On 8 April, 2022 Glycotope GmbH, a biotechnology company developing antibodies against proteins carrying tumor-specific carbohydrate structures, reported that it will present new data at the 2022 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, being held in New Orleans, United States, between 8-16 April 2022 (Press release, Glycotope, APR 8, 2022, View Source [SID1234611642]).

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Patrik Kehler, Chief Scientific Officer of Glycotope GmbH commented: "The data presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) shows the potential of targeting GlycoTargets to increase the tumor-selectivity of antibodies. We will present two anti-GlycoTarget antibodies with markedly improved tumor-selectivity compared to protein binding antibodies resulting in reduced binding to healthy tissues or blood cells. Additionally, we will present updated in vivo efficacy data for GT-00A x IL15, our TA-MUC1-targeting IL-15 fusion antibody. GT-00A x IL15 is one of the first tumor-targeted immuno-cytokines and has the potential to significantly outperform non-targeted IL-15 immuno-cytokines offering a highly needed alternative in the treatment of several solid-tumor indications."

Poster details are as follows:

Abstract Number: 4542 Download here as of Friday, 8 April 1pm ET / 7pm CET

Title: Carbohydrate-dependent protein binding antibodies with superior tumor-specificity
Category: Poster Section 21: Antibodies and Immune Therapies

Session Start Time: 4/10/2022 1:30:00 PM

Session End Time: 4/10/2022 5:00:00 PM

Abstract Number: 4584 Download here as of Friday, 8 April 1pm ET / 7pm CET

Title: Preclinical characterization of GT-00A x IL15: A novel IL-15-based immunocytokine with unique tumor targeting properties
Category: Poster Section 37: Therapeutic Antibodies 1

Session Start Time: 4/12/2022 9:00:00 AM

Session End Time: 4/12/2022 12:30:00 PM

Abstracts are now available on AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)’s website located at www.aacr.org. E-posters will be available to registrants of the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting at 1:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 8

About GT-00A x IL15

GT-00A x IL15 is a TA-MUC1 targeting IL-15 immuno-cytokine fusion antibody. Cytokines have long been used for cancer therapy to activate the immune system, but side effects and short half-life limit their therapeutic application. The concept of specific targeting to the tumor and tumor microenvironment to exploit the full potential of IL-15 biology is unique within the competitive field of IL-15 (super)agonists. The immuno-cytokine attracts and activates immune cells (e.g., T and NK cells) directly at the tumor site thereby turning an "immune desert" into a "hot" tumor and inducing tumor cell lysis. A comprehensive non-clinical data package is available.

On April 8, 2022 Exact Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq: EXAS), a leader in advanced cancer diagnostics, reported that the company plans to release its first quarter 2022 financial results after the close of the U.S. financial markets on April 26, 2022 (Press release, Exact Sciences, APR 8, 2022, View Source [SID1234611638]). Following the release, company management will host a webcast and conference call at 5 p.m. ET to discuss financial results and business progress.

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An archive of the webcast will be available at www.exactsciences.com. A replay of the conference call will be available by calling 800-770-2030 domestically or +1 647-362-9199 internationally. The access code for the replay of the call is 4437608. The webcast, conference call, and replay are open to all interested parties.

On April 8, 2022 Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809, NASDAQ: EVO) reported that the Company has reached another programme designation within its neuroscience collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) triggering a payment of US$ 16 m to Evotec (Press release, Evotec, APR 8, 2022, View Source [SID1234611637]).

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The programme further adds to a fast-growing pipeline in neurodegeneration that also includes EVT8683, which entered clinical development end of 2021. In contrast to previously nominated programmes, which are small molecule based, the newly designated project utilises an antisense-based approach. Evotec is eligible to receive tiered royalties of up to low double-digit percentages of sales of any commercial products resulting from the collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb. Additionally, Evotec can earn up to US$ 250 m in development and sales milestones within the collaboration.

Antisense oligonucleotides ("ASOs") are precisely engineered chemical structures that specifically bind to a targeted RNA to interfere with gene expression. By specifically inhibiting the production of disease-driving proteins in the cells of interest, ASOs can provide new pathways to tackle targets that are difficult to regulate or were previously deemed "undruggable". The programme leverages ASOs originating from the LNAplus ASO discovery and development platform established and validated by Secarna Pharmaceuticals with whom Evotec entered a strategic partnership in August 2020.

Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, said: "Our neuroscience collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb was initiated in December 2016. It has also generated a first clinical stage programme with EVT8683 as well as an exciting pre-clinical stage pipeline. We are delighted to further expand this pipeline with yet another high-potential programme."

