On August 20, 2020 Aptorum Group Limited (NASDAQ: APM, Euronext Paris: APM), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapeutics to address certain global unmet medical needs, reported two appointments to its team (Press release, Aptorum, AUG 20, 2020, View Source [SID1234563908]).

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Appointment of Dr. Herman Weiss MD as CEO and Executive Director of Claves Life Sciences

Dr. Herman Weiss, M.D., has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Claves Life Sciences Limited ("Claves") and also senior medical advisor of Aptorum Group Limited ("Aptorum Group" or "Company"). Claves is one of Aptorum Group’s wholly-owned subsidiaries and is focused on microbiome-based approach to metabolic diseases. Going forward, Dr. Weiss will be leading the development of Claves’ business and drive Claves’ exciting microbiome-based research platform for treatments of metabolic diseases, and potentially other indications, to targeted clinical stages. Claves is a microbiome-based platform utilizing proprietary macromolecule-based technology to target major systemic metabolic diseases including microbiome modulator CLS-1 for treatment of obesity. Through Claves, the Company is also developing microbiome modulators CLS-2 and CLS-3, which target other metabolic diseases.

Appointment of Dr. Robbie Majzner as scientific advisor of Aptorum Group

Dr. Robbie Majzner has been appointed as a scientific advisor of Aptorum Group Limited. In particular, Dr. Majzner will provide scientific advice and support for certain targeted clinical development aspects of Aptorum Group’s repurposed drug candidate SACT-1 for the treatment of neuroblastoma, a rare type of solid tumor cancer that develops predominantly in infants and young children, as well as other potential cancer indications.

"We are delighted that Dr. Weiss and Dr. Majzner are joining the Aptorum Group family. as the Chief Executive Officer of Claves, Dr. Weiss, who served at Juniper Pharmaceuticals Inc., which was previously listed on Nasdaq and was subsequently acquired in 2018 by Catalent Inc (NYSE: CTLT), brings with him significant clinical development experience which will be critical in driving R&D of Claves’ microbiome-based drug candidates to the next targeted development milestones. We are also delighted to have Dr. Majzner, a world-class hematologist and oncologist, on board in supporting the development of our SACT-1 and related programs." said Mr. Ian Huen, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Aptorum Group.

Dr. Weiss has over 20 years of experience in the medical field. He is currently a Physician at Maccabi and Meuchedet Kuppot Health System and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Todos Medical in Israel. Dr. Weiss previously held senior roles at both Juniper Pharmaceuticals, as Head of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, and at Teva Pharmaceuticals, as Global Medical Director. He has also consulted for various medical device and biotech companies. He owns multiple patents and is the author of numerous publications in the area of women’s health/gynecology. Dr. Weiss received his MBA from the George Washington University, his M.D. from the Ohio State University College of Medicine and his B.A. from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Dr. Majzner is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the Stanford University Medical Center. Prior to joining Stanford, he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Crystal Mackall at the National Cancer Institute. His research interests lie in the optimization of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies for sarcomas and other solid tumors. Dr. Majzner received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and completed his pediatric residency at Columbia University and fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at the joint program of Johns Hopkins University and the National Cancer Institute.

On August 20, 2020 Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) ("Kintara" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: KTRA) reported that it has completed its merger with Adgero Biopharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (Adgero) (Press release, DelMar Pharmaceuticals, AUG 20, 2020, View Source [SID1234563907]). Commencing today, August 20, 2020, the combined company will operate as Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. and its shares of common stock will commence trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol "KTRA." Kintara is a diversified biopharmaceutical company with multiple oncology product candidates in development, including VAL-083 for the treatment of drug-resistant solid tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and REM-001 for the treatment of cutaneous metastatic breast cancer (CMBC).

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Concurrent with the closing of the merger, the Company closed its previously announced private placement with investors providing for the sale and issuance of 19,587 shares of its Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") at a purchase price of $1,000 per share priced at-the-market under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $1.16 per share. The offering resulted in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $19.6 million.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund the previously announced registration study for VAL-083 in newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM, the 15-patient REM-001 confirmatory lead-in study intended to continue seamlessly into a full Phase 3 pivotal study for CMBC, and for working capital. Also, as previously disclosed, the GBM trial will be executed through the Company’s partnership with Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR) through the Glioblastoma Adaptive Global Innovative Learning Environment (GBM AGILE) Study, an adaptive clinical trial platform in GBM.

