On October 26, 2021 Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) reported the first two projects to be developed within beLAB1407, a collaboration between Evotec and Bristol Myers Squibb to accelerate translational research from the UK’s academic life science ecosystem (Press release, Evotec, OCT 26, 2021, View Source;announcements/press-releases/p/evotec-announces-first-funded-projects-of-translational-bridge-belab1407-in-collaboration-with-bristol-myers-squibb-6108 [SID1234591991]). Only six months after signing the beLAB1407 collaboration agreement in May 2021, the first projects to be developed within this academic BRIDGE collaboration have now been identified.

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Both projects offer innovative and promising new mechanisms to treat cancer. The first project is based on the findings of Dr Paul Badenhorst at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences. The project aims to develop novel small molecule inhibitors targeting an epigenetic reader associated with the survival of cancer cells.

The second project has its origins in the lab of Dr Ashish Dhir at the University of Edinburgh’s MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer and focuses on the development of small molecules promoting interferon signaling, driving an inflammation-mediated anti-tumour response.

Both projects will now be validated and developed within beLAB1407, making use of Evotec’s integrated discovery and development platform. The goal of beLAB1407 is to develop academic projects to value inflection points that allow the formation of new jointly owned spin-off companies.

Dr Thomas Hanke, EVP & Head of Academic Partnerships at Evotec, commented: "We are delighted to announce the first funded projects at beLAB1407 and we are looking forward to accelerating the promising translational work of Drs Badenhorst and Dhir in the area of novel cancer treatments on Evotec’s integrated drug discovery & development infrastructure called the ‘Data-driven R&D Autobahn to Cures’ towards a hit identification and beyond. At the same time, we are pleased to receive additional promising applications from scientists working within the beLAB1407 member institutions in Birmingham, Nottingham, Edinburgh and Dundee, and are looking forward to expanding the scope of the project portfolio further."

Dr Paul Badenhorst, Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, said: "The award of funding from the beLAB1407 BMS-Evotec Academic Collaboration marks a significant step in our ongoing research programmes to understand the roles of epigenetic readers in cancer, and to develop new strategies for therapeutic intervention in a diverse range of cancer types."

Dr Ashish Dhir, Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Edinburgh’s MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, said: "I’m truly honoured to receive this funding from beLAB1407 that will drive our fundamental research towards drug development, an important leap towards the clinic. As an early career researcher, this is a fantastic endorsement of the research vision and exciting science in my lab."

beLAB1407 is backed by Evotec in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb. The total volume of US$ 20 m will allow for several more funding rounds. For more information on beLAB1407, visit www.belab1407.org.

On October 26, 2021 MacroGenics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGNX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, reported that the Company will release its financial results for the third quarter of 2021 after the market closes on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 (Press release, MacroGenics, OCT 26, 2021, View Source [SID1234591990]). MacroGenics will host a conference call to discuss the financial results and recent corporate progress on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 4:30 pm ET. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 303-6253 (domestic) or (973) 409-9610 (international) five minutes prior to the start of the call and providing the Conference ID# 6063045.

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The listen-only webcast of the conference call can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at View Source A recorded replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and archived on the Company’s website for 30 days following the call.

On October 26, 2021 Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: LGND) reported that it will report financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 after the close of the U.S. financial markets on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 and will hold a conference call that same day beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (Press release, Ligand, OCT 26, 2021, View Source [SID1234591989]). Speakers on the call will include Ligand’s CEO John Higgins, President and COO Matt Foehr and Executive Vice President and CFO Matt Korenberg.

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On October 26, 2021 Lucence, a precision oncology company using liquid biopsy to bring clarity to cancer care, and Yemaachi Biotech, a cancer research company based in Accra, Ghana, reported that they are collaborating on a study to better characterize and understand the genomics of breast cancer in women of African descent (Press release, Lucence Diagnostics, OCT 26, 2021, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211026005411/en/Lucence-and-Yemaachi-Launch-the-AMBER-Study-to-Detect-and-Characterize-Genomic-Alterations-in-Breast-Cancer-in-Women-in-Africa-and-Expand-Liquid-Biopsy-Access [SID1234591988]).

