On March 21, 2022 KIYATEC, the leader in clinically correlated, published functional precision oncology technology reported that CEO Matt Gevaert, Ph.D., will present virtually at the KeyBanc Capital Markets’ Life Sciences & MedTech Investor Forum on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 1:30 PM Eastern Time (Press release, KIYATEC, MAR 21, 2022, View Source [SID1234610494]). KIYATEC’s participation includes virtual one-on-one meetings with investors during the two-day event which begins Tuesday, March 22nd.

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Leveraging its innovative 3D cell culture technology platform for both clinical and pre-clinical use, KIYATEC recently introduced its first commercial assay in the US, 3D Predict Glioma. The Company is adding commercial and business development capabilities to secure payer reimbursement and coverage while generating demand for these services among clinical and pre-clinical customers. Recently, KIYATEC began a facilities expansion to support the Company’s five-year growth plans to increase laboratory capacity and accelerate product development.

On March 21, 2022 Promega reported that Research in Nature Chemical Biology reveals new opportunities for using small molecule drugs to target KRAS, the most commonly mutated protein in cancer (Press release, Promega, MAR 21, 2022, View Source [SID1234610493]). Promega research scientists collaborated with the University of California – San Francisco research group led by Dr. Kevan M. Shokat, a global leader in KRAS biology, to study the binding of potentially therapeutic molecules to common mutants of the KRAS protein. This study represents the first observation and quantification of direct target engagement of KRAS(G12D) and other hotspot oncogenic mutants of KRAS in cells using reversible binders.

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KRAS and Cancer

KRAS is a protein that serves as a "master switch" for regulating cell proliferation. It is the most commonly mutated protein in cancer. KRAS was long considered to be "undruggable" until 2013 when the Shokat lab identified covalent drugs targeting KRAS(G12C), a common mutant in which a glycine amino acid is changed to a cysteine. That discovery led to increased drug discovery research, and eventually the first inhibitors targeting KRAS(G12C).

Unfortunately, other mutants of KRAS presented different challenges. All of the known inhibitors of KRAS(G12C) relied on an inactive state of the protein that other mutants do not frequently exhibit. The G12C mutation also provided the opportunity to employ covalent drug discovery methods that would not apply to other hotspot mutants. For those reasons, alleles such as KRAS(G12D) and KRAS(G12V) continued to be considered undruggable.

Targeting Hotspot Mutants for Drug Discovery

The research published today in Nature Chemical Biology utilized a Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) assay to quantify target engagement of RAS complexes in live cells. They found that the switch-II pocket of KRAS was a privileged drug binding site for non-covalent ligands, and that this was not dependent on the activation state of KRAS. These results open new opportunities for targeting non-G12C mutants of KRAS in drug discovery.

"We’ve shown that some of these highly aggressive mutants are indeed vulnerable to small molecule inhibitors," says Matt Robers, Senior Research Scientist at Promega. "With our new target engagement method, we can measure binding within living cells and show that the binding we see at these hotspot mutants actually translates into anti-proliferative effects in the pancreatic cancer lineages."

In addition to the BRET methods for measuring target engagement, the paper also describes nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy methods for observing reversible ligand binding in vitro and determining the state of the KRAS protein. The authors hope that the methods they describe will be a valuable tool for researchers to develop treatments for some of the most aggressive KRAS mutants previously thought to be "undruggable."

Promega offers a comprehensive selection of tools to accelerate RAS pathway drug discovery based on a sensitive bioluminescence platform. Learn more at www.promega.com/applications/small-molecule-drug-discovery/ras-oncogene/

On March 21, 2022 Chimeron Bio, an RNA company developing self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines and therapeutics designed on its proprietary ChaESARTM RNA delivery platform, reported it has signed a Non-Clinical Evaluation Agreement (NCEA) with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to evaluate the potential of its vaccine for COVID-19 (Press release, Chimeron Bio, MAR 21, 2022, View Source [SID1234610492]). The Company’s lead candidate, CB-106, delivers the Spike gene as a self-amplifying mRNA. Preliminary data on this vaccine obtained in collaboration with George Mason University, demonstrated positive results in pre-clinical models with nanogram quantities of RNA, a significant dose advantage over other RNA based technologies. In addition to CB-106, other ChaESAR candidates under testing by the Company include particles co-delivering multi-variant antigens for viral and non-viral vaccines for broad spectrum protection.