The Preferred Stock accrues dividends payable in shares of the Company’s common stock on the first four anniversaries of the closing of the private placement as long as the Preferred Stock has not been converted, with percentages ranging from 10% in year one to 25% in year four.

The board of directors of Kintara is now comprised of Robert Hoffman, Laura Johnson, Rob Toth and Saiid Zarrabian, who are current directors of the Company, and John Liatos and Keith Murphy from Adgero.

The shares of Preferred Stock described above were offered in a private placement pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and, along with the common shares issuable upon their exercise or payable as dividends pursuant to the Preferred Stock, have not been registered under the Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the SEC or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

On August 20, 2020, AnaptysBio, Inc. ("AnaptysBio") reported that sent a notice of breach to GlaxoSmithKline and TESARO, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSK (collectively, "GSK"), stating that GSK is in breach of its obligations under the Collaboration and Exclusive License Agreement by and between TESARO, Inc. and AnaptysBio (the "GSK Agreement"), and notifying GSK that the GSK Agreement will terminate with regard to PD-1 antagonists, including dostarlimab, which will thereby revoke any licenses and rights granted pertaining to the program, if such breach is not cured within the 60-day time period required by the GSK Agreement (Filing, 8-K, AnaptysBio, AUG 20, 2020, View Source [SID1234563906]).

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Pursuant to the GSK Agreement, GSK has a license to certain antibodies originally developed by AnaptysBio, including dostarlimab, a PD-1 antibody product candidate in the late-stages of clinical development, with FDA approval of an accepted biological license application (BLA) for a first indication anticipated during 2020 and regulatory submission for a second indication anticipated in the first half of 2021, according to GSK.

Under the terms of the GSK Agreement, GSK agreed that it would not conduct or participate in research, development, manufacturing or commercialization of any PD-1 antagonist other than those licensed by AnaptysBio to GSK. The GSK Agreement also provides that GSK will "use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to . . . (e) commercialize Products and attempt to obtain the optimum commercial return for each Product in all major markets throughout the world." In contravention of the exclusivity and diligence provisions of the GSK Agreement, GSK recently announced plans to begin a Phase 3 clinical trial involving a third-party anti-PD-1 antibody, Merck’s Keytruda, and GSK’s drug, Zejula in non-small cell lung cancer. The aforementioned Phase 3 trial is being initiated subsequent to previous proposals from Tesaro to waive PD-1 antagonist exclusivity terms under the GSK Agreement, which AnaptysBio has explicitly declined.

While we hope to resolve this matter amicably, we have also, as of August 20, 2020, filed a Verified Complaint (the "Complaint") in Delaware Chancery Court, requesting a preliminary injunction to enjoin GSK’s current planned clinical trial using GSK’s Zejula in combination with Keytruda, without the consent of AnaptysBio and in breach of the GSK Agreement. In addition to enjoining this planned clinical trial, AnaptysBio is seeking specific performance of return of all PD-1 antagonist related rights under the GSK agreement, including the dostarlimab program, across all clinical indications, to AnaptysBio, pursuant to the termination provision of the GSK Agreement. In addition to the Complaint, AnaptysBio also filed a Motion to Expedite Proceedings, requesting a court schedule to expedite trial to occur as soon as possible but no later than March 2021. Milestone and royalty payment obligations due to AnaptysBio pursuant to the GSK Agreement will continue during the proceedings.

On August 20, 2020 Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) has approved the use of DARZALEX (daratumumab) in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone (DKd) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three previous lines of therapy (Press release, Genmab, AUG 20, 2020, View Source [SID1234563905]). A supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for this indication was submitted by Genmab’s licensing partner, Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen), in February 2020. In August 2012, Genmab granted Janssen an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab.

