Tolero Pharmaceuticals Presents Findings from Phase 1 Zella 101 Clinical Study Evaluating Investigational Agent Alvocidib in Patients with Newly…

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Tolero Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage company focused on developing novel therapeutics for hematological and oncological diseases, today presented data from the completed Phase 1 Zella 101 study evaluating the investigational agent alvocidib, a potent CDK9 inhibitor, in adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These results were presented in a poster presentation at the 25th European Hematology Association (EHA) Virtual Congress, being held June 11-14, 2020.

Updated findings from the Phase 1, dose-escalation, safety and biomarker study of alvocidib followed by cytarabine and daunorubicin (7+3) induction therapy showed encouraging clinical activity and a tolerable safety profile in adults with newly diagnosed AML. In the study, 71% (n=22 of 31) of evaluable patients achieved complete remission (CR), with an overall response rate (ORR) of 77% (n=24 of 31). Additionally, an exploratory cohort of the study found that 89% (n=8 of 9) of patients achieved measurable residual disease (MRD)-negativity.At a median of 9.2 months follow-up, overall survival was not reached, with 62% of patients alive at data cut-off.1

The maximum tolerated dose of alvocidib was determined to be 30 mg/m2 IV bolus followed by 60 mg/m2 IV over 4 hours and no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed. The most frequently observed treatment-emergent, nonhematologic adverse events of Grade 3 or higher were diarrhea, tumor lysis syndrome and hypocalcemia, which all resolved with supportive care.1

"AML is an aggressive blood cancer which can progress rapidly and remains difficult to treat. We are pleased with the clinical responses, including overall survival, observed in newly diagnosed AML patients treated with alvocidib followed by standard induction therapy. In addition, the high level of MRD-negativity, a meaningful indicator of durable response, is particularly encouraging," said David J. Bearss, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Tolero Pharmaceuticals, and Chief Scientific Officer and Global Head of Research, Global Oncology. "We are excited to continue the advancement of this program and further investigate the potential role of alvocidib in contributing to a durable complete remission and achievement of MRD-negativity."

Below are the details for the presentation:

Abstract Title

Details

Author

Alvocidib Followed by 7+3 Induction in Newly Diagnosed AML Achieves High Rates of MRD-Negative CR: Results of a Phase 1 Dose Escalation Study

Poster# 551

June 12, 2020

8:30 a.m. CEST

e-Poster Presentation

Joshua F. Zeidner, M.D., University of North Carolina

About Alvocidib

Alvocidib is an investigational small molecule inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) currently being evaluated in the ongoing Phase 2 Zella 202 study in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who have either relapsed from or are refractory to venetoclax in combination with azacitidine or decitabine (NCT03969420).Alvocidib is also being evaluated in Zella 102, a Phase 1b/2 study in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in combination with azacitidine or decitabine (NCT03593915) and in a Phase 1 study in patients with relapsed or refractory AML in combination with venetoclax (NCT03441555).

About CDK9 Inhibition and MCL-1

MCL-1 is a member of the apoptosis-regulating BCL-2 family of proteins.2 In normal function, it is essential for early embryonic development and for the survival of multiple cell lineages, including lymphocytes and hematopoietic stem cells.3 MCL-1 inhibits apoptosis and sustains the survival of leukemic blasts, which may lead to relapse or resistance to treatment.2,4 The expression of MCL-1 in leukemic blasts is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9).5,6 Because of the short half-life of MCL-1 (2-4 hours), the effects of targeting upstream pathways are expected to reduce MCL-1 levels rapidly.5 Inhibition of CDK9 has been shown to block MCL-1 transcription, resulting in the rapid downregulation of MCL-1 protein, thus restoring the normal apoptotic regulation.2

About Tolero Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Tolero Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company researching and developing treatments to improve and extend the lives of patients with hematological and oncological diseases. Tolero has a diverse pipeline that targets important biological drivers of blood disorders to treat leukemias, anemia, and solid tumors, as well as targets of drug resistance and transcriptional control.

Tolero Pharmaceuticals is based in the United States and is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., a pharmaceutical company based in Japan. Tolero works closely with its parent company, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, and Boston Biomedical, Inc., also a wholly owned subsidiary, to advance a pipeline of innovative oncology treatments. The organizations apply their expertise and collaborate to achieve a common objective - expediting the discovery, development and commercialization of novel treatment options.

Additional information about the company and its product pipeline can be found at http://www.toleropharma.com.

Tolero Pharmaceuticals Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of information presently available, and involve both known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from current expectations. Any forward-looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. Information concerning pharmaceuticals (including compounds under development) contained within this material is not intended as advertising or medical advice.

