AGC Biologics A/S

关注并星标CPHI制药在线 胰腺癌是一组主要起源于胰腺导管上皮及腺泡细胞的恶性肿瘤，恶性程度极高，起病隐匿，早期诊断困难，进展迅速，生存时间短，是预后最差的恶性肿瘤之一，被称为"癌中之王"。即使在新疗法不断涌现的今天，胰腺癌的治疗也并未取得突破进展。下面笔者将浅谈下胰腺癌的主要类型--胰腺导管腺癌的治疗现状，以及近年该领域药物的研究进展。 关于胰腺导管癌 胰腺导管腺癌（PDAC）是一种发生于胰腺导管上皮的肿瘤，是胰腺癌中的主要类型，约占90%以上。PDAC起病隐匿，且具有高度侵袭性，大多患者确诊时已处于晚期。由于缺乏有效的治疗手段，PDAC患者总体5年生存率< 12 %。据2024年2月中国国家癌症中心（NCC）发布的2022年中国新发癌症病例数和死亡人数数据：2022年中国胰腺癌新发病例11.87万，死亡人数10.63万。 手术和化疗是PDAC的主要治疗手段，但只有15%-20%的患者在诊断时符合手术条件。不过据《Nature》官网发布的相关研究论文数据，即便能手术，近90% 的PDAC患者在治疗平均7~9个月内会面临复发。而晚期PDAC标准治疗是化疗，常采用联合治疗方案，如AG（白蛋白紫杉醇联合吉西他滨）方案、改良FOLFIRINOX（mFOLFIRINOX，奥沙利铂+伊立替康+亚叶酸钙+氟尿嘧啶）方案 或S-IROX（替吉奥+伊立替康+奥沙利铂）方案。 据2023年6月美国国家综合癌症网络（NCCN）指南发表的2023年第2版胰腺癌诊治指南：（1）对于部分可切除性胰腺癌，指南推荐先行新辅助治疗（NAT）再手术，推荐方案包括FOLFIRINOX或改良FOLFIRINOX方案，以及吉西他滨联合白蛋白结合紫杉醇方案（AG方案），其中FOLFIRINOX或mFOLFIRINOX方案适用于美国东部肿瘤协作组（ECOG）评分0~1分的病人。术后指南建议患者常规开展化疗，化疗首选方案包括FOLFIRINOX/mFOLFIRINOX方案或吉西他滨联合卡培他滨方案；（2）对于晚期或转移性胰腺癌：PS评分良好（0~1分）局部晚期/转移性胰腺癌一线治疗新增NALIRIFOX方案，即脂质体伊立替康+5-氟尿嘧啶+亚叶酸+奥沙利铂，PS评分中等（2分）局部晚期胰腺癌一线治疗首选卡培他滨或吉西他滨单药化疗或AG方案，PS评分中等（2分）转移性胰腺癌首选AG方案，其次卡培他滨或吉西他滨，NALIRIFOX方案在某些情况下也可使用；（3）对于复发的局部进展期/转移性胰腺癌，PS评分良好者，当NTRK融合基因阳性，首选恩曲替尼或拉罗替尼；当存在微卫星高度不稳定（MSI-H）、错配修复缺陷（dMMR）或肿瘤突变负荷（TMB）≥10 mut/Mb者，建议使用帕博丽珠单抗。新版指南建议在其他治疗方案中新增以下内容：对于合并MSI-H、dMMR者，可使用多塔利单抗；若TMB≥10 mut/Mb，也可使用纳武利尤单抗+伊匹木单抗；PS评分中等者，无首选方案。 胰腺导管癌药物研究进展 上述方案对PDAC治疗效果有限，且有些药物只适用于特定患者。药企对PDAC新疗法的探索从未止步，今年2月FDA批准NALIRIFOX（脂质体伊立替康 (Onivyde)+奥沙利铂+氟尿嘧啶 (5-FU)/亚叶酸）方案一线治疗转移性PDAC。此外，目前全球还有多款在研PDAC新疗法，详见下表。 这些在研疗法作用靶点各异，具体适应症有所不同，且药物类型多样，涉及化药、单抗、双抗、CAR-T疗法、疫苗以及溶瘤病毒等。 研发进度上，NIS793、KN046等处于3期临床。其中NIS793是一种完全人源的单克隆抗体，通过阻断TGFβ细胞因子而发挥作用，2021年被FDA授予治疗胰腺癌的孤儿药资格，其联合吉西他滨和Nab-紫杉醇一线治疗PDAC的临床试验已进入3期阶段。值得一提的是，诺华曾于2015年从Xoma引进NIS793，但2024年诺华宣布停止研发NIS793，并将其退还给Xoma。 KN046是康宁杰瑞研发的一款PD-L1/CTLA-4靶向双抗。已公布的2期临床研究（NCT04324307）数据显示：对于31例无法切除的晚期胰腺癌患者，KN046联合AG方案的ORR为45.2%，DCR为93.5%。遗憾的是，今年5月，康宁杰瑞宣布KN046联合AG方案一线治疗不可切除局部晚期或转移性PDAC的3期临床试验KN046-303惨遭失败，OS结果未达到统计学终点。 索凡替尼治疗胰腺癌方面处于2/3期临床，2024年5月其联合卡瑞利珠单抗和化疗（白蛋白结合型紫杉醇+吉西他滨)一线治疗转移性PDAC的2/3期临床试验启动。 该药是和黄医药开发的一种新型的口服酪氨酸激酶抑制剂，已被NMPA批准用于无法手术切除的局部晚期或转移性、进展期非功能性、分化良好（G1、G2）的非胰腺（2020年12月）和胰腺（2021年6月）来源的神经内分泌瘤。 已公布的索凡替尼治疗胰腺癌的临床试验结果显示：索凡替尼联合TAS-102三线或后线治疗方案对mPDAC患者有令人鼓舞的抗肿瘤活性，特别是对无肝转移患者。此外，与索凡替尼仅联合化疗相比，索凡替尼联合卡瑞利珠单抗和化疗一线治疗胰腺癌可显著延长患者的OS和PFS。 CAN-2409、Motixafortide等处于2期临床。其中CAN-2409是一种复制缺陷的腺病毒，旨将单纯疱疹病毒胸苷激酶 （HSV-tk）基因递送至患者的肿瘤并诱导个体化的全身抗肿瘤免疫反应。HSV-tk是一种酶，可局部将口服伐昔洛韦转化为杀死附近癌细胞的有毒代谢物，从而释放多种癌症抗原。该疗法通过局部注射将免疫应答局部聚焦于肿瘤，能够最大限度地减少与全身静脉给药相关的全身毒性。2024年4月，CAN-2409被FDA授予治疗胰腺癌的孤儿药资格。 已公布的CAN-2409联合抗病毒药物与标准护理（SoC）放化疗用作可切除PDAC术前辅助治疗的2期临床试验结果显示：截至2024年3月29日数据，在边缘性可切除PDAC中，CAN-2409组患者的mOS为28.8个月（Vs 对照组的12.5个月）；24个月时，CAN-2409治疗组患者的生存率为71.4%（Vs 对照组的16.7%），；36个月时，CAN-2409治疗组的生存率为47.6%（Vs 对照组的16.7%）。CAN-2409还显示出良好的耐受性，没有显著的额外局部或全身毒性。而且，对切除肿瘤的分析显示，患者在使用CAN-2409联合疗法后，其PDAC组织中出现密集的免疫细胞聚集，包括CD8+细胞、细胞毒性肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞和树突状细胞，这证实该疗法能够激活强大的抗肿瘤免疫反应。