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Under the current agreement, Chimeron Bio will utilize the pre-clinical services program offered by the NIAID. Chimeron Bio will provide the vaccine candidate to test in the hamster model of COVID-19 which has previously been used for the assessment of other COVID-19 vaccines. "A successful outcome from this study will further validate ChaESAR technology in pre-clinical models and boost the design of a next generation single shot RNA vaccine that is durable, low dose, low cost, scalable and can render broad-spectrum protection against multiple variants or infectious agents," said Thimmaiah Chendrimada, Co-founder and CSO of Chimeron Bio.

"We are grateful to receive NIAID’s support and work with NIAID funded world-class institutions. The COVID-19 program is Chimeron’s first foray into infectious diseases, and we expect the data from the current study to offer critical validation to advance CB-106 into non-human primates and demonstrate the applicability of ChaESAR technology for vaccines at large," said Jolly Mazumdar, Co-founder and CEO of Chimeron Bio.

On March 21, 2022 Yemaachi Biotech, a cancer research and diagnostics company headquartered in Accra, Ghana with offices in Washington, DC, reported the close of a $3 million seed round to advance its mission of diversifying precision oncology globally (Press release, Yemaachi Biotech, MAR 21, 2022, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220321005271/en/Yemaachi-Africa%E2%80%99s-Cancer-Research-Company-Raises-Seed-Round-To-Diversify-Genomic-Datasets-Advance-Precision-Oncology-Globally [SID1234610490]). V8 Capital led the round, with LifeLine Family Heritage Fund, Y Combinator, Tencent, LoftyInc Capital, VestedWorld, V Square Capital and Ethan Perlstein also participating.

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Founded by Yaw Bediako, David Hutchful, Joyce Ngoi, and Yaw Attua-Afari in 2020, Yemaachi is dedicated to accelerating precision oncology in Africa and beyond by expanding access to research and diagnostics. Yemaachi’s first of its kind Pan-African genomic and clinical knowledge base and research platform, combined with deep clinical partnerships across Africa, provide the foundation for innovative products and partnerships to advance new molecular diagnostics and therapeutic targets. The Company also offers clinical testing services including NGS-based screening and diagnostic testing services, optimized for local populations.

Africa has been largely excluded from both genomic and oncology research. Although the continent accounts for 17% of the world’s population, only 2% of genomic study participants are of African descent. Africa’s fast-growing, treatment-naive population, significant disease burden, and the greatest human genetic diversity of any region worldwide create a fertile landscape for harvesting groundbreaking insights and improving outcomes for patients.

"We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of genomic data and understanding. We know genetic outcomes are context dependent, including within the genome. Creating a dataset that has the greatest genomic diversity can enable rapid discoveries that have long-term implications for cancer research, drug development, and patient care, not just in Africa, but globally," said Yaw Bediako, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Yemaachi. "Combined with Yemaachi’s expertise in immunogenomics, bioinformatics, and deep learning, the Company’s expansive datasets can be a force multiplier for rapidly accelerating advancements in oncology."

"The breadth of expertise of Yemaachi’s highly talented founding team, the clinical partnerships they have already formed, and their focus on leveraging the vast untapped resource of African genetic diversity to discover the next generation of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics makes them a very exciting and valuable investment for us," said Tobi Oke, Managing Partner at V8 Capital Partners.

Yemaachi was also recently named a recipient of a $1 million grant as part of the Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship awarded to Bediako by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The prestigious fellowship is designed to support scientists who are working towards developing innovations in urgent global health priorities.

The Company has already begun to break ground with novel diagnostics and partnerships. Late last year, Yemaachi launched the AMBER Study in collaboration with Lucence to better characterize and understand the genomics of breast cancer in women of African descent using liquid biopsy. In January, the Company launched its at-home Sheba HPV Test in Ghana to help identify women who are at high risk of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer in West African women.

The Company’s name combines three Ghanian languages in a portmanteau that means "A New Dawn for Health in Africa."

