Boston Biomedical Presents Data for Investigational Cancer Stemness Inhibitor Napabucasin in Metastatic Colorectal and Pancreatic Cancer at ESMO GI 2017

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Biomedical, Inc., an industry leader in the development of next-generation cancer therapeutics designed to inhibit cancer stemness pathways, featured two oral and two poster presentations evaluating napabucasin in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 19(th) World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer, held from June 28 to July 1 in Barcelona, Spain. Napabucasin is an orally-administered investigational agent designed to inhibit cancer stemness pathways by targeting STAT3. The abstracts were simultaneously published in the ESMO GI 2017 Abstract Book, a supplement to the official ESMO journal, Annals of Oncology.

Highlighted in an oral presentation today, results of a phase 1b/2 study suggested encouraging signs of efficacy of napabucasin when combined with FOLFIRI with or without bevacizumab in 82 patients with pretreated mCRC. Among the 66 patients who received RECIST evaluation, one patient achieved complete response (CR), 13 patients achieved partial response (PR), and 41 patients achieved stable disease (SD), with 27 of these patients having tumor regression. The disease control rate (CR+PR+SD) was 83 percent and the objective response rate (CR+PR) was 21 percent.

"Innovative treatment advances are vitally needed for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with the goal of providing greater sustained responses and improved survival," said Johanna Bendell, M.D., lead author of the phase 1b/2 mCRC study and director of GI Cancer Research Program at Sarah Cannon Research Institute. "We are encouraged by the study results, which further support the hypothesis that targeting cancer stemness may improve outcomes in combination with chemotherapy."

Featured in a second oral presentation today, results of a phase 1b/2 study suggested encouraging signs of anti-cancer activity of napabucasin plus nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine in 66 patients with mPDAC. Among the 55 patients who received RECIST evaluation, the disease control rate (CR+PR+SD) was observed in 93 percent and the objective response rate (CR+PR) was observed in 55 percent, with two patients achieving CR and 28 patients attaining PR.

"As pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of any major cancer, with just eight percent at five years, there is a significant unmet need for effective treatment options," said Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab, M.D., FACP, lead author and presenter of the data for the company's phase 1b/2 mPDAC study and co-leader of the GI Cancer Program at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. "These data are very encouraging and support the therapeutic potential of napabucasin added to weekly nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer."

Adverse events (AEs) for both the mCRC and mPDAC phase 1b/2 studies were consistent with previous studies and include Grade 1/2 reversible gastrointestinal AEs, including diarrhea and nausea.

The company also exhibited two posters highlighting the designs of its ongoing phase 3 studies, CanStem303C (mCRC) and CanStem111P (mPDAC), which were initiated to confirm signs of efficacy seen in the phase 1b/2 studies described above. Both studies are evaluating the efficacy and safety of napabucasin with primary endpoints of overall survival (OS).

"The data results presented at ESMO GI on investigational compound napabucasin in metastatic pancreatic and colorectal cancer underscore the potential of a novel approach for treating cancer through targeting cancer stemness pathways," said Patricia S. Andrews, Chief Executive Officer, Boston Biomedical, Inc. "We are committed to the continued research of this first-in-class compound and look forward to the results of our pivotal studies."

Oral Presentation Highlights:

    Abstract Title and Lead                  Study Results
    Author
    ------                                  ------

    Friday, June 30, 8:10 AM - 8:20 AM CEST
    ---------------------------------------

    Abstract LBA-002: A Phase Ib/            The results of this study showed
     II Study of Cancer Stemness             napabucasin may be combined with
     Inhibitor Napabucasin in                nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine.
     Combination with Gemcitabine            Encouraging anti-cancer activity
     (gem) and Nab-Paclitaxel                was observed in patients with
     (nab-PTX) in Metastatic                 mPDAC. The results of this study
     Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma               are currently being confirmed in
     (mPDAC) Patients (pts)                  the ongoing phase 3 study,
                                             CanStem111P.



    Lead Author: Tanios S. Bekaii-           Among the 66 patients enrolled, 17
     Saab, M.D.; Mayo Clinic Cancer          received prior perioperative
     Center                                  systemic chemotherapy treatment.
                                             Among the 55 patients who received
                                             RECIST evaluation, the disease
                                             control rate (DCR; CR+PR+SD) was
                                             observed in 93 percent and the
                                             objective response rate (ORR;
                                             CR+PR) was observed in 55 percent.



                                            Two patients achieved CR and 28
                                             patients achieved PR. Maturing
                                             median progression-free survival
                                             (mPFS) and OS was greater than 7.1
                                             months and 10.7 months,
                                             respectively.



