Viewpoint Molecular Targeting® Appoints Ewa Matczak MD, as Chief Medical Officer

On June 30, 2021 Viewpoint Molecular Targeting, Inc. ("Viewpoint" or the "Company"), a radiopharmaceutical company developing precision lead-212-based α-particle oncology therapeutics and complementary diagnostic imaging agents, reported the appointment of Ewa Matczak MD to the company as Chief Medical Officer (Press release, Viewpoint Molecular Targeting, JUN 30, 2021, https://viewpointmt.com/viewpoint-molecular-targetingr-appoints-ewa-matczak-md-as-chief-medical-officer/ [SID1234585492]).

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Dr. Matczak is a medical oncologist/hematologist who spent the first 10 years of her career in basic science research, clinical research and teaching. Her post-medical training included fellowships and research positions at the National Cancer Institute, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. She then transitioned to industry and has over 20 years of experience in early and late-stage drug development, particularly in solid tumors and hematology/oncology. Dr. Matczak has held clinical development roles at multiple leading global pharmaceutical companies including, Bayer, Novartis, Eisai and Pfizer.

"We are incredibly pleased to welcome Dr. Matczak as our Chief Medical Officer. She has an impressive track record in early and late-stage drug development with extensive experience working for multiple global pharmaceutical companies. We look forward to leveraging her expertise as we advance our novel theranostics for the treatment and diagnosis of oncology indications with significant unmet need," commented Frances Johnson MD, CEO of Viewpoint.

Dr. Matczak most recently served as VP, Clinical Sciences at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, where she was responsible for leading development with focus on immune-oncology and building the oncology team. Prior to that, she served as the Associate VP, Oncology at Hengrui Therapeutics where she played a key role in development, oversight and establishment of the company’s Oncology program. For nearly a decade she held roles at Pfizer, including Director and Senior Director of Global Medical Affairs as U.S. Sutent Lead and RCC Lead; and Bosutinib Global Clinical Lead in Clinical Development. During her time at Pfizer, she provided leadership in commercial and drug development strategies, clinical trial design, Investigator-initiated research strategies and implementation. Additionally, Dr. Matczak served as Senior Director /International Program Team Leader at Eisai Pharmaceuticals for two targeted therapy agents in early development; Medical Director/Clinical Investigations Leader in the Research & Development Oncology Business Unit, Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation; and Associate Medical Director/Medical Expert for Clinical Pharmacology at Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceutical. Prior to industry she spent over a decade in basic science research, clinical research and teaching at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, the US NIH National Cancer Institute, and Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Matczak added, "The Viewpoint platform technology is among the most innovative and potentially disruptive technologies in alpha-particle therapeutics that I have seen to-date. I am excited to be joining the Company at such a pivotal moment as we enter human clinical studies and gain momentum across multiple fronts. I look forward to further working alongside the team to propel the Company’s potentially transformative new class of cancer therapeutics and complementary diagnostic imaging agents forward to provide solutions to cancer patients where there remains significant unmet need."

Dr. Matczak received her Medical Degree from SUNY Downstate, NY. She completed her internal medicine internship, and residency and oncology/hematology fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian under Dr. Karen Antman in New York and she completed her HIV Oncology training and research at Harvard Institute of Medicine/Beth Israel Deaconess with Jerome Groopman where she remained on faculty until she joined the Clinical Trial Evaluation Program (CTEP) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). She was a National Institute of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Awardee in Dr. Bob Gallo’s Lab. Dr. Matczak organized and led multi-disciplinary translational research clinics in Kaposi’s Sarcoma and HPV. She was a NIH investigator, and an AIDS Malignancy Consortium and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group member.

HutchMed Completes $537 Million Hong Kong IPO for Oncology Drugs

On June 30, 2021 HutchMed, a Shanghai novel drug company, reported that it completed a $537 million IPO on the Hong Kong exchange, its third global listing (Press release, Hutchison China MediTech, JUN 30, 2021, View Source [SID1234584540]). The company is also listed on London’s AIM exchange and NASDAQ. HutchMed (formerly Hutchison Chi-Med) has three novel approved oncology drugs in China, and it has seven more candidates in development. Following the IPO, its shares rose 20% ($6.49) to $40.02 in early trading on NASDAQ, giving the company a market capitalization of $6 billion.

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Scopus BioPharma Expands Immunotherapy Pipeline with Acquisition of Olimmune

On June 30, 2021 Scopus BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq: "SCPS"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformational therapeutics, reported the acquisition of Los Angeles-based Olimmune Inc (Press release, Scopus BioPharma, JUN 30, 2021, View Source [SID1234584530]).

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Olimmune is a developer of groundbreaking oligonucleotide immunotherapies for treatment-resistant and metastatic cancers. Olimmune’s lead drug candidate, OLIM-01, is being developed for genitourinary and head and neck cancers. It is anticipated that INDs for these indications will be submitted by Q1 2023.

Joshua R. Lamstein, Chairman of Scopus BioPharma, stated, "The acquisition of Olimmune dramatically expands our reach in immuno-oncology. Both companies have been pioneering proprietary technologies to address traditionally "undruggable" targets, such as STAT3. This combination positions Scopus as a global leader in bifunctional oligonucleotide cancer therapeutics."

Olimmune was co-founded by Marcin Kortylewski, Ph.D., a leading immuno-oncologist and Professor in the Department of Immuno-Oncology at City of Hope. Dr. Kortylewski and his laboratory were instrumental in the seminal discovery that successful cancer immunotherapy needs to combine both TLR9 immunostimulation and STAT3 inhibition. This strategy underpins CpG-STAT3siRNA, Scopus’ lead drug candidate, which is covered by certain patents licensed from City of Hope. City of Hope is a world-renowned independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases near Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Kortylewski stated, "While it’s necessary to deliver STAT3 inhibitors to the proper cells, STAT3 inhibition, by itself, is not sufficient. You also need to stimulate immune activation. Fortunately, the short CpG sequence also serves as a TLR9 agonist, so you get release of immunosuppression by the STAT3 inhibitor and immune activation through TLR9 activation, both of which are necessary for a robust anti-cancer response."

Dr. Kortylewski added, "City of Hope and Scopus are working closely to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating CpG-STAT3siRNA for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Now, we will work towards expanding our collaboration to other challenging cancer indications, such as head and neck, kidney, or prostate cancers using alternative STAT3 inhibitors."

Alan Horsager, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Olimmune, stated, "Scopus BioPharma is the ideal home for Olimmune. The combination of immuno-oncology assets creates a comprehensive portfolio of complementary cell-selective oligonucleotide therapeutics. Moreover, Scopus’ clinical development will provide us with invaluable insights, experience and expertise in bringing our drug candidates into the clinic."

Olimmune has exclusive, worldwide licenses to certain patents from City of Hope to develop and commercialize CpG-STAT3ASO and CpG-STAT3decoy.

Terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

BeiGene Approved to Stage $3 Billion IPO on Shanghai STAR Exchange

On June 30, 2021 BeiGene reported that it been approved to stage a $3 billion IPO on the Shanghai Star Stock Exchange (Press release, BeiGene, JUN 30, 2021, View Source [SID1234584527]). It will be the first Chinese biopharma to be listed in Shanghai, Hong Kong and the US. According to a Caixin report, BeiGene’s propectus meets the listing conditions and information disclosure requirements of the STAR Market, but regulators asked BeiGene to explain how it will protect the interests of domestic shareholders. Founded in 2010, BeiGene develops molecularly targeted and immuno-oncology drug candidates to treat cancer.

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Cerus Announces Collaboration with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers to Manufacture INTERCEPT® Fibrinogen Complex

On June 30, 2021 Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ: CERS) reported an agreement with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers (LifeSouth) to serve as a production partner for INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex, the company’s pathogen reduced cryoprecipitated fibrinogen complex product (Press release, Cerus, JUN 30, 2021, View Source [SID1234584526]). LifeSouth is the fifth production partner for INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex, enabling the initial commercial launch of the product to expand into the state of Florida.

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"We are delighted to add LifeSouth as a blood center manufacturing partner for INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex," stated Elan Weiner, general manager of Cerus Therapeutics. "The initial market response has been enthusiastic and as we gear up for a nationwide launch in 2022 following anticipated BLA approvals, we are happy to be able to offer this product in Florida through our partnership. LifeSouth’s strong presence throughout the Southeast will help ensure we have the ability to easily deliver product to hospitals in the region," Mr. Weiner continued.

As the third most populous state in the country, Florida is home to more than 30 Level 1, Level 2 and Pediatric trauma centers. Together with the other four states that are a part of the initial launch (California, Louisiana, Texas and Wisconsin), INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex will be available for use to nearly one-third of the U.S. population.

"We believe INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex is an exciting innovation in transfusion medicine, and we are pleased to partner with Cerus in the Florida market. Tools to help manage bleeding patients help fill a significant unmet need, and we are excited to contribute to making INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex available," noted Kimberly E. Kinsell, president and chief executive officer of LifeSouth.