On October 29, 2021 BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBIO), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on genetic diseases and cancers, reported two new academic collaborations with Columbia University and Mount Sinai (Icahn Mount Sinai) to translate cutting-edge research discoveries into potential therapies for patients with genetic diseases and genetically driven cancers (Press release, BridgeBio, OCT 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234592174]).

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"Columbia University and Mount Sinai are known for bringing together some of the most talented scientists to develop breakthroughs for patients. By partnering with these world-class research institutions, we are hopeful that together we will be able to help patients in need," said BridgeBio founder and CEO Neil Kumar, Ph.D.

BridgeBio has initiated 25 collaborations with leading institutions around the world that are focused on providing therapeutic options to patients with unmet need as quickly and safely as possible. To learn more about some of the institutions BridgeBio is proud to partner with, please visit Our Partners page.

Collaborating with academic institutions to identify early discoveries is a core pillar of BridgeBio’s efforts to reach patients more quickly. The goal of these collaborations is to revolutionize the relationships between drug development companies and biomedical research institutions by moving away from one-off interactions in favor of engaging and creative partnerships.

More than two-thirds of BridgeBio’s 30+ pipeline programs have come from partnerships with academic institutions and research centers. For example, BridgeBio’s clinical trial of encaleret, which is being investigated for the treatment of autosomal dominant hypocalcemia type 1 (ADH1), has been enabled by a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health. BridgeBio’s investigational medicine acoramidis, which is being developed for the treatment of transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis (ATTR), originated in a lab at Stanford University. BridgeBio partnered with the Stanford researchers and advanced acoramidis from the lab to Phase 3 clinical development in less than three years.

With a diverse pipeline encompassing investigational therapies in Mendelian diseases, precision cardiorenal, precision oncology and gene therapy, BridgeBio provides the insights and support needed to rapidly progress therapeutic research from labs to clinical development. BridgeBio intends to develop similar long-term partnerships based on trust, engagement, science and respect to support its mission of developing potentially life-changing medicines for patients with genetic diseases and cancers as quickly and safely as possible.

On October 29, 2021 AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) reported that financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 (Press release, AbbVie, OCT 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234592173]).

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"We continue to deliver excellent results, with balanced performance across our portfolio driving double-digit operational sales and EPS growth," said Richard A. Gonzalez, chairman and chief executive officer, AbbVie. "Based upon our strong momentum, we are increasing our full-year 2021 EPS guidance. We remain highly confident in AbbVie’s long-term outlook and are once again raising our dividend, which has grown over 250 percent since inception."

Third-Quarter Results

Worldwide net revenues were $14.342 billion, an increase of 11.2 percent on a GAAP basis. Adjusted net revenues increased 11.3 percent on a reported basis, or 10.8 percent on an operational basis.
Global net revenues from the immunology portfolio were $6.674 billion, an increase of 15.3 percent on a reported basis, or 14.9 percent on an operational basis.
Global Humira net revenues of $5.425 billion increased 5.6 percent on a reported basis, or 5.2 percent on an operational basis. U.S. Humira net revenues were $4.613 billion, an increase of 10.1 percent. Internationally, Humira net revenues were $812 million, a decrease of 14.6 percent on a reported basis, or 16.7 percent on an operational basis, due to biosimilar competition.
Global Skyrizi net revenues were $796 million.
Global Rinvoq net revenues were $453 million.
Global net revenues from the hematologic oncology portfolio were $1.866 billion, an increase of 8.4 percent on a reported basis, or 8.1 percent on an operational basis.
Global Imbruvica net revenues were $1.374 billion, an increase of 0.3 percent, with U.S. net revenues of $1.109 billion and international profit sharing of $265 million.
Global Venclexta net revenues were $492 million, an increase of 40.1 percent on a reported basis, or 38.7 percent on an operational basis.
Global net revenues from the neuroscience portfolio were $1.566 billion, an increase of 25.5 percent on a reported basis, or 25.0 percent on an operational basis.
Global Botox Therapeutic net revenues were $645 million, an increase of 23.4 percent on a reported basis, or 22.5 percent on an operational basis.
Vraylar net revenues were $461 million, an increase of 29.0 percent on a reported and operational basis.
Global Ubrelvy net revenues were $162 million.
Global net revenues from the aesthetics portfolio were $1.251 billion, an increase of 29.3 percent on a reported basis, or 27.7 percent on an operational basis.
Global Botox Cosmetic net revenues were $545 million, an increase of 38.5 percent on a reported basis, or 36.9 percent on an operational basis.
Global Juvederm net revenues were $354 million, an increase of 29.1 percent on a reported basis, or 26.6 percent on an operational basis.
On a GAAP basis, the gross margin ratio in the third quarter was 69.4 percent. The adjusted gross margin ratio was 83.2 percent.
On a GAAP basis, selling, general and administrative expense was 21.5 percent of net revenues. The adjusted SG&A expense was 20.6 percent of net revenues.
On a GAAP basis, research and development expense was 11.7 percent of net revenues. The adjusted R&D expense was 11.4 percent of net revenues, reflecting funding actions supporting all stages of our pipeline.
On a GAAP basis, the operating margin in the third quarter was 30.0 percent. The adjusted operating margin was 51.1 percent.
On a GAAP basis, net interest expense was $585 million.
On a GAAP basis, the tax rate in the quarter was 13.8 percent. The adjusted tax rate was 12.6 percent.
Diluted EPS in the third quarter was $1.78 on a GAAP basis. Adjusted diluted EPS, excluding specified items, was $3.33.

