remission (CR/CRi), two (14%) achieved partial remission (PR) and three (22%) achieved stable disease. In total, 93% of the evaluable patients had a response to treatment. The complete remission rate (CR/CRi) of (57%) for the evaluable refractory and relapsed patients in Cohort 2 is significantly higher than complete remission (CR/CRi) rate (21%) for refractory/relapsed patients treated with the combination treatment of decitabine and venetoclax. As with newly diagnosed patients in Cohort 1, this result is further highlighted by the high-risk rating of Bio-Path’s Cohort 2 evaluable patients and the inclusion of secondary AML patients (15%).
Next Steps
Efficacy data from the initial interim analysis of Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 are compelling and show that prexigebersen-based combination therapy was not only safely administered in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 to high-risk newly diagnosed and refractory/relapsed AML patients considered unsuitable for standard chemotherapy, but also demonstrated efficacy signals significantly better than current therapies. This is particularly encouraging as refractory/relapsed patients are a challenging population in which current treatment options are suboptimal.
As a result of the interim review, Bio-Path has demonstrated superiority of prexigebersen combination therapy in treating AML patients and currently plans to pursue U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expedited programs for Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations. Fast Track Designation is designed to expedite the development and review of drugs to treat serious conditions and to fulfill an unmet medical need. Breakthrough Therapy Designation is a process designed to expedite the development and review of drugs that may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapies.
The next steps for Bio-Path are to conduct an administrative review to affirm the cohorts that will continue with enrollment. Nineteen patients had been chosen as an initial sample size for a cohort to provide interim efficacy data, however, the protocol for the Phase 2 allows Bio-Path to conduct interim efficacy analysis sooner at its discretion.
Operations in the United States are expected to remain unchanged with an expected six to ten treatment sites. In addition, Bio-Path is evaluating whether to seek to expand Stage 2 of the Phase 2 clinical trial by pursuing operations in Europe, as it believes there are more potential patients for Stage 2 of the Phase 2 clinical trial there, which could meaningfully enhance enrollment and accelerate completion of clinical trial milestones.
About Prexigebersen (BP1001)
Prexigebersen is a neutral liposome incorporated with nuclease-resistant, hydrophobic P-ethoxy antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeted to Grb2 mRNA. Grb2 is an adaptor protein that links oncogenic tyrosine kinases with downstream kinases, such as ERK and AKT, which are critical to cell proliferation and survival.
About Bio-Path Holdings, Inc.
Bio-Path is a biotechnology company developing DNAbilize®, a novel technology that has yielded a pipeline of RNAi nanoparticle drugs that can be administered with a simple intravenous transfusion. Bio-Path’s lead product candidate, prexigebersen (BP1001, targeting the Grb2 protein), is in a Phase 2 study for blood cancers, and BP1001-A, a drug product modification of prexigebersen, is in a Phase 1 study for solid tumors . The Company’s second product, BP1002, which targets the Bcl-2 protein, is being evaluated for the treatment of blood cancers and solid tumors, including lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia. In addition, an IND application is expected to be filed for BP1003, a novel liposome-incorporated STAT3 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide developed by Bio-Path as a specific inhibitor of STAT3.
For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.biopathholdings.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws. These statements are based on management's current expectations and accordingly are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including Bio-Path’s ability to raise needed