On April 16, 2021 AstraZeneca reported that proposed acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc (Alexion) has achieved an important step toward completion, having cleared US Federal Trade Commission review (Press release, AstraZeneca, APR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234578146]). This follows the conclusion of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

The announcement follows competition clearances in Canada, Brazil, Russia and other countries globally, with a full list available on astrazeneca.com. Additional global regulatory clearances are pending, including but not limited to the UK, EU and Japan.

Marc Dunoyer, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, said: "These clearances further advance us towards closing our acquisition of Alexion. We remain focused on the next chapter for AstraZeneca and Alexion, building on our combined expertise in immunology and precision medicines and our shared ambition to bring more innovative medicines to patients worldwide. We look forward to working closely with other global authorities as we progress toward this goal."

The proposed acquisition, first announced in December 2020, would enhance the Company’s scientific presence in immunology by adding Alexion’s innovative complement-technology platforms and strong pipeline. Rare diseases represent a high-growth disease area with rapid innovation and significant unmet medical need. The acquisition remains expected to close in Q3 2021, subject to receipt of additional global regulatory clearances and approval by shareholders of both companies with shareholder voting anticipated on 11 May 2021.

Subject to a successful completion of the acquisition, a dedicated business unit will be created, known as ‘Alexion, The AstraZeneca Rare Disease Unit’, headquartered in Boston, US. AstraZeneca will have an enhanced global footprint and broad coverage across primary, speciality and highly specialised care, and is expected to deliver double-digit revenue growth through 2025, double-digit core EPS accretion for the first three years as well as strong cash flow with an ambition to increase the dividend.

Rare diseases
Over 7,000 rare diseases are known today, and only c.5% have US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments.1 Demand in the global rare disease space is forecasted to grow by a low double-digit percentage in the future.2

Important additional information
In connection with AstraZeneca’s proposed acquisition of Alexion (the Acquisition), AstraZeneca filed a registration statement on Form F-4 (the Registration Statement), which has been declared effective by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and which includes a document that serves as a prospectus of AstraZeneca and a proxy statement of Alexion (the proxy statement/prospectus). Alexion filed the proxy statement/prospectus as a proxy statement and AstraZeneca filed the proxy statement/prospectus as a prospectus with the SEC on 12 April 2021, and each party will file other documents regarding the Acquisition with the SEC. Investors and security holders of Alexion are urged to carefully read the entire Registration Statement and proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available, because they will contain important information. Investors and security holders may obtain the Registration Statement and the proxy statement/prospectus free of charge from the SEC’s website or from AstraZeneca or Alexion as described in the paragraphs below.

The documents filed by AstraZeneca with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained free of charge on AstraZeneca’s website at View Source under the tab "Investors". The documents filed by Alexion with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained free of charge on Alexion’s website at View Source under the tab, "Investors" and under the heading "SEC Filings" or by contacting Alexion’s Investor Relations Department at [email protected].

Participants in the solicitation
AstraZeneca, Alexion and certain of their directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Alexion shareholders in connection with the Acquisition. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the shareholders of Alexion in connection with the Acquisition, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus or proxy statement filed with the SEC on 12 April 2021. Information about the directors and executive officers of Alexion and their ownership of Alexion shares is set forth in Alexion’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, as previously filed with the SEC on 16 February 2021. Free copies of these documents may be obtained as described in the paragraphs above.

Important notices relating to financial advisors
Evercore Partners International LLP (Evercore), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for AstraZeneca and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and the matters referred to in this announcement and will not regard any other person as a client in relation to the matters set out in this announcement (whether or not a recipient of this announcement) and will not be responsible to anyone other than AstraZeneca for providing the protections afforded to its clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter referred to in this announcement. Neither Evercore nor any of its subsidiaries, holding companies, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client in connection with the Acquisition or any statement contained in this announcement or otherwise. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Evercore by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, neither Evercore nor any of its affiliates accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the contents of this announcement, and no representation, express or implied, is made by it, or purported to be made on its behalf, in relation to the contents of this announcement, including their accuracy, fairness, sufficiency, completeness or verification of any statement contained in this announcement or any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with AstraZeneca or the matters described in announcement, and nothing in this announcement is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or the future. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each of Evercore and its affiliates accordingly disclaim all and any responsibility or liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which they might otherwise have in respect of this announcement or any statement contained in this announcement.

