IntelGenx Completes C$8.2 Million Equity Offering

On February 11, 2020 IntelGenx Technologies Corp. (TSXV: IGX) (OTCQX: IGXT) (the "Company" or "IntelGenx") is reported that it has closed its offering (the "Offering") of 16,317,000 units (the "Units") at a price of C$0.50 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for gross proceeds of C$8,158,500 (Press release, IntelGenx, FEB 11, 2020, View Source [SID1234554151]).

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Each Unit consists of one share of common stock (the "Offered Shares") and one warrant (a "Warrant") entitling the holder to purchase one share of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.75 per share (a "Warrant Share"). The Warrants are exercisable immediately and will expire on the third anniversary of the date of their issuance.

The Units were distributed under a short form prospectus dated January 27, 2020 filed by the Company in connection with the Offering and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and have been registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a Form S-1 Registration Statement that was declared effective on January 31, 2020 (the "Registration Statement"). The Offering was conducted, on a best efforts basis, by Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. (the "Agent"). In consideration for the services rendered by the Agent, the Company has paid the Agent an agency fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds of the Offering and has issued the Agent a number of warrants (the "Agent Warrants") equal to 7% of the number of Units issued under the Offering, each Agent Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.75 per share until the third anniversary of the date of their issuance. After the payment of the Agent’s commissions and the reimbursement of certain of the Agent’s Offering expenses and the payment of other Offering expenses, the Company expects the net proceeds from the Offering to be approximately C$7.4 million.

The Company has granted the Agent an over-allotment option exercisable, in whole or in part, at the sole discretion of the Agent, at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (Montreal time) on the date that is the 30th day after the date hereof, to offer and sell up to an additional number of Units representing 15% of the number of Units sold pursuant to the Offering, at the Offering Price to cover over-allocations, if any, and for market stabilization purposes.

The TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") has conditionally approved the listing of the Warrants and the common stock that will be issued by the Company in the Offering, including the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants and the Agent Warrants. Listing on the TSXV will be subject to the Company fulfilling all of the listing requirements of the TSXV within 15 days of the closing of the Offering.

The Warrants will be listed on the TSXV under the symbol "IGX.WT" and will commence trading effective at the opening of the market on Thursday, February 13, 2020.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for its Phase 2A Montelukast Study and general working capital requirements.

U.S. FDA LIFTS CLINICAL HOLD ON PHASE 2 AML TRIAL; PLACES PARTIAL HOLD ON THE TRIAL FOR THE USE OF A REAGENT FROM AN ALTERNATIVE VENDOR UNTIL FINAL DATA AND CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS ARE ACCEPTED BY FDA

On February 11, 2020 Marker Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRKR), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted the clinical hold on Marker’s planned trial investigating safety and efficacy of its novel MultiTAA T cell therapy in patients with post-transplant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Press release, Marker Therapeutics, FEB 11, 2020, View Source [SID1234554150]).

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Marker previously announced on November 12, 2019, that the FDA placed the trial on clinical hold. The FDA requested additional information and technical specifications for two legacy reagents supplied by third parties used in the MultiTAA-specific T cell manufacturing process. The technical specifications and data requested by the FDA could not be produced by the original suppliers. The Company identified alternative suppliers, satisfying the Agency’s request.

Based on data Marker provided, the FDA permitted the Company to initiate its AML trial, beginning with a safety lead-in portion. The FDA placed a partial clinical hold on the trial for the use of the MultiTAA-specific T cell product manufactured using one of the reagents supplied by the alternative supplier, until the final data and certificate of analysis for the reagent are reviewed and accepted by the Agency. The safety lead-in portion of the trial is expected to enroll approximately six patients as part of the amended trial design. Three patients will be dosed with MultiTAA-specific T cells manufactured using the legacy reagent, and three patients will be dosed with T cells manufactured using the reagent from the alternative supplier.

Marker currently estimates that the alternative supplier will deliver the final reagent, along with the final data and certificate of analysis required by the FDA, by the end of the second quarter of 2020. Marker anticipates to complete enrollment of the first three patients and submission of the final technical specifications and comparability data of the new reagents to the FDA during the second half of 2020, thereby satisfying the requirements for lifting the partial hold on the clinical trial. Given this expected timing, Marker does not currently expect the partial clinical hold to significantly impact site and patient enrollment of the AML trial.

The safety lead-in will be followed by the 160-patient randomized portion of the study at approximately 20 transplant centers. Group 1 will comprise 120 adjuvant (disease-free) patients, with the primary endpoint of relapse-free survival of patients receiving MultiTAA-specific T cell therapy versus a control group. Group 2 will comprise 40 active disease patients in a single arm, with primary endpoints of complete remission and duration of complete remission.