安全性方面，在SoC中添加CAN-2409方案显示出良好的耐受性，没有观察到剂量限制性毒性。 Motixafortide是Biokine Therapeutics 研发的一款靶向CXCR4的长效合成多肽拮抗剂，后授权给BioLineRx。2023年9月，该疗法被FDA批准联合filgrastim（G-CSF），以在多发性骨髓瘤患者中动员造血干细胞到外周血进行采集，辅助进行自体干细胞移植。治疗PDAC方面，已公布的临床研究结果显示：Motixafortide联合帕博利珠单抗和化疗在治疗PDAC方面表现出良好的安全性和耐受性，且在预后不良和病情凶险的PDAC人群中显示出疗效。 2023 AACR上公布的Motixafortide联合帕博利珠单抗和AG方案一线治疗转移性胰腺癌的单臂2期临床试验结果显示：可评估患者(11人)的ORR为55%，36%患者出现PR，1例患者的肝转移病灶得到缓解。此外，27%的患者(3例)病情稳定，DCR为82%。 Mitazalimab是一种靶向CD40的单克隆抗体，通过激活树突状细胞、B细胞和巨噬细胞等免疫细胞，使肿瘤对化疗敏感，大幅增强抗肿瘤的能力。今年2月，该药被欧盟授予孤儿药资格，联合与mFOLFIRINOX方案一线治疗转移性PDAC。 2024年1月，Alligator Bioscience宣布Mitazalimab联合mFOLFIRINOX化疗一线治疗胰腺癌的2期临床研究达到主要研究终点。具体数据为：57名可评估患者的ORR为40.4%，DCR为79%，mOS为14.3个月，中位缓解持续时间为12.5个月（优于FOLFIRINOX标准治疗的5.9个月）。 CEND-1是一种由9个氨基酸构成的环肽药物，可与肿瘤中选择性表达的alpha-v整合素结合，然后被肿瘤微环境中表达的蛋白酶切割，释放出被称为CendR片段的肽片段，该片段再与第2个受体neuropilin-1结合，从而激活一种新的摄取途径（CendR途径），使抗癌药物能够穿透实体瘤。CEND-1改变肿瘤微环境以增强联合治疗药物的递送和功效的能力已在一系列实体瘤模型中得到证实。2021年2月，齐鲁制药与Cend Therapeutics签订合作和许可协议，获得CEND-1在大中华区开发和商业化权益。 柳叶刀杂志上发表的CEND-1联合标准治疗化疗（吉西他滨和白蛋白紫杉醇）一线治疗转移性PDAC的1期临床研究数据显示：29例疗效可评估患者中的ORR为59%，mOS为13.2个月。 Efineptakin Alfa治疗胰腺癌方面处于1/2期临床。该药是一种长效人类白细胞介素 7，其联合帕博利珠单抗对胰腺癌患者展示出良好的疗效：7.7％的患者肿瘤大幅缩小或消失，34.6％的患者疾病得到有效控制。2024年2月，该疗法被FDA授予治疗晚期胰腺癌的孤儿药资格。 ELI-002、D-1553等处于1期临床。其中ELI-002是一款针对KRAS突变的治疗型疫苗，主要针对KRAS突变阳性实体瘤，尤其是PDAC、结直肠癌。该疫苗由两个关键组件构成，即AMP-CpG（一种特有的免疫激活剂，可刺激免疫系统产生强烈的反应）和AMP-mKRAS-肽。其中AMP-mKRAS-肽是一种经修饰的KRAS突变肽，可特异性地引导机体免疫系统，追踪并摧毁携带KRAS突变的癌细胞。 2024年1月《Nature》杂志上发表的1期临床试验AMPLIFY-201结果显示：ELI-002可显著降低患者肿瘤标志物水平，并产生强烈的T细胞应答，从而降低患者复发及死亡的风险，且总体上被认为是安全可控的。 IBI389是信达生物自主研发的一种抗CLDN18.2/CD3双特异性抗体。2024 ASCO上公布的IBI389治疗晚期不可手术或转移性PDAC的1期临床数据显示：600μg/kg治疗组疗效更佳，在27例至少进行了一次基线后肿瘤评估的受试者中，ORR为29.6% ，确认的客观缓解率（cORR）为25.9%，DCR达70.4%（95%CI：49.8-86.2）。在CLDN18.2 IHC 2/3+≥40%的18例受试者中，cORR达38.9%。此外，截至2024年5月1日，中位随访时间为4个月，mPFS尚未成熟，3个月的PFS率达57.1%。 CT041是一种潜在全球同类首创、靶向CLDN18.2蛋白的自体CAR-T细胞疗法，用于治疗Claudin18.2阳性实体瘤，主要治疗胃癌/食管胃结合部腺癌及胰腺癌。最近公布的CT041治疗难治性转移性胰腺癌的两项多中心、开放标签的1/1b期临床试验数据显示：24例患者中有12例观察到肿瘤靶病灶不同程度缩小，ORR为16.7%，DCR为70.8%，临床获益率为37.5%。mDoR为9.5个月，12个月的DoR率为50%，mPFS为3.3个月，mOS为10.0个月，12个月时OS率为45.8%。 D-1553是益方生物自主开发的一款新型、高效、口服KRAS G12C抑制剂。已公布的D-1553针对KRAS G12C突变晚期胰腺癌的早期临床试验结果显示：D-1553单药治疗在KRAS G12C突变胰腺癌患者中展现出良好的耐受性和临床活性，确认的ORR为35.7%（5/14），DCR为85.7%（12/14），mPFS为8.54个月。今年5月，该药被CDE纳入突破性治疗品种，用于治疗经一线治疗失败的伴KRAS G12C突变局部晚期或转移性PDAC。 IMM-1-104是Immuneering 开发一款高选择性第三代小分子MEK抑制剂，每日口服一次。该药通过深度循环抑制MAPK途径，实现对RAS基因的通用抑制活性。在一项1/2a期研究中，IMM-1-104对包括PDAC、恶性黑色素瘤、NSCLC在内的多种实体瘤展现出良好的初步疗效。2024年2月，该药被FDA授予一线治疗PDAC的快速通道认定。 总结 整体来看，多款在研PDAC新疗法进入临床试验，且早期临床试验结果积极。监管机构也通过授予突破性疗法、快速通道资格等方式加速PDAC的研发进程。但PDAC的治疗较其他恶性肿瘤，如NSCLC、黑色素瘤，并未取得很大突破。而且，与其他恶性肿瘤在研药物不同，在研PDAC药物作用靶点相当分散，笔者分析这可能与PDAC自身的特性，以及诊断上缺乏特异的生物标志物有关。期待在研究人员的不懈努力下，PDAC治疗可以早日迎来新局面。 【企业推荐】 【智药研习社直播预告】 来源：CPHI制药在线 声明：本文仅代表作者观点，并不代表制药在线立场。本网站内容仅出于传递更多信息之目的。如需转载，请务必注明文章来源和作者。 投稿邮箱：Kelly.Xiao@imsinoexpo.com ▼更多制药资讯，请关注CPHI制药在线▼ 点击阅读原文，进入智药研习社~

