On November 20, 2024 Lepu Biopharma Co., Ltd. (Lepu Biopharma) and Beijing DP Tech Co., Ltd. (DP Technology) reported a significant milestone in their Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) drug collaboration (Press release, Lepu Biopharma, NOV 21, 2024, View Source [SID1234648561]). This partnership has effectively integrated DP’s ADC Linker-Payload design platform with Lepu’s ADC technology development platform, capitalizing on their respective strengths. The overall optimization of the ADC drug has been achieved in a relatively short time. This project has reached an important milestone, further validating the approach of accelerating ADC innovative drug development through computational design. Moving forward, both parties will continue to deepen their R&D collaboration in this field, jointly committed to promoting the continuous optimization and advancement of innovative drug development processes.

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The ADC Linker Payload design platform, meticulously crafted by DP Technology, utilizes "RiDYMO", an AI-for-Science driven hit discovery platform. Furthermore, "AI + first principles" based computational methods are employed to predict linker cleavage sites and ensure the correct payload release, achieving outstanding cell-killing and bystander effects. Additionally, the designed antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) maintain excellent hydrophilicity and plasma stability. Leveraging Lepu’s mature and complete ADC development system, candidates developed by the new ADC platform have demonstrated significant efficacy in CDX models targeting multiple targets. This project has been successfully validated in animal models and is currently advancing the candidate ADC to the clinical stage.

Lei Fang, Ph.D., Vice President of Lepu Biopharma and CEO of CtM Bio Co., Ltd., expressed high appreciation for this cooperation: "Introducing advanced computational methods to solve scientific problems and jointly pioneering breakthrough explorations is our goal in the ADC project collaboration. As a leader in ‘AI for Science’, DP Technology has played a crucial role in this project with its newly developed ADC design platform. By integrating Lepu Biopharma’s advanced ADC development platform with AI-driven design, we proposed novel perspectives on ADC development while significantly expediting the process. By complementing each other’s strengths, we jointly provide new inspiration and ideas for innovative ADC drug design."

Weijie Sun, CEO of DP Technology, expressed great anticipation for future collaboration: "Lepu Biopharma, as an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on cancer treatment, particularly in the areas of targeted therapy and immunotherapy, has extensive experience and a long-standing track record in developing innovative ADC drugs. We firmly believe that our close cooperation will significantly accelerate the design and development of ADC drugs, and we are optimistic about the potential to develop innovative, highly effective, and differentiated new ADC therapies. I am eagerly anticipating the ongoing and deepened collaboration between both companies in the field of pharmaceutical innovation!"

Concerning the various demands from industry partners in the ADC field, DP Technology’s ADC platform has successfully empowered various scenarios and projects. For instance, it utilizes AI combined with first-principles calculations to predict linker cleavage sites and improve attachment stability. By integrating pre-trained models with fine-tuning strategies and expert insights, the platform can predict and modify physicochemical properties such as payload efflux and bystander effects. Additionally, there is ongoing exploration and collaboration in the overall evaluation of properties like aggregation effects in ADCs.

On November 21, 2024 Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: INTS), ("Intensity" or the "Company") a late-stage clinical biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary, novel immune-based intratumoral cancer therapies designed to kill tumors and increase immune system recognition of cancers, reported that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with a single healthcare focused institutional investor for the issuance and sale of 1,237,113 shares of its common stock in a registered direct offering at a purchase price of $2.425 per share (Press release, Intensity Therapeutics, NOV 21, 2024, View Source [SID1234648559]).

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In a concurrent private placement (the "Private Placement" and together with the Registered Offering, the "Offerings"), the Company also agreed to issue to the same investor warrants to purchase up to 1,237,113 shares of its common stock (the "Common Warrants"). The Common Warrants have an exercise price of $2.95 per share, will be exercisable commencing six months from the date of issuance, and will expire five and one-half years following the date of issuance.

The gross proceeds from the Offerings, before deducting the placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company, are expected to be approximately $3 million. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the Offerings for general working capital.

A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners is acting as lead placement agent for the Offerings and Brookline Capital Markets, a division of Arcadia Securities, LLC, is acting as a co-placement agent for the Offerings.

