BerGenBio

Regulatory Filings • Apr 10, 2018

BerGenBio completes recruitment into first stage of Phase II NSCLC trial with selective AXL inhibitor bemcentinib combined with KEYTRUDA®

BerGenBio completes recruitment into first stage of Phase II NSCLC trial with selective AXL inhibitor bemcentinib combined with KEYTRUDA®

Bergen, Norway, 10 April 2018 - BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO), a clinical-stage

biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors as a

potential cornerstone of combination cancer therapy in NSCLC, AML/MDS, TNBC and

melanoma, announces that it has completed enrolment of the planned 22 patients

into the first stage of its Phase II clinical trial evaluating bemcentinib

(formerly BGB324), its investigational oral selective AXL inhibitor, in

combination with the Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (known as MSD

outside the United States and Canada) anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA®

(pembrolizumab) as a potential new treatment regimen for advanced lung cancer.

The Phase II trial (BGBC008) follows a two-stage design: it is an open label,

multi-centre study of bemcentinib in combination with KEYTRUDA in patients with

previously treated advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung (non-small cell lung

cancer, NSCLC) whose disease is progressing. Up to 48 patients in total will be

included in the study (NCT03184571).

The trial is designed to evaluate the anti-tumour activity, objective response

rate and safety of the combination, and to correlate the patient response with

biomarker status (including AXL kinase and PD-L1 expression). In parallel,

companion diagnostics using these and other biomarkers are being developed for

the identification of patients predicted to be most suitable for treatment with

the bemcentinib / KEYTRUDA combination. Interim results are expected during

The trial, which began in October 2017, is being conducted under a clinical

collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, through a

subsidiary, and is taking place at more than 12 clinical sites in the US, UK,

Norway and Spain.

Richard Godfrey, Chief Executive Officer of BerGenBio, commented: "Immuno

-oncology therapies, such as KEYTRUDA, are now established as a major treatment

option for lung cancer patients alongside targeted and chemo-therapies. This

trial forms an important part in our strategy to provide proof of concept that

selective AXL inhibition in combination with established and emerging cancer

therapies may improve patient outcomes. We are encouraged by strong pre-clinical

data combining bemcentinib with immune-therapy to increase and deepen responses

as well as early clinical data suggesting that bemcentinib in combination with

KEYTRUDA has a favourable safety profile across several cancer indications. We

are looking forward to report interim results from the BGBC008 trial as well as

our other combination trials in the coming months.

-End-

About NSCLC

It is estimated that more than 220,000 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed

in the US in 2017 and it is the leading cause of cancer deaths. 65% of NSCLCs

are of adenocarcinoma pathology. Although various treatments exist for NSCLC,

they are often curtailed by acquired resistance to therapy and immune evasion.

Novel treatments overcoming these mechanisms in NSCLC are urgently required.

About BerGenBio ASA

BerGenBio ASA is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on

developing a pipeline of first-in-class AXL kinase inhibitors as a potential

cornerstone of combination cancer therapy. The Company is a world leader in

understanding the essential role of AXL kinase in mediating cancer spread,

immune evasion and drug resistance in multiple aggressive solid and

haematological cancers.

BerGenBio's lead product, bemcentinib (BGB324), is a selective, potent and

orally bio-available small molecule AXL inhibitor in four Company sponsored

Phase II clinical trials in major cancer indications, with read-outs anticipated

during 2018. It is the only selective AXL inhibitor in clinical development.

The Company sponsored clinical trials are:

· Bemcentinib with TARCEVA® (erlotinib) in advanced EGFR mutation driven non

-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

· Bemcentinib with KEYTRUDA in advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung, and

· Bemcentinib with KEYTRUDA in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

· Bemcentinib as a single agent and combination therapy in acute myeloid

leukaemia (AML) / myeloid dysplastic syndrome (MDS)

The clinical trials combining bemcentinib with KEYTRUDA in adenocarcinoma of the

lung and TNBC are conducted in collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth,

NJ, USA, through a subsidiary.

In addition, a number of investigator-sponsored trials are underway, including a

trial to investigate bemcentinib with either MEKINIST® (trametinib) plus

TAFINLAR® (dabrafenib) or KEYTRUDA in advanced melanoma, as well as a trial

combining bemcentinib with docetaxel in advanced NSCLC.

BerGenBio is simultaneously developing a companion diagnostic test to identify

patient subpopulations most likely to benefit from treatment with bemcentinib.

This will facilitate more efficient registration trials and support a precision

medicine based commercialisation strategy.

The Company is also developing a diversified pre-clinical pipeline of drug

candidates, including BGB149, an anti-AXL monoclonal antibody.

For further information, please visit: www.bergenbio.com

KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary

of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. TARCEVA® is a registered trademark of

OSI Pharmaceuticals, LLC., marketed by Roche-Genentech. TAFLINAR® is a

registered trademark of Novartis International AG and MEKINIST® is a registered

trademark of GSK plc.

Contacts

Richard Godfrey

CEO, BerGenBio ASA

+47 917 86 304

Rune Skeie, CFO, BerGenBio ASA

rune.skeie@bergenbio.com

+47 917 86 513

Media Relations in Norway

Jan Petter Stiff, Crux Advisors

stiff@crux.no

+47 995 13 891

International Media Relations

David Dible, Mark Swallow, Marine Perrier

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

bergenbio@citigatedewerogerson.com

+44 207 638 9571

Forward looking statements

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which as such are not

historical facts, but are based upon various assumptions, many of which are

based, in turn, upon further assumptions. These assumptions are inherently

subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other

important factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important

factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations

expressed or implied in this announcement by such forward-looking statements

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5

-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.