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"We are extremely pleased that multiple myeloma patients in the U.S. will now have yet another treatment option as this is the eighth overall U.S. FDA approval for DARZALEX and the fifth in the relapsed/refractory setting. In addition, DARZALEX is now the first CD38 antibody approved for use in combination with carfilzomib," said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.

The combination has been approved in two carfilzomib dosing regimens, 70 mg/m2 once weekly and 56 mg/m2 twice weekly, based on positive results from the Phase 3 CANDOR and Phase 1b EQUULEUS studies. CANDOR was an Amgen-sponsored study, co-funded by Janssen Research & Development, LLC. EQUULEUS was sponsored by Janssen Research & Development, LLC.

About the CANDOR study
The Phase 3 trial (NCT03158688) was a randomized, open-label study that included 466 patients with multiple myeloma who had relapsed after 1 to 3 prior therapies. Patients were randomized to receive either DKd or carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) alone. In the daratumumab treatment arm, patients received 8 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) on days 1 and 2 of cycle 1, then 16 mg/kg once weekly for the remaining doses of the first 2 cycles, then every 2 weeks for 4 cycles (cycles 3 to 6), and then every 4 weeks for the remaining cycles or until disease progression. In both treatment arms carfilzomib was dosed twice weekly (20 mg/m2 on cycle 1 days 1 and 2 and 56 mg/m2 beginning on cycle 1 day 8 and thereafter) and dexamethasone was given weekly (40 mg orally or via IV infusion). The primary endpoint of the study was progression free survival (PFS).

About the EQUULEUS (MMY1001) Study
The Phase 1b EQUULEUS (NCT01998971) study was an open label, multi-cohort trial that evaluated the safety, tolerability, and dose regimen of daratumumab when administered in combination with various treatment regimens for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Among the regiments evaluated, the combination of DKd compared to Kd alone was studied in 85 patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who had received one to three prior lines of therapy using a once-weekly dosing regimen. DKd was evaluated at a starting dose of 20 mg/m2, which was increased to 70 mg/m2 on Cycle 1, Day 8 and onward.

About multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and is characterized by an excess proliferation of plasma cells.1 Multiple myeloma is the third most common blood cancer in the U.S., after leukemia and lymphoma.2 Approximately 26,000 new patients were expected to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma and approximately 13,650 people were expected to die from the disease in the U.S. in 2018.3 Globally, it was estimated that 160,000 people were diagnosed and 106,000 died from the disease in 2018.4 While some patients with multiple myeloma have no symptoms at all, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms which can include bone problems, low blood counts, calcium elevation, kidney problems or infections.5

About DARZALEX(daratumumab)
DARZALEX (daratumumab) has become a backbone therapy in the treatment of multiple myeloma. DARZALEX intravenous infusion is indicated for the treatment of adult patients in the United States: in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three previous lines of therapy; in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as treatment for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI); and as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent, or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.6 DARZALEX is the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) approval to treat multiple myeloma.

DARZALEX is indicated for the treatment of adult patients in Europe via intravenous infusion or subcutaneous administration: in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone as treatment for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; for use in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; and as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, whose prior therapy included a PI and an immunomodulatory agent and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy7. Daratumumab is the first subcutaneous CD38 antibody approved in Europe for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The option to split the first infusion of DARZALEX over two consecutive days has been approved in both Europe and the U.S.

In Japan, DARZALEX intravenous infusion is approved for the treatment of adult patients: in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, or bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. DARZALEX is the first human CD38 monoclonal antibody to reach the market in the United States, Europe and Japan. For more information, visit www.DARZALEX.com.