References

1 Zeidner, Joshua et al. "Alvocidib Followed by 7+3 Induction in Newly Diagnosed AML Achieves High Rates of MRD-Negative CR: Results of a Phase 1 Dose Escalation Study." 25th European Hematology Association (EHA) Virtual Annual Congress. 12 June 2020. Poster presentation 551

2 Thomas D, Powell JA, Vergez F, et al. Targeting acute myeloid leukemia by dual inhibition of PI3K signaling and Cdk9-mediated Mcl-1 transcription. Blood. 2013;122(5):738-748.

3 Perciavalle RM, Opferman JT. Delving deeper: MCL-1's contributions to normal and cancer biology. Trends Cell Biol. 2013;23(1):22-29.

4 Glaser SP, Lee EF, Trounson E, et al. Anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 is essential for the development and sustained growth of acute myeloid leukemia. Genes Dev. 2012;26(2):120-125.

5 Chen R, Keating MJ, Gandhi V, Plunkett W. Transcription inhibition by flavopiridol: mechanism of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell death. Blood. 2005;106(7):2513-2519.

6 Ocana A, Pandiella A. Targeting oncogenic vulnerabilities in triple negative breast cancer: biological bases and ongoing clinical studies. Oncotarget. 2017;8(13):22218-22234

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Momenta clears a PhII hurdle on nipo but one big rival remains well in the lead in this packed field – Endpoints News

Beijing-based Sinovac has posted a positive preliminary snapshot of human data from the Phase I/II study of their vaccine for coronavirus, showing that the jab was able to safely spur protective antibodies in more than 90% of the volunteers involved.

The biotech reported Saturday that they had recruited 743 patients for the two-step trial, with 143 in Phase I and the rest in Phase II.

The neutralizing antibody seroconversion rate is above 90%, the company states, which concludes the vaccine candidate can induce positive immune response. Thats about all youre getting at this stage of the process, though, with little hard data in their statement to decipher.

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Momenta clears a PhII hurdle on nipo but one big rival remains well in the lead in this packed field - Endpoints News

Leukemia Therapeutic Market to Witness Exponential Rise in Revenue Share During the Forecast Period 2015 to 2021 – The Canton Independent Sentinel

Cancer is a disease of genes caused by uncontrolled growth of cells. These uncontrolled cells further migrate from the original site to other site through blood and lymph system. There are various type of cancer such as adrenal cancer, leukemia, bone cancer, blood cancer and others. Leukemia is a type of cancer which is formed in blood tissues. Leukemia occurs in bone marrow which is a soft tissue. Leukemia develops by the uncontrolled growth of blood cells in the bone marrow. Leukemia is also defined as a cancer of white blood cells. White blood cells prevent from various infections. Leukemia may be acute or chronic and it also affects red blood cells and platelets.

Some of the common symptoms of leukemia include fever, night sweats, weight loss, enlarged liver, frequent infections and swollen lymph nodes. Acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are some of the different types of leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia is most prominent in adult people and it is also known as acute myelogenous leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia is also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia. Leukemia therapeutics consists of three steps including induction therapy, consolidation therapy and maintenance therapy. Leukemia therapeutic includes chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell transplantation. Leukemia is diagnosed through physical test, blood test and biopsy. Leukemia is also diagnosed by cytogenetics, spinal tap and chest-X ray as suggested by the doctors.

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North America followed by Europe dominates the global leukemia therapeutics market due to rising incidence of cancer and growing aging population. Asia is expected to show high growth rate due to rising incidence of cancer. China and India are expected to be the fastest growing leukemia markets in Asia region. Some of the key driving forces for the leukemia therapeutic market in emerging countries are increasing R&D investment, large pool of patients and rising government funding.

In recent time there is increased use of leukemia therapeutic due to rising number of cancer diseases across the world. Rising aging population, lifestyle factors and increasing awareness for healthcare are some of the key driving factors for the growth of the global leukemia therapeutics market. In addition, innovative and targeted drug delivery is also fuelling the growth of the global leukemia therapeutics market. However, availability of large numbers of generic form of drugs and limited treatment options are some of the major factors restraining the growth of the global leukemia therapeutics market. In addition, high unmet need for diagnosis is also restraining the growth of the global leukemia therapeutics market.

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Off label prescribing would support the growth of the global leukemia therapeutics market. In addition, limited number of market players would supports the entry of new market players. Innovative and safer therapies could develop an opportunity for growth of the global leukemia therapeutic market.

