4SC AG enters into avelumab supply agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer for clinical combination study of domatinostat in Merkel cell carcinoma

DGAP-News: 4SC AG / Key word(s): Agreement
07.01.2020 / 07:30
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

4SC AG enters into avelumab supply agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer for clinical combination study of domatinostat in Merkel cell carcinoma

Combination of domatinostat (HDAC inhibitor) and checkpoint inhibitor avelumab (anti-PD-L1 antibody) to be investigated in Merkel cell carcinoma (MERKLIN 2 study)

Planegg-Martinsried, Germany, 7 January 2020 - 4SC AG (4SC, FSE Prime Standard: VSC) today announced that it has entered into a supply agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer Inc. for avelumab (BAVENCIO^(R)), an anti-PD-L1 antibody, for 4SC-sponsored clinical development of the combination of 4SC's HDAC inhibitor domatinostat and avelumab in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).

MCC is an orphan, highly immunogenic type of non-melanoma skin cancer. In 2017, avelumab (BAVENCIO^(R)) was the first anti-PD-(L)1 antibody approved in both the EU and US for metastatic MCC. Although anti-PD-(L)1 antibodies are now standard of care in metastatic MCC, around half of all such patients still have progressive disease, and currently lack any effective therapeutic options and suffer from high mortality.

Jason Loveridge, Ph.D., CEO of 4SC, says: "We are delighted to work with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer to address the unmet medical need in advanced-stage MCC. We intend to evaluate domatinostat in combination with avelumab in patients with MCC who progressed on treatment with checkpoint inhibitors (the MERKLIN 2 study). Not only will this study benefit through the provision of avelumab, but also through access to these companies' unparalleled clinical experience with this patient population."

- Press release ends -

Further information

About 4SC

4SC AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing small-molecule drugs that can target key indications in cancer with high unmet medical needs. 4SC's pipeline is protected by a comprehensive portfolio of patents and currently comprises two drug candidates in clinical development: resminostat and domatinostat.

4SC aims to generate future growth and enhance its enterprise value by entering into partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies and/or the eventual marketing and sales of approved drugs in select territories by 4SC itself.

4SC is headquartered in Planegg-Martinsried near Munich, Germany. The Company had 47 employees as of 30 September 2019 and is listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE Prime Standard: VSC; ISIN: DE000A14KL72).

About domatinostat

Domatinostat is an orally administered small molecule class I selective HDAC inhibitor. It strengthens the body's own anti-tumor immune response, influences the tumor and tumor microenvironment, making the tumor more visible to the immune system and facilitating the infiltration of immune cells into the tumor.

Domatinostat has been investigated in a Phase I study in 24 heavily pretreated patients with several types of advanced hematologic cancers and was well tolerated. Positive signs of anti-tumor efficacy were also observed; with one complete remission (28 months) and one partial responder (8 months).

In addition to its therapeutic potential in cancer monotherapy, 4SC is evaluating domatinostat's capacity as a partner in combination therapies, specifically in the immuno-oncology area. In this respect, 4SC initiated a Phase Ib/II study of domatinostat in combination with the anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab in patients with advanced-stage melanoma from which initial data was presented at ESMO 2019. A second Phase II study of domatinostat in combination with the anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor avelumab in patients with advanced-stage microsatellite-stable gastrointestinal cancer is currently being conducted by Prof. David Cunningham at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London, UK.

Avelumab Approved Indications

Avelumab (BAVENCIO^(R)) in combination with axitinib is indicated in the US for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also granted accelerated approval for avelumab (BAVENCIO^(R)) for the treatment of (i) adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) and (ii) patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. These indications are approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for these indications may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

Avelumab is currently approved for patients with MCC in 50 countries globally, with the majority of these approvals in a broad indication that is not limited to a specific line of treatment.

Avelumab Important Safety Information from the US FDA-Approved Label

The warnings and precautions for avelumab (BAVENCIO(R)) include immune-mediated adverse reactions (such as pneumonitis and hepatitis [including fatal cases], colitis, endocrinopathies, nephritis and renal dysfunction and other adverse reactions [which can be severe and have included fatal cases]), infusion-related reactions, hepatotoxicity, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) [which can be severe and have included fatal cases], and embryo-fetal toxicity.

Common adverse reactions (reported in at least 20% of patients) in patients treated with BAVENCIO(R) monotherapy include fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, diarrhea, nausea, infusion-related reaction, peripheral edema, decreased appetite/hypophagia, urinary tract infection and rash. Common adverse reactions (reported in at least 20% of patients) in patients receiving BAVENCIO(R) in combination with axitinib include diarrhea, fatigue, hypertension, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, mucositis, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, dysphonia, decreased appetite, hypothyroidism, rash, hepatotoxicity, cough, dyspnea, abdominal pain and headache. Clinical chemistry and hematology laboratory value abnormalities reported in at least 10% of patients include hyponatremia, lymphopenia, GGT increased, blood triglyceride increased and lipase increased, and grade 3-4 lymphopenia, anemia, elevated cholesterol and liver enzymes.

For full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for BAVENCIO(R), please see www.BAVENCIO.com.

Forward-looking information

Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of 4SC as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond 4SC's control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. 4SC expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Contact

4SC
ir-pr@4sc.com
+49 89 700763-0

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