On October 4, 2022 BostonGene Corporation reported the online publication of the manuscript, "Multiregional single-cell proteogenomic analysis of ccRCC reveals cytokine drivers of intratumor spatial heterogeneity" in Cell Reports, a peer-reviewed open access journal that publishes high-quality scientific research and new biological insights across the entire life sciences spectrum (Press release, BostonGene, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621696]). The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, revealed that intratumor spatial heterogeneity (ITH) occurs in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which may drive clinical heterogeneity and warrants further investigation to improve patient outcomes.

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To dissect ITH in ccRCC, BostonGene studied tumor samples from Washington University, performing multiregional tumor analyses using a multi-dimensional and integrated approach encompassing myriad technologies at both the single-cell level with mass cytometry (CyTOF), multiplex immunofluorescence (MxIF), single nuclei RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) and bulk level whole exome sequencing (WES), RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and methylation profiling.

Multiregional analyses revealed unexpected conservation of immune composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME) within each patient, with profound differences found among patients. Despite genetic heterogeneity from clonal evolution, patient-specific immune TME signatures were identified and confirmed by MxIF cell phenotyping and BostonGene’s RNA-seq deconvolution algorithm, Kassandra. Further MxIF analysis showed striking spatial architectural heterogeneity among different regions of the same tumor, revealing the presence of diverse cellular neighborhoods.

By coupling experimental tools, including multiomic profiling and multiplex imaging, with artificial intelligence-driven analytics, we dissected the complex tumor ecosystem at different hierarchical levels, providing insights into both ITH and clinical heterogeneity in ccRCC.

"The research conducted with Washington University underscores the importance of implementing a multifaceted approach to understanding tumor biology and the tumor ecosystem as a way to promote better clinical outcomes in ccRCC patients," said Nathan Fowler, MD, Chief Medical Officer at BostonGene. "We believe these integrated methods to identify biomarkers of response to therapies will ultimately help to improve precision medicine strategies for these patients."

"This study was designed to characterize the role of the tumor microenvironment in ccRCC using multiomic analyses," said James Hsieh, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist and Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. "The findings indicated tumor behavior specificities linked with patient responses, and the MxIF analyses identified 14 unique cellular neighborhoods in multi-region tumors that can be utilized to optimize treatment strategies for patients with ccRCC."

On October 4, 2022 Oligon Inc., an emerging biotechnology company developing a novel class of multimodal RNA therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, reported that Dr. Spyro Mousses, CEO and Co-Founder, Andrew Matricaria, CFO, and James Silver, COO, will participate in the 9th Annual Solebury Trout Fall Private Company Showcase co-hosted with BMO and Goodwin on October 13, 2022 in New York, NY (Press release, Oligon, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621695]).

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All three will host one-on-one investor meetings at the showcase, and Dr. Mousses will present a company overview during a 4:20 P.M. EDT session as part of the Track 2 schedule.

On October 4, 2022 RenovoRx, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNXT), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the localized treatment of difficult-to-treat solid tumors through its proprietary RenovoRx Trans-Arterial Micro-Perfusion (RenovoTAMP) therapy platform, reported management’s participation in two upcoming investor conferences this month (Press release, Renovorx, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621694]). Conferences include ROTH Inaugural Healthcare Opportunities, October 6th, and LD Micro Main Event XV, October 25th-27th.

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Shaun Bagai, RenovoRx’s CEO, will provide a corporate update during his presentations. He will also discuss current available treatment options for pancreatic tumors, why they can fall short of providing an effective solution for treating this deadly disease, and how RenovoRx’s therapy platform re-envisions the treatment of pancreatic and other difficult-to-treat cancers. During the Conferences, Shaun will participate in one-on-one meetings with the investment community. Attendees include public companies, and institutional and private investors. To schedule a meeting, please reach out to your conference representative or send an email to KCSA Strategic Communications at [email protected].

ROTH Inaugural Healthcare Opportunities Conference

LD Micro Main Event XV

On October 4, 2022 Vergent Bioscience, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing tumor-targeted imaging agents, reported the close of a $21.5 million Series B financing (Press release, Vergent Bioscience, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621693]). Vergent will use the funds to advance clinical development of VGT-309, the company’s targeted fluorescent imaging agent that enables surgeons to see previously undetected or difficult-to-find tumors in real-time, ensuring all tumor tissue is removed during open, minimally invasive (MIS) and robotic-assisted surgical procedures.

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Orlando Health Ventures led the financing with significant participation from new investors Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Windham Venture Partners, and Rex Health Ventures, as well as additional investment from existing investors Spring Mountain Capital and Colle Capital. The Series B funding brings the total raised by Vergent to date to $34 million.

"We are grateful for the support from this world-class group of investors who share our belief that VGT-309 is a highly differentiated imaging agent that will help surgeons realize the full potential of minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery by improving the visibility of tumors," said John Santini, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer at Vergent Bioscience. "Our previous clinical studies have validated the potential of VGT-309, and these additional funds will enable us to efficiently advance our current and future clinical trials in lung cancer."

Vergent intentionally designed VGT-309 to enable a complete solution for optimal tumor visualization during open, MIS, and robotic-assisted surgical procedures. VGT-309 is delivered to patients via a short infusion several hours before surgery. The molecule binds tightly (i.e., covalently) to cathepsins, a family of proteases that are highly overexpressed across a broad range of solid tumors, providing distinct clinical advantages and positioning it as an ideal tumor imaging agent. VGT-309’s imaging component is the near infrared (NIR) dye indocyanine green (ICG), which is compatible with all commercially available NIR intraoperative imaging systems that support MIS technologies and is the preferred dye to minimize confounding background autofluorescence.

Vergent is developing VGT-309 for multiple solid tumors starting with lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States1; however, surgery can be curative when the disease is diagnosed early and all tumor tissue is removed. The majority of lung cancer surgery is now performed using minimally invasive approaches, which have multiple advantages for patients but require that surgeons work in a small area with a restricted view and limited tactile clues, presenting the potential for tumor to be missed and left behind.

Based on compelling safety and efficacy data from early Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in Australia evaluating VGT-309 in lung cancer, Vergent recently initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to supporting this Phase 2 study and an upcoming multicenter study, funds from the Series B financing will enable Vergent to expand development of VGT-309 to colorectal, gastrointestinal, and breast cancer.

"We are confident in Vergent Bioscience’s ability to successfully advance its clinical program based on the science supporting VGT-309 and the world-class leadership team driving it, who have an exceptional track record in the discovery and development of new technologies that transform patient care," said Margo Shoup, M.D., M.B.A., vice president at Orlando Health and president at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, who will join the Vergent Board of Directors as part of the Series B financing. "As minimally invasive surgery becomes the standard-of-care treatment for an increasing number of solid tumors, there is a corresponding, growing need for improved imaging agents that enable surgeons to better visualize tumors during these surgeries to obtain sufficient but not excessive negative margins. We believe that VGT-309 is distinctively well-suited to meet this need."

On October 4, 2022 Personalis, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSNL) reported that t has joined with Duke University and Olink Proteomics AB to form a research collaboration to study the effects of immunotherapy on advanced gastroesophageal cancer (Press release, Personalis, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621692]). Specifically, the collaboration will focus on identifying composite biomarkers—those that integrate multiple biological entities into a single readout—to help guide therapeutic decision making.

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Gastroesophageal cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, with nearly 50% of patients having developed unresectable or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapy is currently the standard of care for patients with this type of advanced disease; however, its effectiveness is often diminished as many patients develop therapeutic resistance. When this happens, the median overall survival for patients drops to less than 9 months.

Fortunately, pembrolizumab, an immunotherapeutic targeting PDL1/PD1, has been approved by the FDA for use in patients with chemorefractory gastroesophageal cancer. The effectiveness of this biologic has inspired significant interest in applying it as a first-line, standard of care treatment for patients with advanced disease.

To that end, the goal of the collaborative study is to characterize key tumor and immunological responses to pembrolizumab and, in so doing, shine light on the potential mechanisms that lead to either sensitivity or resistance to immunotherapeutics in gastroesophageal cancer. By detailing how tumors respond to treatment at the genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic levels, the team aims to uncover biomarkers that may help physicians predict tumor responses to pembrolizumab and adjust treatment strategies accordingly.

"Biomarkers that predict and characterize tumor responses to anti-PDL1/PD1 therapy remain poorly understood, largely due to the complex and multifaceted interactions between the tumor and immune system. Through comprehensive plasma and tumor immune profiling, we aim to clarify the interconnected roles of tumor genomics and proteomics, as well as the development of composite biomarkers to clinically predict and follow immunotherapy response," said Andrew Nixon, PhD, Director of the Phase I Biomarker Laboratory, Duke University School of Medicine.

"This study has the potential to identify the mechanisms of immune resistance in metastatic gastroesophageal cancer, which may enable strategies to optimize response rates to existing immunotherapies and develop novel therapeutics that overcome resistance," said Marijana Rucevic, PhD, Senior Scientific Director, Olink Proteomics. "We are honored to participate in this essential and exciting research effort with Duke and Personalis, and to further direct the strengths of Olink’s PEA technology against the growing challenge of cancer drug development and personalized cancer treatment."

"We believe the clinical management of cancer can substantially improve with early determination of patient response and by accurately informing changes to treatment regimens. Such determinations offer the potential to avoid unnecessary toxicities and increase survival," said Dr. Richard Chen, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of R&D at Personalis. "By collaborating with researchers at Duke and Olink, we hope to accelerate advances in oncology practice via ultra-sensitive MRD detection."

Personalis’ ImmunoID NeXT Platform will be used for characterization of tumor genomic and transcriptomic alterations, as well as differences between responders and non-responders. Additionally, Personalis’ NeXT Personal assay will be used to analyze circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) collected from patients in order to profile and accurately track molecular residual disease (MRD) over the course of therapy. Olink Explore panels will be used to analyze plasma samples and tumor tissues from metastatic gastroesophageal cancer patients being treated with anti-PD1 and anti-PD1/chemotherapy.

About NeXT Personal

NeXT Personal is a next-generation, tumor-informed liquid biopsy assay designed to detect and quantify MRD and recurrence in patients previously diagnosed with cancer. The assay is designed to deliver industry-leading MRD sensitivity down to the 1 part-per-million range, an approximately 10- to 100-fold improvement over other available technologies. It leverages whole genome sequencing of a patient’s tumor to identify up to 1,800 specially selected somatic variants that are subsequently used to create a personalized liquid biopsy panel for each patient. This may enable earlier detection across a broader variety of cancers and stages, including typically challenging early-stage, low mutational burden, and low-shedding cancers. NeXT Personal is also designed to simultaneously detect and quantify clinically relevant mutations in ctDNA that may be used in the future to help guide therapy when cancer is detected. These include known targetable cancer mutations, drug resistance mutations, and new variants that can emerge and change over time, especially under therapeutic pressure.