On May 20, 2020 UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and peer institutions reported that it has been awarded a $5.75 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study the correlation between obesity, inflammation and pancreatic cancer (Press release, University of California at Los Angeles, MAY 20, 2020, View Source;gt052020.php [SID1234558428]). The scientists hope their findings may help people avoid getting this cancer.

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"We know that the biological mechanisms of obesity, such as inflammation, can lead to the development of pancreatic cancer," said Dr. Guido Eibl, professor-in-residence in the department of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a Jonsson Cancer Center researcher.

"This study will help us better understand not only how those mechanisms influence the formation of pancreatic tumors but also how we can develop preventions that help people who are at a higher risk for this cancer."

The five-year study will be structured into three projects, with participating researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and the University of California, San Diego, joining the team at UCLA. Each project’s leader is highly experienced in the study of pancreatic cancer.

The first project, overseen by Eibl, will examine the inflammation of body fat and how this chronic condition can lead to pancreatic cancer. The second, led by Jonsson Cancer Center researcher Dr. Enrique Rozengurt, who holds the Hirshberg Memorial Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Research at UCLA, will focus on the use of medications, and their mechanisms, in helping to prevent pancreatic cancer from developing in high-risk people.

The third project, led by Dr. Stephen Pandol of Cedars-Sinai, will study the pancreatic cancer microenvironment, which includes cancer tissues and surrounding tissues that support the cancer’s growth, to understand how the environment is changed as a result of obesity and inflammation.

The UCLA pancreatic cancer study is funded by the National Cancer Institute’s P01 grant. These grants support research programs that include multiple projects and investigators working together toward a common goal.

The UCLA research team also includes Dr. David Dawson, Dr. Vay Liang Go, Dr. Oscar Joe Hines and Gang Li.

On May 20, 2020 X-Chem, Inc. (X-Chem), a privately held biotechnology company focused on applying its next-generation, industry-leading DNA-Encoded library (DEXTM) drug discovery platform to the generation of novel small molecule therapeutics, reported that Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) has licensed a drug discovery program from X-Chem (Press release, X-Chem, MAY 20, 2020, View Source [SID1234558377]).

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Under the terms of the parties’ multi-target Drug Discovery Research and License Collaboration, Otsuka exercised the option to exclusively license the program, which comprises multiple novel small molecule drug leads for a historically challenging target. The license is a direct result of X-Chem screening its DNA-encoded libraries (DEX) of drug-like molecules and using its advanced informatics platform to identify novel drug leads for the Otsuka targets. X-Chem is eligible for future payments based on the achievement of specified research and development milestones for the licensed program, as well as royalties and sales milestones on compounds that receive regulatory approval. Otsuka is solely responsible for the conduct of clinical trials with drug candidates derived from licensed compounds, and retains exclusive rights to globally commercialize any resulting products.

"We are delighted to have achieved success in this collaborative research program, with such a challenging target," said Matt Clark, Senior Vice-President of Chemistry at X-Chem. "We believe that the unique expertise brought to the project by both Otsuka and X-Chem was critical to the identification of novel hits for this challenging target, and we look forward to additional successes in our ongoing collaboration."

On May 20, 2020 Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule therapeutics targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancers, reported the closing of a $20 million Series A financing of Zentera Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Shanghai, China (Press release, Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, MAY 20, 2020, View Source [SID1234558376]). Leading the financing is Tybourne Capital Management, a global investment manager headquartered in Asia, and joining the syndicate is OrbiMed Asia, a leading healthcare fund in Asia. Zentalis, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, remains the majority shareholder of Zentera.

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The proceeds from the Series A financing will be used to develop and commercialize three cancer therapies discovered by Zentalis, in addition to potential future candidates, in China. Anthony Sun, MD, CEO of Zentalis, will serve as CEO of Zentera.

"The launch of Zentera is a key milestone in our global clinical development strategy," commented Dr. Anthony Sun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Zentalis Pharmaceuticals and Chief Executive Officer at Zentera Therapeutics. "As the second-largest pharmaceutical market in the world, establishing a joint venture in China is the first step toward advancing our product candidates on a global scale. Furthermore, we are building a management team in China of seasoned professionals who are passionate about improving cancer treatment. We would like to thank our partners, Tybourne Capital Management and OrbiMed Asia, for supporting our vision to efficiently advance our best-in-class therapies to markets worldwide."

Bosun Hau, Managing Director and Co-Head of Private Equity at Tybourne Capital Management, commented, "Over the past few years, we have watched Zentalis’ remarkable clinical progress in developing potentially best-in-class candidates for patients with cancer. We are pleased to work with Zentera, as we believe these therapies will greatly benefit patients internationally."

