On October 16, 2024 AIGEN Sciences reported that it has successfully attracted 12 billion won in investment.

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This investment was participated by existing investors Partners Investment, Quad Asset Management, and Medytox Venture Investment, as well as new investors Premier Partners, K2 Investment, and Scaleup Partners.

AizenScience is an AI drug development venture founded in April 2021, leveraging the technological prowess of Professor Kang Jae-woo’s research team at Korea University, which won seven international competitions in biomedical AI. Utilizing its proprietary AI drug development platform, AizenScience aims to rapidly and efficiently develop small-molecule synthetic drugs for intractable diseases with high unmet needs. The company has established a pipeline comprised of lead optimization and preclinical candidate stages.

Additionally, the company has partnered with major domestic pharmaceutical companies, including Yuhan Corporation, and is conducting joint research, including the discovery of new antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) payloads.

Recently, Eisen announced that its "Meerkat" Large Language Model (LLM), jointly developed with Korea University and Imperial College, achieved a score of 85.8 on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), surpassing OpenAI’s GPT-4. The company is commercializing its LLM-based new drug development process as an integrated AI platform, while also conducting research to improve drug efficacy prediction and design usability.

Kang Jae-woo, CEO of Aizen Science, stated, "This investment is a significant achievement amidst the global economic downturn and shrinking investment in the biotech industry. Through this investment, we will secure differentiated competitiveness in AI-based new drug development and accelerate pipeline development." He also stated, "Through our LLM-based AI search engine technology, we will enhance the efficiency of the new drug development process and strengthen collaborations with global pharmaceutical companies."

(Press release, AIGEN Sciences, OCT 16, 2024, View Source;wr_id=52 [SID1234661231])

On October 16, 2024 Exscientia plc (Nasdaq: EXAI) reported the advancement of two additional discovery programmes within its collaboration with Sanofi, with Exscientia receiving an aggregate of $15 million in milestone payments (Press release, Exscientia, OCT 16, 2024, View Source [SID1234647241]). Both lead compounds have met the product profile requirements, set by both Exscientia and Sanofi, to enable a transition to the lead optimisation phase within the collaboration. Both programmes have also shown a high level of differentiation in early profiling and have the potential to produce best-in-class assets.

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"We are excited to announce the advancement of these programmes. This is testament to our consistent ability to design compounds that solve complex problems," said David Hallett, Ph.D., interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of Exscientia. "We look forward to continuing to work with Sanofi to advance these programmes towards development, and ultimately working together to bring potential new treatment options to patients with significant unmet need."

Exscientia will receive $15 million, in aggregate, for achieving these milestones. The payment is expected to be received by Exscientia in the fourth quarter of 2024 and reflected as cash inflows from collaborations and recognised as revenue over the duration of the collaboration. For these two programmes, Exscientia is also eligible to receive additional pre-commercial milestone payments of over $300 million and commercial milestones of over $300 million as well as tiered royalties on product sales ranging from high-single-digits to mid-teens, subject upon the achievement of certain specified research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones.

On October 16, 2024 Bicycle Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: BCYC), a pharmaceutical company pioneering a new and differentiated class of therapeutics based on its proprietary bicyclic peptide (Bicycle) technology, reported that the company will present data highlighting its potential to develop differentiated radiopharmaceutical molecules, called Bicycle Radionuclide Conjugates (BRC), at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) 2024 Congress taking place October 19-23 in Hamburg, Germany (Press release, Bicycle Therapeutics, OCT 16, 2024, View Source [SID1234647240]).

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The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), part of a cooperative network with the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), will present the first human imaging data for a BRC targeting MT1-MMP, a tumor antigen overexpressed in many cancers, during an oral presentation. In an online-only poster (e-poster), the company will present information about BRCs for radioisotope delivery to solid tumors. Additionally, Bicycle Therapeutics will host a conference call and webcast for analysts and investors on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 8 a.m. ET to review the data and outline the company’s radiopharmaceuticals strategy.

Oral Presentation by DKTK:
Title: Preclinical characterization of a phage display derived MT1-MMP-specific bicyclic peptide for radiotheranostic applications
Session Number: 1504
Session Title: M2M Track – TROP Session: Radiopharmaceutical Sciences + Translational Molecular Imaging & Therapy Committee: Targeted Radionuclide Therapy
Date and Time: Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 3:50-4 p.m. CEST
Presentation Number: OP-673
Presenter: Ann-Christin Eder, Ph.D., University Medical Center Freiburg

E-Poster by Bicycle Therapeutics:
Title: Bicycle Radionuclide Conjugates for radioisotope delivery to solid tumors
Session Number: EP-03
Session Title: Preclinical Studies -> A1 Medical Preclinical -> A13 Preclinical Oncology
e-Poster Number: EP-0032
Lead Author: Gemma Mudd, Ph.D., Bicycle Therapeutics

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Bicycle Therapeutics will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 8 a.m. ET to review the first human imaging data and outline the company’s radiopharmaceuticals strategy. To access the call, please dial +1-833-816-1408 (U.S.) or +1-412-317-0501 (international) and ask to join the Bicycle Therapeutics call. A live webcast and replay of the conference call will be available in the Investor section of the company’s website, www.bicycletherapeutics.com.