Centerview Partners UK LLP (Centerview Partners), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for AstraZeneca and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and the matters referred to in this announcement and will not regard any other person as a client in relation to the matters set out in this announcement (whether or not a recipient of this announcement) and will not be responsible to anyone other than AstraZeneca for providing the protections afforded to its clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter referred to in this announcement. Neither Centerview Partners nor any of its subsidiaries, holding companies, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client in connection with the Acquisition or any statement contained in this announcement or otherwise. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Centerview Partners by the FSMA, or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, neither Centerview Partners nor any of its affiliates accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the contents of this announcement, and no representation, express or implied, is made by it, or purported to be made on its behalf, in relation to the contents of this announcement, including their accuracy, fairness, sufficiency, completeness or verification of any statement contained in this announcement or any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with AstraZeneca or the matters described in this announcement, and nothing in this announcement is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or the future. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each of Centerview Partners and its affiliates accordingly disclaim all and any responsibility or liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which they might otherwise have in respect of this announcement or any statement contained in this announcement.

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On April 16, 2021 Oblique Therapeutics AB, a Sweden-based biotech company, reported that in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm, Sweden), Gothenburg University (Sweden) and several local biotechs published promising research results in the highly-acclaimed scientific journal Science Advances (AAAS) entitled: Rational Antibody design for Undruggable Targets using Kinetically Controlled Biomolecular probes (Press release, Oblique Therapeutics, APR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234578145]). The peer-reviewed article describes how Oblique Therapeutics´ Abiprot technology can be used to discover and develop pharmacologically tailored antibodies against clinically important targets widely considered undruggable with antibodies. Two example antibodies are presented in the article. One is targeting hTRPV1, a clinically validated pain target. The second antibody is targeting KRAS, a highly relevant oncogene of critical importance in the etiology of many aggressive cancers (ex: pancreatic cancer). These early results have the potential to contribute to the development of much needed novel medicines across several therapeutic areas.

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The global antibody therapeutics market is estimated to be worth close to 200 Bn USD in 2026 (MarketWatch). Surprisingly, only about 60 antibody medicines (based on target), are currently available to patients. Important target classes such as G-protein-coupled receptors and ion channels are particularly underexploited. In contrast, there are about 1,500 known drug targets of which several are clinically or human-genetics validated. Novel medicines addressing these drug targets would bring game changing benefits to large populations of patients suffering from uncurable, untreatable, and refractory disease. A staggering example is the need for new pain medications to replace the unsatisfactory and addictive morphine and opioid regimens. But here, and in many other therapeutic areas, current antibody technologies fail to deliver meaningful medicines.

The research article in Science Advances presents a new high-tech antibody discovery approach called Abiprot, developed from nanoscience, computer technology, and proteomics. Abiprot identifies antibody binding sites on native-state, disease-relevant proteins at high resolution. The platform was developed by Oblique Therapeutics with the intention to create new antibody medicines addressing large unmet medical needs across several therapeutic areas. As an example, the paper demonstrates the first-ever stimuli-selective monoclonal antibody targeting TRPV1, prospectively developed for replacing opioids in pain management. Another example includes novel mutant-selective KRAS antibodies providing means to target the most prevalent KRAS mutated cancers.

Prof. Owe Orwar, CEO Oblique Therapeutics: "The excitement and joy of science and technological advancement is to prove that what was previously impossible or highly improbable is now possible. Even more satisfying is if the impossible or improbable translate into a hope for creating higher societal values, better health, and improved quality of life for millions of patients. Our dream is that the published technology will widen the scope of antibody therapeutics for the benefit of patients and we are very excited about what the future will hold. Science Advances, is globally ranked as the number three scientific journal in multidisciplinary sciences only after Nature (Springer Nature Limited) and Science (AAAS). To be able to publish company-critical results in Science Advances is therefore a testimony to the importance and potential impact of the study results. Since the conclusion of the published study, we have made significant advancements, and improvements in our antibody programs. For the TRPV1 antibody program we have entered into an R&D collaboration and exclusive option to licence agreement with a top-20 pharma company. A key component in our vision is to be the first-ever pharma company to bring a pain antibody medicine targeting ion channels to market".

Collaboration

The research was conducted by Oblique Therapeutics AB in collaboration with scientists from:

The Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
View Source

About Abiprot

Abiprot is a proprietary methodology to identify epitopes on protein targets that have previously proven difficult to address with antibodies. Abiprot can identify high-affinity antibody binding sites in a given protein with single amino acid resolution while the protein resides in its native environment. It is based on using a tailored molecular reporter system and proteomics. The platform yields detailed sequence and structure information for epitope identification and development. Oblique Therapeutics is applying this technology for discovery of a new generation of selective antibody therapeutics targeting cancer and pain.

