On January 10, 2023 Atavistik Bio, a biotechnology company focused on revolutionizing the discovery of new allosteric protein-metabolite interactions to develop novel small molecule drugs for cancer, inborn errors of metabolism and other serious diseases, reported that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Plex Research, a company providing a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drug discovery platform (Press release, Atavistik Bio, JAN 10, 2023, View Source [SID1234647392]). Atavistik Bio’s incorporation of Plex Research’s technology will enrich the informatics capabilities of its Atavistik Metabolite Protein Screening (AMPS) platform and accelerate its drug discovery pipeline.

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Atavistik Bio’s scalable AMPS platform combines an extensive and continually expanding protein-metabolite database map ("the Interactome"), along with advanced informatics tools, deep expertise in chemistry, and computationally rich structure-based design to systematically identify and understand the role of protein-metabolite interactions across important biological and disease-relevant pathways to inform small molecule drug discovery.

Under the collaboration, Atavistik Bio will enhance its proprietary Interactome map with Plex Research’s cloud-based AI-powered drug discovery search engine of large and disparate data sources to reveal hidden connections between related metabolites and ligands, pathways, biomarkers, and disease-relevant biology. The integration of Atavistik Bio’s AMPS data with Plex Research’s platform will create a unique and customizable data analysis engine to rapidly enable novel insights for drug discovery.

"Allosteric interactions, which we know can present novel druggable nodes for intractable targets, historically have been difficult to discover. Using our AMPS platform, we are able to systematically and rapidly interrogate protein-metabolite interactions to reveal new, disease-relevant allosteric binding sites," said Marion Dorsch, Ph.D., Atavistik Bio’s President and Chief Scientific Officer. "Fusing the enterprise-level capability of Plex’s access to large public databases with Atavistik’s proprietary data infrastructure has the potential to significantly augment the power of our AMPS platform and accelerate our efforts to drive the discovery of novel therapeutics for unmet patient needs."

"Atavistik’s platform creates opportunities to drug proteins in new ways by uncovering previously unknown regulatory sites with potentially important roles in disease," said Doug Selinger, President and CEO of Plex Research. "The breadth and depth of the Plex platform will provide important context for Atavistik’s AMPS data, which will enable better characterization of putative protein regulatory sites, ligand binding, and potential impacts on disease processes. The synergies between our technology platforms are compelling, and we’re excited to see where it will take us."

On January 10, 2023 Prestige Biopharma Limited, a Singapore-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in antibody drug development, reported that the company has obtained a patent in Korea for ‘Novel CTHRC1-specific antibodies and the use thereof’ (PBP1710) designed by its Innovative Discovery Centre (IDC) to treat solid cancer including pancreatic cancer (Press release, Prestige BioPharma, JAN 10, 2023, View Source [SID1234626262]).

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Solid tumors including pancreatic cancer, express abnormally high levels of CTHRC1 (collagen triple helix repeat containing 1), a protein that facilitates cancer cell migration and growth. PBP1710 specifically binds to CTHRC1 and exerts anti-metastasis and anti-tumor growth effects.

According to IDC, PBP1710 has shown remarkable research results on a cellular level, reducing cancer cell migration and invasion by approximately 45% in solid cancer such as pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. In addition, animal testing has shown PBP1710’ effect to inhibit cancer cell proliferation is equivalent to that of current primary cancer treatment in the market.

A source from Prestige Biopharma stated: "This patent registration is significant in that we are preoccupying the technological advantage on the anti-CTHRC1 antibodies that can be used as a wide range of solid cancer treatments. Considering that CTHRC1 is highly distributed in many different types of cancer, the successful development of PBP1710 as a next-generation antibody drug is expected to greatly contribute to the improvement of cancer patient treatment and survival, particularly in combination with other cancer treatments."

PBP1710 is currently under review for patent registration in 21 other countries and regions including the US, Europe, Japan, and China. Meanwhile, Prestige Biopharma’s first-in-class antibody pipeline for includes PBP1710 (Anti-CTHRC1) and PBP1510 (Anti-PAUF) for pancreatic cancer treatment which is currently in phase 1/2a clinical trial.

CTHRC1 promotes cancer cell migration through activation of the Wnt5 signaling pathway by forming CTHRC1-Wnt5-Fzd2/Ror2 complexes on cancer cells.

CTHRC1 stimulates formation of blood vessels (angiogenesis) in tumor tissues by upregulating the secretion of Ang-2, a Tie2 ligand, from endothelial cells. Activation of Ang-2/Tie2 axis in monocytes is critical in tumor angiogenesis. PBP1710 specifically binds to CTHRC1 and exerts anti-metastasis and anti-tumor growth effects.

On January 10, 2023 Defence Therapeutics Inc. ("Defence" or the "Company"), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of immune-oncology vaccines and drug delivery technologies, is pleased to reported the advancement in the development of its AccumTM-mRNA vaccine program (Press release, Defence Therapeutics, JAN 10, 2023, View Source [SID1234626260]). This R&D program will not only impact the field of cancer immunotherapy, but it can also be directly applied to the development of new vaccines targeting infectious diseases.

