On July 29, 2020 The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) and GeneCentric Therapeutics, Inc. reported that they have entered into a collaborative research partnership for the advancement of RNA-based molecular signatures for pancreatic cancer disease progression and drug response (Press release, GeneCentric Therapeutics, JUL 29, 2020, View Source [SID1234562523]). The collaboration will combine GeneCentric’s single patient RNA-based report, including its Pancreatic Cancer Subtype Profiler (PurIST) for subtyping pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors (PDAC), with PanCAN’s extensive collection of patient molecular and outcomes data generated through its scientific and clinical programs.

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"GeneCentric is advancing promising molecular signatures of disease progression and drug response in pancreatic cancer based on tumor subtyping through next generation RNA sequencing of the tumor and tumor/immune microenvironment, and immunogenomics," said Dr. Lynn Matrisian, Chief Science Officer of PanCAN. "The collaboration, which will involve profiling and data analyses from our Know Your Tumor program and Precision PromiseSM adaptive clinical trial, is designed to advance our goals of improving treatment responses and survival of PDAC patients, accelerating the development of novel therapies and defining potential curative strategies for people diagnosed with this devastating disease."

"PanCAN, with its leading-edge, innovative research programs to accelerate new therapies to the clinic and dramatically improve treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients, is an ideal partner for GeneCentric," said Dr. Mike Milburn, President and CEO of GeneCentric. "We are honored to work with the PanCAN team and their renowned collaborators to advance and apply novel molecular signatures to support landmark initiatives such as the Precision Promise study as well as other pivotal research in the pursuit of cures for patients."

The collaboration will involve two research projects and is focused on GeneCentric’s single patient molecular report, including two PurIST defined PDAC subtypes, Basal (gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel responsive) and Classical (FOLFRINOX responsive). One study, aimed at the molecular characterization of potential treatment response, will be a retrospective analysis of patient data from the Know Your Tumor Program at diagnosis and treatment outcome. The second initiative is in conjunction with PanCAN’s Precision PromiseSM clinical trial to assess molecular signatures of patients at enrollment and association with treatment responses. The three-year study will enable application of the range of GeneCentric’s current PDAC as well as pan-cancer tumor and immunogenomic signatures of treatment response, as well as exploration of novel PDAC-related signatures.

On July 29, 2020 Akoya Biosciences, Inc., The Spatial Biology Company, reported a collaboration with UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (Press release, Akoya Biosciences, JUL 29, 2020, View Source [SID1234562522]). Scientists at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center have chosen Akoya’s Phenoptics multiplex immunofluorescence platform for developing predictive and prognostic biomarkers, particularly for use in selecting the most effective neoadjuvant and adjuvant immunotherapies for patients with early breast cancer. Click here to view a multimedia version of the press release, including media-ready images, downloadable resources, and more.

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At UCSF, this collaboration will be led by Michael Campbell, PhD, and Laura Esserman, MD, MBA. Dr. Campbell is an immunologist who has worked in partnership with Dr. Esserman to better understand how to optimize immunotherapy. He is driving the work on the Phenoptics platform to develop predictors of response to the immuno-oncology drug combinations, and to use these insights to develop more effective combinations. Together they are working both on high risk invasive breast cancer and high-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Dr. Esserman is a professor in the departments of Surgery and Radiology who co-leads the breast oncology program at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and is the Principal Investigator of the I-SPY Trials, sponsored by the Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative. Following extensive evaluation of biomarker testing methods, Dr. Esserman and her team have standardized biomarker discovery and development efforts on the Phenoptics platform to measure as many as six markers at a time on a single pathology slide using multiplex immunofluorescence. The Phenoptics platform is the chosen platform for the I-SPY Trials.

