Findings underscore the ongoing value to the myeloma scientific community of the MMRF’s landmark molecular and clinical data and translational research programs
Norwalk, CT, September 27, 2023 – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) today announced that findings from three studies based on analyses of its CoMMpass℠ and CureCloud℠ datasets will be featured in an oral abstract and poster presentations at the 20th International Myeloma Society (IMS) Annual Meeting in Athens, Greece, September 27-30, 2023. Topics include:
Additionally, data from the CoMMpass Study are cited in 24 posters and four education sessions, demonstrating its enduring value in driving new advancements across multiple myeloma research. With its inclusion in more than 300, CoMMpass represents the largest longitudinal genomic dataset in multiple myeloma and has led to groundbreaking discoveries that have transformed how researchers understand the biology of the disease.
To develop a more comprehensive picture of myeloma disease biology, the MMRF is expanding the CoMMpass dataset with immune data from its Immune Atlas research program. In addition, the MMRF’s CureCloud, a first-of-its-kind registry, has amassed clinical, genomic, immune, and patient-reported outcome (PRO) data across more than 1,000 participants. The MMRF makes the datasets from CoMMpass, Immune Atlas, and CureCloud available to researchers, facilitating the development of optimal treatments for all myeloma patients.
“Our consistent investment in the generation, analysis and sharing of new data with researchers worldwide accelerates the pace of scientific discovery to benefit each and every myeloma patient,” said George Mulligan, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of the MMRF and co-author on two of the studies to be shared at IMS. “I am optimistic that, with greater understanding of this disease biology and continued collaboration in the research community, multiple myeloma patients will have improved therapeutic options now and also steadily increasing approaches to rational and potentially curative treatment strategies.”
About the MMRF data to be shared at IMS 2023
Friday, September 29, 2023
Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM EEST
Multi-omic analysis of multiple myeloma subtypes reveals epigenetic programs of high-risk disease
Identifying the biology of high-risk multiple myeloma is critical to improving outcomes. Current markers imperfectly predict high-risk disease and there are limited data that integrate genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptional information with outcomes. DNA methylation data was generated based on 415 samples from the MMRF CoMMpass study and identified distinct epigenetic programs of high-risk disease.
Friday, September 29, 2023
Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM EEST
Single-Cell Profiling Reveals Inflammaging-associated Dysregulations in Rapidly Progressing Multiple Myeloma Patients
Modern therapies for multiple myeloma rely on the immune system for their effectiveness and positive outcomes. Dysregulation in the immune compartment can promote disease progress and hamper the effectiveness of immune-based therapies. In this study for the characterization of bone marrow and its association with the kinetics of multiple myeloma, researchers performed Single Cell Profiling on bone marrow samples from the MMRF CoMMpass cohort.
Friday, September 29, 2023
Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM EEST
The MMRF CureCloud research study: a real-world longitudinal investigation of patient treatments and outcomes, including Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) surveys
CureCloud integrates molecular and real-world evidence data, including electronic health records (EHR) and PROs collected at six-month intervals. This poster is an analysis of the baseline PRO data. In general, patients were able to answer the PRO instruments electronically. The results indicate that younger and less socioeconomically advantaged patients experienced higher financial toxicity.
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About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is the largest nonprofit in the world solely focused on accelerating a cure for each and every multiple myeloma patient. We drive the development and delivery of next-generation therapies, leverage data to identify optimal and more personalized treatment approaches, and empower myeloma patients and the broader community with information and resources to extend their lives. Central to our mission is our commitment to advancing health equity so that all myeloma patients can benefit from the scientific and clinical advances we pursue. Since our inception, the MMRF has committed over $500 million for research, opened nearly 100 clinical trials, and helped bring 15+ FDA-approved therapies to market, which have tripled the life expectancy of myeloma patients. To learn more, visit www.themmrf.org.
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Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Media Contact:
C.J. Volpe, Director, PR and Communications
203-652-0453
[email protected]
Norwalk, CT, August 10, 2023 – The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of Talvey™ (talquetamab-tgvs) for the treatment of patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma. In response to the announcement, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) has issued the following statement:
“Although options for the treatment of multiple myeloma have expanded significantly in recent years, the disease remains incurable, and therefore, patients are in need of new treatment options,” said Michael Andreini, President and Chief Executive Officer, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. “Today’s approval of talquetamab provides patients with a new treatment approach for relapsed or refractory disease that is a welcome addition to the myeloma community.”