DARZALEX FASPRO (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj), a subcutaneous formulation of daratumumab, is approved in the United States for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma: in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for ASCT; in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for ASCT and in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy; in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior therapy; and as monotherapy, in patients who have received at least three prior lines of therapy including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.8 DARZALEX FASPRO is the first subcutaneous CD38 antibody approved in the U.S. for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Daratumumab is a human IgG1k monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds with high affinity to the CD38 molecule, which is highly expressed on the surface of multiple myeloma cells. Daratumumab triggers a person’s own immune system to attack the cancer cells, resulting in rapid tumor cell death through multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action and through immunomodulatory effects, in addition to direct tumor cell death, via apoptosis (programmed cell death).6,9,10,11,12

Daratumumab is being developed by Janssen Biotech, Inc. under an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab from Genmab. A comprehensive clinical development program for daratumumab is ongoing, including multiple Phase III studies in smoldering, relapsed and refractory and frontline multiple myeloma settings. Additional studies are ongoing or planned to assess the potential of daratumumab in other malignant and pre-malignant diseases in which CD38 is expressed, such as amyloidosis and T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Daratumumab has received two Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the U.S. FDA for certain indications of multiple myeloma, including as a monotherapy for heavily pretreated multiple myeloma and in combination with certain other therapies for second-line treatment of multiple myeloma.

On August 20, 2020 Nkarta, Inc. (Nasdaq: NKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered natural killer (NK) cell therapies to treat cancer, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020, and highlighted recent corporate accomplishments (Press release, Nkarta, AUG 20, 2020, View Source [SID1234563903]).

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"Nkarta made outstanding progress in the second quarter of 2020 as we pursue our goal of advancing engineered natural killer cells as the next foundation in anti-cancer cell therapy," said Paul J. Hastings, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nkarta. "With the success of our recently completed initial public offering and the resultant strengthening of our balance sheet, acceptance of our first IND by the FDA for NKX101, construction of our clinical manufacturing facility, and meaningful strides in our pipeline of allogeneic NK cell therapy candidates, we are off to a momentous start as a public company. We are grateful to our employees and collaborators who have supported this high level of execution in the midst of the difficult challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic."

Recent Developments

In March and April 2020, Nkarta appointed two new independent directors to its Board of Directors, Laura K. Shawver, Ph.D., President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Silverback Therapeutics, and Leone Patterson, President of Adverum Biotechnologies.

Nkarta recently completed the construction of its cGMP manufacturing facility in South San Francisco, California, that is designed to enable Nkarta to supply clinical product for its early-stage clinical trials. Qualification of the facility is in process and Nkarta expects to manufacture NKX019 at this cGMP facility. In a second, final phase of this buildout, Nkarta expects to expand the capabilities of the facility to include the production of retroviral vector, stimulatory cell line and clinical manufacturing of NKX101.

In July 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared Nkarta’s Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for NKX101, an investigational NK cell therapy engineered to target NKG2D ligands.

In July 2020, Nkarta closed the second tranche of its Series B preferred stock financing, with gross proceeds of $64.4 million.

In July 2020, Nkarta completed an initial public offering (IPO) in which it issued and sold 16,100,000 shares of common stock, including full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, resulting in gross proceeds of $289.8 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.
Anticipated Near-term Clinical Milestones

In 4Q 2020, Nkarta plans to begin dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial of NKX101 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory (r/r) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and r/r higher risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

In 1Q 2021, Nkarta expects to file an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for NKX019, an investigational NK cell therapy engineered to target tumors expressing CD19 antigen for the treatment of B cell malignancies.
Second Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights

Cash and Cash Equivalents: As of June 30, 2020, Nkarta had cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments of $22.1 million, which excludes $54.2 million of the proceeds from the Company’s Series B Second Tranche Financing of $64.4 million which closed on July 1, 2020, as well as the net proceeds from the Company’s July 2020 IPO of $265.5 million.

R&D Expenses: Research & development expenses were $7.9 million for the second quarter of 2020, which includes $0.2 of non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $2.5 million for the second quarter of 2020, which includes $0.3 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

Net Loss. Net loss was $51.1 million, or $30.06 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. This net loss includes a non-recurring $40.7 million non-cash change in fair value of preferred stock purchase liability.
Financial Guidance

Nkarta expects its current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan into at least the second half of 2023. The company expects cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2020 to be in the range of $300 million to $310 million.
Upcoming Events

Executive management plans to participate in a fireside chat at the Cantor Virtual Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 2:00 PM ET. A webcast of the event will be available on the Investors section of the Nkarta website. http://bit.ly/Nkarta_Events