Essential Pharma reaches agreement with AGC Biologics for late phase clinical manufacturing of its immunotherapy candidate for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma 11 June, 2024 – Essential Pharma, an international specialty pharma group focused on ensuring that patients have sustainable access to low volume, clinically differentiated, niche pharmaceutical products across key therapeutic areas, today announced its rare disease business has signed a strategic agreement with AGC Biologics. As a leading global biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), AGC Biologics will produce Hu1418K322A (Hu14.18), a humanised monoclonal antibody being developed for Essential Pharma for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB). Under the agreement, AGC Biologics will support the process development, scale-up and manufacturing as Essential Pharma plans to commence clinical activities and ongoing regulatory agency interactions over the coming months. Simon Ball, Vice President of the rare disease business at Essential Pharma, commented: "This partnership is a tremendous milestone in the development of Hu14.18 and its path to commercialization. The prospect of building an inventory of Hu14.18 is very exciting. Ahead of us is a period of intense regulatory agency interaction, which will take place alongside late-stage clinical development, and we are a step closer to providing this high-potential antibody to a patient group that is desperately in need of more optimal treatments and better outcomes.” "AGC Biologics is a global leader in contract antibody development and manufacturing,” stated Emma Johnson, CEO of Essential Pharma. “This partnership will help us to accelerate the late-stage development of Hu14.18, which shows therapeutic promise for high-risk neuroblastoma patients, the majority of whom are young children. We look forward to working closely with AGC to deliver this potentially transformative therapy in an area of significant unmet need.” Christoph Winterhalter, CBO at AGC Biologics, said: “We are very pleased that Essential Pharma has chosen us to manufacture this innovative therapy. Our Copenhagen site has the expertise and experience in therapeutic antibodies to accelerate the late-stage development and manufacturing of Hu14.18. We look forward to partnering with Essential Pharma and working together to ensure the product meets the high level of quality, yield and all data packages needed to successfully master future clinical trials and regulatory agency submissions to supply patients across the globe with this life-saving product.” Essential Pharma acquired Renaissance Pharma in April 2024 and is now responsible for the development of Hu14.18. A Phase II trial incorporating Hu14.18 into first-line therapy, and additionally within post-consolidation