Aggressive-Phase Chronic Myelocytic Leukemia

ROCKVILLE, Md., USA and SUZHOU, China, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancer, age-related diseases, and chronic hepatitis B (CHB), announced today that it has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a global registrational Phase III trial of olverembatinib (HQP1351) in previously treated adult patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP). Under protocol HQP1351CG301, titled "A Global Multicenter, Open-Label, Randomized, Phase III Registrational Study of Olverembatinib (HQP1351) in Patients with Chronic-Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (POLARIS-2)," the study is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of olverembatinib in the treatment of patients with CML-CP with or without the T315I mutation. The US FDA's clearance of the trial marks the first global registrational Phase III trial for olverembatinib in patients with CP-CML to be conducted. The trial is scheduled to commence during the first half of 2024. Olverembatinib is a global best-in-class novel drug developed by Ascentage Pharma. As the first and only China-approved third-generation BCR-ABL inhibitor, olverembatinib can effectively target BCR-ABL and a spectrum of BCR-ABL mutants, including the T315I mutation. In November 2021, olverembatinib was approved in China for the treatment of adult patients with TKI-resistant CML-CP or accelerated-phase CML (CML-AP) harboring the T315I mutation. In November 2023, olverembatinib was approved for a new indication in adult patients with CML-CP resistant and/or intolerant of first-and second-generation TKIs. And in early 2024, the drug was included in the latest guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for the management of CML. Dr. Dajun Yang, Chairman and CEO of Ascentage Pharma, remarked that, "FDA's clearance of POLARIS-2 marks another major milestone for olverembatinib and our company at large, as we conduct a range of global registrational trials of our major assets to combat challenging hematologic malignancies. We are most encouraged that our cutting-edge, patient-centric innovation, which has culminated in a safe and effective treatment in China even in patients with relapsed, refractory, and/or difficult-to-treat cases of CML, will bring meaningful improvement to patients' lives. Recent inclusion of olverembatinib in the prestigious NCCN CML management guidelines also marks another major milestone for olverembatinib, signalling its widespread acceptance by the oncology community. Fulfilling our mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, we will continue to investigate olverembatinib and accelerate our clinical development programs to benefit more patients." *Olverembatinib is an investigational drug that has not been approved for any indication outside the Chinese mainland. About Ascentage Pharma Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK. Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of 9 clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including five Major New Drug Projects, one New Drug Incubator status, four Innovative Drug Programs, and one Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases. Olverembatinib, the company's core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and the company's first approved product, has been granted Priority Review Designations and Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). To date, the drug had been included into the China 2022 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Furthermore, olverembatinib has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EMA of the EU. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 16 ODDs, 2 FTDs, and 2 Rare Pediatric Disease (RPD) Designations from the US FDA and 1 Orphan Designation from the EMA of the EU for 4 of the company's investigational drug candidates. Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MSD, and AstraZeneca. The company has built a talented team with global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs and is setting up its world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients. Forward-Looking Statements The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, Ascentage Pharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development. SOURCE Ascentage Pharma

SUZHOU, China, and ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancer, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, announced today that olverembatinib (R&D Code: HQP1351) has been included in the latest guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for the management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML),[1] marking a major development in global recognition for its best-in-class drug candidate, which has been approved in China for the management of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant patients with chronic- and accelerated-phase CML (CML-CP and CML-AP). NCCN is a not-for-profit organization allying 33 chiefly NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers across the United States. Cancer management recommendations promulgated in the NCCN guidelines are continuously updated and downloaded more than 13 million times per year by practitioners and other key stakeholders. Serving as a standard for clinical practices in oncology in the US, the NCCN Guidelines is also one of the most widely adopted clinical guidelines for the global oncology community. The NCCN guidelines report efficacy responses to olverembatinib in Chinese Phase I and II trials,[2] including major cytogenetic response (MCyR) rates of 79% and 47%, complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) rates of 69% and 47%, and major molecular response (MMR) rates of 56% and 45%, in patients with CML-CP and CML-AP, respectively. Clinical trials also suggest that olverembatinib has demonstrated effects regarding safety of the compound, with its common adverse events such as thrombocytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, and chiefly asymptomatic elevation of enzymes that include creatine phosphokinase and liver transaminase, being typically grade 1-2 and manageable. Findings reported at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting continued to demonstrate that olverembatinib is well tolerated and effective in managing heavily TKI-pretreated CML, including in patients with challenging clinical profiles such as those with the T315I mutation who would otherwise have limited therapeutic options. These studies showed that olverembatinib significantly prolonged the rigorous efficacy benchmark of event-free survival (EFS) and reduced clinical events by 60% compared to physicians' choices of best available therapies (BATs) in China (including imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib)[3]. Moreover, olverembatinib has shown encouraging clinical benefit in patients who have failed prior treatment with other targeted drugs, including the third-generation TKI ponatinib and the allosteric STAMP inhibitor asciminib.