Clinical pipeline
BI-1206 in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
and chronic lymphocytic leukemia
In June 2019 BioInvent announced the publication of the first data from the two parallel Phase l/lla clinical trials. Up to that point, in the UK trial, 10 patients had received single agent therapy with up to 100 mg BI-1206 once weekly for a period of 4 weeks. In the US/EU study, five patients had received up to 100 mg BI-1206 in combination with rituximab. The data are published in the Abstract Book from the 15-ICML International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma.
Receptor occupancy is dose proportionate and yields high levels of receptor blockade at clinically relevant doses of BI-1206. Target-mediated drug disposition has not yet been overcome, and thus, the optimal dose has not yet been reached. Notwithstanding, pharmacodynamic analysis at the current doses showed depletion of peripheral B cells, including circulating mantle cell lymphoma cells during the first week of induction therapy.
Background
BI-1206 is a monoclonal antibody that recognizes with high affinity and selectivity FcγRIIB (CD32B), the only inhibitory member of the FcγR family. CD32B is overexpressed in several forms of NHL and overexpression has been associated with poor prognosis in difficult-to-treat forms of NHL, such as mantle cell lymphoma. By blocking FcγRIIB, BI-1206 is expected to recover and enhance the activity of rituximab or other anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of these diseases. The combination of the two drugs could provide a new and important option for patients suffering from NHL, and represents a substantial commercial opportunity.
In September 2018 BioInvent started dosing of the first patient in a dose escalation, consecutive-cohort, open-label phase I/IIa study of BI-1206. The study will recruit approximately 30 patients across sites in the EU and the U.S. The trial is evaluating BioInvent’s proprietary antibody BI-1206 in combination with rituximab in patients with indolent relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The targeted subindications are mantle cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and marginal zone lymphoma. The study will explore BI-1206’s safety and tolerability, and seek to determine a recommended phase ll dose (RP2D) when given in combination with rituximab. Expression of biomarkers will be assessed to explore a potential correlation with clinical activity. Topline results from the study are expected in the first half of 2020.
This study is run in parallel with the ongoing Phase I/IIa study of BI-1206 in patients with CLL and NHL conducted in the UK by Cancer Research UK. The ongoing study is currently testing single agent activity and is open for enrollment.
In January 2019 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted orphan designation for BI-1206 for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma.
BI-1206 in combination with pembrolizumab in solid tumors
In July 2019 BioInvent received authorization from the FDA to proceed with an IND application for a Phase I/IIa clinical trial of BI-1206 in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of solid tumors.
Background
The program is based on BioInvent’s preclinical data demonstrating the ability of BI-1206 to address an important mechanism of resistance to PD1 inhibition, providing a way to enhance anti-tumor immune responses in patients with solid tumors. The Phase I/IIa clinical trial will evaluate the drug combination in patients with advanced solid tumors, who have been previously treated with anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1 antibodies, and is a multicenter, dose-finding, consecutive-cohort, open-label trial. The Phase I/IIa trial is planned to be carried out in the U.S. and the EU.
Patent protection
Patent projection for the use of antibodies against CD32b, such as BI-1206 in combination with other antibodies, such as rituximab, in the treatment of cancer or inflammatory diseases in certain patient groups has been applied for in eight large markets, including the USA. So far patents have been granted by the European Patent Office as well as in Japan and Australia. The European patent is valid in 24 countries. Corresponding applications are pending in another five countries. Patent protection has also been sought in eight large markets for the treatment of cancer patients who are no longer responding to previous antibody therapy.
Haematological cancer
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is an umbrella term for a group of cancers that develop in the body’s lymphatic system. Examples of sub-indications are patients with Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), Follicular Lymphoma (FL) and Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL). Examples of subindications are patients with Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Follicular Lymphoma, and Marginal Zone Lymphoma. Aggressive lymphomas are usually treated with combinations of various chemotherapeutic agents and monoclonal anti-bodies such as rituximab (Rituxan®, Mabthera®, Roche). Low-grade lymphomas have a better prognosis and treatment is often only initiated once a patient has disease symptoms.
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is an incurable lymphoma disease that normally affects older people. The course of the disease is often slow and patients are usually treated with chemotherapy, often combined with monoclonal antibodies.
TB-403 in paediatric brain tumours
- development in collaboration with Oncurious
The study progresses according to plan, and the fourth dose level is ongoing. Initial data from this study are anticipated towards the end of 2019.
Background
TB-403 is currently in a Phase I/II study for the treatment of patients with medulloblastoma in cooperation with a US based pediatric oncology network, Beat Childhood Cancer.
TB-403 has received Orphan Designation for medulloblastoma from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). TB-403 is developed in collaboration with Oncurious, a subsidiary of Oxurion. BioInvent’s ownership in TB-403 is 50 percent and it contributes with 50 percent of the development costs
Patent protection
Patents for TB-403 and similar antibodies have been granted in Europe, the US, Japan and several additional countries, and patent applications are pending in further countries. Patents covering use of antibodies against PIGF, for example for the purpose of treating or preventing cancer, have also been granted, including in the US.
