On November 19, 2020 JOINN Laboratories, China’s leading preclinical contract research organization (CRO), reported that it has partnered with Integral Molecular to provide researchers in China with rapid antibody specificity testing against the entire human membrane proteome using Integral Molecular’s Membrane Proteome Array (MPA) technology (Press release, Integral Molecular, NOV 19, 2020, View Source [SID1234571450]). The ability to select lead candidates with high specificity will reduce safety liabilities prior to clinical development of therapeutic antibodies and CAR-T cancer treatments.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Off-target binding of antibodies can result in severe or life-threatening adverse events, especially when antibody binding is used to direct cell killing, as with CAR-T cell therapeutics. Specificity testing using Integral Molecular’s MPA is now routinely included in investigational new drug (IND) applications submitted to regulatory agencies.

"At JOINN, we provide preclinical research services for most of the CAR-T cell therapeutics being developed in China," said Mr. Leon (Jingliang) Gu, EMT & VP of JOINN Laboratories. "We understand the possible consequences of misdirected cell killing and why MPA data represents a valuable component of preclinical packages submitted to the U.S. FDA and the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China."

The MPA antibody specificity profiling service was developed by Integral Molecular as a comprehensive approach to detect binding of antibodies, cells, and other biologics to membrane protein targets for early de-risking of drug development. The MPA is the largest library of human membrane proteins, covering 94% of the membrane proteome and includes nearly all G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), ion channels, and transporters expressed in live cells.

On November 19, 2020 Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLRX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis, reported its participation in the Piper Sandler 32nd Annual Healthcare Conference to be held virtually December 1 – 3, 2020 (Press release, Pliant Therapeutics, NOV 19, 2020, View Source [SID1234571449]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Pliant Therapeutics, will participate in a fireside chat with Tyler M. Van Buren, senior biotechnology analyst at Piper Sandler. The fireside chat will be pre-recorded and available beginning on Monday, November 23, 2020 at 10:00 am ET by visiting the "News & Events" section of the "Investors & Media" page of the Pliant Therapeutics’ website at www.pliantrx.com.

The webcast replay of the fireside chat will be archived for 90 days following the conclusion of the event.

On November 19, 2020 PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTCT) reported that management will present a company overview at Evercore ISI 3rd Annual HealthCONx Conference on Tuesday, December 1st at 11:45 a.m. ET (Press release, PTC Therapeutics, NOV 19, 2020, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ptc-therapeutics-to-present-at-the-evercore-isi-3rd-annual-healthconx-conference-301174099.html [SID1234571448]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The presentation will be webcast live on the Events and Presentations page under the investor relations section of PTC Therapeutics’ website at www.ptcbio.com and will be archived for 30 days following the presentation. It is recommended that users connect to PTC’s website several minutes prior to the start of the webcast to ensure a timely connection.

On November 19, 2020 Varian (NYSE: VAR) and the Cincinnati Children’s/UC Health Proton Therapy Center today reported the start of the first clinical trial of FLASH therapy as part of the recently opened FAST-01 study (FeAsibility Study of FLASH Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Symptomatic Bone Metastases) (Press release, Varian Medical Systems, NOV 19, 2020, View Source [SID1234571447]). The clinical trial involves the investigational use of Varian’s ProBeam particle accelerator modified to enable radiation therapy delivery at ultra-high dose rates (dose delivered in less than 1 second) and is being conducted at the Cincinnati Children’s/UC Health Proton Therapy Center with John C. Breneman M.D., Medical Director of the center, serving as principal investigator.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The first clinical trial patient was treated this week. The FAST-01 study is expected to enroll up to 10 patients with bone metastases to evaluate clinical workflow feasibility, treatment-related side effects, and efficacy of treatment as assessed by measuring pain relief of trial participants. The clinical trial, informed by years of preclinical work, was designed by experts at Varian and multiple centers in the FlashForwardTM Consortium, including Cincinnati’s Children’s/UC Health Proton Therapy Center and the New York Proton Center.

"Treating the first patient in this FLASH clinical trial is a milestone that many thought was still years ahead of us," said Kolleen Kennedy, Chief Growth Officer and President of Proton Therapy Solutions at Varian. "There was overwhelming support from Dr. Breneman and his team for this clinical trial, which was designed in collaboration with the FlashForward Consortium and with significant contributions from the New York Proton Center. These efforts help Varian safely advance potential therapy options towards our vision of a world without fear of cancer."

Breneman noted that, because this is the first in human trial of FLASH radiotherapy, it will build a foundation for extending this therapy to other types of cancer treatments.

"Trials using FLASH radiotherapy for lung cancer and other malignancies are currently being developed," said Breneman, a UC Health radiation oncologist and a professor emeritus at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. "Using FLASH treatment for these cancers could deliver higher cancer-killing doses without causing inordinate side effects, which would be a real advance."

"FLASH therapy has the potential to be practice changing and dramatically improve the experience of cancer care for a new generation of patients. The launch of the first FLASH clinical trial, a project that has come to fruition after years of intensive study, is an important milestone in the progress of radiation therapy," said FlashForward Consortium member Dr. Charles B. Simone, II, FACRO, Chief Medical Officer at New York Proton Center. "We are optimistic that the results of the FAST clinical development program will transform the way the industry approaches treatment. The New York Proton Center is proud to be a partner in this future-focused study."

John Perentesis, MD, Director of the Division of Oncology & Cancer Programs at Cincinnati Children’s, said FLASH is potentially a transformational advance for cancer treatment for many patients."If the side effects of radiation on the normal tissues surrounding a tumor can be significantly reduced, the dose of radiation to treat a cancer can be greatly increased," Perentesis said. "This would raise hope to cure malignancies that respond to radiation but aren’t completely cured at current doses, including pediatric brain tumors like DIPG/pontine glioma and medulloblastoma, sarcomas, and neuroblastoma."

On November 19, 2020 Syngene International and Deerfield Discovery and Development Corporation (3DC), the drug discovery and development subsidiary of Deerfield Management Company (Deerfield), reported that they have signed an agreement to collaborate to advance therapeutic discovery projects, from target validation through to pharmacological proof of concept and preclinical evaluation (Press release, Syngene International, NOV 19, 2020, View Source [SID1234571446]). This five-year collaboration unites the core skills of the investment management company Deerfield, through its drug discovery and development arm 3DC, and Syngene’s integrated drug discovery (IDD) services.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Syngene’s Managing Director and CEO, Jonathan Hunt, said: "Syngene will deliver fully integrated therapeutic discovery programs for 3DC. Syngene is an industry-leading collaboration partner for pharma, biotech, and venture capital firms, and we are delighted to have 3DC as a major strategic partner. Their reputation for identifying highly promising science is a great fit with our ability to lead and deliver world-class scientific execution for their growing portfolio."

"This collaboration forms an important part of our execution strategy. When we identify a promising biological target, our goal is to discover and deliver the best possible therapeutic agent to the clinic as quickly and safely as possible," said Mike Foley, Ph.D., CEO of 3DC. "We believe the Syngene-Deerfield collaboration may provide critical new therapeutic options with pace and efficiency that could improve the lives of many patients."

3DC has selected Syngene as a key execution partner for a developing portfolio of molecular entities, spanning multiple therapeutic areas and modalities. The ultimate goal is to deliver much-needed benefit to patients suffering from serious, unmet medical needs through innovation, scale, quality, and speed-to-market.

The collaboration will start with immediate effect and is expected to run for an initial cycle of 5 years.