Helix BioPharma Corp. Closes Final Tranche of Private Placement

On December 28, 2019 Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX, FSE: "HBP") ("Helix" or the "Company"), an immuno-oncology company developing innovative drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, reported it has closed a final tranche of a private placement financing for gross proceeds of CAD348,000 (Press release, Helix BioPharma, DEC 28, 2018, View Source [SID1234533055]).

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The terms of the placement are for the purchase of units at $1.20 per unit. Each unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each common share purchase warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $1.50 and have an expiry of five years from the date of issuance. Helix intends to use the net proceeds of the private placement for working capital and research and development activities.

ACM Alpha Consulting Management AG provided financial advisory services to Helix in connection with the private placement.

CTI BioPharma Announces Completion of Enrollment in the Phase 2 PAC203 Study of Pacritinib

On December 28, 2018 CTI BioPharma Corp. (NASDAQ: CTIC) reported the completion of full enrollment of 150 patients in the PAC203 Phase 2 study of pacritinib (Press release, CTI BioPharma, DEC 28, 2018, View Source [SID1234532309]). The Company expects to report the determination of the optimal dose of pacritinib in mid-2019 following a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Topline efficacy and safety data are expected in the third quarter of 2019, with the new Phase 3 study targeted to commence enrollment in the third quarter of 2019.

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As previously announced, the Company has received input from the FDA on key elements of the design of a new randomized Phase 3 study of pacritinib in adult patients with myelofibrosis (primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis, or post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis) and who have severe thrombocytopenia (as defined by patients with platelet counts of less than 50,000 per microliter), an indication that has been recognized by the medical community as an important unmet medical need. A planned interim safety review by an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) is scheduled to occur in the first quarter of 2019.

The PAC203 study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of three dosing schedules (100 mg once daily, 100 mg twice daily and 200 mg twice daily) over 24 weeks in patients with myelofibrosis previously treated with ruxolitinib. More information on the PAC203 trial can be found at ClinicalTrials.gov at View Source

InventisBio and Betta Pharma to Co-Develop Novel Drug for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

On December 28, 2018 InventisBio (Shanghai) (hereinafter referred to as "InventisBio") reported that it has signed a "Collaboration Agreement" with Betta Pharma (hereinafter referred to as "Betta Pharma") (Press release, InventisBio, DEC 28, 2018, View Source [SID1234532308]). Under this agreement, InventisBio will out-license D-0316’s right in China (including mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) to Betta Pharma and to co-develop this drug in China. Betta Pharma will have the exclusive commercialization rights of D-0316 product in China.

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D-0316 is a third-generation EGFR-T790M tyrosine kinase inhibitor discovered and developed independently by InventisBio. It is mainly used for the treatment of EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. The drug is currently in phase I clinical trial in China. Betta Pharma will pay upfront and R&D milestones to InventisBio totaling 230 million RMB. After the product is marketed commercially, Betta Pharma will pay various sales milestones and tiered royalties based on annual sales.

Dr. Yaolin Wang, Chairman and CEO of InventisBio, said: "We are excited to work with Betta Pharma, a leader in oncology drug in China. Working together, we will speed up the development and market approval of D-0316 to meet the growing needs of lung cancer patients".

Dr. Lieming Ding, Chairman and CEO of Betta Pharma, said: "We are pleased to work with InventisBio, a leader in oncology drug innovation. The collaboration will broaden the coverage of Betta Pharma’s capabilities in lung cancer treatment."

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On December 24, 2018, Propanc Biopharma, Inc. (the "Company") reported that it entered into a securities purchase agreement (the "Eagle Purchase Agreement") with Eagle Equities, LLC ("Eagle Equities"), pursuant to which Eagle Equities purchased a convertible promissory note (the "December 2018 Eagle Note") from the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $126,000, such principal and the interest thereon convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at the option of Eagle Equities any time after the six month anniversary of the December 2018 Eagle Note (Filing, 8-K, Propanc, DEC 28, 2018, View Source [SID1234532307]). The transactions contemplated by the Eagle Purchase Agreement closed on December 24, 2018. Pursuant to the terms of the Eagle Purchase Agreement, Eagle Equities deducted $6,000 from the principal payment due under the December 2018 Eagle Note, at the time of closing, to be applied to its legal expenses. The Company used the net proceeds from the December 2018 Eagle Note to repay an outstanding convertible promissory note before such note became convertible.