[4] Olverembatinib is a novel, small-molecule, orally administered, third-generation BCR-ABL1 TKI initially approved in China in November 2021 for the treatment of adult patients with TKI-resistant CML-CP or CML-AP harbouring the T315I mutation; and then in November 2023 for the treatment of adult patients with CML-CP resistant to and/or intolerant of first- and second-generation TKIs. Olverembatinib is being jointly commercialized in China by Ascentage Pharma and Innovent Biologics. Dr. Dajun Yang, Chairman and CEO of Ascentage Pharma, remarked that, "Inclusion in the prestigious NCCN guidelines marks another major milestone for olverembatinib. This event signals important recognition of our drug candidate by the oncology community. We are most encouraged that our cutting-edge, patient-centric innovation, which has culminated in a safe and effective treatment even in relapsed, refractory, and/or difficult-to-treat cases of CML, will bring meaningful improvement to patients' lives. Fulfilling our mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, we will continue to investigate olverembatinib and accelerate our clinical development programs to benefit more patients." Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma, said, "This recognition of olverembatinib as a potential CML treatment by the NCCN largely validates the impressive results on this drug candidate reported to date, including selection for Oral Presentation at the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting for the sixth consecutive year. Moving forward, we will expedite our clinical development programs to bring more safe and effective therapies to patients in need. These initiatives include our ongoing pivotal registrational Phase III trials of olverembatinib, including a study in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia [NCT06051409]." * Olverembatinib is an investigational drug that has not been approved for any indication outside the Chinese mainland References [1]. Shah N, Bhatia R, Altman JK et al. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Version 2.2024 (December 5, 2023). Available from: . Accessed January 10, 2024. [2]. Jiang Q, Li Z, Qin Y et al. Olverembatinib (HQP1351), a well-tolerated and effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor for patients with T315I-mutated chronic myeloid leukemia: results of an open-label, multicenter phase 1/2 trial. J Hematol Oncol 2022;15:113. [3]. Jiang Q, Li Z, Zhang G, et al. Olverembatinib (HQP1351) demonstrates efficacy vs. best available therapy (BAT) in patients (pts) with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia chronic-phase (CML-CP) in a registrational randomized phase 2 study. Blood 2023;142(Suppl 1):869 [4]. Jabbour E, Kantarjian H, Koller PB et al. Update of olverembatinib (HQP1351) overcoming ponatinib and/or Asciminib resistance in patients (pts) with heavily pretreated/refractory chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Blood 2023;142 (Suppl 1):1798. About Ascentage Pharma Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK. Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of 9 clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including five Major New Drug Projects, one New Drug Incubator status, four Innovative Drug Programs, and one Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases. Olverembatinib, the company's core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and the company's first approved product, has been granted Priority Review Designations and Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). To date, the drug had been included into the China 2022 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Furthermore, olverembatinib has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EMA of the EU. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 16 ODDs from the US FDA and 1 Orphan Designation from the EMA of the EU for 4 of the company's investigational drug candidates. Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MSD, and AstraZeneca. The company has built a talented team with global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs and is setting up its world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients. Forward-Looking Statements The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, Ascentage Pharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development. SOURCE Ascentage Pharma

SUZHOU, China and ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancer, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, announced today that Prof. Xiaoyuan Gong of the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, has presented the preliminary results from a Phase II study of Ascentage Pharma's novel drug candidate, olverembatinib, combined with reduced-intensity chemotherapy in treatment-naïve patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL), in an Oral Report at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, taking place in San Diego, CA, the United States. The ASH Annual Meeting is one of the largest gatherings of the international hematology community, bringing together the most cutting-edge scientific research and latest data of investigational therapies that represent leading scientific and clinical advances in the global hematology field. Garnering growing interest from the global research community, multiple studies of Ascentage Pharma's key drug candidates (olverembatinib and lisaftoclax) have been selected for presentations at this year's ASH Annual Meeting, including two Oral Presentations on olverembatinib. This is the sixth consecutive year in which the clinical results of olverembatinib have been selected for Oral Presentations at the ASH Annual Meeting. Following the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the combination of TKIs and intensive chemotherapy has become a widely adopted treatment for patients with Ph+ ALL because it can offer significantly improved prognosis. However, a large number of patients are ineligible for the treatment because of intolerance to intensive chemotherapy. Clinical results featured in this Oral Presentation demonstrated encouraging clinical benefit and favorable tolerability of olverembatinib, a third-generation TKI, when combined with reduced-intensity chemotherapy in patients with Ph+ ALL, with data showing a complete remission/incomplete hematologic recovery (CR/CRi) rate of 100% in patients treated with the olverembatinib combination regimen; a complete molecular response (CMR) rate of 62.2% in patients who received three cycles of the treatment that was free of intensive chemotherapy or immunotherapy; and a favorable tolerability profile. Compared to the existing data on TKI plus intensive chemotherapy combinations, patients on this