According to Janssen’s announcement, Talvey™ (talquetamab-tgvs) is a first-in-class bispecific antibody for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 antibody. To learn more about Talvey™, please visit the Standard Drug Therapies section on our website.
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About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is the largest nonprofit in the world solely focused on accelerating a cure for each and every multiple myeloma patient. We drive the development and delivery of next-generation therapies, leverage data to identify optimal and more personalized treatment approaches, and empower myeloma patients and the broader community with information and resources to extend their lives. Central to our mission is our commitment to advancing health equity so that all myeloma patients can benefit from the scientific and clinical advances we pursue. Since our inception, the MMRF has committed over $500 million for research, opened nearly 100 clinical trials, and helped bring 15+ FDA-approved therapies to market, which have tripled the life expectancy of myeloma patients. To learn more, visit www.themmrf.org.
Media Contact:
C.J. Volpe
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
[email protected]
203-652-0453
JERUSALEM, Israel & NORWALK, Connecticut – May 16, 2023 – Nectin Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing novel targeted immunotherapies to address tumor immune resistance, and the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s (MMRF) venture philanthropy subsidiary, today announced that the MIF has invested in Nectin Therapeutics to explore the potential of NTX1088, Nectin’s first-in-class lead immunotherapy drug candidate, for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
“We look forward to our partnership with Nectin Therapeutics to evaluate NTX1088 as a potential therapy for multiple myeloma,” said Michael Andreini, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. “The MIF is committed to identifying and accelerating the most innovative treatment approaches for myeloma patients. We are pleased to support this first-in-class antibody targeting PVR based on the potential to overcome immune evasion and enhance the immune system’s response against myeloma.”
“We are delighted to join forces with the Myeloma Investment Fund, allowing us to collaborate and explore the potential of our lead candidate, NTX1088, in the treatment of multiple myeloma,” said Fabian Tenenbaum, Chief Executive Officer of Nectin. “NTX1088 is currently being studied in patients with advanced and metastatic solid tumors, and we look forward to working closely with the MIF to uncover the role that PVR blockade may serve in addressing the unmet needs of myeloma patients.”
Together with the MIF’s investment, Nectin has raised over $33M supported by investments from aMoon, Peregrine Ventures, Israel Biotech Fund, Cancer Focus Fund and Integra Holdings.
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About Nectin Therapeutics
Nectin Therapeutics is a biotechnology company aiming to transform the lives of cancer patients by leveraging its unique insights into the nectin pathway to develop the next generation of immune oncology (IO) therapies. The company’s differentiated therapies have the potential to achieve new standards for efficacy and patient response across a number of difficult-to-treat cancers. Nectin’s technology addresses major escape mechanisms of current IO therapies through a diverse pipeline of novel monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug-conjugates. It has a world-class scientific and management team with deep experience in oncology drug development and a successful track record in building biotechnology companies and developing innovative therapies. Nectin Therapeutics is a venture-backed, privately held company, funded by aMoon Fund, Peregrine Ventures, Israel Biotech Fund, Cancer Focus Fund, Integra Holdings and the Myeloma Investment Fund.
About NTX1088
NTX1088 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody directed against a key immune checkpoint, PVR, also known as CD155. NTX1088 has multiple mechanisms of action. NTX1088 blocks the interaction between PVR and DNAM1, also known as CD226, a molecule involved in the activation of anti-cancer T and NK cells. By preventing internalization and degradation of DNAM1, NTX1088 leads to restoration of DNAM1 expression on the surface of immune cells and results in robust antitumor activity. NTX1088 also blocks PVR’s interactions with TIGIT and CD96, preventing their immune inhibitory signaling. NTX1088 demonstrated superior antitumor activity compared to approved and investigational immune checkpoint inhibitors in preclinical models and had a favorable safety profile in non-human primates.
About the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF)
The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF) is a venture philanthropy fund that invests in promising companies, clinical assets, and technologies in oncology to drive the development of new therapies for multiple myeloma. The MIF collaborates closely with portfolio companies to help them advance multiple myeloma research. This evergreen fund is supported entirely by philanthropy; all profits will be reinvested back into research for more effective treatments until there is a cure for every patient. For more information, visit www.myelomainvestmentfund.org.
About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is the largest nonprofit in the world solely focused on accelerating a cure for each and every multiple myeloma patient. We drive the development and delivery of next-generation therapies, leverage data to identify optimal and more personalized treatment approaches, and empower myeloma patients and the broader community with information and resources to extend their lives. Central to our mission is our commitment to advancing health equity so that all myeloma patients can benefit from the scientific and clinical advances we pursue. Since our inception, the MMRF has committed over $500 million for research, opened nearly 100 clinical trials, and helped bring 15+ FDA-approved therapies to market, which have tripled the life expectancy of myeloma patients. To learn more, visit www.themmrf.org.
Media Contacts:
C.J. Volpe
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
[email protected]
203-652-0453
Rebecca Ash
Gova10 for Nectin Therapeutics
[email protected]
+972-52-663-5075
Norwalk, Conn., and San Francisco, Calif, Feb. 27, 2023 – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on improving patient access to cancer clinical trials, announced today a partnership to support more equitable access to clinical trials for multiple myeloma cancer patients. This is the initial step of an action plan the MMRF developed to improve diversity and representation in myeloma clinical trials following its first Health Equity Summit focused on improving equity and inclusiveness in multiple myeloma clinical research.
“We at the MMRF believe that every myeloma patient should have an equal opportunity to participate in clinical trials and are deeply committed to improving representation in clinical research,” said Michael Andreini, President and CEO at the MMRF. “We are pleased to partner with the Lazarex Cancer Foundation to improve the opportunities patients have to help advance development of new therapies and potentially benefit from emerging treatment approaches.”
As part of the partnership, the MMRF contributed $100,000 to Lazarex’s PATH Program, a service designed to improve enrollment and diversity in clinical trials through patient reimbursement of out-of-pocket travel costs, community outreach, and engagement. Lazarex will support patients in MMRF-funded clinical trials, as well as help multiple myeloma patients find information and enroll in open trials, as appropriate, through the Lazarex CARE program.
Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that develops in the bone marrow and can spread throughout the body. It is expected to be diagnosed in 35,000 Americans in 2023 and take the lives of 12,000. Despite advances, most patients relapse and there is still no cure. Multiple myeloma is twice as common in the Black community compared to other ethnicities and is twice as deadly in Black patients compared to white patients.
“Lazarex Cancer Foundation is honored to work alongside the MMRF to support patients with multiple myeloma with travel reimbursement and help them get to clinical trial treatments,” said Stephanie Rivera, MPH, CEO at Lazarex Cancer Foundation. “The MMRF is one of the few research organizations that clearly understands how we partner with research for successful completion of and improved diversity in cancer clinical trials. I see this as just the start of greater things to come for both organizations to benefit patients with multiple myeloma.”
Other elements of the MMRF’s partnership with the Lazarex Cancer Foundation include developing and expanding collateral, creating content for a speaker series on myeloma and supplying MMRF resources, such as the Patient Toolkit, to Lazarex Cancer Foundation activities.
About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is the largest nonprofit in the world solely focused on accelerating a cure for each and every multiple myeloma patient. We drive the development and delivery of next-generation therapies, use data to drive optimal and more personalized treatment approaches, and empower myeloma patients with information and resources to extend their lives. Central to our mission is our commitment to advancing health equity so that all myeloma patients can benefit from the scientific and clinical advances we pursue. Since our inception, the MMRF has committed over $500 million for research, opened nearly 100 clinical trials, and helped bring 15+ FDA-approved therapies to market, which have tripled the life expectancy of myeloma patients. To learn more, visit www.themmrf.org.
About Lazarex Cancer Foundation
At Lazarex Cancer Foundation we strive to improve cancer health outcomes, FDA cancer clinical trial diversity, retention, and enrollment, and patient access to care by providing assistance with clinical trial navigation, reimbursing trial related travel costs, and partnering with at-risk communities to mobilize resources. In 17 years Lazarex has assisted nearly 8,000 patients. Learn more at www.Lazarex.org. Follow us @LazarexCF.
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Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Media Contact:
C.J. Volpe
Director, PR and Communications
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
203.652.0453
[email protected]
Norwalk, CT, Dec. 21, 2022 – The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s (MMRF) venture philanthropy subsidiary, today announced investments in Luminary Therapeutics, a company using advanced receptor design to improve the depth and durability of patient responses to cell therapy; KAHR, a clinical stage company developing immune-recruiting therapies to address immune escape by tumors; and Telo Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing second generation inhibitors of nuclear transport against a clinically validated target for multiple myeloma.
These investments mark a significant expansion of the MIF portfolio, bringing the total number of active portfolio companies to nine and the total number of MIF investments to eleven. With these additions, the MIF continues to diversify its range of investments, consistent with its strategic approach to venture philanthropy to accelerate the most promising therapeutic advances for patients with multiple myeloma.
“We are extremely proud to partner with Luminary Therapeutics, KAHR, and Telo Therapeutics, three innovative companies furthering the development of new therapies that have the potential to improve the lives of multiple myeloma patients,” said Peter Kosa, Ph.D., Managing Director of the Myeloma Investment Fund. “By investing in three companies dedicated to developing novel therapies across a variety of innovative new targets and technologies, the MIF remains committed to advancing new treatment options to address unmet needs for multiple myeloma patients.”
The MIF’s investment in Luminary Therapeutics supports the development of Luminary’s BAFF-CAR-T, a first-of-its-kind CAR-T cell therapy that targets three distinct antigens present on multiple myeloma tumors. The MIF’s investment in KAHR supports continued development of DSP107, a dual-targeting fusion protein that activates innate and adaptive immunity by blocking CD47 on cancer cells and utilizing 4-1BB conditional co-stimulatory activation of T-cells. The MIF’s investment in Telo helps advance the company’s next generation nuclear transport inhibitors toward the clinic.
“The three investments in Luminary Therapeutics, KAHR, and Telo Therapeutics are consistent with our mission of accelerating potential life-extending therapies for multiple myeloma patients,” said Michael Andreini, President and CEO of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. “By funding and partnering with innovative companies, we are continuing to advocate for novel technology platforms to be evaluated in the myeloma space where there is still great unmet need.”
For more information, visit myelomainvestmentfund.org, luminarytx.com, kahrbio.com, and telotherapeutics.com.
About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
A pioneer in personalized medicine, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) seeks to find a cure for all multiple myeloma patients by relentlessly pursuing innovations that accelerate the development of personalized treatments for cancer. Founded in 1998 by Kathy Giusti, a multiple myeloma patient, and her twin sister Karen Andrews as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the MMRF has created the benchmark business model around cancer—from data to analytics to the clinic. The MMRF identifies barriers and then finds the solutions to overcome them, bringing in the best partners and aligning incentives in the industry to drive better outcomes for patients. Since its inception, the organization has collected thousands of samples and tissues, opened nearly 100 trials, helped bring more than 15 FDA-approved therapies to market, and built CoMMpass, the single largest genomic dataset in myeloma. Today, the MMRF is building on its legacy in genomics and is expanding into immunotherapy, as the combination of these two fields will be critical to making personalized medicine possible for all patients. The MMRF has raised more than $500 million and directs nearly 90% of the total funds to research and related programs. To learn more, visit www.themmrf.org.
About the Myeloma Investment Fund
The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF) is a venture philanthropy fund that invests in promising companies, clinical assets, and technologies in oncology to drive the development of new therapies for multiple myeloma. The MIF collaborates closely with portfolio companies to help them advance multiple myeloma research. This evergreen fund is supported entirely by philanthropy; all profits are reinvested back into research for more effective treatments until there is a cure for every patient. For more information, visit MyelomaInvestmentFund.org.
About KAHR
KAHR develops novel dual-targeting fusion protein therapeutics engineered to activate both the innate and the adaptive immune systems simultaneously and localize that response in the tumor microenvironment. KAHR’s lead product candidate, DSP107, is a CD47x41BB targeting compound. DSP107 is being tested in a Phase I/II clinical trial in advanced solid tumors and a Phase Ib clinical trial in blood cancers. KAHR’s preclinical pipeline includes DSP502, a PVRxPD-L1 targeting fusion protein, and DSP216, an HLA-GxCD47 targeting fusion protein. For more information, please visit https://kahrbio.com.
