Tokai Pharma (TKAI), Qiagen (QGEN) Expansion Collaboration for AR-V7 Companion Diagnostic5/4/2015 Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: TKAI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for prostate cancer and other hormonally driven diseases, today announced an expansion of the agreement with Qiagen (NASDAQ: QGEN) for the development and commercialization of an AR-V7 companion diagnostic for use with galeterone. Under the expanded agreement, Tokai will receive the exclusive right from Qiagen to its newly acquired circulating tumor cell (CTC) enrichment technology for use with galeterone, which will be incorporated into the companion diagnostic already under development by Qiagen."We are pleased to be expanding our partnership with Qiagen with exclusive access to their newly acquired CTC enrichment technology for use with the AR-V7 companion diagnostic for galeterone," stated Jodie Morrison, president and chief executive officer of Tokai Pharmaceuticals. "This access adds further support to our growing IP portfolio for galeterone for AR-V7 positive castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Qiagen is a global leader in liquid biopsy-based solutions for precision medicine and has the expertise to commercialize the companion diagnostic around the world. This global capability will be critical as we work to bring galeterone to prostate cancer patients who test positive for AR-V7, which has been linked to non-responsiveness to commonly used oral therapies. It is our belief that future availability of this companion diagnostic for AR-V7 will allow prostate cancer patients and their physicians to make more informed decisions regarding their care." Development of an AR-V7 companion diagnostic for use with galeterone has been underway since October 2014. Qiagen's newly acquired CTC technology was utilized in the AR-V7 assay methods developed by the Johns Hopkins University licensed by Tokai in January. Tokai and Qiagen expect that development of the AR-V7 clinical trial assay will be completed in the first half of 2015 prior to the start of the ARMOR3-SV AR-V7 metastatic CRPC registration clinical trial.AR-V7 positive prostate tumors express a truncated form of the androgen receptor (AR). These truncated ARs are missing the C-terminal end of the receptor that contains the ligand binding domain. In 2014, the Johns Hopkins University, in a prospective study using the Qiagen technology to isolate and enrich CTCs and an assay to determine AR-V7 status, demonstrated poor responsiveness to Zytiga® (abiraterone acetate) and Xtandi® (enzalutamide), two commonly used oral therapies for metastatic CRPC. The Company believes that galeterone has the potential to treat patients with AR-V7 based on data from preclinical studies and retrospective data in patients with C-terminal loss, the most common form of which is AR-V7, from the Company's Phase 2 ARMOR2 trial of galeterone."Our partnership with Tokai Pharmaceuticals, one of the collaborations which we are pursuing with pharma in this area, is expected to result in a liquid biopsy, CTC-based test for the AR-V7 splice variant in the first half of this year, with the potential to enhance outcomes for prostate cancer patients," said Peer M. Schatz, chief executive officer of Qiagen. "Following the success of the first-ever regulated companion diagnostic for solid tumors based on molecular biomarkers from a liquid biopsy in Europe, we are expanding our portfolio of highly accurate tests that analyze samples of body fluids that are non-invasive and more accessible than traditional tissue biopsies. Our liquid biopsy portfolio holds potential to create valuable insights and improve outcomes for patients."
Galeterone (TOK-001 or VN/124-1) is a novel antiandrogen under development by Tokai Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of prostate cancer. It possesses a unique dual mechanism of action, acting as both an androgen receptor antagonist and an inhibitor of CYP17A1, an enzyme required for the biosynthesis of the androgens. As of the second half of 2014, galeterone is in phase III clinical trials for castration-resistant prostate cancer.
ARMOR2: Galeterone in progressive CRPC patients who have failed oral therapy.
Meeting: 2014 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium
Citation: J Clin Oncol 32, 2014 (suppl 4; abstr 71)
Background: Galeterone is a first-in-class multitargeted oral steroid analog; it suppresses prostate cancer by a combination of AR modulation (antagonism and degradation) and CYP17 inhibition. Safety and proof of concept of galeterone in CRPC was assessed in ARMOR1. Galeterone was reformulated by spray dry dispersion technology (SDD) to optimize PK and remove food effect. ARMOR2 (NCT 01709734) is an open label, 2-part phase 2 trial that evaluates safety and efficacy of SDD galeterone in 4 populations of CRPC patients. These results report Part 1.
Methods: Objectives of Part 1: confirm dose equivalence of SDD formulation with evaluation of PK, safety and PSA response. Metastatic (M1) and non-metastatic (M0) treatment naïve CRPC pts enrolled to groups of 1,700, 2,550 or 3,400 mg PO daily. An abiraterone refractory (Abi-R) group of 3 patients opened at 2,550mg. Results: 28 were enrolled in part 1. Safety: All groups were safe by IMC assessment. There were 4 grade 3 adverse events. 2 were unrelated to study drug. 2 had transient G3 ALT elevations (did not recur with rechallenge). There was no AME: supplemental steroids were not required. G4 angioedema occurred in a pt receiving lisinopril (known association with angioedema). Efficacy: PSA response was improved compared to ARMOR1 (AACR 2012. Taplin et al abstract: CT-07). At early follow up Abi-R pts showed improvements in PSA with 1 PSA30% response, 2 with stablized PSA (decline in PSA-V from +0.44 to -0.39 ng/day). Conclusions: Galeterone in SDD formulation is tolerated at doses up to 3,400mg daily. SDD galeterone provides improved PSA response and durability vs. prior formulation. There is evidence of activity in abiraterone refractory patients. Clinical trial information: 01709734.
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