On March 21, 2022 AnHeart Therapeutics ("AnHeart"), a clinical-stage global biopharmaceutical company committed to developing novel precision oncology therapeutics, reported a poster presentation for ROS1 inhibitor taletrectinib at the European Lung Cancer Congress 2022, held in Prague, Czech Republic, and virtually, March 30-April 2, 2022 (Press release, AnHeart Therapeutics, MAR 21, 2022, View Source [SID1234610489]).

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Details of the poster presentation are below:

Poster Presentation Title: TRUST-II: A Global Phase II Study for Taletrectinib in ROS1 fusion Positive Lung Cancer and other solid tumors.

Presenter: Misako Nagasaka, M.D. Ph.D., University of California (UC) Irvine, School of Medicine.

Date/Time: The e-Posters will be available on the virtual platform of the ELCC website, in the e-Posters section, as of 29 March at 12:00 CEST.

"Taletrectinib is a next-generation, brain-penetrant, ROS1 inhibitor, and there is a high unmet medical need for lung cancer patients with this specific type of ROS1 fusions," said Dr. Misako Nagasaka, Associate Clinical Professor and Thoracic Oncologist, UC Irvine. "The results from the Phase 2 trial evaluating taletrectinib in patients with ROS1 fusions, in particular the compound’s ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier is impressive and I look forward to participating in this program."

"We’re excited to present the poster at ELCC 2022, a major medical conference, and look forward to sharing additional data from the ongoing Phase 2 trial and bringing hope to patients with ROS1 fusion-positive NSCLC," said CEO Junyuan (Jerry) Wang, Ph.D., CEO & Co-Founder, AnHeart Therapeutics.

About TRUST-II Study

TRUST-II study (NCT04919811) is a phase 2, global, multicenter, open-label, single-arm multi-cohort study evaluating the efficacy and safety of taletrectinib for ROS1 fusion-positive advanced metastatic NSCLC and other solid tumors. Taletrectinib will be given at 600 mg once daily in 21-day cycle. The patients with ROS1 fusions detected by local tests are eligible to enroll with retrospective confirmation by a central laboratory. The study consists of four cohorts: cohort 1: systemic chemotherapy naïve or ≤ one prior line and ROS1 TKI naïve NSCLC (N=53); cohort 2: previously treated with one ROS1 TKI (crizotinib or entrectinib) and with progression who are either chemotherapy naïve or ≤ one line of platinum and/or pemetrexed based therapy for NSCLC (N=46); cohort 3: ≤ 2 prior ROS1 TKIs and with progression who are either chemotherapy naïve or ≤ 2 lines of platinum and/or pemetrexed based therapy for NSCLC (N=10); and cohort 4: systemic chemotherapy naïve or ≤ 2 prior lines of chemotherapy, but ROS1-TKI naïve ROS1 positive solid tumor other than NSCLC ( N=10). The primary endpoint is objective response rate (ORR) (RECIST v1.1) by independent review committee (IRC) assessment for cohorts 1 and 2. Key secondary endpoints include IRC-assessed duration of response, IRC-assessed intra-cranial ORR, progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. This study is currently recruiting in Japan, Republic of Korea, and USA. Additional accrual is planned in Canada, China, and European Union.

About Taletrectinib

Taletrectinib is a novel best-in-class next-generation ROS1 inhibitor designed to effectively target ROS1 fusions with potential to treat both TKI-naïve and pre-treated patients. ROS1 rearrangement is estimated to be an oncogenic driver in approximately 1 to 2 percent of patients with NSCLC. ROS1 fusions are also observed in several other cancers such as cholangiocarcinoma, glioblastoma, ovarian, gastric, and colorectal cancers. Taletrectinib has demonstrated excellent potency against crizotinib resistance, good brain penetration and intracranial antitumor activity, and favorable safety profiles in ROS1 fusion-positive NSCLC patients. In these patients, few neurological adverse effects were observed, which likely benefits from the selective inhibition of ROS1 over TRKB by taletrectinib. More information about the ongoing China TRUST (Taletrectinib ROS1 LUng STudy) phase 2 trial and the global TRUST-II phase 2 trial may be found by searching clinical trial identifiers NCT04395677 and NCT04919811, respectively at View Source For questions about the ongoing trials, please contact [email protected].