About Luminary Therapeutics
Luminary is a clinical stage allogeneic cell therapy company focused on combining advanced receptor design with superior cell engineering to overcome antigen escape and T cell dysfunction. Luminary was founded by the team from B-MoGen that achieved a successful 5X exit in only three years. Luminary is seeking Series A financing with venture firms or strategic partners to support its first clinical trial and development of its disruptive Universal Receptor that can modulate antigen specificity. For more information visit www.luminarytx.com.
About Telo Therapeutics
Telo Therapeutics is developing orally bioavailable next generation inhibitors of nuclear transport, a critical nexus among many cancer cell signaling pathways. The company’s unique chemistry and distinct mechanism of action result in a favorable safety profile and lead to rapid tumor regressions across multiple cancer types including multiple myeloma, brain, liver, lung, bladder, and prostate. Telo has generated durable complete responses with just two weeks of dosing in xenografts of both multiple myeloma and glioblastoma. Telo is uniquely positioned to unlock the full potential of targeting nuclear transport in multiple myeloma tumors and beyond. Telo is actively raising a Series A financing to advance its small molecule to Investigational New Drug (IND) and run a Phase 1 proof-of-concept trial. Telo is targeting first patient dosing in 2H of 2024.
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Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Media Contact:
C.J. Volpe
Director, PR and Communications
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
203.652.0453
[email protected]
33 CoMMpass abstracts demonstrate the ongoing value of MMRF data sets to myeloma research
Multi-arm MyDRUG clinical trial reports translational data from cobimetinib arm and initial safety and activity data for daratumumab arm
Norwalk, Conn., December 12, 2022— Today, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) announced that new insights related to novel targets, risk assessment, and potential improved treatment approaches generated through its landmark CoMMpass℠ Study and MyDRUG℠ platform trial will be presented at the 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans, Louisiana from December 10 – 13, 2022.
Data from the MMRF helped drive findings of 33 studies featured at ASH, with the MMRF CoMMpass Study being cited in nine oral abstracts, highlighting the utility and value of the oft-used study by the global myeloma research community.
“Since its inception, the CoMMpass Study has been used by hundreds of researchers worldwide and continues to promote a level of collaboration that is essential to an increased understanding of myeloma,” said George Mulligan, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of the MMRF. “At the same time, the MyDRUG trial continues to make an impact by assessing the way targeted therapies interact with specific biomarkers found in patients. The insights gained by these two innovative studies demonstrate the importance of generating and sharing a wide array of data.”
MMRF MyDRUG platform trial advances community’s understanding of targeted therapies
Also featured in multiple abstracts at this year’s ASH meeting is MyDRUG, a first-in-myeloma Phase 1/2 platform clinical trial conducted by the MMRF’s Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC), a network of leading cancer centers that investigate promising early-stage therapies. The MMRC focuses primarily on trials like MyDRUG that require the collaboration of many sites, given their specificity and scale. MyDRUG builds upon discoveries of common cancer-associated mutations observed in the CoMMpass Study. The goal of MyDRUG is to determine if precision medicine strategies using targeted therapies that are already approved in other cancers are safe and effective in myeloma patients with specific mutations.
Notable findings at this year’s ASH meeting related to the MyDRUG study include:
About the MMRF CoMMpass StudySM
The MMRF CoMMpass Study is an ongoing longitudinal study of patients with newly diagnosed active multiple myeloma. The goal is to map the genomic profile of each patient at diagnosis and each relapse to clinical outcomes in order to develop a more complete understanding of how patients respond to treatments. The MMRF initiated the CoMMpass Study more than ten years ago to address the need for a large, comprehensive, genomic and clinical data set that was publicly available to researchers to realize the potential of personalized medicine. The insights generated by CoMMpass have led to groundbreaking discoveries that have transformed the research community’s understanding of myeloma at a genomic level.
About the MMRF MyDRUG StudySM
The MMRF MyDRUG study is the first platform trial in myeloma. The purpose of MyDRUG is to test targeted therapies not yet approved in myeloma, in combination with a standard of care oral triplet therapy, in functionally high-risk multiple myeloma patients who demonstrate specific genetic alterations.
