On February 10, 2025 IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDYA), a precision medicine oncology company committed to the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics, reported the appointment of Joshua Bleharski, Ph.D. as Chief Financial Officer (Press release, Ideaya Biosciences, FEB 10, 2025, View Source [SID1234650144]). Dr. Bleharski joins IDEAYA from J.P. Morgan, where he spent nearly 17 years advising clients in the biopharma sector on capital markets transactions, corporate strategy and other investment banking services. IDEAYA anticipates that Dr. Bleharski will complete the transition into his new role by early May.

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"We are ecstatic to welcome Josh to IDEAYA as we advance our broad potential first-in-class precision medicine oncology pipeline and build a fully integrated biotechnology company. Josh is a highly accomplished finance executive, with extensive corporate finance, strategy, public financing, and strategic transactions experience that will be invaluable as we drive forward our vision to build the industry leading precision medicine oncology company," said Yujiro S. Hata, President and Chief Executive Officer of IDEAYA Biosciences.

"I am thrilled to be joining IDEAYA during this exciting phase of growth as the company advances 6 potential first-in-class clinical programs and 3 preclinical programs through IND-enabling studies across multiple solid tumor indications. I look forward to working alongside their team of talented, dedicated professionals to realize our collective vision of building a leading precision medicine oncology company focused on scientific innovation and addressing high unmet medical needs in cancer," said Dr. Bleharski.

Prior to IDEAYA, Dr. Bleharski served as a Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Biopharma with J.P. Morgan’s Healthcare Investment Banking group. Over the course of his banking career he advised on numerous financing and strategic transactions representing more than $65 billion of value for biotechnology companies worldwide. Earlier in his career he worked as a Senior Staff Scientist at a private biotechnology company in San Diego and was a post-doctoral fellow at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI) and the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Bleharski holds a BS in Biology from Duke University, a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of California, Los Angeles and an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

On February 10, 2025 Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTH), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative therapies for unmet medical needs, reported its collaboration with OnTargetx R&D Inc. to advance research for its cancer-fighting therapeutic, HT-KIT (Press release, Hoth Therapeutics, FEB 10, 2025, View Source [SID1234650143]). This immunohistochemistry study, conducted in partnership with Charles River Laboratories Montreal ULC, represents a key step in the preclinical development of HT-KIT.

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The study focuses on:

Development and optimization of staining methods for (c-Kit) markers, a critical target in HT-KIT therapeutic mechanism.

Processing and qualitative evaluation of tissue samples by a board-certified pathologist to determine the presence of markers.

Comprehensive reporting and insights to support the continued development of HT-KIT.

"This partnership is instrumental in our efforts to advance HT-KIT, a promising therapeutic aimed at targeting c-Kit in cancer treatments," said Robb Knie, CEO at Hoth Therapeutics. "We are committed to driving innovative solutions that can transform patient care."

The study aligns with Hoth Therapeutics’ mission to accelerate groundbreaking therapies and address unmet medical needs in oncology.

About HT-KIT

HT-KIT is Hoth’s preclinical therapeutic candidate targeting c-Kit, a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in various cancers. This candidate represents a potential advancement in precision oncology therapies.

On February 10, 2025 TC BioPharm (Holdings) PLC ("TC BioPharm" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: TCBP) a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing platform allogeneic gamma-delta T cell therapies for cancer and other indications, reported the first Cohort B patient in the ACHIEVE Phase 2B UK clinical trial, evaluating TCB008 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia, has completed the full dosing regiment (Press release, TC Biopharm, FEB 10, 2025, View Source [SID1234650141]).

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The ACHIEVE trial is an open-label Phase II study dedicated to evaluating the efficacy and safety of TCB008. This trial is focused on assessing the treatment’s effectiveness and tolerability on patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS/AML) with challenging cases such as refractory or relapsed conditions. Cohort B recruits patients who have achieved remission following previous treatment yet continue to have a detectable or minimal residual disease (MRD).

Recruitment into Cohort B was initiated during the fourth quarter of 2024, ahead of the Company’s anticipated schedule. The first Cohort B patient received their dose in October 2024. The initial Cohort B patient has completed the dosing regiment, receiving all four planned doses of TCB008, and is expected to receive an additional fifth dose. Enrolment of a second Cohort B patient has also been initiated.

The safety objectives and endpoints of ACHIEVE evaluate patient responses to TCB008, including; grading of adverse events experienced and the incidence and severity of cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. In a review of preliminary data, there are no drug-related adverse events following cumulative infusions of TCB008, containing up to a billion cells. These data continue to support the positive safety profile of TCB008 and the ACHIEVE UK study safety objectives and endpoints.

"The ACHIEVE study progressed at an incredible rate in 2024," stated Alison Bracchi, EVP of Clinical Operations. "Thanks to the hard work and dedication of both the TC BioPharm team and Clinical sites, we’ve reached a significant study milestone in under six months. We’re seeing a fantastic safety profile from our initial data review and exciting efficacy signals that indicate cellular recovery and a reduction of inflammation in AML patients. The TC BioPharm team and I are inspired by the progress to date and look forward to sharing further updates on Cohort B."

