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Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Lixte Candidate Reported to Convert Immunologically Unresponsive (“Cold”) to Responsive (“Hot”) Tumors

 Outside research shows that in models of colorectal, triple-negative breast and pancreatic cancerLB-100 induces molecular changes that render the cancers more vulnerable to immunotherapy

 Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIXT), a clinical-stage drug discovery company developing pharmacologically active drugs for use in cancer treatment, announced today that in preclinical studies its lead clinical compound, LB-100, a protein phosphatase (PP2A) inhibitor, was found to increase the responsiveness of diverse cancers to immunotherapy. In Nature Communications (15 Dec 2021), lead author Yu-Ting Yen and colleagues at the China Medical University and Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan reported that treatment with LB-100 is associated with new antigen production, tumor infiltration of cytotoxic T cells, and enhanced responsiveness to immune checkpoint blockade in mouse models of colorectal, triple-negative breast, and pancreatic cancer. The authors state that “these data indicate that PP2A inhibition can be used to change the intrinsic and extrinsic factors of tumors to improve the success rate of anti-cancer immunotherapy.”

Lixte’s founder and CEO, John S. Kovach M.D, commented that “recent advances in therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors have been a true breakthrough in the development of more effective and less toxic treatment for many cancers. Unfortunately, most cancer patients do not respond to immunotherapy. There are widespread efforts to find pharmacologic and/or immunologic ways to turn unresponsive (‘cold’) tumors into responsive (‘hot’) tumors. Cancers with a molecular abnormality termed microsatellite-instability (MSI) stemming from a defect in a DNA repair enzyme are generally ‘hot’ tumors, that is, tumors responsive to immunotherapy. Yen and colleagues now report that pharmacologic inhibition of PP2A by LB-100 modifies two distinct molecular pathways resulting in conversion of microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors into MSI tumors sensitive immune checkpoint blockade therapy.”

Regeneron cut to Underperform from Neutral by B of A

 Target to $575 from $675

https://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=regn&ty=c&ta=1&p=d

Pfizer and BioNTech to Develop First mRNA-based Shingles Vaccine

 

  • Third mRNA vaccine collaboration between the companies aims to accelerate development of an improved vaccine for shingles, a debilitating, disfiguring and painful disease that affects people all over the world

  • Product candidates will be based on BioNTech’s proprietary mRNA technology and on Pfizer’s antigen technology

  • Clinical trials are expected to start in the second half of 2022

  • BioNTech will receive $225 million upfront, including an upfront cash payment of $75 million and an equity investment of $150 million, and will be eligible to receive future approval and sales milestone payments totaling up to $200 million as well as a share of gross profits arising from future product sales

  • Pfizer will receive an upfront payment of $25 million from BioNTech for its proprietary antigen sequences identified by Pfizer

NRx Submits Emergency Use Authorization Application for ZYESAMI in Patients at RIsk of Death from COVID

 Requested indication focuses on patients whose respiratory failure has progressed despite treatment with Remdesivir or other approved therapies

- Patients treated with ZYESAMI vs. placebo demonstrated statistically significant (P=.03), 2.8-fold increased odds of being alive and free of respiratory failure at day 28 and day 60 and a 4-fold increased odds of surviving to 60 days (P=.006)

- Patients at highest risk - those on ventilators at time of randomization - demonstrated a 10-fold increased odds of survival (P=.03)

- US National Institutes of Health-sponsored trial comparing ZYESAMI and Remdesivir individually and in combination continues to demonstrate safety and has enrolled more than 350 patients

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nrx-pharmaceuticals-submits-emergency-authorization-114800038.html

Longeveron Starts Phase 2a Trial of Lomecel-B for Alzheimer’s

 Longeveron Inc. (NASDAQ: LGVN) ("Longeveron" or the "Company"), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing cellular therapies for chronic aging-related and certain life-threatening conditions, announced today the initiation of its Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating Lomecel-B as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The first patient has consented to participate in the trial and patient screening has begun.

This Phase 2a study is intended to build on encouraging preliminary Phase 1 data that were announced in 2021. Additionally, the Phase 2a trial is designed to measure brain anatomy using MRI, and include detailed assessments of the inflammatory and vascular systems thought to contribute to the worsening of AD. The study, which will be conducted at a minimum of 6 centers, is led by Mark L. Brody, MD, of Brain Matters Research, Delray Beach, Florida.

“This is an important next step in the progress of our Alzheimer’s disease clinical program,” said Geoff Green, CEO of Longeveron. “We are pleased to have initiated this Phase 2a trial, as this study is intended to build upon the Phase 1 results and marks an important milestone in our efforts to explore the therapeutic potential of Lomecel-B in AD,” Green added.

