BriaCell Quadruples Progression Free Survival (PFS) in Patient with “Eye-Bulging” Metastatic Breast Cancer
BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq: BCTX) reports significant progress in its Phase 2 study of the Bria-IMT™ regimen for metastatic breast cancer. A patient with ADC-resistant cancer showed a 9.1-month progression-free survival (PFS), quadrupling the PFS of similar studies. This patient, who had failed 8 prior treatments, experienced a marked reduction in tumor size, including the disappearance of a temporal lobe lesion.
The company's President and CEO, Dr. William V. Williams, expressed optimism about replicating these results in their ongoing Phase 3 study. Dr. Giuseppe Del Priore, Chief Medical Officer, highlighted the treatment's favorable safety and tolerability profile. This development represents a potential breakthrough in treating metastatic breast cancer, an area with significant unmet medical needs.
- Patient's progression-free survival extended to 9.1 months, quadrupling PFS in similar studies
- Significant reduction in tumor size, with temporal lobe lesion no longer detectable
- Marked decrease in tumor markers from pre-treatment levels
- Favorable safety and tolerability profile of the Bria-IMT™ regimen
- Ongoing Phase 3 study aims to replicate positive results
- None.
Insights
The recent findings from BriaCell's Phase 2 study are notable in the context of metastatic breast cancer treatment. Extending progression-free survival (PFS) to 9.1 months in a patient resistant to multiple prior regimens, including antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy, is a substantial achievement. PFS is a critical measure in oncology, representing the length of time during and after treatment that a patient lives with the disease without it worsening. This metric is particularly valuable for assessing the effectiveness of new therapies.
Given that the patient had a high tumor burden and had failed eight prior treatments, the significant reduction in tumor size and improvement in PFS suggests that Bria-IMT™ combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor can potentially offer a new therapeutic avenue for patients who have exhausted other options. The data align with a growing trend towards personalized cancer therapies that target the immune system, highlighting the need for continued research and larger trials to confirm these findings.
It's important to consider the broader implications of these results. If replicated in larger studies, this could shift the treatment paradigm for metastatic breast cancer, offering hope to patients with limited options. However, caution is warranted until more comprehensive data from Phase 3 trials are available.
The data presented by BriaCell could significantly impact the company's valuation and investor sentiment. Extending PFS to 9.1 months in heavily pre-treated patients is a noteworthy milestone. Investors often look for breakthrough results in clinical trials as indicators of future commercial success. This outcome suggests that BriaCell's Bria-IMT™ regimen may indeed fill a critical gap in metastatic breast cancer treatment, potentially leading to significant market adoption.
In the short term, these positive Phase 2 results can boost investor confidence and positively affect BriaCell's stock price. However, it's essential to balance this optimism with the understanding that Phase 3 trials will be critical for FDA approval and widespread clinical use. The transition from promising Phase 2 results to successful Phase 3 outcomes is not guaranteed and investors should remain vigilant.
For a retail investor, monitoring upcoming Phase 3 trial data releases and any further updates on regulatory progress will be crucial. The financial potential of Bria-IMT™ depends heavily on these future developments.
The quadrupling of PFS for a metastatic breast cancer patient resistant to previous treatments, as demonstrated by BriaCell, warrants attention within the scientific community. This development is particularly relevant considering the challenges in treating metastatic breast cancer, which often involves aggressive disease progression and limited treatment efficacy.
PFS serves as an important endpoint in clinical trials, providing insights into the drug's potential to control disease spread and improve patient outcomes. The data suggest that the combination of Bria-IMT™ and an immune checkpoint inhibitor might enhance the immune system's ability to target and eliminate cancer cells more effectively than existing therapies.
The observed reduction in tumor markers and tumor size is also encouraging, indicating a real biological effect beyond just delaying disease progression. Future research should focus on understanding the mechanism of action, potential biomarkers for response and long-term safety and efficacy in a broader patient population. If these findings hold in larger, more diverse cohorts, BriaCell's approach could become a pivotal part of metastatic breast cancer treatment strategies.