On October 16, 2024 Matica Biotechnology, a leading Texas-based viral vector Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), reported a strategic partnership with the innovative biotech company, Mongoose Bio (Press release, Mongoose Bio, OCT 16, 2024, View Source [SID1234647239]). This partnership is focused on the full development and production of lentivirus for Mongoose Bio’s T cell receptor-engineered T cell (TCR-T) pipeline for cancer treatment.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Matica Bio will provide comprehensive services, including process development, analytical method development, and the manufacturing of non-clinical and clinical materials of the viral vector. The produced lentivirus vector will be used as an intermediate product in the manufacturing of the final TCR-T cell therapy.

This partnership holds significant meaning for Matica Bio, as it highlights Matica Bio’s role as a key CDMO player in Texas. By forming collaborative models with local biotech companies, hospitals, and institutions, Matica Bio is cementing its position as a leading partner in the region’s growing bio-ecosystem. Its strategic location further enhances opportunities for partnerships with innovative biotech companies in the growing Texas biocluster.

"We are honored to collaborate with a team that shares our dedication to improving patient outcomes and advancing the frontiers of cancer treatment," said Paul Kim, CEO of Matica Bio.

"We are pleased to be working with Matica Bio on viral vector manufacturing to advance our novel TCR-T therapies into the clinic," said Neil Warma, President and CEO of Mongoose Bio. "Our novel technology is based on over 20 years of research and development expertise and an extensive patent portfolio. It is particularly meaningful to collaborate with leading CDMOs, like Matica Bio, hospitals, and development companies in our goal of conducting global clinical trials to bring our cancer treatments to patients worldwide."

This partnership marks a significant step forward in the development of TCR-T cell therapies and reflects the strength of Texas’s growing biotech ecosystem.

On October 16, 2024 Remix Therapeutics (Remix), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing small molecule therapies to modulate RNA processing and address underlying drivers of disease, reported that it will deliver a poster presentation demonstrating the therapeutic potential of REM-422, a potent, selective, oral small molecule MYB mRNA degrader for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), at the upcoming 2024 EORTC-NCI-AACR (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics being held on October 23-25, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain (Press release, Remix Therapeutics, OCT 16, 2024, View Source [SID1234647238]).

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MYB is an oncogenic transcription factor that is dysregulated in human malignancies including ACC, where the majority of tumors contain a hallmark t(6:9) rearrangement resulting in a MYB::NFIB fusion oncogene. The poster presentation will include preclinical data from biophysical and cellular assays that demonstrate the mechanism of action of REM-422 in suppressing MYB mRNA and protein expression by promoting inclusion of a poison exon into the MYB mRNA transcript. In vivo studies in ACC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models harboring the MYB::NFIB fusion demonstrates that REM-422 induces tumor regressions, including in models that harbor co-occurring mutations in the Notch pathway, a profile that represents especially aggressive clinical cases of ACC. Anti-tumor activity of REM-422 in these models is associated with a reversal of gene transcriptional programs that are associated with ACC, as assessed by genome-wide RNAseq experiments.

"We’ve built an exciting package of preclinical data across various models that reinforces the therapeutic potential of REM-422 for the treatment of ACC and other MYB-dysregulated cancers," said Peter Smith, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Remix Therapeutics. "The preclinical data demonstrated that REM-422 monotherapy treatment leads to tumor regressions in PDX models of ACC and support clinical development in ACC patients."

REM-422 is currently being investigated as a potential treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and AML/HR-MDS (High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes) in two, phase 1 clinical trials.

Details for the poster presentation are as follows:

Title: REM-422, a potent, selective, oral small molecule mRNA degrader of the MYB oncogene, induces regressions in mouse patient-derived xenograft models of adenoid cystic carcinoma
Authors: M. Cameron1, S. Levin-Furtney1, A. Harney1, M. Thomas1, J. Maag1, B. Dunyak1, M. Shan1, S. Prajapati1, Y.A. Siu1, D. Nguyen1, S. Buonamici1, M. Seiler1, F. Vaillancourt1, P. Smith1, D. Reynolds1, C. Kung1.

1Remix Therapeutics, Research, Watertown, USA.

Abstract Number: ENA24-0468
Session Date and Time: Wednesday, October 23, 2024 (11:00 AM – 8:00 PM)
Session Location: CCIB Exhibition Hall poster area, Barcelona, Spain

About REM-422

REM-422 is a first-in-class, potent, selective, and oral small molecule mRNA degrader that induces the reduction of MYB mRNA and subsequent protein expression. REM-422 functions by facilitating the incorporation of poison exons within the mRNA transcript, leading to nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) of the transcript. REM-422 addresses MYB dysregulation, a driver of oncogenesis, upstream of protein expression.

About ACC

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer that commonly develops in glandular tissues in the head and neck. It is caused by genetic mutations, likely developed over a patient’s lifetime, with the majority of ACC cases linked to an overexpression of the MYB protein. Current treatment solutions include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

About AML/HR-MDS

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a rare cancer of the blood and bone marrow, is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. AML is caused by genetic mutations within bone marrow cells, which in turn causes the production of leukemic white blood cells that crowd out healthy blood cells. This may cause problems with bleeding, infection, and anemia. Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are disorders of blood-forming units in the bone marrow. High-risk (HR)-MDS patients have a higher percentage of blast cells in the bone marrow and that, in many cases, progresses to AML. There are several approved agents to treat AML, however, many patients relapse after achieving a response, underscoring the need for new therapies.