Note: "Operational" comparisons are presented at constant currency rates that reflect comparative local currency net revenues at the prior year’s foreign exchange rates.

Recent Events

AbbVie announced the European Commission (EC) approved Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults and adolescents 12 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy. The recommended dose of Rinvoq for AD in adults is 15 mg or 30 mg once daily based on individual patient presentation, and 15 mg once daily for adolescents and adults 65 years and older. The approval is supported by data from one of the largest registrational Phase 3 programs in AD evaluating Rinvoq monotherapy or with topical corticosteroids. This milestone marks the fourth EC-approved indication for Rinvoq.
AbbVie announced the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended the approval of Skyrizi (risankizumab) for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adults who have had an inadequate response or who have been intolerant to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The positive opinion is based on data from two pivotal Phase 3 studies which evaluated the efficacy and safety of Skyrizi in adults with active PsA. If the CHMP recommendation is accepted by the EC, this will mark the second indication for Skyrizi in the European Union. Skyrizi is part of a collaboration between Boehringer Ingelheim and AbbVie, with AbbVie leading development and commercialization globally.
AbbVie announced that it submitted applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and EMA seeking approval for Rinvoq (45 mg (induction dose) and 15 mg and 30 mg (maintenance dose)) for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). The applications are supported by data from two Phase 3 induction studies and one maintenance study. In these studies, significantly more patients treated with Rinvoq achieved the primary and all secondary endpoints compared to placebo. The safety results of Rinvoq, including the 45 mg dose as induction therapy, in these studies were generally consistent with the known safety profile of Rinvoq, with no new important safety risks observed.
AbbVie announced that it submitted an application to the FDA seeking approval for Skyrizi (600 mg intravenous induction and 360 mg subcutaneous maintenance therapy) for the treatment of patients 16 years and older with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD). The submission is supported by three pivotal Phase 3 studies in which Skyrizi demonstrated significant improvements in clinical remission and endoscopic response as both induction and maintenance therapy. The overall safety findings in these pivotal studies were generally consistent with the known safety profile of Skyrizi.
AbbVie announced positive top-line results from two studies of the Phase 3 SELECT-AXIS 2 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Rinvoq in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). In Study 1, Rinvoq (15 mg, once daily) met the primary endpoint of Assessment in SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) 40 at week 14 versus placebo (45 percent compared to 18 percent) in patients with AS who have had an inadequate response to biologic DMARD therapy. All ranked secondary endpoints were also met. In Study 2, Rinvoq (15 mg, once daily) met the primary endpoint of ASAS40 at week 14 versus placebo (45 percent compared to 23 percent) and met the first 12 of 14 ranked secondary endpoints in patients with nr-axSpA. Across both studies, safety data were consistent with SELECT-AXIS 1, previous Phase 3 studies in other indications and the known safety profile of Rinvoq, with no new risks identified. Full results from the SELECT-AXIS 2 trial will be presented at a future medical meeting and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
At the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week, AbbVie shared 13 abstracts including 7 live presentations that reinforced AbbVie’s commitment to advancing research in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Highlights included new results from the 52-week Phase 3 maintenance studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of Skyrizi in patients with CD and Rinvoq in patients with UC.
At the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, AbbVie shared 27 abstracts from across its dermatology portfolio that underscored AbbVie’s commitment to advancing standards of care in dermatology for people living with serious skin diseases. Highlights included new analyses from the Phase 3 Rinvoq AD clinical trial program as well as new long-term efficacy and safety data from the KEEPsAKE 1 and KEEPsAKE 2 trials evaluating Skyrizi in adults with PsA treated through 52 weeks.
