- Thinly traded micro cap Syndax Pharmaceuticals (SNDX -10.9%) slumps on 50% higher volume, albeit on turnover of only 153K shares, on the heels of its announcement of results from an open-label Phase 1b/2 study, ENCORE 601, evaluating the combination of entinostat and Merck's (MRK -0.4%) KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma and colorectal cancer (CRC). The data were presented at the SITC Annual Meeting in National Harbor, MD.
- The overall response rate in NSCLC patients who progressed after anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapy was 10% and 24% in NSCLC patients who had not been previously treated with a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor.
- Across both cohorts, the responders with known PD-(L)1 expression levels were either low (1-49%) or negative (<1%) expressors.
- The combination of Nektar Therapeutics ' (NKTR +15.6%) NKTR-214 and BMY's Opdivo (nivolumab) produced a 75% (n=3/4) response rate in NSCLC patients who did not express PD-L1 and had progressed after chemo.
- The study is ongoing. A decision on advancing the colorectal cancer cohort into Phase 2 will be made in H1 2018 (the lung cancer and melanoma cohorts have already been advanced).
- Entinostat is a small molecule that inhibits an enzyme class called histone deacetylases (HDACs), specifically Class 1 HDACs which play a key role in modulating immuno-suppressive cells called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells. The company says entinostat has therapeutic potential in a range of cancers when used in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (like Keytruda).
- Previously: Combination of Opdivo and Nektar's NKTR-214 show positive effect in advanced lung cancer in Phase 1/2 study (Nov. 13)
- Previously: Nektar's gain Calithera's pain on Opdivo combo treatments; shares down 15% (Nov. 13)
- Now read: Calithera Biosciences (CALA) Analyst and Investor Meeting - Slideshow
3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or
remove ads
.
Original article