Tempest Announces Agreement with Roche to Support Advancement of Amezalpat Combination Therapy into First-Line Hepatocellular Carcinoma Pivotal Trial

On October 10, 2024 Tempest Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TPST), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-classi targeted and immune-mediated therapeutics to fight cancer, reported an agreement with Roche to advance the evaluation of amezalpat (TPST-1120) in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab, the current standard of care for unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), into a pivotal Phase 3 trial for the first-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer with high unmet need (Press release, Tempest Therapeutics, OCT 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234647143]).

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Under the agreement, Roche will supply atezolizumab globally and Tempest will sponsor and lead the pivotal study. This agreement builds on a clinical collaboration between the companies pursuant to which amezalpat was combined with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in first-line HCC patients and compared to atezolizumab and bevacizumab alone in a randomized Phase 1b/2 study. Tempest retains all development and commercial rights to amezalpat.

"We’re excited to announce this agreement that supports the advancement of amezalpat into a pivotal study and reinforces both Tempest and Roche’s shared commitment to delivering groundbreaking cancer treatments for patients," said Stephen Brady, president and chief executive officer of Tempest. "Based on the positive Phase 2 data, I believe this combination therapy holds the potential to significantly improve first-line liver cancer treatment, and we look forward to amezalpat moving into this pivotal Phase 3 study."

In June, Tempest reported updated positive survival data from the ongoing global randomized Phase 1b/2 clinical study, demonstrating a six-month improvement in median overall survival (OS) for patients receiving the combination therapy, in comparison to the control arm of atezolizumab and bevacizumab alone in the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC. The survival benefit observed in the amezalpat arm was maintained in key subpopulations, as well. These June data build upon previously released data from the primary analysis showing that the amezalpat combination therapy provided clinical benefit regardless of PD-L1 status and in patients with both immune excluded and immune desert tumors. Patients with a mutation in the beta catenin gene had an increased objective response rate and, in the updated data set, a longer median OS, both supported by amezalpat’s purported mechanism of action.

In August, the company held its end-of-phase 2 meeting with the FDA where it reached broad agreement on the Phase 3 study plan, including the amezalpat dose schedule and primary endpoint of OS, which was a positive result from the Phase 2. The FDA also agreed on the statistical plan, including a pre-specified early efficacy analysis that the company currently estimates could shorten the study’s timeline to primary analysis by 8 months.

About the TPST-1120-301 Study

The planned Phase 3 study is a global, blinded, 1:1 randomized study of amezalpat plus atezolizumab and bevacizumab vs. atezolizumab and bevacizumab, the standard of care, in patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC treated in the first line setting. In August 2024, the company received agreement from the FDA on its Phase 3 study design, dose of amezalpat, and the statistical plan, including a pre-specified efficacy analysis that could shorten the time to primary analysis. The company is preparing for the Phase 3 study start in the first quarter of 2025.

About Amezalpat (TPST-1120)

Amezalpat is an oral, small molecule, selective PPAR⍺ antagonist. Data suggest that amezalpat treats cancer by targeting tumor cells directly and by modulating immune suppressive cells and angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment. In an ongoing global randomized phase 1b/2 study of amezalpat in combination with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in first-line patients with advanced HCC, the amezalpat arm showed clinical superiority across multiple study endpoints, including overall survival in both the overall population and key subpopulations, when compared to atezolizumab and bevacizumab alone, the standard of care. These randomized data were supported by positive results observed in the Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with heavily pretreated advanced solid tumors, including renal cell carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.

Pfizer’s TALZENNA® in Combination with XTANDI® Prolongs Overall Survival in Phase 3 TALAPRO-2 Trial

On October 10, 2024 Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported positive topline results from the final prespecified overall survival (OS) analysis of the TALAPRO-2 study of TALZENNA (talazoparib), an oral poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, in combination with XTANDI (enzalutamide), an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI), in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) (Press release, Seagen, OCT 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234647142]). Results showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in the final OS in all-comers (cohort 1) as well as in those patients with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene-mutated mCRPC (cohort 2), compared to XTANDI alone.

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"The TALAPRO-2 results showed that TALZENNA plus XTANDI is the first and only PARP inhibitor in combination with an ARPI to significantly improve survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, regardless of mutation status," said Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Development Officer, Oncology, Pfizer. "Pfizer is dedicated to advancing scientific breakthroughs in genitourinary cancers, and these exciting TALAPRO-2 results further highlight our long-standing commitment to improving survival for men with prostate cancer."

