Plerixafor

- Findings suggest motixafortide alone, and in combination with natalizumab, could support the collection of the large number of stem cells required by gene therapies for sickle cell disease within a single apheresis cycle - - Data from proof-of-concept study shows that motixafortide was safe and well tolerated - - Oral presentation at ASH 2024 on Saturday, December 7, 2024 in San Diego, California - TEL AVIV, Israel and WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ: BLRX) (TASE: BLRX), a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company pursuing life-changing therapies in oncology and rare diseases, today announced that an abstract including the initial results from a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating motixafortide as monotherapy and in combination with natalizumab for CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization for gene therapies in sickle cell disease (SCD) was accepted for oral presentation at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition taking place December 7-10, 2024 in San Diego, California. The proof-of-concept study, conducted in collaboration with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is exploring alternative HSC mobilization strategies that could significantly improve the treatment journey of patients with sickle cell disease seeking gene therapy. "Currently available gene therapies for sickle cell disease rely on the collection of significant quantities of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, posing challenges for many patients," said Zachary Crees, MD, principal investigator for the trial, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine. "The findings in this trial suggest that patients with sickle cell disease given motixafortide alone, or in combination with natalizumab, could mobilize and potentially collect the number of stem cells required for approved gene therapies in a single apheresis cycle. These are encouraging findings that we look forward to presenting in greater detail at ASH 2024." "We are encouraged by the initial findings in this Phase 1 study showing that motixafortide is safe and well-tolerated and may hold potential to improve the overall treatment process and access to gene therapy for more people with SCD," said Philip Serlin, Chief Executive Officer of BioLineRx. "We look forward to continued collaboration with Washington University on this important research and our ongoing work to develop motixafortide for the potential benefit of patients with sickle cell disease." The Phase 1 safety and feasibility study is evaluating motixafortide (CXCR4 inhibitor) as monotherapy and in combination with natalizumab (VLA-4 inhibitor) as novel regimens to mobilize CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells for gene therapies in SCD. As reported in the abstract, five patients completed mobilization and apheresis with motixafortide alone, and four of five with motixafortide in combination with natalizumab. Motixafortide alone, and in combination with natalizumab, were safe and well-tolerated in the trial. Common adverse events (AEs) were transient and included Grade 1-2 injection site (pruritis, tingling/pain) and systemic reactions (pruritis, hives). No Grade 4 AEs or vaso-occlusive events occurred. Motixafortide alone, and in combination with natalizumab, resulted in robust CD34+ HSC mobilization to peripheral blood (PB). Motixafortide alone mobilized a median of 198 CD34+ cells/μl (range 77-690) to PB with median 3.49x10 CD34+ cells/kg as part of a single blood volume collection, projecting the collection of 13.9x106 HSCs in a normal, single-day four blood volume apheresis collection session. Motixafortide in combination with natalizumab mobilized a median of 231 CD34+ cells/μl (range 117-408), with median 4.64x10 CD34+ cells/kg collected as part of a single blood volume collection, projecting the collection of 18.6x106 CD34+ HSCs in a single day four blood volume apheresis collection session. The two approved gene therapies for sickle cell disease in the U.S. require 16.5 million, and 22 million, total CD34+ HSCs, respectively.i,ii Unfortunately, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), the most commonly used drug to support the collection of stem cells, is contraindicated in patients with SCD. The use of the mobilization agent plerixafor is the current standard of care for collecting HSCs for SCD gene therapies; however, plerixafor alone requires multiple mobilization attempts and often yields suboptimal HSC numbers. For some, gene therapy may be prohibitive due to the failure to obtain adequate numbers of HSCs. In the trial, patients who underwent prior mobilization with plerixafor, experienced 2.8- fold greater HSC mobilization with motixafortide alone, and 3.2-fold greater HSC mobilization with motixafortide in combination with natalizumab compared to plerixafor. Oral Presentation at ASH 2024 San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California Oral Presentation Details Session Name: 711. Cell Collection and Manufacturing of HSPCs, CAR-T Cells, and Other Cellular Therapy Products: Innovations in Mobilization, Collection, and Manufacturing for Cellular Therapies Title: Motixafortide (CXCR4 Inhibition) Alone and in Combination with Natalizumab (VLA-4 Inhibition) As a Novel Regimen to