However, adverse effect caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy could lead a challenge for the global leukemia therapeutics market. Some of the major companies operating in the global leukemia therapeutic market are

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Leukemia Therapeutic Market to Witness Exponential Rise in Revenue Share During the Forecast Period 2015 to 2021 - The Canton Independent Sentinel

Want to save a life? Try to give blood. Then keep trying. – Tampa Bay Times

Stephanie Hayes | A diverse blood supply may help people get through coronavirus and more.

When youre sitting on the Big Red Bus, spend some time thinking about Charles Drew.

The African American surgeon and researcher invented a process of separating blood, prolonging the storage life of plasma. Considered the father of modern blood banking, he developed mobile donation and opened large blood banks during World War II. Later, he taught countless doctors at Howard University.

Seventy years after his death comes our spring of reckoning. As we try to create a more just and equitable world, blood plays a role.

The nonprofit OneBlood does this work locally. It isnt taking walk-ins or parking the iconic bus at movie theaters and high schools right now. Donation is all via appointment. And since May, OneBlood has offered donors a free coronavirus antibody test. It explains, with some room for error, if you had the virus but didnt know it.

If you did, your convalescent plasma can be split off (thanks, Dr. Drew!) and given to COVID-19 patients in an experimental treatment that may help fight the virus. Coronavirus patients are disproportionately black and Hispanic, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The disease is hitting minorities for a host of reasons, most of which stem from the systemic inequalities now under the national microscope.

Coronavirus aside, theres a need for a more diverse blood pool. Four percent of blood donors are black, said OneBlood spokeswoman Susan Forbes. Thats too low, because black donors hold the key to treating sickle cell anemia, a disorder that primarily affects African Americans and can require lifelong blood transfusions.

We live in a diverse country, and we have people here from all over the world," Forbes said. "Different ethnic groups and genetics play a role in finding matches for people who need blood.

Shamefully, it has been seven years since I donated blood. My vessels are like dental floss, and finding an entry can be a gnarly expedition. And honestly, it is alarming to watch the blood bail out. Dont I need that?

But if 2020 isnt the time to get over ourselves, no time is. Despite my lily-livered ways, I made my appointment. Twice. I failed to pass the bar. Twice. My iron was too low, even after a bacon cheeseburger, a moat of spinach, a pantheon of chicken and a barge of quinoa. Please do not write telling me to take iron supplements. I have thought of this.

Other potential obstacles range from pregnancy to medications. And heres one: For decades, a federal rule restricted men who had sex with men from donating blood, a decision born of the AIDS crisis. As these COVID patients were turned away from blood centers in April, the Food and Drug Administration relaxed the abstinence period to three months. Thats still not great. More studies are coming as some doctors and advocates work to end the rule. Forbes said men who have been deferred should contact OneBlood to get reinstated.

Lets do the best we can here. Dont be like me and wait years. Eligible people can donate whole blood every 56 days, plasma every 28 and platelets every seven. Help someone hurt by the pandemic. But know, too, that cancer patients and premature babies and sickle cell patients will not go away when the crisis fades.

To make an appointment, visit oneblood.org or call 1-888-9DONATE.

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Want to save a life? Try to give blood. Then keep trying. - Tampa Bay Times

Rare disease startup NFlection scores $20M in Series A haul; Gilead partner Galapagos signs pact with Oxford biotech – Endpoints News

A Wayne, PA-based startup called NFlection has raised $20 million in their Series A launch round. F-Prime and venBio Partners provided the cash for the rare disease biotech, funding their first clinical trial for NFX-179 Gel in adult patients with cutaneous neurofibromatosis type-1, or NF-1. This study allows us to determine the drugs ability to suppress key biomarkers involved in the progression of neurofibromas and will aid in the selection of doses for a larger Phase2bstudy, saidCEO Christopher Powala.

Having steered an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis drug to a big-money deal with Gilead, Galapagos has enlisted e-therapeutics and its silico phenotypic screening platform to discover some new approaches to modulating a specific mechanism involved in IPF and possibly other fibrotic diseases. The Oxford biotech will be responsible for the computational activities while Belgium-based Galapagos performs the experimental testing.

BryoLogyx has forged a pair of agreements with Neurotrope. The company agreed to acquire Neurotropes preclinical data and drug product for use of bryostatin-1 in an immuno-oncology application and to supply synthetic bryostatin-1 for use in clinical trials and potential commercialization for the treatment of Alzheimers disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Neurotrope has been developing bryostatin-1 under a cooperative research and development agreement with the National Cancer Institute. They didnt disclose financial terms.

