Spectrum Pharmaceutecals Inc (SPPI)

[antihama]

Regarding the combo trial of poziotinib w T-DM1 mentioned during the Q1 2017 CC .

We are also finalizing with key thought leaders a combination study with T-DM1 in second line therapy targeted to begin later this year.

I found this pretty interesting in that Genentech would want to do a study of Kadcyla (aka T-DM1) with Spectrum's poziotinib. I was saying to myself "Really? Are they pulling our leg again?" And lastly " I'll wait for proof of this happening because if it did I think a collaboration w big pharma is a big deal." So I started doing a little leg work and reading an SA article (ImmunoGen: Why This Neglected $1 Biotech Stock Is A Strong Buy Now) whose tech is used to make Kadcycla and who receive a royalty on sales. So this comment from a poster (skitahoe) to the article (note - I'm totally unfamiliar w this poster but seems to know his/her stuff) gives some enlightenment on why Genentech would be interested in doing a combo trial w lil' old Spectrum

Additionally, some Kadcyla trials weren't as good as anticipated, so sales are not rising as fast as anticipated, but they are rising. This effects how quickly IMGN will again receive Kadcyla royalties, which they previously monetized. It's my belief that Kadcyla, like many other drugs, is proving to be more effective when used in combination with other drugs, and sales will rise and usage spread as further results come in.

Genentech, part of Hoffmann-La Roche, has a big research budget and poziotinib must have peaked its interest w that slide showing effectiveness in BC in phase 1. Anyhows, we'll find out soon enough. Here's some info on Kadcyla from Wikipedia

Trastuzumab emtansine

Trastuzumab emtansine[1][2] also known as ado-trastuzumab emtansine and sold under the trade name Kadcyla, is an antibody-drug conjugate consisting of the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin) linked to the cytotoxic agent emtansine (DM1).[3][4][5][6] Trastuzumab alone stops growth of cancer cells by binding to the HER2/neu receptor, whereas DM1 enters cells and destroys them by binding to tubulin.[7] Trastuzumab binding to Her2 prevents homodimerization or heterodimerization (Her2/Her3) of the receptor, ultimately inhibiting the activation of MAPK and PI3K/Akt cellular signalling pathways. Because the monoclonal antibody targets HER2, and HER2 is only over-expressed in cancer cells, the conjugate delivers the toxin specifically to tumor cells.[8] The conjugate is abbreviated T-DM1.
In the EMILIA clinical trial of women with advanced HER2 positive breast cancer who were already resistant to trastuzumab alone, it improved median overall survival by 5.8 months (30.9 months vs. 25.1 months) compared to the combination of lapatinib and capecitabine.[8] Based on that trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved marketing on February 22, 2013.[9][10][11]
Trastuzumab emtansine was developed by Genentech, a subsidiary group of Roche, and is manufactured by Lonza.[12] The planned cost is expected to be $9,800 a month, or $94,000 for a typical course of treatment.[10]