Home » PHASE1 (Page 13)
Category Archives: PHASE1
Bristol-Myers Squibb announced promising results from an expanded phase 1 dose-ranging study of its lung cancer drug nivolumab

NIVOLUMAB
Anti-PD-1;BMS-936558; ONO-4538
PRONUNCIATION nye vol’ ue mab
THERAPEUTIC CLAIM Treatment of cancer
CHEMICAL DESCRIPTION
A fully human IgG4 antibody blocking the programmed cell death-1 receptor (Medarex/Ono Pharmaceuticals/Bristol-Myers Squibb)
MOLECULAR FORMULA C6362H9862N1712O1995S42
MOLECULAR WEIGHT 143.6 kDa
SPONSOR Bristol-Myers Squibb
CODE DESIGNATION MDX-1106, BMS-936558
CAS REGISTRY NUMBER 946414-94-4
Bristol-Myers Squibb announced promising results from an expanded phase 1 dose-ranging study of its lung cancer drug nivolumab
Nivolumab (nye vol’ ue mab) is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed for the treatment of cancer. Nivolumab was developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and is also known as BMS-936558 and MDX1106.[1] Nivolumab acts as an immunomodulator by blocking ligand activation of the Programmed cell death 1 receptor.
A Phase 1 clinical trial [2] tested nivolumab at doses ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 mg per kilogram of body weight, every 2 weeks. Response was assessed after each 8-week treatment cycle, and were evaluable for 236 of 296 patients. Study authors concluded that:”Anti-PD-1 antibody produced objective responses in approximately one in four to one in five patients with non–small-cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal-cell cancer; the adverse-event profile does not appear to preclude its use.”[3]
Phase III clinical trials of nivolumab are recruiting in the US and EU.[4]
- Statement On A Nonproprietary Name Adopted By The USAN Council – Nivolumab, American Medical Association.
- A Phase 1b Study of MDX-1106 in Subjects With Advanced or Recurrent Malignancies (MDX1106-03), NIH.
- Topalian SL, et al. (June 2012). “Safety, Activity, and Immune Correlates of Anti–PD-1 Antibody in Cancer”. New England Journal of Medicine 366. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1200690. Lay summary – New York Times.
- Nivolumab at ClinicalTrials.gov, A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
The PD-1 blocking antibody nivolumab continues to demonstrate sustained clinical activity in previously treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to updated long-term survival data from a phase I trial.
Survival rates at one year with nivolumab were 42% and reached 24% at two years, according to the median 20.3-month follow up. Additionally, the objective response rate (ORR) with nivolumab, defined as complete or partial responses by standard RECIST criteria, was 17% for patients with NSCLC. Results from the updated analysis will be presented during the 2013 World Conference on Lung Cancer on October 29.
“Lung cancer is very difficult to treat and there continues to be a high unmet medical need for these patients, especially those who have received multiple treatments,” David R. Spigel, MD, the program director of Lung Cancer Research at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute and one of the authors of the updated analysis, said in a statement.
“With nivolumab, we are investigating an approach to treating lung cancer that is designed to work with the body’s own immune system, and these are encouraging phase I results that support further investigation in larger scale trials.”
In the phase I trial, 306 patients received intravenous nivolumab at 0.1–10 mg/kg every-other-week for ≤12 cycles (4 doses/8 week cycle). In all, the trial enrolled patients with NSCLC, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer.
The long-term follow up focused specifically on the 129 patients with NSCLC. In this subgroup, patients treated with nivolumab showed encouraging clinical activity. The participants had a median age of 65 years and good performance status scores, and more than half had received three or more prior therapies. Across all doses of nivolumab, the median overall survival was 9.9 months, based on Kaplan-Meier estimates.
In a previous update of the full trial results presented at the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting, drug-related adverse events of all grades occurred in 72% of patients and grade 3/4 events occurred in 15%. Grade 3/4 pneumonitis related to treatment with nivolumab emerged early in the trial, resulting in 3 deaths. As a result, a treatment algorithm for early detection and management was developed to prevent this serious side effect.
Nivolumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that blocks the PD-1 receptor from binding to both of its known ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2. This mechanism, along with early data, suggested an associated between PD-L1 expression and response to treatment.
In separate analysis presented at the 2013 World Conference on Lung Cancer, the association of tumor PD-L1 expression and clinical activity in patients with NSCLC treated with nivolumab was further explored. Of the 129 patients with NSCLC treated with nivolumab in the phase I trial, 63 with NSCLC were tested for PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry (29 squamous; 34 non-squamous).
HIV/AIDS vaccine passes Phase 1 clinical trial in humans

