Intellia Therapeutics and Novartis Expand Cell Therapy Collaboration to Pursue CRISPR/Cas9-based Genome Editing in Additional Stem Cell Population

On December 6, 2018 Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA), a leading genome editing company focused on developing curative therapeutics using CRISPR/Cas9 technology both in vivo and ex vivo, reported an expansion of its existing cell therapy collaboration with Novartis, to include the ex vivo development of innovative cell therapies using certain ocular stem cells (Press release, Intellia Therapeutics, DEC 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234531945]). As part of the updated collaboration terms, Novartis will have the right to develop CRISPR/Cas9-based products for one or more targets using these stem cells. Intellia will receive a one-time $10 million cash payment and, consistent with the original collaboration agreement, Intellia also is eligible to receive downstream success-based milestones and royalties.

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With the collaboration expansion announced today, Intellia will gain expanded rights to Novartis’ lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology for all genome editing applications in both in vivo and ex vivo settings. This licensed LNP technology is the foundation of Intellia’s proprietary modular delivery system of CRISPR/Cas9 for its in vivo product pipeline. Intellia retains rights to all other in vivo and ex vivo applications of CRISPR/Cas9, including for eye disorders, subject to certain in vivo target selection options by Novartis set forth in the original agreement.

"Genome editing enhancements made by CRISPR/Cas9 will enable the next generation of cell therapies. With our collaborator, Novartis, we are broadening the ex vivo application of our CRISPR/Cas9 technology from hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs, to ocular stem cells. We are pleased to expand our relationship with Novartis, and to continue to work together to develop cell therapies," said Intellia President and Chief Executive Officer John Leonard, M.D. "Broader rights to Novartis’ LNP technology will assist our efforts to apply this technology in ex vivo settings for the development of proprietary cell therapies, just as we have done to develop our proprietary modular delivery system for in vivo products in the liver and other organs."

BioLineRx to Host Investor and Analyst Breakfast Meeting on December 11, 2018 in New York

On December 6, 2018 BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ: BLRX) (TASE:BLRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology and immunology, reported that it will host an investor breakfast meeting on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at the Convene Conference Center near Grand Central Terminal in New York, N.Y (Press release, BioLineRx, DEC 6, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2379754 [SID1234531943]).

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The investor meeting schedule is as follows:

7:45 am EST – Registration and breakfast
8:10-9:30 am EST – Formal presentations

Location:

Convene Conference Center
101 Park Avenue South (near Grand Central Terminal)
New York, N.Y.
(888) 730-7307

The event will feature presentations by Ezra Cohen, MD, FRCPSC, FASCO, from UC San Diego, who will discuss the progress made in the clinical development of immunotherapies beyond checkpoint inhibitors; and Manuel Hidalgo, MD, PhD, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, on the unmet medical need in treating patients with pancreatic cancer. Both KOLs will be available to answer questions at the conclusion of the event.

BioLineRx’s management team will provide an update on the Company’s clinical development of BL-8040 and AGI-134, as well as a review of recent corporate achievements and the Company’s strategy for 2019. BL-8040 is a short peptide that functions as a high-affinity antagonist for CXCR4 in late clinical development for the treatment of solid tumors, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and stem-cell mobilization for bone-marrow transplantation. AGI-134 is a synthetic αGal novel immunotherapy currently in Phase 1/2a development for solid tumors.

Ezra Cohen, MD, is co-Director of the San Diego Center for Precision Immunotherapy and an internationally renowned translational researcher. A physician-scientist, his recent National Institutes of Health-funded work in the study of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors in head and neck cancer has contributed to the understanding of the biology of this critical signaling network, integration of these agents into standard of care, and definition of mechanisms to overcome resistance. He recently served as chair of the NCI Head and Neck Cancer Steering Committee that oversees NCI-funded clinical research (including all NCI Cooperative Group trials) in this disease. Dr. Cohen is also Associate Director for Translational Science and leader of the Solid Tumor Therapeutics research program at Moores Cancer Center. Among other roles, he is chair of the Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee (PRMC) and serves as a member of the Cancer Council, and the Cancer Center’s Executive Committee. He has also been the principal investigator on multiple studies of novel agents in head and neck cancer and other solid tumors in all phases of development. Dr. Cohen recently served as editor-in-chief of Oral Oncology.

