On July 17, 2019 Paragon Biosciences LLC — the Chicago-based life science innovator that invests in, builds, and advises bioscience companies — is reported the launch of its seventh portfolio company, Qlarity Imaging LLC, which was founded to harness the value of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve medical outcomes (Press release, Paragon Biosciences, JUL 17, 2019, View Source [SID1234537574]).

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Qlarity Imaging will further develop QuantX, the first-ever FDA-cleared computer-aided breast cancer diagnosis system in radiology. Qlarity plans to expand the diagnostic applications of its AI technology to additional image modalities and medical conditions, with the goal of improving patient care while lowering costs for hospitals and payers.

Qlarity Imaging acquired QuantX, the medical imaging AI system with intuitive displays, advanced analytics, and machine learning, initially developed at the University of Chicago based on research led by Dr. Maryellen L. Giger, and incubated at Quantitative Insights, a startup that had been launched with the support of the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. A clinical study demonstrated the effectiveness of QuantX at helping radiologists interpret cancerous and non-cancerous breast lesions, leading to a 39% reduction in missed breast cancers without a reduction in specificity, as well as a 20% overall diagnostic improvement. The study led to the FDA clearance of the AI technology for breast cancer.

"By driving innovation across life sciences, Paragon fulfills its mission of improving outcomes for patients with severe medical conditions. So, we’re pleased to help further develop the first FDA-cleared, artificial intelligence-enabled diagnostic software for breast cancer MRIs," said Paragon Biosciences Chairman and CEO Jeff Aronin. "We are entering an exciting time where advances in supercomputing and machine learning make it possible for artificial intelligence to deliver on its promise for drug discovery, drug development, and diagnostics."

As a leader in innovating and building life science companies, Paragon’s capabilities and investment in Qlarity Imaging provide the company with the working capital needed to further develop and implement its computer-aided diagnosis system and explore expanded uses of AI-enabled diagnostic tools. Paragon Biosciences advises its portfolio companies on how to leverage AI technology to enhance the diagnostic insight of medical devices, accelerate the pace of drug development, and increase the efficacy of novel therapies.

Qlarity’s AI-enabled image processing and diagnostic algorithms are based on decades of research by Professor of Radiology Dr. Maryellen Giger, a pioneer in the field of computer-aided diagnosis. Now an advisor to Qlarity Imaging, Dr. Giger has conducted over 30 years of research in computer-aided diagnosis, including computer vision and machine learning for breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, lupus, and bone diseases.

"When we looked at how to best commercialize and scale QuantX, the computer-aided diagnostic system originally developed at the University of Chicago, Paragon Biosciences was the perfect partner," Dr. Giger said. "Paragon is already delivering on its promise, helping Qlarity Imaging to expand its management team, pursue new product opportunities, extend its customer base, and seek additional venture financing."

With today’s announcement, Qlarity Imaging becomes the third portfolio company launched by Paragon Biosciences in less than a year and the seventh launched since 2017. Over the last 18 months, Paragon Biosciences and its financial partners have invested and committed over $500 million to help Paragon’s portfolio companies develop innovative therapies and diagnostic tools.

Paragon Biosciences anticipates innovating, investing in, and launching additional portfolio companies this year and next.

On July 17, 2019 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) will reported its second quarter 2019 financial results on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 after the financial markets close (Press release, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, JUL 17, 2019, View Source [SID1234537573]). The company will host a conference call and webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET. To access the call, please dial (866) 501-1537 (U.S.) or +1 (720) 545-0001 (International).

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The conference call will be webcast live and a link to the webcast can be accessed through Vertex’s website at www.vrtx.com in the "Investors" section. To ensure a timely connection, it is recommended that participants register at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled webcast. An archived webcast will be available on the company’s website.

On July 17, 2019 NuCana plc (NASDAQ: NCNA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on significantly improving treatment outcomes for patients with cancer, reported that the first patients have been dosed in the Phase I study of NUC-7738 (Press release, Nucana BioPharmaceuticals, JUL 17, 2019, View Source [SID1234537571]). This is the third ProTide NuCana has advanced to clinical studies and further broadens the therapeutic scope of the ProTide portfolio. NUC-7738 is NuCana’s ProTide transformation of 3’-deoxyadenosine (or cordycepin), a novel nucleoside analog with a unique mode of action, that has shown potent anti-cancer activity in preclinical studies.

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Hugh Griffith, NuCana’s Chief Executive Officer, stated: "The dosing of the first patients in this Phase I study of NUC-7738 is another major step in the expansion of NuCana’s product pipeline. NUC-7738 is our third ProTide to advance to the clinic and the first that is based on a novel nucleoside analog. We are grateful to the patients and clinicians who are making this study possible."

