On March 10, 2021 Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRTX), a late-stage targeted oncology company, reported it will present initial preclinical data on the Company’s synthetic lethal PRMT5 inhibitor during a late-breaking minisymposium at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting taking place April 10-15, 2021 (Press release, Mirati, MAR 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234576437]).

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!

"At Mirati, we are applying leading-edge drug discovery strategies, such as synthetic lethality, to translate this exciting research approach into meaningful, targeted therapeutic options for patients with cancer," said James Christensen, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer, Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. "We look forward to presenting early preclinical data at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) from our internally-discovered, potentially first-in-class, synthetic lethal PRMT5 inhibitor, as an example of how Mirati is progressing the science of novel targets."

Mirati is developing a novel synthetic lethal PRMT5 inhibitor targeting the methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP)-deleted patient population. Deletions of the MTAP gene locus are commonly observed in pancreatic, lung, and bladder cancers, among others, and are linked to poor patient outcomes. PRMT5 is an enzyme critical to the survival of normal and tumor cells and is partially inhibited by methylthioadenosine (MTA) which accumulates in MTAP-deleted cancers. Mirati’s differentiated approach selectively targets the PRMT5/MTA complex in MTAP-deleted cancer cells while sparing normal cells and represents a precision medicine strategy.

Presentation Details

Title: Fragment based discovery of MRTX9768, a synthetic lethal-based inhibitor designed to bind the PRMT5/MTA complex and selectively target MTAP/CDKN2A-deleted tumors
Author: Matthew Marx, Ph.D., senior vice president, drug discovery, Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.
Abstract #: LB003
Late-Breaking Minisymposium 1
Saturday, April 10, 2021, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

On March 10, 2021 Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a globally focused, clinical-stage biotechnology company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, reported that the latest preclinical research results of the company’s five novel drug candidates have been selected for presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2021, and have already been published in the meeting’s official website (Press release, Ascentage Pharma, MAR 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234576436]). This year’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting will be held in a virtual format on April 27-28 and June 22-24.

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 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting is one of the world’s largest and long-standing scientific gatherings in the field of cancer research. Covering some of the most cutting-edge advances in all the areas of oncology research and innovation, the annual event attracts tremendous interest from the global cancer research community.

"It is our great pleasure to have the research results of our drug candidates selected by the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting several years in a row, and this year, our presentations will focus on results from the translational research of multiple drug candidates that have already entered into clinical development," said Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma. "These studies deepened our understanding of our drug candidate’s mechanism of actions, provided supportive evidence to our strategy for combination options and potential disease indications, and have therefore further advanced our clinical development of these therapeutic candidates."

The six abstracts selected for poster presentations at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2021 include:

Title:

BCL-2 inhibitor APG-2575 and homoharringtonine (HHT) synergistically induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth in preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes (AML/MDS)

Abstract/Poster Number: 981
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Cell Death Pathways and Treatment
Title:

Inhibition of BCL-2 (by APG-2575) and CDK4/6 synergistically induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in ER⁺ breast cancer

Abstract/Poster Number: 976
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Cell Death Pathways and Treatment
Title:

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibition by olverembatinib (HQP1351) downregulates MCL-1 and synergizes with BCL-2 inhibitor APG-2575 in preclinical models of FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Abstract/Poster Number: 1096
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Drug Resistance in Molecular Targeted Therapies
Title:

Therapeutic potential of inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) inhibitor APG-1387 combined with DR5 agonist monoclonal antibody (mAb) CTB-006 in preclinical models of solid tumors

Abstract/Poster Number: 1924
Session Category: Molecular and Cellular Biology / Genetics
Session Title: Apoptosis
Title:

Targeting BCL-xL addiction with APG-1252 (pelcitoclax) to overcome apoptotic blockade in neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN)

Abstract/Poster Number: 984
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Cell Death Pathways and Treatment
Title:

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor APG-2449 sensitizes ovarian tumors to chemotherapy via CD44 downregulation

Abstract/Poster Number: 968
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Biological Therapeutic Agents

On March 10, 2021 Xencor, Inc. (NASDAQ: XNCR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered monoclonal antibodies and cytokines for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported it will present preclinical data on three XmAb bispecific antibody programs and the IL-12-Fc cytokine program at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, being held virtually April 10-15, 2021 (Press release, Xencor, MAR 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234576433]). Abstracts for these poster presentations are now available on AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)’s website.

