OS Therapies Requests Meeting with FDA to Gain Agreement on Surrogate Endpoint(s) for Breakthrough Therapy Designation & Accelerated Approval of OST-HER2 in the Prevention of Recurrence of Fully Resected, Lung Metastatic Osteosarcoma

On April 7, 2025 OS Therapies (NYSE-A: OSTX) ("OS Therapies" or "the Company"), a clinical-stage immunotherapy and Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) biopharmaceutical company, reported that it has submitted a request for a formal meeting with the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) of the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to gain alignment on the clinical endpoints required to support Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) and Accelerated Approval via a conditional BLA of investigational off-the-shelf immunotherapy candidate OST-HER2 in the prevention or delay of recurrence of fully resected, lung metastatic osteosarcoma (Press release, OS Therapies, APR 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234651825]). The meeting is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2025, and thereafter the Company intends to initiate a rolling BLA submission with the potential to receive Accelerated Approval as early as year-end 2025. The Company has sufficient cash on hand to operate into mid-2026.

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"We are excited to meet with the FDA – and commence market access discussions – the goal of receiving Accelerated Approval for a Biologics License Application of OST-HER2 in the prevention or delay of recurrence lung metastatic osteosarcoma by year-end 2025," said Dr. Robert Petit, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer of OS Therapies. "We believe that we have identified the comparator data necessary to address the comments from FDA regarding our prior BTD request. We expect this data will also be able support our application for Accelerated Approval. Our clinical and regulatory teams are diligently preparing for the meeting and the subsequent BLA submission that is targeted to begin after the public release of additional clinical trial data at MIB Factor in June."

OST-HER2 has received Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) for osteosarcoma from the US FDA, and if it receives a conditional BLA via Accelerated Review prior to September 30, 2026, it will become eligible to receive a Priority Review Voucher (PRV) that it intends to immediately sell. The most recent PRV sale, valued at $150 million, occurred in February 2025.

"We congratulate the new Acting Director at CBER, Dr. Scott Steele, who comes from a translational medicine background and understands the importance of Comparative Oncology in the development of new cancer immunotherapies and note that President Trump cited deadly rare pediatric cancers as a priority for continued product development for the administration," said Paul Romness, CEO of OS Therapies. "We believe OST-HER2 will make a significant difference in the treatment of osteosarcoma and welcome the opportunity to engage with FDA to get this investigational treatment to patients as quickly as possible."

The Company announced positive Phase 2b clinical trial results from its US-based, 21 site, single-arm, open-label clinical study of 39 patients in recurrent, fully resected, lung metastatic osteosarcoma that demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the proportion of patients that achieved the primary endpoint of 12-month event free survival (EFS) when compared with historical control (33% vs. 20%, p=0.0158), as recommended by FDA prior to the initiation of the study. Due to the aggressive nature of osteosarcoma metastatic to the lung, an aggressive form of rare pediatric bone cancer that requires resections to sequentially remove tumors from the lung given the very poor clinical responses and survival rates to current treatments, placebo-controlled trials are generally disfavored.

Following feedback from FDA, the Company designed OST-400, a Retrospective Longitudinal Study of Recurrent Osteosarcoma after Resection in Children and Young Adults being conducted with clinicians from leading oncology centers in the United States, the United Kingdom and France to obtain potentially over 200 suitable de-identified patient records from which the appropriate matched, external historic control is being developed. At the invitation of FDA on April 2, 2025, the requested meeting is to get agreement with respect to the methods the Company is using to finish collecting OST-400 so that the appropriate matched, external, historic control is used to complete the statistical analysis that will be used to support BTD and Accelerated Approval.

The Company intends to present the data from the Phase 2b clinical trial of OST-HER2 compared with the matched, external, historic control comparator agreed upon with FDA derived from OST-400 at MIB Factor in June 2025. Thereafter, the Company intends to file a BLA for OST-HER2 in the prevention or delay of recurrence of fully resected, lung metastatic osteosarcoma, with the aim of receiving approval by the end of 2025.

OST-HER2, an immunotherapy for osteosarcoma using a HER2 bioengineered form of the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes to trigger a strong immune response against cancer cells expressing HER2, is being featured in the upcoming movie Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers. The movie offers a look into canine comparative oncology, a field that compares treatment of cancers in dogs to those in people and covers developing treatments for rare forms of cancer. A trailer for the movie is available here. The movie will be aired live nationally on PBS and will available via streaming on PBS’ website in early May 2025.

NextPoint Therapeutics to Highlight Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) and T Cell Engager (TCE) Preclinical Findings Targeting Novel B7-H7 Pathway at AACR Annual Meeting

On April 7, 2025 NextPoint Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company launching a new world of precision therapeutics through its leading scientific work on the novel B7-H7 axis, reported the company will present four posters highlighting its B7-H7-targeted oncology pipeline at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2025, to be held in Chicago, from April 25-30, 2025 (Press release, NextPoint Therapeutics, APR 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234651824]).