More information about this study may be found here.

NUC-7738 is a ProTide transformation of cordycepin, a nucleoside analog that was isolated from the fungus Cordyceps sinensis in 1950. Cordycepin has demonstrated potent anti-cancer activity in multiple preclinical studies, but has not been successfully developed primarily due to its degradation by the enzyme adenosine deaminase (or ADA). Unlike the parent nucleoside analogue, NUC-7738 is not a substrate for this enzyme and is therefore resistant to degradation by ADA. Similar to NuCana’s other ProTides, NUC-7738 is designed to generate significantly higher levels of the active anti-cancer metabolite of cordycepin, 3’-deoxyadenosine triphosphate (or 3’-dATP), directly inside cells, bypassing the resistance mechanisms of transport, activation and breakdown.

Sarah Blagden, Associate Professor of Experimental Cancer Therapeutics at The University of Oxford and Principal Investigator of the study stated: "Oxford Early Phase Trials unit has enrolled the global first cancer patient to receive NUC-7738, the latest ProTide anti-cancer agent from NuCana’s pipeline. This is an exciting study to participate in and we look forward to seeing the clinical results."

On July 17, 2019 Intensity Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a novel, immune-based approach to treat solid tumor cancers through direct injection of the company’s proprietary therapeutic agents, reported the publication in the journal OncoImmunology of results from nonclinical research conducted in partnership with the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Vaccine Branch under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) (Press release, Intensity Therapeutics, JUL 17, 2019, View Source [SID1234537570]). All results and data reported in the paper were generated at the NCI.
"The results of this study are noteworthy because they demonstrate the anti-cancer benefits of INT230-6 extend beyond direct killing of the injected tumor to fighting tumors throughout the body by immune activation," said Anja C. Bloom, Ph.D., first author and former visiting postdoctoral researcher at the NCI Vaccine Branch, who conducted the majority of the work at the NCI. "We believe this is the first time that the well-known agents comprising INT230-6, cisplatin and vinblastine showed induction of a durable immune activation. We believe this result is due to the intratumoral delivery mechanisms of the compound, which appears to cause cell death that also releases antigens to initiate an adaptive immune response."

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The peer-reviewed paper entitled "Intratumorally delivered formulation, INT230-6, containing potent anticancer agents induces protective T cell immunity and memory," describes the immune response induced from direct injection of Intensity’s lead product candidate, INT230-6, into subcutaneously implanted murine colon and orthotopic breast tumors. Treatment resulted in regression from baseline in 100 percent of tumors and complete response in up to ninety percent of mice. Studies that knocked out the mouse immune cells prevented complete responses, indicating a critical role of immune cells in treatment benefit. Mice with complete responses were protected from subcutaneous and intravenous re-challenge of the cancer, revealing that long-term immunological memory was induced by INT230-6.

Complete remission of the primary tumors was accompanied by shrinking and disappearance of a number of untreated contralateral tumors when INT230-6 was combined with checkpoint inhibitors, demonstrating not only a local but also systemic immunological effect.

"Our work with Intensity Therapeutics was to evaluate the benefits of INT230-6 because of its delivery directly into solid tumors," said Jay A. Berzofsky, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Vaccine Branch at the National Cancer Institute. "The results show that not only was complete regression achieved in a majority of injected tumors, but T cell immunity and immunological memory to the cancer were induced, associated with regression observed also in non-injected tumors and synergy when INT230-6 was combined with anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies. The treatment converts the tumor to an endogenous vaccine. Our results suggest that intratumoral approaches can be designed to provide a new strategy for effective immunotherapy of cancer."

"Intensity Therapeutics entered into the CRADA with the NCI in 2014, and this peer-reviewed publication is the culmination of that research. The positive results described in the paper demonstrate the unique potential of our novel cancer treatment approach," said Lewis H. Bender, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Intensity Therapeutics. "We are currently evaluating INT230-6 in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial and have tested the drug in 15 different types of solid tumor cancers with promising results. The research with the NCI helped us design our clinical trial, and we recently presented clinical data at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) that indicate local treatment with INT230-6 alone in certain tumor types regresses injected tumors and initiates a systemic immune activation with results similar to the effects reported in our OncoImmunology paper. The nonclinical and clinical data generated to date increase our optimism about the potential of INT230-6 to kill tumors locally, activate the immune system, reduce the side effects associated with current systemic therapies and improve patient outcomes with achievement of a long-term, durable response for a number of cancers."

