PhotonPharma Inc. CEO to Present Novel Autologous Treatment Platform at Premier Cancer Immunotherapy Conference

On October 1, 2025 PhotonPharma , a cancer immunotherapy company developing a scalable autologous therapy platform, Innocell, reported that CEO and Chief Scientific Officer Raymond Goodrich, PhD, will present at the 2nd Annual Personalized Cancer Vaccine Summit taking place November 18-20, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts (Press release, PhotonPharma, OCT 1, 2025, View Source [SID1234656385]).

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Dr. Goodrich will deliver two featured presentations showcasing PhotonPharma’s innovative approach to personalized cancer immunotherapies:

"Developing a Practical & Scalable Autologous Vaccine Manufacturing Platform Using Whole Tumor Cells to Enable Real-World Application of Personalized Immunotherapy" – This presentation will detail how PhotonPharma is adapting pathogen reduction technology to manufacture metabolically active, non-replicating tumor cells for autologous immunotherapy, significantly simplifying production while preserving immunogenic function.

"Activating the Immune System with Whole-Tumor Vaccines: Harnessing Shared & Neoantigens to Remodel the Tumor Microenvironment" – Dr. Goodrich will present preclinical data demonstrating how PhotonPharma’s whole tumor cell platform stimulates immune responses by combining shared tumor-associated antigens and patient-specific neoantigens in a single vaccine format.

"We’re excited to share our progress in developing a truly scalable manufacturing platform to potentially deliver personalized cancer immunotherapies" said Dr. Terry Opgenorth, Chairman of the Board. "Our approach addresses the key challenges facing the field – manufacturing speed, cost-effectiveness, and broad tumor coverage – while maintaining the personalized benefits that make these therapies so promising."

The presentations highlight PhotonPharma’s unique manufacturing workflow that streamlines the process from tumor resection to reinjection, reducing turnaround time and improving reproducibility. The technology platform’s initial indication targets patients with relapsed ovarian cancer.

About the Personalized Cancer Vaccine Summit

The 2nd Annual Personalized Cancer Vaccine Summit brings together 80+ senior executives from leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to address critical challenges in personalized cancer vaccine development. The event features presentations from industry leaders including Moderna, Merck, BioNTech, and Genentech, alongside innovative companies developing next-generation platforms across mRNA, peptide, viral, and cellular modalities.

Sysmex Partners with QIAGEN for Exclusive Distribution and Supply of Clinical Diagnostic Products in Infectious Diseases and Oncology in Japan

On October 1, 2025 Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; President: Kaoru Asano) and QIAGEN K.K. (HQ: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President and Representative Director: Xunlong Lin; "QIAGEN"), the Japanese subsidiary of QIAGEN N.V., reported that they entered into a strategic alliance agreement for clinical diagnostic products in the field of molecular diagnosis1 on September 30, 2025 (Press release, Sysmex, OCT 1, 2025, View Source [SID1234656384]).

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This agreement marks the enhancement of collaboration between the two companies in the field of clinical diagnostics based on the global alliance agreement signed in 2024. Sysmex and QIAGEN will now partner for distribution for QIAGEN’s clinical diagnostic instruments, reagents, and other products in the field of infectious diseases and oncology for Japan, and will promote their introduction into the Japanese medical institution and testing center markets.

Sysmex and QIAGEN N.V. have built a successful partnership over 10 years, based on collaboration utilizing the strengths of both parties. In 2024, the two companies signed a strategic alliance agreement for clinical diagnostic products, including those in the field of genetic testing, further deepening their collaboration.

The two companies have now concluded an exclusive agreement for the distribution and supply of QIAGEN’s clinical diagnostic instruments, reagents, and other products for infectious diseases and oncology in the Japanese market. With this agreement, in addition to the sale of existing cancer genetic companion diagnostic products2, they will establish a sales collaboration in the field of infectious diseases, which accounts for roughly half of the total genetic testing market in this country.3

They will initially begin by handling existing products for clinical testing, including cancer molecular diagnostics and tuberculosis testing involving the market-leading QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test4 in the Japanese market, and will subsequently consider expanding the product lineup. By distributing the products of QIAGEN, a leader in the field of infectious diseases based on a broad platform of molecular diagnostic technologies, through Sysmex, which has a robust sales network for clinical testing products, the two companies aim to deliver products tailored to customer needs as quickly as possible to customers and to deliver more appropriate services more effectively.

Under the global strategic alliance agreement, Sysmex and QIAGEN will continue to strengthen their partnership by expanding their collaborative framework for product sales and exploring joint R&D initiatives that leverage the technological foundation of both companies. The two companies will contribute to improving patients’ quality of life and realizing optimal healthcare by developing and promoting high-value products globally.

OmniaBio Inc. and BrainChild Bio Announce Collaboration to Accelerate CAR-T Cell therapy Development in Brain Cancer

On October 1, 2025 OmniaBio Inc., a next generation contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) pioneering the manufacturing of cell and gene therapies (CGT) with robotics and artificial intelligence, and BrainChild Bio Inc, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies to treat solid tumors in the central nervous system, reported their collaboration aimed at manufacturing BrainChild Bio’s pivotal clinical trial therapeutic candidate BCB-276 (Press release, OmniaBio, OCT 1, 2025, View Source [SID1234656383]).

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BrainChild Bio is a kids-first biotechnology company, prioritizing treatments for pediatric brain tumors, with a pipeline that extends the technology platform to adult indications, including glioblastoma and brain metastases. BCB-276 represents a significant advance in the fight against pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare, aggressive, and universally fatal brain cancer with limited treatment options and a median overall survival of less than 1 year according to the International DIPG/DMG Registry. This innovative autologous CAR-T therapy utilizes a patient’s own immune system by re-engineering their T-cells to recognize and kill cancer cells.