"There is a clear need for biomarkers to guide both the choice and assessment of immune targeted combinations for high risk early-stage cancers, where opportunities for cure are much greater," said Dr. Esserman. "We believe that multiplexed immunofluorescence will lead to robust, predictive assays, because it enables better understanding of the cell-level biology underlying disease progression and response to therapy, by revealing the spatial arrangements and interactions of cells in the tumor microenvironment."

Immunotherapies harness the immune system to fight cancer and are increasingly being used in the early high-risk setting. The partnership’s goals are to make these therapies more effective and to understand the immune response, key to making them work for more patients. There is an urgent need for biomarkers that more accurately predict which patients will respond to a particular therapy. Multiplex immunofluorescence preserves critical spatial data about cell proximity and interaction in the tumor microenvironment, with the potential to provide higher predictive power compared to other biomarker approaches. Akoya’s Phenoptics platform provides an end-to-end solution for discovery research and clinical trials with the reproducibility, sensitivity and throughput needed to develop new biomarkers and has become the standard for biomarker-based clinical trials and translational research.

Cliff Hoyt, Vice President of Translational and Scientific Affairs at Akoya, commented: "Dr. Esserman is well known for her substantial achievements in characterizing the tumor microenvironment and treating breast cancers and it is an honor for our team to collaborate with her lab. With Dr. Esserman’s focus on practical and effective steps to improve drug development and the standard of care, we believe that this collaboration will have a real impact on patient treatment in the coming years."

On July 29, 2020 Sema4, a patient-centered health intelligence company, reported that funds managed by BlackRock led its oversubscribed Series C financing of $121 million at a post-money valuation of over $1 billion (Press release, Sema4, JUL 29, 2020, View Source [SID1234562521]). Additional new investors include Deerfield Management Company and Moore Strategic Ventures. Sema4’s Series C financing comes after achieving significant milestones following its first round of external financing (Series B) in which the company raised just over $120 million less than 12 months ago. Each of the investors from Sema4’s first round of external funding participated in this second round, including Blackstone, Section 32, Oak HC/FT, Decheng, and Connecticut Innovations. Sema4 was spun out of the Mount Sinai Health System in June 2017.

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As part of this announcement, Andrew Elbardissi, MD Partner at Deerfield, has joined Sema4’s board of directors. Sema4 has also recently added Mike Pellini, MD from Section32 (former CEO of Foundation Medicine), Rachel Sherman (former Principal Deputy Commissioner at the FDA), and Marty Chavez (former CFO of Goldman Sachs) to its board.

William Abecassis, Head of Innovation Capital at BlackRock, said: "Sema4 is a leader at the forefront of one of the most exciting intersections in healthcare – the application of technology, AI and machine learning to help improve patient outcomes. We are excited to support this talented management team as Sema4 begins its next phase of growth."

Andrew Elbardissi, MD Partner at Deerfield, commented: "Among their peer-group companies, Sema4 rises above the rest with its incredible team of innovators, relentless pursuit of better technology, and bone-deep commitment to reimagining what’s possible in healthcare. I am delighted to help them move forward on this path."

"This investment is exciting for the significant financial resources it provides Sema4 for our continued rapid growth and accelerated investment, and also for the world-renowned partners it brings to our team," said Eric Schadt, PhD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sema4. "I look forward to working with our new and existing investors — who collectively have deep expertise in the life and data sciences — as we create cutting-edge precision medicine solutions for providers and patients to dramatically improve health outcomes."

Sema4 is dedicated to transforming healthcare by building dynamic models of human health and defining optimal, individualized health trajectories. The company began with an emphasis on reproductive health and recently launched Sema4 Signal, a family of products and services providing data-driven precision oncology solutions. Over the last several months, Sema4 has also joined the fight against COVID-19. Sema4 has integrated its premier clinical and scientific expertise with its cutting-edge digital capabilities to deliver a holistic testing program that enables organizations to make fast, informed decisions as they navigate COVID-19.