The Offerings are expected to close on or about November 22, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The shares (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) offered to the institutional investor described above are being offered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-280681), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on July 11, 2024. The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus which is a part of the effective registration statement. The Common Warrants will be issued in a concurrent private placement. A final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the registered direct offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additionally, when available, electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained from A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, 590 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at (212) 624-2060, or by email at [email protected], or Brookline Capital Markets, a division of Arcadia Securities, LLC, 600 Lexington Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at (646) 256-5258, or by email at [email protected].

The private placement of the Common Warrants and the shares underlying the Common Warrants offered to the institutional investor will be made in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Regulation D promulgated thereunder. Accordingly, the securities issued in the concurrent private placements may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in this Offering, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

On November 21, 2024 InxMed Co., Ltd, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapies against cancer treatment resistance and metastasis, reported that China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has granted Ifebemtinib (IN10018) Breakthrough Therapy designation (BTD) for the first-line (1L) treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with KRAS G12C mutation in combination with garsorasib, a specific inhibitor of the KRAS G12C mutation (Press release, InxMed, NOV 21, 2024, View Source [SID1234648558]). This is the second BTD ifebemtinib received. In April 2022, ifebemtinib was granted its first BTD for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) in combination with PEG-liposomal doxorubicin (PLD).

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Ifebemtinib is a highly selective, orally administered, small molecule inhibitor for focal adhesion kinase, which has demonstrated significant clinical synergies with targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and standard chemotherapies.

The BTD is supported by the data from the Phase Ib/II study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ifebemtinib in combination with garsorasib for the 1L treatment of NSCLC with KRAS G12C mutation (NCT06166836). The results of the clinical trial were featured at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. The dual-oral regimen showed promising antitumor efficacy with a well-tolerated safety profile in 1L KRASG12C NSCLC. The objective response rate (ORR) was 90.3% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 96.8%. A total of 28 confirmed partial responses (PRs) and two stable diseases (SDs) were reported from 31 efficacy evaluable patients. All treated patients have achieved a follow-up visit of 9 months so far, and the median PFS has not been reached at the time of this report.

Beyond KRAS G12C inhibitors, Ifebemtinib has also shown significant therapeutic synergies when combined with a wide range of standard and emerging cancer treatments, such as anti-PD-(L)1 antibodies, other RAS-targeted inhibitors, EGFR inhibitors, and ADCs. InxMed is actively pursuing collaborations with innovating partners globally。

InxMed is currently conducting a registrational trial in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in China, for which the company plans to submit a New Drug Application to the NMPA in 2025. InxMed also has multiple proof-of-concept trials ongoing in lung, colorectal, melanoma, and pancreatic cancers, some of which will progress into pivotal studies. Thus far, more than 600 subjects have been treated with ifebemtinib, and a favorable safety and tolerability profile has been observed.

On November 21, 2024 Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in discovering, developing and commercializing therapies to address global unmet medical needs primarily for malignancies, reported that findings from a phase Ib multicenter clinical trial (NCT04260022) of its third-generation BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) have been published in the November 2024 issue of JAMA Oncology, marking a milestone in global awareness concerning the agent (Press release, Ascentage Pharma, NOV 21, 2024, View Source [SID1234648557]).

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JAMA Oncology is among the most influential and high-ranking oncology publications, with a 2023 impact factor of 28.4. It is read widely by the clinical-oncology community, with 6.4 million original downloads or views per annum. In 2023, the journal accepted only about 155 (7%) of 2,223 research-article submissions.

Olverembatinib may help to address critical unmet clinical needs related to TKI treatment resistance and intolerance, which can impose formidable humanistic and economic burdens especially in heavily pretreated patients with suboptimal outcomes. For instance, arterial occlusive events (AOEs) constitute one salient and potentially dose-limiting treatment challenge with certain second- and third-generation TKIs.

This study (NCT04260022) randomly allocated 80 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph⁺ ALL) to receive oral olverembatinib 30, 40, or 50 mg on alternate days. The study population was heavily pretreated: approximately 18% of patients had received two prior TKIs, 28% three, and 54% at least four. Forty-six patients (57.5%) had received ponatinib; 25 (31.3%), asciminib; and 11 (13.8%), both medications.1

Among all evaluable patients with chronic-phase CML (CP-CML), the complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) rate was approximately 61% and the major molecular response (MMR) rate, approximately 42%. Cytogenetic and molecular responses were similar irrespective of the presence of the T315I mutation, which confers resistance against imatinib and all second-generation TKIs.1

Importantly, approximately 58% of patients with prior ponatinib treatment failure achieved CCyR and about 37%, MMR. Corresponding values in patients with asciminib treatment resistance were 50% and 33%.1

Olverembatinib was also well tolerated, with leading (typically mild or moderate) treatment-emergent adverse events including elevated blood creatine phosphokinase and thrombocytopenia. There were no fatal treatment-related adverse events. Treatment-related AOEs were infrequent (3%) and mild or moderate (grade 1 or 2); no such olverembatinib-related event was considered serious.

