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26-04-2025
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City of Hope Scientists Present Leading-Edge Research at American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting
Highlights include work focused on AI, precision medicine, immunotherapies and more LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Researchers with City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. with its National Medical Center named top 5 in the nation for cancer by U.S. News & World Report, will present more than 74 chaired, plenary, educational, minisymposium, poster and other sessions on innovative clinical trial results, breakthrough diagnostic techniques and advances in treatment options at the AACR Annual Meeting, which started April 25 and ends April 30 in Chicago. In addition to City of Hope's innovative research being presented throughout the meeting, David W. Craig, Ph.D., professor and founding chair of the Department of Integrative Translational Sciences within Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, is chairing the final plenary session of the conference, "Opportunities in Predictive Oncology," on Wednesday from 8 to 10 a.m. CT. He will also present an educational session on using a biological analysis approach called multiomics to investigate the unique genetic makeup of different cell populations in solid tumors on Friday from 4:46 to 5:06 p.m. CT. On Saturday from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. CT, Michael A. Caligiuri, M.D., former president of City of Hope National Medical Center and professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, will chair a session on advances in the application of natural killer (NK) cells and present on "Innate immune lymphocytes, including NK cells." He will also chair "Academic Entrepreneurship: Getting Your Discovery to Patients, Part 1—Liftoff" on Saturday from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. CT, which will help define the steps required for translating research from the bench to the bedside. As part of a session on advances in diagnostics and therapeutics, Hope Rugo, M.D., who recently joined City of Hope as director of its Women's Cancers Program, will talk about new findings in managing toxicities from antibody-drug conjugates on Monday from 1:25 to 1:45 p.m. CT. Dr. Rugo will also serve as a discussant at the Clinical Trials Plenary Session on Biologics and T-cell Engagers on Tuesday from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. CT. Highlights of City of Hope research presented at the AACR conference include: Phase 3 clinical trial shows promising results for novel immunotherapy Cancer of the nasopharynx, or the upper part of the throat that plays a crucial role in breathing and swallowing, is relatively rare. However, in certain regions like China and North Africa, the disease is much more common. To combat recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a new immunotherapy drug has been tested in combination with standard chemotherapy. Data from a phase 3 clinical trial of the medication called penpulimab resulted in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving its use this past week in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin and gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of adult patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The FDA also approved penpulimab as a single agent for similar patients with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other prior line of therapy. Medical oncologist Aditya Shreenivas, M.D., M.S. will present the supporting data from "Penpulimab versus placebo in combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial (AK105-304)" during a clinical trials minisymposium session on Sunday from 3:50 to 4:00 p.m. CT. Penpulimab is an anti-PD-1 inhibitor, a type of treatment that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer. Building on previous studies that have shown that the combination of PD-1 inhibitors with chemotherapy exhibits promising efficacy as a first-line treatment for Asian patients, phase 3 of the trial included 291 patients from both Asian and non-Asian countries. Patients received either a combination of penpulimab and standard chemotherapy or a placebo plus chemotherapy. The study's findings showed that patients who had penpulimab added to their treatment plan had their cancer controlled for 9.63 months on average, compared to just 7.00 months for those who did not. This represents a 55% reduction in the risk of disease progression. The researchers also found that the combination of penpulimab with chemotherapy had a manageable safety profile with tolerable side effects. "What makes penpulimab unique is that it is an anti-PD-1 antibody with a modified structure designed to potentially improve efficacy while reducing immune-related side effects," said Dr. Shreenivas, who led at the study at City of Hope, one of 46 trial sites worldwide. "This research supports use of penpulimab plus chemotherapy as a new first-line treatment option for patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma." He also says that since penpulimab has already been approved in China for some other cancers, like relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin's lymphoma and metastatic squamous non-small-cell lung cancer, this study might lead to expanded approvals for penpulimab in additional countries. According to Dr. Shreenivas, future findings from the clinical trial could include explorations of how to identify which patients benefit most from this treatment, as the researchers analyzed various subgroups including those with liver metastases, different protein expression levels, and different DNA levels of Epstein-Barr virus, which is considered a strong risk factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The clinical trial was sponsored by Akeso, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company that developed penpulimab. Researchers use innovative technologies to learn more about treatment responses on ovarian, prostate and