OncoGenex Announces Results from the Phase 3 AFFINITY Trial of Custirsen in Men with Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer

On August 16, 2016 OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OGXI) reported results from the final analysis of AFFINITY, the Phase 3 trial of custirsen in men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) whose disease has progressed after treatment with docetaxel (Press release, OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, AUG 16, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514590]). The trial did not meet the primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in overall survival for patients treated with custirsen in combination with cabazitaxel/prednisone compared to cabazitaxel/prednisone alone.

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The adverse events were consistent with those observed in previous trials of custirsen in metastatic CRPC. The final data will be submitted as a late-breaking abstract to the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Annual Congress 2016.

"We are obviously disappointed that custirsen was unable to demonstrate a survival benefit in prostate cancer. We would like to thank the patients who participated in the AFFINITY trial and their caregivers, as well as the investigators and their teams for their commitment to improving cancer care for patients who are in desperate need of new treatment options," said Scott Cormack, President and CEO of OncoGenex.

As a result of these data and previous custirsen findings, OncoGenex plans to initiate discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate options related to an early analysis of the Phase 3 ENSPIRIT trial investigating custirsen in combination with docetaxel as second-line chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

"Given that the ENSPIRIT trial has nearly completed enrollment and we believe there are likely a sufficient number of events to determine the effect of custirsen in NSCLC, we are eager to expedite the final data analysis, which would allow us to conserve resources and fully understand the value of the asset as we evaluate our alternatives to maximize shareholder value," said Cormack.

OncoGenex has engaged MTS Health Partners, LP as its advisor to assist with the exploration of strategic alternatives.

Conference Call Details
OncoGenex will host a conference call at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time today, Tuesday, August 16, 2016, to discuss today’s news. A live event will be available on the Investor Relations section of the OncoGenex website at www.OncoGenex.com. Alternatively, visitors may access the live conference call by dialing (877) 606-1416 (U.S. & Canada) or (707) 287-9313 (International). A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours after the call and will be archived on www.OncoGenex.com for 90 days.

About the AFFINITY Trial
The Phase 3 AFFINITY trial was an international, randomized, open-label study designed to evaluate whether custirsen, when combined with cabazitaxel, could improve survival outcomes for patients with metastatic CRPC whose disease has progressed after treatment with docetaxel.

Patients received cabazitaxel in combination with weekly custirsen or cabazitaxel alone, and treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or completion of 10 cycles. The AFFINITY trial enrolled 634 men with metastatic CRPC at 95 sites throughout North America, Europe, Russia and Australia. For more information on the AFFINITY trial, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01578655).

About ENSPIRIT Trial
The Phase 3 ENSPIRIT trial is an international, randomized, open-label trial designed to evaluate custirsen for the treatment of advanced or metastatic NSCLC in 700 patients who have progressed after initial chemotherapy treatment. The trial is investigating if combining custirsen with docetaxel, a standard second-line NSCLC chemotherapy, has the potential to improve survival outcomes compared to docetaxel alone in these patients. ENSPIRIT is expected to enroll patients at approximately 50 sites globally. For more information on the ENSPIRIT trial, please visit ClincalTrials.gov (NCT01630733).

About Custirsen
Custirsen is a highly specific clusterin inhibitor designed to improve survival in patients with advanced cancer by disabling a fundamental cellular repair mechanism used by tumor cells. Custirsen binds to clusterin mRNA to block the production of clusterin protein and has enhanced the tumor cell destructive effects of multiple anti-cancer therapies across a variety of tumor models. By inhibiting clusterin, custirsen is designed to alter tumor dynamics by slowing tumor growth and inhibiting tumor resistance to partner treatments, so that the benefits of therapy, including survival, may be extended.

10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

Oncbiomune has filed a 10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Filing, 10-Q, OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals, 2017, AUG 15, 2016, View Source [SID1234522114]).

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10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

Syros Pharmaceuticals has filed a 10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Filing, 10-Q, Syros Pharmaceuticals, 2017, AUG 15, 2016, View Source [SID1234521295]).

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10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

CohBar has filed a 10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Filing, 10-Q, CohBar, 2017, AUG 15, 2016, View Source [SID1234521233]).

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BAVARIAN NORDIC ANNOUNCES DRUG SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB FOR NSCLC CLINICAL STUDY

On August 15, 2018 Bavarian Nordic reported the signature of a drug supply agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb (Press release, Bavarian Nordic, AUG 15, 2016, View Source [SID1234527669]). Based on the agreement, BMS will supply OPDIVO (nivolumab) to Bavarian Nordic for use in a clinical study. The trial, which will be sponsored by Bavarian Nordic, will enroll approximately 160 patients and will look to explore the benefit of combining CV301 with OPDIVO in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). OPDIVO is approved for treatment of patients with NSCLC in the second line setting, among other indications.

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CV301 targets two tumor-associated antigens, CEA and MUC-1, which are over-expressed in major cancer types, including lung, bladder and colorectal cancer. Similar to PROSTVAC, CV301 uses an off-the-shelf, prime/boost dosing schedule. CV301 incorporates a modified version of vaccinia (MVA-BN) as a priming dose, followed by multiple fowlpox boosts, and encodes the TRICOM costimulatory molecules.

Preclinical data shows the ability of CV301 to upregulate PD-L1 by mounting an immune response against a tumor target. The upregulation of PD-L1 is a marker indicating the tumor is under attack from T-cells, presenting an opportunity for a greater response in patients who might otherwise not benefit from treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor alone.

"We are extremely excited to announce this agreement between Bavarian Nordic and BMS. While we have discussed the potential benefit of combining our cancer vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors for some time, this is now within reach as we have once again been able to strike an agreement with the leading immune-oncology company in the world, this time to explore the potential synergy between our programs to benefit patients with lung cancer. We look forward to the initiation of this study later this year," stated Paul Chaplin, President and CEO of Bavarian Nordic.

Bavarian Nordic continues to retain all commercial rights for CV301. There is no obligation on behalf of BMS, beyond the contribution of drug material.