Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma

Melbourne, Australia, 17 October 2023 – Cartherics Pty Ltd (“Cartherics” or “Company”), a biotechnology company developing immune cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, announced today that it has appointed Dr Walid Azar as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), effective immediately. He holds extensive experience from a diverse scientific background encompassing both academic research and the biotechnology industry. Prior to joining Cartherics three years ago, Dr Azar worked as a molecular biologist at CSL Limited, where he was part of the international R&D team. He brings valuable expertise in cancer research to the CSO role, having completed a PhD in molecular biology and biochemistry at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, focusing on clear cell carcinoma, a rare subtype of ovarian cancer. As CSO, Dr Azar will be responsible for overseeing the Company’s scientific activities, building on current capabilities, product pipeline, and platforms. This includes ensuring that the Company remains at the forefront of the latest developments in the immune cell therapy space. He will also be focused on managing and leading the team of highly skilled and committed scientists working at Cartherics. “I am passionate about developing novel treatments for cancer and there is a strong alignment between Cartherics’ mission and my commitment to delivering new options for cancer patients. It is great to be working alongside very talented and committed scientists with the same goal,” said Dr Azar. “CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies are yet to reach their potential in solid tumours. With the rapid developments in gene editing technologies and our evolving knowledge of the tumour microenvironment and NK cell biology, there is an opportunity for us to significantly improve the efficacy of CAR-NK therapy in solid tumours,” Dr Azar added. Cartherics CEO, Prof Alan Trounson AO, commented: “We are pleased to promote Walid to this important position. He has a strong background in molecular genomics cancer research, and science management, and will be a valuable addition to the Company’s executive team. Prof Richard Boyd will remain with the Company as Chief Scientific Advisor, a part-time advisory role, and will act as a mentor for Walid. The combination will enable us to maintain excellence in immunology and genomics/gene editing.” About Cartherics Cartherics is a privately held biotechnology company based in Melbourne, Australia that is rearming the body’s immune system to fight cancer.  It is developing cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, with a portfolio of CAR-T and CAR-NK cell products.  The Company’s allogeneic (“off-the-shelf”) cell platform is based upon induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from donated cord blood that can be differentiated into NK cells, T cells and other cells of the immune system.  The iPSCs are genetically engineered to provide enhanced function for the derived NK and other immune cells. The Company is also developing autologous CAR-T cell therapies. These use the patient’s own immune system T cells, which are modified to be effective against the patient’s cancer cells. CTH-004 is created by genetically modifying patient T cells to insert a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to target a marker (TAG-72) on ovarian cancer cells and delete genes that are involved in suppression of T cell function. Cartherics media contact Christine Filippis Teraze Communications Phone: +61 419 119 866 Email: christine@teraze.com.au

SEATTLE, April 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SEngine Precision Medicine , a precision oncology company revolutionizing cancer therapies by pre-testing drugs on patient-derived tumor organoids, announced today that the PARIS® Test was utilized in a study to identify novel drug targets and combinations to combat ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC). The study, “Targeting BET proteins BRD2 and BRD3 in combination with PI3K-AKT inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for ovarian clear cell carcinoma,” was recently published in American Association for Cancer Research’s Molecular Cancer Therapeutics and was co-authored by researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, SEngine Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the University of Washington. Ovarian clear cell carcinoma, a relatively uncommon subtype of ovarian cancer, has historically been treated with the same platinum-based chemotherapies as patients with high grade serous carcinoma. However, clear cell carcinoma patients typically display a poorer response to chemotherapies, which leads to lower overall survival for these patients. In this study, researchers identified BET proteins BRD2 and BRD3 as novel targets against ovarian clear cell carcinoma, which could lead to more effective targeted therapies for this subtype. Additional drug sensitivity screening identified the combination of BET protein and PI3K-AKT pathway inhibitors as a promising therapeutic path for further investigation. SEngine’s PARIS® Test, a high-throughput drug sensitivity assay using patient-derived tumor organoids, was utilized in this study to validate the drug-response findings on ovarian cancer cell models. In addition to the PARIS® Test already being utilized as a clinical tool