On September 14, 2022 Surface Oncology (Nasdaq: SURF), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing next-generation immunotherapies that target the tumor microenvironment, reported that the company will present new preclinical data on the role of IL-27 in therapy resistance at the 10th Annual Cytokines Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society (ICIS) being held September 20 – 23 at Big Island, Hawaii (Press release, Surface Oncology, SEP 14, 2022, View Source [SID1234619556]). The poster, entitled IL-27 Inhibits Immune Cell Reinvigoration Mediated by PD-(L)1 Blockade and Induces a Type 1 Interferon Gene Expression Signature Associated with Resistance to Therapy in Cancer Patients (#297), will first be presented in a virtual preview session today at 2:00 – 3:30 pm HST/8:00 – 9:30 pm EDT.

"IL-27 is a key regulator in the immunosuppressive environment of a variety of tumors, and it can counteract T cell reinvigoration seen after PD-(L)1 pathway inhibition, thus preventing T cells from attacking the cancer cells," said Vito Palombella, chief scientific officer, Surface Oncology. "We have identified an IL-27 gene signature that is enriched in several tumor types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Interestingly, this IL-27 signature includes many interferon (IFN) stimulated genes that have been associated with resistance to therapy across different cancers. These findings further bolster our belief that SRF388, a first-in-class anti-IL-27 monoclonal antibody, holds important potential in the treatment of certain cancers."

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Summary of key data:

IL-27 induces the expression of several immunoregulatory receptors (e.g., PD-L1, TIM-3, LAG-3, and TIGIT) and reduces inflammatory cytokine production
An IFN-stimulated gene signature is expressed in a variety of human tumors and associated with resistance to cancer therapies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibition. These IFN-stimulated genes are also upregulated by IL-27.
IL-27 and Type 1 interferons (IFNα2, IFNβ1) counteract the immune cell reinvigoration seen after PD-(L)1 pathway blockade in human PBMCs, while IFNγ does not.
Loss of IL-27 function, through either genetic deficiency or pharmacologic inhibition by SRF388, a first-in-class anti-IL-27 monoclonal antibody, leads to tumor growth inhibition in mouse models and early clinical data have shown monotherapy activity of SRF388 in patients with cancer (NCT04374877).
Poster presentation details:

Title: IL-27 Inhibits Immune Cell Reinvigoration Mediated by PD-(L)1 Blockade and Induces a Type 1 Interferon Gene Expression Signature Associated with Resistance to Therapy in Cancer Patients
Poster number: 297
Virtual presentations: Wednesday, September 14, 2:00 – 3:30 pm HST/8:00 – 9:30 pm EDT and Thursday, September 15, 8:00 – 9:30 am HST/2:00 – 3:30 pm EDT
In-person session: Thursday, September 22, 4:00 – 5:30 pm HST
The poster can also be found on Surface Oncology’s website.

About SRF388
SRF388 is a fully human anti-IL-27 antibody designed to inhibit the activity of this immunosuppressive cytokine. Surface Oncology has identified particular tumor types, including liver, kidney and lung cancer, where IL-27 appears to play an important role in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and may contribute to resistance to treatment with checkpoint inhibitors. SRF388 targets the rate-limiting p28 subunit of IL-27, and preclinical studies have shown that treatment with SRF388 blocks the immunosuppressive biologic effects of IL-27, resulting in immune cell activation in combination with other cancer therapies including anti-PD-1 therapy, as well as potent anti-tumor effects as a monotherapy. Furthermore, Surface Oncology has identified a potential biomarker associated with IL-27 that may be useful in helping to identify patients most likely to respond to SRF388. In November 2020, Surface announced that SRF388 was granted Orphan Drug designation and Fast Track designation for the treatment of refractory hepatocellular carcinoma from the FDA.

On September 14, 2022 SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLS) ("SELLAS’’ or the "Company"), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for a broad range of cancer indications, reported that Angelos Stergiou, MD, ScD. h.c, President and Chief Executive Officer of SELLAS, will participate in the Cantor Oncology, Hematology, HemeOnc Conference to be held at the Lotte New York Palace in New York City on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 (Press release, Sellas Life Sciences, SEP 14, 2022, View Source;HemeOnc-Conference-on-September-28th/default.aspx [SID1234619553]).

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Dr. Stergiou will participate in the ‘Leukemia and MDS’ panel at 3:25 p.m. Eastern Time.

For more information about the conference, or to schedule a one-on-one meeting with SELLAS management, please contact your Cantor representative directly, or send an email to KCSA Strategic Communications at [email protected].

On September 14, 2022 QIAGEN (NYSE:QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) and Neuron23 Inc., an early stage biotechnology company focused on developing precision medicines for genetically defined neurological and immunological diseases, reported the signing of an agreement to develop a companion diagnostic for Neuron23’s brain penetrant leucine-rich repeat kinase (LRRK2) inhibitor for Parkinson’s disease (Press release, Qiagen, SEP 14, 2022, View Source [SID1234619552]).

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Under the new Master Collaboration Agreement, QIAGEN will develop and validate a clinical trial assay that will detect a combination of biomarkers discovered by Neuron23 that together predict the responsiveness of Parkinson’s disease to a LRRK2 inhibitor. The partnership will support the clinical development of Neuron23’s drug candidate that is currently in the late stages of preclinical development. Subject to further clinical development, the agreement also covers options for the future development of additional companion diagnostics.

