BeiGene Initiates Phase 3 Trial of Pamiparib as Maintenance Therapy in Chinese Patients with Ovarian Cancer

On May 17, 2018 BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ:BGNE), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative molecularly-targeted and immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of cancer, reported that the first patient was enrolled in a Phase 3 clinical trial in China of pamiparib (BGB-290), an investigational PARP inhibitor, in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer (Press release, BeiGene, MAY 17, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2349570 [SID1234526756]).

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"We are pleased to announce the initiation of this Phase 3 trial of pamiparib in China as a potential maintenance therapy in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. This trial is designed to provide important confirmatory clinical data that could enable registration in the maintenance setting, as well support our planned initial regulatory submission for the treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer who carry a germline BRCA1/2 mutation," commented Amy Peterson, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Immuno-Oncology of BeiGene.

"In China there are currently no approved PARP inhibitors, despite the multiple approvals of PARP inhibitors in other regions of the world and in a variety of settings. Our development program in ovarian cancer is designed to address the limited treatment options that currently exist for these patients in China," commented Lai Wang, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of China Development of BeiGene.

The Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy of maintenance therapy with pamiparib versus a placebo in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who achieved a complete response or partial response after platinum-based chemotherapy, as measured by progression-free survival (PFS) determined by independent review. Secondary objectives include PFS per RECIST version 1.1 determined by investigator, overall survival, objective response rate, duration of response, time to response, safety, and tolerability. Approximately 215 patients are planned to be enrolled in this trial at 15-20 cancer centers in China.

"As we look to improve the current 30 to 40 percent five-year survival rate for patients with advanced ovarian cancer, I look forward to evaluating pamiparib as a potential new maintenance therapy. We are excited to build upon the knowledge base we have of pamiparib from its Phase 1 and 2 studies as well as from other PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer," said Professor Ding Ma, M.D., Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology; and Principal Investigator of the trial.

For more information about the trial, patients and physicians should email [email protected].

About Ovarian Cancer in China

In China, over 50,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 22,000 die from the disease each year1. More than 70 percent of patients are diagnosed with advanced disease2. The standard therapy for ovarian cancer consists of surgery followed by postoperative platinum-based chemotherapy. An estimated 85 percent of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who achieve a full remission following first-line therapy will develop recurrent disease3.

About Pamiparib

Pamiparib (BGB-290) is an investigational inhibitor of PARP1 and PARP2 which has demonstrated pharmacological properties such as brain penetration and PARP–DNA complex trapping in preclinical models. Pamiparib is being evaluated in pivotal clinical trials in China. It is currently in global clinical development as a monotherapy, and in combination with other agents, including BeiGene’s investigational anti-PD1 antibody, tislelizumab (BGB-A317), for a variety of solid tumor malignancies.

Rocket Pharmaceuticals Announces Strategic Research Collaboration

On May 17, 2018 Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCKT) ("Rocket"), a leading U.S.-based multi-platform gene therapy company, and the Stanford University School of Medicine reported a strategic collaboration to support the advancement of Fanconi Anemia (FA) and Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD) gene therapy research (Press release, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, MAY 17, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2349565 [SID1234526774]). Rocket’s lentiviral vector (LVV)-based gene therapy program for FA is currently in clinical trials with academic partners in the U.S. and Europe. The LVV-based gene therapy program for PKD is currently in preclinical development in Europe.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Stanford will serve as a lead clinical trial research center in the United States for a planned upcoming registrational trial for FA, and would also be the lead site for PKD clinical trials. Maria Grazia Roncarolo, M.D., director of the Stanford Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine and co-director of the school’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, will lead the school’s effort. The center is a joint initiative of the School of Medicine, Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children’s Health and is focused on bench to bedside development of innovative cell- and gene-based therapies.

Gaurav Shah, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Rocket, commented, "Rocket is delighted to expand the reach of our gene therapy program in the U.S. and prepare for our registrational trial. We are committed to developing FA and PKD programs in collaboration with outstanding gene therapy centers and pioneers in the field. This collaboration with the Stanford Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine is a critical step within our overall strategy of building relationships with gene therapy experts, with investigators who have dedicated their careers to improving the care of patients afflicted with these disorders, and within the broader FA and PKD communities."