AbbVie announced that Skyrizi is now available in the U.S. as a single-dose 150 mg injection for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO). Previously two 75 mg injections per dose, Skyrizi 150 mg is now administered with one injection per dose via either a prefilled pen or syringe every 12 weeks following two starter doses.
AbbVie announced that the FDA approved Qulipta (atogepant) for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. The approval is supported by data from a robust clinical program evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Qulipta in nearly 2,000 patients who experienced 4 to 14 migraine days per month including the pivotal Phase 3 ADVANCE study, the pivotal Phase 2b/3 study and the Phase 3 long-term safety study. AbbVie is the only pharmaceutical company to offer three treatments across the full spectrum of migraine to help patients living with this debilitating disease.
At the International Headache Congress (IHC) 2021, AbbVie presented data showcasing its migraine portfolio and shared a total of 23 abstracts including 2 oral presentations and 1 abstract lecture. Highlights included results from an open-label, multicenter extension to the pivotal Phase 3 ADVANCE trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of oral Qulipta for the preventive treatment of migraine, data from the observational cross-sectional UNIVERSE study highlighting the real-world effectiveness and patient satisfaction of Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) in acute migraine as well as results from a post-hoc analysis of the Phase 3 PREEMPT trials evaluating the use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) for chronic migraine.
AbbVie announced ABBV-951 (foslevodopa/foscarbidopa) met the primary endpoint in a pivotal Phase 3 trial in patients with advanced Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Patients who received the continuous 24 hours/day subcutaneous infusion of ABBV-951 showed statistically significant increases in "On" time without troublesome dyskinesia, compared to oral levodopa/carbidopa, after 12 weeks. A significant reduction in "Off" time was also observed. Systemic adverse events were generally consistent with the well-established safety profile of levodopa/carbidopa medications and infusion site adverse events were mostly non-serious and mild or moderate in severity. Data from this head-to-head superiority study will be a key component of global regulatory submissions and full results will be presented at a future medical meeting or submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
At the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) Virtual Congress 2021, AbbVie presented more than 20 abstracts showcasing AbbVie’s continued focus on advancing the management of movement disorders. Highlights included final results from PROviDE, a long-term, real-world study, evaluating the effectiveness of Duodopa (levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel) in patients with advanced PD as well as additional data on the long-term, real-world use of Botox in patients with spasticity and cervical dystonia.
AbbVie and REGENXBIO announced a partnership to develop and commercialize RGX-314, a potential one-time gene therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other chronic retinal diseases. RGX-314 is currently being evaluated in patients with wet AMD in a pivotal trial utilizing subretinal delivery as well as in patients with wet AMD and DR in two separate Phase II clinical trials utilizing in-office suprachoroidal delivery. Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will pay REGENXBIO a $370 million upfront payment with the potential for REGENXBIO to receive up to $1.38 billion in additional development, regulatory and commercial milestones. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals.
Full-Year 2021 Outlook

AbbVie is raising its GAAP diluted EPS guidance for the full-year 2021 from $6.04 to $6.14 to $6.29 to $6.33. AbbVie is raising its adjusted diluted EPS for the full-year 2021 from $12.52 to $12.62 to $12.63 to $12.67. The company’s 2021 adjusted diluted EPS guidance excludes $6.34 per share of intangible asset amortization expense, non-cash charges for contingent consideration adjustments and other specified items.

Company Declares Dividend Increase of 8.5 Percent

AbbVie is announcing today that its board of directors declared an increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend from $1.30 per share to $1.41 per share beginning with the dividend payable on February 15, 2022 to shareholders of record as of January 14, 2022. This reflects an increase of approximately 8.5 percent, continuing AbbVie’s strong commitment to returning cash to shareholders through a growing dividend. Since the company’s inception in 2013, AbbVie has increased its quarterly dividend by more than 250 percent. AbbVie is a member of the S&P Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years.

