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Monday, June 4, 2018

#ASCO18: Deciphera has positive interim Phase 1 data, updates


Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCPH) announced the presentation today of updated data from its ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of DCC-2618, the company’s broad-spectrum KIT and PDGFRα inhibitor, in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2018, in Chicago, Illinois and provided additional clinical and regulatory updates on DCC-2618.
Suzanne George, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Clinical Director, Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute presented the poster titled “Mutational Profile of Drug Resistant GIST Patients Enrolled in the Phase 1 Study of DCC-2618”. In addition to describing the mutational profile of KIT in GIST patients, the poster includes details of locally-read Objective Response Rates (ORR) and Disease Control Rates (DCR) as assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) in second, third, and fourth and fourth line plus GIST patients that received DCC-2618 at doses of ≥100mg daily for at least one 28-day cycle prior to February 2, 2018:
Line of TherapyGIST Patients (n)DCR at 3 MonthsORR
2nd Line12579%24%
3rd Line12982%24%
≥4th Line9164%9%
Total14570%15%
1 46 of 54 second and third line patients received 150mg once daily dose.
The combined 24% ORR and 80% 3-month DCR in second and third line patients receiving DCC-2618 at doses of ≥100mg per day exceeds previously published results of registrational trials for the currently approved therapies for second line (sunitinib) and third line (regorafenib), which have reported ORRs of 7.0% and 4.5%, respectively, and levels of disease control of 60% and 53%, respectively.
“The preliminary data presented today on DCC-2618’s activity in second and third line GIST patients is very encouraging and supports the planned initiation later this year of our Phase 3 trial, INTRIGUE, in second line GIST patients,” said Michael D. Taylor, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Deciphera. “The mutational profiling data across second, third and fourth line GIST patients observed in the Phase 1 study also demonstrates the need for the broadest spectrum of KIT inhibition in all GIST patients who previously received imatinib.”
“We are very pleased with the results presented today demonstrating DCC-2618’s potential to provide improved clinical benefit for not only heavily pre-treated patients, but also for second and third line GIST patients,” said Oliver Rosen, M.D. Chief Medical Officer of Deciphera. “Combined with the tolerability data presented at AACR in April 2018, these results demonstrate the potential of DCC-2618 as an effective and well tolerated therapy for a wide range of GIST patients.”
Highlights from the poster presentation include:
  • Initial Objective Response Rates and Disease Control Rates with DCC-2618 at Doses of ≥100mg Daily in Second and Third Line GIST Patients Exceed Previously Published Results of Registrational Trials for Currently Approved Therapies, as well as the Results Observed in Heavily Pre-Treated GIST Patients Receiving DCC-2618:
    • 24% ORR with DCC-2618 observed to date in second and third line GIST patients is higher than that reported for sunitinib in second line patients (7.0%) or regorafenib in third line patients (4.5%).
    • These interim results show improved ORR and 3-month DCR in second line GIST patients treated with DCC-2618 compared to fourth and fourth line plus GIST patients treated with DCC-2618.
  • Mutational Profiling Data Across Second, Third and Fourth Line GIST Patients Demonstrates the Breadth of KIT Mutations in GIST and the Ability of DCC-2618 to Reduce KIT Mutant Allele Frequency (MAF):
    • Resistance mutations in KIT in exons 13, 14, 17 and 18, or a combination thereof, occurs in second, third and, fourth and fourth line plus patients.
    • The KIT mutational profile in both tumors and plasma at baseline in GIST patient supports the need for a broad-spectrum KIT inhibitor in all post-imatinib lines of therapy.
    • 57 of 73 patients (78%) receiving DCC-2618 at doses of ≥100 mg daily demonstrated reductions in KIT MAF of more than 50%.
In addition, the company is providing the following clinical and regulatory updates on DCC-2618:
  • Planned Initiation of a Phase 3 Trial in Second Line GIST Patients in 2018
    • Preliminary efficacy results in second line patients together with recently presented tolerability data at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of 150mg QD support the planned, randomized Phase 3 trial, INTRIGUE, in second line GIST.
    • Following discussions with regulatory authorities in the United States and in Europe, the company has designed INTRIGUE as a randomized, multicenter, open-label, Phase 3 trial in second line GIST. This registration study is expected to enroll approximately 350 patients who will be randomized 1:1 to either DCC-2618 or sunitinib, the current standard of care in second line; with median progression free survival as the primary endpoint.
  • Interim Results with DCC-2618 at Doses of ≥100mg Daily Demonstrate Robust Clinical Activity in Heavily Pretreated GIST Patients, Including Patients Previously Treated with the Investigational Agent avapritinib (BLU-285):
    • 10 patients with KIT-driven GIST who previously received avapritinib were enrolled and treated with DCC-2618 as of January 31, 2018.
    • 6 out of 10 (60%) of these patients achieved stable disease as best response by RECIST during treatment with DCC-2618. In addition, one patient achieved stable disease following intra-patient dose escalation to 150mg BID.
    • 5 out of 10 (50%) of these patients were on study as of April 18, 2018.
    • 3 out of 10 (30%) of these patients received DCC-2618 for more than six months. Two of these patients achieved continued stable disease and remain on study as of April 18, 2018. The third patient with progressive disease was dose escalated and was reported as off study as of April 18, 2018.
A copy of the poster presentation will be available on the Science section of the Deciphera website under “Presentations and Publications” at http://www.deciphera.com.