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The maturity date of the December 2018 Eagle Note is December 24, 2019. The December 2018 Eagle Note shall bear interest at a rate of 8% per annum, which interest shall be paid by the Company to Eagle Equities in shares of common stock upon receipt of a notice of conversion by the Company from Eagle Equities at any time after the six-month anniversary of the December 2018 Eagle Note.

Additionally, Eagle Equities has the option to convert all or any amount of the principal amount of the December 2018 Eagle Note, at any time, for shares of the Company’s common stock at a price equal to 61% of the lowest closing bid price (the "Closing Bid Price") of the Company’s common stock as reported on the OTC Markets Group, Inc. quotation system for the ten prior trading days, including the day upon which the Company receives a notice of conversion from Eagle Equities (the "Conversion Price"). However, in the event that the Company’s common stock is restricted by the Depository Trust Company for any reason, the Conversion Price shall be lowered to 51% of the lowest Closing Bid Price for the duration of such restriction. If the Company fails to maintain a reserve of shares of its common stock at least two and a half times the number of shares issuable upon conversion of the December 2018 Eagle Note for at least 60 days after the issuance of the December 2018 Eagle Note, the conversion discount shall be increased by 10%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eagle Equities shall be restricted from effecting a conversion if such conversion, along with other shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by Eagle Equities and its affiliates, exceeds 4.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock (which may be increased up to 9.9% upon 60 days’ prior written notice by Eagle Equities to the Company).

The December 2018 Eagle Note may be prepaid until June 22, 2019. If the December 2018 Eagle Note is prepaid within 90 days of the issuance date, then the prepayment premium shall be 115% of the principal amount plus any accrued interest; and if the December 2018 Eagle Note is prepaid after 90 days from the issuance date, but less than 181days from the issuance date, then the prepayment premium shall be 125% of the principal amount plus any accrued interest.

Upon a transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or certain reorganization, merger or consolidation events, Eagle Equities may either request that the Company redeem the December 2018 Eagle Note in cash for 150% of the principal amount, plus any accrued but unpaid interest through the date of redemption, or convert the unpaid principal amount plus any accrued but unpaid interest into shares of the Company’s common stock at the Conversion Price.

The December 2018 Eagle Note contains certain events of default, including failure to timely issue shares upon receipt of a notice of conversion, as well as certain customary events of default, including, among others, a breach of the covenants, insolvency, bankruptcy and failure by the Company to pay the principal and interest due under the December 2018 Eagle Note.

Upon an event of default, interest on the outstanding principal shall accrue at a default interest rate of 24% per annum or at the highest rate permitted by law. In the event that the Company fails to deliver to Eagle Equities shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of principal or interest under the December 2018 Eagle Note within three business days of a notice of conversion by Eagle Equities (which includes an opinion of counsel), the Company shall incur liquidated damages of $250 per day the shares are not issued from the fourth to ninth business day after the notice is delivered to the Company and on the tenth day and thereafter, the liquidated damages shall increase to $500 per day.

Additional default penalties include: (i) in the event that the Company loses a bid price for its stock on its marketplace, the outstanding principal under the December 2018 Eagle Note shall increase by 20%; (ii) in the event that the Company’s common stock is delisted from any exchange or quotation system, or if its trading is suspending for more than ten consecutive days, or if the Company fails to meet its required reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the outstanding principal under the December 2018 Eagle Note shall increase by 50%; and (iii) in the event that the Company is delinquent in filing its periodic reports under the Exchange Act and such delinquency continues after the six month anniversary of the issuance date of the December 2018 Eagle Note, then Eagle Equities shall be entitled to use the lowest close bid price during the delinquency period as a base price for the conversion.

Agios to Present at the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Monday, January 7, 2019

On December 28, 2018 Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGIO), a leader in the field of cellular metabolism to treat cancer and rare genetic diseases, reported that the company is scheduled to present at the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco on Monday, January 7, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. PT (12:30 p.m. ET) (Press release, Agios Pharmaceuticals, DEC 28, 2018, View Source [SID1234532305]).

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A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section of the company’s website at www.agios.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Agios website for at least two weeks following the presentation.