"I am delighted to showcase the strength and progress of the ‘lead’ asset of Ascentage Pharma, which exemplifies the richness and diversity of our product pipeline of innovative, patient-centric therapies for a range of hematologic malignancies," said Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma. "In the future, we will continue to advance these development programs in efforts to bring more treatment options to patients with unmet clinical needs around the world."

"One potential explanation for the response of olverembatinib in patients with ponatinib and asciminib resistance is its broad (pan-BCR::ABL1-kinase domain) mutational coverage," said principal investigator Elias Jabbour, MD, Professor of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. "In studies to date, olverembatinib has shown greater sensitivity and clinical benefit against compound mutations – two or more mutations within the same allele of BCR::ABL1 – compared with other approved TKIs and the STAMP inhibitor asciminib."

Findings from this trial have also been presented at leading hematologic-oncology congresses around the world, including the 29th European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Congress, which convened June 13-16, 2024, in Madrid; the 12th annual meeting of the Society of Hematologic Oncology, on September 4-7, 2024, in Houston, Texas; and the ESH-iCMLf 26th Annual John Goldman Conference on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (Biology and Therapy), on September 27-29, 2024, in Prague. Updated results will be presented at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and Exposition, December 8, 2024 (6:00-8:00 PM), in San Diego, CA (poster/publication #3151).

"Publication of our trial results in JAMA Oncology represents a major milestone for olverembatinib, and the study established the recommended dose for our ongoing phase III registrational trial: POLARIS-2 [NCT06423911]," said Dr. Dajun Yang, Chairman & CEO of Ascentage. "We look forward to that trial and, in the future through our option agreement with Takeda, to potentially bring this medication to underserved populations around the world, including patients with CML or Ph⁺ ALL that is resistant to or intolerant of other medications."

On June 14, 2024, Ascentage signed an exclusive option agreement to enter into an exclusive license agreement with Takeda (www.takeda.com) for olverembatinib. In the event that Takeda exercises the option, Takeda would license the global rights to develop and commercialize olverembatinib in all territories outside of, among others, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, China.

Olverembatinib is currently approved in China for the treatment of adult patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant chronic phase CP-CML or accelerated-phase CML harboring the T315I mutation as confirmed by a validated diagnostic test. It is also approved for adult patients with CP-CML resistant to and/or intolerant of first- and second-generation TKIs. It remains investigational in other parts of the world.

Reference

1. Jabbour E, Oehler VG, Koller PB, et al. Olverembatinib after failure of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including ponatinib or asciminib: a phase 1b randomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol 2024. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.5157

About Ascentage Pharma

Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a global, integrated biopharmaceutical company engaged in discovering, developing and commercializing therapies to address global unmet medical needs primarily in malignancies. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK.

The company has built a rich pipeline of innovative drug candidates that includes novel, highly potent Bcl-2 and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation TKIs. Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company has conducted more than 40 clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China, including 13 registrational studies (completed/ ongoing/planned).

Olverembatinib, the company’s first lead asset developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and the company’s first approved product in China, has been granted Priority Review Designations and Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). To date, the drug had been included into the China National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Furthermore, olverembatinib has been granted Orphan Drug Designations (ODDs) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EMA of the EU.

To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 16 ODDs from the US FDA and 1 Orphan Designation from the EMA of the EU for 4 of the company’s investigational drug candidates. Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships and other relationships with numerous leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies such as Takeda, AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer and Innovent; and research and development relationships with leading research institutions such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, National Cancer Institute and the University of Michigan.

The company has built a talented team with a wealth of global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs and fully functional commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients.

On November 21, 2024 CNSide Diagnostics, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Plus Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSTV) ("Plus" or the "Company"), reported it will present data demonstrating the utility of the CNSide CSF Assay Platform in identifying mutations of key biomarkers in the CSF and their implications in treatment selection for LM (Press release, Plus Therapeutics, NOV 21, 2024, View Source [SID1234648555]). The data will be presented at the 2024 Society for NeuroOncology (SNO) Annual Meeting November 21-24 in Houston, Texas.

