Checkpoint Therapeutics to Participate in the B. Riley Securities’ 3rd Annual Oncology Conference

On January 17, 2023 Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. ("Checkpoint") (Nasdaq: CKPT), a clinical-stage immunotherapy and targeted oncology company, reported that James Oliviero, President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the B. Riley Securities’ 3rd Annual Oncology Conference, taking place on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. EST (Press release, Checkpoint Therapeutics, JAN 17, 2023, View Source [SID1234626285]).

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For more information and to register for the conference, please click here. A replay of the fireside chat will also be available on the registration link after the meeting.

Calyxt and Cibus Announce the Signing of a Definitive Merger Agreement

On january 17, 2023 Cellectis (Euronext Growth: ALCLS – Nasdaq: CLLS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company using its gene editing platform to deliver life-saving cell and gene therapies, reported that Cibus Global LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Cibus"), and Calyxt, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLXT) ("Calyxt"), reported that Calyxt and Calypso Merger Subsidiary, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Calyxt, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Cibus and certain other parties named therein (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, Calyxt and Cibus will merge in an all-stock transaction (Press release, Cellectis, JAN 17, 2023, View Source [SID1234626284]).

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The transaction combines two companies in agriculture-based gene editing, with facilities for trait development and next-generation plant breeding.

Cellectis currently holds a 49.1 % equity interest in Calyxt. Following the closing of the merger, Cellectis is expected to own approximately 2.5% of the equity interests of the combined company. In connection with the Merger Agreement, Cellectis executed a voting agreement with Cibus to vote in favor of and approve all the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions thereof.

The closing of the transaction is subject to the approval of Calyxt’s stockholders, the approval of Cibus’ members, the receipt of required regulatory approvals (to the extent applicable) and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. In connection with the transaction, Calyxt will file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, registering the issuance of the shares of common stock to be issued as merger consideration. The closing of the transaction is currently expected to occur in the second quarter of 2023.

BIO-TECHNE TO HOST CONFERENCE CALL ON FEBRUARY 2, 2023, TO ANNOUNCE SECOND QUARTER 2023 FINANCIAL RESULTS

On January 17, 2023 Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) reported that management will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. CST to review second quarter 2023 financial results (Press release, Bio-Techne, JAN 17, 2023, https://investors.bio-techne.com/news/detail/347/bio-techne-to-host-conference-call-on-february-2-2023-to-announce-second-quarter-2023-financial-results [SID1234626283]).

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Access to the discussion may be obtained as follows:

Time:

8:00 a.m. CST

Date:

February 2, 2023

Dial-in:

1-877-407-9208 or 1-201-493-6784 (for international callers)

Conference ID:

13735661

Webcast:

https://viavidwebcastscom/startherejsp?ei=1594125&tp_key=12f30d96f5

A recorded rebroadcast will be available for interested parties unable to participate in the live conference call by dialing 1-844-512-2921 or 1-412-317-6671 (for international callers) and referencing Conference ID 13735661.

The replay will be available from 11:00 a.m. CST on Thursday, February 2, 2023, until 11:00 p.m. CST on Thursday, March 2, 2023.

BeiGene Presents New Research from Tislelizumab Global Development Program at 2023 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

On January 17, 2023 BeiGene (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global biotechnology company,reported that it will share clinical data and patient-reported outcomes for its PD-1 inhibitor, tislelizumab, at the 2023 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, notably, an oral presentation for interim results of the global pivotal phase 3 trial RATIONALE 305 of tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy in first-line gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer (Press release, BeiGene, JAN 17, 2023, View Source [SID1234626282]). At the interim analysis, RATIONALE 305 trial met one of the primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) in patients with G/GEJ whose tumors express PD-L1.

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"With more than one million gastric cancer cases and approximately 770,000 deaths in 2020, we have a meaningful opportunity to advance care for these patients. We are pleased to report a significant survival benefit for tislelizumab and chemotherapy at this interim analysis of the RATIONALE 305 trial," Mark Lanasa, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Solid Tumors at BeiGene. "We look forward to sharing additional results as the study continues, including results for the intent-to-treat population."

Analyses from additional studies of tislelizumab as monotherapy and in combination will be presented at the conference.

Tislelizumab presentations 2023 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

Abstract 286 Phase 3 Study of Tislelizumab Plus Chemotherapy vs Placebo Plus Chemotherapy as First-line Treatment of Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma

Jan 19, 2023 Oral Presentation (4:15pm, PST)
Abstract 340 Randomized, global, phase 3 study of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy versus placebo plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (RATIONALE-306): non-Asia subgroup

Jan 19, 2023 Poster Session A (12:00pm and 4:45pm, PST)
Abstract 495 Tislelizumab versus sorafenib in first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Impact on health-related quality of life in RATIONALE-301 population

Jan 20, 2023 Rapid Abstract Session (7:00am – 7:45am, PST)
About Tislelizumab

Tislelizumab is a humanized IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody specifically designed to minimize binding to Fcγ receptors on macrophages, helping to aid the body’s immune cells to detect and fight tumors.

Tislelizumab is the first investigational medicine from BeiGene’s immuno-oncology biologics program and is being evaluated in solid tumor and hematologic malignancies, as monotherapy and in combination.