California-based drug developer Rezolute has bagged the FDAs pediatric disease designation for RZ358, its mid-stage drug for congenital hyperinsulinism. The disease, characterized by excess insulin secretion, causes repeated episodes of low blood sugar. The condition often goes unnoticed in infants, putting them at risk of complications of recurring hypoglycemic events, including developmental delays, seizures, coma and death.

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Rare disease startup NFlection scores $20M in Series A haul; Gilead partner Galapagos signs pact with Oxford biotech - Endpoints News

CRISPR and Vertex show durability of gene-editing therapy, hoping for one and done treatment – FierceBiotech

CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex have presented updated data on the first patients treated with their CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing therapy. The partners now have evidence that one-time treatment with CTX001 improves outcomes in sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia patients for up to 15 months.

In November, CRISPR and Vertex moved the gene-editing field beyond an early milestone by linking the use of CTX001 to sustained improvements in the health and biomarkers of two patients with the severe hemoglobinopathies sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. Late last week, the partners used the European Hematology Association virtual congress to share an update on the studies.

CRISPR and Vertex now have data on two beta thalassemia patients. The first patient, who had nine months of follow up as of last years update, has now been tracked out to 15 months after treatment with CTX001. The patients levels of total hemoglobin, fetal hemoglobin and erythrocytes expressing fetal hemoglobin (F-cells) increased between the two updates.

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The partners also have five-month data on a second beta thalassemia patient. The hemoglobin and F-cell levels of the second patient are close to or above those of the first patient at the nine-month mark. Both patients experienced two serious adverse events, none of which the investigator considered to be related to CTX001.

CRISPR and Vertex also used the virtual event to share a nine-month update on a sickle cell patient. Compared to the four-month readout, total hemoglobin and F-cells are up. Fetal hemoglobin is down slightly, but still well above the level likely needed to be efficacious.

The improved biomarker data are supported by evidence the drug is making a meaningful difference to the lives of the patients. The beta thalassemia patients are transfusion independent, having required 34 and 61 units of packed red blood cells a year previously. The subject who required 34 blood units underwent 33 transfusions over the two years before consenting to join the study.

In the sickle cell trial, the patient used to suffer seven vaso-occlusive crises a year, on average. Over the nine months in the study, the patient has been free from vaso-occlusive crises.

The data, which the author of the abstract said demonstrate a functional cure, support the further assessment of CTX001. Efforts to gather more data were hindered by COVID-19, which led to the temporary cessation of elective hematopoietic stem cell transplants at sites in the U.S. and Europe. Some sites are now gearing up to reinitiate dosing.

Even if the restart progresses slowly, CRISPR and Vertex will still be in a position to share more data later in the year. Investigators dosed another three beta thalassemia patients and one sickle cell patient before COVID-19 hit, setting them up to share updates as those subjects pass follow-up milestones.

The updates should also feature longer-term data on the first three patients treated in the trials. In posting long-term data, CRISPR and Vertex will begin to show whether CTX001 has the durability to be a true one-time treatment and, in doing so, carve out a space in a market fought over by rivals such as bluebird bio.

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CRISPR and Vertex show durability of gene-editing therapy, hoping for one and done treatment - FierceBiotech

Trending news Covid-19 impact on Stem Cell Therapy Market Trending news Covid-19 impact on Stem Cell Therapy Market Key Vendors Countries and Forecast…

The global Stem Cell Therapy Market is carefully researched in the report while largely concentrating on top players and their business tactics, geographical expansion, market segments, competitive landscape, manufacturing, and pricing and cost structures. Each section of the research study is specially prepared to explore key aspects of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market. For instance, the market dynamics section digs deep into the drivers, restraints, trends, and opportunities of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market. With qualitative and quantitative analysis, we help you with thorough and comprehensive research on the global Stem Cell Therapy Market. We have also focused on SWOT, PESTLE, and Porters Five Forces analyses of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market.

Leading players of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market are analyzed taking into account their market share, recent developments, new product launches, partnerships, mergers or acquisitions, and markets served. We also provide an exhaustive analysis of their product portfolios to explore the products and applications they concentrate on when operating in the global Stem Cell Therapy Market. Furthermore, the report offers two separate market forecasts one for the production side and another for the consumption side of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market. It also provides useful recommendations for new as well as established players of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market.

Final Stem Cell Therapy Report will add the analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on this Market.

