officer of Zai Lab. "With the compelling clinical data, ZEJULA has the potential to save lives and have a major impact on public health. We have developed commercial and medical infrastructure in Hong Kong to educate physicians about the differentiated benefits of ZEJULA to drive its adoption. In addition, our upcoming launch is an excellent opportunity for Zai Lab to optimize best practices, as we prepare for the future launch of ZEJULA in Mainland China."

The approval of ZEJULA in Hong Kong was based upon the international Phase 3 ENGOT-OV16/NOVA trial sponsored by TESARO, Inc., a double-blind, placebo-controlled study that enrolled 553 patients with relapsed predominantly high grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who were platinum sensitive, defined by a CR or PR for more than six months to their penultimate (next to last) platinum-based therapy. The primary endpoint of the trial was progression free survival (PFS). Approximately two-thirds of study participants did not have germline BRCA mutations. Progression in the NOVA study was determined by a robust, unbiased, blinded central review to be the earlier of radiographic or clinical progression. ZEJULA significantly increased PFS in patients both with and without germline BRCA mutations as compared to the control arm. Treatment with ZEJULA reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 73% in patients with germline BRCA mutations (hazard ratio (HR) 0.27) and by 55% in patients without germline BRCA mutations (HR 0.45). The magnitude of benefit was similar for patients entering the trial with a CR or PR.

"Today’s approval of ZEJULA in Hong Kong represents a significant milestone for Zai Lab as it signifies our transition into a commercial stage company," said Dr. Samantha Du, Chief Executive Officer of Zai Lab. "We are grateful to the patients who participated in the clinical trials in the U.S. and Europe, the clinical investigators, our partner TESARO and our dedicated employees who collectively made this approval possible. While we are focused on making ZEJULA a commercial success in Hong Kong, we continue to drive development of ZEJULA in China, along with the rest of our broad and late-stage pipeline."

About ZL-2306

ZL-2306 (niraparib) is a highly potent and selective oral, once-daily small molecule poly (ADP-ribose) PARP 1/2inhibitor. Niraparib was approved in March 2017 by the FDA in the U.S. and by the EMA in the EU under the trade name ZEJULA in November 2017 as a maintenance treatment for women with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Based on the approval status in the U.S. and EU, Zai Lab submitted a market registration application for niraparib in Hong Kong and expects to launch and commercialize niraparib in Hong Kong in the fourth quarter of 2018. Zai Lab believes ZL-2306 has the potential to be a first-in-class Category 1 drug for treatment across multiple solid tumor types in China.

On October 22, 2018 Genomic Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GHDX) reported results from multiple studies of its Oncotype DX tests highlighting their value in optimizing treatment for patients with various stages of breast and prostate cancer (Press release, Genomic Health, OCT 22, 2018, View Source [SID1234530031]). The findings, presented at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2018 Congress in Munich, Germany, demonstrated that the Oncotype DX tests identify patients who will or will not benefit from a specific treatment.

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Underscoring the growing international impact of the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test, two European-based studies involving patients from Ireland, France and Italy demonstrated its impact on treatment decisions for women with node-negative and node-positive breast cancer. Additionally, three prostate cancer studies in the United States demonstrated how the Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score (GPS) and AR-V7 Nucleus Detect tests refine treatment decisions in men with clinically low-intermediate risk or metastatic prostate cancer based on the aggressiveness of their tumor or their resistance to androgen receptor (AR)-targeted drugs.

"Oncotype DX tests have contributed to precision medicine in breast cancer for nearly 15 years, and there is now a growing body of evidence for their predictive value and clinical utility in guiding treatment selection for men with early-stage, as well as metastatic prostate cancer," said Steven Shak, M.D., chief scientific and medical officer, Genomic Health.

Oncotype DX in Node-negative and Node-positive Breast Cancer
In Ireland, researchers assessed the impact of the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score on treatment decisions in routine clinical practice for early-stage breast cancer patients whose disease had spread to one to three lymph nodes (Poster #208P). Results showed that oncologists believed the test significantly changed their treatment recommendations 64 percent of the time, and that use of the Oncotype DX test led to a 27 percent reduction in recommendations for chemotherapy.

Additionally, results from a real-life, decision-impact study of breast cancer patients in France and Italy, including those with node-negative and node-positive disease, showed that treatment recommendations changed in 35 percent of patients based on their Oncotype DX test results (Poster #194P). This resulted in a 43 percent reduction in chemotherapy recommendations.

Importantly, in each country, the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score result, when high, also identified the minority of patients for whom chemotherapy is potentially life-saving, highlighting the distinctive predictive value that only the Oncotype DX test delivers.