breast cancer patients Ovarian cancer Not all patients with aggressive, high-grade serous ovarian cancer — the most common type of the disease — respond the same way to immunotherapy. To elucidate differences that might help tailor immunotherapy strategies for individual patients, a group of researchers from City of Hope and USC led by Jing Qian, a doctoral student in the lab of John D. Carpten, Ph.D., City of Hope's chief scientific officer, Irell & Manella Cancer Center Director's Distinguished Chair and Morgan & Helen Chu Director's Chair of the Beckman Research Institute, sought to characterize the cancer and immune cells within the tumor environments of patients with different responses to treatment. By using spatial transcriptomic technologies to map interactions between cancer and immune cells, the team was able to reveal differing immune cell behavior and composition in tumors with varied responses to immunotherapy. Spatial transcriptomic methods can provide valuable insights into gene expression within tissue and the technology is an area of rapid development in medical research. "In the future, this approach could help identify patients who are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy and uncover new targets to improve treatment for those who don't respond," said Qian. "Ultimately, it pushes the field closer to precision immuno-oncology in high-grade serous ovarian cancer." Next, the team plans to use cell models and additional patient cohorts to explore whether targeting specific immune cell types can improve responses to immunotherapy in ovarian cancer. Qian will present "Spatial transcriptomics reveals differences in the tumor and immune microenvironment of high-grade serous ovarian cancers with differing responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors" as a late breaking poster session on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. CT. Prostate cancer Recent studies suggest that a complex interplay between ethnicity and disease biology could influence how metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) behaves in different patients. To investigate differences in tumor tissue from patients of Hispanic background compared to those not of Hispanic background, a team of City of Hope researchers led by Tanya Barauskas Dorff, M.D., professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, borrowed pre-treatment prostate biopsy specimens from an existing clinical trial. Using digital spatial profiling, a technology used to study gene and protein expression in tissues, the researchers were able to interrogate the tumor microenvironment from different patients with mHSPC with greater granularity and depth. They found a difference in expression of certain proteins like Foxp3, PARP and STING, all of which are targets of certain cancer medications, between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients. "This type of exploration in tissue samples from patients of diverse backgrounds may help uncover factors that could account for differences in treatment response," said Dr. Dorff. "As we complete the testing on additional tissue samples, we hope to compare results against treatment outcomes, to see a clearer signal emerge identifying candidate proteins for future validation." She said the team hopes to increase the variety of samples being tested and compare their findings to clinical outcomes from the trial, which should become available early 2026. Peter Zang, M.D., a hematology & oncology fellow and first author on "Digital spatial profiling with GeoMx to identify differential protein expression in Non-Hispanic/Latino and Hispanic/Latino Patients with metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer," will present the team's poster abstract on Tuesday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. CT. Breast cancer A poster presentation by Sydney Grant, a postdoctoral fellow, and Aritro Nath, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT, "Integrating multimodal data with survival-based variational autoencoders to predict recurrence-free survival in breast cancer," will highlight a powerful new AI-based approach the team developed to predict recurrence-free survival in breast cancer patients. By enhancing existing generative AI models to process a broader range of real-world patient data, which extend far beyond traditional biomarkers currently used in the clinic, Grant and Nath established an approach that enables more accurate and personalized predictions about cancer patient outcomes. "This work could lead to new clinical tests used at the time of diagnosis to guide treatment decisions and bring us closer to truly personalized care," said Dr. Nath. "For example, these tools would help doctors identify which patients need more aggressive therapy and which patients could avoid overtreatment and unnecessary side effects." The team is now working to extend their models to predict which types of treatment or drug classes will work best for individual patients, with the goal of guiding therapy selection in the clinic using AI. New technology identifies unique genetic changes in early-onset colorectal cancer among Hispanic and Latino patients Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths and cases among younger patients are rising, particularly among Hispanic and Latino populations. A new study from the lab of Enrique Velazquez Villarreal, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S., assistant professor in the Department of Integrative Translational Sciences, has found that early-onset colorectal cancer in Hispanic and Latino patients has unique genetic changes that help explain how the cancer grows and spreads. "This is the first study to look closely at the genetics of colorectal cancer in Hispanic and Latino patients from the Los Angeles area, a group that's often left out of cancer research," said postdoctoral fellow Francisco (Paco) Carranza, who is first author on the study. "By understanding how colorectal cancer affects different populations, especially those who are often overlooked, we can help create better and more targeted