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Major Players:

Osiris Therapeutics NuVasive Chiesi Pharmaceuticals JCRPharmaceutical Pharmicell Medi-post Anterogen Molmed Takeda (TiGenix)

Segmentation by Product:

Autologous Allogeneic

Segmentation by Application:

Musculoskeletal Disorder Wounds & Injuries Cornea Cardiovascular Diseases Others

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The global Stem Cell Therapy market was valued at $XX million in 2018, and MAResearch analysts predict the global market size will reach $XX million by the end of 2028, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2018 and 2028.

This report provides detailed historical analysis of global market for Stem Cell Therapy from 2013-2018, and provides extensive market forecasts from 2020-2028 by region/country and subsectors. It covers the sales volume, price, revenue, gross margin, historical growth and future perspectives in the Stem Cell Therapy market.

Scope of the Report: The all-encompassing research weighs up on various aspects including but not limited to important industry definition, product applications, and product types. The pro-active approach towards analysis of investment feasibility, significant return on investment, supply chain management, import and export status, consumption volume and end-use offers more value to the overall statistics on the Stem Cell Therapy Market. All factors that help business owners identify the next leg for growth are presented through self-explanatory resources such as charts, tables, and graphic images.

The insight has been added in the report to provide realistic overview of the industry, consist of Stem Cell Therapy manufacturers data, i.e. shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, business distribution, etc., SWOT analysis, consumer preference, recent developments and trends, drivers and restrain factors, company profile, investment opportunity, demand gap analysis, forecast market size value/volume, services and product, Porters Five Models, socioeconomic factors, government regulation in Stem Cell Therapy industry. Market players can use the report to peep into the future of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market and bring important changes to their operating style and marketing tactics to achieve sustained growth.

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Competitive Rivalry The chapter on company profiles studies the various companies operating in the global Stem Cell Therapy Market. It evaluates the financial outlooks of these companies, their research and development statuses, and their expansion strategies for the coming years. Analysts have also provided a detailed list of the strategic initiatives taken by the Stem Cell Therapy Market participants in the past few years to remain ahead of the competition.

Table of Contents

Report Overview:It includes major players of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market covered in the research study, research scope, and Market segments by type, market segments by application, years considered for the research study, and objectives of the report.

Global Growth Trends:This section focuses on industry trends where market drivers and top market trends are shed light upon. It also provides growth rates of key producers operating in the global Stem Cell Therapy Market. Furthermore, it offers production and capacity analysis where marketing pricing trends, capacity, production, and production value of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market are discussed.

Market Share by Manufacturers:Here, the report provides details about revenue by manufacturers, production and capacity by manufacturers, price by manufacturers, expansion plans, mergers and acquisitions, and products, market entry dates, distribution, and market areas of key manufacturers.

Market Size by Type:This section concentrates on product type segments where production value market share, price, and production market share by product type are discussed.

Market Size by Application:Besides an overview of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market by application, it gives a study on the consumption in the global Stem Cell Therapy Market by application.

Production by Region:Here, the production value growth rate, production growth rate, import and export, and key players of each regional market are provided.

Consumption by Region:This section provides information on the consumption in each regional market studied in the report. The consumption is discussed on the basis of country, application, and product type.

Company Profiles:Almost all leading players of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market are profiled in this section. The analysts have provided information about their recent developments in the global Stem Cell Therapy Market, products, revenue, production, business, and company.

Market Forecast by Production:The production and production value forecasts included in this section are for the global Stem Cell Therapy Market as well as for key regional markets.

Market Forecast by Consumption:The consumption and consumption value forecasts included in this section are for the global Stem Cell Therapy Market as well as for key regional markets.

Value Chain and Sales Analysis:It deeply analyzes customers, distributors, sales channels, and value chain of the global Stem Cell Therapy Market.

Key Findings: This section gives a quick look at important findings of the research study.

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Trending news Covid-19 impact on Stem Cell Therapy Market Trending news Covid-19 impact on Stem Cell Therapy Market Key Vendors Countries and Forecast...

COVID-19 and cancer care – Pursuit

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All republished articles must be attributed in the following way and contain links to both the site and original article: This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article.

Dr Nienke Zomerdijk

People with cancer may have compromised immunity due to their disease or its treatment. Early reports suggest cancer is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease as a result, many patients with cancer, and their families, are concerned about the risks and impacts of COVID-19.

Their concerns and distress are likely to be compounded by extensive media coverage of the pandemic, rapid changes in information about COVID-19 and continuing uncertainty about how to contain the disease.

On top of this, community transmission of COVID-19 has threatened the capacity of cancer services to provide routine investigations and care. In some cases, this has seen a prioritisation or modification of patients cancer therapies.

For example, chemotherapy may be postponed as this can compromise the immune system and make patients more vulnerable to developing COVID-19 disease.

