Ligand’s First Quarter Financial Results to be Reported May 6th

On April 22, 2020 Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: LGND) reported that details of its plans to report first quarter 2020 financial results on May 6, 2020 (Press release, Ligand, APR 22, 2020, View Source [SID1234556493]). Ligand’s CEO John Higgins, President and COO Matt Foehr and Executive Vice President and CFO Matt Korenberg will host the conference call.

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What:

Ligand conference call to discuss financial results and provide general business updates

Date:

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Time:

4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time)

Conference Call:

Dial (833) 325-0071 within the U.S.

Dial (720) 405-1612 outside the U.S.

Conference ID is 5190682

Webcast:

Live conference call webcast and replay accessible at www.ligand.com

BioCryst to Report First Quarter 2020 Financial Results on May 6

On April 22, 2020 BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: BCRX) reported that the company will report its first quarter 2020 financial results on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 (Press release, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, APR 22, 2020, View Source [SID1234556492]).

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BioCryst management will host a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET that day to discuss the financial results and provide a corporate update.

The live call may be accessed by dialing 877-303-8027 for domestic callers and 760-536-5165 for international callers and using conference ID # 4679821. A live webcast of the call and any slides will be available online at the investors section of the company website at www.biocryst.com. A telephone replay of the call will be available by dialing 855-859-2056 for domestic callers or 404-537-3406 for international callers and entering the conference ID # 4679821.

Chi-Med Highlights Presentations of Surufatinib at the Upcoming AACR Virtual Annual Meetings

On April 22, 2020 Hutchison China MediTech Limited ("Chi-Med") (Nasdaq/AIM: HCM) reported that new and updated analyses on the ongoing studies of surufatinib will be presented at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting I, taking place on April 27, 2020 (Press release, Hutchison China MediTech, APR 22, 2020, https://www.chi-med.com/surufatinib-presentations-at-aacr-2020/ [SID1234556491]).

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Further details of the presentations are as follows:

Title: A Phase I Trial of Surufatinib Plus Toripalimab in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors
Presenter: Yanshuo Cao
Authors:
M Lu1, Y Cao1, J Gong1, Y Sun2, J Li1, L Shen1.

1 Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China; 2 Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China

Session: VPO.CT01
Number: CT142
Link: www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9045/presentation/10641

Title: Comparison of Pharmacokinetic Profiles and Safety of Surufatinib in Patients from China and the United States
Presenter: Arvind Dasari
Authors:
A Dasari1, S Paulson2, E Hamilton3, J Wang4, M Sung5, G Falchook6, C Tucci7, K Li7, C Chien7, J Kauh7, M Kania7, D Li8.

1 MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, 2 Baylor Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas, TX, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, 3 Sarah Cannon Research Institute/Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, TN, USA, 4 Florida Cancer Specialists/Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA, 5 Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA, 6 Sarah Cannon Research Institute at HealthONE, Denver, Co, USA, 7 Hutchison MediPharma International Inc., Florham Park, NJ, USA, 8 City of Hope Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA.

Session: VPO.CT01
Number: CT115
Link: www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9045/presentation/10614

About Surufatinib
Surufatinib is a novel, oral angio-immuno kinase inhibitor that selectively inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity associated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), which both inhibit angiogenesis, and colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R), which regulates tumor-associated macrophages, promoting the body’s immune response against tumor cells. Its unique dual mechanism of action may be very suitable for possible combinations with other immunotherapies.

Chi-Med currently retains all rights to surufatinib worldwide.

Neuroendocrine tumors ("NET") in the U.S., Europe and Japan: We are preparing for regulatory interactions in the U.S., Europe and Japan to confirm clinical development and path to registration, based on the encouraging data from the two positive Phase III studies of surufatinib in NET in China, and the ongoing multi-cohort Phase Ib study in the U.S. (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02549937). In the U.S., surufatinib was granted Fast Track Designations for development in pancreatic and non-pancreatic (extra-pancreatic) NET in April 2020, and Orphan Drug Designation for pancreatic NET in November 2019.

