Trials & Deals Spotlight: AstraZeneca, Ventus/Novo Nordisk, Novartis/Marinana, and Metagenomi/Moderna
A look at today’s top life science stories
AstraZeneca’s Calquence Combo Improves Survival in Mantle Cell Lymphoma
AstraZeneca reported positive high-level data from an interim analysis of the ECHO Phase III trial of Calquence (acalabrutinib) in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy, bendamustine and rituximab. The combination showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to standard of care in previously untreated adults with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). There was also a positive trend in the combination for overall survival (OS), a secondary endpoint, but the data was not mature at the time of the analysis. MCL is a rare and generally aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It is often diagnosed as a late-stage disease, caused when B-lymphocytes mutate into malignant cells within a region of the lymph node called the mantle zone.
Ventus/Novo Nordisk Doses 1st Patient in Phase I Trial of NLRP3 Inhibitor
Ventus Therapeutics (Waltham, Mass. and Montreal) announced that its partner Novo Nordisk dosed the first participant in a Phase I trial of an oral NLRP3 inhibitor. The drug was licensed by Novo Nordisk in September 2022. NLRP3 is a member of a family of proteins known as inflammasomes. These multiprotein complexes regulate the innate immune system and are involved in intracellular surveillance of danger and pathogen signals that stimulate an intense inflammatory response, including the release of IL-1ZB and IL-18, and the induction of pyroptosis, an inflammatory type of cell death.
“NLRP3 inhibitors have potential in a wide variety of cardiometabolic diseases, including obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and chronic kidney disease,” said Karin Conde-Knape, PhD, SVP of Global Drug Discovery at Novo Nordisk. “Since the beginning of our partnership with Ventus, we have seen additional evidence for the broad range of opportunities addressable by targeting NLRP3. This trial initiation marks the first stage in our NLRP3 inhibitor clinical program, and we are eager to be a key player in this expanding field.”
Novartis Acquires Marinana Oncology for its Radioligand Therapy Pipeline
Novartis inked a deal to buy Mariana Oncology (Watertown, Mass.) for an upfront payment of $1 billion and an additional $750 million in various milestones. Mariana focuses on developing novel radioligand therapies (RLTs) for cancers with high unmet medical need. The acquisition includes a significant portfolio of RLT programs, including development candidate MC-339, an actinium-based RLT being evaluated in small cell lung cancer. RLTs are a type of precision medicine combining a tumor-targeting molecule (ligand) with a therapeutic radioisotope. These compounds bind to specific receptors on the surface of certain tumor types. Once bound, the radioisotope causes DNA that that can inhibit cell growth and replication, possibly triggering cancer cell death.
Moderna Bails on Deal with Metagenomi Gene-Editing Tech
Metagenomi announced that Moderna mutually agreed to end their partnership on primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1), and rights to develop the PH1 program, as well as other rights under the deal. All rights are returning to Metagenomi. Metagenomi announced it had “regained full global rights to research, develop, manufacture, and commercialize its wholly-owned gene editing technologies, including base editors and RNA-mediated integration systems (RIGS).” Metagenomi indicates it plans to advance the development of this tech for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and Wilson’s disease. Moderna backed out based on a strategic prioritization. Moderna remains a shareholder of Metagenomi stock. RIGS is being developed to encode any type of genomic modification in an RNA template, creating any form of genome modification necessary to address a disease.