Trovagene's PLK1 Inhibitor (PCM-075) Demonstrates Synergy with Zytiga ® (abiraterone acetate) in Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer Tumor Cells

2017-10-18 08:00 ET - PCM-075 enhances activity of abiraterone in mCRPC tumors cells and may represent a novel treatment option to extend the benefit of anti-androgen therapy

 

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 18, 2017 -- Trovagene, Inc. (NASDAQ: TROV), a precision medicine biotechnology company, today announced positive data from preclinical research demonstrating synergy of PCM-075, its oral, highly-selective Polo-like Kinase 1 (PLK1) Inhibitor, in combination with abiraterone (Zytiga® - Johnson & Johnson). Abiraterone is a potent and irreversible inhibitor of CYP17, a critical enzyme in androgen biosynthesis and is indicated for the treatment of mCRPC in combination with prednisone. This research was performed in collaboration with a major cancer research institution.

"The synergy observed when we combined PCM-075 with abiraterone appears to work through a novel mechanism that may modulate a signaling pathway previously unknown to be associated with this combination," said Dr. Mark Erlander, Chief Scientific Officer of Trovagene. "This unique combination appears to enhance the PCM-075 mechanism of action of arresting cells during mitosis with subsequent tumor cell death."

 

Metastatic Prostate Cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in men. Approximately 25,000 men progress to metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) annually and receive anti-androgen therapy with a mean progression-free survival of less than two years. Abiraterone is the leading global anti-androgen therapy, marketed by Centocor Ortho Biotech, Inc., a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, with 2016 sales in excess of $2.0 billion. Even with the broad adoption of abiraterone there continues to be a large medical need to extend the benefit of response to abiraterone in mCRPC.

 

"We are encouraged by the preclinical data of PCM-075 in mCRPC," said Bill Welch, Chief Executive Officer of Trovagene. "We previously completed a Phase 1 trial in metastatic solid tumor cancers, which provided a recommended Phase 2 dose and dosing schedule for PCM-075 in a combination regimen.  We are working closely with key investigators to develop a Phase 2 clinical trial protocol with oral dosing of PCM-075 and abiraterone utilizing our existing solid tumor IND."

 

About PCM-075

 

PCM-075 is a highly-selective adenosine triphosphate (ATP) competitive inhibitor of the serine/threonine polo-like-kinase 1 (PLK 1) enzyme, which is over-expressed in multiple hematologic and solid tumor cancers. Studies have shown that inhibition of polo-like-kinases can lead to tumor cell death, including a Phase 2 study in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) where response rates up to 31% were observed when used in conjunction with a standard therapy for AML (low-dose cytarabine-LDAC) versus treatment with LDAC alone with a 13.3% response rate. A Phase 1 open-label, dose escalation safety study of PCM-075 has been completed in patients with advanced metastatic solid tumor cancers, and published in Investigational New Drugs. Trovagene is initiating a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial with PCM-075 in AML that was accepted by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and is now publicly viewable on www.clinicaltrials.gov. The NCT number assigned by clinicaltrials.gov for this study is NCT03303339. PCM-075 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with AML.

 

PCM-075 only targets PLK1 isoform (not PLK2 or PLK3), is oral, has a 24-hour drug half-life with reversible on-target hematologic toxicities. Trovagene believes that targeting only PLK1 with reversible on-target activity and an improved dose/scheduling protocol can significantly improve on the long-term outcome observed in previous studies with a PLK inhibitor in AML.

 

PCM-075 has demonstrated synergy in preclinical studies with over 10 chemotherapeutic and target agents used in hematologic and solid tumor cancers, including FLT3 and HDAC inhibitors, taxanes, and cytotoxins. Trovagene believes the combination of its targeted PLK-1 inhibitor, PCM-075, with other compounds has the potential for improved clinical efficacy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC), Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL), Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) and Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC).

 

About Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC)

 

Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) is defined by disease progression despite androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) and may present as one or any combination of a continuous rise in serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), progression of pre-existing disease, or appearance of new metastases. Prognosis is associated with several factors, including performance status, presence of bone pain, extent of disease on bone scan, and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase. Bone metastases will occur in 90% of men with CPRC and can produce significant morbidity, including pain, pathologic fractures, spinal cord compression, and bone marrow failure. Paraneoplastic effects are also common, including anemia, weight loss, fatigue, hypercoagulability, and increased susceptibility to infection. Institution of treatment and the choice of systemic or local therapy depend on a number of factors.

 

About Trovagene, Inc.

 

Trovagene is a precision medicine biotechnology company developing oncology therapeutics for improved cancer care by leveraging its proprietary Precision Cancer Monitoring® (PCM) technology in tumor genomics.  Trovagene has broad intellectual property and proprietary technology to measure circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in urine and blood to identify and quantify clinically actionable markers for predicting response to cancer therapies.  Trovagene offers its PCM technology at its CLIA/CAP – accredited laboratory and plans to continue to vertically integrate its PCM technology with precision cancer therapeutics.  For more information, please visit https://www.trovagene.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "estimated" and "intend" or other similar terms or expressions that concern Trovagene's expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on Trovagene's current expectations and actual results could differ materially.  There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.  These factors include, but are not limited to, our need for additional financing; our ability to continue as a going concern; clinical trials involve a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier studies and trials may not be predictive of future trial results; our clinical trials may be suspended or discontinued due to unexpected side effects or other safety risks that could preclude approval of our product candidates; uncertainties of government or third party payer reimbursement; dependence on key personnel; limited experience in marketing and sales; substantial competition; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; dependence upon third parties; our ability to develop tests, kits and systems and the success of those products; regulatory, financial and business risks related to our international expansion and risks related to failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations.  There are no guarantees that any of our technology or products will be utilized or prove to be commercially successful, or that Trovagene's strategy to design its liquid biopsy tests to report on clinically actionable cancer genes will ultimately be successful or result in better reimbursement outcomes.  Additionally, there are no guarantees that future clinical trials will be completed or successful or that any precision medicine therapeutics will receive regulatory approval for any indication or prove to be commercially successful.  Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Trovagene's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties.  Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof, and Trovagene does not undertake any obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

 

Trovagene Contact:

Vicki Kelemen

VP, Corporate Communications

858-952-7652

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