About INT230-6

INT230-6, Intensity’s lead proprietary product candidate, is designed for direct intratumoral injection. The drug is comprised of two proven, potent anti-cancer agents, cisplatin and vinblastine, and a penetration enhancer molecule that helps disperse the drugs throughout tumors and diffuse into cancer cells. INT230-6 is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical study (NCT03058289) in patients with various advanced solid tumors. In preclinical studies, INT230-6 eradicated tumors by a combination of direct tumor kill and recruitment of dendritic cells to the tumor micro-environment that induced anti-cancer T-cell activation. Treatment with INT230-6 in in vivo models of severe cancer resulted in substantial improvement in overall survival compared to standard therapies. Further, INT230-6 provided complete responder animals with long-term, durable protection from multiple re-inoculations of the initial cancer and resistance to other cancers. In mouse models, INT230-6 has shown strong synergy with checkpoint blockage, including anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA4 antibodies. INT230-6 was discovered from Intensity’s DfuseRxSM platform.

On July 17, 2019 Abbott (NYSE: ABT) reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 (Press release, Abbott, JUL 17, 2019, View Source [SID1234537568]).

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Second-quarter worldwide sales of $8.0 billion increased 2.7 percent on a reported basis and 7.5 percent on an organic* basis.
Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations under GAAP was $0.56 in the second quarter.
Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations, which excludes specified items, was $0.82, above the previous guidance range.
Abbott is raising its full-year 2019 outlook. Abbott projects organic sales growth of 7.0 to 8.0 percent1, diluted EPS from continuing operations on a GAAP basis of $2.06 to $2.12, and full-year adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations of $3.21 to $3.27, reflecting double-digit growth.
FreeStyle Libre, Abbott’s revolutionary continuous glucose monitoring system, achieved worldwide sales of $433 million in the quarter, an increase of 63.9 percent on a reported basis and 72.9 percent on an organic basis versus the prior year. In the U.S., FreeStyle Libre is now reimbursed for approximately 75 percent of people with private pharmacy benefit insurance.
Worldwide sales of MitraClip were $169 million in the quarter, an increase of 26.7 percent on a reported basis and 30.6 percent on an organic basis versus the prior year, including U.S. growth of 56.1 percent. Earlier this week, Abbott announced U.S. FDA approval of its next-generation MitraClip device, which offers enhancements and more sizes to offer doctors further options.
In July, Abbott received U.S. FDA approval for its Alinity-S diagnostics system, the latest technology for screening and protecting the U.S. blood and plasma supply. Alinity-S is designed to provide faster and more efficient results within a smaller space versus commercially available competitive systems, while maintaining the highest levels of accuracy.
"Our sales growth accelerated and is sustainable," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "We have great momentum and are raising our guidance above the strong outlook we previously set for the year."

* See note on organic growth below.

SECOND-QUARTER BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Note: Management believes that measuring sales growth rates on an organic basis is an appropriate way for investors to best understand the underlying performance of the business.

Organic sales growth:

Excludes the prior year first and second-quarter results for a non-core business within U.S. Adult Nutrition, which was discontinued during the third quarter 2018; and
Excludes the impact of foreign exchange.
Following are sales by business segment and commentary for the second quarter:

Note: In order to compute results excluding the impact of exchange rates, current year U.S. dollar sales are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the current year average foreign exchange rates and then those amounts are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the prior year average foreign exchange rates.

Second-quarter 2019 worldwide sales of $8.0 billion increased 2.7 percent on a reported basis. On an organic basis, worldwide sales increased 7.5 percent. Refer to tables titled "Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Adjusted Historical Revenue" for a reconciliation of adjusted historical revenue.

Worldwide Nutrition sales increased 0.9 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter. On an organic basis, sales increased 5.1 percent. Refer to tables titled "Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Adjusted Historical Revenue" for a reconciliation of adjusted historical revenue.

Worldwide Pediatric Nutrition sales increased 0.1 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter, including an unfavorable 2.8 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 2.9 percent on an organic basis. Sales performance in the quarter was led by broad-based growth across several brands, and included above-market growth in several countries in Latin America and Asia.

Worldwide Adult Nutrition sales increased 2.0 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter and increased 7.9 percent on an organic basis. International Adult Nutrition sales increased 3.4 percent on a reported basis and 10.4 percent on an organic basis in the second quarter. Sales performance in the quarter was led by strong growth of Ensure, Abbott’s market-leading complete and balanced nutrition brand, and Glucerna, Abbott’s market-leading diabetes-specific nutrition brand.

Worldwide Diagnostics sales increased 1.7 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter, including an unfavorable 4.5 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 6.2 percent on an organic basis.

Core Laboratory Diagnostics sales increased 3.6 percent on a reported basis and 9.4 percent on an organic basis in the second quarter. Sales performance in the quarter was led by above-market growth internationally, where Abbott is achieving continued strong adoption of its Alinity family of innovative and highly differentiated diagnostic instruments. In July, Abbott received U.S. FDA approval for its Alinity-S (blood and plasma screening) diagnostics system and several testing assays, designed to provide faster and more efficient results within a smaller space, while maintaining the highest levels of accuracy.