On October 29, 2021 Prescient Therapeutics Limited (ASX: PTX) reported that it has released the results for September quarter of fiscal year 2022 (Press release, Prescient Therapeutics, OCT 29, 2021, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=prescient-closes-very-productive-september-quarter-with-strong-cash-position [SID1234592169]). The ASX-listed clinical stage oncology company continues to stand strong with excellent financial performance. Several anti-cancer programs of the firm are progressing in the right direction towards multiple value creating milestones.

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With prudent financial management, Prescient ended the quarter with a strong cash position. Below are the key points from its quarterly report:

The firm had a cash balance of AU$14.8 million at quarter end.
Net cash outflows for the quarter were AU$1.2 million, with AU$0.782 million invested in research and development across Australia and the United States.
Several investments were made in the ongoing clinical studies of PTX-100 and PTX-200; pre-clinical development of the OmniCAR platform as well as Cell Therapy Enhancements.
Progress made so far in different therapy programs
Internal OmniCAR Programs: During the reporting period, Prescient received positive in silico results from immunogenicity testing of OmniCAR’s key binding components, SpyTag and SpyCatcher.
Immunogenicity evluates the immune response against a new therapy and the overall safety profile of a new treatment. There can be adverse impacts on CAR-T cell expansion due to increased levels of immunogenicity. In this case, the test outcome was positive as it detected low immunogenicity equivalent to circulating human antibodies.

Prescient Therapeutics (ASX:PXT)

Cell Therapy Enhancement Program: The Cell Therapy Enhancement (CTE) program is maturing well to achieve several striking pre-clinical milestones. The program is being conducted under the guidance of a world-leading research team at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne.
The result obtained so far hint at great scope for cancer treatment by enhancing current generation cell therapy approaches. It also holds possibility for next-generation approaches.

PTX-100: Phase 1b results from the PTX-100 basket trial confirmed it to be an excellent safety profile, with no serious adverse events related to the drug. Of particular interest was the efficacy signal observed in two patients with highly aggressive T cell lymphomas. Now, an expansion cohort study will be conducted for PTX-100, focusing on T cell lymphomas, with a potential for subsequent registration study.
Peripheral T cell lymphoma in particular is a cancer of considerable unmet need and represents a potential shorter path to market for PTX100.

PTX-200: The Phase 1b clinical study of PTX-200 and cytarabine in patients with acute myeloid leukemia is screening patients for a higher dose level of 45 mg/m2. No results were posted during the quarter.
Prescient strengthened its Board to advance its OmniCAR GMB program
An acknowledged expert in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GMB), Professor Donald M. O’Rourke has been appointed as a member of the Prescient’s growing international Scientific Advisory Board.

Professor O’Rourke is a tenured Professor at the Department of Neurosurgery in the Perlman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Abramson Cancer Centre where he holds the John Templeton Jr MD Chair in Neurosurgery.

To know more about Prescient Therapeutics Limited, click here.

To stay updated with PTX company activities and announcements, please update your details on their investor centre.

On October 29, 2021 ImmunoGen Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a leader in the expanding field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer, reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 (Press release, ImmunoGen, OCT 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234592168]).

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"We look forward to announcing top-line data from our pivotal SORAYA trial this quarter, including data on the primary endpoint of overall response rate and key secondary endpoint of duration of response. With positive data, we will move quickly to complete the BLA, with the goal of submitting the filing in the first quarter of 2022," said Mark Enyedy, ImmunoGen’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition to SORAYA, we continue to advance a broad program to establish mirvetuximab as the standard of care for patients with FRα-positive ovarian cancer. Our confirmatory MIRASOL trial is enrolling at over 160 sites in 18 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and we have initiated the PICCOLO trial, which could support label expansion in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Beyond mirvetuximab monotherapy, the first patients have been enrolled in the large investigator-sponsored studies evaluating mirvetuximab combined with carboplatin in both the neoadjuvant and recurrent platinum-sensitive settings to support our objective of making mirvetuximab the combination agent of choice in ovarian cancer, and we look forward to sharing our label-enabling combination strategy early next year."

Enyedy continued, "In addition, our IMGN632, IMGC936, and IMGN151 programs are advancing as planned. We anticipate presenting data on IMGN632 in AML at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) in December, have escalated dosing in multiple solid tumors with our ADAM-9 targeting ADC, IMGC936, and expect to file the IND for IMGN151, our next-generation FRα-targeting ADC, by year-end. As we close out 2021, we remain focused on execution and look forward to transforming ImmunoGen into a fully integrated oncology company with the potential for commercial launch next year."