The neuroscience collaboration between Evotec and Bristol Myers Squibb aims to identify disease-modifying treatments for a broad range of neurodegenerative diseases. Currently approved drugs only offer short-term management of the patients’ symptoms and there is a huge unmet medical need for therapeutic modalities that slow down or reverse disease progression. The programme leverages Secarna’s LNAplus platform in combination with Evotec’s industrialised iPSC platform using patient-derived disease models, which is one of the largest and most sophisticated platforms in the industry.

On April 7, 2022 Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX) reported that Jeffrey L. Wade, Lexicon’s president and chief financial officer, will present at the 21st Annual Needham Virtual Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 8:45 a.m. ET (Press release, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, APR 7, 2022, View Source [SID1234616369]).

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A webcast of the event will be available in the "Events" section of the Lexicon website at www.lexpharma.com. An archived version of the webcast will be available on the website for two weeks.

On April 7, 2022 Kynos Therapeutics Ltd (Kynos or the Company), an immunemetabolic company with world-leading expertise in the kynurenine pathway and kynurenine 3monooxygenase (KMO) biology, reported that stealth mode with £9 million to finance its lead KMO inhibitor (KMOi) programme through Phase 1 clinical trials and to progress its innovative pipeline of first-in-class KMOi across key indications in inflammation, immunity and metabolism (Press release, Kynos Therapeutics, APR 7, 2022, View Source [SID1234615014]).

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Kynos is a spin-out from the University of Edinburgh (UoE), based on over a decade of research into KMO biology and its inhibitors. Its technology and KMOis were co-developed during a multi-year collaborative programme between the UoE founders and GSK. The collaboration concluded in 2019 and data packages and all rights and intellectual property were transferred to the UoE. GSK is eligible for a royalty should a medicine be registered.

The £6.5m initial venture financing round was led by Epidarex Capital, joined by IP Group and Scottish Enterprise. Kynos has also been awarded £2.5m through an Innovate UK grant to fund a first-time in human Phase 1 clinical trial of its lead KMOi, KNS366. Kynos has a completed INDenabling package and is preparing to start a single ascending dose study with biomarker analysis.

KMO plays a major role in the control of inflammation and metabolism, contributing to the regulation of the immune system. It is a mitochondrial enzyme that converts kynurenine into biologically active 3HK that damages cells. Blocking KMO reduces 3HK, protecting against tissue damage.

Kynos’s pipeline is focused on three key areas: in critical illness post-surgery; in conditions driven by inflammation; and in cancers where inflammation is preventing the immune system from fighting back. This financing will be used to build out its core team and to fund preclinical indication expansion studies as well as to initiate development of oral formulations of KMO inhibitors. These activities will run in parallel to the Innovate UK-funded Phase 1 clinical trial in humans.

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Kynos’s core founding team are leading experts in KMO biology and medicinal chemistry with clinical, translational and drug discovery experience: CEO Damian J Mole (Professor of Surgery and MRC Senior Clinical Fellow, the University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research; and CSO Scott Webster (Professor of Medicines Discovery, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh). The industry engagement and launch of the spin-out company have been supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service.

Professor Damian Mole, CEO of Kynos Therapeutics, said: "Our goal is to improve health and make a positive impact for patients, by developing our programme in the therapeutic area of inflammation and immunometabolism. We are very excited by the potential of our first-in-class KMO inhibitors and we are ready to enter the clinic with our lead asset.

"Our programmes are based on extensive industry collaborative research with a robust science base supported by multiple high impact publications. There are no approved or marketed medicines for our gateway indication, for which there is a significant unmet need."

Following the Financing Dr Elizabeth Roper, Partner at Epidarex Capital, and Dr Tassos Konstantinou, Investment Manager, Life Sciences at IP Group plc, have joined Kynos’s board of directors.

Dr Elizabeth Roper, Partner at Epidarex Capital and Kynos Investor Director, said: "Kynos has a first-in-class set of KMO inhibitors that we believe have potential in multiple therapeutic areas. We look forward to working closely with the team and the syndicate to progress these assets into the clinic and to realise the potential of Kynos’s world-class science."

Dr Sam Williams, Managing Partner of Life Sciences at IP Group plc, said: "KMO is rapidly becoming a target of great interest in drug discovery. IP Group is excited to support Kynos as it seeks to become a leading player in the KMO field and develop inhibitors with the potential to transform patients’ lives across multiple indications."

Kerry Sharp, Director of Growth Investments at Scottish Enterprise said: "Scotland is globally renowned for its strengths in life sciences because of our innovative companies, incredible talent and world-class universities. Supporting companies in this sector, such as Kynos Therapeutics, to progress its ground-breaking medical research is a priority for Scottish Enterprise. Kynos is developing an innovative portfolio of first-in-class medicines and this funding will help deliver therapies for patients impacted by inflammatory conditions."