                                            Most common AEs were Grade 1/2
                                             gastrointestinal events, including
                                             diarrhea, nausea and fatigue, which
                                             were resolved with dose reduction
                                             and supportive care.
    ---                                     -----------------------------------

    Friday, June 30, 8:20 AM - 8:30 AM CEST
    ---------------------------------------

    Abstract LBA-003: Phase 1b/II            Results of this study showed
     Study of Cancer Stemness                napabucasin may be combined with
     Inhibitor Napabucasin in                FOLFIRI with or without
     Combination with FOLFIRI +/-            bevacizumab. Encouraging anti-
     Bevacizumab (bev) in                    cancer activity was observed in
     Metastatic Colorectal Cancer            patients with mCRC, including in
     (mCRC) Patients (pts)                   patients previously treated with
                                             FOLFIRI with or without
                                             bevacizumab. The results of this
                                             study are currently being confirmed
                                             in the ongoing phase 3 study,
                                             CanStem303C.



    Lead Author: Johanna C.                  Of the 82 patients enrolled, 32
     Bendell, M.D.; Sarah Cannon             patients were pretreated with
     Research Institute and                  FOLFIRI with or without
     Tennessee Oncology, PLLC                bevacizumab. In this study, 48
                                             patients received FOLFIRI and 34
                                             patients received FOLFIRI plus
                                             bevacizumab in combination with
                                             napabucasin. Among the 66 patients
                                             who received RECIST evaluation, the
                                             DCR (CR+PR+SD) was observed in 83
                                             percent and the ORR (CR+PR) was
                                             observed in 21 percent.



                                             One patient achieved CR, 13 patients
                                             achieved PR and 41 patients
                                             achieved SD, with 27 of these
                                             patients having tumor regression.



                                            Most common AEs were Grade 1/2
                                             gastrointestinal events, including
                                             diarrhea, cramping, nausea and
                                             vomiting, which were resolved with
                                             dose reduction and supportive care.
    ---                                     -----------------------------------

Poster Presentation Highlights:

    Abstract Title and Lead                     Study Results
    Author
    ------                                     ------

    Thursday, June 29, 11:10 AM - 11:40 AM CEST and 4:20 PM - 4:50 PM
     CEST
    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    Abstract P-385: CanStem111P                 Currently enrolling patients
     trial: A Phase III Study of                globally, this study will assess the
     Napabucasin (BBI-608) plus                 efficacy of napabucasin plus weekly
     Nab-Paclitaxel (nab-PTX)                   nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine
     with Gemcitabine (gem) in                  versus nab-paclitaxel and
     Adult Patients with                        gemcitabine alone in patients with
     Metastatic Pancreatic                      mPDAC who have not received prior
     Adenocarcinoma (mPDAC)                     systemic anti-cancer treatment.



    Lead Author: Tanios S.                      The primary endpoint of the study is
     Bekaii-Saab, M.D.; Mayo                    OS, with secondary endpoints
     Clinic Cancer Center                       including PFS, ORR, DCR, in addition
                                                to quality of life (QOL) and safety.
    ------------------------                   -------------------------------------

    Friday, June 30, 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM CEST and 4:40 PM - 5:10 PM
     CEST
    ---------------------------------------------------------------

    Abstract P-383:                             Currently enrolling patients
     CanStem303C: A Phase III                   globally, CanStem303C will assess
     Study of Napabucasin (BBI-                 the efficacy of napabucasin plus
     608) in Combination with 5-                biweekly FOLFIRI (with or without
     Fluorouracil (5-FU),                       bevacizumab at investigator
     Leucovorin, Irinotecan                     discretion) in patients with mCRC
     (FOLFIRI) in Adult Patients                following progression on a
     with Previously Treated                    fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin
     Metastatic Colorectal                      (with or without bevacizumab).
     Cancer (mCRC)



    Lead Author: Axel Grothey,                  The primary endpoint of the study is
     M.D.; Mayo Clinic Cancer                   OS. Secondary endpoints include PFS,
     Center                                     ORR, DCR, QOL and safety.
    --------------------------                 -------------------------------------

About Napabucasin
Napabucasin is an orally-administered investigational agent designed to inhibit cancer stemness pathways by targeting STAT3. Napabucasin is currently being investigated in phase 3 studies for colorectal (NCT02753127) and pancreatic cancer (NCT02993731). It is also being investigated in earlier phases in multiple solid and hematologic malignancies. In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Orphan Drug Designation for napabucasin in pancreatic cancer.

About Boston Biomedical, Inc.
Boston Biomedical, Inc. was founded in November 2006 and is wholly owned by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. Boston Biomedical's mission is to develop the next generation of cancer therapeutics by creating drugs designed to target cancer stemness pathways. Boston Biomedical's innovation in drug discovery has received a number of recognitions and awards in the United States, including the Frost & Sullivan 2010 North American Drug Discovery Technology Innovation of the Year Award, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer stem cell initiative grant award in 2010, and the 2011 Biotech Pioneer Award at the Alexandria Oncology Summit. The company also received the "Company To Watch" award in the 10th Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards in 2013. Boston Biomedical is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Additional information about the company and its product pipeline can be found at www.BostonBiomedical.com.

Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of information presently available, and involve both known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Any forward looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. Information concerning pharmaceuticals (including compounds under development) contained within this material is not intended as advertising or medical advice.

For general inquiries:
Boston Biomedical, Inc.
617-674-6800

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CHAMBERLAIN PR
212-849-9474
sara.baker@inventivhealth.com

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