On April 16, 2021 Oncopeptides AB (publ) (Nasdaq Stockholm: ONCO), a global biotech company focused on the development of therapies for difficult-to-treat hematological diseases, reported that the Company has submitted an application to the European Medicines Agency, EMA, for conditional marketing authorization of melflufen (melphalan flufenamide) in the EU, based on the pivotal phase 2 HORIZON study in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (Press release, Oncopeptides, APR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234578134]). Pending a positive validation from the EMA, melflufen will be subject to a regulatory assessment according to the standard timelines.

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"Following Oncopeptides´ launch in the US, we are broadening our geographical footprint and submitting an application for conditional marketing authorization of melflufen in Europe ahead of expectations", says Marty J Duvall, Chief Executive Officer at Oncopeptides. "This major milestone marks the commitment of our organization to bring hope to multiple myeloma patients around the world, through innovative science".

"This is vitally important and supports the development of a dedicated organization across Europe", says Andrea Passalacqua, General Manager Europe, Oncopeptides. "We believe that melflufen may address a growing medical need in patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma in Europe. In order to help accomplishing this, we have also introduced an Early Access Program that offers eligible patients access to melflufen ahead of a potential marketing authorization".

According to the European Medicines Agency, medicines are eligible for conditional approval if they are aimed at treating or preventing seriously debilitating or life-threatening diseases. Conditional marketing authorizations may be granted if the benefit-risk balance of the product is positive, comprehensive data can be provided, there is an unmet medical need, and the benefit to public health of making the product available outweighs the risks due to need for additional data.

On February 26th the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, approved PEPAXTO (melphalan flufenamide), in combination with dexamethasone, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, who have received at least four prior lines of therapy and whose disease is refractory to at least one proteasome inhibitor, one immunomodulatory agent, and one CD38-directed monoclonal antibody.

The information in the press release is information that Oncopeptides is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person above, on April 16, 2021, at 08:00 (CET).

On April 16, 2021 Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences, a China headquartered biopharmaceutical company developing and marketing novel drugs based on its unique technology of Chemical Genomics Drug discovery platform, reported that it has received Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to proceed with a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of Chiauranib/CS2164, a potential treatment for multiple oncological indications including Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), Ovarian Cancer, Liver Cancer, and Breast Cancer, etc (Press release, Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences, APR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234578133]). Chiauranib is the third novel drug candidate discovered and developed by Chipscreen to be marketed, submitted NDA or in the late-stage phases of clinical studies.

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Chiauranib is an innovative, 3-pathway targeted kinase small molecule inhibitor with high selectivity against Auroa B /VEGFRs/CSF1R currently entering Phase III clinical trials in China. Its treatments to SCLC and Ovarian Cancer have been just designated as "breakthrough therapies" by National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China in the past months. The molecular mechanism of Chiauranib is to inhibit the rapid proliferation of tumor cells via targeting novel DNA replication pathway, as well as enhancement of antitumor immunity and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis concomitantly.

The primary objective of this Phase Ib/2 study in the USA is to demonstrate safety, tolerability and efficacy of Chiauranib as a monotherapy in 24 to 36 patients with SCLC.

"With this clearance of US FDA IND application for CS2164, it will certainly increase success of our global development strategy based on early efficacy and safety data obtained from China trials," said Dr. Xianping Lu, Chairman and President of Chipscreen.

On April 16, 2021 IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDYA), a synthetic lethality-focused precision medicine oncology company committed to the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics, reported clinical data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial evaluating darovasertib (IDE196) monotherapy and binimetinib combination therapy in patients with solid tumors, including Metastatic Uveal Melanoma (MUM) and Skin Melanoma (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03947385) (Press release, Ideaya Biosciences, APR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234578132]).