Mobilize Hematopoietic Stem Cells for Gene Therapies in Sickle Cell Disease: A First-in-Human, Proof-of-Principle Safety and Feasibility Study Presenter: Zachary D. Crees, MD, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO Abstract ID#: 193210 Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024 Time: 12:00 PM Location: San Diego Convention Center, Room 25 About the Clinical Trial of Motixafortide in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) The trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05618301) is a safety and feasibility study to evaluate motixafortide (CXCR4 inhibitor) as monotherapy and in combination with natalizumab (VLA-4 inhibitor) as novel regimens to mobilize CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells for gene therapies in SCD. The study enrolled five adults with a diagnosis of SCD who are receiving automated red blood cell exchanges via apheresis. The trial's primary objective is to assess the safety and tolerability of motixafortide alone and the combination of motixafortide + natalizumab in SCD patients, defined by dose-limiting toxicities. Secondary objectives include determining the number of CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) mobilized via apheresis; and determining the kinetics of CD34+ HSPC mobilization to peripheral blood in response to motixafortide alone and motixafortide + natalizumab in SCD patients. About Sickle Cell Disease Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common genetic diseases globally, affecting millions of people throughout the world and disproportionately impacting persons of color. Sickle cell disease arises from mutations in the hemoglobin gene, ultimately leading to the production of abnormally shaped (sickle) red blood cells that tend to stick within blood vessels causing their occlusion. The clinical manifestations of SCD include anemia and blood vessel occlusion which can lead to both acute and chronic pain, as well as tissue ischemia across multiple organ systems (e.g., stroke, heart attack, respiratory failure), ultimately compromising end organ function. The cumulative impact of these complications significantly impacts morbidity and mortality for patients with SCD. About BioLineRx BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ: BLRX) (TASE: BLRX) is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company pursuing life-changing therapies in oncology and rare diseases. The company's first approved product is APHEXDA® (motixafortide) with an indication in the U.S. for stem cell mobilization for autologous transplantation in multiple myeloma. BioLineRx is advancing a pipeline of investigational medicines for patients with sickle cell disease, pancreatic cancer, and other solid tumors. Headquartered in Israel, and with operations in the U.S., the company is driving innovative therapeutics with end-to-end expertise in development and commercialization, ensuring life-changing discoveries move beyond the bench to the bedside. Learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we do it at , or on Twitter and LinkedIn. Forward Looking Statement Various statements in this release concerning BioLineRx's future expectations constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include words such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "should," "will," and "would," and describe opinions about future events. These include statements regarding management's expectations, beliefs and intentions regarding, among other things, the potential benefits of APHEXDA, the execution of the launch of APHEXDA and the plans and objectives of management for future operations and expectations and commercial potential of motixafortide, as well as its potential investigational uses. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of BioLineRx to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause BioLineRx's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the initiation, timing, progress and results of BioLineRx's preclinical studies, clinical trials, and other therapeutic candidate development efforts; BioLineRx's ability to advance its therapeutic candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete its preclinical studies or clinical trials; whether BioLineRx's collaboration partners will be able to execute on collaboration goals in a timely manner; whether the clinical trial results for APHEXDA will be predictive of real-world results; BioLineRx's receipt of regulatory approvals for its therapeutic candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; the clinical development, commercialization and market acceptance of BioLineRx's therapeutic candidates, including the degree and pace of market uptake of APHEXDA for the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells for autologous transplantation in multiple myeloma patients; whether access to APHEXDA is achieved in a commercially viable manner and whether APHEXDA receives adequate reimbursement from third-party payors; BioLineRx's ability to establish, operationalize and maintain corporate collaborations; BioLineRx's ability to integrate new therapeutic candidates and new personnel; the interpretation of the properties and characteristics of BioLineRx's therapeutic candidates and of the results obtained with its therapeutic candidates in preclinical studies or