"With a clear path identified for getting our study of MultiTAA-specific T cell therapy underway in patients with AML, we’re focused on addressing the remaining requirements from the FDA and enrolling up to 20 clinical centers to conduct our Phase 2 trial," stated Peter L. Hoang, President and CEO of Marker Therapeutics. "We appreciate the productive dialogue with the FDA throughout the process and look forward to advancing MultiTAA-specific T cell therapy for patients with post-transplant AML in a randomized and multicenter clinical trial."

Immune Therapeutics Inc. Provides Updates and Guidance on Reverse Stock Split and Name Change

On February 11, 2020 Immune Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC Pink: IMUN) ("Immune" "IMUN" or the "Company"), a clinical late stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases reported an update on the pending 1000 to 1 reverse stock split and name change of Immune Therapeutics (Press release, Immune Therapeutics, FEB 11, 2020, View Source [SID1234554149]).

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Immune Therapeutics originally submitted the reverse and name request for a corporate action to FINRA and paid the applicable fees on November 27, 2019. Since then, the company has responded to FINRA’s requests for further information multiple times, and we continue in our efforts to work diligently and cooperatively with FINRA to process the reverse and name change. Please note that the Company has no control of the FINRA approval process and as such the timing of any decisions our not in the Company’s control.

Michael K. Handley, CEO of Immune, said, "We are disappointed in the delay in processing the reverse and name change and remain fully committed to the restructuring and success of IMUN. I would personally like to thank all of our shareholders for their patience in this process. We realize this delay has eroded share value, and confidence however, based on the extensive review by FINRA, we are optimistic that their approval could be given soon, at which time we will certainly inform shareholders immediately. Immune would like to thank our shareholders for standing behind us, as we continue to work in your interests with a commitment to the reverse and merger with Aletheia as soon as possible."

Phio Pharmaceuticals Announces Pricing of $8.0 Million Underwritten Public Offering

On February 11, 2020 Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq: PHIO), a biotechnology company developing the next generation of immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its proprietary self-delivering RNAi (INTASYL) therapeutic platform, reported the pricing of an underwritten public offering of an aggregate of 2,000,000 units at a public offering price of $4.00 per unit (Press release, Phio Pharmaceuticals, FEB 11, 2020, View Source [SID1234554148]). Each unit contains one share of common stock (or common stock equivalent) and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock. The Company has granted the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 300,0000 shares of common stock and/or warrants to purchase up to 300,000 shares of common stock. The offering is expected to close on or about February 13, 2020, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

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Logo – View Source

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

Each warrant included in the units has an exercise price of $4.00 per share. The warrants are immediately exercisable and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The shares of common stock (or common stock equivalent) and the accompanying common warrants can only be purchased together in the offering but will be issued separately.

Phio expects to receive aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $8.0 million, prior to deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses and assuming none of the warrants issued in this offering are exercised. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund the development of its immuno-oncology programs, for other research and development activities and for general working capital needs.

The securities described above are being offered by Phio pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-234032) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 11, 2020. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus forming a part of the effective registration statement. A preliminary prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the offering was filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at View Source The final terms of the offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus to be filed with the SEC. When available, electronic copies of the final prospectus may be obtained by contacting H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, 430 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, New York 10022, by e-mailing [email protected] or via telephone at (646) 975-6996 or at the SEC’s website at View Source

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Palatin Technologies, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Results and Recent Business Highlights

On February 11, 2020 Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American: PTN), a specialized biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin and natriuretic peptide receptor systems, whose product candidates are targeted, receptor-specific therapeutics for the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical need and commercial potential, reported results for its second quarter ended December 31, 2019 (Press release, Palatin Technologies, FEB 11, 2020, View Source [SID1234554147]).

"The June 2019 FDA approval of Vyleesi was meaningful on two fronts," said Carl Spana, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Palatin. "For premenopausal women, it provides a safe and effective, as-needed treatment option for those with HSDD. For Palatin, we now have an enhanced cash position of $92 million at December 31, 2019, which puts us in an excellent position to advance our pipeline programs. We have two Phase 2 clinical studies starting in the first half of calendar year 2020: a dry eye disease study with data expected in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2020 and an ulcerative colitis trial with data expected in mid-calendar year 2021."

"AMAG’s planned divestiture of Vyleesi is based on its change in strategy, and is not a result of the Vyleesi launch performance to date," continued Spana. "As the licensor, we maintain certain rights and will take appropriate steps to ensure that the value of Vyleesi remains intact and continues to grow. We will also continue to be opportunistic and flexible as the divestiture process advances, with the objective that the ultimate licensee of the North American rights to Vylessi is committed to the robust commercialization of the product."

Recent Business Highlights

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) / Vyleesi (bremelanotide injection)
On January 9, 2020 AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("AMAG") announced that, as a result of a strategic review, it will divest Vyleesi, which it exclusively licensed from Palatin for North America, and another female healthcare product, Intrarosa. AMAG stated that it has received preliminary expressions of interest in these assets.