Sema4’s expertise in data science and predictive modeling serve as the foundation for Centrellis, the company’s innovative health intelligence platform. This powerful platform is designed to provide a more complete understanding of disease and wellness and to offer physicians deeper insight into the patient populations they serve.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as exclusive placement agent for the financing, and Fenwick & West LLP acted as legal counsel to Sema4.

On July 29, 2020 Alentis Therapeutics, the Swiss biotech developing breakthrough treatments for fibrotic diseases, reported that Dr. Roberto Iacone has been named Chief Executive Officer (Press release, Alentis Therapeutics, JUL 29, 2020, View Source [SID1234562520]).

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Dr. Iacone is a physician-scientist, a serial entrepreneur and brings more than 15 years life science industry experience to Alentis. Most recently while at Versant Ventures, he co-founded Bright Peak Therapeutics and Ridgeline Therapeutics, and was part of the leadership team that built the precision oncology company Black Diamond Therapeutics from inception through to its NASDAQ IPO in three years. Prior to Versant, Roberto was Roche’s Global Head of Rare Diseases Research, where he established numerous collaborations with academic and biotech partners, which included large and small molecule as well as gene therapy programs.

Welcoming Dr. Iacone to the company, Neil Goldsmith, Chairman of the Board of Alentis Therapeutics, said: "Alentis has developed significantly in our first year, with excellent progress in our understanding of the role of Claudin-1 as a novel therapeutic target in fibrosis and hepatobiliary cancers. We have taken major strides in Chemistry and Manufacturing Control (CMC) for our first product, and its safety profile appears very encouraging from the pilot studies conducted to date. We are delighted that Roberto has decided to join our cause, and look forward to further great strides from him and the team. We also would like to thank former CEO Markus Ewert for his fantastic work building the company, portfolio and team."

"We’re very excited that Roberto has joined us to lead the team as the company moves to the next level in its development," said Thomas F. Baumert MD, founder and board member of Alentis Therapeutics, Professor of Medicine and Head of the Inserm Research Institute for Viral and Liver Diseases at the University of Strasbourg. "His entrepreneurial thinking and leadership experience will rapidly advance the Alentis portfolio into the clinic addressing key unmet medical needs to improve patients’ lives and outcomes."

"The recent advances in science enable novel therapies to treat and reverse fibrosis, which is central to multiple diseases as well as several life-threatening cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma," said Dr. Iacone. "Alentis has developed a tremendous portfolio and platform to develop breakthrough treatments for fibrotic diseases."

He added that following the foundation of the company one year ago, the development of Alentis’ lead compound has markedly advanced with completed preclinical in vivo proof-of-concept studies for liver and kidney fibrosis, fibrosis-driven hepatobiliary cancer and extensive safety studies.

"As we now transition towards a clinical-stage company, I look forward to working with the team and board, our collaborators, and the investors, to realise the potential benefit for patients," said Dr. Iacone.

"Roberto’s expertise in developing drugs in biotech, pharma and VC will be most valuable in effectively translating Alentis Therapeutics’ most promising research and its assets into clinical benefit for patients as well as commercial value," said Dr. A. Wallnöfer, General Partner at BioMed Partners VC and former Head of Clinical Research & Exploratory Development at F. Hoffmann-La Roche.

Roberto holds an M.D. from the University of Naples, and a PhD from the Max Planck Research School for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics.

On July 29, 2020 Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:DCPH) reported that it will report its second quarter 2020 financial results on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 (Press release, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, JUL 29, 2020, View Source [SID1234562519]).

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In connection with the earnings release, Deciphera’s management team will host a live conference call and webcast at 4:30 PM ET on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, to discuss the Company’s financial results and provide a corporate update.

The conference call may be accessed by dialing (866) 930-5479 (domestic) or (409) 216-0603 (international) and referring to conference ID 3769662. A webcast of the conference call will be available in the "Events and Presentations" page in the "Investors" section of the Company’s website at View Source The archived webcast will be available on the Company’s website approximately two hours after the conference call and will be available for 30 days following the call.