guiding oncologists’ treatment decisions for patients with ovarian cancer, this study demonstrates the power of SEngine’s functional drug sensitivity assay to identify novel therapeutic targets and drug synergies to combat hard-to-treat ovarian cancers. "We are excited to share these new findings that identified two novel BET proteins as candidate therapeutic targets for OCCC and suggest a potential drug combination therapeutic strategy for OCCC,” said Shogo Shigeta, MD, PhD, current Research Associate in the department of gynecology at the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and lead author of the study. “The validation of our study with organoids derived from patient samples will help enable rapid clinical translation." “In this study, SEngine’s PARIS® Test was applied to patient derived tumor cells to identify new therapeutic strategies for hard-to-treat cancers. This is yet another example of the benefit that functional testing brings to oncologists seeking novel treatment options,” commented Carla Grandori, MD, PhD, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of SEngine Precision Medicine. About PARIS® Test The PARIS® Test is based on the capability to propagate patient-specific cancer cells as organoids outside the body and is applicable to all solid tumors including colon, breast, lung, ovarian and pancreatic cancer. Organoids are cancer-derived cells grown in 3D outside the body, which maintain the functionality of the original tumor as well as its genomic characteristics. For cancers where a treatment path is not clear, such as many metastatic and recurrent cancers, the PARIS® Test provides crucial information to treating physicians to match the right drug to the right patient. About SEngine Precision Medicine SEngine Precision Medicine Inc. is a precision oncology company revolutionizing cancer therapies by pre-testing drugs on patient-derived organoids grown ex-vivo utilizing patient specific tumor cells. As a spin-out from the world-renowned Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, SEngine is leveraging over two decades of R&D in diagnostics and drug discovery. The Company is commercializing the PARIS® Test, a next generation diagnostic test that predicts drug responses integrating knowledge of cancer genomics with organoids, robotics, and AI-driven computational tools. SEngine’s CLIA certified PARIS® Test generates predictive drug sensitivity reports for patients with solid tumors. SEngine is also pursuing drug discovery via strategic collaborations with biopharmaceutical / pharma companies leveraging its precision oncology platform. Discover more at SengineMedicine.com and follow the latest news from SEngine on Twitter at @SEngineMedicine and on LinkedIn . Contact: Stephanie Carrington stephanie.carrington@westwicke.com 646-277-1282

March 31, 2021 05:01 UTC Approval based on CheckMate -9ER trial, in which CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO doubled progression-free survival and objective response rate while significantly improving overall survival versus sunitinib ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) today announced its partner Ipsen received approval from the European Commission (EC) for CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab) as a first-line treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This approval allows for the marketing of CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO in this indication in all 27 member states of the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. “We are excited that CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO will now be available in Europe, where newly diagnosed kidney cancer patients are in need of additional options that have shown consistent superiority compared to sunitinib across all key efficacy endpoints of progression-free survival, objective response rate and overall survival with a low rate of treatment discontinuations due to side effects,” said Gisela Schwab, M.D., President, Product Development and Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Exelixis. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Ipsen with the shared goal of improving treatment outcomes for people with cancer.” The EC approval is based on results of the phase 3 CheckMate -9ER pivotal trial, in which the combination regimen doubled progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) while significantly improving overall survival (OS) compared with sunitinib. The combination regimen was generally well tolerated and reflected the known safety profiles of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor and immunotherapy components in previously untreated advanced RCC. CABOMETYX is also approved in the European Union as a monotherapy for the treatment of advanced RCC in adults who have received prior VEGF-targeted therapy, for previously untreated intermediate- or poor-risk advanced RCC, and for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in adults who have been previously treated with sorafenib. The EC approval of CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the combination regimen for the first-line treatment of advanced RCC in January 2021. About the CheckMate -9ER Trial CheckMate -9ER is an open-label, randomized (1:1), multi-national phase 3 trial evaluating patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma with a clear cell component. A total of 651 patients (22% favorable risk, 