treatments." To find genetic changes, the research team used DNA and RNA sequencing plus a powerful new technology called 10x Genomics Visium that let them see which genes are turned on or off in specific parts of a tumor. This helped them better understand how cancer cells interact with the immune system and how the disease behaves in this patient population. "This kind of research brings us closer to making sure all patients—no matter their background—have access to the best possible care and the same chance at successful outcomes," said Dr. Velazquez Villarreal, whose research is focused on addressing colorectal cancer health disparities in Hispanic and Latino communities. Next, Carranza and his collaborators plan to move this research even closer to patient care by using an advanced version of the 10x Genomics Visium platform that allows researchers to look at tumors one cell at a time to give even more detailed information that could lead to better tailored therapies and help design new clinical trials. Carranza will discuss the team's work during a minisymposium session called "Multi-omics analysis of MYC gene and WNT signaling pathway alterations in early-onset colorectal cancer in Hispanic/Latino patients, enhanced with spatial transcriptomics approaches" on Monday from 2:35 to 2:50 p.m. CT. AI tool developed at City of Hope makes precision medicine more accessible and inclusive Dr. Velazquez Villarreal will also present a poster on his lab's development of a new precision medicine AI tool that addresses key challenges in the integration of different data sets to promote better equity in cancer research. The new tool, called the Precision Medicine Artificial Intelligence Agent (PM-AI), is a conversational AI system that can understand plain-language questions and automatically run complex data analyses. It combines clinical information, genetic data, and social factors like income or access to care to make it easier for scientists to study cancer in a more complete and inclusive way. "By making it easier to analyze large and complex datasets, PM-AI can help researchers and doctors discover which treatments work best for different groups of people," said Dr. Velazquez Villarreal. This means patients could one day receive more personalized care based on their genetics, health history, and social conditions—leading to better outcomes for everyone, especially underserved communities." He said the research team plans to keep expanding PM-AI's capabilities by applying it to more types of cancer and integrating even more kinds of data. The goal is to support clinical decisions, help design new studies and ultimately make precision medicine more accessible for all patients. The study, "PM-AI agent: A conversational artificial intelligence system for precision medicine and advancing health equity through integrative clinical, genomic and social determinants of health data analysis," is the first accepted by AACR to use a cutting-edge technology known as an AI-driven conversational agent and will be presented during a poster session on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. CT. Combination treatment found to overcome therapy resistance in ER+ breast cancer In patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer — the most common type of the disease — 30-50% eventually develop resistance to primary endocrine therapy and progress to advance disease. While cell cycle inhibitor therapies help slow down metastatic ER+ breast cancer, patients often become resistant to these treatments, too. Now, a new study by City of Hope researchers has revealed that ER+ breast cancers resistant to cell cycle inhibitors undergo dynamical rewiring of both apoptosis (or cell death) pathways and proliferative pathways, which regulate cell division and growth, to survive. To overcome this resistance, the team looked for add-on therapies that target growth factor receptors. Their goal was to find a combination that provides a blockade of proliferative pathways with sustained upregulation of apoptosis pathways to maintain treatment effectiveness. Using leading-edge integration of short- and long-term biological experimentation cell models with mathematical and computational analysis, they discover a new proposed combination therapy of ribociclib (a cell cycle inhibitor) plus afatinib (a growth factor inhibitor) that can durably control breast cancer cell growth over time. "Although cell growth-targeted drugs have improved outcomes for hormone-dependent breast cancer patients, resistance remains a major clinical challenge limiting their long-term benefit," said Andrea Bild, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research and senior author of the study. "Our research presents a novel strategy to enhance the durability and effectiveness of current treatments." Next, the research team aims to translate their findings for patient benefit in the clinic. To do so, Dr. Bild said they will expand their use of temporal computational and mathematical modeling to monitor molecular changes over time and identify dynamic biomarkers that can guide future treatment strategies. Kimya Karimi, a doctoral student in Dr. Bild's lab, will present the team's study "Overcoming intrinsic mechanisms of cell cycle inhibitor resistance in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer" during a minisymposium on Tuesday from 3:05 to 3:20 p.m. CT. About City of Hope City of Hope's mission is to make hope a reality for all touched by cancer and diabetes. Founded in 1913, City of Hope has grown into one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center that is ranked Top 5 in the nation for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report at its core, City of Hope brings a uniquely integrated model that spans cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and a broad philanthropy program that powers its work. City of Hope's growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and cancer treatment centers and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas. City of Hope's affiliated group of organizations includes Translational Genomics Research Institute and AccessHope™. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts Letisia Marquezlemarquez@ 626-476-7593 Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Press Release: Tolebrutinib phase 3 data published in NEJM demonstrate benefit on disability progression in multiple sclerosis
Tolebrutinib phase 3 data published in NEJM demonstrate benefit on disability progression in multiple sclerosis Results from the HERCULES phase 3 study showed delay in disability progression in people living with non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis Tolebrutinib has the potential to be the first therapy to modulate immunologic drivers of chronic inflammation behind the blood–brain barrier, a key driver of disability accumulation in MS Tolebrutinib is being evaluated under priority review in the US with a target action date of 28 September 2025; regulatory submission dossier is under review in the EU with a decision expected in Q1 2026 Paris, April 8, 2025. The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published positive results from the HERCULES phase 3 study demonstrating that tolebrutinib delayed disability progression in people with non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (nrSPMS), where there are currently no treatment options approved. These findings further support the differentiated mechanism of oral, brain-penetrant tolebrutinib, targeting disability progression independent of relapse activity. These results were first presented at the ECTRIMS conference on September 20, 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark and further analyses were also presented today during the Clinical Trials Plenary Session at the 2025 Annual Meeting for the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in San Diego, California. Vice Chair of Research at Cleveland Clinic's Neurological Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, US, and chair of the HERCULES global steering committee'Tolebrutinib represents a new class of therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In this large phase 3 study, tolebrutinib was found to slow the progression of disability in a subset of multiple sclerosis for which we have no approved therapies – non-relapsing secondary progressive disease. The results of this study signal a new chapter in multiple sclerosis because we finally found a potential way to treat non-relapsing secondary progressive forms.'Dr Fox is a paid advisor to Sanofi for the HERCULES study. Global Head of Neurology Development'By targeting disability progression mechanisms behind the blood-brain barrier, tolebrutinib has the potential to be a practice-changing therapeutic option for people living with multiple sclerosis. The data published in NEJM support our larger commitment to the multiple sclerosis patient community, transforming the treatment paradigm to defy disability across the disease spectrum.' The HERCULES data demonstrated that tolebrutinib delayed the time to onset of 6-month confirmed disability progression (CDP) by 31% compared to placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.88; p=0.003). Additionally, results from the GEMINI 1 and 2 phase 3 studies, evaluating tolebrutinib in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) were also published in NEJM and presented today during the Clinical Trials Plenary Session at the AAN 2025 Annual Meeting. The GEMINI 1 and 2 results did not show superiority on the primary endpoint of reducing annualized relapse rate (ARR) over teriflunomide. The ARR during the study period was 0.13 in the tolebrutinib group and 0.12 in the teriflunomide group in GEMINI 1 (adjusted rate ratio, 1.06; 95% CI 0.81-1.39; p=0.67) and was 0.11 in both groups in GEMINI 2 (adjusted rate ratio, 1.00; 95% CI 0.75-1.32; p=0.98). A pooled analysis for a key secondary endpoint, not controlled for multiplicity, showed that tolebrutinib delayed the time to onset of 6-month confirmed disability worsening by 29% versus teriflunomide (HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.95). Tolebrutinib was generally well-tolerated across all arms of the studies for all participants. In HERCULES, liver enzyme elevations (>3xULN) were observed in 4.0% of participants receiving tolebrutinib compared with 1.6% in the placebo group. A small (0.5%) proportion of participants in the tolebrutinib group experienced peak ALT increases of >20xULN, all occurring within the first 90 days of treatment. All but one case of liver enzyme elevations resolved without further medical intervention. Prior to the implementation of more frequent liver enzyme monitoring following treatment initiation, one participant in the tolebrutinib arm received a liver transplant and died due to post-operative complications. The implementation of more frequent liver monitoring may help to mitigate serious liver sequelae. Other deaths in the study were assessed as unrelated to treatment by investigators; deaths were even across the placebo and tolebrutinib arms at 0.3%. In an analysis of the GEMINI 1 and 2 pooled safety data, adverse events observed between the tolebrutinib and teriflunomide arms were generally balanced. Liver enzyme elevations (>3xULN) were observed in 5.6% of participants receiving tolebrutinib compared to 6.3% in the teriflunomide arms. A small (0.5%) proportion of participants in the tolebrutinib group experienced peak ALT increases of >20xULN, all occurring within the first 90 days of treatment. Deaths were balanced across the teriflunomide and tolebrutinib arms, at 0.2% and 0.1% respectively, and were assessed as unrelated to treatment by the investigators. The safety and efficacy of tolebrutinib have not been determined by any regulatory authority. The regulatory submission for tolebrutinib to treat nrSPMS and to slow disability accumulation independent of relapse activity in adult patients is being evaluated under priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration with a target action date of September 28, 2025. A regulatory submission is also under review in the EU. About multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system that may result in accumulation of irreversible disabilities over time. The physical and cognitive disability impairments translate into gradual deterioration of health status, impacting patients' quality of life. Disability accumulation remains the significant unmet medical need in MS. To date, the primary target of currently approved medicines has been peripheral B and T cells, while innate immunity within the CNS, which is believed to drive disability accumulation, remains largely unaddressed. Currently approved or late-stage medicines being tested for MS mainly target the adaptive immune system and/or do not act directly within the central nervous system to drive clinical benefit. Living with nrSPMS refers to people with MS who have stopped experiencing relapses but continue to accumulate disability, experienced as symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive impairment, balance and gait impairment, loss of bowel and/or bladder function, sexual disfunction, amongst others. About tolebrutinib Tolebrutinib is an investigational, oral, brain-penetrant and bioactive Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor specifically designed to target smoldering neuroinflammation, a key driver of disability progression in multiple sclerosis. Unlike conventional MS therapies that primarily address peripheral inflammation, tolebrutinib crosses the blood-brain barrier to achieve therapeutic cerebrospinal fluid concentrations, allowing it to modulate both B-lymphocytes and disease-associated microglia within the central nervous system. This mechanism is thought to directly address the underlying pathology of progressive MS by targeting the inflammatory processes that contribute to neurodegeneration and disability accumulation. Tolebrutinib was previously granted breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA, based on positive results from the HERCULES phase 3 study in adults with non-relapsing secondary progressive MS. Tolebrutinib is being evaluated in a phase 3 clinical study for the treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis and its safety and efficacy have not been determined by any regulatory authority worldwide. For more information on tolebrutinib clinical studies, please visit Tolebrutinib represents Sanofi's commitment to developing innovative treatments that address the underlying causes of neurological diseases and potentially transform the treatment landscape. Standing at the intersection of neurology and immunoscience, Sanofi is focused on improving the lives of those living with serious neuro-inflammatory and neuro-degenerative conditions including MS, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, age-related macular degeneration, and other neurological diseases. The neurology pipeline currently has several projects in phase 3 studies across 7 indications. About HERCULES HERCULES (clinical study identifier: NCT04411641) was a double-blind randomized phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of tolebrutinib in patients with nrSPMS. At baseline, nrSPMS was defined as having a SPMS diagnosis with an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) between 3.0 and 6.5, no clinical relapses for the previous 24 months and documented evidence of disability accumulation in the previous 12 months. Participants were randomized (2:1) to receive either an oral daily dose of tolebrutinib or matching placebo for up to approximately 48 months. The primary endpoint was 6-month CDP defined as the increase of ≥1.0 point from the baseline EDSS score when the baseline score is ≤5.0, or the increase of ≥0.5 point when the baseline EDSS score was >5.0. Secondary endpoints included time to onset of 3-month CDP as assessed by EDSS score, total number of new or enlarging T2 hyperintense lesions as detected by MRI, time to onset of confirmed disability improvement, 3-month change in 9-hole peg test and T25-FW test as well as the safety and tolerability of tolebrutinib. About GEMINI 1 and 2 GEMINI 1 (clinical study identifier: NCT04410978) and GEMINI 2 (clinical study identifier: NCT04410991) were double-blind randomized phase 3 studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of tolebrutinib compared to teriflunomide in patients with RMS. Participants were randomized in both studies (1:1) to receive either tolebrutinib and placebo daily or 14 mg teriflunomide and placebo. The primary endpoint for both studies was the annualized relapse rate for up to approximately 36 months defined as the number of confirmed adjudicated protocol defined relapses. Secondary endpoints included time to onset of CDW, confirmed over at least 6 months, defined as an increase of ≥1.5 points from the baseline EDSS score when the baseline score is 0, an increase of ≥1.0 point from the baseline EDSS score when the baseline score is 0.5 to ≤5.5 or an increase of ≥0.5 point from the baseline EDSS score when the baseline score was >5.5 in addition to the total number of new and/or enlarging T2 hyperintense lesions as detected by MRI from baseline through the end of study, the total number of Gd-enhancing T1 hyperintense lesions as detected by MRI from baseline through the end of study and the safety and tolerability of tolebrutinib. About Sanofi We are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives. Our team, across the world, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our is listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY Media RelationsSandrine Guendoul | +33 6 25 09 14 25 | Evan Berland | +1 215 432 0234 | Nicolas Obrist | +33 6 77 21 27 55 | Léo Le Bourhis | +33 6 75 06 43 81 | Victor Rouault | +33 6 70 93 71 40 | Timothy Gilbert | +1 516 521 2929 | Investor RelationsThomas Kudsk Larsen | +44 7545 513 693 | Alizé Kaisserian | +33 6 47 04 12 11 | Felix Lauscher | +1 908 612 7239 | Keita Browne | +1 781 249 1766 | Nathalie Pham | +33 7 85 93 30 17 | Tarik Elgoutni | +1 617 710 3587 | Thibaud Châtelet | +33 6 80 80 89 90 | Yun Li | +33 6 84 00 90 72 | Sanofi forward-looking statementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. 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These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the fact that product candidates if approved may not be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, Sanofi's ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, to complete related transactions and/or obtain regulatory clearances, risks associated with intellectual property and any related pending or future litigation and the ultimate outcome of such litigation, trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, volatile economic and market conditions, cost containment initiatives and subsequent changes thereto, and the impact that global crises may have on us, our customers, suppliers, vendors, and other business partners, and the financial condition of any one of them, as well as on our employees and on the global economy as a whole. The risks and uncertainties also include the uncertainties discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under 'Risk Factors' and 'Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements' in Sanofi's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements. All trademarks mentioned in this press release are the property of the Sanofi group. Attachment Press ReleaseSign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Press Release: Tolebrutinib phase 3 data published in NEJM demonstrate benefit on disability progression in multiple sclerosis
Tolebrutinib phase 3 data published in NEJM demonstrate benefit on disability progression in multiple sclerosis Results from the HERCULES phase 3 study showed delay in disability progression in people living with non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis Tolebrutinib has the potential to be the first therapy to modulate immunologic drivers of chronic inflammation behind the blood–brain barrier, a key driver of disability accumulation in MS Tolebrutinib is being evaluated under priority review in the US with a target action date of 28 September 2025; regulatory submission dossier is under review in the EU with a decision expected in Q1 2026 Paris, April 8, 2025. The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published positive results from the HERCULES phase 3 study demonstrating that tolebrutinib delayed disability progression in people with non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (nrSPMS), where there are currently no treatment options approved. These findings further support the differentiated mechanism of oral, brain-penetrant tolebrutinib, targeting disability progression independent of relapse activity. These results were first presented at the ECTRIMS conference on September 20, 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark and further analyses were also presented today during the Clinical Trials Plenary Session at the 2025 Annual Meeting for the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in San Diego, California. Vice Chair of Research at Cleveland Clinic's Neurological Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, US, and chair of the HERCULES global steering committee'Tolebrutinib represents a new class of therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In this large phase 3 study, tolebrutinib was found to slow the progression of disability in a subset of multiple sclerosis for which we have no approved therapies – non-relapsing secondary progressive disease. The results of this study signal a new chapter in multiple sclerosis because we finally found a potential way to treat non-relapsing secondary progressive forms.'Dr Fox is a paid advisor to Sanofi for the HERCULES study. Global Head of Neurology Development'By targeting disability progression mechanisms behind the blood-brain barrier, tolebrutinib has the potential to be a practice-changing therapeutic option for people living with multiple sclerosis. The data published in NEJM support our larger commitment to the multiple sclerosis patient community, transforming the treatment paradigm to defy disability across the disease spectrum.' The HERCULES data demonstrated that tolebrutinib delayed the time to onset of 6-month confirmed disability progression (CDP) by 31% compared to placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.88; p=0.003). Additionally, results from the GEMINI 1 and 2 phase 3 studies, evaluating tolebrutinib in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) were also published in NEJM and presented today during the Clinical Trials Plenary Session at the AAN 2025 Annual Meeting. The GEMINI 1 and 2 results did not show superiority on the primary endpoint of reducing annualized relapse rate (ARR) over teriflunomide. The ARR during the study period was 0.13 in the tolebrutinib group and 0.12 in the teriflunomide group in GEMINI 1 (adjusted rate ratio, 1.06; 95% CI 0.81-1.39; p=0.67) and was 0.11 in both groups in GEMINI 2 (adjusted rate ratio, 1.00; 95% CI 0.75-1.32; p=0.98). A pooled analysis for a key secondary endpoint, not controlled for multiplicity, showed that tolebrutinib delayed the time to onset of 6-month confirmed disability worsening by 29% versus teriflunomide (HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.95). Tolebrutinib was generally well-tolerated across all arms of the studies for all participants. In HERCULES, liver enzyme elevations (>3xULN) were observed in 4.0% of participants receiving tolebrutinib compared with 1.6% in the placebo group. A small (0.5%) proportion of participants in the tolebrutinib group experienced peak ALT increases of >20xULN, all occurring within the first 90 days of treatment. All but one case of liver enzyme elevations resolved without further medical intervention. Prior to the implementation of more frequent liver enzyme monitoring following treatment initiation, one participant in the tolebrutinib arm received a liver transplant and died due to post-operative complications. The implementation of more frequent liver monitoring may help to mitigate serious liver sequelae. Other deaths in the study were assessed as unrelated to treatment by investigators; deaths were even across the placebo and tolebrutinib arms at 0.3%. In an analysis of the GEMINI 1 and 