On February 13, 2020 Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc., a clinical‐stage immuno-oncology company at the forefront of cell-based oncolytic virus immunotherapies for cancer, reported pre-clinical data on their lead oncolytic virus candidate SNV1 (allogeneic adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells loaded with tumor selective CAL1 vaccinia virus) in a poster presentation at the 2020 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)-SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium (Press release, Calidi Biotherapeutics, FEB 13, 2020, View Source [SID1234554306]).

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SNV1 demonstrated enhanced therapeutic effects when compared to naked vaccinia virus across multiple human cancer cell lines and animal tumor models. "The biggest hurdle in oncolytic virotherapy is the quick elimination of an oncolytic virus by the patient’s immune system," said Boris Minev, MD, President, Medical and Scientific Affairs, Calidi Biotherapeutics. "We presented data documenting potent anti-tumor and immunologic effects not only at the SNV1-injected site, but also at distant non-treated tumor sites. These abscopal effects on non-injected tumors support our premise that Calidi’s proprietary stem cell vehicle and vaccinia virus combination can modulate the tumor microenvironment and activate the immune system making it a powerful combination therapy partner in immuno-oncology. We look forward to exploring partnerships and licensing opportunities with other companies working in this space."

SNV1 was analyzed for its ability to kill cancer cell lines in vitro, and protect and potentiate the oncolytic virus even in the presence of active neutralizing antibodies and complement. SNV1 was also injected intratumorally in various xenograft and syngeneic animal models. Immune cell infiltration of the injected tumors was analyzed by flow cytometry of tumor-derived single cell suspensions. Intratumoral SNV1 treatment showed statistically significant tumor growth inhibition when compared to control (non-treated tumors) or to CAL1 naked virus treatment in all tested syngeneic tumor models (breast, melanoma, colon, and prostate cancers). Importantly, the local administration of SNV1 induced systemic therapeutic effects as well as modulation of local and distant tumor immune infiltration.

The therapeutic premise behind Calidi’s cell-based platform is to protect and potentiate the oncolytic vaccinia virus by circumventing humoral innate and adaptive immune barriers, resulting in enhanced oncolytic virotherapy. These findings provide a fundamental rationale for the development of cell-based platforms to maximize the therapeutic potential of various oncolytic viruses. A copy of the abstract and poster presentation materials can be found in the Publications section of the Calidi Biotherapeutics website.

On February 13, 2019 West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST) reported its financial results for the fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 and introduced full-year 2020 financial guidance (Press release, West Pharmaceutical Services, FEB 13, 2020, View Source [SID1234554305]).

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Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2019 Summary (comparisons to prior-year period)

Fourth-quarter 2019 net sales of $470.6 million grew 11.4%; organic sales growth was 12.7%; sales from a recent acquisition contributed an additional 30 basis points of growth; currency translation reduced sales by 160 basis points.
Full-year 2019 net sales of $1.840 billion grew 7.1%; organic sales growth was 10.0%; sales from a recent acquisition contributed an additional 10 basis points of growth; currency translation reduced sales by 300 basis points.
Fourth-quarter 2019 reported-diluted EPS of $0.84 increased 22%. Full-year 2019 reported-diluted EPS of $3.21 increased 17%.
Fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted-diluted EPS of $0.82 increased 12%. Full-year 2019 adjusted-diluted EPS of $3.24 increased 15%.
Company is introducing full-year 2020 financial guidance of net sales in a range of $1.95 billion to $1.97 billion and reported-diluted EPS in a range of $3.45 to $3.55.
"Adjusted-diluted EPS" and "organic sales growth" are Non-U.S. GAAP measurements. See discussion under the heading "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" in this release.

"I am pleased to report strong fourth-quarter 2019 sales and EPS growth, which continues a trend seen throughout the year," said Eric M. Green, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We had double-digit organic sales growth in all three market units of our Proprietary Products segment. High-value products (HVPs) once again fueled sales growth and gross margin expansion, led by Daikyo and Westar components."

Mr. Green continued, "We are introducing full-year 2020 financial guidance that is in line with our long-term financial construct of organic sales growth and operating margin expansion. Our end markets are stable and growing, and we are off to a good start to 2020 with a strong book of committed orders for our high value products, such as NovaPure and Envision components, as well as Daikyo Crystal Zenith containers and our portfolio of self-injection delivery platforms. Our teams across the globe have demonstrated their passion for customers throughout 2019, with new product and services offerings, and are poised to deliver another strong year of sales and profit growth for our business in 2020."

Proprietary Products Segment
In the fourth-quarter 2019, net sales grew 13.3% to $352.7 million. Organic sales growth was 14.7%, with incremental sales from a recent acquisition contributing 40 basis points of Proprietary Products growth and currency translation decreasing sales by 180 basis points. HVPs represented over 60% of segment sales and generated double-digit organic sales growth.

