Nuvalent, Inc. announced the initiation of ALKAZAR

On July 21, 2025, Nuvalent, Inc. reported the initiation of ALKAZAR, its Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating neladalkib for TKI-naïve patients with advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer, versus ALECENSA, a front-line standard of care, with the dosing of the first patient in the trial (Press release, Nuvalent, JUL 21, 2025, View Source [SID1234654453]).

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iTeos Therapeutics Enters into Agreement to Be Acquired by Concentra Biosciences for $10.047 in Cash per Share Plus a Contingent Value Right

On July 21, 2025 iTeos Therapeutics, Inc. ("iTeos") (Nasdaq: ITOS) reported that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement whereby Concentra Biosciences, LLC ("Concentra") will acquire iTeos for $10.047 in cash per share of iTeos common stock par value $0.001 per share ("iTeos Common Stock"), plus one non-transferable contingent value right ("CVR"), which represents the right to receive: (i) 100% of the closing net cash of iTeos in excess of $475 million; and (ii) 80% of any net proceeds received from any disposition of certain of iTeos’ product candidates that occurs within six months following the closing (such cash and CVR consideration, the "Offer Consideration") (Press release, iTeos Therapeutics, JUL 21, 2025, View Source [SID1234654452]).

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Following a strategic review process conducted with the assistance of iTeos’ management and legal and financial advisors, the iTeos board of directors has unanimously determined that the acquisition by Concentra is in the best interests of all iTeos stockholders and has approved the merger agreement and related transactions.

Pursuant and subject to the terms of the merger agreement, Concentra will commence a tender offer by August 1, 2025, to acquire all outstanding shares of iTeos common stock for the Offer Consideration. The closing of the offer is subject to certain conditions, including the tender of a number of shares of iTeos common stock that, together with shares of iTeos Common Stock owned by Concentra or its affiliates, represents at least a majority of the total number of outstanding shares, the availability of at least $475 million of cash (net of transaction costs and other liabilities) at closing, and other customary closing conditions. Immediately following the closing of the offer, iTeos will be acquired by Concentra, and all remaining shares not tendered in the offer, other than shares owned directly or indirectly by iTeos, Concentra or a subsidiary thereof, or a holder who properly demands appraisal, will be converted into the right to receive the same Offer Consideration per share of iTeos Common Stock as is provided in the offer. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.

Advisors

TD Cowen is acting as exclusive financial advisor to iTeos and Ropes & Gray LLP is acting as legal counsel to iTeos. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is acting as legal counsel to Concentra.

Compugen Announces First Patient Dosed in COM701 Global Platform Trial in Platinum Sensitive Ovarian Cancer

On July 21, 2025 Compugen Ltd. (Nasdaq: CGEN) (TASE: CGEN), a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company and a pioneer in predictive computational target discovery powered by AI/ML, reported that the first patient was dosed in the global randomized sub-trial 1 of adaptive platform trial, MAIA-ovarian (which stands for MAintenance Immunotherapy with an Anti-PVRIG antibody), evaluating maintenance therapy with single agent COM701, a potential first-in-class anti-PVRIG antibody in patients with relapsed platinum sensitive ovarian cancer (Press release, Compugen, JUL 21, 2025, View Source [SID1234654451]).

"We are delighted to advance the development of COM701 as a maintenance therapy for patients with relapsed platinum sensitive ovarian cancer, potentially addressing a significant unmet medical need," said Anat Cohen-Dayag, Ph.D., President, and CEO of Compugen. "This global trial is underpinned by a strong biological rationale, with high PVRIG pathway expression levels observed in ovarian cancer. In addition, clinical data showed that COM701 in triple combination with PD-1 and TIGIT blockade achieved durable responses and was well tolerated in patients with heavily pre-treated platinum resistant ovarian cancer typically not responding to immunotherapy. A response of greater than 18 months was also achieved in a patient treated with COM701 as a single agent."

Dr. Cohen-Dayag continued, "Based on historical data, we anticipate the benchmark for progression-free survival to be around six months and consider a three-month improvement over placebo to be clinically meaningful for these patients. An interim analysis of sub-trial 1 of MAIA-ovarian is planned to take place in the second half of 2026. We believe positive data could inform a registration path for COM701 monotherapy and an opportunity to combine COM701 with other agents, broadening COM701’s opportunities within the ovarian cancer population."

Ruth Peres, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Oncologist in the Division of Oncology, Head of Women’s Cancers Research Lab and Head of Phase 1 Clinical Trials in the Clinical Research Institute at Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel, added, "There is a need for drugs that provide durable responses and a favorable safety profile as maintenance therapy in patients with platinum sensitive ovarian cancer who respond to chemotherapy, but who are not candidates for bevacizumab or PARP inhibitors. We are delighted to be the first site to dose a patient in this sub-trial designed to evaluate if COM701 as a single agent can delay disease progression in these patients."

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About MAIA-ovarian

(MAintenance Immunotherapy with an Anti-PVRIG antibody: COM701, as maintenance monotherapy or combination therapy in patients with relapsed platinum sensitive ovarian cancer.)

MAIA-ovarian is a global adaptive platform trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of COM701 as maintenance monotherapy or combination therapy in patients with relapsed platinum sensitive ovarian cancer. The purpose of sub-trial 1 is to assess if COM701 delays the progression of ovarian cancer in patients with relapsed platinum sensitive ovarian cancer and further assess its safety profile in this disease setting. The adaptive-platform design enables additional sub-trials. Sub-trial 1 is a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial in which 60 patients will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to COM701 or placebo. Subsequent sub-trials may evaluate COM701 in combination with other anticancer drugs. For more information about this trial, visit clinicaltrials.gov, NCT06888921.