"The progression of ACHIEVE, with dosing underway in the second cohort, is a key milestone in the clinical development of our gamma delta therapy candidate TCB008. We believe it has potential to serve as an efficacious treatment for AML patients, whom still have significant unmet needs," said Bryan Kobel, CEO of TC BioPharm. "The therapy has been well-tolerated with no unexpected events or toxicities observed and promising efficacy results observed in some patients, with additional data being collected and analyzed. Cohort B is an extremely compelling patient population for TCB008 for many reasons, including patients having a more intact immune system to amplify the impact of TCB008 and the lack of true treatment options for these patients who are unfortunately on a path to relapse. We expect to complete enrolment in the second cohort in the first half of 2025, with data readout anticipated later this year."

On February 10, 2025 Convergent Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of next-generation radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer, reported clinical trial updates for its lead asset, CONV01-α (225Ac-J591), a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted monoclonal antibody linked to actinium-225 (225Ac) (Press release, Convergent Therapeutics, FEB 10, 2025, View Source;at-the-american-society-of-clinical-oncology-asco-genitourinary-cancers-symposium-2025-302372722.html [SID1234650140]). Data will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, which will take place February 13-15, 2025, in San Francisco, California.

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The first presentation, titled "Mature phase 1 follow up of alpha emitter 225Ac-J591 with 177Lu-PSMA-I&T in advanced prostate cancer," reported clinical follow-up of a Phase I dose-escalation trial exploring the addition of CONV01-α to 177Lu-PSMA-I&T, a PSMA-targeted beta emitting small molecule for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The study population presented included 18 patients (six at each dose level of CONV01-α) with progressive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Relatively low doses of CONV01-α were used.

Data showed that the median overall survival was 29.8 months, with 10 patients still alive at the time of submission. Five patients were free from PSA progression at one year including one patient progression-free at 34 months on no active therapy. A decline in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels was seen in 94% of patients, 64% of patients achieved a PSA50 and 28% achieved a PSA90 response. Additionally, circulating tumor cell count changes were seen, with 80% of evaluable patients converting from "unfavorable" to "favorable." High grade adverse events were rare.

"The impressive clinical activity is consistent with our pre-clinical data demonstrating that the antibody/ligand combination delivers a synergistic dose to tumor. Importantly, the synergistic tumor dose is achieved in the absence of additive toxicity due to the non-overlapping normal organ biodistribution of the ligand and antibody. This was also confirmed by the benign safety profile in the trial. The dosimetry and safety profile suggest the potential for additional cycles beyond the two cycles used in this trial. That the overall survival in this trial was double that of the Phase III VISION trial of 177Lu PSMA-617 further increases our enthusiasm for future trials of this combination," said Neil Bander, MD, Convergent’s Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer and Professor Emeritus of Urology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

The second presentation, titled "CONVERGE-01: Dosimetry, randomized dose optimization, dose escalation, and efficacy of Ac-225 rosopatamab tetraxetan in participants with PSMA-positive castration-resistant prostate cancer," is a "Trials in Progress" presentation of the three-part company sponsored Phase II trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of CONV01-α (225Ac-J591) monotherapy in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer. Philip Kantoff, MD, Co-Founder and CEO said, "CONVERGE-01 is intended to confirm the high response rate and durability of CONV01-a monotherapy and solidify the path forward to our pivotal trial."

About CONV01-α
CONV01-α, Convergent’s alpha-emitting radioantibody, combines the precision and pharmacokinetics of antibodies with the tumor-killing potential of alpha-emitting radionuclides. Specifically, CONV01-α uses a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted at prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is highly overexpressed in prostate cancer cells. Since PSMA is a validated target, several therapeutics are directed at this antigen, and CONV01-α is differentiated by its use of both an antibody and alpha emitter. CONV01-α is linked to a powerful radionuclide called Ac-225, which releases alpha particles that kill cancer cells through DNA double-strand breaks. Unlike other radioactive sources, alpha particles deliver high-energy radiation over very short distances, thereby minimizing radiation exposure to healthy neighboring cells and tissues. Pairing highly selective antibodies with such a powerful, yet precise, payload offers the ideal combination to treat many types of cancers. Convergent Therapeutics is currently enrolling into the CONVERGE-01 Phase II monotherapy trial to confirm the high response rate, durability and safety of CONV01-a pre and post radioligand beta.

On February 10, 2025 Beyond Air, Inc. (NASDAQ: XAIR) ("Beyond Air" or the "Company"), a commercial stage medical device and biopharmaceutical company focused on harnessing the power of nitric oxide (NO) to improve the lives of patients, reported its financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2024, and provided a corporate update (Press release, Beyond Air, FEB 10, 2025, View Source [SID1234650139]).

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"Our commercial team continues to make significant progress as we expand the number of U.S. hospitals utilizing LungFit PH. While this is the culmination of years of work, it was approximately nine months ago that we started to make significant headway in our commercial efforts with the fully updated system. We expect to continue generating double digit sequential quarterly revenue growth for the foreseeable future," said Steve Lisi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Beyond Air.

