NewLink Genetics Corp. (NASDAQ:NLNK) sank $5.50 (33%) to $11 in early after-hours trading Monday after it said HyperAcute Pancreas algenpantucel-L missed the primary overall survival endpoint in the Phase III IMPRESS study to treat resected pancreatic cancer. Median survival among patients treated with algenpantucel-L plus standard of care (SOC) was 27.3 months vs. 30.4 months for SOC alone in the 722-patient study.
Algenpantucel-L is an allogeneic cancer vaccine containing irradiated pancreatic tumor cells modified to express 1,3-galactosyltransferase.
The company now plans to focus its efforts elsewhere in its pipeline, which includes indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (INDO; IDO) inhibitors indoximod (NLG8189) and GDC-0919. The company anticipates interim data next month from a Phase II study of indoximod to treat metastatic pancreatic cancer. It expects its partner, the Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY), to report data in October from a Phase Ib study of GDC-0919 plus atezolizumab (MPDL3280A) to treat solid tumors.
Full article at BioCentury
