Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Enters Data Collaboration with AC Bioscience

On December 16, 2020 Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX), reported that it has entered a collaboration enabling the use by AC Bioscience LTD of preclinical and clinical data for LX2931 without granting any right or license under any of Lexicon’s patent rights for the compound (Press release, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, DEC 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234572939]). LX2931 is a small molecule sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) lyase inhibitor that is currently not in active development at Lexicon.

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"In line with our realignment around the rapid development of the LX9211 program, we continue to evaluate our pipeline and determine the most effective way to advance our broad library of compounds and targets," said Praveen Tyle, Ph.D., executive vice president of research and development. "We are pleased to collaborate with AC Bioscience to accelerate their efforts around S1P and look forward to learning additional information about this potentially interesting pathway."

Under the terms of the agreement, Lexicon will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive milestone payments totaling up to $5.3 million in the aggregate.

Jounce Therapeutics Added to NASDAQ Biotechnology Index

On December 16, 2020 Jounce Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: JNCE), a clinical-stage company focused on the discovery and development of novel cancer immunotherapies and predictive biomarkers, reported that it has been selected for addition to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (Nasdaq: NBI), effective prior to market open on Monday, December 21, 2020 (Press release, Jounce Therapeutics, DEC 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234572938]).

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The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is designed to track the performance of a set of securities listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ) that are classified as either biotechnology or pharmaceutical according to the Industry Classification Benchmark. All securities in the index are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Global Select Market and must meet eligibility requirements, including minimum market capitalization, average daily trading volume, seasoning as a public company, among other criteria.

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is re-ranked annually and forms the basis for a number of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), including the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology ETF. More information about the Index can be found at View Source

Vivace Therapeutics Announces $30 Million Series C Financing to Fund Clinical Programs Targeting the Hippo Pathway

On December 16, 2020 Vivace Therapeutics, Inc., a small molecule discovery and development company developing first-in-class therapies targeting the Hippo pathway, reported the closing of a $30 million Series C financing (Press release, Vivace Therapeurtics, DEC 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234572937]). The company anticipates advancing its clinical candidate into first-in-human studies in early 2021, targeting tumors dependent on activated YAP. The Series C financing was led by Boxer Capital with participation from new investor RA Capital Management alongside existing investor Canaan Partners. With the financing, Dr. Norman Zhou of Boxer Capital has joined the board of directors at Vivace.

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"We are honored to welcome Boxer Capital and RA Capital Management to our team and to have their support. The Hippo pathway has generated much interest, and we are excited to have discovered a portfolio of diverse chemical classes of compounds with excellent in vitro and in vivo activities. To the best of our knowledge, we will be the first company to take a molecule into the clinic targeting this novel pathway," said Sofie Qiao, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Vivace Therapeutics.

"We see tremendous opportunity for the Hippo pathway and are excited to support the Vivace team as it progresses its development candidate through the clinic to address this unmet medical need." said Aaron Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Boxer Capital, LLC.

"For nearly a decade we have been tracking efforts to drug the YAP pathway, which we believe is a key driver of tumorigenesis and acquired drug resistance," commented Jake Simson, Principal, RA Capital Management. "We are excited to join this high-quality investor syndicate and partner with the Vivace management team, which has a deep track record of developing transformative precision oncology medicines, to bring the first TEAD inhibitor into the clinic."

Vivace Therapeutics’s compounds inhibit palmitoylation of members of the transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) protein family. Pre-clinical research and development activities show that the clinical candidate is active as a monotherapy and in combination with other anti-cancer therapies against tumors that rely upon dysfunction of the Hippo pathway.

Y-mAbs Announces Pipeline Update

On December 16, 2020 Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company" or "Y-mAbs") (Nasdaq: YMAB) a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, antibody-based therapeutic products for the treatment of cancer, reported that data for DANYELZA (naxitamab-gqgk), omburtamab and nivatrotamab will be presented at the Company’s R&D event, which takes place virtually today at 12 p.m. Eastern Time (Press release, Y-mAbs Therapeutics, DEC 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234572936]). Key opinion leaders, including Shakeel Modak, M.D., MRCP, Memorial Sloan Kettering ("MSK"), Jaume Mora, M.D., Ph.D., SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital, and Brian H. Santich, Ph.D., MSK, will discuss the current treatment landscape and unmet medical needs for high-risk neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma and other solid tumors. Investors, analysts, members of the media and public may access the event via a live webcast.