In the fourth-quarter 2019, the Biologics market unit had strong double-digit organic sales growth, led by customer purchases of Daikyo, Westar and Flurotec components. The Generics market unit posted double-digit organic sales growth, led by sales of Westar components and self-injection delivery platforms. The Pharma market unit had double-digit organic sales growth, led by HVPs and a favorable year-over-year comparison due to the fourth-quarter 2018 financial impact from the previously reported voluntary recall of the Vial2Bag product.

In the full-year 2019, net sales grew 6.9% to $1.399 billion. Organic sales growth was 9.9% with incremental sales from a 2019 acquisition contributing 30 basis points of growth and currency translation decreasing sales by 330 basis points. HVPs represented over 60% of segment sales and generated double-digit organic sales growth.

Contract-Manufactured Products Segment
In the fourth-quarter 2019, net sales grew 5.9% to $117.9 million. Organic sales growth was 7.2% with currency translation decreasing sales by 130 basis points. Segment performance was led by sales of healthcare-related injection and diagnostic devices.

For the full-year 2019, net sales grew 7.9% to $441.5 million. Organic sales growth was 10.2% with currency translation decreasing sales by 230 basis points.

Full-Year 2019 Financial Highlights
Operating cash flow was $367.2 million, an increase of 27%. Capital expenditures were $126.4 million, compared to $104.7 million over the same period last year, and represented 6.9% of full-year 2019 net sales. Free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures) was $240.8 million, an increase of over 30%.

The Company recorded $4.9 million of restructuring and related charges in 2019 from previously announced actions that have streamlined its manufacturing network. This restructuring plan is now considered complete. Implemented in first-quarter 2018, cumulative expenses over the plan period were approximately $14.0 million. The Company anticipates that the plan will provide annualized savings of approximately $14.0 million.

Full-Year 2020 Financial Guidance

The Company expects full-year 2020 net sales guidance to be in a range of $1.95 billion to $1.97 billion.
Organic sales growth is expected to be in the range of 7% to 8%.
Net sales guidance includes an estimated headwind of $15 million for the full-year 2020 based on current foreign exchange rates.
The Company expects full-year 2020 reported-diluted EPS to be in the range of $3.45 to $3.55.
This includes an estimated headwind of approximately $0.04 based on current foreign currency exchange rates.
This reported-diluted EPS guidance range assumes a full-year 2020 tax rate of 24%, which does not include potential tax benefits from stock-based compensation. As in prior years, we are not including potential 2020 tax benefits from stock-based compensation, as they are out of the Company’s control. Any tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation that we receive in 2020 would provide a positive adjustment to our full-year EPS guidance.
Full-year 2020 capital spending is expected to be approximately 7% of expected full-year 2020 net sales.
Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2019 Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss the results and business expectations at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time today. To participate on the call, please dial 877-930-8295 (U.S.) or 253-336-8738 (International). The conference ID is 5587337.

A live broadcast of the conference call will be available at the Company’s website, www.westpharma.com, in the "Investors" section. Management will refer to a slide presentation during the call, which will be made available on the day of the call. To view the presentation, select "Presentations" in the "Investors" section of the Company’s website.

An online archive of the broadcast will be available at the website three hours after the live call and will be available through Thursday, February 20, 2020, by dialing 855-859-2056 (U.S.) or 404-537-3406 (International) and entering conference ID 5587337.

On February 13, 2020 Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCRX) reported that it will report its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019 financial results before the open of the U.S. markets on Thursday, February 20, 2020 (Press release, Pacira Pharmaceuticals, FEB 13, 2020, View Source [SID1234554304]). Following the release, the company will host a live conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET.

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To participate in the conference call, dial 1-877-845-0779 and provide the passcode 8765839. International callers may dial 1-720-545-0035 and use the same passcode. In addition, a live audio of the conference call will be available as a webcast. Interested parties can access the event through the "Events" page on the Pacira website at investor.pacira.com.

For those unable to participate in the live call, a replay will be available at 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) or 1-404-537-3406 (international) using the passcode 8765839. The replay of the call will be available for one week from the date of the live call. The webcast will be available on the Pacira website for approximately two weeks following the call.

On February 13, 2020 XBiotech Inc. (NASDAQ: XBIT) ("XBiotech") reported the preliminary results of its "modified Dutch auction" tender offer, which expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 12, 2020 (Press release, XBiotech, FEB 13, 2020, View Source [SID1234554303]).

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Based on the preliminary count by American Stock Transfer & Trust Co., LLC, the depositary for the tender offer, a total of 41,164,725 common shares of XBiotech were properly tendered and not properly withdrawn at or below the maximum purchase price of $33.00 per share, including 2,178,233 shares that were tendered by notice of guaranteed delivery.

