On January 16, 2020 Frazier Healthcare Partners reported the closing of Frazier Life Sciences X, L.P., exceeding its target and closing on more than $617 million in capital commitments in an oversubscribed fundraise (Press release, Frazier Healthcare, JAN 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234553297]). Investing in life sciences has been a core strategy since the firm’s inception 29 years ago, and Frazier Life Sciences X marks the third dedicated Life Sciences fund, bringing the firm’s total committed capital raised since inception to nearly $4.8 billion.

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Led by General Partners Patrick Heron, James Topper and Dan Estes, the Frazier Life Sciences team invests primarily in therapeutics-focused companies developing and commercializing innovative biopharmaceuticals that address important unmet medical needs. Frazier Life Sciences X will continue its three-pronged strategy of investing in company creation, early-stage venture and late private/public opportunities, with two-thirds of its investments expected to be in Seed and Series A rounds.

"We are extremely grateful to our limited partners for their continued support of our Life Sciences strategy, which includes creating innovative therapeutics through company creation, early-stage venture, and late private and public investing," said Patrick Heron. "We were also happy to welcome a small number of new, high-quality institutional investors to our fund."

Recent Frazier Life Sciences IPOs and exits include Acerta (acquired by AstraZeneca), Mirum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MIRM), and Ignyta (acquired by Roche), as well as Frazier-founded companies Mavupharma (acquired by AbbVie), Phathom Pharmaceuticals (IPO: PHAT), and Silvergate Pharmaceuticals (acquired by CutisPharma). The Frazier Life Sciences team has created or seeded 23 companies since 2005.

On January 16, 2020 BioTheryX, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company creating new classes of compounds based on multi-kinase inhibition and targeted protein degradation, reported the initiation of patient dosing in its first clinical program (Press release, BioTheryX, JAN 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234553296]). The Phase 1 study of BTX-A51, a small molecule, oral multi-kinase inhibitor will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and tolerability of BTX-A51 in patients with relapsed/refractory AML, as well as high risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients.

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BTX-A51 appears to block a specific leukemic stem cell target (CK1-alpha) as well as super enhancer targets (CDK7/CDK9) preventing transcription of key oncogenic genes. BTX-A51 has demonstrated remarkable preclinical animal efficacy implying the eradication of AML stem cells and the potential for use in multiple malignancies.

"As I stated when the Investigational New Drug application for BTX-A51 was accepted by the FDA, the novel mechanism of BTX-A51 may become one of the most important new treatments for AML in the last 40 years, and has the potential to significantly improve the lives of AML patients and their families," said David Stirling, Ph.D., CEO of BioTheryX.

In addition to its multi-kinase inhibition program, BioTheryX’s other technology platform is in the field of targeted protein degradation. This technology utilizes the body’s own protein disposal system to selectively degrade and remove disease-causing proteins. It has potential applicability to a very broad range of disease targets, including a wide range of targets that have to date been considered "undruggable."

In this area, BioTheryX’s preclinical assets include a large and growing library of novel, small molecule, orally available, cereblon-binding targeted protein degraders which BioTheryX has termed Protein Homeostatic Modulators ("PHMs"). These IP-protected compounds are biologically active against a number of high value therapeutic targets in oncology, inflammation and other diseases. In addition to the therapeutic potential of these "molecular glue" molecules in their own right, these compounds also have a broad range of molecular orientations when bound to cereblon, providing a new level of structural control in the creation of bifunctional chimeric molecules that degrade high-value targets with great specificity. Recognizing this potential, BioTheryX has created a library of PHM-linked, biologically active chimeric molecules, including several that degrade the oncogenic targets of BTX-A51, thus dovetailing BioTheryX’s two major programs.

On January 16, 2020 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring, reported its operating results for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 after the market closes on Thursday, January 30, 2020, and will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET that day to discuss those results (Press release, Edwards Lifesciences, JAN 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234553295]).

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To participate in the conference call, dial (877) 704-2848 or (201) 389-0893. For 72 hours following the call, an audio replay can be accessed by dialing (877) 660-6853 or (201) 612-7415 and using conference number 13697863. The call will also be available via live or archived webcast on the "Investor Relations" section of the Edwards web site at ir.edwards.com.