"These new results strengthen published findings from our PlanB study and show the unique value of adding genomic information provided by the Oncotype DX test to better target chemotherapy. Oncotype DX identifies patients who can safely be spared chemotherapy toxicity and side effects. Furthermore, we have to be concerned about a relevant proportion of patients who seem to be undertreated if the risk of recurrence is evaluated using only traditional clinical parameters," said Prof. Ulrike Nitz, head of the breast cancer/senology unit at the Bethesda Hospital, Moenchengladbach, Germany. "The use of the Oncotype DX test allows us to tailor treatment plans more accurately to suit the needs of individuals, and to use resources more effectively."

Oncotype DX Optimizes Treatment in Early-stage and Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Based on results from a published study, the Center for Prostatic Disease Research (CPDR) of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences conducted additional analysis of the Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score test results in 395 men with clinically low, and intermediate-risk prostate cancer (Poster #837P). Results demonstrated that the GPS test was a significant, independent predictor of increased risk of biopsy upgrade in these patients. These data add to a separate recent independent study published by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and underscore the value of the GPS test in identifying patients with more aggressive tumor biology who should be more aggressively treated at diagnosis.

The Oncotype DX GPS test is the only genomic assay designed for men at the time of diagnosis with clinically low-risk or favorable intermediate-risk cancer to help make treatment decisions based on their likelihood of adverse pathology. Developed by Genomic Health, based on results from multiple studies led by Cleveland Clinic and UCSF, the GPS test optimizes treatment by providing physicians with an assessment of both the current status (adverse pathology) and future risk (metastasis and mortality) of a patient’s cancer in making confident treatment decisions regarding active surveillance versus immediate aggressive treatment.

In metastatic prostate cancer, presentations included two studies of the Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect, a CTC-based, liquid biopsy test that helps determine which patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) are resistant, or not, to AR-targeted therapies, such as enzalutamide and abiraterone, and which patients may benefit from chemotherapy. The Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect test is commercially available in the United States through Epic Science’s collaboration with Genomic Health.

A new analysis, combining data from two published studies, confirmed that the Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect test for AR-V7 protein is a predictive biomarker for identifying patients who will not respond to additional AR-targeted therapy (Poster #848P). These data further support that detection of nuclear-localized AR-V7-positive circulating tumor cells (CTCs) by the Oncotype DX test indicates that the patient will not benefit from additional treatment with commonly-prescribed AR-targeted therapy and should consider switching to an alternative therapy to increase survival.

Separately, an independent study of the Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect test conducted by Epic Sciences in collaboration with its academic partners confirmed that the use of AR-V7 optimizes therapy guidance over risk assessment alone (Poster #836P).

About Oncotype DX
The Oncotype DX portfolio of breast, colon and prostate cancer tests applies advanced genomic science to reveal the unique biology of a tumor in order to optimize cancer treatment decisions. The company’s flagship product, the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test, is the only test that has been shown to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit as well as recurrence in invasive breast cancer. Additionally, the Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score test predicts the likelihood of recurrence in a pre-invasive form of breast cancer called DCIS. In prostate cancer, the Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score test predicts disease aggressiveness and further clarifies the current and future risk of the cancer prior to treatment intervention and the Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect test helps determine which patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) are resistant to AR-targeted therapies. The Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect test is performed by Epic Sciences at its centralized, CLIA-certified laboratory in San Diego and offered exclusively by Genomic Health. With more than 900,000 patients tested in more than 90 countries, the Oncotype DX tests have redefined personalized medicine by making genomics a critical part of cancer diagnosis and treatment. To learn more about Oncotype DX tests, visit www.OncotypeIQ.com, www.MyBreastCancerTreatment.org or www.MyProstateCancerTreatement.org.

On October 22, 2018 AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., US (Merck: known as MSD outside the US and Canada) reported detailed results from the Phase III SOLO-1 trial testing Lynparza (olaparib) tablets as a maintenance treatment for patients with newly-diagnosed, advanced BRCA-mutated (BRCAm) ovarian cancer who were in complete or partial response following 1st-line standard platinum-based chemotherapy (Press release, AstraZeneca, OCT 22, 2018, View Source [SID1234530223]).

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Results of the trial confirm the statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) for Lynparza compared to placebo, reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 70% (HR 0.30 [95% CI 0.23-0.41], p<0.001). At 41 months of follow-up, the median PFS for patients treated with Lynparza was not reached compared to 13.8 months for patients treated with placebo. Of those receiving Lynparza, 60% remained progression-free at 36 months compared to 27% of women in the placebo arm. The data were presented at the Presidential Symposium of the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2018 Congress (European Society for Medical Oncology) in Munich, Germany and published simultaneously online in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Kaplan-Meier estimates of investigator-assessed PFS

Kaplan-Meier estimates of investigator-assessed PFS
From the New England Journal of Medicine, Moore K, Colombo N, Scambia G, et al. Maintenance olaparib in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer. N Engl J Med. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1810858. Copyright © 2018 Massachusetts Medical Society. Reprinted with permission from Massachusetts Medical Society.