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NextPoint’s presentations will showcase its advanced therapeutic approaches, including its B7-H7-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) with proprietary linker technology and B7-H7-CD3 bispecific T cell engager with wide therapeutic window. B7-H7 is upregulated on tumor cells across a wide range of cancers with a very limited normal tissue expression profile. The studies will present preclinical evaluation of these first-in-class candidates across multiple solid tumor types expressing B7-H7, complemented by comprehensive tumor expression analyses that support NextPoint’s clinical biomarker strategy for identifying the right patient populations for each B7-H7-directed therapy.

Details of the presentations are as follows:

Title: B7-H7-CD3 bispecific T cell engaging antibodies demonstrate potent anti-tumor activity in B7-H7+ preclinical tumor models
Abstract Number: 1556
Section: 15
Session Date/Time: Monday, April 28, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Title: Comprehensive analysis of B7-H7/HHLA2 expression in pan-solid tumors and its potential significance in anti-tumor immunity
Abstract Number: 3302
Section: 31
Session Date/Time: Monday, April 28, 2025, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Title: Safety and tolerability of NPX372, a novel B7-H7:CD3 bispecific T cell engaging antibody
Abstract Number: 4354
Section: 20
Session Date/Time: Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Title: B7-H7 is a novel ADC target for solid tumors and shows potent activity with multiple payload-linker technologies
Abstract Number: 7336
Section: 40
Session Date/Time: Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

About B7-H7

B7-H7 (also known as HHLA2) is a member of the B7 family of immune checkpoint proteins that is overexpressed in multiple solid tumor types and associated with poor prognosis. B7-H7 expression has been shown to contribute to immune evasion, making it an attractive target for novel immunotherapeutic approaches.

MiraDx Announces New Study Published in Clinical Cancer Research Validating PROSTOX™ ultra Diagnostic Test for Predicting Radiation-Induced Late Toxicity in Prostate Cancer

On April 7, 2025 MiraDx, a molecular diagnostics company advancing personalized medicine through novel germline biomarkers, reported a groundbreaking study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, validating previous findings that its PROSTOX ultra test can predict long-term side effects from radiation therapy for prostate cancer, prior to starting treatment (Press release, MiraDx, APR 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234651823]). Led by researchers at UCLA’s Department of Radiation Oncology, the study confirms the effectiveness of PROSTOX ultra, the first test capable of predicting long-term radiation side effects based on a patient’s unique genetic profile. The findings reinforce that radiation toxicity is a biologically unique response for each patient, underscoring the potential to personalize and improve cancer treatment using genetics.

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The study, titled "Validation and Derivation of MicroRNA-based Germline Signatures Predicting Radiation Toxicity in Prostate Cancer," is now available online in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Clinical Research.

In this prospective study of 148 patients enrolled in the Phase 3 MIRAGE clinical trial (Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer, NCT 04384770), PROSTOX ultra was assessed. This assay is based on microRNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (mirSNPs) in non-coding regions of germline DNA, previously shown to play a key role in predicting late genitourinary (GU) toxicity, which typically appears three to six months or later following stereotactic body (SBRT) or conventionally fractionated (CFRT) radiation therapy. The study validated PROSTOX ultra as a biomarker to predict late GU toxicity after SBRT and showed a strong correlation between the PROSTOX ultra score and toxicity grade. In addition, the study identified three separate temporal radiation-induced GU toxicity profiles: acute only, chronic, and late. Notably, these results support the potential of mirSNP-based biomarkers to independently predict different types of toxicity risks prior to radiation therapy, regardless of clinical factors such as age or radiation delivery technique.

"Advancements in radiation technology, treatment planning, patient care, and follow-up make it challenging to directly compare toxicity between older and more modern treatment approaches," said Amar Kishan, M.D., primary investigator of the study and Radiation Oncologist at UCLA. "Despite these challenges, this study validated PROSTOX ultra as a predictive biomarker, and that a genetic predisposition to increased toxicity persists with modern, high-precision SBRT, including MRI-guided SBRT. This finding reinforces PROSTOX ultra as a true measure of the biological response to radiation, independent of treatment era or technique that can identify the safest course of treatment to avoid toxicity."

Prostate cancer affects more than a quarter of a million individuals annually, primarily those over 65 years of age. Radiation-induced toxicity remains a significant concern, with late-onset side effects occurring in 15-20% of patients. Currently, no effective interventions exist for these side effects, with the most problematic being late GU toxicity, which includes symptoms such as urinary tract pain, blood in urine, increased frequency of urination, or urinary urgency or leaking. For prostate cancer patients, many of whom live for decades post-treatment, late-onset side effects can persist, be costly to manage and significantly impact their quality of life.

"While severe side effects are uncommon, approximately 15-20% patients do develop moderate toxicity that could require medication and impact quality of life. This underscores the importance of being able to assess a patient’s unique biological suitability for SBRT, since that can influence their risk for long-term side effects," said Luca Valle, M.D., study investigator and Radiation Oncologist at UCLA. "Fortunately, tools like PROSTOX ultra can help us to individualize and personalize our radiation treatment recommendations and reduce the risk of treatment-related toxicity."