combination regimen have a lower need for transfusion and a reduced incidence of infections. Olverembatinib is a global best-in-class novel drug developed by Ascentage Pharma. As the first and only approved third-generation BCR-ABL inhibitor in China, olverembatinib has been approved for the treatment of adult patients with TKI-resistant chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP) or accelerated-phase CML (CML-AP) harboring the T315I mutation and adult patients with CML-CP resistant and/or intolerant to first- and second-generation TKIs. Olverembatinib is being jointly commercialized in China by Ascentage Pharma and Innovent Biologics. Prof. Xiaoyuan Gong, commented, "The introduction of high-potency TKIs has made it a real possibility to treat patients with Ph+ ALL with reduced-intensity chemotherapy, or even without chemotherapy, while achieving improved efficacy and safety. As a third-generation TKI, olverembatinib has shown impressive therapeutic potential for the treatment of Ph+ ALL and for its role as a key part of chemotherapy-free regimens." "In this study, olverembatinib combined with reduced-intensity chemotherapy continued to demonstrate promising clinical benefit in patients with Ph+ ALL, once again indicating the potential superiority of this third-generation TKI over other TKIs and that an era of chemotherapy-free treatment for patients with Ph+ ALL might be on the horizon," said Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma. "Remaining committed to the mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, we will expedite our clinical development programs to bring safe and effective therapies to patients in need." Highlights of the study presented at ASH 2023: Olverembatinib Combined with Venetoclax and Reduced-Intensity Chemotherapy for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Early Results From a Phase II Study Format: Oral Report Abstract: #827 Session: 614. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Therapies, Excluding Transplantation and Cellular Immunotherapies: Optimal Frontline Treatment for ALL Time: December 11, 2023, Monday; 3:45 PM (Pacific Time) / December 12, 2023, Tuesday; 7:45 AM (Beijing Time) Highlights: Background: The combination of olverembatinib (HQP1351), a novel third-generation TKI, with venetoclax generated high response rates in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) Ph+ ALL. However, the efficacy and safety of these two agents-based regimens as frontline treatment remains unknown. Methods: This is a single-arm Phase II study (NCT05594784) that enrolled patients ≥ 14 years (yrs) of age with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL. In cycle 1, patients were treated with a combination of venetoclax (100 mg on day 1, 200 mg on day 2, 400 mg on day 3-28), olverembatinib (40 mg once every continuously other day [QOD], from day 1-28), vincristine (1.4 mg/m2 [maximum dose 2 mg] on day 1, 8, 15, 22), and prednisone (60 mg/m2 on day 1-14; 40 mg/m2 on day 15-28). In cycle 2-3, oral treatment with venetoclax (400 mg × 7 days), olverembatinib once every other day continuously, and injectable prednisone (60 mg/m2 × 7 days) were administered. Cycles were repeated every 28 days. During cycle 1, the dose of olverembatinib for patients who reached CMR was reduced from 40 mg QOD to 30 mg QOD. The primary endpoint of this study was the rate of CMR at 3 months. CMR was defined as undetectable BCR-ABL1 transcripts by using the RT-PCR method with a sensitivity of 0.001%. Major molecular response (MMR) was defined as more than 3-log reduction of BCR::ABL1 transcripts. Patients: From August 2022 to July 2023, a total of 45 patients were enrolled. The median age was 42 years (range, 19-74) and males accounted for 48.9%. 31 patients (68.9%) expressed the p190 transcript, and 14 patients (31.1%) expressed the p210 transcript. The median expression level of BCR::ABL1 was 90.3% (range, 25.9%-175.4%). Efficacy results: All patients have reached CR/CRi. At the end of cycle 1, 53.3% of patients achieved CMR and 28.9% MMR; at the end of cycle 2, 60.0% achieved CMR and 35.6% MMR; at the end of cycle 3, 62.2% achieved CMR and 31.1% MMR. As of October 30, 2023, 16 of the 45 patients received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Auto-SCT, 1 death), 8 patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT), 5 patients received olverembatinib combined with blinatumomab, and 16 received olverembatinib combined with chemotherapy. 88.9% (40) of patients achieved CMR during treatment. The median (range) duration of follow-up was 8 (3-14) months, and no patient relapsed during follow-up. Safety results: The combination regimen was well tolerated and safe. Most adverse events were grade 1-2. The demand for transfusion and the incidence of infections significantly decreased compared to the existing data on intensive chemotherapy plus TKI combinations. No patient discontinued olverembatinib or venetoclax because of toxicity. Conclusions: The combination of olverembatinib and venetoclax with reduced-intensity chemotherapy is a safe and effective regimen in patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL. The regimen results in high rates of CMR in the absence of intensive chemotherapy or immunotherapy. *Olverembatinib is an investigational drug that has not been approved for any indication outside the Chinese mainland. About Ascentage Pharma Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK. Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of 9 clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/ Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including five Major New Drug Projects, one New Drug Incubator status, four Innovative Drug Programs, and one Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases. Olverembatinib, the company's core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and the company's first approved product, has been granted Priority Review Designations and Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). To date, the drug had been included into the China 2022 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Furthermore, olverembatinib has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EMA of the EU. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 16 ODDs, 2 FTDs, and 2 Rare Pediatric Disease (RPD) Designations from the US FDA and 1 Orphan Designation from the EMA of the EU for 4 of the company's investigational drug candidates. Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MSD, and AstraZeneca. The company has built a talented team with global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs and is setting up its world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients. Forward-Looking Statements The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, Ascentage Pharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development. SOURCE Ascentage Pharma