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"The data from CNSide suggests that biomarker mutation profiles in LM are dynamic, offering valuable insights for treatment strategies," said Marc H. Hedrick, M.D., Plus Therapeutics’ President and Chief Executive Officer. "The genetic drift observed in LM suggests an important role for radiotherapeutics such as Rhenium (186Re) Obisbemeda in addressing this challenging disease."

Key highlights:

CNSide CSF Assay evaluated 258 CSF samples across 66 patients with LM to analyze clinically relevant biomarkers
Fourteen biomarkers were assessed, including 11 by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and 3 by immunocytochemistry (ICC); 12 of the 14 biomarkers demonstrated at least one change during treatment
CNSide CSF FISH analysis detected biomarker changes in 88% (58/66) of patients, with newly identified actionable biomarkers in 26 cases
CNSide CSF ICC analysis revealed biomarker changes in 20% (13/66) of patients, with newly identified actionable biomarkers in 7 cases
The data will be presented on Friday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. CST in a session titled, "The Oncogenic Flip in Patients with Leptomeningeal Metastatic Disease (LMD): Longitudinal Detection in Cerebrospinal Fluid Tumor Cells (CSF-TCs) Reveals Implications for Differential Treatment of the LMD Tumor," by Arushi Tripathy, M.D., from University of Michigan Department of Neurosurgery.

About CNSide Diagnostic, LLC
CNSide Diagnostics, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Plus Therapeutics, Inc. that develops and commercializes proprietary clinical diagnostic laboratory assays, such as CNSide, designed to identify tumor cells that have metastasized to the central nervous system in patients with carcinomas and melanomas. The CNSide Assay Platform enables quantitative analysis and molecular characterization of tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid that inform and improve the clinical management of patients with leptomeningeal metastases. The Company is planning to commercialize CNSide in the U.S. in 2025.

About CNSide Test
The CNSide Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Assay Platform consists of four laboratory developed tests (LDTs) used for diagnosis, treatment selection, and treatment monitoring of patients with Leptomeningeal Metastases (LM) from carcinomas or melanoma. The CNSide platform facilitates tumor cell detection / enumeration and biomarker identification using cellular assays (immunocytochemistry (ICC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)) and molecular assays (next generation sequencing (NGS)). The CNSide CSF tumor cell enumeration LDT is currently being used in the ReSPECT-LM trial as an exploratory endpoint and is currently anticipated to become commercially available in 2025.

About Leptomeningeal Metastases (LM)

LM is a rare complication of cancer in which the primary cancer spreads to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and leptomeninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. All malignancies originating from solid tumors, primary brain tumors, or hematological malignancies have this LM complication potential with breast cancer as the most common cancer linked to LM, with 3-5% of breast cancer patients developing LM. Additionally, lung cancer, GI cancers and melanoma can also spread to the CSF and result in LM. LM occurs in approximately 5% of people with cancer and is usually terminal with 1-year and 2-year survival of just 7% and 3%, respectively. The incidence of LM is on the rise, partly because cancer patients are living longer and partly because many standard chemotherapies cannot reach sufficient concentrations in the spinal fluid to kill the tumor cells, yet there are no FDA-approved therapies specifically for LM patients, who often succumb to this complication within weeks to several months, if untreated.

About Rhenium (186Re) obisbemeda

Rhenium (186Re) obisbemeda is a novel injectable radiotherapy specifically formulated to deliver direct targeted high dose radiation in CNS tumors in a safe, effective, and convenient manner to optimize patient outcomes. Rhenium (186Re) obisbemeda has the potential to reduce off target risks and improve outcomes for CNS cancer patients, versus currently approved therapies, with a more targeted and potent radiation dose. Rhenium-186 is an ideal radioisotope for CNS therapeutic applications due to its short half-life, beta energy for destroying cancerous tissue, and gamma energy for real-time imaging. Rhenium (186Re) obisbemeda is being evaluated for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma and leptomeningeal metastases in the ReSPECT-GBM and ReSPECT-LM clinical trials. ReSPECT-GBM is supported by an award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), and ReSPECT-LM is funded by a three-year $17.6M grant by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).