2 pooled safety data, adverse events observed between the tolebrutinib and teriflunomide arms were generally balanced. Liver enzyme elevations (>3xULN) were observed in 5.6% of participants receiving tolebrutinib compared to 6.3% in the teriflunomide arms. A small (0.5%) proportion of participants in the tolebrutinib group experienced peak ALT increases of >20xULN, all occurring within the first 90 days of treatment. Deaths were balanced across the teriflunomide and tolebrutinib arms, at 0.2% and 0.1% respectively, and were assessed as unrelated to treatment by the investigators. The safety and efficacy of tolebrutinib have not been determined by any regulatory authority. The regulatory submission for tolebrutinib to treat nrSPMS and to slow disability accumulation independent of relapse activity in adult patients is being evaluated under priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration with a target action date of September 28, 2025. A regulatory submission is also under review in the EU. About multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system that may result in accumulation of irreversible disabilities over time. The physical and cognitive disability impairments translate into gradual deterioration of health status, impacting patients' quality of life. Disability accumulation remains the significant unmet medical need in MS. To date, the primary target of currently approved medicines has been peripheral B and T cells, while innate immunity within the CNS, which is believed to drive disability accumulation, remains largely unaddressed. Currently approved or late-stage medicines being tested for MS mainly target the adaptive immune system and/or do not act directly within the central nervous system to drive clinical benefit. Living with nrSPMS refers to people with MS who have stopped experiencing relapses but continue to accumulate disability, experienced as symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive impairment, balance and gait impairment, loss of bowel and/or bladder function, sexual disfunction, amongst others. About tolebrutinib Tolebrutinib is an investigational, oral, brain-penetrant and bioactive Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor specifically designed to target smoldering neuroinflammation, a key driver of disability progression in multiple sclerosis. Unlike conventional MS therapies that primarily address peripheral inflammation, tolebrutinib crosses the blood-brain barrier to achieve therapeutic cerebrospinal fluid concentrations, allowing it to modulate both B-lymphocytes and disease-associated microglia within the central nervous system. This mechanism is thought to directly address the underlying pathology of progressive MS by targeting the inflammatory processes that contribute to neurodegeneration and disability accumulation. Tolebrutinib was previously granted breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA, based on positive results from the HERCULES phase 3 study in adults with non-relapsing secondary progressive MS. Tolebrutinib is being evaluated in a phase 3 clinical study for the treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis and its safety and efficacy have not been determined by any regulatory authority worldwide. For more information on tolebrutinib clinical studies, please visit Tolebrutinib represents Sanofi's commitment to developing innovative treatments that address the underlying causes of neurological diseases and potentially transform the treatment landscape. Standing at the intersection of neurology and immunoscience, Sanofi is focused on improving the lives of those living with serious neuro-inflammatory and neuro-degenerative conditions including MS, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, age-related macular degeneration, and other neurological diseases. The neurology pipeline currently has several projects in phase 3 studies across 7 indications. About HERCULES HERCULES (clinical study identifier: NCT04411641) was a double-blind randomized phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of tolebrutinib in patients with nrSPMS. At baseline, nrSPMS was defined as having a SPMS diagnosis with an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) between 3.0 and 6.5, no clinical relapses for the previous 24 months and documented evidence of disability accumulation in the previous 12 months. Participants were randomized (2:1) to receive either an oral daily dose of tolebrutinib or matching placebo for up to approximately 48 months. The primary endpoint was 6-month CDP defined as the increase of ≥1.0 point from the baseline EDSS score when the baseline score is ≤5.0, or the increase of ≥0.5 point when the baseline EDSS score was >5.0. Secondary endpoints included time to onset of 3-month CDP as assessed by EDSS score, total number of new or enlarging T2 hyperintense lesions as detected by MRI, time to onset of confirmed disability improvement, 3-month change in 9-hole peg test and T25-FW test as well as the safety and tolerability of tolebrutinib. About GEMINI 1 and 2 GEMINI 1 (clinical study identifier: NCT04410978) and GEMINI 2 (clinical study identifier: NCT04410991) were double-blind randomized phase 3 studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of tolebrutinib compared to teriflunomide in patients with RMS. Participants were randomized in both studies (1:1) to receive either tolebrutinib and placebo daily or 14 mg teriflunomide and placebo. The primary endpoint for both studies was the annualized relapse rate for up to approximately 36 months defined as the number of confirmed adjudicated protocol defined relapses. Secondary endpoints included time to onset of CDW, confirmed over at least 6 months, defined as an increase of ≥1.5 points from the baseline EDSS score when the baseline score is 0, an increase of ≥1.0 point from the baseline EDSS score when the baseline score is 0.5 to ≤5.5 or an increase of ≥0.5 point from the baseline EDSS score when the baseline score was >5.5 in addition to the total number of new and/or enlarging T2 hyperintense lesions as detected by MRI from baseline