Non-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in China: In November 2019, a New Drug Application ("NDA") for surufatinib for the treatment of patients with advanced non-pancreatic NET was accepted for review by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and granted Priority Review status in December 2019. The NDA is supported by data from the successful SANET-ep study, a Phase III study of surufatinib in advanced neuroendocrine tumors – extra-pancreatic patients in China for whom there is no effective therapy. A 198-patient interim analysis was conducted in June 2019, leading the Independent Data Monitoring Committee ("IDMC") to determine that the study met the pre-defined primary endpoint of progression-free survival ("PFS") and should be stopped early. The positive results of this trial were highlighted in an oral presentation at the 2019 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02588170).

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in China: In 2016, we initiated the SANET-p study, which is a pivotal Phase III study in patients with low- or intermediate-grade, advanced pancreatic NET in China. A second NDA for surufatinib for the treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic NET is being prepared for submission, following an interim analysis review conducted in January 2020 by the IDMC that recommended that registrational study be terminated early as the pre-defined primary endpoint of PFS had already been met (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02589821). Study results will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming scientific conference.

Biliary tract cancer in China: In March 2019, we initiated a Phase IIb/III study comparing surufatinib with capecitabine in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer whose disease progressed on first-line chemotherapy. The primary endpoint is overall survival (OS) (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03873532).

Immunotherapy combinations: In November 2018 and September 2019, we entered into collaboration agreements to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of surufatinib in combination with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibodies. This included global collaborations to evaluate the combination of surufatinib with Tuoyi, approved in China by Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co. Ltd, and with Tyvyt, approved in China by Innovent Biologics, Inc.

Achilles Therapeutics to present a manufacturing update at the virtual 2020 AACR Annual Meeting

On April 22, 2020 Achilles Therapeutics ("Achilles"), a clinical-stage oncology company developing personalised cell therapies targeting clonal neoantigens, a novel class of tumour target, reported that it will present a manufacturing update using the VELOSTM manufacturing platform for its lead programs at the 2020 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting (Press release, Achilles Therapeutics, APR 22, 2020, View Source [SID1234556490]).

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"This study using our VELOSTM manufacturing platform demonstrates the feasibility of generating clonal neoantigen T cells, or cNeT, for the treatment of NSCLC and recurrent or metastatic melanoma," said Ed Samuel, SVP Manufacturing, Achilles Therapeutics. "Achilles is at a transformational stage in its development as we progress our two lead products into the clinic. We have prioritised our scaled GMP manufacturing platform from the inception of the Company in order to support our long-term strategy to develop a fully closed and automated manufacturing process which is central to our plans for scaling up production capabilities to deliver personalized cell therapies to patients."

Oral Presentation details:

The virtual meeting is free and available to anyone by registering at aacr.org.

Presentation Title:

The development of a personalised autologous clonal neoantigen T cell therapy for the treatment of solid cancer using the VELOSTM manufacturing platform generates highly potent and reactive CD8+ and CD4+ T cells for clinical use
Presenter: Ed Samuel
Session Title: VCTPL05 – Adoptive Cell Transfer Therapy
Date and Presentation Time: April 28, 2020 – 11:55 – 12:05 PM EDT
Abstract Number: CT054

First quarter with 2% growth in Swiss francs, 7% at constant exchange rates

On April 22, 2020 Hoffmann-La Roche Reported that (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, APR 22, 2020, View Source [SID1234556489])