Patients and families may, in turn, be frightened about not receiving proper treatment.

Another cause for concern is the change in the routine clinical management of cancer patients, partly because patients fear being infected. In Victoria, cancer hospitals have reported a 40 per cent decline in patient presentations for cancer management appointments since the stay-at-home guidelines in late March 2020.

This has raised concern among oncology health professionals about the health and wellbeing of vulnerable cancer patients whose health outcomes are likely to be negatively affected.

As patients are presenting less to hospital, it becomes crucial to develop new ways of identifying any distress in order to provide high-quality cancer management and supportive care.

The restrictions imposed by governments have been effective in limiting the spread of COVID-19, but social distancing, quarantine and visitor limitations have also reduced the opportunity for family support and connection important sources of strength and wellbeing.

These same government restrictions have also increased the use of telehealth to deliver care to cancer patients during COVID-19. Telehealth tools include simple patient health portal messages to relieve triage phone lines, e-consultation and telephone or video-based virtual visits.

The latest data from the Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Networks Telehealth Expert Group found that all of Victorias health services were now using telehealth for cancer care. And these tools may continue to expand, allowing greater access to supportive care beyond this crisis.

However, as useful as it is, this technology may pose issues of trust, isolation, disconnectedness and worries about abandonment as patients no longer benefit from the reassuring structure of the hospital oncology setting.

Telehealth may also not be possible for patients without a computer or internet access, which may create inequities in psychosocial care.

These issues should be considered if we upscale telehealth procedures for cancer patients and want to keep the best changes after the pandemic.

With respect to COVID-19, people with blood cancer are a particularly vulnerable group and require specialised attention and care. This is because blood cancers affect the production and functions of cells created in the bone marrow, which produces all the cells of our immune system.

Additionally, treatment for blood cancers compromise the immune system further, placing patients at very high risk of opportunistic infections, often for an extended period.

Even common respiratory viruses, like colds, can threaten survival. As a result, blood cancer specialists have recommended heightened surveillance and protective isolation for people with blood cancers.

A second major issue for blood cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic is the availability of donor stem cell products for patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Approximately 350 stem cell transplants are performed in Australia every year to treat blood cancers like leukaemia and multiple myeloma.

But finding a suitable stem cell donor is incredibly challenging, and about 80 per cent of donated stem cells come from overseas donors.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 has impacted donor availability due to border restrictions, flight changes and fear of becoming infected, creating very fearful scenarios for those waiting for potentially life-saving stem cell transplantation.

Victoria has already reported a case of a donor cancellation at short notice because the donor was worried about having been in contact with somebody with COVID-19.

The emotional consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for people with blood cancers cannot be underestimated, nor can the consequences for the healthcare providers who care for them.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious and disruptive effect.

In the short term, staff and resources at many hospitals have been reassigned to manage the rush of patients with COVID-19. Healthcare providers are faced with ethical dilemmas and required to make difficult treatment decisions without evidence-based guidelines.

Estimating the risk versus the benefit of administering potentially immunosuppressive treatment to patients with haematological cancers with a scarcity of knowledge about this novel disease, and balancing the individual and societal benefits with stretched resources, poses acute ethical dilemmas.

Making these challenging decisions can create fertile grounds for burnout and trauma.

More than ever, we need to develop ways to nurture healthcare providers.

Consideration of their unique experiences and needs during these exceptionally difficult times is important and we need to flexibly develop services to respond to those needs now and beyond this crisis.

But in developing such services, as well as recognising unmet needs, we have to acknowledge the problem-solving skills, resourcefulness and innovation that patients and healthcare providers have already undertaken as they have strived to adapt to managing cancer during COVID-19.

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Race Oncology confirms positive results from Bisantrene drug trial on patients with advanced acute myeloid leukaemia – Small Caps

Specialty pharmaceutical company Race Oncology (ASX: RAC) has reported positive data from an investigator-initiated Phase II clinical trial of historical cancer drug Bisantrene on patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia.

Conducted at the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel, the open-label, single-agent trial studied 10 patients who, on average, had failed three prior lines of treatment.

Bisantrene was found to be well tolerated with no unexpected or serious toxicities, the company reported.

After a single course of treatment, the drug demonstrated an overall clinical response rate of 40%, with one patient progressing to complete remission and three achieving partial remission.

One patient was bridged to allogeneic stem cell transplantation (where cells are donated to the patient from a genetically-matched donor) and there were no removals or withdrawals from the study during treatment.