therapy for HRNB patients, demonstrated positive patient outcomes with 3-year event-free survival (EFS) of 73.7% and overall survival (OS) of 86.0%. Data from this study were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in December 2021 and are approaching five-year OS readouts.1 Essential Pharma is an international specialty pharmaceutical group dedicated to maintaining access to clinically differentiated, niche medicines in small patient populations. The group has been an important and valued partner to healthcare providers for over 20 years by giving underserved patient populations access to medicines that otherwise might not be available, and addressing clinical unmet needs. Essential Pharma operates globally in more than 70 countries, supplying a portfolio of products with a focus on the central nervous system (CNS), gastroenterology, ophthalmology, and rare disease. The group’s growth strategy is centred on portfolio optimisation and a targeted M&A approach to acquire commercial and late-clinical stage assets in the four therapeutic areas of focus. It is a trusted partner to pharma companies of all sizes, with a proven history of integrating assets and managing complex technology transfers seamlessly while ensuring continuous and sustainable supply to patients. Essential Pharma is backed by Gyrus Capital, an investment firm dedicated to transformational investments in sectors with long-term sustainable growth, including healthcare. AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, every step of the way. We provide world-class development and manufacture of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with cGMP-compliant facilities in Seattle, Washington; Boulder and Longmont, Colorado; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba, Japan. We currently employ more than 2,500 Team Members worldwide. Our commitment to continuous innovation fosters the technical creativity to solve our clients’ most complex challenges, including specialization in fast-track projects and rare diseases. AGC Biologics is a part of AGC Inc.’s Life Science Company. The Life Science company runs ten different facilities focused on biopharmaceuticals, advanced therapies, small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients, and agrochemicals. To learn more, visit www.agcbio.com. 1 Furman WL, McCarville B, Shulkin BL, Davidoff A, Krasin M, Hsu CW, et al. Improved Outcome in Children With Newly Diagnosed High-Risk Neuroblastoma Treated With Chemoimmunotherapy: Updated Results of a Phase II Study Using hu14.18K322A. Journal of Clinical Oncology [Internet]. 2022 Feb 1;40(4):335–44. Available from: http://dx.doi.org.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/10.1200/jco.21.01375 The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.

