Bionomics, Viralytics, STA present cancer trial data at EMSO

Bionomics (ASX:BNO) Viralytics (ASX:VLA) and Specialised Therapeutics Australia (STA) have presented positive data from their respective cancer trials at the annual European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting in Spain.

Bionomics has released data showing that its BNC105 candidate improved progression-free survival in metastatic renal cancer patients with a specific combination of biomarkers.

The phase II trial was designed to assess progression-free survival (PFS) in patients given BNC105 in combination with Afinitor, compared to patients given Afinitor only. The primary endpoint was to improve PFS at six months to 60% in the BNC105 arm, compared to 36% in the other.

While initial data indicates that the proportion of PFS patients were similar among both groups, 60% of patients with a specific signature of four blood biomarkers were progression-free at six months. This compares to just 5% of patients negative for the biomarker signature.

“This is the first time a biomarker signature associated with clinical outcomes for BNC105 plus Afinitor has been reported for renal cancer patients,” said lead investigator Dr Sumanta Pal of the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in California.

Viralytics (ASX:VLA) has meanwhile announced strong results from its US Phase II trial of Cavatak in late-stage melanoma.

The results show that to date 22 of 57 patients have achieved immune-related progression-free survival at six months. This is well ahead of the trials target of 18.5%, or 10 of 54 evaluable patients.

They show an overall response rate in 16 of the 57 patients and an interim one-year survival rate of 73%. An additional three patients are still involved in the extension stage of the trial and being monitored for the development of such a response.

“Based on Cavatak’s outstanding performance in this trial, and with strong support from leading oncologists, we plan to aggressively pursue our clinical development program. The commercial opportunity for Cavatak, either as a monotherapy or in combination with other new agents, is reinforced by these very promising outcomes,” Cavatak CEO Dr Malcolm McColl said.

STA separately presented results from two phase III trials of Anamorelin in cancer-anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS), a common and debilitating condition in cancer patients characterised by decreased body weight and lean body mass compared to a placebo group.

Anamorelin was able to significantly improve lean body mass during both 12-patient trials. It also increased body weight and improved patient symptoms and concerns.

But change in handgrip strength - the trials’ co-primary endpoint - was not statistically different between the two groups.

Viralytics (ASX:VLA) shares were trading 8.77% higher at $0.31, while Bionomics (ASX:BNO) shares were trading unchanged at $0.58, as of around 1 pm on Monday.