The drug also had marked activity in four patients with extramedullary (outside of the bone marrow) acute myeloid leukaemia such as leukemia cutis, chloromas, and central nervous system disease which has historically been difficult to treat.

The most frequently reported serious adverse events were thrombocytopaenia (low blood platelets) and mucositis (mouth ulcers), both of which were expected side effects of anthracyline and anthracene chemotherapeutics.

One patient experienced transient grade one kidney toxicity and there were no liver toxicities observed.

Race said there were no anaphylactoid-type reactions observed in any patient over the course of treatment. This type of reaction was a serious adverse event regularly observed in the historical trials.

Relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia remains a significant therapeutic challenge.

While meaningful gains have been achieved in recent years with the introduction of new targeted drugs, published studies claim the clinical outcomes remain unsatisfactory.

Bisantrene is a small molecule cancer drug related to anthracyclines the most widely-used class of chemotherapy drugs.

Unlike anthracyclines, it has a greatly reduced risk of cardiotoxicity (heart damage), meaning it can be used with patients who have reached their cardiotoxic limit with anthracyclines, or cannot tolerate anthracyclines due to existing heart conditions, age or other factors.

Bisantrene was tested in more than 40 phase II clinical trials during the 1980s and 1990s with up to $200 million put into its development, before it was lost in a series of big pharmaceutical mergers.

Race clinical advisory board chairman and international authority in clinical leukaemia and stem cell research, Professor Borje Andersson, said the trial confirmed historical results which used a different formulation of Bisantrene.

While Bisantrene had been demonstrated in the 1980s as an effective salvage drug against acute myeloid leukaemia, the [clinical] data we had was old, he said.

It was important for us to study it by todays standards using the current formulation, so we could confirm whether our strategy of repurposing this drug is sound.

We also wanted to confirm that Bisantrene could still generate a meaningful response rate in a highly-frail patient population with heavily pre-treated acute myeloid leukaemia, Professor Andersson added.

The study saw a reduction in the leukaemic disease burden and an overall response rate in 40% of the patients.

While we must study the drug further, it appears that with this kind of response, Bisantrene-based therapy may have the potential to serve as an important bridge to allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients who otherwise have few therapeutic options, Professor Andersson said.

Race chief scientific officer Dr Daniel Tillett said a key focus of Phase II clinical trial was to determine Bisantrenes safety in a modern context.

These results are pleasing from a safety and activity perspective, particularly given the clinically-challenging patient population included in the trial, he said.

It was encouraging to see the drugs tolerability profile compared favourably with other commonly-used chemotherapy agents such as anthracyclines, while the side effects were in keeping with what we would expect to see with all chemotherapeutics of this class, Dr Tillett added.

Professor Andersson said the trial found Bisantrene to be an agent with an acceptable safety profile and promising anti-leukaemic activity.

As this was an open-label, single-agent trial, we can be confident that it was the Bisantrene exposure which generated the positive results, he said.

The patient cohort had advanced acute myeloid leukaemia and had previously failed an average of three lines of therapy, so they were always going to be tough to treat, but a 40% overall response rate after only a single course of treatment markedly exceeded our expectations.

It is a hugely promising result and one which reinforces our development plans for this drug, Professor Andersson added.

A follow-up study combining Bisantrene with other anti-leukaemic drugs is currently in the advanced planning stages.

At mid-morning, shares in Race Oncology were up 53.97% to $0.485.

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Race Oncology confirms positive results from Bisantrene drug trial on patients with advanced acute myeloid leukaemia - Small Caps

Biogen’s NURTURE Data, And Other News: The Good, Bad And Ugly Of Biopharma – Seeking Alpha

Biogen Reports Positive Data from Landmark NURTURE Study

Biogen Inc. (BIIB) reported new data from NURTURE which included nearly a year of additional follow-up for NURTURE study participants. It is the longest study of pre-symptomatic patients with spinal muscular atrophy. New data shows that in infants genetically diagnosed with SMA, early and sustained treatment with SPINRAZA for up to 4.8 years enabled unprecedented survival.

As of February 2020, all 25 patients treated were alive and remained free of permanent ventilation. All children who achieved the motor milestone of being able to walk independently, kept up that ability until the last visit. Kathryn Swoboda, M.D., the Katherine B. Sims, M.D., Endowed Chair in Neurogenetics and Director of the Neurogenetics Program, Massachusetts General Hospital said, The impact of early and sustained SPINRAZA treatment on these infants and their families is remarkable. Ive had the privilege to watch them grow into active young children, many of whom have experienced progress in motor function consistent with children their age who do not have SMA.