About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
A pioneer in personalized medicine, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) seeks to find a cure for all multiple myeloma patients by relentlessly pursuing innovations that accelerate the development of personalized treatments for cancer. Founded in 1998 by Kathy Giusti, a multiple myeloma patient, and her twin sister Karen Andrews as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the MMRF has created the benchmark business model around cancer—from data to analytics to the clinic. The MMRF identifies barriers and then finds the solutions to overcome them, bringing in the best partners and aligning incentives in the industry to drive better outcomes for patients. Since its inception, the organization has collected thousands of samples and tissues, opened nearly 100 trials, helped bring more than 15 FDA-approved therapies to market, and built CoMMpass, the single largest genomic dataset in myeloma. Today, the MMRF is building on its legacy in genomics and is expanding into immunotherapy, as the combination of these two fields will be critical to making personalized medicine possible for all patients. The MMRF has raised more than $500 million and directs nearly 90% of the total funds to research and related programs. To learn more, visit www.themmrf.org.
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Media Contact:
C.J. Volpe, Director, PR and Communications
203.652.0453
[email protected]
Norwalk, CT, Oct. 25, 2022 — The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of TECVAYLI™ (teclistamab-cqyv) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, who previously received four or more prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, immunomodulatory drug and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. TECVAYLI™ is a first-in-class, bispecific T-cell engager antibody that is administered as a subcutaneous treatment.
To read Janssen’s full press release click here.
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Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Media Contact:
C.J. Volpe, Director, PR and Communications
203.652.0453
[email protected]
CoMMpass data fuels 19 IMS abstracts, advancing new research and delivering meaningful insights to the myeloma research community
Results from the MyDRUG platform trial show the promise of MEK Inhibitor cobimetinib for myeloma patients with NRAS/KRAS/B-RAF mutations
Norwalk, Conn., August 24, 2022— Today, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) announced that new insights and hypotheses related to predictive biomarkers, disease progression, therapeutic resistance, risk assessment, and personalized medicine were generated using data from its landmark CoMMpass StudySM. The findings will be presented at the 19th International Myeloma Society (IMS) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles from August 25 – 27, 2022.
Data from the CoMMpass study are cited in 19 abstracts, four of which were selected to be oral presentations, demonstrating its value in driving new advancements across multiple myeloma research. CoMMpass represents the largest longitudinal genomic data set in multiple myeloma and has led to groundbreaking discoveries that have transformed how researchers understand the biology of multiple myeloma.
“Our mission is to accelerate a cure for each and every myeloma patient,” said Michael Andreini, President and CEO of the MMRF. “Research presented at this year’s IMS Annual Meeting reaffirms our commitment to building models and resources for the myeloma research community that drive progress for patients and new opportunities for researchers. We are thrilled that the CoMMpass study has been used by hundreds of researchers worldwide and continues to generate meaningful learnings that have played a vital role in accelerating the pace of research that can now be translated to clinical care.”
Notable findings at this year’s IMS meeting that incorporate CoMMpass data include:
“Despite great strides in treatment, multiple myeloma remains incurable and often fatal, which is why the use of CoMMpass data, presented in 19 abstracts at the 19th IMS Annual Meeting, further validates the value and utility of our comprehensive genomic and clinical CoMMpass data,” said Hearn Jay Cho, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of the MMRF. “CoMMpass continues to be one of the most important drivers of myeloma research. The MMRF is committed to working closely with researchers across the globe to drive breakthroughs using CoMMpass data, with the goal of bringing us closer to accelerating a cure for every myeloma patient.”
The CoMMpass study currently includes an estimated 1,150 patients spanning 76 sites worldwide and it continues to grow in impact as the data matures.
The IMS meeting will also feature data being presented from MyDRUGSM, a first-in-myeloma Phase 1/2 platform clinical trial conducted in the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC). MyDRUG builds upon discoveries of common cancer-associated mutations in CoMMpass. Targeted therapies specific to some of these mutations are approved in other types of cancer. The goal of MyDRUG is to determine if precision medicine strategies using these targeted therapies are safe and effective in myeloma patients with these mutations.
The study team will report on one sub-protocol of MyDRUG for patients with mutations in NRAS, KRAS, or BRAF. The MEK inhibitor cobimetinib is approved in skin cancer for patients with these mutations. The investigators will present safety and efficacy data of cobimetinib in combination with a standard-of-care, all-oral regimen of ixazomib (Ninlaro), pomalidomide (Pomalyst) and dexamethasone.
