On August 1, 2019 Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCT), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing potential first-in-class product candidates for cancers with critical unmet medical need, reported that it will report second quarter 2019 financial results after the market closes on Thursday, August 8, 2019 (Press release, Oncternal Therapeutics, AUG 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234538094]). Oncternal’s management will host a webcast and conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT (5:00 p.m. EDT) to discuss the Company’s financial results and provide a comprehensive business update.

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A live webcast of the call will be available online via a link from the investor relations page of the Company’s website at www.oncternal.com, and the call will be archived there for at least 30 days.

On August 1, 2019 Rakuten Medical, Inc., a clinical-stage, global biotechnology company developing precision-targeted cancer therapies based on its proprietary Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) platform, reported that it has raised approximately US $100 million on July 31, 2019, in a Series C-1 Preferred Stock financing from Rakuten, Inc., a global leader in internet services headquartered in Japan (Press release, Rakuten Medical, AUG 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234538083]). This investment is increasing Rakuten’s equity share of Rakuten Medical to 22.6 percent.

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Rakuten Medical intends to use the additional injection of capital to expand the development of the company’s oncology-focused PIT platform, strengthen its business and commercial functions, and provide resources to further identify and evaluate new investigational compounds and indications for the potential treatment of other types of cancers using PIT.

"The additional investment from Rakuten solidifies our commitment to accelerating Rakuten Medical’s business and commercial development," said Mickey Mikitani, chairman and CEO of Rakuten Medical. "I believe we can cultivate a sustainable health care ecosystem to provide patients with safe and easy access to, and better care in, the treatment of cancer, regardless of their nationality or income. Culturally, the technology industry has revolutionized society by being bold, action-driven and innovative; and we hope to do the same at Rakuten Medical by exploring opportunities that will combine Rakuten’s technology expertise with Rakuten Medical’s first-in-class Photoimmunotherapy platform."

Based on the additional investment, Rakuten Medical will become an equity-method affiliate of Rakuten in the third quarter of this fiscal year.

About Photoimmunotherapy
Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) is an investigational, anti-cancer treatment platform that is comprised of a drug and device combination that utilizes monoclonal antibodies conjugated to a dye (IRDye 700DX). Transient excitation of IRDye 700Dx with non-thermal red light (690 nm) is believed to result in anti-cancer activity, which is mediated by biophysical processes that may compromise the membrane integrity of cells. The requirement of targeted binding of antibody-IR700 conjugate to a specific antigen on the cell surface and subsequent illumination is believed to result in rapid and selective cell killing and tumor necrosis with minimal effects on surrounding normal tissue. PIT may also lead to the systemic induction of innate and adaptive immunity.

On August 1, 2019 Bracco Imaging reported that it has completed the acquisition of Blue Earth Diagnostics, a molecular imaging company based in Oxford, UK, from leading healthcare company Syncona Ltd. and Blue Earth Diagnostics’ management team (Press release, Blue Earth Diagnostics, AUG 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234538079]).

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Blue Earth Diagnostics is now officially a subsidiary of Bracco Imaging, led by its current leadership team and will retain the well-established Blue Earth Diagnostics name, and HQ in Oxford, UK, while maintaining a significant and operational presence across the US, based in Boston, Massachutes.

"We are thrilled to officially welcome to Bracco this world-class team with exceptional product development and commercialization expertise." said Fulvio Renoldi Bracco, Chief Executive Officer, Bracco Imaging. "Our new relationship will enable both companies to realize their full potential by significantly broadening our combined portfolio in precision medicine and personalized diagnostics, while expanding our range of nuclear oncology imaging solutions in the Urology segment and other specialties."

"Now begins the next stage in our adventure, as Blue Earth Diagnostics, a Bracco company,", said Jonathan Allis, Chief Executive Officer at Blue Earth Diagnostics, "I am certain that it will be an exciting and meaningful one. We have the opportunity to work together with a world’s leading company in the diagnostic imaging business, to advance research and provide products that can make a meaningful difference in even more patients’ lives than ever before."

Blue Earth Diagnostics employs approximately 100 people and is expected to generate revenues of $140M in the year to September 2019, primarily in the US.

Copy of the Bracco press release announcement acquisition and other corporate information can be found at: View Source

On August 1, 2019 MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ: MNKD) reported that it will release its 2019 second quarter and year-to-date financial results and its management will host a conference call to discuss the financial results and corporate updates at 5:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 (Press release, Mannkind, AUG 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234538073]).

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Presenting from the Company will be its Chief Executive Officer, Michael Castagna and Chief Financial Officer, Steven Binder.

To participate in the live call by telephone, please dial (866) 548-4713 or (323) 794-2093 and use the participant passcode: 8241782. Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the Internet may do so by visiting the Company’s website at View Source under News & Events.

A telephone replay of the call will be accessible for approximately 14 days following completion of the call by dialing (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671 and use the participant passcode: 8241782. A replay will also be available on MannKind’s website for 14 days.

On August 1, 2019 Ziopharm Oncology, Inc. ("Ziopharm") (Nasdaq: ZIOP), reported that it has entered into an agreement with existing investors for the exercise of previously issued warrants to purchase common stock in a private placement that is expected to result in gross proceeds to Ziopharm of approximately $45 million, before deducting placement agent and other offering expenses (Press release, Ziopharm, AUG 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234538072]). The private placement, which strengthens Ziopharm’s balance sheet and provides capital to fund operations into 2021, is being led by existing stockholder, MSD Partners, L.P.

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Pursuant to the terms of the securities issuance agreement, at the closing of the private placement, the investors have agreed to exercise their warrants for an aggregate of 15,015,152 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $3.01 per share. The warrants being exercised were originally issued by Ziopharm in a private placement Ziopharm closed in November 2018

Concurrently, in this private placement, Ziopharm will issue new warrants to purchase up to 15,015,152 additional shares of common stock. The warrants will become exercisable six months following the date of issuance, will expire on the fifth anniversary of the initial exercise date and have an exercise price of $7.00.

The private placement is expected to close on or about July 30, 2019, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Additional details regarding the private placement will be included in a Form 8-K to be filed by Ziopharm with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

The warrants to be issued in the private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Accordingly, these securities 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. As part of the private placement, Ziopharm has agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC for the purpose of registering the resale of the shares of Ziopharm common stock to be issued in the private placement as well as the shares of Ziopharm common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Any offering of the securities under the resale registration statement will only be by means of a prospectus.