On September 25, 2024 PDX Pharmaceuticals reported that it has received a $250,000 SBIR Commercialization Readiness Program (CRP) grant (SB1CA287735) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to advance ARAC-02, our next-gen immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Press release, PDX Pharmaceuticals, SEP 23, 2024, View Source [SID1234646860]). This funding supports intellectual property (IP) protection of our core nanotechnology (Pdx-NP) and ARAC-02, as well as the initiation of a GMP-compliant manufacturing campaign. The goal is to enhance commercialization readiness and prepare for clinical trials. Huge congrats to our team, and a big thank you to the NCI for their continued support!

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On September 23, 2024 Repare Therapeutics Inc. ("Repare" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: RPTX), a leading clinical-stage precision oncology company, reported new data on Friday highlighting the impact of alterations in FBXW7, PPP2R1A and CCNE1 in patients with metastatic ovarian and endometrial cancers based on an analysis in approximately 2,000 patients from Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network and Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Metastatic Events and Tropisms (Press release, Repare Therapeutics, SEP 23, 2024, View Source [SID1234646830]).

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The poster presentation was shared at the American Association of Cancer Research’s (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 15th Annual Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium in Seattle, underscores inherent chemotherapy resistance and the lack of treatment options for metastatic gynecologic cancer patients with these biomarkers.

"Patients with recurrent ovarian and endometrial cancers are already at a disadvantage when it comes to treatment options," said Maria Koehler, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Repare. "These new data highlight the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches to address the specifically poor prognosis associated with FBXW7, PPP2R1A and CCNE1 alterations treated with standard of care-based chemotherapy. We look forward to reporting data from our MYTHIC dose expansion trial evaluating lunresertib in combination with camonsertib in patients with ovarian and endometrial cancers with these biomarkers in the fourth quarter of 2024."

Repare Therapeutics’ Phase 1 MYTHIC clinical trial (NCT04855656) is studying the combination of lunresertib, a first-in-class oral small molecule PKMYT1 inhibitor, and camonsertib, a potential best-in-class oral small molecule ATR inhibitor, in patients harboring lunresertib-sensitizing biomarkers (Lunre BM), including CCNE1 amplifications or mutations in FBXW7 or PPP2R1A. While CCNE1 amplifications occur in approximately 30% of platinum-resistant ovarian cancers,1-2 and are well established as a poor prognostic indicator in ovarian cancer,3-6 little is known about other Lunre BM in ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Ovarian Cancer:

The presence of Lunre BM (alterations in CCNE1, PPP2R1A, or FBXW7) in ovarian cancer patients (n=1,029) is linked to a substantially lower survival rate compared to those without these biomarkers, underscoring their prognostic significance:

Median overall survival (mOS) for patients with these biomarkers (Lunre BM+) is 26 months (95% CI, 18-38), compared to 36 months (95% CI, 30-43) for patients without these biomarkers (Lunre BM-; HR = 1.46 [95% CI, 1.14-1.87], p=0.003), a 28% decrease in mOS
Endometrial Cancer:

Endometrial cancer patients (n=895) with biomarkers CCNE1, PPP2R1A, and FBXW7 demonstrate poorer survival outcomes, which are influenced by their association with high-risk histologies and genetic alterations:

Median overall survival (mOS) for patients with these biomarkers (Lunre BM+) is 30 months (95% CI, 24-38), compared to 41 months (95% CI, 31-60) for patients without these biomarkers (Lunre BM-; HR = 1.29 [95% CI, 1.03-1.60], p=0.024), a 27% decrease in mOS
The presence of these biomarkers also correlates with high-risk histologies (uterine carcinosarcoma and uterine serous carcinoma) and p53 mutant genotypes, well known for adverse prognosis

On September 23, 2024 Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene", SEHK: 6996.HK), a leading innovative, commercial-stage global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class and/or best-in-class medicines for cancer, reported that the Thailand Food and Drug Administration has approved a New Drug Application (NDA) for XPOVIO (selinexor) for two indications (Press release, Antengene, SEP 23, 2024, View Source [SID1234646829]): (1) In combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma(MM) who have received at least one prior therapy; and (2) in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with MM who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least two proteasome inhibitors, two immunomodulatory agents and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy.

