TG Therapeutics Announces Initiation of National Cancer Institute/SWOG-Sponsored Randomized Phase II Trial in Follicular Lymphoma

On November 27, 2017 TG Therapeutics (NASDAQ:TGTX) reported that along with SWOG, the global cancer clinical trials group funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), it has initiated a three arm Phase II trial evaluating the combination of TGR-1202 (umbralisib), the Company’s PI3K delta inhibitor, plus obinutuzumab, compared to the combination of obinutuzumab plus lenalidomide, and obinituzumab plus CHOP, in patients with early relapsing or refractory Follicular Lymphoma (FL) (Grade I, II, IIIa) (Press release, TG Therapeutics, NOV 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234522247]). Target enrollment will be 50 patients per arm.

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The primary outcome of this study is to assess the Complete Response (CR) rate following six cycles of treatment. Key secondary outcomes include ORR, DOR and PFS. The safety profile of each of these regimens will also be evaluated. The study will be independently run by SWOG, which has received NC funding since 1956. TG has agreed to provide TGR-1202 free of charge for use in the study. The goal of the study is to identify safe and effective novel combinations that can be used to manage these challenging early relapsing Follicular Lymphoma (FL) patients. The study is now open at over 100 hospitals, cancer centers, and other clinical sites across the US. More information about the study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier NCT03269669.

Dr. Paul Barr, director of the Clinical Trials Office for Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center and leader of this Phase II trial, stated: "This is an extremely important study for patients with early, relapsed follicular lymphoma because they need new treatment options. Follicular lymphoma patients who relapse within two years of front-line immuno-chemotherapy are generally recognized to have the poorest outcomes. We chose these arms based on the best available clinical research suggesting these were the most promising targets for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of FL. The PI3K delta class have shown impressive single agent activity in the treatment of FL, however, the safety profile of the currently available first generation PI3K delta’s are not ideal. We are pleased that TG has agreed to supply TGR-1202 for this study, as this agent appears to offer a unique safety profile compared to prior PI3K-delta inhibitors while still maintaining encouraging clinical activity in patients with NHL. We are very excited that enrollment has now begun and expect a very rapid enrollment period."

Michael S. Weiss, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are extremely pleased that SWOG has selected TGR-1202 for inclusion in this important trial. We believe this trial will showcase treatment strategies that may significantly improve outcomes for early relapsing patients and in particular, demonstrate the utility of TGR-1202 in FL. To us, the inclusion of TGR-1202 validates our belief of best-in-class qualities of TGR-1202 and the importance of PI3K delta class in FL."

Nektar to Webcast Presentation at the Piper Jaffray 29th Annual Healthcare Conference in New York City

On November 27, 2017 Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) reported that its corporate presentation will be webcast at the upcoming Piper Jaffray 29th Annual Healthcare Conference in New York City on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 5:10 p.m. ET (Press release, Nektar Therapeutics, NOV 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234522262]).

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The presentation will be accessible via a Webcast through a link posted on the Investors, Events Calendar section of the Nektar website: View Source This Webcast will be available for replay until December 29, 2017.

IDERA TO PRESENT AT THE 29TH ANNUAL PIPER JAFFRAY HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE

On November 27, 2017 Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDRA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing toll-like receptor and RNA therapeutics for patients with cancer and rare diseases, reported that the company will participate in a fireside chat, led by Vincent Milano, Idera’s Chief Executive Officer, at the 29th Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 10:00 a.m (Press release, Idera Pharmaceuticals, NOV 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234522265]). Eastern Time at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York City.

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Live audio webcast of Idera’s presentations will be accessible in the Investors and Media section of Idera’s website at View Source Archived versions will also be available on the Company’s website after the event for 90 days.

10-K – Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

Varian Medical Systems has filed a 10-K – Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Filing, 10-K, Varian Medical Systems, 2017, NOV 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234522258]).

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STORM THERAPEUTICS ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION IN NATURE ON RNA EPIGENETICS BY FOUNDER PROFESSOR TONY KOUZARIDES

On November 27, 2017 STORM Therapeutics, the leading drug discovery company focused on the discovery of small molecule therapies modulating RNA epigenetics, reported the publication of data in the internationally renowned scientific journal Nature linking an essential RNA-modifying enzyme to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) (Press release, STORM Therapeutics, NOV 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234561048]).

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The study has found an unexpected new drug target for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) that could open new avenues to develop effective treatments against this potentially lethal disease. Data show that inhibiting the METTL3 gene destroys human and mouse AML cells without harming nonleukaemic blood cells. The paper, entitled "Promoter-bound METTL3 maintains myeloid leukaemia via m6A-dependent translation control’, goes on to reveal why METTL3 is required for AML cell survival, by deciphering the new mechanism it uses to regulate several other leukaemia genes.

Professor Tony Kouzarides, Founder of STORM Therapeutics and joint project leader from the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, commented: "This is an important milestone in the understanding of RNA epigenetics and its links to disease. These findings highlight the importance of RNA modifying enzymes in cancer, and in particular in leukaemia. New treatments for AML are desperately needed and we have been looking for novel genes that would be good drug targets. We identified the methyl transferase enzyme METTL3 as a highly viable target against AML. Our study will inspire pharmaceutical efforts to find drugs that specifically inhibit METTL3 to treat AML."

STORM has established a pipeline of drug discovery programmes to develop novel, first-in-class drugs for the treatment of specific cancers and other diseases with high unmet medical need. It is focusing on two classes of RNA modifying enzymes, RNA methyltransferases and terminal uridyltransferases (TUTases), and has already advanced two undisclosed targets in drug discovery.

Keith Blundy, CEO of STORM Therapeutics, said: "STORM leads the field of harnessing the power of RNA epigenetics as a new area of important biology. Our ambition is to become a world leading therapeutics company tackling diseases through modulating RNA modifying enzymes. Publication of these data, in such a prestigious journal as Nature, is validation of the world class science on which the Company was founded."

This publication represents results obtained from research conducted in collaboration by: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, The Gurdon Institute and Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and STORM Therapeutics.