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The study– Liquid Biopsy for Detection of Actionable Genomic Mutations in Women of African Descent with Advanced Breast Cancer, also known as the AMBER Study– is a prospective, observational trial exploring the utility of a cfDNA liquid biopsy assay to identify actionable genetic mutations in metastatic breast cancer patients in Ghana. Using Lucence’s LiquidHALLMARK assay, the study will examine actionable mutations in genes including PIK3CA, BRCA1, BRCA2, and ESR1 in treatment-naive metastatic breast cancer patients recruited from Cape Coast Teaching Hospital with the goal of identifying and evaluating the mutation profiles of cancers in Ghanaian women.

"Lack of access to next-generation sequencing technologies is a critical component of existing disparities in oncology. Through this collaboration, we will make progress toward diversifying research and expanding access to molecular diagnostics in a way that is scalable, affordable, and saves lives," said Yaw Bediako, PhD, Co-founder & CEO of Yemaachi.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, responsible for almost a third of all cancers in Africa, and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Ghanaian women. Yet African populations have been largely excluded from oncology research and clinical trials to date. Although the continent accounts for 17% of the world’s population, only 2% of genomic study participants are of African descent compared to 78% of European ancestry. At the same time, clinical research in oncology has the potential to be high impact in this population due to a fast-growing, treatment-naive population, significant disease burden and the greatest human genetic diversity of any region worldwide.

"Both Lucence and Yemaachi care deeply about diversifying precision oncology globally, have a shared desire to see individuals with cancer treated earlier and better, and believe liquid biopsy is a disruptive force in cancer diagnostics that more patients and oncologists should have access to, regardless of their country of origin. We are excited to partner with Yemaachi on this important work," said Min-Han Tan, MBBS, PhD, Founding CEO of Lucence.

On October 26, 2021 Anixa Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANIX) ("Anixa") a biotechnology company focused on the treatment and prevention of cancer and infectious diseases, reported that, in conjunction with its partner, Cleveland Clinic, it has commenced dosing of patients for a novel study of its vaccine that is being investigated for preventing triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive and lethal form of the disease (Press release, Anixa Biosciences, OCT 26, 2021, View Source [SID1234591987]). Anixa has a worldwide, exclusive license to the vaccine technology originating from Cleveland Clinic.

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Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, the new study is a multiple-ascending dose Phase 1 trial to determine the maximum tolerated dose of the vaccine in patients with early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer as well as monitor immune response. The study will be conducted at Cleveland Clinic and will consist of 18 to 24 patients who have completed treatment for early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer within the past three years and are currently tumor-free but at high risk for recurrence. During the course of the study, participants will receive three vaccinations, each two weeks apart, and will be closely monitored for side effects and immune response. The study is estimated to be completed in the third quarter of 2022.

"As we begin this first-of-its-kind clinical study with our partner, Cleveland Clinic, it is truly an exciting time for Anixa," stated Dr. Amit Kumar, President and CEO of Anixa Biosciences. "Our vaccine has the potential to prevent the development of the most aggressive form of breast cancer – triple-negative breast cancer. We look forward to the prospect of advancing this promising candidate throughout later stage studies."

The study that is being conducted today is based on pre-clinical work conducted by Cleveland Clinic researchers that was originally published in Nature Medicine. Plans for subsequent trials of Anixa Bioscience’s vaccine would involve healthy, cancer-free study participants at high risk for developing breast cancer who have decided to undergo voluntary bilateral mastectomy to lower their risk. Typically, those women carry mutations in the BRCA1 or related genes and are therefore at risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer or have high familial risk for any form of breast cancer.

About Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Despite representing only about 12-15% of all breast cancers, triple-negative breast cancer accounts for a disproportionately higher percentage of breast cancer deaths and has a higher rate of recurrence. This form of breast cancer is twice as likely to occur in African-American women, and approximately 70% to 80% of the breast tumors that occur in women with mutations in the BRCA1 genes are triple-negative breast cancer.

About Anixa Bioscience’s Breast Cancer Vaccine
Anixa’s investigational vaccine takes advantage of endogenously produced proteins that have a function at certain times in life, but then become "retired" and disappear from the body. One such protein is a breast-specific lactation protein, α-lactalbumin, which is no longer found post-lactation in normal, aging tissues, but is present in the majority of triple-negative breast cancers. Activating the immune system against this "retired" protein provides pre-emptive immune protection against emerging breast tumors that express α-lactalbumin. The vaccine also contains an adjuvant that activates an innate immune response that allows the immune system to mount a response against emerging tumors to prevent them from growing.