On February 15, 2018 AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, US (known as MSD outside the US and Canada) reported that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for selumetinib, a MEK 1/2 inhibitor, for the treatment of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) (Press release, AstraZeneca, FEB 15, 2018, View Source [SID1234523985]).

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NF1 is an incurable genetic condition that affects one in 3,000 births,[i] with highly-variable symptoms, including cutaneous (skin), neurological (nervous system) and orthopaedic (skeletal) manifestations. NF1 can cause secondary complications including learning difficulties, visual impairment, pain, disfigurement, twisting and curvature of the spine, high blood pressure and epilepsy. Plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) are a neurological manifestation of NF1 and arise from nerve fascicles that tend to grow along the length of the nerve. PNs occur in approximately 20-50% of NF1 patients causing pain, motor dysfunction and disfigurement.[ii]

Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer, at AstraZeneca, said: "Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a devastating condition that can lead to life-threatening complications. There is no known cure for neurofibromatosis and there are limited treatment options to manage symptoms."

Roy Baynes, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Clinical Development, Chief Medical Officer, at MSD Research Laboratories, said: "We’re looking forward to working with our colleagues at AstraZeneca to develop selumetinib and understand how it may benefit patients with NF1."

The potential benefit of selumetinib in NF1 is being explored in the US National Cancer Institute-sponsored Phase I/II SPRINT trial in paediatric patients with symptomatic NF1-related PNs. Phase II trial results are expected later in 2018.

The FDA’s ODD programme provides orphan status to medicines that are defined as those intended for the safe and effective treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases or disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the US.

In addition to NF1, selumetinib is being investigated in the Phase III ASTRA trial of patients who are diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) following surgery and treatment with radioactive iodine. Selumetinib was granted ODD by the US FDA for the adjuvant treatment of stage III/IV DTC in 2016. It is also being explored as a monotherapy and in combination with other treatments in Phase I trials.

NOTES TO EDITORS
About neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)

NF1 is caused by a spontaneous or inherited mutation in the NF1 gene. The disease is associated with many symptoms, including soft lumps on and under the skin (subcutaneous neurofibromas), skin pigmentation (cafe au lait spots) and, in 20-50% of patients, tumours on the nerve sheaths (plexiform neurofibromas). These plexiform neurofibromas can cause morbidities such as pain, motor dysfunction and disfigurement. Patients with NF1 may experience a number of other complications such as learning difficulties, visual impairment, twisting and curvature of the spine, high blood pressure, and epilepsy. People with NF1 also have an increased risk of developing other cancers, including malignant brain and peripheral nerve sheath tumours, and leukaemia. Symptoms begin during early childhood, with varying degrees of severity, and can reduce life expectancy by up to 15 years.[iii]

About selumetinib

Selumetinib is an investigational MEK 1/2 inhibitor licensed by AstraZeneca from Array BioPharma Inc. in 2003.

The NF1 gene provides instructions for making a protein called Neurofibromin, which negatively regulates the RAS/MAPK pathway, helping to control cell growth, differentiation and survival. Mutations in the NF1 gene may result in dysregulations in RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signalling, which can cause cells to grow, divide and copy themselves in an uncontrolled manner, and may result in tumour growth. Selumetinib inhibits the MEK enzyme in this pathway, potentially leading to inhibition of tumour growth.

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 (olaparib), the world’s first PARP inhibitor, and potential new medicine selumetinib, a MEK inhibitor, for multiple cancer types. The collaboration is based on increasing evidence that PARP and MEK inhibitors can be combined with PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors for a range of tumour types. Working together, the companies will develop Lynparza and selumetinib in combination with other potential new medicines and as a monotherapy. Independently, the companies will develop Lynparza and selumetinib in combination with their respective PD-L1 and PD-1 medicines.

About AstraZeneca in Oncology

AstraZeneca has a deep-rooted heritage in Oncology and offers a quickly-growing portfolio of new medicines that has the potential to transform patients’ lives and the Company’s future. With at least six new medicines to be launched between 2014 and 2020, and a broad pipeline of small molecules and biologics in development, we are committed to advance New Oncology as one of AstraZeneca’s five Growth Platforms focused on lung, ovarian, breast and blood cancers. In addition to our core capabilities, we actively pursue innovative partnerships and investments that accelerate the delivery of our strategy, as illustrated by our investment in Acerta Pharma in haematology.

By harnessing the power of four scientific platforms – Immuno-Oncology, Tumour Drivers and Resistance, DNA Damage Response and Antibody Drug Conjugates – and by championing the development of personalised combinations, AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer treatment and one day eliminate cancer as a cause of death

On February 14, 2018 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported the approval of Erleada (apalutamide) for the treatment of patients with prostate cancer that has not spread (non-metastatic), but that continues to grow despite treatment with hormone therapy (castration-resistant) (Press release, US FDA, FEB 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234523990]). This is the first FDA-approved treatment for non-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer.

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"The FDA evaluates a variety of methods that measure a drug’s effect, called endpoints, in the approval of oncology drugs. This approval is the first to use the endpoint of metastasis-free survival, measuring the length of time that tumors did not spread to other parts of the body or that death occurred after starting treatment," said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence and acting director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "In the trial supporting approval, Erleada had a robust effect on this endpoint. This demonstrates the agency’s commitment to using novel endpoints to expedite important therapies to the American public."