In accordance with the terms and conditions of the tender offer and based on the preliminary count by the depositary, XBiotech expects to accept for payment, at a purchase price of $30.00, approximately 14,000,000 common shares properly tendered at or below the purchase price and not properly withdrawn before the expiration date, at an aggregate cost of approximately $420 million, excluding fees and expenses relating to the tender offer. The preliminary proration factor for shares that XBiotech expects to purchase pursuant to the tender offer is approximately 30.91 percent, before giving effect to odd lots.

The number of shares to be purchased and the purchase price are preliminary and subject to change. The preliminary information contained in this press release is subject to confirmation by the depositary and is based on the assumption that all shares tendered through notice of guaranteed delivery will be delivered within the two trading day settlement period. The final number of shares to be purchased and the final purchase price will be announced following the expiration of the guaranteed delivery period and completion by the depositary of the confirmation process. Payment for the shares accepted for purchase under the tender offer, and return of all other shares tendered and not purchased, will occur promptly thereafter.

D.F. King & Co., Inc. is the information agent for the Offer. Shareholders with questions may call D.F. King at (212) 269-5550 (banks and brokers) or (866) 856-3065 (all others).

About True Human Therapeutic Antibodies

XBiotech’s True Human antibodies are derived without modification from individuals who possess natural immunity to certain diseases. With discovery and clinical programs across multiple disease areas, XBiotech’s True Human antibodies have the potential to harness the body’s natural immunity to fight disease with increased safety, efficacy and tolerability.

On February 13, 2020 Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) ("Actinium") reported that presentations from its targeted conditioning portfolio have been accepted for presentation at the 2020 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy (TCT) Meetings, which brings together thousands of transplant professionals from over 500 transplant centers worldwide (Press release, Actinium Pharmaceuticals, FEB 13, 2020, View Source [SID1234554302]). TCT is being held February 19-23, 2020 at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Florida. Notably, data from the pivotal Phase 3 SIERRA trial of Iomab-B have been selected for an oral presentation.

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"We are excited that Iomab-B and the SIERRA trial have once again been selected as an oral presentation at TCT," said Dr. Mark Berger, Chief Medical Officer of Actinium. "We look forward to highlighting the potential benefit that Iomab-B can provide to a patient population with active disease who are otherwise ineligible for BMT. We are confident these findings will be received with great enthusiasm. TCT, which assembles leading transplant physicians from top centers in the United States and worldwide, is the ideal venue to showcase the extremely encouraging findings from the SIERRA trial thus far. In addition, our other conference activities are expected to provide significant exposure for this important trial and invaluable interactions with BMT thought leaders. Through the SIERRA trial, we aspire to change the treatment paradigm for older patients with relapsed or refractory AML to make potentially curative BMT via Iomab-B the standard of care for this patient population that continues to have poor outcomes."

Actinium’s TCT Presentations:

Late Breaking Oral Presentation:

Title: Targeted Conditioning with Anti-CD45 Iodine (131I) Apamistamab [Iomab-B] Leads to High Rates of Allogeneic Transplantation and Successful Engraftment in Older Patients with Active, Relapsed or Refractory (rel/ref) AML after Failure of Chemotherapy and Targeted Agents: Preliminary Midpoint Results from the Prospective, Randomized Phase 3 Sierra Trial
Presenter: Boglarka Gyurkocza MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (and SIERRA Investigator)
Time: Thursday, February 20th, 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM ET
Location: Orlando World Center Marriott – Palms: Sabal
Poster Presentation:

Title: Feasibility of Administering Anti-CD45 Iodine (131I) Apamistamab [Iomab-B] for Targeted Conditioning in Older Patients with Active, Relapsed or Refractory AML without Lead-Lined Rooms: Ongoing Phase 3 Sierra Trial Experience at 6 Study Sites
Presenter: Rajneesh Nath, M.D., Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center (and SIERRA Investigator)
Time: Wednesday, February 19th, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM ET
Location: Orlando World Center Marriott – Palms: Sabal
About the SIERRA Trial
The SIERRA trial (Study of Iomab-B in Elderly Relapse/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia) is the only randomized Phase 3 trial that offers BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant) as an option for older patients with active, relapsed or refractory AML or acute myeloid leukemia. BMT is the only potentially curative treatment option for older patients with active relapsed or refractory AML and there is no standard of care for this indication other than salvage therapies. Iomab-B is an ARC (Antibody Radiation-Conjugate) comprised of the anti-CD45 antibody apamistamab and the radioisotope I-131 (Iodine-131). The 20 active SIERRA trial sites in the U.S. and Canada represent many of the leading bone marrow transplant centers by volume. For more information, visit www.sierratrial.com.

About Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings (TCT)
TCT, formerly known as the BMT Tandem Meetings, are the combined annual meetings of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) and the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). Each year the conference brings together several thousand investigators, clinicians, researchers, nurses and other allied health professionals from over 500 transplant centers from over 50 countries around a full scientific program focused on bone marrow transplant and cellular therapies.