RECENT PROGRESS

Further enrolled patients in the confirmatory MIRASOL study for mirvetuximab.
Initiated PICCOLO, a single-arm study of mirvetuximab monotherapy in high folate receptor alpha (FRα) recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.
Enrolled the first patients in the investigator-sponsored trials of mirvetuximab plus carboplatin in a single-arm study in the neoadjuvant setting and a randomized study in patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.
Advanced accrual in the pivotal 801 Phase 2 study, now known as CADENZA, of IMGN632 in frontline and relapsed/refractory (R/R) blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN).
Continued patient enrollment in the 802 Phase 1b/2 study of IMGN632 in combination with Vidaza (azacitidine) and Venclexta (venetoclax) in R/R acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and as a monotherapy in minimal residual disease positive (MRD+) AML.
Escalated dosing in the Phase 1 study of IMGC936 in multiple solid tumor types.
Progressed activities to support an investigational new drug (IND) application for IMGN151.
Appointed Helen M. Thackray, MD, to the Board of Directors.
ANTICIPATED UPCOMING EVENTS

Release top-line data from the pivotal SORAYA study this quarter, with the goal of submitting the biologics license application (BLA) in the first quarter of 2022 to support potential accelerated approval in 2022.
Present initial AML combination data for IMGN632 at the 2021 American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December.
Submit the IND application for IMGN151 by the end of 2021.
Complete dose-escalation in the Phase 1 study evaluating IMGC936, with initial data anticipated in 2022.
Generate top-line data for the confirmatory MIRASOL study in the third quarter of 2022.
FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 were $9.2 million, compared with $18.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. This decrease was driven by a reduction in non-cash royalty revenue due to the completion of the first tranche of payments under the 2015 transaction covering the sale of Kadcyla royalties. Revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 also included recognition of an anticipated $2.5 million partner development milestone fee.

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2021 were $43.4 million, compared with $34.9 million for the same quarter in 2020. Research and development expenses rose to $33.1 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared with $24.7 million for the third quarter of 2020, driven by increases in clinical trial expenses, personnel and temporary staffing costs, and third-party service fees in support of commercial readiness. General and administrative expenses were essentially flat at $10.3 million and $10.2 million for the third quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Net loss for the third quarter of 2021 was $37.3 million, or $0.18 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $22.4 million, or $0.13 per basic and diluted share, for the third quarter of 2020. Weighted average shares outstanding increased to 204.8 million for the 2021 period from 174.5 million in the prior year.

ImmunoGen had $245.8 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2021, compared with $293.9 million as of December 31, 2020, and had $2.1 million of convertible debt outstanding as of December 31, 2020. There was no convertible debt outstanding as of September 30, 2021. Cash used in operations was $123.5 million for the first nine months of 2021, compared with cash used in operations of $87.2 million for the same period in 2020. Capital expenditures were $(1.1) million for the first nine months of 2021, compared with net proceeds from the sale of equipment of $0.6 million for the first nine months of 2020.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2021, the Company sold 2.2 million shares of its common stock through its At-the-Market (ATM) facility, generating gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $13 million. In August 2021, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to an investor a warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,434,782 shares of the Company’s common stock for a nominal value, generating additional gross proceeds of approximately $30 million.

FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

ImmunoGen has updated its financial guidance for 2021 and now expects:

revenues between $65 million and $75 million;
operating expenses between $190 million and $200 million; and
cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2021 to be between $190 million and $200 million.
ImmunoGen expects that its current cash will fund operations into the fourth quarter of 2022.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

ImmunoGen will hold a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss these results. To access the live call by phone, dial (877) 621-5803; the conference ID is 1587202. The call may also be accessed through the Investors and Media section of the Company’s website, www.immunogen.com. Following the call, a replay will be available at the same location.