58% intermediate risk, 20% poor risk; 25% PD-L1 ≥1%) were randomized to CABOMETYX at an oral dose of 40 mg once-daily in combination with OPDIVO administered intravenously at a dose of 240 mg every 2 weeks (n = 323) versus sunitinib administered orally at a dose of 50 mg once daily for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks off (6-week cycle) (n = 328). The primary efficacy analysis compares the doublet combination regimen of CABOMETYX and OPDIVO versus sunitinib in all randomized patients. Secondary endpoints include OS and ORR. The trial is sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical Co. and co-funded by Exelixis, Ipsen and Takeda. About RCC The American Cancer Society’s 2021 statistics cite kidney cancer as among the top ten most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer among both men and women in the U.S.1 Clear cell RCC is the most common form of kidney cancer in adults.2 If detected in its early stages, the five-year survival rate for RCC is high; for patients with advanced or late-stage metastatic RCC, however, the five-year survival rate is only 13%.1 Approximately 32,000 patients in the U.S. and 71,000 worldwide will require systemic treatment for advanced kidney cancer in 2021.3 About 70% of RCC cases are known as “clear cell” carcinomas, based on histology.4 The majority of clear cell RCC tumors have below-normal levels of a protein called von Hippel-Lindau, which leads to higher levels of MET, AXL and VEGF.5,6 These proteins promote tumor angiogenesis (blood vessel growth), growth, invasiveness and metastasis.7,8,9,10 MET and AXL may provide escape pathways that drive resistance to VEGF receptor inhibitors.6,7 About CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) In the U.S., CABOMETYX tablets are approved for the treatment of patients with advanced RCC; for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have been previously treated with sorafenib; and for patients with advanced RCC as a first-line treatment in combination with OPDIVO. CABOMETYX tablets have also received regulatory approvals in the European Union and additional countries and regions worldwide. In 2016, Exelixis granted Ipsen exclusive rights for the commercialization and further clinical development of cabozantinib outside of the United States and Japan. In 2017, Exelixis granted exclusive rights to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited for the commercialization and further clinical development of cabozantinib for all future indications in Japan. Exelixis holds the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize cabozantinib in the United States. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Hemorrhage: Severe and fatal hemorrhages occurred with CABOMETYX. The incidence of Grade 3 to 5 hemorrhagic events was 5% in CABOMETYX patients in RCC and HCC studies. Discontinue CABOMETYX for Grade 3 or 4 hemorrhage. Do not administer CABOMETYX to patients who have a recent history of hemorrhage, including hemoptysis, hematemesis, or melena. Perforations and Fistulas: Fistulas, including fatal cases, occurred in 1% of CABOMETYX patients. Gastrointestinal (GI) perforations, including fatal cases, occurred in 1% of CABOMETYX patients. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of fistulas and perforations, including abscess and sepsis. Discontinue CABOMETYX in patients who experience a Grade 4 fistula or a GI perforation. Thrombotic Events: CABOMETYX increased the risk of thrombotic events. Venous thromboembolism occurred in 7% (including 4% pulmonary embolism) and arterial thromboembolism in 2% of CABOMETYX patients. Fatal thrombotic events occurred in CABOMETYX patients. Discontinue CABOMETYX in patients who develop an acute myocardial infarction or serious arterial or venous thromboembolic events that require medical intervention. Hypertension and Hypertensive Crisis: CABOMETYX can cause hypertension, including hypertensive crisis. Hypertension was reported in 36% (17% Grade 3 and <1% Grade 4) of CABOMETYX patients. Do not initiate CABOMETYX in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Monitor blood pressure regularly during CABOMETYX treatment. Withhold CABOMETYX for hypertension that is not adequately controlled with medical management; when controlled, resume at a reduced dose. Discontinue CABOMETYX for severe hypertension that cannot be controlled with anti-hypertensive therapy or for hypertensive crisis. Diarrhea: Diarrhea occurred in 63% of CABOMETYX patients. Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in 11% of CABOMETYX patients. Withhold CABOMETYX until improvement to Grade 1 and resume at a reduced dose for intolerable Grade 2 diarrhea, Grade 3 diarrhea that cannot be managed with standard antidiarrheal treatments, or Grade 4 diarrhea. Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia (PPE): PPE occurred in 44% of CABOMETYX patients. Grade 3 PPE occurred in 13% of CABOMETYX patients. Withhold CABOMETYX until improvement to Grade 1 and resume at a reduced dose for intolerable Grade 2 PPE or Grade 3 PPE. Hepatotoxicity: CABOMETYX in combination with nivolumab can cause hepatic toxicity with higher frequencies of Grades 3 and 4 ALT and AST elevations compared to CABOMETYX alone. Monitor liver enzymes before initiation of and periodically throughout treatment. Consider more frequent monitoring of liver enzymes than when the drugs are administered as single agents. For elevated liver enzymes, interrupt CABOMETYX and nivolumab and consider administering corticosteroids. With the combination of CABOMETYX and nivolumab, Grades 3 and 4 increased ALT or AST were seen in 11% of patients. ALT or AST >3 times ULN (Grade ≥2) was reported in 83 patients, of whom 23 (28%) received systemic corticosteroids; ALT or AST resolved to Grades 0-1 in 74 (89%). Among the 44 patients with Grade ≥2 increased ALT or AST who were rechallenged with either CABOMETYX (n=9) or nivolumab (n=11) as a single agent or with both (n=24), recurrence of Grade ≥2 increased ALT or AST was observed in 2 patients receiving CABOMETYX, 2 patients receiving nivolumab, and 7 patients receiving both CABOMETYX and nivolumab. Adrenal Insufficiency: CABOMETYX in combination with nivolumab can cause primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency. For Grade 2 or higher adrenal insufficiency, initiate symptomatic treatment, including hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Withhold CABOMETYX and/or nivolumab depending on severity. Adrenal insufficiency occurred in 4.7% (15/320) of patients with RCC who received CABOMETYX with nivolumab, including Grade 3 (2.2%), and Grade 2 (1.9%) adverse reactions. Adrenal insufficiency led to permanent discontinuation of CABOMETYX and nivolumab in 0.9% and withholding of CABOMETYX and nivolumab in 2.8% of patients with RCC. Approximately 80% (12/15) of patients with adrenal insufficiency received hormone replacement therapy, including systemic corticosteroids. Adrenal insufficiency resolved in 27% (n=4) of the 15 patients. Of the 9 patients in whom CABOMETYX with nivolumab was withheld for adrenal insufficiency, 6 reinstated treatment after symptom improvement; of these, all (n=6) received hormone replacement therapy and 2 had recurrence of adrenal insufficiency. Proteinuria: Proteinuria was observed in 7% of CABOMETYX patients. Monitor urine protein regularly during CABOMETYX treatment. Discontinue CABOMETYX in patients who develop nephrotic syndrome. Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ): ONJ occurred in <1% of CABOMETYX patients. ONJ can manifest as jaw pain, osteomyelitis, osteitis, bone erosion, tooth or periodontal infection, toothache, gingival ulceration or erosion, persistent jaw pain, or slow healing of the mouth or jaw after dental surgery. Perform an oral examination prior to CABOMETYX initiation and periodically during treatment. Advise patients regarding good oral hygiene practices. Withhold CABOMETYX for at least 3 weeks prior to scheduled dental surgery or invasive dental procedures, if possible. Withhold CABOMETYX for development of ONJ until complete resolution. Impaired Wound Healing: Wound complications occurred with CABOMETYX. Withhold CABOMETYX for at least 3 weeks prior to elective surgery. Do not administer CABOMETYX for at least 2 weeks after major surgery and until adequate wound healing is observed. The safety of resumption of CABOMETYX after resolution of wound healing complications has not been established. Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS): RPLS, a syndrome of subcortical vasogenic edema diagnosed by characteristic findings on MRI, can occur with CABOMETYX. Evaluate for RPLS in patients presenting with seizures, headache, visual disturbances, confusion, or altered mental function. Discontinue CABOMETYX in patients who develop RPLS. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: CABOMETYX can cause fetal harm. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Verify the pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiating CABOMETYX and advise them to use effective contraception during treatment and for 4 months after the last dose. ADVERSE REACTIONS The most common (≥20%) adverse reactions are: CABOMETYX as a single agent: diarrhea, fatigue, decreased appetite, PPE, nausea, hypertension, vomiting, weight decreased, constipation, and dysphonia. CABOMETYX in combination with nivolumab: diarrhea, fatigue, hepatotoxicity, PPE, stomatitis, rash, hypertension, hypothyroidism, musculoskeletal pain, decreased appetite, nausea, dysgeusia, abdominal pain, cough, and upper respiratory tract infection. DRUG INTERACTIONS Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors: If coadministration with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors cannot be avoided, reduce the CABOMETYX dosage. Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Strong CYP3A4 Inducers: If coadministration with strong CYP3A4 inducers cannot be avoided, increase the CABOMETYX dosage. Avoid St. John’s wort. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Lactation: Advise women not to breastfeed during CABOMETYX treatment and for 4 months after the final dose. Hepatic Impairment: In patients with moderate hepatic impairment, reduce the CABOMETYX dosage. Avoid CABOMETYX in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information . You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit or call 1-800-FDA-1088. About Exelixis Founded in 1994, Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) is a commercially successful, oncology-focused biotechnology company that strives to accelerate the discovery, development and commercialization of new medicines for difficult-to-treat cancers. Following early work in model system genetics, we established a broad drug discovery and development platform that has served as the foundation for our continued efforts to bring new cancer therapies to