On March 10, 2021 Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a globally focused, clinical-stage biotechnology company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, reported that the latest preclinical research results of the company’s five novel drug candidates have been selected for presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2021, and have already been published in the meeting’s official website (Press release, Ascentage Pharma, MAR 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234576436]). This year’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting will be held in a virtual format on April 27-28 and June 22-24.

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The AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting is one of the world’s largest and long-standing scientific gatherings in the field of cancer research. Covering some of the most cutting-edge advances in all the areas of oncology research and innovation, the annual event attracts tremendous interest from the global cancer research community.

"It is our great pleasure to have the research results of our drug candidates selected by the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting several years in a row, and this year, our presentations will focus on results from the translational research of multiple drug candidates that have already entered into clinical development," said Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma. "These studies deepened our understanding of our drug candidate’s mechanism of actions, provided supportive evidence to our strategy for combination options and potential disease indications, and have therefore further advanced our clinical development of these therapeutic candidates."

The six abstracts selected for poster presentations at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2021 include:

Title:

BCL-2 inhibitor APG-2575 and homoharringtonine (HHT) synergistically induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth in preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes (AML/MDS)

Abstract/Poster Number: 981
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Cell Death Pathways and Treatment
Title:

Inhibition of BCL-2 (by APG-2575) and CDK4/6 synergistically induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in ER⁺ breast cancer

Abstract/Poster Number: 976
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Cell Death Pathways and Treatment
Title:

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibition by olverembatinib (HQP1351) downregulates MCL-1 and synergizes with BCL-2 inhibitor APG-2575 in preclinical models of FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Abstract/Poster Number: 1096
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Drug Resistance in Molecular Targeted Therapies
Title:

Therapeutic potential of inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) inhibitor APG-1387 combined with DR5 agonist monoclonal antibody (mAb) CTB-006 in preclinical models of solid tumors

Abstract/Poster Number: 1924
Session Category: Molecular and Cellular Biology / Genetics
Session Title: Apoptosis
Title:

Targeting BCL-xL addiction with APG-1252 (pelcitoclax) to overcome apoptotic blockade in neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN)

Abstract/Poster Number: 984
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Cell Death Pathways and Treatment
Title:

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor APG-2449 sensitizes ovarian tumors to chemotherapy via CD44 downregulation

Abstract/Poster Number: 968
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Biological Therapeutic Agents

On March 10, 2021 Xencor, Inc. (NASDAQ: XNCR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered monoclonal antibodies and cytokines for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported it will present preclinical data on three XmAb bispecific antibody programs and the IL-12-Fc cytokine program at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, being held virtually April 10-15, 2021 (Press release, Xencor, MAR 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234576433]). Abstracts for these poster presentations are now available on AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)’s website.

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Poster Presentation Details

Abstract 1743, "IL12 heterodimeric Fc-fusions engineered for reduced potency exhibit strong anti-tumor activity and improved therapeutic index compared to native IL12 agents"
Session: Immunomodulatory Agents and Interventions
Abstract: 1880, "PDL1-targeted CD28 costimulatory bispecific antibodies enhance T cell activation in solid tumors"
Session: Therapeutic Antibodies, Including Engineered Antibodies
Abstract: 1860, "Bispecific claudin-6 x CD3 antibodies in a 2+1 format demonstrate selectivity and activity on human ovarian cancer cells"
Session: Therapeutic Antibodies, Including Engineered Antibodies
Abstract: 1831, "Affinity tuned XmAb 2+1 GPC3 x CD3 bispecific antibodies demonstrate selective activity in liver cancer models"
Session: Therapeutic Antibodies, Including Engineered Antibodies
These posters will be available to registrants of the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 10. Posters will be archived under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section of the Company’s website located at www.xencor.com.

On March 10, 2021 Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MACK) ("Merrimack" or the "Company") reported its full year 2020 financial results for the period ended December 31, 2020 (Press release, Merrimack, MAR 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234576432]).

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"We are pleased that both Ipsen Pharmaceuticals and Elevation Oncology continue to pursue separate clinical stage programs which could result in milestone payments to Merrimack." said Gary Crocker, Chairman of Merrimack’s Board of Directors. "We have continued to see reduced operating expenses and remain focused on conserving cash to ensure that we have sufficient financial resources to capture future potential milestone payments from Ipsen and Elevation."

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Merrimack reported net loss of $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, or $0.22 per basic share, compared to a net loss of $17.3 million, or $1.30 per basic share, for the same period in 2019.

Merrimack reported a gain on sale of assets for the year ended December 31, 2020 of $2.1 million compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2019.

General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $5.0 million, compared to $16.2 million for the same period in 2019.

As of December 31, 2020, Merrimack had cash and cash equivalents and investments of $14.0 million, compared to $16.6 million as of December 31, 2019.

As of December 31, 2020, Merrimack had 13.4 million shares of common stock outstanding.

