On August 2, 2022 ViewRay, Inc, the U.S. maker of the MRIdian System, reported a partnership with award-winning journalist and cancer advocate Katie Couric’s multi-media company, Katie Couric Media ("KCM") (Press release, ViewRay, AUG 2, 2022, View Source [SID1234617311]). ViewRay and KCM are working together to launch a national awareness campaign to educate patients and clinicians about MRIdian SMART (Stereotactic MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy) for treatment of pancreatic, prostate, lung, liver, breast, colorectal and oligometastatic cancers.

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Nearly 25,000 patients have been treated by over 50 MRIdian systems, including 21 academic and community hospitals in the United States and nearly 30 other hospitals around the world. These centers are pioneering the use of MRIdian SMART treatments and have demonstrated favorable patient outcomes, including extended survival for pancreatic cancer patients and reduced side effects through shorter course treatments for prostate cancer patients. A list of hospitals using MRIdian is located at: View Source

Couric’s life mission is focused on cancer prevention and research. After her first husband, Jay Monahan, died from colorectal cancer more than two decades ago, Couric bravely got a colonoscopy live on NBC’s Today show, which she cohosted from 1991 to 2006, to raise awareness of colon cancer screenings. The same year, she co-founded the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, and then in 2008, Couric co-founded Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). Since its launch, SU2C has raised more than $700 million to support cutting-edge collaborative science and its research has contributed to nine new FDA-approved therapies.

"I’m thrilled to announce our new partnership with ViewRay. Their one-of-a-kind technology is enabling clinicians to treat patients with targeted, and effective state-of-the-art MRI-guided radiation therapy. Innovation like this gives me hope for the millions of people around the world currently battling cancer" says Katie Couric.

In 2017, Couric and her husband, John Molner, started Katie Couric Media, a multi-media company that creates high-quality content in collaboration with purpose-driven brands that sparks curiosity, elevates conversation, inspires action and moves the world forward. "With over 5 million subscribers across multiple platforms, our audience at KCM is looking to support companies and brands that are innovative, best in class and striving to make a difference. ViewRay’s vision to conquer cancer by re-envisioning radiation therapy is a perfect example of this," says John Molner, Katie Couric Media’s Co-Founder and CEO.

"Thousands of patients treated on MRIdian prove compelling and consistent clinical outcomes in both tough to treat and more common cancers. Patients demand short-course non-invasive therapy with fewer side effects and better quality of life, whether they face complex or more common forms of cancer. ViewRay is committed to delivering that to every patient who requires treatment," said Scott Drake President and CEO of ViewRay. "Our expanding body of clinical data combined with our footprint of MRIdian systems make this the perfect time to partner with Katie and her team. This campaign is an expression and expansion of our dedication to empower cancer patients and their loved ones to find the hope that resides in the best available care."

The MRIdian system provides oncologists outstanding anatomical visualization through diagnostic-quality MR images and the ability to adapt a radiation therapy plan to the targeted cancer with the patient on the table. This combination allows physicians to define tight treatment margins to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure of vulnerable organs-at-risk and healthy tissue and allows the delivery of ablative radiation doses in five or fewer treatment sessions, without relying on implanted markers. By providing real-time continuous tracking of the target and organs-at-risk, MRIdian enables automatic gating of the radiation beam if the target moves outside the user-defined margins. This allows for delivery of the prescribed dose to the target, while sparing surrounding healthy tissue and critical structures, which results in minimizing toxicities typically associated with conventional radiation therapy.

Disclaimer:
Nothing in this material is intended to provide specific medical advice or to take the place of written law or regulations.

Safety Statement
The MRIdian Linac System is not appropriate for all patients, including those who are not candidates for magnetic resonance imaging. Radiation treatments may cause side effects that can vary depending on the part of the body being treated. The most frequent ones are typically temporary and may include, but are not limited to, irritation to the respiratory, digestive, urinary, or reproductive systems; fatigue; nausea; skin irritation; and hair loss. In some patients, side effects can be severe. Treatment sessions may vary in complexity and duration. Radiation treatment is not appropriate for all cancers. You should discuss the imaging with your doctor to make sure radiation treatment is right for you.

On August 2, 2022 BioLife Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLFS), a leading supplier of class-defining bioproduction tools and services for the cell and gene therapies ("CGT") and broader biopharma markets, reported the Company’s second quarter 2022 financial results will be released after market close on Tuesday, August 9th (Press release, BioLife Science, AUG 2, 2022, View Source [SID1234617310]). The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 4:30pm ET (1:30pm PT) that day. Management will provide an overview of the Company’s financial results and a general business update.

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To access the webcast, log onto the Investor Relations page of the BioLife Solutions website at View Sourceearnings." target="_blank" title="View Sourceearnings." rel="nofollow">View Source In addition, the conference call will be accessible by dialing toll-free (800) 715-9871 for domestic callers and (646) 307-1963 for international callers. The conference ID number is 2389359. A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours after the call and will be archived on View Source for 90 days.

On August 2, 2022 VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition"), a multi-national epigenetics company, reported the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 3,450,000 shares of its common stock, including the exercise in full of the underwriter’s overallotment option, at a public offering price of $2.00 per share (Press release, VolitionRX, AUG 2, 2022, View Source [SID1234617309]). The gross proceeds to Volition from the offering were $6.9 million, before deducting the underwriting commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by Volition. All of the shares of common stock sold in the offering were offered by Volition.

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Volition intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for research and continued product development, clinical studies, product commercialization, working capital and other general corporate purposes, including potential strategic acquisitions.

Newbridge Securities Corporation acted as the sole book-running manager of the offering.

