On May 15, 2020 Race Oncology reported that it has entered into a collaborative preclinical research program with The University of Newcastle (Press release, Race Oncology, MAY 15, 2020, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=race-starts-preclinical-breast-cancer-study-for-bisantrene [SID1234561258]).

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Eminent cancer researcher, Associate Professor Nikki Verrills of the Hunter Medical Research Institute, will lead the project.

The aim of this research program is to identify combinations of current breast cancer drugs that when paired with Bisantrene show equivalent efficacy to existing treatment options, but with significantly reduced serious side effects.

"This is an exciting development for Race and we are looking forward to collaborating with Nikki’s team," Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Daniel Tillett said.

"Historical trial data has shown that Bisantrene can provide the same level of treatment as existing chemotherapy drugs, yet with considerably less damage to the patient’s heart. We believe that this research may potentially unlock a number of new combinations and opportunities for the Company."

Current breast cancer treatments can result in serious and life threatening side effects such as life-long damage to the patient’s heart.

Many breast cancer patients are cured of their cancers only to later die of treatment-induced heart failure.

Any new intellectual property resulting from this research will be wholly-owned by Race and the expenditure is eligible for a rebate under the Australian Government’s R&D Tax Incentive Program.

Bisantrene was the subject of a large Phase III single agent clinical trial in the USA in advanced breast cancer patients in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The trial showed that Bisantrene had the same efficacy as the standard of care treatment, doxorubicin, but caused significantly less damage to the patient’s heart (4% with Bisantrene, 23% with doxorubicin).

Race is pursuing Bisantrene combination therapies in breast cancer and other solid tumours, as part of its ‘5-Path’ strategy. This could lead to new cancer treatments with improved safety and efficacy (ASX announcement 14 November 2019).

The results of this study will support the Phase I/IIa human trial of a Bisantrene in breast cancer, currently scheduled to begin in Australia in late 2020.

Associate Professor Nikki Verrills said she was thrilled to work with Race on the project.

"Being able to apply our cancer expertise to Bisantrene, which has so much potential for improving the lives of cancer patients, is very exciting."

On May 15, 2020 Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. ("Tetra" or the "Company") (TSXV:TBP) (OTCQB:TBPMF), reported that, in connection with its previously announced overnight marketed offering, a syndicate of agents led by Raymond James Ltd. and Canaccord Genuity Corp. (collectively, the "Agents"), have agreed to sell 33,089,000 units ("Units") of the Company at a price of $0.26 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $8.6 million (the "Offering") (Press release, Tetra Bio Pharma, MAY 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561074]). Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of Tetra (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.32 for a period of 36 months from the closing date of the Offering.

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The Company has also granted the Agents an option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to sell up to an additional 15% of the Units sold under the Offering, at the Issue Price. The Over-Allotment Option may be exercised in whole or in part to purchase Common Shares, Warrants or Units as determined by the Agents upon written notice to the Company at any time up to 30 days following the closing date of the Offering.

The Offering is being conducted pursuant to the Company’s Canadian base shelf prospectus dated April 1, 2020 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus"). A prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") relating to the Offering will be filed in each of the provinces of Canada. Copies of the Prospectus Supplement and accompanying Base Shelf Prospectus will be available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to continue the development of its clinical program, including Phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials, toxicology, regulatory and manufacturing expenses related to QIXLEEF (PPP001).

The Offering is expected to close on or about May 22, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

Closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

On May 15, 2020 IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD. (the "Company" or "IPA") (TSX VENTURE: IPA) (OTC QB: IPATF) reported that it has increased its previously announced (see news release dated April 24, 2020 and May 8, 2020) non-brokered private placement financing of 10% convertible debentures from CAD$2,300,000 to CAD$2,592,000 (Press release, ImmunoPrecise Antibodies, MAY 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234558273]).

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The debentures will continue to be unsecured, bear interest at a rate of ten percent (10%) per year, payable annually, and are due two years from the date of issue (which may be repaid early at the option of the Company). The principal amount of the debentures may be convertible, at the option of the holder, into units of the Company at a conversion price of $0.85 per share.

The Company may force convert the principal amount of the debentures at CAD$0.85 per share if the average closing price is equal to or greater than CAD$1.50 for 20 trading days. In order to exercise this right, the Company must issue a news release announcing its intention to exercise this right within 10 business days after the end of the particular 20-day period.

Closing of the offering is subject to acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

On May 15, 2020 Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZS) ("Aeterna" or the "Company"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company commercializing and developing therapeutics and diagnostic tests, reported the results from its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") held today, May 15, 2020 (Press release, AEterna Zentaris, MAY 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234558220]).

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The individuals noted below were elected as Directors of the Company. The report on proxies provided by the Company’s transfer agent indicated the following:

The Company would like to welcome Peter Edwards to the Board of Directors.

The Company would also like to extend its sincere thanks and best wishes to Gérard Limoges, Dr. Brent Norton, and Robin Smith Hoke who have been valued members of Aeterna’s Board of Directors.

The Company also reported the re-appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent auditor.

For full voting details please see the voting results of Aeterna Zentaris Inc. as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

On May 15, 2020 Tyme Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: TYME), an emerging biotechnology company developing cancer metabolism-based therapies (CMBTs), reported that two posters will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2020 Virtual Meeting to be held from June 22 to June 24, 2020 (Press release, TYME, MAY 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234558209]).

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TYME’s presentations include findings from preclinical data on two CMBTs: SM-88 and TYME-18. TYME’s CMBTs are proprietary investigational compounds that leverages cancer’s altered metabolism and associated vulnerabilities to specifically disrupt fundamental cellular processes. This can include altering protein synthesis, increasing oxidative stress, decreasing pH levels, and compromising protein or lipid barriers. In addition, CMBTs may target select survival mechanisms including autophagy, as well as altering the tumor microenvironment to improve immune recognition of the cancer. In clinical trials, SM-88 (racemetyrosine) has demonstrated encouraging tumor responses across 15 different cancers, including pancreatic, prostate, sarcoma, breast, lung, and lymphoma cancers with minimal serious grade 3 or higher drug-related adverse events.

The first abstract describing SM-88 showed that mice receiving SM-88 monotherapy demonstrated significantly reduced tumor size as compared to control mice. The preclinical data suggest SM-88 monotherapy increases oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species (ROS) and interferes with autophagy, an important survival mechanism utilized by cancer cells. Both of these effects may be associated with SM-88’s intended mechanism of specifically disrupting cancer cell metabolism with a dysfunctional amino acid. Additionally, preclinical data supports that SM-88 modulates tumor immunity, specifically tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) reducing immunosuppressive (M2) macrophages that have demonstrated a critical role in overall tumor immune dynamics.

Separately, new data will be presented for TYME’s CMBT compound, TYME-18. TYME-18 is designed for intra-tumoral administration of difficult to treat tumors and leverages the acidic tumor microenvironment and signaling pathways to kill cancer cells. Initial preclinical data for TYME-18 in animal tumor models demonstrate rapid and complete tumor regression, with no reported local or systemic toxicities. TYME-18 continues to be studied as a potential therapy for difficult to treat tumors that may not be eligible for surgical or other interventions.

Additional information on the meeting can be found on the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) website at: View Source

Details for the poster presentations are as follows:

Title: In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer effects of D/L-alpha-metyrosine (SM-88), a Novel Metabolism-Based Therapy
Virtual Session Date: June 22-24, 2020
Virtual Session Location: AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) e-poster website
Abstract Number: 20-A-7314

Title: In Vivo Mouse Model Data Demonstrating Reduction in Tumor Cell Proliferation Following Intratumoral Administration of TYME-18
Virtual Session Date: June 22-24, 2020
Virtual Session Location: AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) e-poster website
Abstract Number: 20-A-6858

About Autophagy

Autophagy plays a housekeeping role in removing misfolded or aggregated proteins, clearing damaged organelles, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisomes, as well as eliminating intracellular pathogens. Thus, autophagy is generally thought of as a survival mechanism, although its deregulation has been linked to non-apoptotic cell death.

About SM-88

SM-88 is an oral investigational modified proprietary tyrosine derivative that is believed to interrupt the metabolic processes of cancer cells by breaking down the cells’ key defenses and leading to cell death through oxidative stress and exposure to the body’s natural immune system. Clinical trial data have shown that SM-88 has demonstrated encouraging tumor responses across 15 different cancers, including pancreatic, lung, breast, prostate and sarcoma cancers with minimal serious grade 3 or higher adverse events.

About TYME-18

TYME-18 is a cancer metabolism-based investigational cancer therapy designed for the intra-tumoral delivery to increase the permeability of cancer cells while delivering a therapy that will have a selective cytotoxic effect on the tumor. TYME-18 is distinct in composition, but like SM-88, it aims to enhance the susceptibility of a cancer to the highly acidic and toxic tumor microenvironment, while minimizing the impact to normal tissues.