"These overall survival results indicate potentially practice-changing efficacy for TALZENNA in combination with XTANDI for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer," said Neeraj Agarwal, M.D., FASCO, Professor and Presidential Endowed Chair of Cancer Research at Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, and global lead investigator for TALAPRO-2. "Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is the most advanced and aggressive stage of the disease, and the TALAPRO-2 results provide much-needed hope to patients who remain in high unmet need for effective treatment options."

At the time of the final analysis, the clinically meaningful improvement in radiographic progression free survival (rPFS) was maintained in both cohorts from the prior primary analysis previously reported and published in The Lancet . In addition, the safety profile of TALZENNA plus XTANDI was generally consistent with the known safety profile of each medicine. Detailed results from TALAPRO-2 will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming medical congress. These data will also be shared with global health authorities to potentially support regulatory filings to update and potentially expand the approved label for TALZENNA.

TALZENNA in combination with XTANDI was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with HRR gene-mutated mCRPC in June 2023. The combination was also approved by the European Commission in January 2024 for the treatment of adult patients with mCRPC in whom chemotherapy is not clinically indicated. TALZENNA is the first and only PARP inhibitor licensed in the European Union for use with XTANDI for patients with mCRPC, with or without gene mutations. TALZENNA in combination with XTANDI is now approved in more than 35 countries globally for patients with mCRPC.

About Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the fifth most common cause of cancer death among men worldwide, with an estimated 1.4 million new cases diagnosed in 2022. 1 In the U.S., it is the most common cancer in men. 2 mCRPC is a cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland and has progressed despite medical or surgical treatment to lower testosterone. Approximately 10%–20% of prostate cancer patients develop mCRPC within 5−7 years of diagnosis. 3 Between 1.2%–2.1% of all prostate cancer cases globally are mCRPC. 4

About TALAPRO-2

The Phase 3 TALAPRO-2 trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that enrolled 1,035 unique patients with mCRPC (who had not received new life-prolonging systemic treatments after documentation of mCRPC) at sites in the U.S., Canada, Europe, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region. The study included two patient cohorts: all-comers (n=805, of whom 169 had HRR mutations and 636 did not) and those with HRR gene mutations (n=399, including 169 patients from Cohort 1 and 230 enrolled in Cohort 2). Patients with castrate testosterone levels were randomized to receive TALZENNA 0.5 mg/day plus XTANDI 160mg/day, or placebo plus XTANDI 160mg/day.

The primary endpoint of the trial was rPFS, defined as the time from the date of randomization to first objective evidence of radiographic progression by blinded independent review, or death, whichever occurred first, in both Cohort 1 (all-comers) and Cohort 2 (those with HRRm). Secondary endpoints included OS, objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response.

For more information on the TALAPRO-2 trial (NCT03395197), go to www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About TALZENNA (talazoparib)

TALZENNA is an oral inhibitor of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), which plays a role in DNA damage repair. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that TALZENNA blocks PARP enzyme activity and traps PARP at the site of DNA damage, leading to decreased cancer cell growth and cancer cell death.

TALZENNA is approved in the U.S., EU, and multiple other regions for the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. In the U.S., TALZENNA is approved in combination with XTANDI for the treatment of adult patients with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In the EU, TALZENNA is approved in combination with enzalutamide for the treatment of adult patients with mCRPC in whom chemotherapy is not clinically indicated.

TALZENNA (talazoparib) Indication in the U.S.

TALZENNA is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated for:

HRR gene-mutated mCRPC:

In combination with enzalutamide for the treatment of adult patients with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
Breast Cancer:

As a single agent, for the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for TALZENNA.
TALZENNA (talazoparib) Important Safety Information

WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS

Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (MDS/AML) , including cases with a fatal outcome, has been reported in patients who received TALZENNA. Overall, MDS/AML has been reported in 0.4% (3 out of 788) of solid tumor patients treated with TALZENNA as a single agent in clinical studies. In TALAPRO-2, MDS/AML occurred in 2 out of 511 (0.4%) patients treated with TALZENNA and enzalutamide and in 0 out of 517 (0%) patients treated with placebo and enzalutamide. The durations of TALZENNA treatment in these five patients prior to developing MDS/AML were 0.3, 1, 2, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Most of these patients had received previous chemotherapy with platinum agents and/or other DNA damaging agents including radiotherapy.

Do not start TALZENNA until patients have adequately recovered from hematological toxicity caused by previous chemotherapy. Monitor blood counts monthly during treatment with TALZENNA. For prolonged hematological toxicities, interrupt TALZENNA and monitor blood counts weekly until recovery. If counts do not recover within 4 weeks, refer the patient to a hematologist for further investigations including bone marrow analysis and blood sample for cytogenetics. If MDS/AML is confirmed, discontinue TALZENNA.

Myelosuppression consisting of anemia, neutropenia, and/or thrombocytopenia have been reported in patients treated with TALZENNA. In TALAPRO-2, Grade ≥3 anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia were reported, respectively, in 45%, 18%, and 8% of patients receiving TALZENNA and enzalutamide. Overall, 39% of patients (199/511) required a red blood cell transfusion, including 22% (111/511) who required multiple transfusions. Discontinuation due to anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia occurred, respectively, in 7%, 3%, and 0.4% of patients.

Withhold TALZENNA until patients have adequately recovered from hematological toxicity caused by previous therapy. Monitor blood counts monthly during treatment with TALZENNA. If hematological toxicities do not resolve within 28 days, discontinue TALZENNA and refer the patient to a hematologist for further investigations including bone marrow analysis and blood sample for cytogenetics.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity TALZENNA can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential or who are pregnant to use effective contraception during treatment with TALZENNA and for 4 months after receiving the last dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In TALAPRO-2, serious adverse reactions reported in >2% of patients included anemia (9%) and fracture (3%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1.5% of patients, including pneumonia, COVID infection, and sepsis (1 patient each).

The most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%, all Grades), including laboratory abnormalities, for patients in the TALAPRO-2 study who received TALZENNA in combination with enzalutamide vs patients receiving placebo with enzalutamide were hemoglobin decreased (79% vs 34%), neutrophils decreased (60% vs 18%), lymphocytes decreased (58% vs 36%), fatigue (49% vs 40%), platelets decreased (45% vs 8%), calcium decreased (25% vs 11%), nausea (21% vs 17%), decreased appetite (20% vs 14%), sodium decreased (22% vs 20%), phosphate decreased (17% vs 13%), fractures (14% vs 10%), magnesium decreased (14% vs 12%), dizziness (13% vs 9%), bilirubin increased (11% vs 7%), potassium decreased (11% vs 7%), and dysgeusia (10% vs 4.5%).

Clinically relevant adverse reactions in <10% of patients who received TALZENNA with enzalutamide included abdominal pain (9%), vomiting (9%), alopecia (7%), dyspepsia (4%), venous thromboembolism (3%) and stomatitis (2%).

Based on animal studies, TALZENNA may impair fertility in males of reproductive potential.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Coadministration with P-gp inhibitors The effect of coadministration of P-gp inhibitors on talazoparib exposure when TALZENNA is taken in combination with enzalutamide has not been studied. Monitor patients for increased adverse reactions and modify the dosage as recommended for adverse reactions when TALZENNA is coadministered with a P-gp inhibitor.

Coadministration with BCRP inhibitors Monitor patients for increased adverse reactions and modify the dosage as recommended for adverse reactions when TALZENNA is coadministered with a BCRP inhibitor. Coadministration of TALZENNA with BCRP inhibitors may increase talazoparib exposure, which may increase the risk of adverse reactions.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Renal Impairment The recommended dosage of TALZENNA for patients with moderate renal impairment (CLcr 30 – 59 mL/min) is 0.35 mg taken orally once daily in combination with enzalutamide. The recommended dosage of TALZENNA for patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr 15 – 29 mL/min) is 0.25 mg taken orally once daily in combination with enzalutamide. No dose adjustment is required for patients with mild renal impairment. TALZENNA has not been studied in patients requiring hemodialysis.

Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information and Patient Information for TALZENNA (talazoparib) at www.TALZENNA.com.