Updates on Programs Underlying Potential Milestone Payments

Ipsen

– On December 1, 2020 Ipsen held a capital markets day briefing with investors. On February 11, 2021 Ipsen released its full year 2020 financial results. In both of these updates Ipsen provided guidance to investors that it may file with the FDA for accelerated approval of ONIVYDE as a treatment of second line small cell lung cancer in 2021. In addition, Ipsen reported that it is continuing to study ONIVYDE in Phase III clinical trials in first line pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Elevation Oncology

– On November 18, 2020 Elevation Oncology announced that it had raised a $65 million Series B financing. This announcement included confirmation that Elevation’s phase II CRESTONE study evaluating the HER3 monoclonal antibody seribantumab for the treatment of patients with tumors harboring an NRG1 gene fusion is continuing to enroll patients.

On March 10, 2021 Schrödinger (Nasdaq: SDGR), whose physics-based software platform is transforming the way therapeutics and materials are discovered, reported that preclinical data from its CDC7 program will be presented in a virtual poster session at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Schrodinger, MAR 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234576431]).

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CDC7 is a protein kinase that is required for DNA replication initiation and involved in DNA replication stress response. CDC7 is thought to be linked to cancer cells’ proliferative capacity and ability to bypass normal DNA damage responses. Targeting proteins that play important roles in DNA replication and replication stress is gaining momentum as a new therapeutic approach for various cancers.

Details about the presentation are as follows:

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2021
Abstract Number: 1277
Title: Discovery of novel CDC7 inhibitors that disrupt cell cycle dynamics and show anti-proliferative effects in cancer cells

The virtual abstract is available in the program section of the virtual AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting website: View Source

On March 10, 2021 SQZ Biotechnologies Company (NYSE: SQZ), a cell therapy company developing novel treatments for multiple therapeutic areas, reported that its team will present data on the next generation SQZ APCs and the broader applicability of the APC platform at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2021 Annual Meeting being held virtually April 10-15, 2021 (Press release, SQZ Biotech, MAR 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234576430]). SQZ APC is a cell therapy platform that aims to induce powerful antigen specific CD8+ T cell responses. Two posters will highlight the additional functionality of enhanced APCs (eAPCs) and potential patient population expansion by leveraging multiple mRNA based cargos. A third poster describes SQZ APCs in development for additional tumor types targeting both G12D and G12V KRAS mutations.

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SQZ eAPCs are designed to build on the power of the SQZ APC platform to produce robust and specific CD8+ T cell activation through efficient MHC-I antigen presentation. The platform leverages the cargo flexibility of the Cell Squeeze technology to create next generation product candidates by delivering multiple mRNA to potentially further enhance T cell stimulation. SQZ eAPCs are being designed to incorporate immune-signaling that would otherwise require combinations with additional immune-oncology agents. In addition, the mRNA based antigen cargo is designed to present a broader range of tumor antigen epitopes, aiming to broaden the addressable patient population. The eAPC platform has the potential to be applicable across future oncology and infectious disease programs. Data examining these enhancement and additional information will be shared in two posters at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper).

SQZ is also applying its flexible technology to additional tumor targets. KRAS G12D and G12V make up over half of all KRAS mutations, with approximately 100,000 patients per year having KRAS G12D or G12V mutated cancers in the United States. Leveraging the flexibility of the Cell Squeeze technology, SQZ APCs have elicited specific KRAS G12D and G12V CD8+ T cells responses preclinically in both animal models and in human cells. At AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), we will show preclinical data for SQZ APCs activating CD8+ T cells against KRas G12D and KRas G12V when delivered individually or simultaneously.

"The flexibility of the Cell Squeeze technology enables us to rapidly pursue new tumor types, such as those with KRAS mutations, as well as to add diverse functionalities to our APCs," commented Howard Bernstein, MD, PhD, SQZ chief scientific officer. "Next generation eAPCs are building on the strength of our SQZ APC’s efficient and specific CD8 T cell activation. Further enhancing cytokine and costimulatory signalling could be an innovative way for us to provide the benefits of numerous immune-oncology mechanism combinations into a single cell therapy. "

SQZ eAPC Posters

Title: Enhancing Potency of Antigen Presenting Cells via Signal 2/3 mRNA Engineering through Cell Squeeze Technology
Abstract Number: 1525
Presenter: Emrah Ilker Ozay, PhD

Title: Cell Squeeze Delivery of Antigen-Encoding mRNA Enables Human PBMCs to Drive Antigen-Specific CD8+ T Cell Responses for Diverse Clinical Applications
Abstract Number: 2626
Presenter: Michael Maloney, PhD

SQZ APC KRAS Poster

Title: Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Engineered Via Microfluidic Cell Squeeze Technology to Generate APCs that Drive Mutant-KRas-Specific CD8+ T Cell Responses
Abstract Number: 1524
Presenter: Carolyne Smith, PhD