patients in need. Our discovery efforts have resulted in four commercially available products, CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib), COMETRIQ® (cabozantinib), COTELLIC® (cobimetinib) and MINNEBRO® (esaxerenone), and we have entered into partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies to bring these important medicines to patients worldwide. Supported by revenues from our marketed products and collaborations, we are committed to prudently reinvesting in our business to maximize the potential of our pipeline. We are supplementing our existing therapeutic assets with targeted business development activities and internal drug discovery – all to deliver the next generation of Exelixis medicines and help patients recover stronger and live longer. Exelixis is a member of the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) MidCap 400 index, which measures the performance of profitable mid-sized companies. In November 2020, the company was named to Fortune’s 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list for the first time, ranking 17th overall and the third-highest biopharmaceutical company. For more information about Exelixis, please visit , follow @ExelixisInc on Twitter or like Exelixis, Inc. on Facebook. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements related to: the therapeutic and commercial potential of CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO as a treatment for kidney cancer patients in Europe; Exelixis’ and Ipsen’s shared goal of improving treatment outcomes for people with cancer; and Exelixis’ plans to reinvest in its business to maximize the potential of the company’s pipeline, including through targeted business development activities and internal drug discovery. Any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements and are based upon Exelixis’ current plans, assumptions, beliefs, expectations, estimates and projections. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: the degree of market acceptance that the combination of CABOMETYX and OPDIVO may achieve in the European Union; Exelixis’ dependence on its relationship with Ipsen, including Ipsen’s investment in the resources necessary to successfully commercialize CABOMETYX in the European Union; Exelixis’ and Ipsen’s ability to maintain and scale adequate sales, marketing, market access and product distribution capabilities for CABOMETYX or to enter into and maintain agreements with third parties to do so; Exelixis’ and Ipsen’s continuing compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements; the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Exelixis’ and Ipsen’s commercial activities; Exelixis’ ability to protect its intellectual property rights; Exelixis’ dependence on third-party vendors for the development, manufacture and supply of cabozantinib; market competition, including the potential for competitors to obtain approval for generic versions of CABOMETYX; changes in economic and business conditions; and other factors affecting Exelixis and its commercial programs and partnerships discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Exelixis’ Annual Report on Form 10-K submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 10, 2021, and in Exelixis’ future filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Exelixis as of the date of this press release, and Exelixis undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as required by law. Exelixis, the Exelixis logo, CABOMETYX, COMETRIQ and COTELLIC are registered U.S. trademarks. MINNEBRO is a Japanese trademark. OPDIVO® is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. 1 American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. Available at: . Accessed March 2021. 2Jonasch, E., Gao, J., Rathmell, W., Renal cell carcinoma. BMJ. 2014; 349:g4797. 3Decision Resources Report: Renal Cell Carcinoma. October 2014 (internal data on 4American Cancer Society: What is Kidney Cancer? Available at: . Accessed March 2021. 5Harshman, L., and Choueiri, T. Targeting the hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met signaling pathway in renal cell carcinoma. Cancer J. 2013; 19:316-323. 6Rankin, et al. Direct regulation of GAS6/AXL signaling by HIF promotes renal metastasis through SRC and MET. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2014; 111:13373-13378. 7Zhou, L., Liu, X-D., Sun, M., et al. Targeting MET and AXL overcomes resistance to sunitinib therapy in renal cell carcinoma. Oncogene. 2016; 35:2687-2697. 8Koochekpour, et al. The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene inhibits hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor-induced invasion and branching morphogenesis in renal carcinoma cells. Mol Cell Biol. 1999; 19:5902–5912. 9Takahashi, A., Sasaki, H., Kim, S., et al. Markedly increased amounts of messenger RNAs for vascular endothelial growth factor and placenta growth factor in renal cell carcinoma associated with angiogenesis. Cancer Res. 1994; 54:4233-4237. 10Nakagawa, M., Emoto, A., Hanada, T., Nasu, N., Nomura, Y. Tubulogenesis by microvascular endothelial cells is mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in renal cell carcinoma. Br J Urol. 1997; 79:681-687. View source version on businesswire.com: Contacts Investors Contact: Susan Hubbard EVP, Public Affairs and Investor Relations Exelixis, Inc. (650) 837-8194 shubbard@exelixis.com Source: Exelixis, Inc. View this news release online at: