BERLIN, Germany and BOSTON, MA, USA I December 5, 2014 I NOXXON Pharma will disclose promising data from two independent clinical Phase IIa studies of the anti-CXCL12/SDF-1 Spiegelmer® olaptesed pegol (NOX-A12) and show preclinical data supporting broad use of olaptesed pegol in combination with anti-cancer therapeutic antibodies at the 56th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in San Francisco, CA from 06-09 December 2014.

In the first study, olaptesed pegol was administered with bortezomib and dexamethasone (VD) in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM). In the second study, relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients were treated with olaptesed pegol combined with bendamustine and rituximab (BR). Data from all 28 patients in each study will be presented.

In both studies, anti-CXCL12/SDF-1 Spiegelmer® olaptesed was able to mobilize cancer cells from protective niches in the body. This mobilization reflects olaptesed pegol’s ability to block tumor-microenvironment interactions and to modify the bone marrow environment to make it less receptive for malignant cells.

In patients with relapsed MM, an overall response rate (ORR) of 68% including 18% very good partial responses (vgPR) and 7% complete responses (CR) was achieved in the 28 patients. Importantly, treatment with olaptesed pegol was not associated with additional toxicity on top of VD. Notably, the response rate was essentially the same in patients with high-risk cytogenetics and patients not bearing the high-risk mutations/translocations.

In relapsed CLL patients, 82% overall response rate (ORR) and 14% complete response (CR) rate was observed which compares very favorably with historical controls receiving the underlying BR therapy. Further, all high-risk patients1 responded with a partial response (PR) or complete response (CR).

Preclinical work showed that in contrast to tested inhibitors of BTK (ibrutinib) and PI3Kδ (idelalisib), olaptesed does not inhibit antibody mediated cellular cytotoxicity or phagocytosis of rituximab. Furthermore, it not only mobilizes malignant cells, but also increases the number of circulating immune effector cells.2 Olaptesed pegol could thus be a partner of choice for anti-cancer monoclonal antibodies.

The titles and contributors for the three above mentioned poster presentations at ASH are as follows:

Saturday, December 06, 2014, 5:30 PM-7:30 PM, West Building, Level 1 (Moscone Center), Session 653, Publication number: 2111

Final Results from the Phase IIa Study of the Anti-CXCL12 Spiegelmer® Olaptesed Pegol (NOX-A12) in Combination with Bortezomib and Dexamethasone in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

Heinz Ludwig,  Katja Weisel, Maria Teresa Petrucci, Xavier Leleu, Anna Maria Cafro, Laurent Garderet, Niklas Zojer, Robin Foa, Richard Greil, Ibrahim Yakoub-Agha, Anna Kruschinski, Thomas Dümmler, Kai Riecke, and Monika Engelhardt  Saturday, December 06, 2014, 5:30 PM-7:30 PM, West Building, Level 1 (Moscone Center); Session 642, Publication number: 1996

Results from a Phase IIa Study of the Anti-CXCL12 Spiegelmer® Olaptesed Pegol

(NOX A12) in Combination with Bendamustine/Rituximab in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Michael Steurer, Marco Montillo, Lydia Scarfò, Francesca Romana Mauro, Johannes Andel, Sophie Wildner, Livio Trentin, Ann Janssens, Sonja Burgstaller, Anna Kruschinski, Thomas Dümmler, Kai Riecke, Paolo Ghia, Federico Caligaris-Cappio and Marco Gobbi  Monday, December 08, 2014, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM, West Building, Level 1 (Moscone Center), Session 625, Publication number: 4499

Comparison of Ibrutinib, Idelalisib and Olaptesed Pegol on the Immune Effector Function Mediated by Rituximab

Dirk Zboralski, Axel Vater and Anna Kruschinski

Members of NOXXON’s drug development team and clinical investigators will be at the ASH conference to explain the mode of action and clinical potential of this innovative drug candidate.

1As defined by Stilgenbauer and Zenz (2010)

2Vater A. et al. (2013), Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics

About NOXXON Pharma

NOXXON Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of a new class of proprietary therapeutics called Spiegelmers. Spiegelmers are chemically synthesized L-stereoisomer oligonucleotide aptamers, a non-immunogenic alternative to antibodies. NOXXON has a diversified portfolio of clinical-stage Spiegelmer® therapeutics:

Lexaptepid pegol (NOX-H94), an anti-hepcidin Spiegelmer®, has completed a Phase IIa pilot study in cancer patients with anemia and is now being studied in EPO-hyporesponsive dialysis patients. Hepcidin is the key regulator of iron metabolism and responsible for the iron restriction leading to anemia of chronic disease.  Olaptesed pegol (NOX-A12), an anti-CXCL12/SDF-1 (CXC chemokine ligand 12 / Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1) Spiegelmer®, has completed Phase IIa studies in two hematological cancers, multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Studies for treatment of glioblastoma have also been designed and olaptesed pegol has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA and EMA for this indication. CXCL12 is a chemokine known to be involved in tumor invasion, metastasis and resistance to therapy.  Emapticap pegol (NOX-E36), an anti-CCL2/MCP-1 (C-C chemokine ligand 2 / Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1) Spiegelmer®, has completed a Phase IIa proof-of-concept study in patients with type 2 diabetes with albuminuria and a Phase IIb study is in the planning stages. CCL2 is a pro-inflammatory chemokine involved in the recruitment of immune cells to inflamed tissues.

The Spiegelmer® platform provides the company with powerful and unique discovery capabilities, which have generated a number of additional leads under preclinical investigation. Located in Berlin, Germany, NOXXON is a well-financed mature biotech company with a strong syndicate of international investors, and approximately 55 employees.

SOURCE: NOXXON