clinical trials; the implementation of BioLineRx's business model and strategic plans for its business and therapeutic candidates; the scope of protection BioLineRx is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its therapeutic candidates and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; estimates of BioLineRx's expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and its needs for and ability to access sufficient additional financing, including any unexpected costs or delays in the commercial launch of APHEXDA; risks related to changes in healthcare laws, rules and regulations in the United States or elsewhere; competitive companies, technologies and BioLineRx's industry; statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on BioLineRx's business; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the declared war by Israel against Hamas and the military campaigns against Hamas and other terrorist organizations, which may exacerbate the magnitude of the factors discussed above. These and other factors are more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of BioLineRx's most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 26, 2024. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent BioLineRx's views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. BioLineRx does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements unless required by law. Contacts: United States John Lacey BioLineRx [email protected] Israel Moran Meir LifeSci Advisors, LLC [email protected] i LYFGENIA Prescribing Information; December 2023. ii CASGEVY Prescribing Information; December 2023. Logo - SOURCE BioLineRx Ltd. WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

BOSTON--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Ensoma, a genomic medicines company advancing the future of medicine through one-time, in vivo treatments capable of precisely and durably engineering the hematopoietic system, today unveiled its three lead programs targeting genetic, immune and oncological diseases. These innovative programs leverage Ensoma’s in vivo hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) engineering platform and aim to address critical unmet needs in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), sickle cell disease (SCD) and solid tumors. Ensoma’s in vivo HSC engineering approach has the potential to offer greatly improved patient access to therapy and a vastly reduced treatment burden. Ensoma’s in vivo HSC engineering platform combines an off-the-shelf delivery system with an advanced gene engineering toolkit that, together, offer durable and transformative therapies across a range of diseases. The delivery system is based on virus-like particles (VLPs) that preferentially bind to HSCs, efficiently deliver DNA to the nucleus and de-target the liver. With a 35-kilobase cargo capacity, these VLPs carry a diverse range of sophisticated genomic engineering tools capable of precise changes, from single base edits up to large multi-gene insertions. Importantly, the platform leverages HSCs as a self-renewing reservoir of engineered cells, providing durable therapies with improved patient access and outcomes across genetic and immune disorders, as well as oncology. Ensoma’s lead program is for individuals living with X-linked CGD (X-CGD), a condition that severely compromises immune function and leaves patients vulnerable to life-threatening infections. X-CGD is the most common form of the condition, affecting 60-70% of CGD patients. “Science and medicine have shown the curative impact of HSC-based therapies through bone marrow transplantation and ex vivo HSC-targeted gene therapy, but access to these treatments is limited and comes with significant burden for the patient and the healthcare system,” said Jim Burns, CEO of Ensoma. “At Ensoma, we believe the time for in vivo HSC engineering has come. Our proof-of-concept data in X-CGD demonstrate our in vivo approach for CGD and position us for an IND filing in the first half of 2025, which would make it the first in vivo HSC-directed therapy to be tested in humans. We are following CGD with preclinical programs in sickle cell disease and solid tumors, underscoring our dedication to advancing the future of medicine through precision in vivo treatment.” Ensoma will present key preclinical data at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 39th Annual Meeting and the 66 th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, highlighting the potential of its in vivo HSC engineering platform in advancing treatments for CGD, SCD and solid tumors. Below is a summary of the findings and presentation details. Chronic Granulomatous Disease: Key Findings from ASH: Preclinical data to be presented at the ASH Annual Meeting will highlight proof-of-concept for Ensoma's innovative in vivo gene therapy, EN-374, designed to treat X-CGD. X-CGD is caused by a mutant CYBB gene that prevents white blood cells called neutrophils from producing functional NADPH oxidase, a protein important for fighting bacterial and fungal infections. Ensoma’s novel approach employs VLPs to efficiently engineer HSCs for sustained expression of a CYBB transgene in neutrophils, restoring function of the NADPH oxidase enzyme complex critical for immune defense. The study demonstrated therapeutic restoration of CYBB protein