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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Volatility in some markets has limited impact on business performance in the first quarter
Global supply chain for medicines and tests remain intact
FDA issued Emergency Use Authorization for the cobas SARS-CoV-2 test (coronavirus) for detection of infection with the virus; test also available in markets accepting the CE mark
Production capacity for cobas SARS-CoV-2 test ramped up massively
Clinical phase III study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Actemra/RoActemra in severe COVID-19 pneumonia ongoing in several countries. Results are expected in early summer. Rapid increase of production capacity for Actemra/RoActemra
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology test to detect antibodies in people exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in late stage development with availability aimed for early May. Monthly production is ramped up to high double-digit million tests by June with further scale up as fast as possible.
Commenting on the Group’s performance in the first quarter, Roche CEO Severin Schwan said: "The global coronavirus pandemic outbreak during the first quarter poses an unprecedented challenge in particular for healthcare systems worldwide. Roche made important contributions to the fight against COVID-19. In close collaboration with authorities we were able to make our cobas SARS-CoV-2 test available and to initiate a global phase III study of Actemra/RoActemra in COVID-19 pneumonia in record time. With healthcare needs remaining high, Roche’s business has so far proved to be resilient in this difficult environment. The uptake of our recently introduced medicines continues to be strong. Based on our current assessment, we confirm the outlook for the full-year."

Outlook confirmed for 2020
Based on the current assessment of the COVID-19 impact sales are expected to grow in the low- to mid-single digit range, at constant exchange rates. Core earnings per share are targeted to grow broadly in line with sales, at constant exchange rates. Roche expects to increase its dividend in Swiss francs further.

Group sales
In the first three months of the year, Group sales rose 7% to CHF 15.1 billion. Sales in the Pharmaceuticals Division increased 7% to CHF 12.3 billion. Key growth drivers were the cancer medicine Tecentriq, the haemophilia medicine Hemlibra, the multiple sclerosis medicine Ocrevus and the breast cancer medicine Perjeta. The strong uptake of newly introduced medicines generated sales of CHF 4.6 billion, including a growth of CHF 1.6 billion at constant exchange rates over 2019, more than offsetting the impact of the competition from biosimilars (CHF 857 million at constant exchange rates).2

In the US, the sales growth (+3%) was predominantly generated by recently launched medicines such as Ocrevus, Hemlibra and Tecentriq, partially offset by the competition from biosimilars.

In Europe, sales increased (+14%) as the strong demand for Tecentriq, Ocrevus, Perjeta, Hemlibra, Actemra/RoActemra and Kadcyla, was able to offset the impact of lower sales of Herceptin (-32%) and MabThera/Rituxan (-24%). The first biosimilar versions of Avastin are expected later this year.

In the International region, sales increased 16%, the main contributors were Perjeta, Ocrevus, Tamiflu and Alecensa. In China, the strong uptake of recently launched medicines Perjeta and Alecensa and higher sales of established products including Tamiflu and Rocephin offset the National Reimbursement Drug List price cut and COVID-19 impact for Herceptin, Avastin and MabThera/Rituxan.

Growth in Japan (+3%) was also driven by recently launched products Hemlibra, Tecentriq and Perjeta, despite considerable competition from biosimilars.

Diagnostics Division sales increased 5% to CHF 2.9 billion. The business area Molecular Diagnostics (+29%) was the main growth contributor, driven by molecular testing. Growth was reported in North America (+12%), EMEA3 (+7%), Latin America (+20%) and Japan (+14%). In the Asia-Pacific region (-11%) sales were strongly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown in China. Overall, demand in North America, Europe and Latin America was less affected by COVID-19 in the first quarter due to the later onset of the pandemic in these regions. Routine testing decreased due to a decline in regular health checks while emergency and COVID-19 testing strongly increased.

Regulatory achievements in the first quarter
Regulators around the globe granted approvals for new Roche medicines, line extensions of existing medicines and new tests.

In China the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved Tecentriq in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) for the first-line treatment of patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

The European Commission approved Polivy in combination with bendamustine and MabThera/Rituxan, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are not candidates for a haematopoietic stem cell transplant.

The Commission also approved Venclexta/Venclyxto in combination with Gazyva/Gazyvaro for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.