HIV/AIDS vaccine passes Phase 1 clinical trial in humans
DVICE
While other HIV/AIDS vaccines that haven’t used killed whole viruses (relying instead on targeting specific components of HIV) have failed in Phase 3 trials, Sumagen is optimistic about their drug because other successful vaccines (including polio …read all at
http://www.dvice.com/2013-9-4/hivaids-vaccine-passes-phase-1-clinical-trial-humans
to-BBB Receives IND Approval for Novel Brain Cancer Drug, 2B3-101 Company Proceeds Into Phase IIa Clinical Trials With Inclusion of US Medical Centers
LEIDEN, the Netherlands–(BUSINESS WIRE)–to-BBB, the brain drug delivery company, is pleased to announce the successful completion of its 2B3-101 Phase I clinical trial in brain cancer patients, safely reaching clinically effective dosages. to-BBB is now ready to proceed to the Phase IIa part of this trial, treating patients with brain metastases from breast cancer, small cell lung cancer and melanomas, as well as patients with primary, malignant brain cancers (recurrent gliomas). With no commercially available treatments for brain metastases of solid tumors and no effective treatment alternatives in recurrent gliomas, 2B3-101 is targeting a high unmet medical need. READ ALL AT
http://www.pharmalive.com/to-bbb-receives-ind-approval-for-brain-cancer-drug
Curis phase 1 Cancer Trial for CUDC-427 Begins

CUDC-427, GDC-0917; RG-7459
Genentech Inc (Roche Holding AG)
Curis licenses GDC-0917 from Genentech
Curis Cancer Trial Begins
Curis Inc. has initiated patient dosing in a second Phase 1 dose-escalation study of CUDC-427 that is being conducted using a continuous, twice-daily oral dosing regimen in patients with advanced and refractory solid tumors or lymphoma.
FULL STORY
About CUDC-427 (GDC-0917)
CUDC-427 is an orally bioavailable small molecule that is designed to promote cancer cell death by antagonizing IAP proteins. IAP proteins are a family of functionally and structurally related proteins that promote cancer cell survival by inhibiting programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis, which is a normal process inherent in every cell. Using IAP proteins and other anti-apoptotic factors, cancer cells evade apoptosis in response to a variety of signals, including those provided by anti-cancer agents such as chemotherapy, or naturally occurring inflammatory and immune signals transmitted through members of the tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, family of factors. Evasion from apoptosis is a fundamental mechanism whereby human cancers develop resistance to standard anti-cancer treatments. IAP inhibitors such as CUDC-427 are designed to counteract the effects of IAP proteins, thus shifting the balance away from cancer cell survival and allowing apoptosis to proceed.
CUDC-427 was designed to mimic the endogenous IAP antagonist mitochondrial protein second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases/direct IAP-binding protein (Smac/DIABLO) that is released into the cytoplasm in response to pro-apoptotic stimuli. CUDC-427 has demonstrated single-agent and combination anti-tumor activity in mouse xenograft tumor models when administered orally on a daily schedule, and IND-enabling safety studies have shown it to be well tolerated when dosed daily by oral administration, potentially enabling sustained target inhibition.
In October 2010, an open-labeled, uncontrolled, dose-escalation, Phase I clinical trial of CUDC-427 (NCT01226277; IAM4914g) began in patients with refractory solid tumors or lymphoma. Genentech recently completed this Phase I clinical trial in which 42 people received daily oral doses of CUDC-427 for two weeks, followed by a one week rest period. This 21-day cycle is repeated until disease progression or study discontinuation for any other reason. The primary endpoints of the study include evaluating the safety and tolerability and the pharmacokinetics of CUDC-427 in people with solid tumors or lymphoma and determining the maximum-tolerated-dose and a potential recommended dose for further clinical studies. Secondary endpoints include a preliminary assessment of anti-tumor activity of CUDC-427 and evaluating pharmacodynamic markers. Genentech plans to present full study results at a medical conference in mid-2013. Please refer to http://www.clinicaltrials.gov for additional study details.
About Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
Impairment of programmed cell death or apoptosis often contributes to the formation and progression of cancer, and evasion of apoptosis is one of the primary strategies by which cancer cells develop resistance to anticancer therapies. Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins are a family of functionally and structurally related proteins which include X-linked IAP (XIAP), cellular IAPs (cIAP1 and cIAP2), and melanoma IAP (ML-IAP). They confer protection from death-inducing stimuli by exerting a range of biological activities that promote cancer cell survival and proliferation. Some even directly inhibit caspases, critical players in the execution of apoptosis.
Mutations, amplifications and chromosomal translocations of IAP genes are associated with various solid and hematologic cancer types, and increased IAP expression has been associated with an unfavorable prognosis and poor outcome for patients. As a consequence, IAP proteins are considered promising molecular targets for anticancer therapy.
Merck: Good Results in Alzheimer’s Trial
Merck Presents Findings from Phase 1b Study of Investigational BACE Inhibitor, MK-8931, in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced the presentation of results from a Phase Ib study showing a dose-dependent decrease in β amyloid levels in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) following administration of MK-8931, Merck’s investigational oral β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE1 or β secretase) inhibitor, in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In the study, β amyloid levels were analyzed as a measure of BACE activity. The data were presented during an oral session at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in Boston, July 13-18 (Abstract O1-06-05).
http://www.pharmalive.com/merck-good-results-in-alzheimers-trial
| Beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
PDB rendering based on 1fkn |
Beta-secretase 1 (BACE1) also known as beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1(beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1), memapsin-2(membrane-associated aspartic protease 2), and aspartyl protease 2 (ASP2) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the BACE1 gene.
β-Secretase is an aspartic-acid protease important in the formation of myelin sheaths in peripheral nerve cells. The transmembrane protein contains two active site aspartate residues in its extracellular protein domain and may function as a dimer.
AtheroNova Receives Russia’s Approval for Phase I Clinical Trials
May 09, 2013
Clinical trial starts in the UK to heal hearts with genetic virus
A group of UK heart failure patients have been enrolled on a new clinical trial to see if a genetically engineered virus can help heal their ailing hearts.
Researchers at Imperial College London will introduce a genetic virus into the heart muscles of the 200 participants, in a bid to reverse the heart muscle’s decline.
READ ALL AT
PHASE 1- MGL-3196 (VIA-3196)Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, to treat high cholesterol/high triglycerides
MGL-3196 (VIA-3196) photo credit The haystack http://cenblog.org/the-haystack/tag/mgl-3196/
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, acquired from VIA Pharmaceuticals, licensed from Roche to treat high cholesterol/high triglycerides , it mimics thyroid hormone, targeted to thyroid hormone receptor beta in the liver
Specifically, MGL-3196 is a thyroid hormone analog, designed to target a thyroid hormone receptor in the liver. These receptors regulate genes involved in cholesterol regulation and metabolism.
MGL-3196 is an orally administered, small-molecule liver-directed ß-selective THR agonist designed to specifically target receptors in the liver involved in metabolism and cholesterol regulation, and avoid side effects associated with thyroid hormone receptor activation outside the liver, including those mediated by THR-α receptors. MGL-3196 has currently completed Phase I single and multiple dose trials in healthy volunteers. MGL-3196 is being developed for dyslipidemia/hypercholesterolemia to lower LDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels and Lp(a), and was inlicensed from Roche Pharmaceuticals. MGL-3196 has excellent safety in comparative studies with other THR agonists tested previously because of MGL-3196’s high liver uptake and high ß-selectivity and nearly complete lack of THR-α activity.