About the MMRF CoMMpass StudySM
The MMRF CoMMpass Study is a longitudinal study of patients with newly diagnosed active multiple myeloma. The goal is to map the genomic profile of each patient at diagnosis and each relapse to clinical outcomes in order to develop a more complete understanding of how patients respond to treatments.
About the MMRF MyDRUG StudySM
The MMRF MyDRUG study is the first platform trial in myeloma. The purpose of MyDRUG is to test targeted therapies not yet approved in myeloma, in combination with a standard of care oral triplet therapy, in functionally high-risk multiple myeloma patients who demonstrate specific genetic alterations.
About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
A pioneer in personalized medicine, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) seeks to find a cure for all multiple myeloma patients by relentlessly pursuing innovations that accelerate the development of personalized treatments for cancer. Founded in 1998 by Kathy Giusti, a multiple myeloma patient, and her twin sister Karen Andrews as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the MMRF has created the benchmark business model around cancer—from data to analytics to the clinic. The MMRF identifies barriers and then finds the solutions to overcome them, bringing in the best partners and aligning incentives in the industry to drive better outcomes for patients. Since its inception, the organization has collected thousands of samples and tissues, opened nearly 100 trials, helped bring more than 15 FDA-approved therapies to market, and built CoMMpass, the single largest genomic dataset in myeloma. Today, the MMRF is building on its legacy in genomics and is expanding into immunotherapy, as the combination of these two fields will be critical to making personalized medicine possible for all patients. The MMRF has raised more than $500 million and directs nearly 90% of the total funds to research and related programs. To learn more, visit www.themmrf.org.
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Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Media Contact:
C.J. Volpe, Director, PR and Communications
203.652.0453
[email protected]
Biotech closes $42 million Series A-1 financing to advance autoimmune and oncology programs; Names new executive leadership
Norwalk, CT, January 27, 2021 – The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), announced its portfolio company Abcuro, Inc, has raised $42 million in Series A-1 financing and made new appointments to its executive leadership. Abcuro is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Newton, MA, that is developing a new immune checkpoint therapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer.
With this latest round of financing, the MIF is joined by new investors to advance Abcuro’s pipeline past the pre-clinical stage. They include Mass General Brigham Ventures, Sanofi Ventures, Pontifax Venture Capital, Hongsen Investment Group, RA Capital Management, and Samsara BioCapital. Concurrent with the financing, Abcuro has named biotech industry veterans John B. Edwards as Executive Chair of its Board of Directors and David de Graaf, Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer.
The MIF’s investment in Abcuro supports its ongoing development of preclinical therapies directed against a novel immune checkpoint target, KLRG1. Blocking KLRG1 signaling may augment the immune system’s ability to combat tumors by activating Natural Killer (NK) and T cells, which represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
“New immune agents that enhance NK and T cell activity are part of the next wave in cancer immunotherapies. This innovative approach, using a second-generation checkpoint inhibitor that activates both T and NK cells, is rationally designed to promote anti-tumor immunity,” said Hearn Jay Cho MD, PhD, MMRF Chief Medical Officer.
About the Myeloma Investment Fund
The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), is a venture philanthropy fund that invests in promising companies, clinical assets, and technologies in oncology to accelerate the delivery of precision medicine approaches and a cure to every multiple myeloma patient. The MIF collaborates closely with portfolio companies to help them advance multiple myeloma research, providing access to longstanding relationships with pharmaceutical companies and academic medical centers, a clinical network of 23 sites, and data from the largest genomics data set of any cancer. This evergreen fund is supported entirely by philanthropy; all profits will be reinvested back into research for more effective treatments until there is a cure for every patient. For more information, visit MyelomaInvestmentFund.org.
About Abcuro
Abcuro’s mission is to develop a new generation of immunomodulatory therapeutics for treating both autoimmunity and cancer. The company uses proprietary analysis of transcriptome data from human disease to identify new approaches to target key compartments of the immune system. Abcuro was launched in 2016 and is based in Newton, Massachusetts.
Norwalk, CT and San Francisco, October 28, 2020 – The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Indapta Therapeutics announced a partnership to support the advancement of the company’s universal G-NK cell therapy into clinical trials for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma. Indapta Therapeutics, Inc., is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing a proprietary, off-the-shelf, allogeneic FcRγ-deficient natural killer (G-NK) cell therapy for the treatment of multiple cancers. The collaboration is supported with an investment in Indapta by the MMRF’s venture philanthropy arm, the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF).