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With a novel mechanism of action, XPOVIO is the world’s first approved orally-available, selective XPO1 inhibitor, which has already been approved in nine markets in APAC. This successful approval for XPOVIO in Thailand will introduce novel therapies to the clinical management of patients with MM in Thailand, benefiting many patients and their families in the country. To date, XPOVIO has also been included in national health insurance or reimbursement schemes in the mainland of China, Australia, Singapore and South Korea.

The ASEAN region, with its steady economic growth and a population exceeding 600 million, has become a significant potential market for global biomedical development. The accelerating aging population in ASEAN has increased the overall disease burden on patients and local communities, leading to a growing demand for novel therapeutics. Fulfilling its commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of the ASEAN population, Antengene has successfully obtained NDA approvals for XPOVIO in Malaysia in August and very recently in Thailand, and expects XPOVIO to be approved in Indonesia in the second half of 2024. Looking ahead, the company aims to introduce more innovative medicines to the ASEAN market, bringing improved healthcare to more patients in the region.

While bringing XPOVIO to more APAC markets, Antengene is also striving to expand the indications of XPOVIO. Leveraging the drug’s novel mechanism of action, Antengene is currently developing multiple combination regimens of XPOVIO for the treatment of various indications including myelofibrosis (MF), and endometrial cancer.

About XPOVIO (selinexor)

XPOVIO is the world’s first approved orally-available, selective inhibitor of the nuclear export protein XPO1. It offers a novel mechanism of action, synergistic effects in combination regimens, fast onset of action, and durable responses.

By blocking the nuclear export protein XPO1, XPOVIO can promote the intranuclear accumulation and activation of tumor suppressor proteins and growth regulating proteins, and down-regulate the levels of multiple oncogenic proteins. XPOVIO delivers its antitumor effects through three mechanistic pathways: 1) exerting antitumor effects by inducing the intranuclear accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins; 2) reducing the level of oncogenic proteins in the cytoplasm by inducing the intranuclear accumulation of oncogenic mRNAs; 3) restoring hormone sensitivity by activating the glucocorticoid receptors (GR) pathway. To utilize its unique mechanism of actions, XPOVIO is being evaluated for use in multiple combination regimens in a range of indications. At present, Antengene is conducting multiple clinical studies of XPOVIO in the mainland of China for the treatment of relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies and solid tumors (3 of these studies are being jointly conducted by Antengene and Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. [Nasdaq:KPTI]).

On September 23, 2024 Ryvu Therapeutics (WSE: RVU), a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focusing on novel small molecule therapies that address emerging targets in oncology, reported that it will present its ONCO Prime drug discovery platform at the 6th Annual RAS-Targeted Drug Development Summit, a leading global end-to-end RAS therapies forum, which will take place on September 24-26 in Boston, MA (Press release, Ryvu Therapeutics, SEP 23, 2024, View Source [SID1234646827]).

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ONCO Prime is a cutting-edge drug discovery platform identifying novel synthetic lethal targets using patient-derived primary cell cultures. The platform comprises of new cancer models with the optimal ratio of translational potential and high-throughput feasibility. By using patient-derived cells, the ONCO Prime platform uses patients’ medical history combined with histopathological, genomic, and transcriptomic data to enable the correlation of clinical and molecular data. Initial platform screens have identified potentially novel drug targets in KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer (CRC). Additionally, the platform has broad applicability across multiple tumor types, and additional screens in other major tumor areas are ongoing.

Krzysztof Brzózka, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President of Ryvu Therapeutics, said:

– "We are proud that, within a short time since its development began in mid-2023, the ONCO Prime platform has already identified novel targets in KRAS-mutant cells – targets overlooked by conventional immortalized CRC cell lines. This achievement highlights the platform’s unique capability, and we’re excited to discuss its implications with the international RAS-focused community."