Under the Vyleesi license agreement, AMAG has a contractual obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize Vyleesi. If AMAG materially breaches this obligation and fails to cure such breach, Palatin could potentially have the right to terminate the license agreement and have Vyleesi returned to Palatin. In the event AMAG assigns its Vyleesi license, the assignee must expressly agree to be bound by the Vyleesi license agreement between AMAG and Palatin.

Palatin is advancing discussions on Vyleesi collaborations for territories outside the currently licensed territories of North America, China, and Korea, and anticipates executing multiple agreements during calendar year 2020. Vyleesi is licensed to Fosun Pharma in China and Kwangdong Pharmaceuticals in South Korea. Both companies are advancing Vyleesi through the regulatory process in their respective territories, which includes the conduct of certain clinical studies in those territories prior to filing for market approval.

Vyleesi is the first as-needed treatment approved for premenopausal women with acquired, generalized HSDD. AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Palatin’s North American licensee, launched Vyleesi nationally in September 2019 through select specialty pharmacies with its established women’s health sales force of approximately 125 sales representatives. While AMAG has not yet released prescription numbers for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, AMAG has stated publicly that the "Vyleesi launch is off to a strong start."

Anti-Inflammatory / Autoimmune Programs
Melanocortin agonist products are under development for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as dry eye, uveitis, diabetic retinopathy and inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis).

An investigational new drug application (IND) for PL9643 in dry eye disease was filed with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2019. A Phase 2 clinical study is expected to commence in the first quarter of calendar year 2020, with data readout anticipated in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2020.

A Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical study with an oral formulation of PL8177 in ulcerative colitis patients is anticipated to start mid-calendar year 2020, with data readout mid-calendar year 2021.

Palatin continues its assessment and development work related to the treatment of patients with diabetic retinopathy and non-infectious uveitis (NIU), an indication which FDA granted orphan drug designation, with the objective of commencing clinical trials in calendar year 2021.

Natriuretic Peptide Receptor (NPR) System Program
Palatin has designed and is developing potential drug candidates that are selective agonists for one or more different natriuretic peptide receptors, including natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A), natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B), and natriuretic peptide receptor C (NPR-C).

PL3994, an NPR-A agonist, will be evaluated in a Phase 2a clinical study in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction. The proposed study is a collaboration with two major academic medical centers and is supported by an American Heart Association grant. The study is anticipated to start patient enrollment in 2020.

PL3994 has potential utility in the treatment of a number of cardiovascular diseases, including genetic and orphan diseases resulting from a deficiency of endogenous active NPR-A. PL5028, a dual NPR-A and NPR-C agonist in development for cardiovascular diseases, has potential for reducing cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, among other indications.

Genetic Obesity Program
Palatin’s melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4r) peptide PL8905 and orally active small molecule PL9610 are currently under investigation for the treatment of rare genetic metabolic and obesity disorders. These programs are under internal evaluation for orphan designations, potential development, and licensing.

Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Results

Revenue
For the quarter ended December 31, 2019, Palatin recognized as revenue $20,610 in reimbursement of shared Vyleesi costs related to our license agreement with AMAG. There were no revenues recorded in the quarter ended December 31, 2018.

Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 were $5.7 million compared to $5.1 million for the comparable quarter of 2018. The increase in operating expenses was mainly due to the final payment of $625,000 made in connection with the mutually agreed upon termination of our engagement agreement on Vyleesi with Greenhill & Co.

Other Income/Expense, net
Total other income was $397,480 for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 compared to total other income $7,871 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. The difference is related primarily to the increase in investment income.

Net Loss
Palatin reported a net loss of $(5.2) million, or $(0.02) per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to a net loss of $(5.0) million, or $(0.02) per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2018.

The difference in financial results between the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was attributable to the increase in operating expenses of $0.6 million offset by the increase of $0.4 million in other income.

Cash Position
Palatin’s cash, cash equivalents, and accounts receivable total $91.6 million as of December 31, 2019, compared to cash, cash equivalents, and accounts receivable of $103.8 million at June 30, 2019. Current liabilities were $1.4 million as of December 31, 2019, compared to $4.2 million as of June 30, 2019.

Conference Call / Webcast
Palatin will host a conference call and audio webcast on February 11, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 in greater detail and provide an update on corporate developments. Individuals interested in listening to the conference call live can dial 1-800-353-6461 (US/Canada) or 1-334-323-0501 (international), conference ID 7551093. The audio webcast and replay can be accessed by logging on to the "Investor/Webcasts" section of Palatin’s website at View Source A telephone and audio webcast replay will be available approximately one hour after the completion of the call. To access the telephone replay, dial 1-888-203-1112 (US/Canada) or 1-719-457-0820 (international), passcode 7551093. The webcast and telephone replay will be available through February 18, 2020.

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