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"The darovasertib single-agent one-year survival data in MUM is encouraging and compares favorably to historical survival rates in this indication, where a therapy has yet to be approved," said Meredith McKean, MD, MPH, Associate Director, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research, Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, TN. "The early partial responses observed in the darovasertib and binimetinib combination in MUM are exciting where historical response rates have been from zero to low to mid-single-digit percent, and we look forward to seeing the data set mature," said Richard Carvajal, MD, Co-Leader, Precision Oncology and Systems Biology Program, Director of Experimental Therapeutics and Director of the Melanoma Service, Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Darovasertib Monotherapy Clinical Efficacy in Solid Tumors
There have been 81 darovasertib monotherapy BID MUM and 7 Skin Melanoma patients enrolled across the IDEAYA and Novartis Phase 1/2 clinical trials at the time of data and analyses cutoff on April 13th, 2021, with an aggregate of 88 patients evaluable for safety and 81 evaluable for efficacy based on RECIST 1.1. Reported data is preliminary and based on an unlocked database. Evaluation and follow-up of the monotherapy arm of the clinical trial continues.

Darovasertib Monotherapy Preliminary Results Summary

57% 1-Year Overall Survival (OS) Rate was observed in predominantly second line, third line and heavily pre-treated (out to 7 and 8 lines of prior treatment) Metastatic Uveal Melanoma (MUM) patients with 95% CI (44%, 69%); Historical 1-Year OS Rate in similar MUM populations has been reported at 37% (Source: Rantala 2019, Immunocore March 2021 presentation, Synthetic Control Arm, 2+ L)
Median OS of 13.2 months was observed in predominanantly second line, third line and heavily pre-treated (out to 7 and 8 lines of prior treatment) MUM patients with 95% CI (10.7 months, Not Reached); Historical median OS in similar MUM populations has been reported at approximately 7 months (Source: Rantala 2019, Immunocore March 2021, Synthetic Control Arm, 2+ L)
61% (n=46) of MUM patients out of 75 evaluable had tumor reduction per RECIST 1.1. evaluation, including 15 patients (20%) with >30% target lesion reduction and one confirmed complete response. In the Skin Melanoma cohort, 80% (n=4) of evaluable patients (n=5) had tumor reduction per RECIST 1.1. evaluation, including one confirmed partial response
Darovasertib Monotherapy Clinical Safety
Overall safety profile of darovasertib monotherapy is consistent with prior reports (Ref. 2019 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)) and includes primarily common low grade but manageable GI toxicities and hypotension.

Preliminary Darovasertib and Binimetinib Combination Clinical Efficacy in MUM
The combination of darovasertib plus binimetinib is being evaluated pursuant to a clinical trial collaboration and drug supply agreement with Pfizer, which the companies have amended to support a target enrollment of approximately 40 patients in the darovasertib and binimetinib clinical combination arm in MUM. At the time of the data and analyses cutoff on April 13th, 2021, twenty four MUM patients have enrolled in the darovasertib and binimetinib combination study, including 8 patients dosed in the Phase 1/2 dose expansion cohort of the combination study. Reported data is preliminary and based on an unlocked database. Enrollment in the darovasertib and binimetinib combination arm of the clinical trial is ongoing.

Darovasertib and Binimetinib Combination Therapy Preliminary Data Summary

2 partial responses observed out of nine MUM patients with at least 2 post-baseline scans (22%) by RECIST 1.1 guidelines, including 1 confirmed partial response and 1 unconfirmed partial response (-40.5%) awaiting a confirmatory scan
79% of evaluable MUM patients with at least 1 post-baseline scan show tumor reduction; follow-up for overall response is still immature
Combination doses for Phase 1/2 dose expansion have been selected based on anticipation of activity and overall tolerability in a larger treatment cohort
Treatment-related adverse events observed in the darovasertib and binimetinib combination arm in MUM primarily include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, edema, AST/ALT increase and CK increase (>10%); and hypotension (<10%)
IDEAYA’s clinical development strategy in MUM is focused on darovasertib combinations, including with binimetinib, a MEK inhibitor, and in a separate clinical study with crizotinib, a cMET inhibitor, each pursuant to the clinical trial collaboration and drug supply agreement with Pfizer.

Darovasertib Investor Day Webcast
IDEAYA will host an investor webcast with a presentation at 8:00 a.m. ET today. A link to the webcast and a copy of the presentation is posted on the Investor Relations Events section of the Company’s website at View Source The update may also be accessed by dialing 1-866-248-8441 (domestic) or 1-720-452-9102 (international) five minutes prior to the start of the call and providing the passcode 2793795. An archived replay of the webcast will be accessible for 90 days following the event.

Meredith McKean, MD, MPH, Associate Director, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research, Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, TN, and Richard Carvajal, MD, Co-Leader, Precision Oncology and Systems Biology Program, Director of Experimental Therapeutics and Director of the Melanoma Service, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, will participate in the webcast.