The securities were issued by Volition pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-259783) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on September 24, 2021 and declared effective by the SEC on November 8, 2021. A final prospectus supplement and an accompanying base prospectus relating to the offering were filed with the SEC on August 1, 2022 and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relating to the offering can also be obtained from Newbridge Securities Corporation, Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, 1200 North Federal Highway, Suite 400, Boca Raton, FL 33432, by email at [email protected], or by telephone at (877) 447-9625.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

On August 2, 2022 Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene" SEHK: 6996.HK), a leading innovative, commercial-stage global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class and/or best-in-class therapeutics in hematology and oncology, reported that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase I PROBE-CN trial to evaluate ATG-101 as a monotherapy in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors or B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) in China (Press release, Antengene, AUG 2, 2022, View Source [SID1234617308]).

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Shanghai East Hospital of Tongji University is the lead site for the study, which will be conducted at four centers across China. This open-label, multicenter Phase I study is designed to assess the safety and tolerability of intravenously administered ATG-101 monotherapy in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors and B-NHL. The study will be conducted in two parts (dose-escalation and a dose-expansion).

ATG-101 is a novel PD-L1/4-1BB bispecific antibody that was designed to block the binding of immunosuppressive PD-1/PD-L1 and conditionally induce 4-1BB stimulation, thus activating anti-tumor immune effectors, while delivering enhanced anti-tumor activity, with an improved safety profile. In preclinical studies, ATG-101 demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity in animal models of resistant tumors as well as those that progressed on anti-PD-1/L1 treatment. Furthermore, ATG-101 has also shown an excellent safety profile in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) toxicology studies.

"Since many patients with advanced cancer are resistant to existing chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and monoclonal antibodies or relapse in a short time after receiving treatment, there is an urgent need for innovative therapies that can improve treatment options. Increasing evidence suggests that bispecific antibodies will become a critical component of cancer therapy. We are excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with a number of prominent investigators in China to conduct the first clinical study of ATG-101, a novel PD-L1/4-1BB bispecific antibody," said Professor Ye Guo, Deputy Director of Medical Oncology at Shanghai East Hospital of Tongji University, Director of the hospital’s center for Phase I trials, and principal investigator of the study. "ATG-101 has a high affinity for PD-L1 and can achieve conditional activation of 4-1BB agonist, which is expected to bring a lower risk of systemic toxicity, particularly the hepatotoxicity that has been seen with previous agonists of 4-1BB. We hope that ATG-101 will demonstrate efficacy and safety, and bring a new treatment option to patients with resistant or relapsed cancers."

"The development of novel therapies to improve and advance the care of patients with resistant, relapsed, or advanced cancers is central to Antengene’s mission. Compounds that combine the well-established efficacy of inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis with activation of 4-1BB represent a fascinating opportunity in oncology. In our view, ATG-101’s ability to activate exhausted T-cells and render ‘cold tumors’ hot has the potential to open the door to wide applicability in resistant/relapsed diseases. These qualities,together with a robust preclinical data package, position ATG-101 to be a potentially best-in-class molecule." said Dr. Kevin Lynch, Antengene’s Chief Medical Officer.

About ATG-101

ATG-101 is a novel PD-L1/4-1BB bi-specific antibody being developed for the treatment of advanced/metastatic solid tumors and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). ATG-101 was designed to activate anti-tumor immune effectors by forming a cell-antibody-cell trimer to simultaneously block the binding of PD-L1/PD-1 and induce 4-1BB stimulation. In PD-L1 over-expressing cancer cells, ATG-101 has shown potent PD-L1 crosslinking-dependent 4-1BB agonist activity, with the potential for delivery of enhanced therapeutic efficacy whilst mitigating the risk of hepatoxicity.

Data presented at the Annual Meeting of Society for Immunotherapy in Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) in 2021 showed that ATG-101 was active in anti-PD-L1 resistant and relapsed tumor models. ATG-101’s unique safety and efficacy properties make it a promising potential therapy for solid tumors and hematological cancers. To date, ATG-101 has received regulatory clearances in Australia, U.S., and China to enter a Phase I clinical study for the treatment of advanced/metastatic solid tumors and NHL. The study has already been initiated in Australia and China and is in the process of initiation in the U.S.

On August 2, 2022 PharmaJet, a biotech company that, with their innovative needle-free technology, has developed a more effective way of administering drugs and biologics to accelerate research, commercialization and public health outcomes, reported that its partner, Scancell, will include needle-free delivery of their Phase 2 clinical study for treatment of patients with advanced melanoma (Press release, Scancell, AUG 2, 2022, View Source [SID1234617307]).

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Skin cancer is by far the most common of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society’s estimates about 100,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022 and nearly 8% of those diagnosed are expected to die from it.1

Scancell’s immunotherapy platform uses the body’s immune system to identify, attack and destroy tumors. In the Phase 1/2 clinical trial, 89% of the resected patients survived for more than 5 years following vaccination with their SCIB1 vaccine. The Phase 2 study is designed to assess whether the addition of SCIB1 treatment to pembrolizumab or ipilimumab/nivolumab results in an improvement in patient outcomes for patients with metastatic disease. The updated protocol adds needle-free injection with the PharmaJet Stratis System as Scancell believes needle-free delivery could improve patient acceptance. Scancell is also using one of PharmaJet’s WHO-prequalified Needle-free Injection Systems for delivery of two SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine candidates, currently being evaluated in South Africa.

Chris Cappello, President and CEO, PharmaJet, commented, "We are pleased to be partnering with Scancell as they start their Phase 2 trial with a needle-free delivery option for patients with advanced melanoma. In addition to increasing patient acceptance, our partners have published data showing superior results to electroporation, and improved immunogenicity with DNA vaccines."