About XTANDI (enzalutamide) and Important Safety Information

XTANDI (enzalutamide) is an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor. XTANDI is a standard of care and has received regulatory approvals in one or more countries around the world for use in men with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC; also known as metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer or mHSPC), metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) and nonmetastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (nmCSPC) with biochemical recurrence at high risk for metastasis (high-risk BCR). XTANDI is currently approved for one or more of these indications in more than 90 countries, including in the U.S., EU, and Japan. Over one million patients have been treated with XTANDI globally. 5

Warnings and Precautions

Seizure occurred in 0.6% of patients receiving XTANDI in eight randomized clinical trials. In a study of patients with predisposing factors for seizure, 2.2% of XTANDI-treated patients experienced a seizure. It is unknown whether anti-epileptic medications will prevent seizures with XTANDI. Patients in the study had one or more of the following predisposing factors: use of medications that may lower the seizure threshold, history of traumatic brain or head injury, history of cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack, and Alzheimer’s disease, meningioma, or leptomeningeal disease from prostate cancer, unexplained loss of consciousness within the last 12 months, history of seizure, presence of a space occupying lesion of the brain, history of arteriovenous malformation, or history of brain infection. Advise patients of the risk of developing a seizure while taking XTANDI and of engaging in any activity where sudden loss of consciousness could cause serious harm to themselves or others. Permanently discontinue XTANDI in patients who develop a seizure during treatment.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) There have been reports of PRES in patients receiving XTANDI. PRES is a neurological disorder that can present with rapidly evolving symptoms including seizure, headache, lethargy, confusion, blindness, and other visual and neurological disturbances, with or without associated hypertension. A diagnosis of PRES requires confirmation by brain imaging, preferably MRI. Discontinue XTANDI in patients who develop PRES.

Hypersensitivity reactions, including edema of the face (0.5%), tongue (0.1%), or lip (0.1%) have been observed with XTANDI in eight randomized clinical trials. Pharyngeal edema has been reported in post-marketing cases. Advise patients who experience any symptoms of hypersensitivity to temporarily discontinue XTANDI and promptly seek medical care. Permanently discontinue XTANDI for serious hypersensitivity reactions.

Ischemic Heart Disease In the combined data of five randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies, ischemic heart disease occurred more commonly in patients on the XTANDI arm compared to patients on the placebo arm (3.5% vs 2%). Grade 3-4 ischemic events occurred in 1.8% of patients on XTANDI versus 1.1% on placebo. Ischemic events led to death in 0.4% of patients on XTANDI compared to 0.1% on placebo. Monitor for signs and symptoms of ischemic heart disease. Optimize management of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. Discontinue XTANDI for Grade 3-4 ischemic heart disease.

Falls and Fractures occurred in patients receiving XTANDI. Evaluate patients for fracture and fall risk. Monitor and manage patients at risk for fractures according to established treatment guidelines and consider use of bone-targeted agents. In the combined data of five randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies, falls occurred in 12% of patients treated with XTANDI compared to 6% of patients treated with placebo. Fractures occurred in 13% of patients treated with XTANDI and in 6% of patients treated with placebo.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity The safety and efficacy of XTANDI have not been established in females. XTANDI can cause fetal harm and loss of pregnancy when administered to a pregnant female. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with XTANDI and for 3 months after the last dose of XTANDI.

Adverse Reactions (ARs) the data from the five randomized placebo-controlled trials, the most common ARs (≥ 10%) that occurred more frequently (≥ 2% over placebo) in XTANDI-treated patients were musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, hot flush, constipation, decreased appetite, diarrhea, hypertension, hemorrhage, fall, fracture, and headache. In the bicalutamide-controlled study, the most common ARs (≥ 10%) reported in XTANDI-treated patients were asthenia/fatigue, back pain, musculoskeletal pain, hot flush, hypertension, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, and weight loss.

In AFFIRM, the placebo-controlled study of metastatic CRPC (mCRPC) patients who previously received docetaxel, Grade 3 and higher ARs were reported among 47% of XTANDI-treated patients. Discontinuations due to ARs were reported for 16% of XTANDI-treated patients. In PREVAIL, the placebo-controlled study of chemotherapy-naive mCRPC patients, Grade 3-4 ARs were reported in 44% of XTANDI patients and 37% of placebo patients. Discontinuations due to ARs were reported for 6% of XTANDI-treated patients. In TERRAIN, the bicalutamide-controlled study of chemotherapy-naive mCRPC patients, Grade 3-4 ARs were reported in 39% of XTANDI patients and 38% of bicalutamide patients. Discontinuations with an AR as the primary reason were reported for 8% of XTANDI patients and 6% of bicalutamide patients.

In PROSPER, the placebo-controlled study of nonmetastatic CRPC (nmCRPC) patients, Grade 3 or higher ARs were reported in 31% of XTANDI patients and 23% of placebo patients. Discontinuations with an AR as the primary reason were reported for 9% of XTANDI patients and 6% of placebo patients.