Dr. David Wang, Partner and Senior Managing Director at OrbiMed Asia, added, "At OrbiMed, we are passionate about investing in innovative solutions that improve the lives of patients. The establishment of this joint venture, which helps to bring potentially life-changing treatments to China, aligns with our values and we are delighted to add Zentera to the OrbiMed family."

Zentalis’ pipeline candidates that will be developed in China by Zentera include its oral SERD (ZN-c5), WEE1 inhibitor (ZN-c3), and BCL-2 inhibitor (ZN-d5), which address unmet medical needs in large patient populations in both solid and liquid tumors. Additional Zentalis candidates may also be developed in China by Zentera.

On May 20, 2020 OBI Pharma, Inc. (TPEx: 4174), a leader in Glycosphingolipid Immuno-Oncology therapeutics targeting the Globo Series antigens (Globo H and SSEA-4) and chemotherapeutics targeting AKR1C3, reported that data highlighting the ongoing clinical studies targeting Globo H and AKR1C3 antigen in different tumor types will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)20 Virtual Scientific Program from May 29–31, 2020 (Press release, OBI Pharma, MAY 20, 2020, View Source [SID1234558351]).

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These studies will be presented by the lead investigators of OBI Pharma’s first-in-class anti-Globo H cancer vaccine (Adagloxad Simolenin) and Antibody Drug Conjugate (OBI-999), and AKR1C3 targeting prodrug (OBI-3424).

"Based upon our anti-Globo H and AKR1C3 targeted approaches in cancers of high unmet needs, OBI Pharma is proud to have posters on the progress of our trials presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)20 for our first-in-class therapeutics Adagloxad Simolenin, OBI-999, and OBI-3424. We look forward to providing future updates of our studies, which we believe could offer potential therapeutic benefits to patients suffering from cancer," stated Tillman Pearce, MD, Chief Medical Officer at OBI Pharma.

Abstract: TPS599 / Poster: 91
Title: Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adagloxad simolenin (OBI-822) and OBI-821 treatment in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) at high risk for recurrence.
Presenter: Hope S. Rugo, MD, FASCO University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA
Session Title: Breast Cancer—Local/Regional/Adjuvant
Session Date and Time: Friday, May 29, 2020. 8:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
View Source

Abstract: TPS3657 / Poster: 387
Title: A phase I/II, open‑label, dose-escalation, and cohort-expansion study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic activity of OBI‑999 in patients with advanced solid tumors.
Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics—Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology
Presenter: Apostolia Maria Tsimberidou, MD, Ph.D, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Session Date and Time: Friday, May 29, 2020. 8:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
View Source

Abstract: TPS3658 / Poster: 388
Title: A first-in-man phase I/II study of OBI-3424, an AKR1C3-selective bis-alkylating agent prodrug, in subjects with advanced cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
Session Title: Developmental Therapeutics—Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology
Presenter: Apostolia Maria Tsimberidou, MD, Ph.D, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Session Date and Time: Friday, May 29, 2020. 8:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
View Source

The above poster presentations will be available online at www.obipharma.com on May 29, 2020.

On May 20, 2020 VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition"), a multi-national epigenetics company that applies its NucleosomicsTM platform through its subsidiaries to develop simple, easy to use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose a range of cancers and other diseases, reported underwritten public offering (Press release, VolitionRX, MAY 20, 2020, View Source [SID1234558350]). Volition is offering 4,365,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, at a price to the public of $2.75 per share. In connection with the offering, Volition has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 654,750 shares of its common stock offered in the public offering, at the same public offering price per share, to cover overallotments, if any. All shares of common stock in the offering are being offered by Volition.

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National Securities Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:NHLD), is acting as sole book-running manager in connection with the offering. The Benchmark Company, LLC and Maxim Group LLC have acted as financial advisors in the offering.

Volition expects to receive gross proceeds from the offering, excluding the exercise of the over-allotment option, if any, of $12 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering-related expenses payable by Volition. Assuming the full exercise of the over-allotment option, total gross proceeds to Volition would be $13.8 million.

Volition intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for continued product development, clinical studies, product commercialization, working capital, and other general corporate purposes, including potential strategic acquisitions.

The offering is expected to close on May 22, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

The securities described above are being offered by Volition pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-227248) previously filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on September 28, 2018. A final prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website located at View Source When available, electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from: National Securities Corporation, 200 Vesey St., 25th Floor, New York, NY 10281, by telephone at (212) 417-3634 or by email at [email protected].

Before investing in the offering, you should read in their entirety the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the other documents that Volition has filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, which provide more information about Volition and the offering.

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. The offering will be made only by means of a written prospectus and prospectus supplement that form part of the registration statement.