RedHill Biopharma Ltd (RDHL)

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News: RedHill Biopharma Announces Peer-Reviewed Publication Demonstrating Therapeutic Potential of YELIVA™ in Cholangiocarcinoma Cancer

PR below, here is the paper itself: http://www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget/index.php?journal=oncotarget&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=7914&path%5B%5D=23169

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TEL-AVIV, Israel, March 10, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (NASDAQ:RDHL) (TASE:RDHL) (“RedHill” or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development and commercialization of late clinical-stage, proprietary, orally-administered, small molecule drugs for inflammatory and gastrointestinal diseases, including cancer, today announced the publication of an article evaluating the therapeutic potential of YELIVA™ (ABC294640), the Company’s orally-administered first-in-class Sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2) selective inhibitor, in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). The article, authored by scientists from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina and Apogee Biotechnology Corporation (“Apogee”), will be published in Oncotarget and is available online on the journal’s website.

The article[1], entitled “Antitumor effect of the novel sphingosine kinase-2 inhibitor ABC294640 is enhanced by inhibition of autophagy and by sorafenib in human cholangiocarcinoma cells,” found that SK2 is overexpressed in multiple human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines, including a patient-derived line. The article describes non-clinical studies conducted with YELIVA™ (ABC294640) in these cell lines. The results from these studies demonstrated that YELIVA™ inhibited cancer proliferation and induced apoptosis in these cholangiocarcinoma cancer cells. Furthermore, YELIVA™ inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation, one of the key signaling pathways regulating cell proliferation and survival, and also induced autophagy. In addition, YELIVA™ in combination with sorafenib, an FDA-approved multikinase inhibitor for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma (NEXAVAR® marketed by Bayer AG), synergistically inhibited the proliferation of cholangiocarcinoma cells.

The authors concluded that these findings provide preliminary insight into the possible use of YELIVA™ as an anticancer drug for cholangiocarcinoma treatment, as well as novel evidence that SK2 may be a rational therapeutic target in the treatment of this cancer. Additionally, a combination of YELIVA™ with sorafenib and/or autophagy inhibitors may provide novel strategies for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

Reza Fathi, RedHill’s Senior VP R&D, said: “We are pleased to announce the publication of this important article in a well-respected, peer-reviewed journal. The findings described in this publication provide further insight into the mechanism of the anticancer activities of YELIVA™, a novel Sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2) inhibitor, and suggest that YELIVA™ could potentially be effective in treating cholangiocarcinoma cancer. Notably, it was found that YELIVA™ inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation, one of the key signaling pathways regulating cholangiocarcinoma cell proliferation and survival. We continue to diligently advance the clinical research of YELIVA™ for multiple indications. We have initiated a Phase I/II study with YELIVA™ in patients with refractory/relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and plan to initiate two additional Phase II studies, for multiple myeloma and radioprotection, during 2016. We are planning additional clinical programs with this novel and promising drug candidate for oncology, inflammatory and gastrointestinal indications.”

Charles D. Smith, Ph.D., Apogee’s President and CEO and a co-author of the article, added: “We are pleased that these results provide a rationale for use of YELIVA™ in a very difficult to treat malignancy. These results further add to the breadth and importance of YELIVA™’s mechanism of action studies in multiple human tumors.”

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer that develops in the bile ducts, characterized by its late diagnosis and high mortality rates. Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary liver tumor, accounting for approximately 10-15% of all hepatobiliary malignancies[2]. Although a rare cancer, the incidence and mortality rates of cholangiocarcinoma have been increasing worldwide in the last three decades. The five year survival rates following diagnosis have not increased during this time period, and remain at 10%[3]. Surgery is the only curative treatment option, but only for the minority of patients diagnosed with early-stage disease.

RedHill announced in October 2015 positive top-line results from a Phase I study with YELIVA™ in patients with advanced solid tumors, the majority of which were gastrointestinal cancer patients, including pancreatic, colorectal and cholangiocarcinoma cancers. Top-line results demonstrated that YELIVA™ can be safely administered to cancer patients at doses that provide circulating drug levels that are predicted to have therapeutic activity, based on levels required in preclinical models. The study included the first-ever longitudinal analysis of plasma S1P levels as a potential pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarker for activity of a sphingolipid-targeted drug. The administration of YELIVA™ resulted in a rapid and pronounced decrease in S1P levels over the first 12 hours, with return to baseline at 24 hours, which is consistent with clearance of the drug, with several patients having prolonged stabilization of disease.

A Phase I/II clinical study was initiated in the U.S. evaluating YELIVA™ in patients with refractory/relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), including in patients with HIV-related DLBCL. The study is being conducted at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) in New Orleans and is supported by a grant awarded to Apogee from the NCI Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, as well as additional support from RedHill. The Phase I/II clinical study in patients with refractory/relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and the Phase I clinical study in cancer patients with advanced solid tumors are registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov, a web-based service by the U.S. National Institute of Health which provides public access to information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies.

A Phase I/II study with YELIVA™ for the treatment of refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma is planned to be initiated in the second quarter of 2016. The study will be conducted at Duke University Medical Center. The study is supported by a $2 million grant from the NCI Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) awarded to Apogee in conjunction with Duke University, with additional support from RedHill.

A Phase II clinical study to evaluate YELIVA™ as a radioprotectant to prevent mucositis in cancer patients undergoing therapeutic radiotherapy is planned to be initiated in the U.S. during the second half of 2016, subject to regulatory and other conditions.