Molecular Diagnostics sales decreased 12.4 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter, including an unfavorable 3.1 percent effect of foreign exchange, and decreased 9.3 percent on an organic basis. As expected, sales growth in the quarter was negatively impacted by non-governmental organization (NGO) purchasing patterns in Africa.

Point of Care Diagnostics sales increased 5.0 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter, including an unfavorable 0.7 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 5.7 percent on an organic basis. Sales growth was led by Abbott’s market-leading i-STAT handheld system in the U.S. and internationally.

Rapid Diagnostics sales decreased 0.1 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter, including an unfavorable 2.9 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 2.8 percent on an organic basis. Organic sales growth was led by infectious disease testing in developed markets and cardio-metabolic testing globally.

Established Pharmaceuticals sales decreased 1.8 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter, including an unfavorable 7.9 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 6.1 percent on an organic basis.

Key Emerging Markets include India, Brazil, Russia and China along with several additional emerging countries that represent the most attractive long-term growth opportunities for Abbott’s branded generics product portfolio. Sales in these geographies decreased 1.4 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter, including an unfavorable 9.3 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 7.9 percent on an organic basis, which was led by strong growth across several countries, including India and China.

Other sales decreased 3.1 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter, including an unfavorable 3.2 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 0.1 percent on an organic basis. As expected, Other sales growth was negatively impacted in the quarter by the recent discontinuation of a non-core, low-margin supply agreement.

Includes drug-eluting stents, balloon catheters, guidewires, vascular imaging/diagnostics products, vessel closure, carotid and other coronary and peripheral products.

Includes drug-eluting stents, balloon catheters, guidewires, vascular imaging/diagnostics products, vessel closure, carotid and other coronary and peripheral products.

Note: Insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) sales, which had previously been reported in Electrophysiology, are now included in Rhythm Management. Historical periods have been adjusted to reflect this change.

Worldwide Medical Devices sales increased 6.4 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter and increased 10.5 percent on an organic basis, led by double-digit growth in Electrophysiology, Heart Failure, Structural Heart and Diabetes Care.

In Electrophysiology, growth was led by strong performance in cardiac diagnostic and ablation catheters, which are used to help physicians accurately and effectively treat atrial fibrillation, a form of irregular heartbeat.

In Heart Failure, growth was driven by market adoption of Abbott’s HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device following U.S. FDA approval as a destination (long-term use) therapy in late-2018.

Growth in Structural Heart was led by MitraClip, Abbott’s market-leading device for the minimally invasive treatment of mitral regurgitation (backflow of blood through a leaky mitral heart valve). Earlier this year, Abbott received U.S. FDA approval for a new, expanded indication for MitraClip to treat clinically significant secondary mitral regurgitation as a result of underlying heart failure. This new indication significantly expands the number of people that can be treated with MitraClip. Earlier this week, Abbott announced U.S. FDA approval of its next-generation MitraClip device, MitraClip G4, which offers an expanded range of clip sizes, an alternative leaflet grasping feature and facilitation of procedure assessment in real time to offer doctors further options when treating mitral valve disease.

In Diabetes Care, sales increased 28.2 percent on a reported basis and 35.3 percent on an organic basis in the second quarter. Sales growth in the quarter was led by FreeStyle Libre, Abbott’s revolutionary continuous glucose monitoring system, with worldwide sales of $433 million, an increase of 63.9 percent on a reported basis and 72.9 percent on an organic basis versus the prior year.

ABBOTT’S GUIDANCE FOR 2019
Abbott projects 2019 organic sales growth of 7.0 to 8.0 percent1, and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $2.06 to $2.12. Abbott forecasts net specified items for the full year 2019 of $1.15 per share. Specified items include intangible amortization expense, acquisition-related expenses, charges associated with cost reduction initiatives and other expenses. Excluding specified items, projected adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would be $3.21 to $3.27 for the full year 2019.

Abbott is issuing third-quarter 2019 guidance for diluted earnings per share from continuing operations under GAAP of $0.53 to $0.55. Abbott forecasts specified items for the third quarter 2019 of $0.30 per share primarily related to intangible amortization, acquisition-related expenses, cost reduction initiatives and other expenses. Excluding specified items, projected adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would be $0.83 to $0.85 for the third quarter.

ABBOTT DECLARES 382ND CONSECUTIVE QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
On June 14, 2019, the board of directors of Abbott declared the company’s quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share. Abbott’s cash dividend is payable Aug. 15, 2019, to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 15, 2019.

Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 47 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years.