InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding AB (publ) interim report January – June 2021

On August 25, 2021 InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding AB (publ) reported that interim report January – June 2021 (Press release, InDex Pharmaceuticals, AUG 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234586866])

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Period April – June 2021
Net sales amounted to SEK 0.0 (0.0) million
Operating loss amounted to SEK –42.6 (–15.6) million
Result after tax amounted to SEK –42.6 (–15.6) million, corresponding to SEK –0.08 per share (–0.07) before and after dilution
Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK –53.4 (–32.8) million
Period January – June 2021
Net sales amounted to SEK 0.0 (0.0) million
Operating loss amounted to SEK –51.9 (–39.6) million
Result after tax amounted to SEK –52.0 (–39.6) million, corresponding to SEK –0.11 per share (–0.17) before and after dilution
Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK –62.0 (–54.7) million
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period amounted to SEK 478.8 (70.6) million
Number of employees at the end of the period was 7 (7)
Number of shares at the end of the period was 532,687,650
All comparative amounts in brackets refer to the outcome during the corresponding period 2020.

Significant events during the quarter
InDex announced that patient recruitment for the phase III study CONCLUDE is planned to initiate after the summer
Significant events after the quarter
InDex received first regulatory approval from the Swedish MPA to start the phase III study CONCLUDE with cobitolimod
InDex received FDA clearance to start the phase III study CONCLUDE
Other events
InDex got patent for additional DIMS compounds granted in Europe
The annual general meeting in InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding AB was held on June 3, 2021. Board members Wenche Rolfsen (also chairman), Marlene Forsell, Uli Hacksell and Lennart Hansson were re-elected. Yilmaz Mahshid and Stig Løkke Pedersen had ahead of the annual general meeting declined re-election
CEO statement
We are now close to the start of the phase III study CONCLUDE to evaluate cobitolimod as a new treatment for patients with moderate to severe left-sided ulcerative colitis. It is a global clinical study which will include 440 participants and be conducted at several hundred clinics in over 30 countries. The process of applying for and obtaining approval from the relevant authorities in the participating countries is ongoing, and in July we received the first regulatory approval to start the study from the Swedish MPA and yesterday from the US FDA.

We will initiate patient recruitment when the clinics are up and running again after the summer as the healthcare situation has started to normalise. Together with our CRO we are finalising the practical preparations.

To strengthen our clinical development organisation, we have hired two new employees, Anders Bröijersén as Senior Medical Director Clinical Operations and Johan Levin as Project Manager Clinical Operations. Both have long and broad experience of clinical development and conducting clinical studies. I am pleased that we have been able to attract two such qualified employees and welcome Anders and Johan to the team. Much of their time will be devoted to support the clinics in the study as ambassadors for InDex and the CONCLUDE study, which was a successful model for patient recruitment in our previous study CONDUCT.

In parallel with the phase III study, we will conduct a smaller clinical pharmacokinetic study (PK study) with cobitolimod in Sweden. We have received approval from the Swedish MPA to start also this study. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the systemic uptake of cobitolimod, and the data will support future regulatory applications for market approval of cobitolimod. Previous preclinical and clinical studies have shown that the systemic uptake of cobitolimod is very limited, which likely contributes to the excellent safety profile. This is a significant advantage compared to the current systemically administered drugs for ulcerative colitis that can cause severe off-target effects.

Besides cobitolimod for ulcerative colitis, InDex has a preclinical portfolio of more than 150 DNA-based ImmunoModulatory Sequences (DIMS), of which we are testing a selected number of candidates in models of other inflammatory diseases. In April, a new European patent was granted that provides protection for 19 different DIMS substances. This patent has previously been granted in the US and Canada, and we are very pleased that also the European Patent Office confirms the novelty of our DIMS platform.

In June, we had the Annual General Meeting and although we had postponed it as much as possible, we were unfortunately not able to welcome the shareholders to a physical meeting this year either. On September 2, I will present the company at the Pareto Securities Healthcare Conference, which will be held virtually also this year.

Soon I hope we can start meeting each other in person again and I look forward to welcoming the first patient in the phase III study CONCLUDE.

Publication

This information is information that InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (MAR). The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact person set out above at 8:00 CET on August 25, 2021.

Ocumension Acquires all the Equity Interests in Two Ophthalmic Products Mainland China, Further Enhancing its Pipeline Strength

On August 24, 2021 Ocumension Therapeutics reported that it has entered into a product acquisition agreement with a leading global pharmaceutical company Novartis, pursuant to which the Company will acquire all the equity interests in two ophthalmic drugs, Emadine (Emedastine Difumarate Eye Drops) and Betopic S (Betaxolol Hydrochloride Eye Drops), in Mainland China and obtain the transfer of the corresponding manufacturing technology (Press release, Novartis, AUG 24, 2021, View Source [SID1234586969]). Ocumension’s ophthalmic drug pipeline will be expanded to 20 products, with four products already commercialized and five products in phase III clinical trials worldwide, highlighting the value of its ophthalmic innovative drug platform. Through this transaction, Ocumension will also continue to strengthen its cooperation with Novartis in various aspects, such as manufacturing, sales and commercial promotion.

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Emadine (Emedastine Difumarate Eye Drops) is a relatively selective H1 receptor antagonist indicated for the temporary relief of signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis and is a commonly used drug in clinical treatment of allergic conjunctivitis; Betopic S (Betaxolol Hydrochloride Eye Drops) is a beta-adrenergic receptor blocker that is effective in reducing intraocular internal pressure and is used in the treatment of patients with chronic angular glaucoma and/or ocular hypertension. It can be used alone or in combination with other drugs that reduce intraocular pressure.