AGC Biologics has reached an inflection point where it needs to adjust business priorities and “right size and rebalance the resources of our organization," a spokesperson said. While some biopharma contract manufacturers have been able to weather a tough business environment in recent months, many others continue to struggle against financing headwinds affecting the greater biotech industry. Take for example Seattle’s AGC Biologics, which this week made the difficult decision to lay off just under 4% of its global workforce as it navigates those challenges. AGC Biologics, which employs more than 2,500 workers worldwide, has “had to reduce positions at our Seattle and Colorado sites and global functional areas,” a spokesperson confirmed Friday in an emailed statement. The percentage of planned cuts suggests AGC could ultimately lay off around 100 employees. AGC's Seattle campus serves as the CDMO's global headquarters, as well as a key site for its global formulation services. The site, which has been producing biologics for three decades, features multiple manufacturing lines and a range of scales for mammalian and microbial-based drugs, AGC says on its website. Meanwhile, the company’s Boulder site in Colorado—which it acquired from AstraZeneca in 2020—helps crank out mammalian-based products at larger scales needed for late-phase and commercial projects. AGC in 2021 also purchased a former Novartis cell and gene therapy production plant 16 miles away from the Boulder site in Longmont, Colorado. Elsewhere, the company operates facilities in Denmark, Germany, Italy and Japan. Endpoints News first was first to report the news of AGC’s planned staff reduction. Citing “changing economies” and “other external factors” affecting AGC Biologics and many of its manufacturing partners, the CDMO's spokesperson told Fierce the company has reached an inflection point where it needs to adjust business priorities and “right size and rebalance the resources of our organization.” “While these are never easy decisions, we believe these changes will help us refocus resources and operate more effectively as the company navigates a changing biopharma industry,” the spokesperson added. AGC Inc., AGC Biologics’ Japanese parent, provided more clarity on the tough contract manufacturing environment earlier this week as it reported a 7% sales decline to 32.5 billion Japanese yen (around $209 million) for its life science business in the first quarter of the 2024 fiscal calendar. Net sales decreased in part due to the “disappearance of COVID-related special demand” and “reduced capital inflows into biotech ventures,” the company explained. On the COVID piece, AGC Biologics has helped supply BioNTech with plasmid DNA from its Heidelberg, Germany, facility as the starting material for the Pfizer-partnered COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty. With regards to biotech funding, meanwhile, AGC said the business environment—and demand from clients—is starting to rebound, though the “recovery pace requires close monitoring.”  AGC Biologics was founded as a global CDMO in 2018 through the fusion of Asahi Glass Company (AGC) Bioscience, Germany’s Biomeva and U.S.-based CMC Biologics. Asahi Glass had previously purchased all of CMC’s shares in December 2016. AGC Biologics is far from the only CDMO to suffer a contract manufacturing whiplash in recent years. On a recent Evaluate webinar addressing the state of the manufacturing industry in 2024, Jenny Gattari, CDMO sales lead for North America at Pfizer CenterOne, noted that following a surge in venture capitalist interest in small and mid-sized biotechs during the pandemic, much of that funding has dried up. In turn, many CDMOs are receiving fewer contracts from up-and-coming companies in need of production partners. Late last year, Chinese CDMO WuXi Biologics warned that the wider contract manufacturing industry had slowed to single-digit growth in 2023 compared with roughly 15% growth in previous years. The life science services and process solutions units of Germany’s Merck KGaA have reported similar problems.