"We ended calendar year 2024 on a high note with the receipt of CE Mark for LungFit PH in Europe, opening a significant portion of the global market outside of the U.S. for our current and future distribution partners to launch their commercial programs for LungFit PH. With the advantage of real-world customer experience and feedback from our U.S. program, combined with our distribution partners’ established sales teams and customer networks, we anticipate a faster commercial ramp-up in these regions compared to what we experienced in the U.S.," concluded Mr. Lisi.

Commercial Execution, Portfolio Highlights and Upcoming Milestones

LungFit PH Commercial Execution
Increased demand for LungFit PH:
A 34% increase in revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared with the quarter ended September 30, 2024
Six new hospital starts in the U.S. in the quarter ended December 31, 2024
Received market authorization in Australia in January 2025 and expect to have regulatory approvals in eight countries covered under the partnership with Getz Healthcare by calendar year-end, with initial commercial shipments occurring in 2025.
Signed partnerships with two distributors in the Middle East in January 2025, with initial shipments expected in the 1H of calendar year 2025.
Pipeline Highlights
Received CE Mark for LungFit PH, which allows Beyond Air to market LungFit PH in the European Union and all other countries that recognize this certification.
Indications under CE Mark certification include:
The treatment of infants >34 weeks gestation with hypoxic respiratory failure associated with clinical or echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension, in order to improve oxygenation and to reduce the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; and
The treatment of peri- and post-operative pulmonary hypertension in adults and newborn infants, infants and toddlers, children and adolescents, ages 0-17 years in conjunction to heart surgery, in order to selectively decrease pulmonary arterial pressure and improve right ventricular function
CE Mark certification triggered a $1 million milestone payment, payable in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025, from the Company’s Asia-Pacific partner, Getz Healthcare, the leading distributor of medical equipment, devices and consumables in Asia Pacific region – providing access to hospitals in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore and Vietnam
Beyond Air will also receive double-digit royalty payments based on LungFit PH net sales by Getz Healthcare
Cardiac surgery PMA supplement review ongoing at FDA
Currently no FDA approved nitric oxide system is labeled for cardiac surgery
Approval should increase LungFit PH’s rate of market penetration
LungFit PH transport-ready PMA supplement submission to FDA anticipated in the coming months
Beyond Cancer – Solid Tumor Program

Clinical Development Execution
Phase 1a trial (monotherapy) – Part A of the trial evaluating ultra-high concentration Nitric Oxide (UNO) therapy in subjects with advanced, relapsed or refractory unresectable, primary or metastatic cutaneous and subcutaneous solid tumors at a dose of 25,000 ppm has been completed, and at the dose of 50,000 ppm is ongoing.
Phase 1b trial (combination therapy) – Received regulatory approval in Israel for Part B of the trial, which will assess the intratumoral administration of 25,000 ppm low volume (LV) Nitric Oxide (UNO) in patients with unresectable cutaneous or subcutaneous histologically confirmed primary or metastatic lesions, who have shown disease progression or prolonged stable disease (12 weeks) after receiving a single agent anti-PD-1 containing treatment. Topline data from the Phase 1b portion of the study are anticipated late in calendar 2025 or early-2026.
NeuroNOS – Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Program

NeuroNOS appointed Professor Roger D. Kornberg to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Kornberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2006 for his groundbreaking work in molecular biology and is a renowned leader in the field of eukaryotic gene transcription. Professor Kornberg will assist NeuroNOS in accelerating the development of treatments for ASD and potentially other neurological disorders.
Financial Results for the Fiscal Third Quarter Ended December 31, 2024

Revenues for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024 were $1.1 million compared to $0.4 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023 and $0.8 million for the previous quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Cost of revenue of $1.3 million was recognized for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $0.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Cost of revenue exceeded revenue primarily driven by depreciation of LungFit devices and one-time upgrade costs to systems.

Research and development expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2024 were $3.0 million as compared to $6.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. The decrease of $3.8 million was primarily attributed to a decrease in salaries, stock-based compensation and to a lesser extent from clinical and pre-clinical studies expenses.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $7.7 million and $9.8 million, respectively. The decrease of $2.1 million was attributed primarily to a reduction in salaries and stock-based compensation cost.

Other expense for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was $2.4 million compared to $0.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. The increase in other expense of $2.1 million was mainly due to a non-cash loss recorded upon the retirement of the Avenue Capital debt.

Cash burn in the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024, excluding the impacts of financing and the extinguishment of debt, was $7.6 million.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company reported cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $10.9 million, and total debt outstanding of $11.8 million. Debt repayment does not begin until October 2026. The Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, along with its cash conservation strategy and anticipated revenue growth are expected to provide sufficient cash runway to support current operating plans well into calendar 2026.

Conference Call & Webcast
Monday, February 10th @ 4:30 PM ET

Domestic: 1-877-407-0784
International: 1-201-689-8560
Conference ID: 13750714
Webcast: A webcast of the live conference call can be accessed by visiting the Events section of the Company’s website (click here) or directly (click here). An online recording of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website or via the direct link an hour after the call.