ONCO Prime is co-financed by the European Union under the Operational Programme European Funds for Modern Economy 2021-2027. Project title: "ONCO Prime: new possibilities for personalised anti-cancer therapy based on patient-derived primary cell cultures, omics characterisation, and functional assays". Grant Agreement no: FENG.01.01-IP.02-0095/23. This co-financing is being administered through the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP). Ryvu expects to receive PLN 26.3 million (approximately USD 6.6 million) in grant funding over five years to support ONCO Prime.
The 6th Annual RAS-Targeted Drug Development Summit is the central hub dedicated to every aspect of RAS discovery and development, from discovery and clinical development to commercialization. It equips 150+ global RAS leaders with the means to create effective RAS therapies for better patient outcomes.

On September 14, 2024 VerImmune Inc., ("VerImmune"), a venture-backed biotechnology company developing a groundbreaking Virus-inspired Particle (ViP) platform technology, reported the successful first closing of $4.5 million in its Pre-Series A financing round (Press release, VerImmune, SEP 23, 2024, View Source [SID1234646826]).

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The financing was led by Beiley Biofund, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on cutting-edge technologies that address high unmet medical needs. New investors, including Dr. John Ballantyne, PhD, co-founder and former CSO at Aldevron, participated in the round, alongside returning investors Proxima Ventures, Mana Ventures, Gaingels, and others.

"We are extremely pleased to have completed the first closing of our Pre-Series A round. This funding signals strong market recognition of the potential for novel modalities to address unmet medical needs," said Dr Joshua Wang, PhD, Founder and CEO of VerImmune Inc. "We intend to use this capital to advance our conviction that ViP-based therapeutics will open the door to an entirely new approach to immunotherapy and other therapeutic areas."

"We are very attracted by and delighted to invest in VerImmune’s Virus-inspired Particle (ViP), which is both non-viral and well differentiated. In many ways, it is technically superior to other virus-like particle modalities in addressing well recognized existing challenges. We are also impressed by the progress of the company and are confident in its future success," said Dr. Che Hsu, PhD, General Manager of Beiley Biofund.

"We are extremely pleased to continue our support for VerImmune. The company’s ViP technology offers a new class of ‘virally inspired’ proteins that can function as a non-viral delivery system. For the first time in drug discovery, there are now systematic and efficient ways to manipulate proteins and their geometry beyond the traditional rules in recent years," said Haolin Sung, MBA Partner at Proxima Ventures.

This closing also strengthens VerImmune’s Board of Directors with the addition of two seasoned executives with extensive experience in early-stage product development for novel modalities:

Dr. Che Hsu, PhD, General Manager of Beiley. Before joining Beiley, Dr. Hsu was a successful pharmaceutical life sciences executive with a strong track record of advancing programs from discovery through IND and beyond. He has held leadership roles at both early-stage startups and established companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb and Celgene, where he contributed to the development of innovative therapies. His experience spans both science and business, making him a valuable leader in the life sciences field. Dr. Hsu is also currently an MBA candidate in the Chicago Booth Executive MBA program at the University of Chicago.

Dr. Marta New, PhD, MBA, an experienced drug developer and former venture capitalist. Dr. New previously held leadership roles as a partner at Agent Capital, principal investor at Baxalta Ventures, and commercial lead at Baxter International’s Renal Franchise. She is currently the CEO of Radyus Research and will join VerImmune as an independent director.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hsu and Dr. New to our Board of Directors," said Dr Roger Pomerantz, MD, FACP, Chair of VerImmune’s Board. "Their expertise in novel modalities and deep industry knowledge will strengthen our strategic guidance and enhance our efforts toward clinical and commercial success."

VerImmune plans to utilize the funds to advance the development of its lead product candidate, VERI-101, towards clinical trials. VERI-101 is a First-in-class cancer immunotherapy that leverages the ViP to redirect pre-existing immune memory from cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection toward tumors for destruction. The company also aims to expand and accelerate strategic partnerships to unlock the potential of its ViP platform technology. One such collaboration is VerImmune’s ongoing research partnership with A*STAR’s Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) in Singapore, which focuses on biomanufacturing process innovations.