U.S. FDA Approves FoundationOne®CDx as a Companion Diagnostic for Rozlytrek® (entrectinib)

On June 9, 2022 Foundation Medicine, Inc., a pioneer in molecular profiling for cancer, reported that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for FoundationOneCDx to be used as a companion diagnostic for the two indications of Rozlytrek (entrectinib), a targeted therapy developed by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (Press release, Foundation Medicine, JUN 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234615819]). As a companion diagnostic, FoundationOne CDx can be used to identify patients with ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), or patients with Neurotrophic Tyrosine Receptor Kinase (NTRK) fusion-positive solid tumors who may be appropriate for treatment with Rozlytrek (entrectinib).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Comprehensive and validated genomic testing is critical to identify patients with ROS1 or NTRK gene fusions as they are rare and can be missed when more limited or unvalidated testing panels are used to profile a patient’s tumor," said Mia Levy, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer at Foundation Medicine. "We’re proud that this companion diagnostic will enable broader access to genomic testing and this breakthrough therapy, ultimately allowing more patients to benefit from precision medicine."

As a condition of this approval, Foundation Medicine will conduct a post-approval study powered by the Flatiron Health-Foundation Medicine Clinico-Genomic Database (CGDB) to further demonstrate FoundationOne CDx’s ability to identify NSCLC patients with ROS1 fusions who may respond to Rozlytrek (entrectinib). The CGDB is a de-identified, HIPAA-compliant database that links outcomes data from Flatiron’s network of oncology clinics and genomic data from Foundation Medicine’s CGP assays. The database currently contains more than 100,000 linked genomic profiles.

"We look forward to our ongoing partnership with Genentech and Flatiron Health as we implement this novel approach to post-approval evidence generation through our CGDB," said Sanket Agrawal, chief biopharma business officer at Foundation Medicine. "This database is an invaluable asset for cancer research, especially in rare patient populations, like ROS1-mutated NSCLC. We are well-positioned to support our biopharma partners with this unique resource as we continue accelerating access to new precision medicines."

NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 80 to 85 percent of all lung cancer diagnoses.1 When ROS1 gene fusions occur, generally in 1-2 percent of NSCLC diagnoses, 2 cancer cells grow and proliferate in an uncontrolled manner. NTRK gene fusions occur when NTRK1/2/3 genes fuse with other genes, resulting in altered TRK proteins, which can activate signaling pathways involved in proliferation of certain types of cancer. Though rare, occurring in roughly .3 percent of all solid tumors,3 these fusions can be found in many tumor types, including breast, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal, gynecological, neuroendocrine, non-small cell lung, salivary gland, pancreatic, sarcoma and thyroid cancers.4 CGP is an important tool for identifying these rare mutations.

Using a tissue sample, FoundationOne CDx analyzes more than 300 cancer-related genes for genomic alterations in a patient’s tumor. The test is FDA-approved as a companion diagnostic for 25 CDx indications, and 3 group claims across 30 targeted therapies, demonstrating Foundation Medicine’s deep regulatory expertise. FoundationOne CDx is also the first and only companion diagnostic approved for Rozlytrek (entrectinib).

Concert Pharmaceuticals to Participate in Fireside Chat at The JMP Securities Life Sciences Conference

On June 9, 2022 Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNCE) reported that it will participate in a fireside chat at The JMP Securities Life Sciences Conference on June 16, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. ET in New York, NY (Press release, Concert Pharmaceuticals, JUN 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234615818]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

A webcast of the JMP fireside chat may be accessed in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.concertpharma.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on Concert’s website for two weeks following the presentation.

Degron Therapeutics Raises $22M Series A Financing to Accelerate Growth and Expand Molecular-Glue-Based Targeted Protein Degradation Drug Discovery Platform

On June 9, 2022 Degron Therapeutics ("Degron"), a biotechnology company developing a new class of small-molecule medicines that target previously undruggable targets, reported it has closed a $22 million Series A financing round led by Med-Fine Capital (Press release, Shanghai Degron Therapeutics, JUN 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234615817]). Additional investors participating in the financing round included Dyee Capital, Baidu Venture, and NeuX Capital, along with Degron’s seed investors, CO-WIN Ventures and Yuanbio Venture Capital.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Proceeds from the Series A financing will be used to advance the company’s GlueXplorer platform. GlueXplorer is a unique molecular glue-based targeted protein degradation platform to accelerate the development of novel drugs for previously undruggable targets in oncology, inflammation, metabolic disease, rare diseases, and other therapeutic areas. The company currently has three pipeline programs that have entered into the lead-optimization phase, including a first-in-class target with essential roles in a broad range of cancers and immune diseases.

"We are pleased to have such strong support from this syndicate of blue-chip investors who recognize the potential of our industry-leading platform to build a new type of biotechnology company," said Lily Zou, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Degron Therapeutics. "Small-molecule drugs have been the mainstay of disease treatments, but most disease targets remain undruggable. Our GlueXplorer platform has already yielded several preclinical candidates in disease areas including cancer, inflammatory diseases, and rare diseases. Our team of accomplished entrepreneurs, scientists, and clinicians, is poised to usher in a step-change in how we treat undruggable targets to realize our goal of significantly improving patients’ lives."

Founded in 2021, Degron Therapeutics builds on research and technologies developed in the laboratory of ShanghaiTech University professor and company co-founder Yong Cang, Ph.D. Using its proprietary GlueXplorer platform, Degron has created a unique and expanding library of molecular glue compounds that enables the targeting of previously undruggable targets. Degron’s platform uses a combination of phenotypic screening, proteomic screening, and artificial intelligence (AI) to predict novel targets and accelerate compound discovery. Beginning with a novel, patented scaffold, Degron has created more than 60 novel diverse cores and 6,000 compounds, of which almost all demonstrate binding to Cereblon (CBRN), an E3 ligase that promotes protein ubiquitination and degradation.

"Degron Therapeutics is building a platform that will unlock the future of small-molecule therapeutics. We are excited to partner with this world-class team as they pioneer the new frontier of molecular glue degraders and ultimately significantly improve how we treat diseases," said Daniel Hu, executive director of Med-Fine Capital.

As part of the financing, Jing Yu, Ph.D., partner of Med-Fine Capital, joins Degron’s board of directors. Dr. Yu has scientific and clinical research experience as well as an extensive track record of successful investments across multiple segments and companies at different lifecycle stages.

Chemomab Therapeutics to Present at June Investor and Scientific Conferences

On June 9, 2022 Chemomab Therapeutics Ltd. (Nasdaq: CMMB), (Chemomab), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics for fibrotic and inflammatory diseases with high unmet need, reported that the company will participate in a number of investor and scientific conferences in June 2022 (Press release, Chemomab, JUN 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234615815]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

JMP Securities Life Sciences Conference:

Date: Thursday, June 16, 2022
Venue: Lotte Palace Hotel, New York, NY USA
Format: In-person live and webcast presentation; One-on-one meetings on June 16
Time: 11:00 a.m. ET
Link: View Source
Information: View Source

A replay of the webcast will be available at the Investor section of Chemomab’s website for at least 30 days.

The Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology Congress

Date: June 23-25, 2022
Venue: Tivoli Congress Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
Format: Poster presentation: CCL24 Inhibition by CM-101 Attenuates Extracellular Matrix and Fibrotic Biomarkers in Both Patients and Experimental Murine Models, Abstract ID:155
Time: Poster Session 1, June 23 from 13:00 – 14:15 CET
Presenter: Udi Gluschnaider, PhD, Chemomab Project Lead
Information: ECM Congress (ecm-congress.org)

A copy of the poster will be available at the R&D section of Chemomab’s website starting on June 23, 2022.

EASL: The International Liver Congress 2022

Date: June 22-26, 2022
Venue: ExCeL London, London, UK, and virtual
Format: Oral poster presentation: Combination of whole liver single cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics reveals specific cell sub-populations and pathways regulated by CCL24, Abstract Identifier: OS02
Presenter: Raanan Greenman, PhD, Chemomab Project Lead
Time: June 23, 2022, 16:45 CET
Session: Immune-mediated and cholestatic: Experimental and pathophysiology
Information: View Source

The presentation will be available at the R&D section of Chemomab’s website starting on June 24, 2022

In addition, Chemomab’s business development team members will be in San Diego, California June 13-16, 2022, participating in the BIO International Convention’s One-on-One Partnering event. Registered attendees can click here to log in and schedule a meeting with Chemomab.

Can-Fite Announces Publication of Clinical Study Data for Piclidenoson and Namodenoson in Scientific Journal

On June 9, 2022 Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CFBI), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address inflammatory, cancer and liver diseases, reported an article titled "Drugs Targeting the A3 Adenosine Receptor: Human Clinical Study Data" was published in MDPI’s open access scholarly journal Molecules (Press release, Can-Fite BioPharma, JUN 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234615814]). The complete article can be accessed here: LINK

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Can-Fite is a global leader in the development of small molecule A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) technology with 15 patent families, extensive efficacy and safety data in over 1,500 patients, and three indications in Phase II and III studies.

In the scientific community, A3AR is well established as a target for combatting inflammation and cancer. The target, Gi protein-coupled A3AR, is highly expressed in inflammatory and cancer cells, but not in normal cells. High A3AR expression is also found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with inflammatory diseases and cancer, reflecting A3AR expression in pathological remote sites. Solid tumor cells including breast, colon, small cell lung, pancreatic carcinoma, and melanoma, highly express A3AR compared to normal adjacent tissue cells. A3AR is also expressed in inflammatory cells such as synoviocytes derived from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, skin biopsies, and PBMCs from psoriasis and Crohn’s disease patients.

Targeting this receptor with synthetic and highly selective A3AR agonists induces anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. Can-Fite’s patent estate provides broad coverage for its A3AR platform technology across numerous indications.

"As a leader in the development of A3AR targeting drugs, we are pleased to have this comprehensive article published in an open-source scientific journal. We believe providing data on our platform’s mechanism of action and its performance in several clinical studies supports the advancement of knowledge and discovery specific to A3AR and increases its potential to become a widely used mechanism to treat chronic and acute disease," stated Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman.