On December 27, 2021 BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX, "BioNTech" or "the Company") reported that CEO and Co-founder Ugur Sahin, M.D., will present a corporate overview and update at the virtual 40th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at 9:45 am ET (Press release, BioNTech, DEC 27, 2021, View Source [SID1234597759]).

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A live webcast of the presentation will be available via the "Events & Presentations" page in the Investor Relations section on the Company’s website at View Source The replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for 30 days following the conference.

On December 27, 2021 Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drug candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases, reported that Dr. Neal Walker, President and CEO of Aclaris, will participate in a fireside chat at the H.C. Wainwright BioConnect Virtual Conference, which will be available beginning on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 7:00 a.m. ET (Press release, Aclaris Therapeutics, DEC 27, 2021, View Source [SID1234597758]).

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A webcast of the fireside chat may be accessed through the "Events" page of the "Investors" section of Aclaris’ website, www.aclaristx.com. The webcast will be archived for at least 30 days on the Aclaris website.

On December 27, 2021 Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) reported that it signed a joint research agreement with the National Cancer Center Japan (Tokyo, President: Hitoshi Nakagama, hereafter NCC) and participated in an Asian multi-center prospective study A-TRAIN, which is led by NCC Hospital (Press release, Chugai, DEC 27, 2021, View Source [SID1234597713]).

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A-TRAIN is an international collaborative study to establish and analyze a database that combines genomic analysis using blood-based liquid biopsy test and clinical information, for six common intractable cancers which are frequently reported in Asia: cervical cancer, ovarian clear cell carcinoma, ovarian cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, endometrial cancer and triple-negative breast cancer 1). The study aims to establish a foundation for personalized healthcare and to promote research and development of therapeutic agents, for intractable cancers which are frequently reported in Asia, by identifying genomic abnormalities that can be used as therapeutic targets and encouraging clinical trials. Chugai, in cooperation with Roche, provides a blood-based liquid biopsy test FoundationOne Liquid CDx Cancer Genomic Profile for genomic analysis in the ovarian cancer cohorts of this collaborative study.

"Realizing advanced personalized healthcare is one of our major targets. I am very pleased that we can offer comprehensive genomic profiling for this important collaborative study, which may lead to further development of cancer genomic medicine in Asia," said Chugai’s President and CEO Dr. Osamu Okuda. "Providing high-quality cancer care is a considerable challenge in Asia, where cancer is an increasingly serious issue. We hope that the study will lead to building a foundation for personalized healthcare and further research and development in oncology in this region."

Overview of Ovarian Cancer Cohort
Start date: December 2021
Participating countries: Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam
Number of registrants: 100
Genomic analysis: Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

[Reference information]
Launch of an Asian international collaborative prospective study on 6 advanced cancers common in Asia
Establishment of a database of genomic analysis and clinical information by liquid biopsy, for developing personalized treatment (Press release issued by NCC on December 23, 2021)
View Source

On December 24, 2021 Shanghai Huaota Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Huaota) reported that HB0030 (anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody) completed the first-in-human administration in China at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College (Press release, Huabo Biopharm, DEC 24, 2021, View Source [SID1234656057]). This is an open label, single-center, dose-escalation Phase Ia clinical study in order to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics in patients with advanced solid tumors. The main The purpose of the study is to comprehensively evaluate the safety, tolerability and antitumor activity of HB0030 in patients with advanced malignant solid tumors.

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About TIGIT

TIGIT, T cell immune receptor with Ig and ITIM domains, is an inhibitory receptor expressed on lymphocytes belonging to the Ig superfamily with multi-characteristic structure of immunoregulatory proteins including CD96 and CD226. They interact with Nectin and nectin-like molecules with different affinities.

TIGIT, CD226, CD96 and their ligands CD155 and CD11 form a complex regulatory network. As TIGIT/CD155 deliver the immunosuppressive signal, CD155 interaction with CD226 deliver an immunostimulating signal. The CD155 and CD112 are highly expressed on the surface of many malignant tumors, such as colorectal cancer and melanoma.

About HB0030

HB0030 is a humanized monoclone antibody designed by Huaota Biopharm to bind TIGIT with high-affinity, thereby blocking the binding of TIGIT to its ligand (such as CD155). By binding to TIGIT, highly expressed on the surface of T cells and NK cells, HB0030 blocks its interaction with CD155, relieves immunosuppression and reactivate the tumor-killing effect of T cells and NK cells.

Preclinical studies have shown that HB0030 has higher affinity and strong ADCC/CDC activity. It can relieve the T-cell immunosuppression and enhance the anti-tumor activity.

On December 24, 2021, Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (the "Company") reported that it entered into a licensing agreement (the "Tasly License Agreement") with Tasly Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. ("Tasly"), to grant Tasly an exclusive license to develop and commercialize STRO-002 in Greater China, consisting of China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (Filing, 8-K, Sutro Biopharma, DEC 24, 2021, View Source [SID1234597756]). Tasly will pursue the clinical development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of STRO-002 in multiple indications, including ovarian cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and other indications in Greater China. The Company will retain development and commercial rights of STRO-002 globally outside of Greater China, including the United States.

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Under the Tasly License Agreement, Tasly will make to the Company an initial payment of $40 million, with potential payments totaling up to $345 million related to development, regulatory and commercialization milestones. The Company will provide STRO-002 to Tasly under appropriate clinical and commercial supply service agreements. Upon commercialization, the Company will receive tiered, low- to mid-teen royalties based on annual net sales of STRO-002 in Greater China for at least ten years following the first commercial sale of STRO-002 in Greater China.