In ARCHES, the placebo-controlled study of metastatic CSPC (mCSPC) patients, Grade 3 or higher ARs were reported in 24% of XTANDI-treated patients. Permanent discontinuation due to ARs as the primary reason was reported in 5% of XTANDI patients and 4% of placebo patients.

In EMBARK, the placebo-controlled study of nonmetastatic CSPC (nmCSPC) with high-risk biochemical recurrence (BCR) patients, Grade 3 or higher adverse reactions during the total duration of treatment were reported in 46% of patients treated with XTANDI plus leuprolide, 50% of patients receiving XTANDI as a single agent, and 43% of patients receiving placebo plus leuprolide. Permanent treatment discontinuation due to adverse reactions during the total duration of treatment as the primary reason was reported in 21% of patients treated with XTANDI plus leuprolide, 18% of patients receiving XTANDI as a single agent, and 10% of patients receiving placebo plus leuprolide.

Lab Abnormalities : Lab abnormalities that occurred in ≥ 5% of patients, and more frequently (> 2%) in the XTANDI arm compared to placebo in the pooled, randomized, placebo-controlled studies are hemoglobin decrease, neutrophil count decreased, white blood cell decreased, hyperglycemia, hypermagnesemia, hyponatremia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypercalcemia.

Hypertension: In the combined data from five randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials, hypertension was reported in 14.2% of XTANDI patients and 7.4% of placebo patients. Hypertension led to study discontinuation in < 1% of patients in each arm.

Drug Interactions

Effect of Other Drugs on XTANDI Avoid coadministration with strong CYP2C8 inhibitors. If coadministration cannot be avoided, reduce the dosage of XTANDI.

Avoid coadministration with strong CYP3A4 inducers. If coadministration cannot be avoided, increase the dosage of XTANDI.

Effect of XTANDI on Other Drugs Avoid coadministration with certain CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 substrates for which minimal decrease in concentration may lead to therapeutic failure of the substrate. If coadministration cannot be avoided, increase the dosage of these substrates in accordance with their Prescribing Information. In cases where active metabolites are formed, there may be increased exposure to the active metabolites.

QIAGEN expands automated liquid biopsy portfolio to enhance oncology, prenatal care and organ transplant applications

On October 10, 2024 QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) reported key updates to its sample technologies solutions for non-invasive liquid biopsy applications for use in research and clinical applications such as oncology, prenatal care and organ transplantation (Press release, Qiagen, OCT 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234647141]).

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"The introduction of these new kits and the updates to our EZ2 Connect platform underline QIAGEN’s commitment to advancing liquid biopsy technologies," said Nitin Sood, Senior Vice President and Head of the Life Sciences Business Area at QIAGEN. "These enhancements not only expand our portfolio to meet the diverse needs of our customers but also reinforce our leadership in providing high-quality, automated solutions in important fields such as oncology, prenatal care and organ transplant."

Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive method using biofluid samples, such as blood or urine, to detect and monitor disease biomarkers. It is promising for personalized medicine, particularly oncology, by allowing for real‑time monitoring of tumors and treatment response. QIAGEN’s broad range of solutions for liquid biopsy applications covers all analytes (circulating cell-free nucleic acids, tumor cells, exosomes) and all molecular detection technologies (next-generation sequencing (NGS), quantitative PCR, digital PCR).

These updates – designed for use on the QIAsymphony and EZ2 Connect instruments – are designed to enable research and molecular diagnostics laboratories to efficiently improve results when processing larger sample volumes that are crucial for oncology research and diagnostics:

The upgraded EZ1&2 ccfDNA Kit now supports fully automated simultaneous processing of 24 samples with up to 10 mL of serum or plasma – up from the previous 8 mL – along with a new urine protocol. These enhancements are tailored for cancer research and biomarker discovery, providing higher yields of circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) without manual pre-enrichment steps, and offering flexibility in downstream workflows with lower elution volumes and higher concentrations of ccfDNA. This upgrade addresses the increasing demand for larger sample input, which is essential for the detection of low-frequency mutations in liquid biopsies.
The newly introduced QIAsymphony DSP Circulating DNA Kit (96) and the QIAsymphony DSP Circulating DNA Maxi Kit (192) are fully automated kits, optimized for the extraction of ccfDNA from up to 10mL sample volume. The regular kit addresses labs which are only starting with liquid biopsy or have small sample numbers, while the Maxi Kit is tailored for labs which routinely work with liquid biopsy samples. Both kits are intended for in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) use, ensuring compliance with CE-IVDR regulations in Europe and FDA regulations in the U.S.