Amphastar gets FDA OK to produce heparin in China unit


Amphastar announced that the U.S.FDA granted approval of the company’s abbreviated new drug application supplement for the manufacture of semi-purified heparin at the company’s subsidiary, Amphastar Nanjing Pharmaceuticals and the manufacture of heparin sodium USP at the company’s subsidiary, International Medication Systems, Limited.

Evelo started at buy by Cowen


Evelo Biosciences initiated with an Outperform at Cowen. Cowen analyst Chris Shibutani initiated Evelo Biosciences with an Outperform rating as he believes its innovate monoclonal microbials have the potential to emerge as a a novel class of medicines for unmet needs in a range of serious diseases

#ASCO18: Array extended survival time for melanoma med in ‘Best in ASCO’


Array BioPharma announced updated results from the Phase 3 COLUMBUS trial in BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma. The results showed median overall survival was 33.6 months for patients treated with the combination of encorafenib and binimetinib compared to 16.9 months for patients treated with vemurafenib as a monotherapy. The combination reduced the risk of death compared to treatment with vemurafenib alone. The observed efficacy of vemurafenib in the control arm is also consistent with historical data, providing an additional benchmark for validating the patient population and results observed in COLUMBUS. Further, the two-year OS with combination therapy was 58%. These results will be part of an oral presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois and have been selected for the “Best of ASCO” program

Retrophin can proceed with Phase 3 of neural pediatric med: panel


Retrophin announced that the independent Data Monitoring Committee for the pivotal Phase 3 FORT Study, which is evaluating fosmetpantotenate for the treatment of pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration, has completed its scheduled clinical safety review required to open enrollment for pediatric patients. Upon review of the available safety and tolerability data of fosmetpantotenate in adult patients with PKAN in the study to date, the DMC recommended that the pivotal trial continue as planned, and supported initiation of enrollment in pediatric patients aged 6 to 17. The FORT Study is a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Under the terms of the SPA agreement, the FORT Study protocol required an initial group of adult patients be treated with fosmetpantotenate to allow a safety assessment by the DMC prior to opening enrollment to pediatric patients aged 6 to 17. The Company anticipates completion of patient enrollment around year-end 2018, and top-line data to become available in the second half of 2019.

#ASCO18: MEI has high response rate for Phase 1 lymphoma med


MEI Pharma announced that data presented at ASCO 2018 from a Phase 1b study of ME-401 demonstrate a 90% objective response rate in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic lymphoma and small lymphocytic lymphoma. Based on the data in this program, MEI anticipates progressing into a single-agent registration study later in 2018 for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. ME-401 is a next-generation selective oral inhibitor of PI3K delta. “The clinical evidence we are accumulating from the Phase 1b study of ME-401 is very promising; the data demonstrate a 90% response rate across all patients with relapsed or refractory FL, CLL and SL, and an 86% rate in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma,” said Daniel P. Gold, Ph.D., president and CEO of MEI Pharma. “There continues to be a need for effective treatment options among patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. We therefore anticipate moving into a single-agent registration study by the end of the year”

Rexahn has Phase 2 data at #ASCO18

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals announced that preliminary data from a Phase 2a clinical trial of RX-5902 in metastatic triple negative breast cancer, or TNBC, and updated data from the Phase 2a trial of RX-3117 in advanced bladder cancer were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, 2018 annual meeting on June 2, 2018.