"This project will also evaluate the introduction of conditioning regimens for both FA and PKD, where we hope to develop best-in-class gene therapy approaches for both clinical indications. The regulatory design and preparation for our registrational trial for FA is ongoing and we remain on track to advance this program to a registration study in 2019. Our PKD program continues to advance in preclinical studies with an Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier (IMPD) expected to be filed in early 2019," continued Dr. Shah.

For more information about this news on the Stanford website, please visit View Source

Cotinga Pharmaceuticals Announces Presentation on COTI-2 at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting

On May 17, 2018 Cotinga Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX Venture:COT) (OTCQB:COTQF) ("Cotinga" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company advancing a pipeline of targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer, reported that the Company and its collaborators from MD Anderson Cancer Center will present data on COTI-2, Cotinga’s lead compound currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial, at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting taking place June 1-5, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois (Press release, Cotinga, MAY 17, 2018, View Source [SID1234533154]).

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Abstract Title: COTI-2, a potent orally available small molecule targeting mutant p53, with promising efficacy as monotherapy and combination treatment in preclinical tumor models
Session Date and Time: Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 1:15 PM – 4:45 PM Central Time
Session Location: McCormick Place South, Hall A, Poster Board 28

Phase 1b/2a Trial of COTI-2
The ongoing Phase 1 trial of COTI-2 is currently evaluating COTI-2 as a monotherapy for the potential treatment of gynecological malignancies and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma ("HNSCC"). In 2017, the Company announced top-line data from the gynecological malignancies arm of the trial demonstrating COTI-2 was generally safe and well-tolerated. COTI-2 also exhibited an encouraging pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile and signals of efficacy. In March 2018, the Company submitted a protocol amendment to the FDA for to expand the trial to evaluate COTI-2 in combination with various standard of care chemotherapy regimens in a wide spectrum of cancers. Primary outcome measures will evaluate safety and tolerability and determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase 2 dose for COTI-2 as a combination therapy. Secondary and exploratory outcome measures will evaluate pharmacodynamics and various signals of efficacy. Pending regulatory approval, the Company expects to implement the protocol amendment mid-calendar 2018.

Bellicum Announces Clinical Presentations on Lead Product Candidate BPX-501 at the 23rd Congress of the European Hematology Association

On May 17, 2018 Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:BLCM), a leader in developing novel, controllable cellular immunotherapies for cancers and orphan inherited blood disorders, reported that two abstracts on its lead product candidate BPX-501 have been selected for presentation at the 23rd Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) in Stockholm, Sweden on June 14-17, 2018 (Press release, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, MAY 17, 2018, View Source [SID1234526757]).

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The presentations will include updated interim survival results from pediatric patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) who are undergoing a curative haplo-HSCT with BPX-501.

Oral Presentation Details

Title:Administration of BPX-501 Cells Following Alpha/Beta T-cell and B-cell-Depleted HLA‑Haploidentical HSCT (haplo-HSCT) in Children with Primary Immunodeficiencies Abstract: S871
Session Title: Stem cell transplantation – Clinical II
Date: Saturday, June 16
Time: 4:00 – 4:15 p.m. CEST

Poster Presentation Details

Title:Administration of BPX-501 Cells Following Alpha/Beta T-cell and B-cell-Depleted HLA‑Haploidentical HSCT (haplo-HSCT) in Children with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Abstract: PS989
Session Title: Acute myeloid leukemia – Clinical
Date: Saturday, June 16
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. CEST

The BPX-501 clinical presentations at the conference will include updated information beyond that included in the abstracts currently available online on the EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) conference website.

About BPX-501
BPX-501 is an adjunct T-cell therapy administered after allogeneic HSCT, comprising genetically modified donor T cells incorporating Bellicum’s CaspaCIDe safety switch. It is designed to provide a safety net to eliminate alloreactive BPX-501 T cells (via administration of activator agent rimiducid) should uncontrollable GvHD or other T-cell mediated transplant complications occur. This may enable physicians to more safely perform stem cell transplants by administering BPX-501 engineered T cells to speed immune reconstitution, provide control over viral infections, and enhance graft-versus-leukemic activity while minimizing GvHD side effects.