The new QIAsymphony Kits complete QIAGEN’s automated DSP Circulating DNA product family, offering research and molecular diagnostics labs a comprehensive solution for ccfDNA isolation that supports a wide range of sample volumes and throughput needs. These kits are crucial for high-sensitivity downstream analyses like next-generation sequencing (NGS), digital PCR (dPCR), and real-time PCR, making them integral to non-invasive diagnostic procedures that benefit patients by enabling earlier and more accurate detection of conditions such as cancer.
The upgrades add to the PAXgene Urine Liquid Biopsy Set recently launched by PreAnalytiX, QIAGEN’s joint venture with BD. The new set, which will be commercialized by QIAGEN, enables reliable analysis of cfDNA from urine more than ever before.

For more information on QIAGEN’s liquid biopsy portfolio, visit www.qiagen.com/applications/liquid-biopsy

Dutch Life Science Tools LUMICKS secures €20 million from European Investment Bank to accelerate drug discovery for cancer

On October 10, 2024 The European Investment Bank (EIB) and LUMICKS reported to have signed a €20 million venture debt agreement to accelerate the launch of its next generation, high throughput cell avidity platform (Press release, LUMICKS, OCT 10, 2024, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dutch-life-science-tools-lumicks-secures-e20-million-from-european-investment-bank-to-accelerate-drug-discovery-for-cancer [SID1234647139]). The financing is supported by the European Commission under the InvestEU initiative.

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LUMICKS’ Cell Avidity technology is transforming the discovery process in cancer immunotherapy by addressing a critical challenge: the lack of tools to directly measure the binding interaction of immune cells, such as CAR-T cells, with cancer cells. This limitation creates uncertainties in the preclinical funnel and slows therapy development. By providing high-throughput measurement of such interactions, LUMICKS’ empowers researchers to optimize therapies faster and with greater accuracy, with the goal of improving success rates in clinical trials.

"The Netherlands is home to a vibrant Life Sciences industry and the EIB has been proudly supporting this sector to ensure it continues to lead in medical innovation and transformative healthcare solutions." stated EIB vice president Robert de Groot. "The new financing to LUMICKS is a testament of this. With the backing of InvestEU, the EIB can provide LUMICKS with stable long-term funding matching the highly innovative profile of the Company and tailored to its current needs for continued growth, market expansion, and development of its technologies."

"This investment from the EIB enables us to accelerate our R&D timeline, ensuring we continue innovating to deliver a long-lasting impact in the immunotherapy space" stated LUMICKS CEO Hugo de Wit. "By providing deeper insights into cellular interactions, our instruments empower researchers to make faster, better-informed decisions, with the goal of improving success rates in clinical trials and accelerating the development of effective therapies."

LUMICKS, founded in 2014, employs 170 people globally and has a proven track record of developing and commercializing cutting-edge life science tools. Widely adopted by top universities and research institutions worldwide, LUMICKS’ technologies have contributed to numerous publications in top journals across fields such as oncology and immunotherapy.

Kezar Confirms Receipt of Unsolicited, Non-Binding Acquisition Proposal

On October 10, 2024 Kezar Life Sciences, Inc. ("Kezar" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: KZR), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel small molecule to treat unmet needs in immune-mediated diseases, reported that it has received an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Concentra Biosciences, LLC ("Concentra"), a Delaware limited liability company, to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Kezar for cash consideration of $1.10 per share, plus a contingent value right that represents the right to receive 80% of the net proceeds from any out-license or disposition of Kezar’s development programs or intellectual property (Press release, Kezar Life Sciences, OCT 10, 2024, View Source [SID1234647138]).

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According to a Schedule 13D filed on October 8, 2024, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") disclosing Concentra’s proposal, Tang Capital Management, LLC ("Tang Capital") is the controlling stockholder of Concentra, and Tang Capital beneficially owns approximately 9.9% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

Consistent with its fiduciary duties, Kezar’s Board and management team will carefully evaluate the non-binding proposal to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interest of the Company and all Kezar stockholders and respond appropriately.

Kezar stockholders do not need to take any action at this time.