BrainChild Bio is preparing to advance BCB-276 in a Phase 2 multi-center, pivotal registration trial to support a potential Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. FDA for the treatment of children and young adults with DIPG. Manufacturing for BCB-276 will take place at the OmniaBio CGT production facility based in Hamilton, Ontario.

"We’re proud to partner with BrainChild Bio, a company that exemplifies patient-centered innovation in pediatric oncology," said Michael May, President and CEO of OmniaBio. "While many CAR-T developers have solely prioritized clinical outcomes, often leaving manufacturing and supply considerations for later, BrainChild is redefining that approach—placing much needed emphasis on reliability, affordability, and thus patient access by working with OmniaBio."

Steven Brugger, CEO of BrainChild Bio added, "Establishing a scalable and reliable manufacturing pathway is critical for the success of our CAR-T therapy programs. OmniaBio’s deep expertise, commitment to our needs, and advanced facilities make them an ideal partner. This strategic collaboration will significantly augment our ability to scale production and provide reliable and efficient supply for clinical timelines, ultimately bringing hope to patients suffering from devastating brain tumors."

The collaboration will focus on the process development and GMP manufacturing of BrainChild Bio’s lead autologous CAR-T therapy candidate. Both companies anticipate expanding the scope of their collaboration to include additional programs as BrainChild Bio’s pipeline advances.

Neogap strengthens global IP position with Chinese patent for T cell expansion method

On October 1, 2025 Neogap Therapeutics AB, a Swedish biotechnology company developing personalised cancer immunotherapy, reported it has been granted a Chinese patent for its method of expanding tumour-specific T cells – a key component of the company’s therapeutic approach (Press release, Neogap Therapeutics, OCT 1, 2025, View Source,c4243370 [SID1234656382]). The grant strengthens Neogap’s international IP position and supports its long-term strategy to protect and advance its proprietary technologies globally.

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The Chinese patent covers a process used to produce Neogap’s personalised cell-based immunotherapy, pTTL, which is currently under evaluation in a Phase I/II clinical trial for advanced colorectal cancer.

This patent provides legal protection in China until 2038 and further strengthens Neogap’s international intellectual property portfolio in a strategically important market for advanced therapies. China is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing life science markets, making this grant an important step in the company’s global IP strategy.

It follows the grant of an equivalent patent in Europe in 2023, along with other IP approvals in Europe and other key markets, and the classification of pTTL as an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) by the European Medicines Agency. These developments reflect Neogap’s coordinated strategy to protect its key technologies and strengthen the company’s position as clinical work progresses.

"This patent protects our core method for producing tumour-specific T cells, which underpins Neogap’s immunotherapy," says Samuel Svensson, CEO of Neogap Therapeutics.

"Strong international IP protection is critical as we advance in clinical development – not only to enable future partnerships, but to reinforce the global credibility of our technology. Patent protection in China, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing life science markets, also supports our long-term ambition to deliver innovative therapies for patients with hard-to-treat cancer."

The patented method enables the ex vivo expansion of tumour-specific T cells by exposing them to selected antigens, facilitating the production of therapeutic cell populations with improved tumour reactivity. The method forms part of Neogap’s proprietary EpiTCer technology, and has previously been granted patent protection in Europe.

Kura Oncology and Kyowa Kirin Launch Clinical Trial Evaluating Dual Inhibition of NPM1 and FLT3 Mutations in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

On October 1, 2025 Kura Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: KURA) and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (TSE: 4151, "Kyowa Kirin") reported dosing of the first patient in a cohort of the KOMET-007 clinical trial (NCT05735184) (Press release, Kura Oncology, OCT 1, 2025, View Source [SID1234656381]). This cohort evaluates ziftomenib, a once-daily, investigational oral menin inhibitor, combined with cytarabine and daunorubicin (7+3) as well as quizartinib, for patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Despite recent advances, including regulatory approvals of FLT3 inhibitors such as quizartinib, patients with FLT3/NPM1 co-mutations face a high risk of relapse and limited durable treatment options. Ziftomenib is the only menin inhibitor to have received Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory NPM1-mutated AML.

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"Patients with FLT3/NPM1 co-mutated AML, a significant subset of newly diagnosed cases, face high relapse rates and limited durable treatment options," said Mollie Leoni, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Kura Oncology. "Preclinical data demonstrate that ziftomenib synergizes with FLT3 inhibitors such as quizartinib, potentially enhancing activity without increasing toxicity. The KOMET-007 trial, alongside our recently launched KOMET-017 registrational trial combining ziftomenib with intensive and non-intensive chemotherapy, reflects our commitment to integrating menin inhibition across AML treatment regimens to improve patient outcomes."

"Initiation of the FLT3 inhibitor cohort in the KOMET-007 trial marks a pivotal advancement in addressing the urgent needs of patients with FLT3/NPM1 co-mutated AML," said Takeyoshi Yamashita, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Kyowa Kirin. "FLT3 mutations play a critical role in AML, driving aggressive leukemia cell proliferation, leading to poor prognosis, higher relapse rates, and shorter overall survival. Kyowa Kirin is proud to collaborate with Kura Oncology to advance this innovative menin inhibitor combination, aiming to improve outcomes for AML patients throughout the continuum of care."

The trial arm will evaluate safety, tolerability and activity of intensive chemotherapy and quizartinib in combination with ziftomenib in adult patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD / NPM1 co-mutated AML. Primary and secondary endpoints include complete remission (CR) and composite complete remission (CRc). More information regarding this trial arm and the KOMET-007 trial is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT05735184).

Ziftomenib is currently under clinical development, and its safety and efficacy have not been established by any regulatory authority.