through the end of study, the total number of Gd-enhancing T1 hyperintense lesions as detected by MRI from baseline through the end of study and the safety and tolerability of tolebrutinib. About Sanofi We are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives. Our team, across the world, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our is listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY Media RelationsSandrine Guendoul | +33 6 25 09 14 25 | Evan Berland | +1 215 432 0234 | Nicolas Obrist | +33 6 77 21 27 55 | Léo Le Bourhis | +33 6 75 06 43 81 | Victor Rouault | +33 6 70 93 71 40 | Timothy Gilbert | +1 516 521 2929 | Investor RelationsThomas Kudsk Larsen | +44 7545 513 693 | Alizé Kaisserian | +33 6 47 04 12 11 | Felix Lauscher | +1 908 612 7239 | Keita Browne | +1 781 249 1766 | Nathalie Pham | +33 7 85 93 30 17 | Tarik Elgoutni | +1 617 710 3587 | Thibaud Châtelet | +33 6 80 80 89 90 | Yun Li | +33 6 84 00 90 72 | Sanofi forward-looking statementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. 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The risks and uncertainties also include the uncertainties discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under 'Risk Factors' and 'Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements' in Sanofi's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements. All trademarks mentioned in this press release are the property of the Sanofi group. Attachment Press ReleaseSign in to access your portfolio
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Lutris Pharma to Present at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025
New Clinical Data from Phase 2 Trial of LUT014 for the Treatment of Patients With EGFRI-Induced Acneiform Rash Accepted for Oral Presentation at the Clinical Trials Plenary Session TEL AVIV, Israel, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lutris Pharma, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving anti-cancer therapies by reducing cutaneous dose limiting toxicity, today announced the upcoming presentation of the results of its double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 randomized clinical trial of lead compound, LUT014 gel. The topically-applied novel B-Raf inhibitor is optimized for paradoxical MAPK activation, for patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor therapy who develop dose-limiting acneiform rash. The new clinical data will be released in an oral presentation at the Clinical Trials Plenary Session at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025, being held April 25-30 in Chicago, IL. Presentation Details: Presentation Title: A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized phase 2 clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a topical BRAF inhibitor for acneiform rash toxicities from anti-EGFR therapies Presenting Author: Anisha B. Patel, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX Abstract Number: CT018 Session Title: New Frontiers in Precision Oncology Session Date: Sunday, April 27, 2025 Session Time: 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm CT About EGFR Inhibitor-Induced RashEGFR is a receptor on the surface of cells which is expressed in many normal epithelial tissues, including skin. The EGFR signaling pathway is one of the key pathways that regulate growth, survival, proliferation, and differentiation of cells. B-Raf is a protein encoded by the BRAF gene and is a downstream effector component of the EGFR signaling pathway. EGFR has been shown to be over-activated in various human cancers, including colorectal, lung, head and neck, urinary bladder, pancreatic and breast cancers, eliciting downstream phosphorylation and activation of the MAP Kinase pathway. EGFR inhibitors can block the EGFR signal responsible for cell growth. Among the various types of pharmacological therapies for cancer, EGFR inhibitors are increasingly being used both as primary therapy as well as in patients who have progressed on prior chemotherapy treatments. Although effective as anti-cancer therapy leading to tumor shrinkage, EGFR inhibitors have many adverse reactions associated with their use. The majority of patients treated with EGFR inhibitors will experience adverse dermatological side effects typically manifested as a papulopustular skin rash, also known as acneiform lesions, which can impact quality of life and affect adherence to therapy. About LUT014LUT014 is a novel B-Raf inhibitor which is applied topically to the skin. When the B-Raf protein is mutated, as is the case in some human cancers such as melanoma, blocking this pathway leads to apoptosis of the cells and tumor shrinkage. However, when the same pathway is blocked in normal, non-mutated cells, the opposite happens: the MAPK pathway is activated, and cells start growing. This phenomenon is recognized as the paradoxical effect of B-Raf Inhibitors. LUT014 harnesses the paradoxical effect of B-Raf Inhibitors in order to enhance cell proliferation and balance cell destruction, typical to radiation dermatitis. About Lutris PharmaLutris Pharma is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving anti-cancer therapy effectiveness and quality of life for patients who are being treated with EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) inhibitors or with radiation, where dermal toxicity often leads to a reduction of anti-cancer therapy compliance. The company aims to provide novel topical therapies in order to mitigate these side effects. Lutris Pharma's lead asset, LUT014, a topical B-Raf Inhibitor, is a proprietary, first-in-class, small molecule currently in a phase 2 clinical trial in metastatic colorectal cancer patients with EGFR inhibitor induced acneiform lesions and has successfully completed a phase 1/2 study for the treatment of radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients. For more information, please visit Contacts: Lutris PharmaNoa Shelach, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officerir@ Rx Communications GroupMichael Miller+1-917-633-6086mmiller@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Lutris Pharma