Neuron23 joins a group of more than 25 leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies who have reached master collaboration agreements with QIAGEN to develop and commercialize companion diagnostic tests for their drug candidates – a deep pipeline of potential future products to advance precision medicine for the benefit of patients around the world.

The assay for this collaboration will be integrated into a next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflow that leverages QIAGEN’s Sample to Insight capabilities, including instrumentation, IVD sample preparation, library preparation and bioinformatics. The workflow is planned to be developed using the NextSeqTM 500 System as part of the NGS strategic collaboration between QIAGEN and Illumina. Based on Neuron23’s artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled drug discovery and biomarker platform, it will target a complex signature of 50 single nucleic polymorphisms (SNPs) for U.S. and European populations and eventually additional SNPs that are prevalent in Asian populations.

"The collaboration with Neuron23 shows the rapid momentum precision medicine is gaining in disease areas outside oncology," said Jonathan Arnold, Vice President, Head of Oncology and Precision Diagnostics, at QIAGEN. "Our expertise in blood- and NGS-based molecular testing from Sample to Insight will enable Neuron23 to run a clinical trial for a drug candidate that may have the potential to modify the course of an inexorable neurodegenerative disease in a genetically defined population."

"This collaboration combines the leading expertise of Neuron23 in drug discovery, data science, and machine learning with QIAGEN’s long-standing experience and global leadership in companion diagnostic development. QIAGEN’s blood-based test will help to identify patients with Parkinson’s disease who are likely to respond to Neuron23’s LRRK2 inhibitor. The development of a companion diagnostic identifying this sub-population of Parkinson’s disease patients will de-risk the clinical development of Neuron23’s LRRK2 inhibitor and help identify individuals who may benefit from this disease-modifying therapy. We are excited to be working with an industry leader on the first companion diagnostic developed for Parkinson’s disease," said Nancy Stagliano, Ph.D., CEO of Neuron23.

No laboratory tests are currently available for the diagnosis of non-genetic cases for Parkinson’s disease. Usually, the disease is diagnosed based on medical history and neurological examination. Although no cure currently exists for Parkinson’s disease, therapies are used to alleviate some symptoms.

LRRK2 is a complex, multidomain protein found in neurons and many tissues and cell types throughout the body. Mutations in the LRRK2 gene are one of the most common causes of familial Parkinson’s disease and individuals who inherit gain of function mutations in LRRK2 are clearly at higher risk to develop the disease in later life. Additionally, there is emerging evidence that LRRK2 may play a role in a subset of the larger population of patients with non-familial Parkinson’s disease. Recent investigations have shown that small-molecule LRRK2 inhibitors can be neuroprotective, suggesting that therapies targeting LRRK2 could be beneficial in a larger population of patients.

QIAGEN is a pioneer in precision medicine and the global leader in collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to co-develop companion diagnostics, which detect clinically relevant genetic abnormalities to provide insights that guide clinical decision-making in diseases such as cancer. QIAGEN has an unmatched depth and breadth of technologies from NGS to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digital PCR (dPCR) for companion diagnostic development. QIAGEN has ten PCR based companion diagnostic indications that are FDA approved, including therascreen EGFR for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), therascreen KRAS for colorectal cancer and NSCLC, therascreen FGFR for urothelial cancer, therascreen PIK3CA for breast cancer based on tissue or plasma samples and the therascreen BRAF kit for colorectal cancer.

On September 14, 2022 OncoNano Medicine, Inc. reported a presentation of data from its ongoing Phase 2 study of pegsitacianine at the World Molecular Imaging Congress (WMIC), occurring September 27 – October 1, 2022 (Press release, OncoNano Medicine, SEP 14, 2022, View Source [SID1234619550]). The presentation will be given during the Cancer: Innovations in Molecular Imaging session.

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Details of the oral presentation are as follows:

Presentation Title: Detection of Residual Peritoneal Metastases following Cytoreductive Surgery, Using the pH-sensitive Micellar Imaging Agent Pegsitacianine: An Interim Review of an Ongoing Phase 2 Study

Presenter: Patrick Wagner, MD, Department of Surgical Oncology, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date/Time: Thursday, September 29, 3:12 – 3:22 PM EST

On September 14, 2022 Kineta, Inc. ("Kineta" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel immunotherapies in oncology, reported that Thierry Guillaudeux, Ph.D., Kineta’s Chief Scientific Officer, has been invited to present at the 2nd Annual VISTA Symposium. The virtual event will take place on September 23, 2022 (Press release, Kineta, SEP 14, 2022, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kineta-cso-thierry-guillaudeux-invited-to-participate-at-the-2nd-annual-vista-virtual-symposium [SID1234619549]).

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"I am excited to join leading immuno-oncology experts in discussing the latest advances in anti-VISTA immunotherapies," said Dr. Guillaudeux. "VISTA is an important myeloid checkpoint with a unique mechanism of action bridging innate and adaptive immunity. Anti-VISTA therapies have great potential to improve cancer treatment outcomes in a variety of solid tumors, especially for patients resistant to standard of care therapies including first generation immune checkpoint inhibitors."

Dr. Guillaudeux will join leading researchers and clinicians in immunology to discuss new insights into VISTA, a promising therapeutic target for cancer. The symposium will focus on VISTA’s function and applicability in cancer immunology, as well as the latest research and development in programs targeting VISTA.