The patients enrolled in the study received their first dose of SPINRAZA before they were 6 weeks old. The new data showed that the participants who were previously able to walk independently and walk with assistance sustained their ability over the course of 11 months since the last data cut. Over the 11 months of follow-up, one child gained the ability to walk with assistance.

Patients with two copies of SMN2 were able to score and advance on the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded scale. This development is atypical to the natural history of the disease. The drug candidate was found to be well-tolerated and did not show any new safety concerns over the extended follow-up period. further, no patient had to drop out of the study on account of adverse events concerned with the treatment.

SPINRAZA is the first approved therapy for treating infants, children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy, which is a rare, genetic, neuromuscular disease characterized by a loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and lower brain stem. The drug candidate is an antisense oligonucleotide and is administered by intrathecal injection into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. It has been developed using Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:IONS) proprietary technology, which aims to increase the amount of survival motor neuron protein.

Biogen licensed the global rights for developing, manufacturing and commercializing SPINRAZA from Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Both the companies collaborated for developing the therapy. Some of the most common adverse events associated with SPINRAZA are respiratory infection, fever, constipation and headache. Some patients also complained of renal toxicity.

SPINRAZAs main competitor in the market is Zolgensma, which has been developed by Novartis (NYSE:NVS). The therapy comes with a price tag of $750,000 for the first year and $375,000 per annum subsequently.

Biogen is mainly focused on developing therapies for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. It has robust portfolio of medicines for a wide range of ailments such as multiple sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy.

Magenta Therapeutics (MGTA) made a strategic decision to discontinue enrollment for its Phase 2 clinical trial for MGTA-456. The company stated that various factors including the impact of COVID 19 and the FDA feedback regarding the endpoints and design of a registrational study were behind the decision. Magenta stated that it plans to put its resources into promoting stem cell mobilization and conditioning programs.

Magenta made this announcement while providing portfolio update. The company also provided information about its other programs such as MGTA-145, which is a first line stem cell mobilization therapy. The data showed that the drug candidate, when used in conjunction with plerixafor, offers safe, same-day dosing, mobilization and collection of sufficient functional hematopoietic stem cells for transplant.

For MGTA-456, the company said that it has become aware of several challenges facing allogeneic stem cell transplant in patients with non-malignant diseases, leading to the decision to withdraw from the study. However, it expects the enrolment in the Phase 2 investigator-initiated trial in patients with blood cancers to be completed in the near future. Jason Gardner, CEO of the company said, As part of this strategic decision, we will discontinue enrollment in the Phase 2 study of MGTA-456 cell therapy in patients with inherited metabolic disorders. We thank the brave patients and their families who participated in the trial, as well as the dedicated investigators and team members at the clinical trial sites.

Magenta is a biotech firm which is mainly focused on developing novel medicines for various blood cancers, genetic diseases and autoimmune disorders. The company stock is currently trading nearly 30 percent low on Year to Date basis and is facing uncertainty on account of pandemic outbreak and several internal reasons.

Clovis Oncology (CLVS) announced that it has completed enrolment for its Phase 3 ATHENA trial. The company stated that it expects the topline data from the Rubraca monotherapy cohort to be available by the second half 2021, whereas the data from combination cohort will be out by the second half of 2022 or later.

ATHENA trial had the target of enrolling 1,000 ovarian cancer patients and these were enrolled in trial sites spread across 24 countries in North America, Europe and Asia. Patrick J. Mahaffy, CEO of Clovis Oncology, said, The completion of target patient enrollment in the Phase 3 ATHENA trial is an important milestone for Clovis and a critical step toward developing additional therapeutic options for women with advanced ovarian cancer.

Phase 3 ATHENA trial seeks to assess the combination of Rubraca and Opdivo as the first line maintenance treatment for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients after their initial treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. Phase 3 trial is a multinational, randomized and double-blind study. This four-arm trial has investigator-assessed progression-free survival as its primary endpoint while its secondary endpoints include overall survival, response rate and duration of response. The company is using Bristol-Myers Squibb's (NYSE:BMY) PD-1 inhibitor OPDIVO for the combination arm.

Rubraca is an oral, small molecule inhibitor of PARP1, PARP2 and PARP3. It is currently being tested for a wide range of solid tumors and ovarian cancer. In the United States, the drug candidate is already approved as the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal cancer or fallopian tube who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. It is also approved in Europe for certain indications.

Clovis Oncology is mainly focused on developing therapies for various cancers. The company has several collaborations for its development processes.

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Biogen's NURTURE Data, And Other News: The Good, Bad And Ugly Of Biopharma - Seeking Alpha