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!

Poster Presentation Details

Abstract 1743, "IL12 heterodimeric Fc-fusions engineered for reduced potency exhibit strong anti-tumor activity and improved therapeutic index compared to native IL12 agents"
Session: Immunomodulatory Agents and Interventions
Abstract: 1880, "PDL1-targeted CD28 costimulatory bispecific antibodies enhance T cell activation in solid tumors"
Session: Therapeutic Antibodies, Including Engineered Antibodies
Abstract: 1860, "Bispecific claudin-6 x CD3 antibodies in a 2+1 format demonstrate selectivity and activity on human ovarian cancer cells"
Session: Therapeutic Antibodies, Including Engineered Antibodies
Abstract: 1831, "Affinity tuned XmAb 2+1 GPC3 x CD3 bispecific antibodies demonstrate selective activity in liver cancer models"
Session: Therapeutic Antibodies, Including Engineered Antibodies
These posters will be available to registrants of the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 10. Posters will be archived under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section of the Company’s website located at www.xencor.com.

On March 10, 2021 Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MACK) ("Merrimack" or the "Company") reported its full year 2020 financial results for the period ended December 31, 2020 (Press release, Merrimack, MAR 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234576432]).

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!

"We are pleased that both Ipsen Pharmaceuticals and Elevation Oncology continue to pursue separate clinical stage programs which could result in milestone payments to Merrimack." said Gary Crocker, Chairman of Merrimack’s Board of Directors. "We have continued to see reduced operating expenses and remain focused on conserving cash to ensure that we have sufficient financial resources to capture future potential milestone payments from Ipsen and Elevation."

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Merrimack reported net loss of $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, or $0.22 per basic share, compared to a net loss of $17.3 million, or $1.30 per basic share, for the same period in 2019.

Merrimack reported a gain on sale of assets for the year ended December 31, 2020 of $2.1 million compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2019.

General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $5.0 million, compared to $16.2 million for the same period in 2019.

As of December 31, 2020, Merrimack had cash and cash equivalents and investments of $14.0 million, compared to $16.6 million as of December 31, 2019.

As of December 31, 2020, Merrimack had 13.4 million shares of common stock outstanding.

Updates on Programs Underlying Potential Milestone Payments

Ipsen

– On December 1, 2020 Ipsen held a capital markets day briefing with investors. On February 11, 2021 Ipsen released its full year 2020 financial results. In both of these updates Ipsen provided guidance to investors that it may file with the FDA for accelerated approval of ONIVYDE as a treatment of second line small cell lung cancer in 2021. In addition, Ipsen reported that it is continuing to study ONIVYDE in Phase III clinical trials in first line pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Elevation Oncology

– On November 18, 2020 Elevation Oncology announced that it had raised a $65 million Series B financing. This announcement included confirmation that Elevation’s phase II CRESTONE study evaluating the HER3 monoclonal antibody seribantumab for the treatment of patients with tumors harboring an NRG1 gene fusion is continuing to enroll patients.

On March 10, 2021 Schrödinger (Nasdaq: SDGR), whose physics-based software platform is transforming the way therapeutics and materials are discovered, reported that preclinical data from its CDC7 program will be presented in a virtual poster session at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Schrodinger, MAR 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234576431]).

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!

CDC7 is a protein kinase that is required for DNA replication initiation and involved in DNA replication stress response. CDC7 is thought to be linked to cancer cells’ proliferative capacity and ability to bypass normal DNA damage responses. Targeting proteins that play important roles in DNA replication and replication stress is gaining momentum as a new therapeutic approach for various cancers.

Details about the presentation are as follows:

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2021
Abstract Number: 1277
Title: Discovery of novel CDC7 inhibitors that disrupt cell cycle dynamics and show anti-proliferative effects in cancer cells

The virtual abstract is available in the program section of the virtual AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting website: View Source