NEW YORK, Dec. 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TG Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TGTX), today announced updated clinical data from its Phase I/II trial of ublituximab (TG-1101), the Company’s novel glycoengineered anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in combination with umbralisib (TGR-1202), the Company’s oral, next generation PI3K delta inhibitor, and pembrolizumab, in patients with relapsed/refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Richter’s Transformation (RT). Data from this trial were presented yesterday during an oral session at the 60^th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Michael S. Weiss, the Company's Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We were excited to share the data presented from the combination of U2 plus pembrolizumab. Due to potentially overlapping immune-mediated toxicity, this is the first trial where a PI3K delta inhibitor has been combined with a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor, again highlighting the unique combinability of the U2 regimen. In addition to demonstrating that these drugs could be safely combined, we were encouraged to see favorable response rates in both RT and BTK refractory CLL patients, a subset of patients that are historically challenging to treat.” Mr. Weiss continued, “Our proprietary anti-PD-L1, TG-1501, has now completed Phase 1 dose escalation, and we believe the data presented today set the stage for the commencement of the combination of U2 plus TG-1501, in the coming months.”

Below summarizes the oral presentation.

Phase I/II Study of Umbralisib (TGR-1202) in Combination with Ublituximab (TG-1101) and Pembrolizumab in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory CLL and Richter’s Transformation (Publication Number: 297)

This oral presentation includes data from patients with relapsed or refractory CLL or Richter’s Transformation treated with the triple combination of ublituximab, umbralisib, and pembrolizumab. Fifteen patients were evaluable for safety (10 CLL patients and 5 RT patients) and 14 were evaluable for efficacy (10 CLL and 4 RT), with one RT patient too early to evaluate. Data highlights include:

• The triple combination was well tolerated, with immune mediated toxicities not appearing above what would be expected with either umbralisib or pembrolizumab alone
• 90% (9 of 10) Overall Response Rate (ORR) in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL, including one Complete Response (CR)
• 80% (4 of 5) ORR in BTK refractory CLL patients, of which 3 of 4 BTK refractory CLL responders achieved their response to U2 alone prior to introduction of pembrolizumab  
• 50% (2 of 4) ORR in RT, with both responses being a CR
• Responses have been durable, and a median progression-free survival has not yet been reached
• The first patient treated remains progression-free for 36+ months, having now been off therapy for more than 24 months

PRESENTATION DETAILS:

The above referenced presentation is now available on the Publications page, located within the Pipeline section, of the Company’s website at www.tgtherapeutics.com/publications.cfm.

ABOUT TG THERAPEUTICS, INC.

TG Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel treatments for B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases. Currently, the company is developing two therapies targeting hematological malignancies and autoimmune diseases. Ublituximab (TG-1101) is a novel, glycoengineered monoclonal antibody that targets a specific and unique epitope on the CD20 antigen found on mature B-lymphocytes. TG Therapeutics is also developing umbralisib (TGR-1202), an orally available PI3K delta inhibitor. The delta isoform of PI3K is strongly expressed in cells of hematopoietic origin and is believed to be important in the proliferation and survival of B‐lymphocytes. Both ublituximab and umbralisib, or the combination of which is referred to as "U2", are in Phase 3 clinical development for patients with hematologic malignancies, with ublituximab also in Phase 3 clinical development for Multiple Sclerosis. Additionally, the Company has recently brought its anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, TG-1501, as well as its covalently-bound Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitor, TG-1701, into Phase 1 development and aims to bring additional pipeline assets into the clinic in the future. TG Therapeutics is headquartered in New York City.

Cautionary Statement

Some of the statements included in this press release may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition to the risk factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially are the following: our ability to successfully and cost effectively complete preclinical and clinical trials; the risk that the highlighted early clinical trial results, that may have supported the acceptance of our data for presentation or influenced our decision to proceed with additional clinical trials, will not be reproduced in future studies or in the final presentations; the risk that the combination of ublituximab (TG-1101) and umbralisib (TGR-1202), referred to as U2 and being studied in the UNITY clinical trials, will not prove to be a safe and efficacious combination, or backbone for triple therapy combinations; the risk that TG-1501 will not demonstrate acceptable safety or efficacy as either a single agent or in combination with any other agents; the risk that a trial evaluating the combination of U2 plus TG-1501 will not commence. 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. This press release and prior releases are available at www.tgtherapeutics.com. The information found on our website is not incorporated by reference into this press release and is included for reference purposes only.

CONTACT:

Jenna Bosco
Senior Vice President,
Corporate Communications
TG Therapeutics, Inc.
Telephone: 212.554.4351
Email: ir@tgtxinc.com