Mitazalimab

LUND, SE / ACCESSWIRE / June 03, 2024 / Alligator Bioscience (STO:ATORX) Publication in world-leading clinical oncology journal validates the quality and potential implications of Phase 2 OPTIMIZE-1 results The study reported Objective Response Rate (ORR) of 40.4% in 57 evaluable patients, primary endpoint was met. The novel combination of mitazalimab and mFOLFIRINOX and the unique dosing schedule resulted in an unprecedented Duration of Response (DoR, median 12.5 months) together with a prolonged Overall Survival (OS, median 14.3 months). These results compare favorably to the historically reported outcomes for FOLFIRINOX alone and most other standard of care or investigational therapies. These data were also presented at the ASCO annual meeting on June 1; updated data with longer follow-up are expected end of June 2024. Lund, Sweden - Alligator Bioscience (Nasdaq Stockholm: ATORX) today announced the publication of positive Phase 2 data on its lead drug candidate mitazalimab in first line metastatic pancreatic cancer in The Lancet Oncology . The journal is an internationally trusted source of clinical, and global health knowledge. With an Impact Factor of 51.1, it is the world-leading clinical oncology research journal. With a 5-year overall survival rate of less than 5%, current systemic therapies for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) are associated with poor outcomes. Data presented in The Lancet Oncology, from the OPTIMIZE-1 trial of mitazalimab in combination with mFOLFIRINOX, showed a confirmed ORR of 40.4% in 57 evaluable patients (unconfirmed ORR was 50.9%). Median DoR was 12.5 months and the median OS was 14.3 months. Median Progression Free Survival (PFS) was 7.7 months. These data compare favorably to the historically reported outcomes with FOLFIRINOX (ORR 31.6%, mDoR 5.9 months, mOS 11.1 months and mPFS 6.4 months) [1] . The recently approved new treatment regimen of NALIRIFOX was associated with an ORR of 42%, mDoR of 7.3 months, mPFS 7.4 months and a mOS of 11.1 months. [2] "The long-lasting responses and related biomarker associations reported in OPTIMIZE-1 are highly encouraging, demonstrating a critical immunomodulatory contribution of mitazalimab. The increase in ORR and PFS, compared to FOLFIRINOX alone, are superior outcomes and we believe that the reported depth and duration of response are strong indicators that the observed increases in survival will remain evident," said Prof. Jean-Luc van Laethem, Head of the Digestive Oncology Department of Erasme Hospital (ULB) Brussels, Principal Investigator of the OPTIMIZE-1 trial and lead author of the article in The Lancet Oncology. "Furthermore, mitazalimab showed a favorable safety pro it could offer better quality of life for pancreatic patients who currently have few treatment options. The data from OPTIMIZE-1 are very promising and are strongly supportive of the continued development of mitazalimab and mFOLFIRINOX in mPDAC, in a confirmatory trial." OPTIMIZE-1 , an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, Phase 1b/2 study, assessed the safety and efficacy of mitazalimab (CD40 mAb agonist) in combination with standard of care chemotherapy mFOLFIRINOX. The DoR and OS are expected to improve further, as a majority of the patients were still alive at the time of the analysis (cut-off date November 2023). The OPTIMIZE-1 results compare favorably to the previously reported outcomes with FOLFIRINOX[1] as well as more recently reported data of the NALIRIFOX regimen in the NAPOLI 3 Phase 3 trial[2]. The OS at 12 months in OPTIMIZE-1 was 59.3%, compared to 48.1% for FOLFIRINOX[1] and 45.6% for NALIRIFOX[2]. "This publication in The Lancet Oncology is an important validation of the highly promising results of our OPTIMIZE-1 mitazalimab study. A substantial number of patients were either in the treatment or in the follow-up at the time of the primary analysis . Consequently, the 18-month survival follow-up data, which we expect at the end of June 2024, should provide further important insights into the potential of mitazalimab," said Søren Bregenholt, CEO of Alligator Bioscience. Click here for the full article in The Lancet Oncology . Title: Combining CD40 agonist mitazalimab with mFOLFIRINOX in previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (OPTIMIZE-1): a single-arm, multicentre phase 1b/2 study. Provisional Publication Date: June 1st, 2024 Article Number: 24TLO0432 Two posters (abstracts 2569 and 4133) detailing the positive OPTIMIZE-1 data were presented on June 1 at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. [1] Conroy et al., N Engl J Med 2011; 364:1817-1825; DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1011923 [2] Wainberg et al., Lancet 2023; 402(10409):1272-1281; DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01366-1 About pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer is the 12th largest cancer by number of patients. It is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer death in the western world by 2030. There are about 200,000 annual cases in the U.S. and the EU, with very poor prognosis: five-year survival is about 10% and median survival about 6 months. For 80% of patients, the only option is chemotherapy that offers only marginal benefit. FOLFIRINOX is expected to be the preferred first line regimen in the U.S. and the EU for patients with good performance status. Sources: POLARIS Market Research, KOL event Alligator Bioscience Søren Bregenholt, CEO E-mail: soren.bregenholt@alligatorbioscience.com Phone: +46 (0) 46 540 82 00 Cohesion Bureau Investors Frank Hoerning Andersen E-mail: frank.hoerning@cohesionbureau.com Phone: +45 25 66 86 02 Media Sam Cage E-mail: sam.cage@cohesionbureau.com Phone: +45 24 37 63 42 About Alligator Bioscience Alligator Bioscience AB is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing tumor-directed immuno-oncology antibody drugs. Alligator's portfolio includes several promising drug candidates, with the CD40 agonist mitazalimab as its key asset. Furthermore, Alligator is co-developing ALG.APV-527 with Aptevo Therapeutics Inc., several undisclosed molecules based on its proprietary technology platform, Neo-X-Prime™, and novel drug candidates based on the RUBY™ bispecific platform with Orion Corporation. Out-licensed programs include AC101/HLX22, in Phase 2 development, by Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. and an undisclosed target to Biotheus Inc. Alligator Bioscience's shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (ATORX) and is headquartered in Lund, Sweden. For more information, please visit alligatorbioscience.com . Attachments Alligator Bioscience's Phase 2 mitazalimab Pancreatic Cancer Data Published in The Lancet Oncology SOURCE: Alligator Bioscience View the original press release on accesswire.com

Verastem will present the results at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on 1 June 2024. Image credit: Shutterstock/CI Photos. Verastem Oncology has reported positive initial results from an ongoing Phase I/II trial investigating kinase inhibitor avutometinib for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The US biopharma company announced the initial interim safety and efficacy results as it gears up for a presentation at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on 1 June 2024. Verastem’s trial, named RAMP 205, is a single-arm study evaluating avutometinib plus defactinib in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, the latter two being standard-of-care chemotherapy, in patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Out of the six patients receiving 2.4mg avutometinib, five achieved a confirmed overall response rate (ORR). The 83% ORR exceeds other promising treatments in the space, including Jacobio Pharmaceutical’s glecirasib and Alligator Bioscience’s mitazalimab , amongst others. Shares in the company rose 40% in premarket trading. See Also: ASCO 2024: MediLink’s NSCLC and breast cancer ADC shows early safety success ASCO 2024: MSD’s ADC shows efficacy in lung and breast tumours Patients in the dose level I cohort received 2.4mg of avutometinib twice a week and 200mg of defactinib twice a day for three weeks out of every four. Patients also were administered with 800mg/m² of gemcitabine and 125mg/m² of nab-paclitaxel on days one, eight and 15. Avutometinib works by blocking both mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) kinase activity and rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma’s (RAF) ability to phosphorylate MEK. The RAF/MEK clamp drug creates an anti-tumour response by inhibiting the RAS/MAPK pathway. Verastem says that its mechanism has an advantage over MEK-only inhibitors, as MEK signalling can be blocked without the compensatory activation of MEK, which can limit efficacy. Defactinib reduces tumour growth by blocking focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Verastem’s chief medical officer John Hayslip said the trial results “are encouraging” and “demonstrate the importance of targeting the RAS/MAPK pathway, as more than 90% of pancreatic tumours have a KRAS mutation”. Hayslip added: “We continue to progress the study evaluating other dose and schedule regimens to determine the recommended Phase II dose in the trial.” Verastem gained an exclusive wordwide licence for avutometinib from Chugai Pharmaceuticals in January 2020. Defactinib was meanwhile licensed from Pfizer back in 2012. Whilst Verastem touted positive efficacy results, the biopharma did report 19 treatment-emergent serious adverse events (SAEs) from 12 patients in the trial. 11 patients had Grade 3 or higher SAEs, including biliary obstruction, febrile neutropenia, and pulmonary embolism, amongst others. Two participants left the trial due to adverse events. From the dose level 1 cohort, there was one case of dose-limiting toxicity of febrile neutropenia. Verastem stated the dose cohort was cleared after additional patients were evaluated. Avutometinib won orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2024. The agency designated the award for the treatment of recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer alone or with defactinib. Verastem’s has Phase II (NCT04625270) and Phase III (NCT06072781) trials ongoing for ovarian cancer treatment .