expression and NADPH oxidase activity in murine circulating neutrophils, achieving levels shown to confer meaningful clinical benefits for X-CGD patients. This research positions EN-374 as a pioneering therapy that addresses an unmet medical need and offers the potential to expand access to HSC-directed gene therapies for genetic, immune and oncological disorders. Presentation Details: Title : In Vivo Hematopoietic Stem Cell Engineering Restores the Function of NADPH Enzyme Complex in X-Linked Chronic Granulomatous Disease Model in Mice Abstract: 801 Poster Presentation Time/Date: 5:30-7:30 p.m. PT, Saturday, Dec. 7 Location: San Diego Convention Center, Halls G-H Presenter: Sravya Kattula, Ph.D., Ensoma Sickle Cell Disease: Key Findings from ASH: At the ASH Annual Meeting, Ensoma will also showcase compelling preclinical data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of its wholly owned single-dose truncated Gro-Beta (tGROβ), EN-145 (formerly MGTA-145), combined with plerixafor for mobilizing primitive HSCs in mouse models of SCD. This innovative approach addresses the limitations of current mobilization regimens, particularly the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which is contraindicated in SCD patients. In a SCD mouse model, the combination of EN-145 and plerixafor mobilized six-fold more long-term HSCs than plerixafor alone, significantly enhancing HSC yield for gene therapies. Studies in humanized NBSGW mice further demonstrated rapid and effective mobilization of human CD34+ cells, along with superior transduction efficiency—meaning that Ensoma’s VLPs were more effective at delivering the genetic material into the target cells, ensuring a higher percentage of modified cells with therapeutic potential. These findings highlight EN-145's potential use in a robust alternative HSC mobilization regimen in SCD, paving the way for improved outcomes in both ex vivo and in vivo gene therapies. Presentation Details: Title: Single Dose of tGROβ (EN-145)/Plerixafor Safely and Effectively Mobilizes Primitive HSCs in Mouse Models for In Vivo Gene Therapy of Sickle Cell Disease Abstract: 4770 Poster Presentation Time/Date: 6-8 p.m. PT, Monday, Dec. 9 Location: San Diego Convention Center, Halls G-H Presenter: Courtney Mercadante, Ph.D., Ensoma Solid Tumors: Key Findings from SITC: Preclinical data to be presented at SITC 2024 will highlight the transformative potential of Ensoma’s novel platform for in vivo engineering of multi-lineage CAR-immune cells, offering a new approach to overcoming the significant challenges in solid tumor therapies. Solid tumors, unlike hematological malignancies, present a complex microenvironment that limits access for current therapies and complicates immune cell infiltration and efficacy. Ensoma’s VLPs target CD46-positive cells, including both HSCs and mature immune cells, to enable efficient transduction and generate durable anti-tumor responses. In immune-competent mice, administration of VLPs encoding an anti-HER2 CAR generated CAR+ myeloid (M), NK and T cells within just a few days, followed by long-term HSC renewal of multi-lineage effectors. Upon challenge with HER2+ tumors, these engineered immune cells effectively controlled tumor growth, indicating robust and durable anti-tumor activity. Presentation Details: Title: In vivo VLP-based engineering generates multi-lineage CAR-immune cells that mediate potent and durable anti-tumor activity Abstract: 1098 Poster Presentation Time/Date: 3:30-5 p.m. CT, Thursday, Nov. 7 & 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. CT, Saturday, Nov. 9 Location: Grand Ballroom AB - George R. Brown Convention Center Presenter: Corinne Decker, Ph.D., Ensoma "At Ensoma, our commitment to addressing critical unmet needs in genetically driven diseases is reflected in the promising preclinical data from our lead programs, including for chronic granulomatous disease, where we are pioneering innovative solutions to restore immune function,” said Robert Peters, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Ensoma. “Our VLPs enable the delivery of large, complex cargo, creating the unprecedented ability to engineer multi-lineage immune responses in vivo . Beyond initiating our first clinical program in X-CGD and demonstrating the safety and efficacy of our platform, our focus for 2025 is to progress two development candidates while continuing to innovate our technology. We are also actively exploring partnerships that can further expand the potential of our groundbreaking platform. Together, we aim to transform the landscape of genomic medicine and improve outcomes for patients suffering from these challenging conditions." About Ensoma Ensoma is developing curative medicines through precision in vivo cellular engineering. Our platform combines class-leading proprietary base editing and high-efficiency gene integration systems with high-capacity virus-like particles (VLPs) to provide one-time and durable genetic medicines in a simple outpatient procedure. We are focused on in vivo engineering of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to address genetic diseases, immune disorders and cancer. Ensoma is supported by top-tier investors and a passionate team committed to a bold, global vision for genomic medicines. Ensoma is based in Boston. For more information, visit ensoma.com .