On October 29, 2021 Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) reported that results from the IMPACT (IMproving Primary screening And Colposcopy Triage) trial demonstrate clear patient benefit in using Roche’s CINtec PLUS Cytology dual-stain biomarker technology as a triage test for women who test positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, OCT 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234592167]) The data from the trial, established from a study cohort of more than 35,000 women aged 25-65 years, was published recently in the International Journal of Cancer.1

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In the IMPACT trial, women who were positive for high-risk HPV received a follow-up triage test to help determine if their cervical cells were transforming to cervical pre-cancer. The biomarker-based CINtec PLUS Cytology test showed a significantly higher sensitivity in detecting cervical pre-cancers, compared to Pap cytology. The Roche test aids clinicians in more confidently determining which women are at increased risk for high-grade cervical pre-cancer and require immediate further diagnostic procedures, and which women may need repeat testing or routine screening.1

Over 604,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide each year and approximately 342,000 die from the disease.2 Persistent infection with high-risk HPV is the principal cause of cervical cancer, implicated in more than 99 percent of cases worldwide.3 Cervical cancer is nearly 100 percent preventable with proper HPV vaccination, screening and treatment.

"As we approach the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer, Roche is committed to investing in and leading efforts such as the IMPACT trial to bring forth clinically validated solutions for women," said Thomas Schinecker, CEO Roche Diagnostics. "The elimination of cervical cancer is within reach, and all countries must act now so that women, no matter where in the world they live, no longer die from this preventable disease. Our investment in HPV primary screening and next-generation biomarker technology gives clinicians even more powerful tools in the fight against cervical cancer."

"These latest results from the IMPACT trial confirm data from previous studies that show incorporating the CINtec PLUS Cytology test in cervical cancer screening programs can provide real benefits to both clinicians and their patients," says Dr. Thomas Wright, Professor Emeritus in Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University Medical Center, New York. "As a triage test for HPV-positive cervical cancer screening results, the CINtec PLUS Cytology test can be very useful to differentiate women who will benefit most from immediate referral to colposcopy from those women who can be followed up with less invasive methods."

About Cervical Cancer and the IMproving Primary screening And Colposcopy Triage (IMPACT) Trial
Cervical cancer is nearly 100 percent preventable with proper HPV vaccination, screening and treatment. More than 604,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year worldwide. In 2020, cervical cancer was responsible for 7.7 percent of all female cancer deaths.2,4

The landmark IMPACT trial was a prospective observational cervical cancer screening clinical study that enrolled approximately 35,000 women aged 25-65 years who were undergoing routine cervical cancer screening at 32 clinical sites in 16 states across the US. The study provides validation for the clinical utility of cobas HPV testing for primary screening in combination with CINtec PLUS Cytology as a follow-up test for patients with positive screening results.

The study showed that triaging with CINtec PLUS Cytology may lead to significantly improved detection of cervical disease when women are screened for cervical cancer. Cervical screening helps identify women at risk for disease before invasive cancer develops. While most HPV infections resolve on their own, some women who test positive for the virus may develop pre-cancerous cervical lesions that, if left untreated, may progress to cervical cancer. Early identification of women who are most at risk is vital.

In the study, HPV-positive women with CINtec PLUS Cytology negative triage test results showed a very low cumulative 1-year risk for disease, which was significantly lower than the risks associated with a negative Pap cytology triage test result in HPV-positive women.

Based on the results of the IMPACT trial, the FDA approved the CINtec PLUS Cytology test to be used as triage for positive HPV test results using cobas HPV on cobas 4800, 6800 and 8800 Systems in primary screening or co-testing programs.

Recommended clinical guidelines have also been evolving in favor of HPV tests for primary screening, supported by an interest to improve outcomes and the availability of technologies to help laboratories achieve the efficiency and scale they need to meet the demands of high-volume cervical screening programs.

About CINtec PLUS Cytology
The CINtec PLUS Cytology test detects the simultaneous presence within a single cell of the two biomarkers — p16 and Ki-67. This abnormality is associated with HPV infections that are transforming and can, if left untreated, progress to pre-cancer or cancer. A positive result of these two biomarkers in a single cell signals that a woman is more significantly at risk for disease. The ability of CINtec PLUS Cytology to distinguish those women who are at a higher risk for cervical disease, in conjunction with the clinician’s assessment of patient screening history and other risk factors, provides labs, physicians and women with the information needed to guide patient management. Women with negative dual-stain results are at significantly lower risk for cervical disease and their bodies can be given more time to clear the HPV infection on their own. This could reduce the number and frequency of follow-up visits, saving some patients worry and time.

The CINtec PLUS Cytology test, which runs on the BenchMark ULTRA IHC/ISH system, is performed using the same sample that is used for HPV or liquid-based Pap cytology tests. This eliminates the need for additional or repeat sample collection or time spent waiting to find out if an infection is clearing.

CINtec PLUS Cytology, now available globally, was FDA approved in March 2020.