Dementia resulting from AD is associated with vascular function decline and involves a pro-inflammatory state. In Longeveron’s prior Phase 1 trial, Lomecel-B treatment met the primary safety endpoint, with no safety concerns – including no evidence of Alzheimer’s-related imaging abnormality, known as ARIA. In addition, the levels of certain pro-vascular and anti-inflammatory biomarkers increased in the Lomecel-B treated subjects compared to placebo.

The Phase 2a trial is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design investigating safety and tolerability, as well as secondary endpoints that include cognitive function and biomarkers, following single or multiple infusions of Lomecel-B compared to placebo, in individuals with mild AD. The study consists of 4 treatment arms of 12 patients each, for a total target enrollment of 48 patients.

Bicycle: Continued Clinical Progress and Updates to Management

 Bicycle Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: BCYC), a biotechnology company pioneering a new and differentiated class of therapeutics based on its proprietary bicyclic peptide (Bicycle®) technology, today announced continued progress in its ongoing Phase I/II clinical trials of BT8009, BT5528 and BT7480.

"Last quarter, we reported interim clinical results from ongoing trials of two of our Bicycle toxin conjugates, BT8009 and BT5528, demonstrating preliminary anti-tumor activity in two tumor types, and announced the first patient dosed in the Phase I clinical trial of BT7480, our first tumor-targeted immune cell agonist to enter the clinic. In our trial of BT8009, we are pleased to confirm the preliminary activity and see that these patients remain on trial. We look forward to presenting interim BT8009 Phase I results at a medical meeting and initiating the BT5528 expansion cohorts this year," said Kevin Lee, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer. "We are also pleased with our progress advancing BT7480 in the ongoing Phase I clinical trial and look forward to sharing additional details regarding the potential for Bicycles beyond our toxin conjugates as we strive to become a leader in the development of targeted oncology therapeutics."

Bicycle Toxin Conjugates® (BTCs) BT8009 and BT5528

In the ongoing Phase I portion of the Phase I/II clinical trial of BT8009, a second-generation BTC™ targeting Nectin-4, four out of 11 patients were previously reported to have a partial response under Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1, including one out of four (25%) in the 2.5mg/m2 dose and three out of seven (43%) at the 5.0 mg/m2 cohorts. All four patients previously reported as responders have since received at least one subsequent scan, and all have been confirmed as ongoing RECIST 1.1 responses. One patient in the 5.0 mg/m2 cohort, who previously was reported to have a partial response with an 89% tumor reduction, has now received two subsequent scans, which each showed that total tumor volume has been reduced by 100%, constituting a confirmed complete response. All four patients previously reported to have a RECIST 1.1 clinical response remain on therapy. The tolerability profile of the 2.5mg/m2 and 5.0 mg/m2 cohorts remains consistent with that previously reported.

Dose escalation in the BT8009 Phase I trial remains ongoing, with patients currently being dosed at 7.5mg/m2 weekly or every-other-week. Bicycle intends to present interim Phase I results from the ongoing clinical trial at a medical meeting this year.

The Phase I/II trial of BT5528, Bicycle’s second-generation BTC targeting EphA2, is also ongoing, with plans remaining on track to initiate the expansion cohorts this year, with an expected recommended Phase II dose of 6.5mg/mevery-other-week.

Bicycle tumor-targeted immune cell agonist™ (Bicycle TICA™) BT7480

Bicycle also initiated a Phase I clinical trial of BT7480, a novel, fully synthetic Bicycle TICA targeting Nectin-4 and agonizing CD137, in the fourth quarter of 2021, and dose escalation in that trial remains ongoing. BT7480 and other Bicycle TICAs, including a novel NK-cell-engaging molecule, were the subjects of four posters at SITC in November 2021.

Management Team Updates

Bicycle is also announcing the expansion of and transition in its management team. Michael Skynner, Ph.D., the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer, effective January 3, 2022, to focus on leading and overseeing the growth of Bicycle’s proprietary phage display discovery platform in oncology, as well as on creating innovative opportunities for the platform outside of oncology. Dr. Skynner joined the company in January 2016 as Vice President, Operations and Discovery and had served as COO since March 2018. Alistair Milnes, who has served as the company’s Vice President, Human Resources and Communications since January 2021, has assumed the COO role. Mr. Milnes previously led human resources and communications at multinational energy and mineral companies. Both Dr. Skynner and Mr. Milnes are based in the United Kingdom.

"We are delighted to announce our recent management team appointments, with Mike Skynner becoming our new CTO and Alistair Milnes moving to the COO role. Mike has been an invaluable contributor to Bicycle’s success to date and has led our platform discovery efforts since joining in early 2016. Following recent promising clinical progress, we believe it is time to focus on accelerating the growth of our proprietary oncology pipeline and on identifying innovative ways to potentially capitalize on our unique technology beyond our current therapeutic focus. I am confident that Mike can help us achieve these objectives." 

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bicycle-therapeutics-announces-continued-clinical-120000547.html

Pfizer upped to Buy from Neutral by B of A

 Target to $70 from $59

https://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=pfe&ty=c&ta=1&p=d