“Our investment in Indapta’s G-NK cell therapy is consistent with our strategy to fund the development of first-in-class, potentially transformative treatments,” said Paul Giusti, President and Chief Executive Officer of the MMRF. “Indapta’s off-the-shelf cell therapy uses a promising new class of NK cells, which could provide a significant benefit for patients.”
About Indapta’s G-NK Cell Therapy
Indapta Therapeutics is developing a universal, allogeneic G-NK cell therapy designed to substantially improve the cytotoxicity of monoclonal antibody therapy in multiple cancers. G-NK cells are a specific and potent subset of NK (natural killer) cells with specialized anti-tumor activity resulting from an epigenetic change, rather than engineering. Indapta has further enhanced G-NK cells via specific G-NK cell subset selection and its proprietary manufacturing process which, when combined, produce a G-NK cell therapy that demonstrates higher efficacy, persistence, and enhanced cryopreservation than multiple mAb therapies alone or mAb therapies combined with conventional NK cells.
When a monoclonal antibody binds to the tumor target and to Indapta’s G-NK cell therapy product, it initiates the release of dramatically more cancer killing compounds than conventional NK cells, allowing for increased efficacy and potentially less frequent dosing. Indapta’s off-the-shelf G-NK cell therapy is further differentiated from other NK cell therapies in that it is a cell banked product with low variability. In vivo studies have demonstrated the safety of Indapta’s G-NK cell therapy.
“This collaboration with the MMRF and MIF will be invaluable in helping us advance the clinical development of our universal, allogeneic G-NK cell therapy,” said Guy DiPierro, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer of Indapta Therapeutics. “We look forward to tapping into MMRF’s deep myeloma expertise and other critical resources, including genomic datasets. The Foundation’s insights into patient recruitment and study networks will help us reach multiple myeloma patients for our own clinical trials.”
About Indapta Therapeutics
Indapta Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing a proprietary, first-in-class, off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapy to treat multiple types of difficult-to-treat hematologic cancers and solid tumors. Headquartered in San Francisco, Indapta was founded in 2017 by Guy DiPierro along with Ronald Martell and scientists at the University of California, Davis, and Stanford University. The company has developed allogeneic FcRIγ-deficient natural killer cells, known as G-NK cells, and is working to bring this off-the-shelf cell therapy to patients to address the limitations of currently available autologous T-cell therapies.
About The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
A pioneer in precision medicine, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) seeks to find a cure for multiple myeloma by relentlessly pursuing innovation that accelerates the development of next-generation treatments to extend the lives of patients. Founded in 1998 by Kathy Giusti, a multiple myeloma patient, and her twin sister Karen Andrews, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the MMRF is a world-recognized leader in cancer research, launching over 70 clinical trials and leading to 13 FDA-approved drugs. Together with its partners, the MMRF has created the only end-to-end solution in precision medicine. With this, the MMRF, an innovator in precision medicine, continues to disrupt the industry today, building the CoMMpass Study, the single largest genomic dataset for any cancer, and launching MyDRUG, the first platform trial in multiple myeloma. Since its inception, the organization has collected over 4,000 samples and tissues in its database, which is shared among 23 academic institutions. The MMRF has raised over $400 million and directs nearly 90% of the total funds to research and related programs. To learn more, visit themmrf.org.
About Myeloma Investment Fund
The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), is a venture philanthropy fund that invests in promising companies, clinical assets, and technologies in oncology to accelerate the delivery of precision medicine approaches and a cure to every multiple myeloma patient. The MIF collaborates closely with portfolio companies to help them advance multiple myeloma research, providing access to longstanding relationships with pharmaceutical companies and academic medical centers, a clinical network of 23 sites, and data from the largest genomics data set of any cancer. This evergreen fund is supported entirely by philanthropy; all profits will be reinvested back into research for more effective treatments until there is a cure for every patient. For more information, visit MyelomaInvestmentFund.org.
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Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
Anne Quinn Young, MPH
Chief Marketing and Development Officer
203-536-8691
Contacts:
Indapta Therapeutics
Sylvia Aranda
424-201-9464
[email protected]