Alphamab Oncology and CSPC Achieved an Licensing Cooperation on Anti-HER2 Bispecific Antibody KN026 in Mainland China

On August 24, 2021 Alphamab Oncology (stock code: 9966 HK) reported that Jiangsu Alphamab Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. ("Jiangsu Alphamab" or "the Company"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphamab Oncology, signed a contract with JMT-Bio, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (stock code: 1093.HK), for the development and commercialization of the company’s proprietary anti-HER2 bispecific antibody KN026 in Mainland China (Press release, Alphamab, AUG 24, 2021, View Source [SID1234586905]). The totaldeal size reaches 1 billion RMB, and the Company will receive a double-digit royalty based on sales revenue.

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According to the terms of the agreement, JMT-Bio will obtain the exclusive license rights of KN026 for the development and commercialization in the indications of breast cancer and gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancers (GC/GEJ) in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), and bear the cost of all planed clinical trials in territory; In addition, JMT-Bio will devote joint efforts with Alphamab to develop more potential indications of KN026 single agent or combo treatment in other solid tumors . Alphamab Oncology will receive 150 million RMB upfront payment, with up to 850 million RMB development and sales milestone payments, and will receive a double-digit royalty based on sales revenue.

KN026 is an anti-HER2 bispecific antibody developed by Alphamab Oncology using the proprietary Fc-based heterodimer bispecific platform technology called CRIB (Charge Repulsion Induced Bispecific). It can bind two non-overlapping epitopes of HER2 simultaneously, leading to a dual HER2 signal blockade. In pre-clinical studies, KN026 has demonstrated equivalent efficacy compared with the combination of Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab and was superior to either single agent in HER2-positive tumor cell lines. Data from several clinical studies have shown that in patients with HER2-positive GC/GEJ or breast cancer, even after first-line or multi-line treatment, KN026 still demonstrated positive data, especially for patients with GC/GEJ.

About KN026

KN026 is an anti-HER2 bispecific antibody developed by Alphamab Oncology using the proprietary Fc-based heterodimer bispecific platform technology called CRIB (Charge Repulsion Induced Bispecific). KN026 can bind two non-overlapping epitopes of HER2 simultaneously, leading to a dual HER2 signal blockade. KN026 has demonstrated potentially equivalent efficacy compared with Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab in combination, and was superior to either single agent, such as increased binding affinity, as well as better tumor inhibition in HER2-positive tumor cell lines. Additionally, KN026 has also shown inhibitory effect on tumor cells with medium or low HER2 expression or Trastuzumab-resistant cell lines.

KN026 received IND approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018. Currently, it is in multiple phase I/II clinical trials in China and phase I clinical trial in the United States. The results of Phase I clinical trials show KN026 has good safety, tolerance and potentially superior anti-tumor activity in HER2-positive breast cancer patients who progressed after multiple lines of anti-HER2 treatment.

Quest Diagnostics Acquires Boca Raton-Based Nationwide Laboratory Services

On August 24, 2021 Quest Diagnostics, the nation’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, reported it has acquired select assets of Nationwide Laboratory Services (NLS), an independent clinical diagnostics laboratory headquartered in Boca Raton, FL with over 25 years of patient centric service throughout the country (Press release, Quest Diagnostics, AUG 24, 2021, View Source [SID1234586900]).

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With the acquisition, Quest will broaden access to diagnostic innovation and insights empowering better health for more communities in South Florida. Testing services provided by NLS will transition to Quest’s full-service laboratory in Miramar, FL. Quest will also acquire select patient service sites in South Florida.

"Access to quality, innovative and cost-effective laboratory services is more important now than ever, given the twin health threats of COVID-19 and delays in medical care caused by the pandemic," said Alan Myers, Vice President and General Manager, Southeast Region, Quest Diagnostics. "We look forward to delivering diagnostic insights for COVID-19 and a range of other medical conditions to help empower better care and outcomes, particularly for communities in South Florida."

"It was vital to pass our valued clients and patients to an organization with the same guiding principles and patient-centric focus," said Dean Morris, CEO and Corporate Counsel, Nationwide Laboratory Services. "It was a competitive bidding process, but Quest’s vision, reputation and leadership made the choice clear cut."

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Quest Diagnostics operates major laboratory facilities in Tampa as well as Miramar and over 50 patient sites across Florida. Its services include COVID-19 testing through several leading retail providers and its own QuestDirect consumer-initiated testing platform, which offers a $0 out-of-pocket cost test option.

In addition, Quest collaborates with community and healthcare organizations to help close gaps in care for underserved communities in Florida through its Tackle Your Testing program.

ERYTECH Hosting Key Opinion Leader Webinar on Eryaspase in Pancreatic Cancer

On August 1, 2021 ERYTECH Pharma (Nasdaq & Euronext: ERYP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, leader in red blood-cell based cancer therapeutics, reported it will host a key opinion leader webinar on its lead product candidate eryaspase, L-asparaginase encapsulated in donor-derived red blood cells, on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 10:00am Eastern Time (Press release, ERYtech Pharma, AUG 24, 2021, View Source [SID1234586878]). The webinar will feature a presentation by KOLs and also the Principal Investigators of the TRYbeCA-1 and rESPECT studies, respectively; Dr. Manuel Hidalgo Medina, M.D., Ph.D., Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and Dr. Marcus Noel, M.D., Georgetown University.

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