THR-317 in diabetic macular edema
- under development by Oxurion
In August 2019 Oxurion reported topline month 3 results of Phase lla Study Evaluating THR-317 in Combination with Ranibizumab, for Diabetic Macular Edema. The combination therapy did not show increase in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the overall population at Month 3. Certain improvement in mean BCVA at Month 3 was observed with the combination therapy in two pre-specified subgroups.Topline data confirmed that THR-317 in combination with ranibizumab is safe and well-tolerated.
Background
Oxurion carries all costs for the development of THR-317 in non-oncology indications, and BioInvent is entitled to five percent of the project’s economic value.
Patent protection
Patents for the antibody have been granted in Europe, the US, Japan and several additional countries, and patent applications are pending in further countries.
Pre-clinical pipeline
Novel mechanisms for antibody-mediated immune modulation
BioInvent’s preclinical research is focused on developing novel immuno-modulatory antibodies for cancer therapy. Such antibodies may significantly improve efficacy of currently available checkpoint inhibitor therapies and/or activate anti-cancer immunity in currently non-responding patients and cancer types.
TAMs
Strategic collaboration with Pfizer - developing antibodies that act on tumour-associated myeloid cells
In partnership with Pfizer Inc. since December 2016, BioInvent works to identify novel oncology targets and therapeutic antibodies that may either reverse the immunosuppressive activity of tumor-associated myeloid cells or reduce the number of tumor-associated myeloid cells in the tumor.
BioInvent announced in July 2019 selection of the first target discovered by BioInvent’s proprietary F.I.R.S.T™ technology platform under the collaboration with Pfizer Inc. The selection of a target triggered a payment from Pfizer to BioInvent of $0.3 million. Under the terms of the 2016 agreement, potential selection and development of antibodies directed against this target, as well as potential selection of further targets and development of antibodies directed at them, would allow BioInvent to be eligible for further milestone payments.
BioInvent is eligible for potential future development milestones in excess of $500 million (assuming five antibodies are developed through to commercialization). The Company could also receive up to double digit royalties related to product sales. In exchange, Pfizer will have the right to develop and commercialize any antibodies generated from this agreement.
BioInvent received an upfront payment of $3 million when the agreement was signed in December 2016, and research funding has been received during 2017, 2018 and 2019. Pfizer also made a $6 million equity investment in new shares of BioInvent when the agreement was signed.
Tregs
Developing antibodies that act on regulatory T cells (Tregs) via novel or validated targets
Tregs can substantially inhibit various immune responses, enabling tumor cells to escape detection. BioInvent is utilizing its F.I.R.S.T™ platform to identify and characterize monoclonal antibodies to cancer-associated Treg targets in a function-first, target-agnostic, manner. The Company is also pursuing differentiated antibodies to known targets through novel mechanisms and pathways.
BI-1808 (anti-TNFR2)
BioInvent has identified TNFR2, a member of the so called TNFR superfamily (TNFRS) as a target within the Treg program. The Company has antibody candidates with various mechanisms of action that show promising preclinical data. The most advanced candidate is BI-1808 and a first clinical study is scheduled for H1 2020.
Partnership with Transgene – developing next generation oncolytic viruses expressing an anti-CTLA-4 antibody to treat solid tumours
BioInvent and Transgene collaborate to co-develop oncolytic virus (OV) candidates encoding a validated anti-CTLA-4 antibody sequence - potentially with additional transgenes - aimed at treating solid tumors.
Transgene is contributing both its OV design and engineering expertise, as well as its proprietary Vaccinia viruses, designed to directly and selectively destroy cancer cells by intracellular replication of the virus in the cancer cell (oncolysis). Oncolysis induces an immune response against tumors, while the “weaponized” virus allows the expression of genes carried by the oncolytic viral genome, such as an immune modulatory anti-CTLA-4 antibody, to further boost immune response against the tumor.
BioInvent is providing its cancer biology and antibody expertise to the collaboration, as well as anti-CTLA-4 antibody sequences generated through its proprietary n-CoDeR®/F.I.R.S.TTM platforms.
This novel OV product has the potential to be significantly more effective than the combination of single agents. Transgene has generated preclinical proof-of-concept data showing that an oncolytic vaccinia virus encoded with a checkpoint inhibitor resulted in better overall survival than the corresponding combination of separate single agents.
In March 2019 BioInvent and Transgene announced an extension of their collaboration to co-develop multi-functional oncolytic viruses encoding antibodies targeting an undisclosed target, which can be used in the treatment of a broad range of solid tumors.
The research and development costs, as well as revenue and royalties from candidates generated from the collaboration, will be shared 50:50