ArriVent’s Topline Pivotal Phase 3 FURVENT Data for Firmonertinib in First-Line NSCLC EGFR Exon20 Insertion Mutations is Projected to be Early 2026

On July 21, 2025 ArriVent BioPharma, Inc. (Company or ArriVent) (Nasdaq: AVBP), a clinical-stage company dedicated to accelerating the global development of innovative biopharmaceutical therapeutics, reported that topline firmonertinib monotherapy data from the global pivotal FURVENT Phase 3 (NCT05607550) study in first-line EGFR exon20 insertion mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is projected to be in early 2026 (Press release, ArriVent Biopharma, JUL 21, 2025, View Source [SID1234654448]). The primary endpoint will assess progression free survival (PFS) by blinded independent central review (BICR) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. In the first quarter of 2025, the study completed enrollment across global sites.

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About FURVENT

FURVENT is a global, pivotal 3 arm Phase 3 clinical trial of firmonertinib in first-line non-squamous locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC patients with exon 20 insertion mutations being conducted jointly with our partner Allist. The FURVENT clinical trial is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of firmonertinib administered at either 160 mg or 240 mg, once-daily with each dose being compared to platinum-based chemotherapy with pemetrexed, the current first-line standard of care. The primary endpoint of this study is PFS by BICR per RECIST 1.1. Seconday endpoints in patients with brain metastases at baseline include brain-specific CNS overall response rate (CNS-ORR) and CNS-PFS by modified RECIST (mRECIST). The study enrolled 398 patients globally, including from sites in the United States, Europe and certain Asian countries including Japan and China.

About Firmonertinib

Firmonertinib is an oral, highly brain-penetrant, and broadly active mutation-selective epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor active against both classical and uncommon EGFR mutations, including PACC and exon 20 insertion mutations. In March 2021, firmonertinib was approved in China for first-line advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR exon 19 deletion or L858R mutations and for patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR T790M mutation, otherwise known as EGFR classical mutations.

Firmonertinib was granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. Firmonertinib was also granted U.S. FDA Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of NSCLC with EGFR mutations or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) mutations or HER4 mutations.

Firmonertinib is currently being studied in a global Phase 3 trial for first-line NSCLC patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations (FURVENT; NCT05607550) and in a global Phase 3 study in first line NSCLC patients with EGFR PACC mutations (ALPACCA). In addition, firmonertinib is also being studied in a clinical combination study targeting advanced or metastatic NSCLC patients with EGFR classical mutations, in partnership with Beijing InnoCare Pharma Tech Co., Ltd.

About EGFR mutant NSCLC

Globally, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women. NSCLC is the predominant subtype of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of all cases. Mutational activation of the EGFR is a frequent and early event in the development of NSCLC. EGFR mutations are divided into classical and uncommon. EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations are a group of uncommon EGFR mutations and constitute approximately 9% of all EGFR mutations. PACC mutations are another group of uncommon EGFR mutations and represent approximately 12% of all EGFR mutations. Patients with NSCLC whose tumors harbor uncommon EGFR mutations have significantly lower life expectancy with available therapies and represent an area of unmet medical need.

Amneal Reports Certain Preliminary Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

On July 21, 2025 Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMRX) ("Amneal" or the "Company") reported certain unaudited preliminary financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 (Press release, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, JUL 21, 2025, View Source [SID1234654447]). The Company plans to report actual second quarter 2025 financial results on August 5, 2025.

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Unaudited Preliminary Financial Results for the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2025

Net revenue of $720 million to $730 million, an increase of approximately 3% versus the same period in 2024
Income before income taxes of $45 million to $56 million, versus $20 million in the same period in 2024
Adjusted EBITDA of $180 million to $185 million, an increase of approximately 13% versus the same period in 2024
Gross leverage decreased to 3.8x as of June 30, 2025, compared to 4.1x as of December 31, 2024, and net leverage decreased to 3.7x as of June 30, 2025, compared to 3.9x as of December 31, 2024, due to higher profitability and continued debt reduction
"Amneal continued to deliver robust growth and further deleveraging underscoring the power of our diversified pharmaceutical business. Based on our performance year-to-date and multiple growth drivers, we expect to meet or exceed our full year 2025 guidance. This quarter also marked the U.S. FDA approval of Brekiya autoinjector for the acute treatment of migraine and cluster headache in adults, as well as strong commercial uptake of CREXONT. Finally, we look forward to an expected BLA submission for a proposed biosimilar to XOLAIR in the fourth quarter of 2025. With a strong foundation, a relentless execution focus, and a deep pipeline, Amneal is well-positioned to deliver long-term growth," said Chirag and Chintu Patel, Co-Chief Executive Officers and Co-Founders.

Amneal’s preliminary financial results are based on the most recent information available to the Company’s management. Such preliminary financial results are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ from these preliminary financial results due to the completion of the Company’s financial close procedures, final accounting adjustments and other developments that may arise between the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K and the time that financial results for the second quarter of 2025 are finalized, and such differences may be material. The preliminary financial results for the second quarter of 2025 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be achieved in any future period. The Company presents GAAP and adjusted (non-GAAP) quarterly results. Please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section and the accompanying GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation tables for more information.