The global tislelizumab clinical development program includes more than 11,500 subjects enrolled to-date in 21 registration-enabling trials, from more than 30 countries and regions.

Biologics License Applications (BLA) for tislelizumab are under review with U.S. and European Union (E.U.) regulators; for unresectable recurrent locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the U.S.; for non-small cell lung cancer and unresectable recurrent locally advanced or metastatic ESCC in the E.U.

Tislelizumab is approved by the China NMPA as a treatment for nine indications and additional three supplemental BLAs under review at CDE. Tislelizumab is not approved for use outside of China.

About the Clinical Trials

RATIONALE 301 (NCT03412773) is a global, Phase 3, randomized, open-label study of tislelizumab compared with sorafenib as a first-line treatment in adult patients with unresectable hepatocellular cancer (HCC), G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. The primary endpoint of the study is non-inferiority of Overall Survival between the two treatment groups. The key secondary endpoint is Overall Response Rate, as assessed by Blinded Independent Review Committee (BIRC) per RECIST v1.1. Other secondary endpoints include other efficacy assessments such as Progression Free Survival, Duration of Response, and Time to Progression per BIRC, as well as measures of health-related quality of life, and safety and tolerability.

RATIONALE 305 (NCT03777657) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled global Phase 3 trial comparing the efficacy and safety of tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy and placebo combined with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. The primary endpoint of the trial is OS. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR), and safety. A total of 997 patients from 13 countries and regions globally, including close to 50 percent from outside of China, were enrolled and randomized 1:1 to receive either tislelizumab and chemotherapy or placebo and chemotherapy.

RATIONALE 306 (NCT03783442) is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, global Phase 3 study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment in patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC. The primary endpoint of the trial is overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints include progression free survival, overall response rate, and duration of response per RECIST v1.1, as well as health-related quality of life measures and safety.

The trial enrolled 649 patients at research centers across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either tislelizumab plus chemotherapy or placebo plus chemotherapy.

Alkermes Awarded Innovation Passport Designation by the MHRA (UK) for Nemvaleukin Alfa for the Treatment of Mucosal Melanoma

On January 17, 2023 Alkermes plc (Nasdaq: ALKS) reported that nemvaleukin alfa (nemvaleukin), the company’s investigational, novel engineered interleukin-2 (IL-2) variant immunotherapy, has been granted an Innovation Passport for the treatment of mucosal melanoma under the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the regulatory body of the United Kingdom (UK) (Press release, Alkermes, JAN 17, 2023, View Source [SID1234626281]). The Innovation Passport designation is the entry point to the ILAP, which aims to accelerate time to market and facilitate patient access to medicines in the UK for life-threatening or seriously debilitating conditions, or conditions for which there is a significant patient or public health need. Benefits of ILAP include access to a range of development tools, such as the potential for a 150-day accelerated Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) assessment, rolling review and a continuous benefit-risk assessment.

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"We believe in the potential of nemvaleukin to help address persistent unmet needs faced by patients with mucosal melanoma," said Craig Hopkinson, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research & Development at Alkermes. "The granting of the Innovation Passport represents an exciting step in the clinical development program of our IL-2 candidate, and we look forward to working closely with the MHRA and the ILAP partner agencies in an effort to bring nemvaleukin to people living with mucosal melanoma in the UK."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration previously granted Orphan Drug designation and Fast Track designation to nemvaleukin for the treatment of mucosal melanoma.

About Innovation Passport and ILAP

ILAP was launched by the MHRA in January 2021 with an aim to accelerate the development of and facilitate patient access to medicines. The Innovation Passport is granted by the UK’s ILAP Steering Group, which consists of representatives from MHRA, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), the All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre (AWTTC) and the National Health Service (NHS) England. It is the first step in the ILAP process and awarded to companies developing therapies with the potential to offer significant benefit to patients who have conditions that are life-threatening or seriously debilitating. A single Innovation Passport can cover multiple future indications for the same molecule.

About Nemvaleukin Alfa (nemvaleukin)

Nemvaleukin is an investigational, novel, engineered fusion protein comprised of modified interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the high affinity IL-2 alpha receptor chain, designed to preferentially expand tumor-killing immune cells while avoiding the activation of immunosuppressive cells by selectively binding to the intermediate-affinity IL-2 receptor complex. The selectivity of nemvaleukin is designed to leverage the proven anti-tumor effects of existing IL-2 therapy while mitigating certain limitations. Nemvaleukin is currently the most advanced IL-2-based immuno-therapy in clinical development, with two actively recruiting, potentially registrational studies, ARTISTRY-6 and ARTISTRY-7 in mucosal melanoma and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, respectively.

About the ARTISTRY Clinical Development Program

ARTISTRY is an Alkermes-sponsored clinical development program evaluating nemvaleukin as a potential immunotherapy for cancer. The ARTISTRY program is comprised of multiple clinical trials evaluating intravenous and subcutaneous dosing of nemvaleukin, both as a monotherapy and in combination with the anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in patients with advanced solid tumors. Trials in the ARTISTRY program include: ARTISTRY-1, ARTISTRY-2, ARTISTRY-3, ARTISTRY-6 and ARTISTRY-7.