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Introduction and Objectives: microRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate expression of multiple genes which impact physiological processes and cellular phenotypes. miR-155-5p is a well-described onco-miR with a strong mechanistic link to cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). A LNA-modified oligonucleotide inhibitor of miR-155-5p, MRG-106, was selected based on its ability to de-repress canonical miR-155-5p targets in multiple mycosis fungoides (MF) cell lines in vitro. In preclinical models, MRG-106 showed significant pharmacodynamic activity without requiring additional formulation. The objective of this first-in-human study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy of MRG-106 in patients with mycosis fungoides (MF). Methodology: This Phase 1 trial employs a dose-escalation design to evaluate both intratumoral and subcutaneous administration of MRG-106 at doses of 75 mg and up to 900 mg per injection, respectively. Patients were required to be ≥ 18 years old, have a confirmed diagnosis of MF, be clinical stage I-III with plaques or tumors, be on a stable treatment regimen or without any concomitant therapy for MF, and have no other major illness. The first 6 patients were dosed with four or five 75 mg intratumoral injections of MRG-106 over 2 weeks. In addition, 4 patients received saline injections in a second lesion on the same schedule. Skin biopsies were taken from MRG-106 and saline treated lesions for molecular, bioanalytical, and histological analyses, before the first dose and after the last dose. Results: Six patients (5M/1F, median age 61 years, 5 Caucasian/ 1 African-American) were dosed intratumorally. All tolerated the administrations well with only minimal erythema at the site of injection noted in one patient. One patient was discontinued from the trial due to rapid progression of disease, which was considered not related to the study drug. There were no clinically significant adverse events or laboratory abnormalities. To date, the first cohort of 6 patients has either completed the dosing period (5 patients) or discontinued due to progressive disease (1 patient). All patients showed a reduction in the baseline Composite Assessment of Index Lesion Severity (CAILS) score in both MRG-106-treated and saline-treated lesions. The maximal reduction was on average 55% [range: 33% to 77%] in the MRG-106 treated lesion and 39% [range:13% to 75%] in the saline treated lesions). In all the subjects that completed dosing, the MRG-106 treated lesions had a CAILS score reduction of ≥ 50% which was maintained to the end of study; in contrast, a ≥ 50% reduction was observed in only one saline treated lesion. Most patients noted a marked decrease in systemic pruritus. Histological examination of pre-treatment and post-treatment biopsies of the same lesion injected with MRG-106 from five evaluable patients revealed that one patient had a complete loss of the neoplastic infiltrate, two patients had a reduction in neoplastic cell infiltrate density and depth, one patient had fewer CD30+ large atypical cells, and one patient demonstrated no change. After the first dose, MRG-106 had a mean t1/2 in plasma of 4.4 hours, and a mean Cmaxof 1.4 µg/mL. The drug was detectable 24 hours after the last dose in the MRG-106-injected lesions that were biopsied. Gene expression analysis of the pre- and post-treatment biopsies showed transcript changes consistent with the expected mechanism of action of MRG-106. Conclusions: These promising preliminary results in this first-in-human study in 6 MF patients show that intratumoral injection of MRG-106 was well-tolerated, and demonstrated encouraging therapeutic improvements in cutaneous lesions, based on CAILS scores and histological findings. In addition, reductions in CAILS scores in other lesions as well as decreases in systemic symptoms such as pruritus were observed. Preliminary biomarker analysis indicates that MRG-106 induces transcriptional changes consistent with on-target activity and molecular proof of concept. The trial is ongoing and additional results will be presented as available. Disclosures Querfeld: Actelion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Foss:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Eisai: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Halwani:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Kyowa Hakko Kirin: Research Funding; Immune Design: Research Funding. Porcu:miRagen: Other: Investigator in a clinical trial; celgene: Other: Investigator in a clinical trial; Innate Pharma: Other: Investigator in a clinical trial; Millenium: Other: investigator in a clinical trial. Seto:miRagen: Employment. Ruckman:miRagen Therapeutics, Inc: Employment. Landry:Accera, Inc: Consultancy; miRagen: Consultancy. Jackson:miRagen: Employment. Pestano:miRagen Therapeutics: Employment. Dickinson:miRagen Therapeutics: Employment. Sanseverino:miRagen Therapeutics: Employment. Rodman:Nivalis: Employment, Equity Ownership; miRagen Therapeutics: Consultancy. Gordon:GLPI: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; IGM: Consultancy; Globavir: Consultancy; Pre-cell: Consultancy; Industrial Laboratories: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Taiho: Consultancy; Flugen: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; miRagen Therapeutics: Consultancy; Clinipace: Consultancy; Caring for Colorado Foundation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Axion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TEQ laboratories: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Marshall:miRagen Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties: inventor on various patents; BiOptix: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Fluorofinder: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AmideBio: Consultancy, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Colorado BioScience Association: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Atlas Venture: Consultancy.

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7564 Background: MRG-106 is an oligonucleotide inhibitor of miR-155, a microRNA with a strong mechanistic link to CTCL, selected based on its activity in mycosis fungoides (MF) cell lines. The objective of this first-in-human study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary efficacy of MRG-106 in MF patients. Methods: This Phase 1 trial employs a dose-escalation design to evaluate either intratumoral (IT, 75 mg/dose) or subcutaneous (SC, ≤ 900 mg/dose) administration of MRG-106. Patients were required to have biopsy-proven stage I-III MF and plaque- or tumor-stage lesions. Results: Fifteen patients (12M/3F, median age 59 years) have been dosed over 1-4 weeks. All patients tolerated the IT or SC administrations well with only minor local injection reactions in 8 patients. Thirteen of 15 patients completed dosing as scheduled. There were no clinically significant MRG-106 related adverse events with the exception of one grade 3 pruritus. The MTD has not yet been reached. In the IT cohort, a reduction of ≥50% in the baseline Composite Assessment of Index Lesion Severity (CAILS) score was observed in the MRG-106 treated lesions in all 4 evaluable patients who completed dosing; such responses were maintained to the End of Study visit (Day 28 or 35). Histological examination of pre- and post-treatment biopsies of the MRG-106-injected lesion from most patients revealed a trend in reduction in neoplastic cell density and depth; 1 patient had a complete loss of the neoplastic infiltrate. Gene expression analysis of the pre- and post-treatment biopsies showed reduction of the PI3K/AKT, JAK/STAT, and NFkB survival pathways and increased cell death consistent with the expected MRG-106 mechanism of action. In the SC cohorts, 3/8 patients had a maximal decrease in their modified Severity-Weighted Assessment Tool (mSWAT) of > 39% indicative of a significant response. One patient at the 900 mg SC dose level had a possible flare of their disease after 3 doses that resolved after 3 weeks. Conclusions: Based on favorable clinical safety, efficacy and PK data, additional patients are being accrued. Updated results will be presented as available. Clinical trial information: NCT02580552.

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Investigation of Novel Fumagillin Analogues as Angiogenesis Inhibitors. -The synthesis of fumagillin analogue (IX), which shows comparable in vitro and in vivo activity to TNP-470, is described. -(PYUN*, H.-J.; FARDIS, M.; TARIO, J.; YANG, C. Y.; RUCKMAN, J.; HENNINGER, D.; JIN, H.; KIM, C. U.; Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 14 (2004) 1, 91-94; Gilead Sci. Inc., Foster City, CA 94404, USA; Eng.) -M. Schroeter 17-221

ABSTRACT. Platelet-derived growth factor B-chain (PDGF-B)– and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)–mediated accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins contributes to many progressive renal diseases. In vivo, specific antagonism of either PDGF-B or TGF-β in experimental mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis resulted in an almost complete inhibition of matrix protein accumulation, which suggests an interaction between signaling pathways of these two growth factors. Because nothing is known on the nature of this possible interaction, PDGF-B was antagonized in the rat anti–Thy 1.1 model of glomerulonephritis by use of specific aptamers and its effects on the TGF-β system were investigated. Antagonism of PDGF-B led to a significant reduction of glomerular matrix accumulation compared with scrambled aptamer-treated nephritic controls. PDGF-B antagonism had no effect on the overexpression of glomerular TGF-β mRNA, TGF-β protein, or the expression of TGF-β receptor type I and II mRNA. By immunohistology, it was possible to detect overexpression of the cytoplasmic TGF-β signaling molecules Smad2 (agonistic) and Smad7 (antagonistic) in glomeruli of nephritic control rats which peaked on day 7 after disease induction, i.e., the peak of mesangial cell proliferation in this model. However, immunohistology and Western blot analysis again revealed no difference in the glomerular expression of both Smad proteins between PDGF-B antagonized and nonantagonized nephritic animals. In addition, no difference in the glomerular expression of phosphorylated Smad2 (P-Smad2) was detected between the differently treated nephritic groups. These observations suggest that the effects of PDGF-B antagonism are independent of TGF-β in mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritides.