On April 6, 2022 BostonGene reported the completion of $150 million in Series B funding (Press release, NEC, APR 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234611502]). NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) led the financing with participation from Impact Investment Capital and Japan Industrial Partners. The capital will be used to scale BostonGene’s growth, including continued innovation, clinical and research partnerships, and international expansion. Further, leveraging NEC’s robust infrastructure, BostonGene and NEC intend to form a joint venture to bring lifesaving solutions to patients in Japan and other Asian countries.

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!

"Many academic and community oncologists across the United States have already adopted BostonGene’s Molecular Portrait Test to improve their patients’ quality of care," said Takayuki Morita, President and CEO at NEC Corporation. "NEC recently launched a healthcare and life science business unit that utilizes AI and other digital technologies as a key initiative within our 2025 Mid-term Management Plan. We are thrilled to expand on our strategic partnership with BostonGene to advance how physicians treat their patients and dramatically improve clinical outcomes in the U.S., Japan, and the rest of the world."

"BostonGene has a unique opportunity to build a very large economic value that creates an even larger social impact. That combination is extremely rare, and I am excited and humbled by it," said Andrew Feinberg, President, and CEO at BostonGene. "This capital positions us well to execute on our vision to enable personalized treatment of cancer patients based on integrated molecular profiles of the tumor, tumor microenvironment, and host immunity."

BostonGene’s innovative computational platform performs AI-based molecular and immune profiling to discover correlations between tumor genomics, a patient’s immune system, and the effectiveness of all available approved and investigational treatments. The new windowBostonGene Tumor Portrait Tests, a sophisticated analysis of the tumor and tumor microenvironment (TME), reveals critical drivers of each tumor, including immune microenvironment properties, actionable mutations, and biomarkers of response to diverse therapies, and recommended therapies. BostonGene’s integrated model of tumor genetics, transcriptomics, microenvironment, and tumor composition provides a 360° overview of a patient tumor to give physicians invaluable insights into potential treatment options.

On April 6, 2022 IMV Inc. (Nasdaq: IMV; TSX: IMV), a clinical-stage company developing a portfolio of immune-educating therapies based on its novel DPX platform to treat solid and hematologic cancers, reported the Company will present a poster at IMMUNOLOGY 2022, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) (Press release, IMV, APR 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234611499]). The meeting will be held May 6-10, 2022, in Portland, Oregon.

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!

Presentation Details

Proteomic analysis of plasma exosomes as biomarkers of response to MVP-S based immunotherapy

Presenter: Brennan Dirk, Ph.D., Research Scientist, IMV Inc.
Poster Number: 837 (abstract number)
Date/Time: Saturday, May 7 @ 2:30 – 3:45 PM

The presentation will be available on the conference platform and on the IMV website under the Scientific Publications & Posters section following the meeting.

On April 6, 2022 ViGeneron GmbH, a next-generation gene therapy company, reported a target-specific strategic collaboration and option agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Regeneron) to develop and commercialize a gene therapy product based on ViGeneron’s novel engineered recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors (vgAAVs) to treat an inherited retinal disease (IRD) (Press release, Regeneron, APR 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234611498]).

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!

Under the terms of the research collaboration, Regeneron and ViGeneron will create and validate vgAAV-based therapeutic candidates for one undisclosed IRD target. ViGeneron receives an upfront payment and research funding. Regeneron has an option for an exclusive license to develop, commercialize and manufacture the vgAAV-based product for the specific target. ViGeneron is eligible to receive an option exercise fee, development and commercial milestone payments, plus royalties on net sales.

ViGeneron’s vgAAV vector platform is designed to overcome the limitations of existing adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies. To date, therapeutically impactful targeting of photoreceptors relies on subretinal vector delivery, which harbors substantial risks of retinal detachment and collateral damage, often without achieving widespread photoreceptor transduction. vgAAV vectors could potentially enable the efficient transduction of target cells via intravitreal injection that allows lateral spreading and minimizes the risk of retinal detachment caused by conventional subretinal injection.

"We are delighted to work with Regeneron to potentially provide an intravitreally delivered gene therapy for patients suffering from an inherited eye disease," said Dr. Caroline Man Xu, Co-founder and CEO of ViGeneron. "This agreement with Regeneron further validates the potential of our vgAAV platform, which is excellent for us and also delivers a deal value that contributes financing for our platform and proprietary program development activities. Furthermore, it fits into our strategy of developing proprietary programs for selected retinal targets through clinical trials, while maximizing our technology platforms for additional collaboration programs in retinal diseases, CNS and other disease areas with bellwether biopharma. Our aim is to overcome the current limitations of gene therapy and to bring a novel therapeutic approach to patients in need," she added.

On April 6, 2022 Servier reported that PROMETCO is the first real-world study conducted in oncology, in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) (Press release, Servier, APR 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234611494]). A look back at the initiative, its first achievements and upcoming results.

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!

At Servier, patients are at the heart of every decision. This ambition is symbolized by PROMETCO, the first real-world study (see box) in oncology – and more specifically in metastatic colorectal cancer – conducted by Servier teams.

Developed in collaboration with the patient association Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE), the PROMETCO real-world study will enable the Group to form a large cohort of patients, expressing the reality of metastatic colorectal cancer management from the point of view of the patient and the physician.

PROMETCO real-life study logo
First results…

In June 2021, initial results on the demographics and clinical characteristics of the first 277 patients enrolled in the study were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology’s World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGIC) 2021. Differences in routine molecular testing practices across countries were revealed.

In January 2022, at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)-GI (American Society of Clinical Oncology) conference on gastrointestinal cancer, Servier teams presented a poster on the subject. This poster presented the first data obtained from interim analyses and highlighted the heterogeneity and the complexity to care patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

In addition, the PROMETCO teams published on a dedicated website an interactive visual of these first results, for the PROMETCO community of investigators.

… and publications

A publication in the scientific journal Future Onclogy describes PROMETCO as the first international real-world study to investigate the continuum of care for patients with mCRC. The article notes that the project will provide valuable information to the gastrointestinal medical community.

This publication was relayed digitally, using a variety of current communication media: podcast and poster.

The patient association Digestive Cancers Europe also published a communication underlining the involvement of patients in this study and the interest of this long-term collaboration.

PROMETCO in figures:
1,000 patients: recruitment target
125 research sites involved
18 countries involved

The next steps

The year 2022 marks the final stretch of patient recruitment for the PROMETCO study. Thanks to the ongoing efforts of the various research sites, more than half of the 1,000 patient recruitment target has already been reached.

A publication co-authored with patients highlighting the involvement of patients in real-world studies and what they can gain from them, as well as an abstract for ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper), are also planned for 2022.

Finally, the study report will be published by 2023, with the hope of improving future practices, particularly on the performance and personalization of treatments.

Understanding real-world studies

Improving medical knowledge
Real-world data are collected from a variety of sources and relate to the lived reality of patients and doctors, drawing on information such as the delivery of health care, treatments, as well as the impact of the disease and its treatment on patients’ lives. In other words, these data reflect the real lives of people affected by the illness in question and complement those derived from traditional clinical trials. Such additional robust analysis on the experience people have of living with diseases and medical treatment helps to expand therapeutic understanding.

A structured methodology for robust findings from clinical trials It is important to first understand the needs of all stakeholders in order to precisely identify the matters that require research, whether in relation to medical concerns, medical economics, or even regulation. Although it takes time to identify sources of data and deploy a suitable methodology, such steps are essential to obtain robust findings. Data are then analyzed using increasingly high performance digital platforms that enable the Group to compile ever larger data bases so as to exploit ever more homogeneous and standardized data.

To know more, read the annual report

This update is part of the #ECCAM2022 campaign (European Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month), also known as Blue March. Initiated by the patient organization Digestive Cancers Europe, this campaign aims to improve colorectal cancer screening programs, as well as to increase information and awareness about this disease.

On April 6, 2022 Catalent, the global leader in enabling biopharma, cell, gene, and consumer health partners to optimize development, launch, and supply of better patient treatments across multiple modalities, reported the acquisition from Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre UK Limited (VMIC Ltd.) of a biologics development and manufacturing facility currently under construction near Oxford, U.K (Press release, Catalent, APR 6, 2022, https://www.catalent.com/catalent-news/catalent-acquires-facility-in-oxfordshire-to-expand-biologics-capabilities-in-the-uk-and-across-europe/ [SID1234611490]).

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!

Catalent plans to invest up to $160 million (£120 million) to complete the building of the facility and equip it with state-of-the-art capabilities for the development and manufacture of biologic therapies and vaccines, including mRNA, proteins, and other advanced modalities. It is expected that the new facility will employ more than 400 people and support public and private organizations seeking to develop and manufacture biotherapeutics.

"This acquisition allows Catalent to collaborate with the rich academic and biomedical science community centered around Oxford, with its world-class talent, and will result in a facility that provides opportunities to transform innovation into real treatments for patients across the United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond," commented Mike Riley, President of Catalent Biotherapeutics. "Our priority is to complete construction as soon as possible to be able to commence customer programs in 2022. We will then integrate its capabilities within our existing network of biologics facilities across Europe to offer a flexible range of manufacturing, technology, and development solutions for the pipeline of thousands of development programs currently underway."

"This deal ensures the VMIC site, when completed, will stay true to the original purpose of strengthening the U.K.’s vaccine manufacturing capability by bringing innovation to the sector and getting more vaccines to the clinic," said Professor Robin Shattock, Head of Mucosal Infection and Immunity at Imperial College London, and Chair of the Board of Directors of VMIC Ltd. "Catalent has the resources to ensure this facility can become operational and start contributing to the UK’s and Europe’s vaccines landscape at pace. I would like to recognize employees at VMIC for their passion and commitment during the pandemic and the success that their work brought to the U.K. In Catalent, we’ve found a new owner who shares the vision for what we wanted to achieve and has safeguarded the interests of the workforce."

The new facility is located to the south of Oxford at the world-renowned Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, a leading site in the U.K. for science and technology research breakthroughs and home to more than 40 life science companies.

Catalent has a long-standing presence in the U.K., where its workforce already exceeds 1,300 people at its four facilities focused on development and manufacturing of oral dose forms, located in Nottingham, Swindon, Haverhill, and Dartford, in addition to a clinical trial supply site in Bathgate, Scotland. The Catalent Biotherapeutics network also includes sites in Italy, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and the United States.