Manuel Hidalgo, MD, PhD, is Director of the Leon V. & Marilyn L. Rosenberg Clinical Cancer Center and Chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). He is also the Theodore W. and Evelyn G. Berenson Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. An internationally renowned oncologist, Dr. Hidalgo is a world leader in the testing and development of new agents for pancreatic and other solid tumor cancers. He oversees all BIDMC clinical cancer programs. Dr. Hidalgo is a founder of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Team (PCRT), a private nonprofit cooperative group dedicated to rapid drug development in pancreatic cancer. He is a former member of the Science Committee of Cancer Research UK and a member of the Special Conferences Committee of the American Association of Cancer Research and Scientific Advisory Board of Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. He is also the Director of the Vail Course "Methods on Clinical Cancer Research." Dr. Hidalgo is scientific editor of Cancer Discovery.

This event is intended for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals only. Please RSVP in advance if you plan to attend, as space is limited. For those who are unable to attend in person, a live webcast and replay of the event will be accessible here. If you would like to ask a question during the live Q&A portion of the event, please submit your request via email.

RedHill Biopharma Announces Pricing of $20 Million Underwritten Offering

On December 6, 2018 RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (Nasdaq:RDHL) (Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange:RDHL) ("RedHill" or the "Company"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on proprietary drugs for gastrointestinal diseases, reported the pricing of its previously reported underwritten public offering for a total number of 2,857,143 American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), each representing ten of its ordinary shares, at a public offering price of $7.00 per ADS (Press release, RedHill Biopharma, DEC 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234531941]).

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Gross proceeds from the sale of the ADSs before underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses are expected to be approximately $20 million. The offering is expected to close on or about December 11, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the number of ADSs offered to the public at the public offering price, less underwriting discount.

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., a subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS) and Nomura Securities International, Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers. H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC is acting as lead manager and LifeSci Capital LLC, Ascendiant Capital Markets, LLC, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. and WBB Securities LLC are acting as co-managers for the offering. Roth Capital Partners is acting as financial advisor to the Company in connection with the offering.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering, together with its existing cash and cash equivalents, to fund preparations for TALICIA (H. pylori) commercial launch and commercialization activities, clinical development programs, including initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 study with RHB-204 for NTM, preparations for a second Phase 3 study with RHB-104 for Crohn’s disease and for acquisitions and general corporate purposes.

The ADSs described above will be issued pursuant to shelf registration statements that were previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and declared effective by the SEC on March 11, 2016 and July 31, 2018, respectively. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov. Before you invest, you should read the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and other documents we have filed with the SEC for more complete information about us and this offering. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained by contacting Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., Prospectus Department, 277 Park Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10172, by calling (212) 409-2000, or by email at [email protected]; or Nomura Securities International, Inc., Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, Worldwide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street, New York, NY 10019-7316, or by telephone at 212-667-9000, or by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, 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.

Moleculin Announces Conference Call to Discuss FDA Filing and New Immune Checkpoint Data on Wednesday, December 12, 2018

On December 6, 2018 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of oncology drug candidates, all of which are based on license agreements with The University of Texas System on behalf of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, reported it will host a conference call to discuss the recent discovery of a use of one its molecule for cancer treatment and provide a business update (Press release, Moleculin, DEC 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234531938]). The call will be at 4:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

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Participants can dial (800) 860-2442 or (412) 858-4600 to access the conference call, or can listen via a live Internet web cast, which is available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.moleculin.com. A webcast replay will be available in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.moleculin.com for 90 days. A teleconference replay will be available at (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088, confirmation code 10126965, through December 19, 2018.

MorphoSys Presents Updated Data from L-MIND Study of MOR208 in combination with Lenalidomide in r/r DLBCL at ASH 2018

On December 6, 2018 MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment; MDAX & TecDAX; Nasdaq: MOR) reported its data from the ongoing single-arm phase 2 clinical trial known as L-MIND in an oral presentation at the 60th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2018 in San Diego, USA (Press release, MorphoSys, DEC 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234531937]). L-MIND is designed to investigate the antibody MOR208 in combination with lenalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL) who are not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). MOR208 is an investigational humanized Fc-enhanced monoclonal antibody directed against CD19 and is currently in clinical development in blood cancer indications.

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The L-MIND study enrolled patients with r/r DLBCL, who are ineligible for HDC and ASCT, after up to three prior lines of therapy, with at least one prior therapy including an anti-CD20 targeting therapy, such as rituximab. The updated interim data reported today (cut-off date June 5, 2018) included all 81 patients enrolled in the L-MIND trial, with a median observation time of 12 months. Efficacy results in this update are based on assessment by the investigators for all 81 patients. Patients enrolled had a median age of 72 years and had received a median of two prior treatment lines.

The data showed a response in 47 out of 81 patients (overall response rate, or ORR, 58%), with complete responses (CR) in 27 (33%) and partial responses (PR) in 20 (25%) patients. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 16.2 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 6.3 months – not reached). Responses were durable with the median duration of response (DoR) not reached (95% CI: NR – NR) and 70% of responding patients were without progression at 12 months (12-month DoR rate: 70%, Kaplan-Meier estimate). A significant proportion of patients (37/81; 46%) were still on study treatment, with 19 having been treated for over 12 months. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached (95% CI: 18.6 months – NR); the 12-month OS rate was 73% (95% CI: 63% – 85%).

Efficacy parameters, such as response rates and median PFS showed comparable results in most patient subgroups of interest, including low/low-intermediate versus intermediate-high/high IPI score, rituximab refractory versus not refractory and primary refractory versus not refractory, amongst others.

No unexpected toxicities were observed for the treatment combination and no infusion-related reactions (IRRs) were reported for MOR208. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with a toxicity grading of 3 or higher were neutropenia in 35 (43%), thrombocytopenia in 14 (17%), and anemia in 7 (9%) patients each. Treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred in 16 (19.8%) patients, the majority of which were infections or neutropenic fever. 41 (50.6%) patients required dose reduction with lenalidomide, 58 patients (72%) could stay on a daily lenalidomide dose of 20 mg or higher.

The results reported today confirm data from earlier interim analyses reported from this trial in March 2018, when 68 patients had been eligible for investigators’ efficacy assessment at the Dec 12, 2017 cut-off date.

"Patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who, after having failed initial therapies, are ineligible for high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), need more treatment options," commented Dr. Malte Peters, Chief Development Officer of MorphoSys AG. "We are encouraged by our most recent clinical data from the ongoing L-MIND trial. These support our plan to develop MOR208 in combination with lenalidomide, based on our current FDA breakthrough therapy designation, as a potential chemo-free treatment option for this patient population."

Details about the presentation on L-MIND data at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2018:

Abstract publication number: 227

Session name: 626. Aggressive Lymphoma (Diffuse Large B-Cell and Other Aggressive B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas)—Results from Prospective Clinical Trials"

Session date and time: Saturday, December 1, 2018, 4:00pm-5:30pm PST

Presentation time: 5:00pm PST

Room: Marriot Marquis San Diego Marina, Pacific Ballroom 20, San Diego, California.

MorphoSys will hold an investor & analyst event after the 60th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2018 on December 5, 2018, 10:00am EST (3:00pm GMT, 4:00pm CET) in New York. The presentation, a live webcast and a replay of the webcast will be made available at View Source

About DLBCL

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most frequent type of malignant lymphoma worldwide and accounts for approximately 30% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Between 30% and 40% of all patients with DLBCL either fail to respond to or show a relapse to initial therapy. Patients who failed frontline therapy and are not eligible to high dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) are reported to have a poor outcome and require more therapeutic options.

About CD19 and MOR208

CD19 is broadly and homogeneously expressed across different B cell malignancies including DLBCL and CLL. CD19 has been reported to enhance B cell receptor (BCR) signaling, which is assumed important for B cell survival, making CD19 a potential target in B cell malignancies.

MOR208 is an investigational humanized Fc-engineered monoclonal antibody directed against CD19. Fc-modification of MOR208 is intended to lead to a significant potentiation of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), thus aiming to improve a key mechanism of tumor cell killing. MOR208 has been observed in preclinical models to induce direct apoptosis by binding to CD19, which is assumed to be involved in B cell receptor (BCR) signaling.

MorphoSys is clinically investigating MOR208 as a therapeutic option in B cell malignancies in a number of ongoing combination trials. An open-label phase 2 combination trial (L-MIND study) is investigating the safety and efficacy of MOR208 in combination with lenalidomide in patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL who are not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Based on interim data from L-MIND, in October 2017 the U.S. FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for MOR208 plus lenalidomide in this patient population. The pivotal phase 2/3 B-MIND study is designed to investigate MOR208 in combination with the chemotherapeutic agent bendamustine in patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL who are not eligible for high-

dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in comparison to the combination of the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab plus bendamustine. In addition, MOR208 is currently being investigated in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL/SLL after discontinuation of a prior Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor therapy (e.g. ibrutinib) in combination with idelalisib or venetoclax.