"These findings represent a very important moment in the treatment of prostate cancer and for the field of oncology treatment as a whole," said Joanne Weidhaas, M.D., Ph.D., study author, Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and head of translation research in the Department of Radiation Oncology, and co-founder of MiraDx and founder of MiraKind. "While tumor-based molecular profiling tests that inform treatment selection have contributed to improved patient outcomes, no tests based on germline genetics currently exist to identify toxicity risks to treatment. PROSTOX ultra is the first test that predicts radiation toxicity, giving patients and their physicians important information to make decisions that balance effectiveness with long-term quality of life."

About PROSTOX ultra Diagnostic Test

PROSTOX ultra is the first and only diagnostic test designed to predict radiation-induced late toxicity in prostate cancer patients. By analyzing microRNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (mirSNPs) in non-coding germline DNA, PROSTOX ultra identifies patients at higher genetic risk of developing late grade ≥2 genitourinary (GU) toxicity after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). This toxicity, which can cause long-term urinary complications, typically appears three to six months after radiation therapy and can persist for life. With PROSTOX ultra, patients and clinicians can make more informed treatment choices, minimizing side effects while prioritizing long-term quality of life and health outcomes.

Caris Life Sciences Raises $168 Million in Private Capital from Leading Investors to Continue Platform Expansion

On April 7, 2025 Caris Life Sciences (Caris), a leading next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer, reported that the company has closed a growth capital funding round of $168 million (Press release, Caris Life Sciences, APR 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234651822]). With this funding, Caris has raised $1.86 billion in capital since 2018.

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Braidwell LP, a leading life science-focused investment firm and an existing investor, led the financing with participation from new investors Perceptive Advisors, Woodline and Ghisallo, along with additional new investors. Several existing investors are also participating in the round including Millennium Management and First Light Asset Management.

"This financing includes participation by some of the most knowledgeable healthcare investors with deep domain expertise and appreciation of the Caris platform and opportunity," said Brian J. Brille, Vice Chairman and EVP of Caris. "We are proud to partner with our high-quality and diverse investor syndicate, which shares our mission to improve patient outcomes."

"Caris puts the patient at the center of everything we do. This raise will help us bring our market-leading science and technologies to as many patients as possible and further our goal of revolutionizing precision medicine," said David D. Halbert, Chairman, Founder and CEO of Caris. "We plan to unlock the full potential of precision medicine by comprehensively interrogating cancer at the molecular level and enabling the delivery of transformative applications of molecular science."

"We are pleased to continue our relationship with Caris, and we believe Caris is well-positioned as a precision medicine leader in this dynamic sector," said Narendra Nayak, Braidwell Partner. "Caris has continued to advance its position among physicians, patients and biopharma partners as a trusted provider, molecular science leader and innovator."

After receiving FDA approval, Caris recently launched MI Cancer Seek, the first and only simultaneous Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing-based assay with FDA-approved CDx indications for molecular profiling of solid tumors for adult and pediatric patients. Additionally, the organization commercially launched Caris Assure for therapy selection in 2024. This minimally invasive, blood-based assay utilizes a novel circulating Nucleic Acid Sequencing (cNAS) approach with Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing to analyze cell-free DNA and RNA from plasma, as well as genomic DNA and messenger RNA from circulating white blood cells to distinguish somatic tumor, incidental clonal hematopoiesis and incidental germline variants.

European Commission Approves Subcutaneous RYBREVANT® (amivantamab) Co-Formulated with ENHANZE® for the Treatment of Patients with Advanced EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

On April 7, 2025 Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) (Halozyme) reported that Janssen-Cilag International NV, a Johnson & Johnson company, has received European Commission (EC) marketing authorization of the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of RYBREVANT (amivantamab), in combination with LAZCLUZE (lazertinib), for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations (Press release, Halozyme, APR 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234651821]). Additionally, it is approved as a monotherapy for adult patients with advanced NSCLC with activating EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations after the failure of platinum-based therapy.

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Subcutaneous amivantamab is co-formulated Halozyme’s ENHANZE drug delivery technology.

"We are delighted to announce the European approval of the subcutaneous formulation of amivantamab, developed using our innovative ENHANZE drug delivery technology. This marks our tenth approved partner product," said Dr. Helen Torley, President and CEO of Halozyme. "The data supporting this approval showed a reduced administration time and decrease in infusion-related reactions, which could have a positive impact on the healthcare system."

The EC approval is supported by positive results from the Phase 3 PALOMA-3 study (NCT05388669). For detailed information on the study and its findings, please refer to Johnson & Johnson’s press release issued today.1

1 Leighl NB et al. Subcutaneous Versus Intravenous Amivantamab, Both in Combination With Lazertinib, in Refractory Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor–Mutated Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: Primary Results From the Phase III PALOMA-3 Study. ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2024;42(3):3593-3605.