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health, prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men in the U.S.. The NCI estimates approximately 161,360 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, and 26,730 were expected to die of the disease. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of prostate cancer cases are castration-resistant, and up to 16 percent of these patients show no evidence that the cancer has spread at the time of the castration-resistant diagnosis.

Erleada works by blocking the effect of androgens, a type of hormone, on the tumor. These androgens, such as testosterone, can promote tumor growth.

The safety and efficacy of Erleada was based on a randomized clinical trial of 1,207 patients with non-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. Patients in the trial either received Erleada or a placebo. All patients were also treated with hormone therapy, either with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog therapy or with surgery to lower the amount of testosterone in their body (surgical castration). The median metastasis-free survival for patients taking Erleada was 40.5 months compared to 16.2 months for patients taking a placebo.

Common side effects of Erleada include fatigue, high blood pressure (hypertension), rash, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, joint pain (arthralgia), falls, hot flush, decreased appetite, fractures and swelling in the limbs (peripheral edema).

Severe side effects of Erleada include falls, fractures and seizures.

This application was granted Priority Review, under which the FDA’s goal is to take action on an application within 6 months where the agency determines that the drug, if approved, would significantly improve the safety or effectiveness of treating, diagnosing or preventing a serious condition.

The sponsor for Erleada is the first participant in the FDA’s recently-announced Clinical Data Summary Pilot Program, an effort to provide stakeholders with more usable information on the clinical evidence supporting drug product approvals and more transparency into the FDA’s decision-making process. Soon after approval, certain information from the clinical summary report will post with the Erleada entry on Drugs@FDA and on the new pilot program landing page.

The FDA granted the approval of Erleada to Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

On February 14, 2018 Dynavax Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:DVAX) reported that Eddie Gray, Dynavax’s chief executive officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the 2018 RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Conference in New York City (Press release, Dynavax Technologies, FEB 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234523969]). The presentation will be webcast live and will occur on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at 1:35 p.m. ET.

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The live or replayed versions of the webcast will be available by visiting the "Investors" section of the Dynavax website at www.dynavax.com.

On February 14, 2018 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC) (OTCQX: ONCYF), a biotech company developing REOLYSIN, also known as pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus that activates the innate and adaptive immune systems to turn "cold" tumors "hot", reported that it will present at the RBC Capital Markets 2018 Healthcare Conference (Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, FEB 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234524037]). The presentation, by Dr. Matt Coffey, President & CEO of Oncolytics, will take place at 3:05 pm ET, on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 in the Kennedy II Room on the fourth floor of The Lotte New York Palace Hotel. The conference takes place on February 21st & 22nd in New York, NY.

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"We are excited to provide an update on our recent progress as we work toward executing on several important milestones this year," said Dr. Matt Coffey, President & CEO of Oncolytics. "Building on last year’s momentum, we continue to pursue Breakthrough Therapy Designation and Special Protocol Assessment as we prepare to initiate our phase 3 registration study of REOLYSIN in metastatic breast cancer before the end of September this year. In addition to our regulatory and clinical work we anticipate being able to announce the results of our vote on a share consolidation – our final step in relisting on NASDAQ – and are pursuing attractive partnership opportunities."

A live audio link to the webcast session will be available on the Company’s website at View Source It is recommended that listeners log on 10 minutes in advance of a live session to register and download any necessary software. An audio replay will be accessible approximately two hours following the presentation on the Oncolytics website.

On February 13, 2018 Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka, "Astellas") and Universal Cells, Inc. (CEO: Claudia Mitchell, "Universal Cells") reported that Astellas has acquired Universal Cells (Press release, Astellas, FEB 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234649901]). Astellas will gain Universal Cells’ proprietary Universal Donor Cell technology to create cell therapy products that do not require Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) matching, potentially overcoming a huge treatment challenge by reducing the risk of rejection.

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In October 2017, the Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (AIRM) and Universal Cells entered into an exclusive license agreement to utilize Universal Donor Cell technology in a single indication. Today’s acquisition enables Astellas to fully utilize this proprietary technology in even more therapeutic areas. The acquisition combines Astellas’ capability of establishing differentiated functional cells from pluripotent stem cells with Universal Cell’s ability to produce pluripotent stem cells that have lower immunological rejection to further enable investigation of innovative cell therapy treatments for various diseases that currently have few or no treatment options.

"We have been very impressed with Universal Cells’ capabilities in cell therapy, including Universal Donor Cell technology, which led us to our initial collaboration and ultimately this acquisition," commented Yoshihiko Hatanaka, President and CEO, Astellas. "This additional capability will further enable Astellas to develop potential innovative cell therapies for numerous diseases with high unmet medical needs."

"We are thrilled to be able to leverage the full potential of our Universal Donor Cell technology by becoming an intrinsic part of Astellas’ effort to fulfill the promises of Regenerative Medicine to treat diseases," said Claudia Mitchell, CEO of Universal Cells. "The acquisition represents the recognition of the immense potential of our unique technology and of the outstanding work done by our team at Universal Cells."

Astellas will pay up to $102.5 million of upfront and milestones to acquire 100 percent ownership of Universal Cells depending on achievement of certain specified clinical milestones.

Universal Cells has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astellas following the close of the acquisition.

The impact of this transaction on Astellas’ financial results for the fiscal year ending

March 31, 2018 will be immaterial.