Gaucher disease is a progressive lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of glucocerebrosidase leading to the dysfunction in multiple organ systems. Intravenous enzyme replacement is the accepted standard of treatment. In the current report, we evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of a novel human recombinant glucocerebrosidase enzyme expressed in transformed plant cells (prGCD), administered to primates and human subjects. Short term (28 days) and long term (9 months) repeated injections with a standard dose of 60 Units/kg and a high dose of 300 Units/kg were administered to monkeys (n = 4/sex/dose). Neither clinical drug-related adverse effects nor neutralizing antibodies were detected in the animals. In a phase I clinical trial, six healthy volunteers were treated by intravenous infusions with escalating single doses of prGCD. Doses of up to 60 Units/kg were administered at weekly intervals. prGCD infusions were very well tolerated. Anti-prGCD antibodies were not detected. The pharmacokinetic profile of the prGCD revealed a prolonged half-life compared to imiglucerase, the commercial enzyme that is manufactured in a costly mammalian cell system. These studies demonstrate the safety and lack of immunogenicity of prGCD. Following these encouraging results, a pivotal phase III clinical trial for prGCD was FDA approved and is currently ongoing.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00258778

TPS4672 Background: KRAS alterations are the most frequent driver alterations identified in pancreas cancer; however, KRAS has remained an elusive therapeutic target. siG12D-LODER is a novel, miniature bio-degradable polymeric matrix encompassing a novel small interfering RNA targeting KRAS G12D and all additional G12X mutations (G12C, G12V...). The siG12D-LODER is inserted directly into the pancreas tumor via endoscopic intervention. A Phase 1/2a dose escalation and expansion study of patients receiving a one-time dose of siG12D-LODER with ongoing chemotherapy demonstrated that the combination was well-tolerated and safe and exhibited promising potential efficacy with 10/12 patients achieving disease control and median overall survival 15.1 months (Golan, Oncotarget 2015). Methods: This phase 2 study was initially designed as a randomized, two arm, open label study of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel with or without siG12D-LODER for patients with locally advanced pancreas cancer with planned 40 patients in each arm and primary endpoint of progression-free survival. Eighteen patients were enrolled in the chemotherapy alone arm and 18 in the chemotherapy and siG12D-LODER arm. After an interim analysis, the study design has been amended and is now a single arm study in which patients (N=39) with both borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreas cancer will receive investigator’s choice of chemotherapy (the combination of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel or modified FOLFIRINOX) and all patients will receive up to three doses of the siG12D-LODER administered once every 12 weeks. Primary endpoint is overall response rate after final siG12D-LODER insertion. Secondary endpoints include duration of response, progression-free survival, overall survival, time to response, percentage of patients proceeding to surgical resection, and percentage of patients receiving radiation therapy. Exploratory analyses include evaluation of KRAS mutation status and monitoring of circulating free DNA and circulating tumor cells. The amended protocol is now open for accrual and four patients having been enrolled to date. Trial accrual is anticipated to be completed by December 2020. Clinical trial information: NCT01676259 .

Three patients, 2 with congenital valvular heart disease and 1 with a prosthetic aortic valve developed brucellosis. Brucella melitensis was isolated from blood of all 3 patients. The clinical and microbiological fetures suggested Brucella endocarditis and following successful antibiotic therapy, no surgery was required. The salient diagnostic features are discussed with emphasis on the management and prognosis of patients with Brucella endocarditis.

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4037 Background:K-Ras mutation G12D is most prevalent in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). siRNA against the K-RasG12D(siG12D) mutant had showed significant preclinical anti-tumor effects. siG12D LODER - miniature biodegradable polymeric matrix that encompasses anti-K-RasG12D siRNA drug, is placed with Endoscopic US biopsy and designed to continuously release the drug regionally over a period of 4 months. Methods: Open label phase I study of patients with locally advanced non-operable PDAC in the first-line setting. Patients were assigned to receive siG12D LODERs in dose escalation cohorts: 0.025mg, 0.75mg and 3.0mg. Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2IV was given weekly, following siG12D LODER insertion. The RP2D (recommended phase II dose) was further examined in 3.0 mg dose cohort in combination with modified Folfirinox (Oxaliplatin 85mg/m2, Irinotecan 150mg/m2, Fluorouracil infusion 2,400mg/m2 46 hours, every 2 weeks). Follow up period was 8 weeks and survival follow up until death. Primary study objectives were to determine the dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) and maximum tolerated doses (MTD). Results:15 patients have been enrolled. 2 patients were omitted from study due to metastatic disease detected on day 1 post siG12D LODER implant imaging . Median age = 70 (range 52-85); male:female 8:7. Among 13 treated patients, the most frequent adverse events observed in the study were typically grade 1- 2 in severity; 4 patients experienced serious adverse events (SAE), one procedure related. No DLTs were observed. MTD was not reached. CT performed 8-10 weeks following the procedure showed stable disease in all patients. Reduction in tumor marker CA 19-9 was observed in 64% (7/11) of patients. The median survival of 13 patients was 16 months ( 8/13 patients still alive at analysis). Conclusions: The combination of siG12D LODER and chemotherapy is well tolerated. The combination has demonstrated promising efficacy in locally advanced PDAC with durable responses. Phamocodynamic endpoints are currently being examined in an expansion cohort in operable patients. A phase II randomized trial is planned in order to investigate efficacy of siG12D LODER in locally advanced non-operable PDAC. Clinical trial information: NCT01188785.