BerGenBio ASA: Results for the Second Quarter and First Half 2018
· Encouraging clinical data emerging from several phase II trials with highly
selective AXL inhibitor bemcentinib (BGB324)
· Advanced lung cancer (NSCLC): First stage fully recruited, and first
efficacy endpoint met in phase II trial of bemcentinib in combination with anti
-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA®
· Advanced leukaemia (AML/MDS): Encouraging bemcentinib single agent activity
in hard to treat relapsed / refractory (R/R) leukaemia
· Pipeline update: AXL antibody preparing for Phase I clinical trial
Bergen, Norway, 21 August 2018 - BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors for
multiple cancer indications, announces its results for the second quarter and
first half 2018. A presentation of the results by the Company’s management will
take place today at 10.00 am CET in Oslo - details below.
Richard Godfrey, Chief Executive Officer of BerGenBio, commented: “We are
pleased with the progress of our clinical development
programme (https://www.bergenbio.com/pipeline/) for bemcentinib in the first
half 2018. The emerging results in several clinical trials, which we showcased
at our successful satellite reception coinciding with the ASCO meeting in June,
are very encouraging and continue to support our view that bemcentinib could
become a cornerstone of future cancer therapy. These data provide further
evidence of bemcentinib’s activity in patients whose cancer progression is
mediated by AXL. In addition, we are making good progress with our studies to
identify predictive biomarkers that could be developed as companion diagnostics
for personalized therapy with bemcentinib. We look forward to advancing these
studies to completion and defining the future development strategy of
bemcentinib with the greatest value for patients.”
Highlights - Second Quarter & First Half 2018
· Advanced lung cancer (NSCLC): First stage fully recruited, and first
efficacy endpoint met in trial of bemcentinib in combination with KEYTRUDA®.
Clinical responses seen following treatment with bemcentinib/KEYTRUDA in
patients negative for PD-L1 for whom KEYTRUDA monotherapy is not effective.
· Advanced leukaemia (AML/MDS): Encouraging single agent activity in hard to
treat relapsed / refractory (R/R) leukaemia: Superior response rates of > 40%
observed in biomarker subgroup analyses.
· Triple negative Breast cancer (TNBC): First stage fully recruited, patients
negative for Axl and PDL1 and first efficacy endpoint not met.
· Tissue- and blood-based biomarkers with potential for development as
companion diagnostics: AXL IHC method reporting encouraging correlation data.
Low plasma soluble AXL predicts patient benefit in R/R AML/MDS.
· Pipeline update: AXL antibody preparing for Phase I clinical trial.
· Cash position NOK441m.
Presentation and Webcast Details
A presentation by BerGenBio’s senior management team will take place at 10.00 am
CET at:
Felix Konferansesenter, Bryggetorget 3, 0125 Oslo
The presentation will webcast live and the link will be available at
www.bergenbio.com in the section Investors/ Financial Reports. A recording will
be available shortly after the webcast has finished.
The results report and the presentation will be available at www.bergenbio.com
in the section: Investors/ Financial Reports from 7:00 am CET the same day.
-End-
About BerGenBio ASA
BerGenBio ASA is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on
developing a pipeline of first-in-class AXL kinase inhibitors as a potential
cornerstone of combination cancer therapy. The Company is a world leader in
understanding the essential role of AXL kinase in mediating aggressive disease,
including immune evasive, drug resistant, metastatic solid and haematological
cancers.
BerGenBio’s lead product, bemcentinib (BGB324), is a selective, potent and
orally bio-available small molecule AXL inhibitor in four Company sponsored
Phase II clinical trials in major cancer indications, with read-outs anticipated
during 2018. It is the only selective AXL inhibitor in clinical development.
The Company sponsored clinical trials are:
· Bemcentinib with TARCEVA® (erlotinib) in advanced EGFR mutation driven non
-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
· Bemcentinib with KEYTRUDA in advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung, and
· Bemcentinib with KEYTRUDA in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
· Bemcentinib as a single agent and combination therapy in acute myeloid
leukaemia (AML) / myeloid dysplastic syndrome (MDS)
The clinical trials combining bemcentinib with KEYTRUDA in adenocarcinoma of the
lung and TNBC are conducted in collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc. (Kenilworth,
NJ, USA), through a subsidiary.
In addition, a number of investigator-sponsored trials are underway, including a
trial to investigate bemcentinib with either MEKINIST® (trametinib) plus
TAFINLAR® (dabrafenib) or KEYTRUDA in advanced melanoma, as well as a trial
combining bemcentinib with docetaxel in advanced NSCLC.
BerGenBio is simultaneously developing a companion diagnostic test to identify
patient subpopulations most likely to benefit from treatment with bemcentinib.
This will facilitate more efficient registration trials and support a precision
medicine based commercialization strategy.
The Company is also developing a diversified pre-clinical pipeline of drug
candidates, including BGB149, an anti-AXL monoclonal antibody.
For further information, please visit: www.bergenbio.com
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary
of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, TARCEVA® is a registered trademark of
OSI Pharmaceuticals, LLC., marketed by Roche-Genentech. TAFLINAR® is a
registered trademark of Novartis International AG and MEKINIST® is a registered
trademark of GSK plc.
Contacts
Richard Godfrey
CEO, BerGenBio ASA
+47 917 86 304
Rune Skeie, CFO, BerGenBio ASA
rune.skeie@bergenbio.com
+47 917 86 513
International Media Relations
David Dible, Mark Swallow, Marine Perrier
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
bergenbio@citigatedewerogerson.com
+44 207 638 9571
Media relations in Norway
Jan Petter Stiff, Crux Advisers
stiff@crux.no
+47 995 13 891
Forward looking statements
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which as such are not
historical facts, but are based upon various assumptions, many of which are
based, in turn, upon further assumptions. These assumptions are inherently
subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
important factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important
factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations
expressed or implied in this announcement by such forward-looking statements
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5
-12 of the
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