On January 16, 2020 Syndivia, a biotechnology company focused on the development of new therapeutic modalities for solid cancers based on specific targeting of the tumor microenvironment and anatomical hallmarks, reported that it has been granted an exclusive, worldwide sublicense by SATT Sud-Est to the immunoconjugates of the anti‑CD146-ts antibody (excluding diagnosis), which binds a tumor-specific form of CD146 found on a number of solid cancers (Press release, Syndivia, JAN 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234553294]). CD146-ts has a central role in the mechanism of tumorigenesis and has the potential to address a current unmet need in cancer therapy. The development of novel biologic entities (NBE) targeting CD146-ts will be undertaken by Syndivia in Strasbourg, France.

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Commenting on this deal, Dr. Sasha Koniev, Syndivia’s CEO, said "We are excited to have been granted the sole and exclusive sublicense to commercialize the immunoconjugates against this tumor-specific form of CD146. We are enthusiastic about the addition of this candidate to the Syndivia discovery pipeline and will leverage our expertise in bioconjugation to rapidly progress its preclinical development."

"We are extremely pleased that Syndivia shares our excitement for the CD146-ts mAb project and look forward to the next stages of development with great enthusiasm," said Dr. Marcel BLOT-CHABAUD, inventor of anti-CD146-ts antibody and leader of the "New Molecular Targets" team at C2VN, Aix-Marseille Université, INSERM, INRA, Marseille, France.

"We could not be any happier when transferring such a first-in-class opportunity for the treatment of solid cancers, with the sole aim of transforming the invention into an innovation – especially when the nature of the identified target makes it possible to identify a relevant lead for the most aggressive and refractory forms to current treatments," concluded Laurent BALY, President of SATT Sud-Est.

Syndivia will undertake further development and commercialization of anti-CD146-ts immunoconjugates in exchange for undisclosed upfront, milestone and royalty payments to SATT Sud-Est.

About CD146-ts

CD146-ts represents a novel target in a number of the deadliest therapeutic indications in oncology, including melanoma and pancreatic cancer. Due to its important role in tumorigenesis and confirmed tumor-specific expression in patient-derived samples, anti-CD146-ts immunoconjugates have the potential to become new therapeutic modalities in a number of solid cancer indications.

About C2VN (Aix-Marseille Université, INSERM, INRA)

The Cardiovascular and Nutrition Research Centre (C2VN, UMR_S 1263, UMR 1260, Aix-Marseille Université, INSERM, INRA) shows expertise in all pathways and targets involved in pathologies with a vascular component, including cancer pathology, with the aim of identifying innovative biomarkers and biotherapies. To support its studies, the C2VN has developed many platforms, tools and experimental models related to the targeted pathologies. For more information, visit View Source

About SATT Sud-Est ­| From dream to reality, from lab to market

A researcher and his/her team make an extraordinary discovery. But how can an idea be transformed into a solution, and how can an invention be turned into an innovation? This is the start of a race against time to find the partner company capable of upholding that ambition. Fortunately, SATT Sud-Est is there to help in this undertaking and make this great story come true. Transforming an invention into an innovation is a wonderful experience. And we’re fortunate, it is our job. Find out how SATT Sud-Est accelerates technology transfer by bringing together research and business players. From the patent to the operating license agreement, SATT Sud-Est stands out in France’s South and Corsica regions as an essential innovation player. Visit www.sattse.com and Twitter @SATTse_.

On January 16, 2020 MedX Health Corp. ("MedX" or the "Company") (TSX-V: MDX), dedicated to the early detection of skin cancer, reported that a total of 5,990,000 stock options have been granted to directors (2,020,000 options), Officers (1,580,000 options) and employees and consultants (2,390,000 options) (Press release, MedX Health, JAN 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234553293]). The options are all exercisable at the price of $0.17 per share, valid for a period to December 31, 2024, and vest immediately. The Company notes that a total of 7,150,000 stock options previously granted in 2014 expired unexercised on November 26, 2019. At this time there are a total of 21,200,000 options available for grant under the Company’s Incentive Stock Option Plan, of which a total of 17,765,000 are currently subject to grants, at a weighted average exercise price of $0.197, and 3,435,000 remain available for grant under the Plan.

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