Summary of PFS1,2

Lynparza (n=260)

Placebo (n=130)

Number of patients with event (%)3

102 (39)

96 (73)

Median (in months)

Not reached

13.8

Hazard ratio (95% CI)

0.30 (0.23-0.41)

P-value

p<0.001

1 Investigator-assessed

2 Median (interquartile range) duration of follow-up 40.7 months (34.9–42.9) for Lynparza and 41.2 months (32.2–41.6) for placebo

3 Analysis was done at 50.6% maturity

Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer, said: "There is currently a significant unmet need in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer because 70% of women relapse within the first three years after their initial treatment. The remarkable results of the SOLO-1 trial, which showed that 60% of women with newly-diagnosed, advanced BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer remained progression-free at three years, highlight the potential of Lynparza as a maintenance therapy in the 1st-line setting."

Roy Baynes, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Clinical Development, Chief Medical Officer, MSD Research Laboratories, said: "Our collective goal in oncology research is to improve long-term outcomes for people living with cancer. Based on the SOLO-1 trial results, Lynparza is the only PARP inhibitor to have demonstrated a significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in reducing the risk of progression for newly-diagnosed patients with advanced BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer following platinum-based chemotherapy. We are working with regulatory authorities as quickly as possible to seek approval of Lynparza for these patients."

Kathleen Moore, Co-Principal Investigator of the SOLO-1 trial and Associate Director for Clinical Research at the Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, US, said: "Women with ovarian cancer are often diagnosed with advanced disease, which unfortunately is associated with poor long-term survival rates. The newly-diagnosed setting is our best opportunity to achieve a sustained remission, since once a patient’s ovarian cancer recurs, it is typically incurable. The SOLO-1 results demonstrate the potential of Lynparza maintenance therapy earlier in the treatment pathway and reinforce the importance of identifying a patient’s BRCA mutation status at the time of diagnosis – these results could change the way we treat women with advanced BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer."

The SOLO-1 safety profile was in line with that observed in prior clinical trials. The most common adverse events (AEs) ≥20% were nausea (77%), fatigue/asthenia (63%), vomiting (40%), anaemia (39%) and diarrhoea (34%). The most common ≥ grade 3 AEs were anaemia (22%) and neutropenia (9%). Seventy-two percent of patients on Lynparza remained on the recommended starting dose. Additionally, 88% of patients on Lynparza continued treatment without an AE-related discontinuation.

AstraZeneca and MSD are exploring additional trials in ovarian cancer, including the ongoing GINECO/ENGOTov25 Phase III trial, PAOLA-1. This trial is testing the effect of Lynparza in combination with bevacizumab as a maintenance treatment for patients with newly-diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer, regardless of their BRCA status. Results are expected during the second half of 2019.

Lynparza is currently approved in over 60 countries for the treatment of platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer regardless of BRCA status and in the US, Canada, Japan and Australia for germline BRCA-mutated HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

About SOLO-1

SOLO-1 is a Phase III randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Lynparza tablets (300 mg twice daily) as maintenance monotherapy compared with placebo, in newly-diagnosed patients with advanced BRCAm ovarian cancer following platinum-based chemotherapy. The trial randomised 391 patients with a deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who were in clinical complete or partial response following platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients were randomised (2:1) to receive Lynparza or placebo for up to two years or until disease progression (at the investigator’s discretion). The primary endpoint was PFS and key secondary endpoints included time to second disease progression or death, time to first subsequent treatment and overall survival.

About Lynparza

Lynparza (olaparib) is a first-in-class PARP inhibitor and the first targeted treatment to potentially exploit DNA damage response (DDR) pathway deficiencies, such as BRCA mutations, to preferentially kill cancer cells. Specifically, in vitro studies have shown that Lynparza-induced cytotoxicity may involve inhibition of PARP-enzymatic activity and increased formation of PARP-DNA complexes, resulting in DNA damage and cancer cell death. Lynparza is being tested in a range of DDR-deficient tumour types.

Lynparza, which is being jointly developed and commercialised by AstraZeneca and MSD, is approved for advanced ovarian cancer and metastatic breast cancer and has been used in over 20,000 patients worldwide. Lynparza has the broadest and most advanced clinical trial development programme of any PARP inhibitor and AstraZeneca and MSD are working together to understand how it may affect multiple PARP-dependent tumours as a monotherapy and in combination across multiple cancer types. Lynparza is the foundation of AstraZeneca’s industry-leading portfolio of potential new medicines targeting DDR mechanisms in cancer cells.

About ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, with a five-year survival rate of 19%.[i] In 2018, there were over 295,000 new cases diagnosed and around 184,799 deaths.[ii] For newly-diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer, the primary aim of treatment is to delay progression of the disease for as long as possible and maintain the patient’s quality of life with the intent of achieving complete remission or cure.[iii],[iv],[v],[vi]

About BRCA mutations

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that produce proteins responsible for repairing damaged DNA and play an important role in maintaining the genetic stability of cells. When either of these genes is mutated, or altered, such that its protein product either is not made or does not function correctly, DNA damage may not be repaired properly, and cells become unstable. As a result, cells are more likely to develop additional genetic alterations that can lead to cancer.

About the AstraZeneca and MSD Strategic Oncology Collaboration

In July 2017, AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, US, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced a global strategic oncology collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialise Lynparza, the world’s first PARP inhibitor and potential new medicine selumetinib, a MEK inhibitor, for multiple cancer types. Working together, the companies will develop Lynparza and selumetinib in combination with other potential new medicines and as monotherapies. Independently, the companies will develop Lynparza and selumetinib in combination with their respective PD-L1 and PD-1 medicines.

On October 22, 2018 Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRVS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of precisely targeted oncology therapies, reported new data on a biomarker associated with patient response to therapy with CPI-444, an adenosine receptor antagonist. This "adenosine gene signature" has the potential to be used as a predictive biomarker for patient selection in future clinical studies of CPI-444 and other therapies targeting the adenosine pathway, including CPI-006 (Press release, Corvus Pharmaceuticals, OCT 22, 2018, View Source [SID1234530341]). The biomarker data was presented today in a poster discussion session at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2018 Congress in Munich, Germany, by Stephen Willingham Ph.D., a senior scientist at Corvus.

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CPI-444, Corvus’ lead product candidate, is a selective and potent inhibitor of the adenosine A2A receptor. It is currently being evaluated in clinical trials in patients with various solid tumors as a single agent and in combination with Genentech’s atezolizumab, an anti-PD-L1 antibody. CPI-006 is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against CD73. It is currently being evaluated in an early-stage, three-arm clinical trial in patients with a variety of solid tumors as a single agent, in combination with CPI-444, and in combination with pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody.

"The gene expression profiles associated with the adenosine pathway have been shown to lead to the secretion of various inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that recruit suppressive myeloid cells and dampen T-cell function. The biomarker data presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) demonstrates that in vitro and in vivo treatment of human immune cells with CPI-444 blocks the expression of this adenosine gene signature, confirming its mechanism of action," said Dr. Willingham. "The expression of the adenosine gene signature has been shown to correlate with tumor regression in our ongoing Phase 1/1b trial of CPI-444 for the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In the trial, patients with high expression of the adenosine gene signature were more likely to have tumor regression than those patients with low expression (p<0.008). Our data, together with other recently published data, indicate that tumors with an adenosine-rich environment are resistant to therapy with anti-PD-(L)1 antibodies, and provide support for the addition of CPI-444 to these therapies to enhance efficacy."

"Our discovery of the adenosine gene signature biomarker represents a major step forward for therapies based on blockade of the adenosine pathway," said Richard A, Miller M.D., an oncologist; co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Corvus. "This biomarker could potentially be used in the future to select patients most likely to benefit from adenosine blockade with either CPI-444 or antibodies that inhibit adenosine production, such as CPI-006. These data, as well as our ongoing trials with CPI-444 and CPI-006, continue to advance the field and confirm the mechanism of action of CPI-444 and adenosine antagonism. Additional data on these programs will be presented at the Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) annual meeting in November."

About CPI-444
CPI-444 is a small molecule, oral, checkpoint inhibitor designed to disable a tumor’s ability to subvert attack by the immune system by blocking the binding of adenosine in the tumor microenvironment to the A2A receptor. Adenosine, a metabolite of ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate), is produced within the tumor microenvironment where it may bind to the adenosine A2A receptor present on immune cells and block their activity. CD39 and CD73 are enzymes on the surface of tumor cells and immune cells. These enzymes work in concert to convert ATP to adenosine. In vitro and preclinical studies have shown that dual blockade of CD73 and the A2A receptor may be synergistic.

About CPI-006
CPI-006 is a potent humanized monoclonal antibody that reacts with the active site of CD73, blocking the conversion of AMP to adenosine. In vitro studies of CPI-006 have shown it is capable of substantially inhibiting the production of adenosine by blocking the CD73 enzyme.