MGL-3196 has completed a single ascending dose study in healthy volunteers in which the compound appeared safe at all doses tested. The multiple ascending dose study in healthy volunteers with mildly elevated LDL cholesterol was completed in October 2012 and provided additional safety and pharmacodynamic information. The Phase I multiple dose, proof of concept study enrolled 48 healthy volunteers with mildly elevated LDL cholesterol to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of MGL-3196 after two weeks of daily dosing. Results showed that MGL-3196 was well tolerated and appeared safe at all doses tested. Daily doses of 50-200 mg showed highly statistically significant reductions relative to placebo of up to 30% LDL-cholesterol (p=.05-<.0001; 28%, non-HDL cholesterol (p=.027-.0001); 24% Apolipoprotein B (p=.008-.0004); and strong trends and up to 60% reduction of triglycerides (range, p=.13-.016).

PHASE 1-BMS-906024 by Bristol-Myers Squibb to treat breast, lung, and colon cancers and leukemia
![]()
BMS-906024 is in Phase I clinical trials, both alone and in combination with other agents. Patients with colon, lung, breast, and other cancers are receiving intravenous doses of the compound to determine its safety and optimum dose ranges
New Phase I drug structure by Bristol-Myers Squibb disclosed at the spring 2013American Chemical Society meeting in New Orleans to treat breast, lung, and colon cancers and leukemia.[1] The drug works as an pan-Notch inhibitor. The structure is one of a set patented in 2012,[2] and it currently being studied in clinical trials.[3][4]
- C. Drahl, Liveblogging First-Time Disclosures of Drug Structures from #ACSNOLA, 2013, http://cenblog.org/the-haystack/2013/04/liveblogging-first-time-disclosures-of-drug-structures-from-acsnola/
- http://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2012129353
- http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01653470
- http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01292655
DRUG APPROVALS BY DR ANTHONY MELVIN CRASTO
.....