- Progression free survival (PFS) extended to 9.1 months in ADC resistant patient - quadruple the PFS of patients in similar studies 1, 2, 3
- Significant reduction of “Eye-Bulging” metastatic breast cancer tumor was previously reported
- Heavily pre-treated patient had failed 8 prior regimens including antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy and continues to receive BriaCell treatment
PHILADELPHIA and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq: BCTX, BCTXW) (TSX: BCT) (“BriaCell” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care, is pleased to report significantly higher PFS for its top responder patient in the Phase 2 study of BriaCell’s Bria-IMT™ regimen in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in metastatic breast cancer. The patient remains alive and she continues to receive BriaCell’s treatment regimen.
“We are extremely pleased with the unprecedented survival benefit in this very-difficult-to-treat patient,” stated Dr. William V. Williams, BriaCell’s President and CEO. “This data represents a step forward in our efforts to build on our knowledge and successes to transform cancer care for patients. We expect to replicate this positive data in our ongoing Phase 3 study and bring relief to cancer patients whose medical needs remain unmet.”
“Despite recent advances in cancer therapy, metastatic breast cancer remains an unmet medical need, as current treatments are limited by poor survival and harsh side effects,” commented Dr. Giuseppe Del Priore, BriaCell’s Chief Medical Officer. “The Bria-IMT™ regimen produced a much longer than expected survival benefit in addition to its favorable safety and tolerability in this patient suggesting its potential as a therapeutic option for these cancer patients.”
The patient had a large right orbital lesion (behind the right eye) and a right temporal lobe lesion (in the right side of the brain). The temporal lobe lesion is no longer detectable, while the orbital lesion has continued to shrink markedly (see figure showing resolution of proptosis post treatment (small arrows) with reduction in tumor indicated by the large arrows). In addition, her tumor markers (blood tests that correlate with the amount of tumor in the body) have markedly decreased from her pre-treatment levels.
Figure 1: Responder Images - Bria-IMT™ Regimen
| Table 1: Bria-IMT™ and historical clinical data in MBC patients who failed multiple prior treatments | |
| Study | PFS (months) |
| Top Responder Patient | 9.1+ |
| Bardia, A. et. al. 1 | 1.7 |
| Tripathy D. et. al. 2 | 1.9 |
| O’Shaughnessy J. et. al. non-TNBC 3 | 2.3 |
| O’Shaughnessy J. et. al. TNBC 3 | 1.6 |
1,2,3 Data is shown for the intent to treat population for the control group treated with treatment of physician’s choice, which is the comparator in the BriaCell’s ongoing pivotal Phase 3 study.
2 This paper describes patients with brain metastases, which were also present in the patient described.
+ Indicates the patient is ongoing in the study.
References
- Bardia A, et al. Final Results From the Randomized Phase III ASCENT Clinical Trial in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Association of Outcomes by Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 and Trophoblast Cell Surface Antigen 2 Expression. J Clin Oncol. 2024 May 20;42(15):1738-1744. doi: 10.1200/JCO.23.01409. Epub 2024 Feb 29. PMID: 38422473.
- Tripathy D, et al. Treatment with etirinotecan pegol for patients with metastatic breast cancer and brain metastases: final results from the phase 3 ATTAIN randomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol. 2022;8(7):1047-1052. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.0514.
- O’Shaughnessy J et al. Analysis of patients without and with an initial triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis in the phase 3 randomized ASCENT study of sacituzumab govitecan in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2022 Sep;195(2):127-139. doi: 10.1007/s10549-022-06602-7. Epub 2022 May 11. PMID: 35545724; PMCID: PMC9374646.
About BriaCell Therapeutics Corp.
BriaCell is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care. More information is available at https://briacell.com/.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements, including those about BriaCell replicating positive data in its ongoing Phase 3 study; BriaCell’s Bria-IMT™ regimen bringing relief to cancer patients whose medical needs remain unmet; and the Bria-IMT™ regimen becoming a therapeutic option for metastatic breast cancer patients, are based on BriaCell’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully under the heading “Risks and Uncertainties” in the Company’s most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis, under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form, and under “Risks and Uncertainties” in the Company’s other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available under the Company’s profiles on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact Information
Company Contact:
William V. Williams, MD
President & CEO
1-888-485-6340
info@briacell.com
Media Relations:
Jules Abraham
CORE IR
julesa@coreir.com
Investor Relations Contact:
CORE IR
investors@briacell.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cef51e5b-ff25-4c3e-929d-22ad6df22927
FAQ
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