On April 22, 2021 Biodesix, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDSX), a leading data-driven diagnostic solutions company with a focus in lung disease, reported a webinar to discuss biomarkers and risk assessment in lung nodule management (Press release, Biodesix, APR 22, 2021, View Source [SID1234578364]). The virtual session, hosted by the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and led by Susan Garwood, MD, National Physician Director of Pulmonary Disease at HCA Healthcare, is titled, "Using biomarker-based risk assessment to inform lung nodule referral decisions" and scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on Monday, April 26, 2021. Participants are encouraged to register using the following Zoom registration link: View Source

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Due to more frequent chest imaging for general diagnostic purposes, lung nodules are increasingly detected incidentally at various points of care throughout the healthcare system. In this webinar, Dr. Garwood will discuss identification of malignant lung nodules in a distributed population and how risk assessment using blood-based biomarker testing can help standardize referral patterns by stratifying patients who can be safely monitored with computerized tomography (CT) surveillance and those that should be referred to a specialist for diagnostic intervention.

"As an advanced bronchoscopist, I don’t want to miss an opportunity to diagnose lung cancer at an early stage where there is a substantial survival advantage," said Dr. Garwood.

"As an advanced bronchoscopist, I don’t want to miss an opportunity to diagnose lung cancer at an early stage where there is a substantial survival advantage," said Dr. Garwood. "Most lung nodules are benign, so it can be challenging to determine which patients should be evaluated for a diagnostic procedure. In order to increase referral volume, I must show responsible handling of nodules to my referral sources to have an opportunity to find lung cancer early. Education on risk assessment is crucial because it allows providers to confidently monitor low-risk patients with serial surveillance CT, while prioritizing indeterminate and high-risk patients for referral to advanced diagnostic centers."

"As an advanced bronchoscopist, I don’t want to miss an opportunity to diagnose lung cancer at an early stage where there is a substantial survival advantage," said Dr. Garwood. "Most lung nodules are benign, so it can be challenging to determine which patients should be evaluated for a diagnostic procedure. In order to increase referral volume, I must show responsible handling of nodules to my referral sources to have an opportunity to find lung cancer early. Education on risk assessment is crucial because it allows providers to confidently monitor low-risk patients with serial surveillance CT, while prioritizing indeterminate and high-risk patients for referral to advanced diagnostic centers."

Dr. Garwood is a pulmonologist practicing in Nashville, TN and is affiliated with multiple HCA facilities including Tri-Star Centennial Medical Center where she practices in a multi-specialty practice with thoracic surgery and interventional pulmonary. She completed her pulmonary training at the Medical University of South Carolina.

CHEST is a global leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases and serves as an essential resource for its 19,000+ members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. The journal CHEST features the best in peer-reviewed, cutting-edge original research in the multidisciplinary specialties of chest medicine, including CHEST’s highly regarded clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements.

On April 22, 2021 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq:VRTX) and Obsidian Therapeutics reported that the two companies have entered into a strategic research collaboration and licensing agreement focused on the discovery of novel therapies that regulate gene editing for the treatment of serious diseases (Press release, Obsidian Therapeutics, APR 22, 2021, View Source [SID1234578363]). The collaboration leverages Obsidian’s cytoDRiVE platform technology to discover gene-editing medicines whose therapeutic activity can be precisely controlled using small molecules and Vertex’s established scientific and clinical capabilities in small molecule, cell and genetic therapies to more rapidly bring these approaches to patients.

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"This collaboration with Obsidian builds upon and will expand Vertex’s leadership in small molecule and genetic therapies, and we’re excited to partner with the team at Obsidian to explore the capabilities of their technology," said Vertex’s David Altshuler, Executive Vice President, Global Research and Chief Scientific Officer. "The ability to tune gene-editing activity to a specific level is an important innovation that has the potential to address several serious diseases."

"At Obsidian, we’re using our cytoDRiVE technology to pioneer a new generation of engineered cell and gene therapies for patients with serious diseases," said Paul Wotton, Chief Executive Officer of Obsidian Therapeutics. "Partnering with Vertex, an established leader at the forefront of genetic therapies, will further advance our technology into the gene therapy field and accelerate development of controllable gene editing therapies for patients."

About the Collaboration

Under the terms of the agreement, Obsidian will use its cytoDRiVE technology to develop novel regulated gene editing therapy candidates for multiple serious diseases. Obsidian grants Vertex the exclusive option to license worldwide rights to candidates discovered and developed under the collaboration. Following Vertex’s exercise of its options, Vertex will be responsible for further preclinical and clinical development and commercialization.

Vertex will pay Obsidian up to $75 million in upfront payments and research milestones that may be paid during the research term, including an equity investment in Obsidian. Obsidian is eligible to receive up to $1.3 billion in potential payments based upon the successful achievement of specified research, development, regulatory, and commercial milestones across up to five potential programs. In addition, Vertex will pay tiered royalties on future net sales on any products that may result from this collaboration. Specific diseases that are the subject of this collaboration are not disclosed.

On April 22, 2021 Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported that its board of directors declared a 39-cent second-quarter 2021 dividend on the company’s common stock, payable June 4, 2021, to holders of the Common Stock of record at the close of business on May 7, 2021 (Press release, Pfizer, APR 22, 2021, View Source [SID1234578362]). The second-quarter 2021 cash dividend will be the 330th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Pfizer.

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The board has decided to maintain Pfizer’s quarterly dividend at its current rate despite the planned declaration of a dividend payment by Viatris Inc. that would be payable to those Pfizer shareholders that have elected to continue holding Viatris shares received from the combination of Upjohn and Mylan. This decision results in an increased dividend income to those shareholders continuing to own shares of both Pfizer and Viatris.

"We are pleased to be in a position to return capital to our shareholders as a result of our expected strong financial performance," stated Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our ability to fulfill our purpose and create meaningful value for patients is behind our expected strong financial performance and will remain a core focus."

On April 22, 2021 OPKO Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPK) reported that operating and financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as well as discuss financial guidance, after the close of the U.S. financial markets on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 (Press release, Opko Health, APR 22, 2021, View Source [SID1234578361]). OPKO’s senior management will provide a business update and discuss results in greater detail during a conference call and live audio webcast on April 28th beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

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CONFERENCE CALL & WEBCAST INFORMATION

OPKO encourages participants to pre-register for the conference call using the link here, or dialing (888) 869-1189 or (706) 643-5902 and using conference ID 9993698. Upon registering, participants will receive dial-in numbers, an event passcode and a unique registrant ID to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the start of the call.

To access the live call via webcast, please click on the link OPKO 1Q21 Results Conference Call. Individual investors and investment community professionals who do not plan to ask a question during the call’s Q&A session are encouraged to listen to the call via the webcast.

For those unable to listen to the live conference call, a replay can be accessed for a period of time on OPKO’s website at OPKO 1Q21 Results Conference Call. A telephone replay will be available beginning approximately two hours after the close of the conference call. To access the replay, please dial (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, and use conference ID 9993698.

On April 22, 2021 BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: BCRX) reported that the company will report its first quarter 2021 financial results on Thursday, May 6, 2021 (Press release, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, APR 22, 2021, View Source [SID1234578360]).

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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 # 2660434. 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 # 2660434.