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DANYELZA

Dr. Mora, who has experience treating frontline neuroblastoma patients with both DANYELZA and a competing anti-GD2 antibody, will present clinical data from both antibodies. Data from an investigator sponsored frontline study of DANYELZA comprised 73 patients with high-risk stage 4 neuroblastoma of which 55 patients were in their first complete remission ("CR") and 18 patients were in their second CR. Patients in first CR showed an overall 74.3% event free survival ("EFS") at 24 months and an overall survival ("OS") of 91.6% at 24 months. Patients in second CR showed an overall 38.5% EFS at 24 months and an OS of 88.1% at 24 months.

In osteosarcoma, the Company will present an update on its ongoing Phase 2 study, which started more than 4 years ago at MSK and has now been approved for recruitment at two other U.S. sites. A total of 33 patients have received DANYELZA. At 30 months of follow-up the EFS was in excess of 50%.

Omburtamab

The company will also reconfirm its plan to resubmit its omburtamab BLA for the treatment of pediatric patients with CNS/leptomeningeal metastasis from neuroblastoma to the FDA in the beginning of 2021. Preliminary Overall Survival ("OS") data for the Company’s multicenter Study 101 for the first 18 months appears supportive of the conclusion from an earlier Study 03-133 at MSK on survival improvement for these patients, with 75% of patients surviving after 18 months. Additionally, the preliminary propensity score analysis of Study 03-133 compared to external control subjects, shows a significant difference in three years overall survival (p<0.001). Finally, an independent radiographic evaluation of the tumor responses in Study 101, shows that for ten evaluable patients with measureable disease, a total of 40% of the patients responded to omburtamab, 20% with complete response ("CR") and 20% with partial response ("PR"), and another five patients had stable disease ("SD"). All nine patients with response or SD maintained these at six months follow up.

Nivatrotamab

The Company will also present a status on Study 18-034, covering the first six cohorts of the study, where patients have received up to 8 μg/kg per dose. A total of ten patients were enrolled in the study. In this initial part of the study, no CRs or PRs were achieved, but the Company is preparing for the Phase 2 studies, including a separate multicenter study in small cell lung cancer. Future protocols will be amended to subcutaneous administration, more frequent dose exposure and, in addition, the premedication regime will be altered with the objective of being able to further increase doses of nivatrotamab.

"I am delighted and excited to welcome this excellent group of key opinion leaders to our R&D event. It will be a great opportunity to learn more about the clinical experience of DANYELZA, omburtamab and nivatrotamab, also noting that SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital, a major pediatric center located in Barcelona, Spain, has produced promising frontline DANYELZA data," said Thomas Gad, founder, Chairman and President.

Dr. Claus Moller, Chief Executive Officer further notes, "We are excited to share this broad update on our pipeline and believe this to be class leading clinical results. The tumor response data for omburtamab paves the way for the resubmission of the BLA in early 2021."

Researchers at MSK developed DANYELZA, omburtamab and nivatrotamab, which are exclusively licensed by MSK to Y-mAbs. As a result of this licensing arrangement, MSK has institutional financial interests related to the compounds and Y-mAbs.

About DANYELZA (naxitamab-gqgk)

DANYELZA is indicated, in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor ("GM-CSF"), for the treatment of pediatric patients 1 year of age and older and adult patients with relapsed or refractory high-risk neuroblastoma in the bone or bone marrow who have demonstrated a partial response, minor response, or stable disease to prior therapy. This indication was approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefits in a confirmatory trial. DANYELZA includes a Boxed Warning for serious infusion-related reactions, such as cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, hypotension, bronchospasm and stridor and neurotoxicity, such as severe neuropathic pain, transverse myelitis and reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome. See full Prescribing Information for complete Boxed Warning and other important safety information.

PerkinElmer to Present at J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

On December 16, 2020 PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI), a global leader committed to innovating for a healthier world, reported that the Company will present at the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 7:30 a.m. ET (Press release, PerkinElmer, DEC 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234572935]).

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Prahlad Singh, president and chief executive officer of PerkinElmer, will provide an update on the Company and its strategic priorities.

A live audio webcast will be available on the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.perkinelmer.com. A replay of the presentation will be posted on the PerkinElmer website after the event and will be available for 90 days following.