Seattle Genetics Announces Data Presentations at 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting

On May 17, 2018 Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) reported that multiple abstracts from its robust clinical development portfolio will be presented at the upcoming 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, from June 1-5, 2018 (Press release, Seattle Genetics, MAY 17, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2349592 [SID1234526775]).

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"The abstracts being presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2018 highlight the depth of our clinical program in multiple solid tumors and hematological malignancies," said Robert Lechleider, M.D., Senior Vice President, Clinical Development at Seattle Genetics. "Of note, an oral presentation will feature updated data from a phase 1 study of enfortumab vedotin for patients with metastatic urothelial cancer. Data from this study formed the basis of the recent FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for enfortumab vedotin. In addition, multiple posters featuring sub-analyses from the ECHELON-1 trial of ADCETRIS provide continued strong rationale for ADCETRIS combination use in the treatment of patients with frontline Stage 3 and 4 classical Hodgkin lymphoma."

The abstracts published in advance of the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) meeting were made available yesterday on the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) website at www.asco.org.

Urothelial Cancer

(Abstract #4504) "Updated results from the enfortumab vedotin phase 1 (EV-101) study in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC)"

Presenter: J. Rosenberg, M.D., Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Oral Abstract Session: Genitourinary (Nonprostate) Cancer

Date and Time: Sunday, June 3, 9:12 a.m.-9:24 a.m. CDT (session begins at 8:00 a.m.)

Location: Arie Crown Theater

(Abstract #TPS4590) "EV-201 Study: A single-arm, open-label, multicenter study of enfortumab vedotin for treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who previously received immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy"

Presenter: J. Rosenberg, M.D., Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Poster Session: Genitourinary (Nonprostate) Cancer

Date and Time: Saturday, June 2, 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT

Location: Hall A, Poster Board #414a

Hodgkin Lymphoma

(Abstract #7534) "Improving outcomes with brentuximab vedotin (BV) plus chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma"

Presenter: D. Straus, M.D., Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Poster Session: Hematologic Malignancies-Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Date and Time: Monday, June 4, 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT

Location: Hall A, Poster Board #171

(Abstract #7541) "Brentuximab vedotin (BV) plus chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL): North American results"

Presenter: R. Ramchandren, M.D., Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

Poster Session: Hematologic Malignancies-Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Date and Time: Monday, June 4, 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT

Location: Hall A, Poster Board #178

(Abstract #7542) "Long-term follow-up of brentuximab vedotin +/- dacarbazine as first line therapy in elderly patients with Hodgkin lymphoma"

Presenter: J. Friedburg, M.D., University of Rochester Medical Center

Poster Session: Hematologic Malignancies-Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Date and Time: Monday, June 4, 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT

Location: Hall A, Poster Board #179

(Abstract #7539) "Brentuximab vedotin with chemotherapy for stage III or IV Hodgkin lymphoma (HL): Impact of cycle 2 PET result on modified progression-free survival (mPFS)"

Presenter: R. Chen, M.D., Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center

Poster Session: Hematologic Malignancies-Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Date and Time: Monday, June 4, 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT

Location: Hall A, Poster Board #176

Breast Cancer

(Abstract #1015) "Clinical benefit of tucatinib after isolated brain progression: A retrospective pooled analysis of tucatinib phase 1b studies in HER2+ breast cancer"

Presenter: R. Murthy, M.D., University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Poster Session: Breast Cancer – Metastatic

Date and Time: Saturday, June 2, 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT

Location: Hall A, Poster Board #96

Discussed at Poster Discussion at Hall D1 on Saturday, June 2, 1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m. CDT

Cervical Cancer

(Abstract #TPS5601) "A single-arm, phase 2, multicenter, international trial of tisotumab vedotin (HuMax-TF-ADC) in previously treated, recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer"

Presenter: R. Coleman, M.D., The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Poster Session: Gynecologic Cancer

Date and Time: Monday, June 4, 1:15 p.m.-4:45 p.m. CDT

Location: Hall A, Poster Board #327b

Additional Cancers

(Abstract #3093) "SEA-CD40, a non-fucosylated CD40 agonist: Interim results from a phase 1 study in advanced solid tumors"

Presenter: J. Grilley-Olson, M.D., UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center/University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Poster Session: Developmental Therapeutics – Immunotherapy

Date and Time: Monday, June 4, 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT

Location: Hall A, Poster Board #307