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The mRNA vaccination approach offers tremendous advantages over the use of peptide-or protein-based vaccines. mRNA like any other biomolecule, is extremely sensitive to harsh conditions such as high acidity and enzymatic reactions, which would directly impede their therapeutic potency. In addition, mRNA molecules need to reach the cytoplasm where they can be efficiently translated into full proteins, this is where AccumTM may add stability and potency.

Defence is working with a private European company to synthesize mRNA vaccine coupled with its AccumTM. Defence’s has now completed the first phase of its AccumTM-mRNA vaccine development by achieving the synthesis and the Quality Control of the amino-modified polyA tail Ova mRNA. Defence is advancing on the second step, which consists of coupling AccumTM variants to amino-modified mRNA as well as testing and analyzing: i) the effect of AccumTM and linkers on mRNA stability, ii) the linker coupling onto amino-modified mRNA, iii) the AccumTM coupling onto linker-amino modified mRNA, and finally iv) the purification and analysis of the AccumTM-linker-amino-modified mRNA.

The third and final step of this Accum-mRNA vaccine development, scheduled at the end of January 2023, will be the production of a small vaccine batch to conduct in vivo studies in animals as a head-to-head comparison between AccumTM-linked and "naked" mRNA vaccines for their potential to generate an immune response capable of eradicating and controlling established tumors.

"The development of our AccumTM-mRNA vaccine is on track, our in vivo study on animals with pre-established solid tumors is planned for this quarter with the objective to demonstrate that AccumTM can significantly enhance the therapeutic potency of a given mRNA vaccine", says Mr. Plouffe, CEO of Defence Therapeutics.

The mRNA therapeutics market size is projected to surpass around USD 128.14 billion by 2030 and growing at a registered CAGR of 13.03% from 2022 to 2030 according to Precedence Research.

On January 10 ,2023 Bio4t2 reported that it dosed the first patient with T cells bearing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that targets overexpression of BT-001 antigen present on various types of solid tumors (Press release, Bio4T2, JAN 10, 2023, View Source [SID1234626211]). The CAR-T (B4t2-001) was developed from Bio4t2’s PrismCore platform.

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"This first-in-human study marks the initial therapeutic to be evaluated from Bio4t2’s technology," said Dr. Laurence Cooper MD-PhD, Executive Chairman of the board. "PrismCore is capable of rapidly generating CAR-T to safely target self-antigens, opening a new frontier to delivering CAR-T to treat many types of solid tumors. This clinical trial is at the cutting edge of CAR-T biology and provides a path to treating the enormous numbers of patients who suffer from invasive cancers worldwide," added Dr. Cooper.

"We are excited to have started the clinical trial for our first CAR-T therapy targeting BT-001, which is a novel antigen for such therapies," said Farzad Haerizadeh, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, and co-founder. "Our CAR-T is calibrated through PrismCore to discriminate between levels of BT-001 on tumors versus healthy cells. Indeed, B4t2-001 in preclinical studies in rodents and non-human primates, safely exhibited potent antitumor activity with long-term protective capacity. This trial helps validate the platform enabling the development of safe and effective CAR-T therapies against multiple types of solid tumors," said Haerizadeh.

About the clinical trial

The phase 1 investigator-initiated study (clinicaltrials.gov NCT05621486) evaluates ascending doses of B4t2-001 targeting BT-001 in patients with solid tumors. This trial assesses the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and preliminary efficacy of autologous CAR-T as a single agent after lymphodepletion in adult subjects at Shanghai East and Shanghai Artemed hospitals in China.

On January 10, 2023 Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) reported its 2023 financial guidance and commented on its outlook for the upcoming year (Press release, Halozyme, JAN 10, 2023, View Source [SID1234626179]).

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"In 2022, we project we achieved record revenue of greater than $655 million and we completed the acquisition of Antares Pharma, opening up an expanded set of opportunities for our subcutaneous drug delivery business," said Dr. Helen Torley, president and chief executive officer. "In 2023, we project record revenue of $815 to $845M and greater than 30% growth in EBITDA to $415 to $440 million. As our ENHANZE pipeline advances, we are excited about the future royalty revenue opportunities represented in 2023 by the potential for two new commercial launches, SC efgartigimod and SC atezolizumab."

Anticipated 2023 Key Events:

•Projected growth of >20% in the Company’s high-margin, recurring revenue stream from royalties to approximately $445 to $455 million driven by continued strength in Wave 2 products, including DARZALEX SC (daratumumab) and Phesgo (pertuzumab, trastuzumab and hyaluronidase) utilizing ENHANZE technology, as well as full year auto-injector royalty contribution.
•Two ENHANZE subcutaneous (SC) approvals and commercial launches by collaboration partners, including SC efgartigimod and SC atezolizumab.
•Four Phase 3 study data readouts from products utilizing ENHANZE by the Company’s collaboration partners
•SC efgartigimod in CIDP, ITP and Pemphigus (autoimmune disorders of the nervous system, blood and skin)
•SC ocrelizumab for certain patients with multiple sclerosis
•At least 2 new products utilizing ENHANZE entering Phase 1 development by the Company’s collaboration partners.
•At least one new collaboration and licensing agreement for ENHANZE, for a partner to test our developmental large volume auto-injector plus ENHANZE, and for our small volume auto-injector.
•Initiation of a clinical study to continue to evaluate the feasibility testing of our large volume auto-injector.

•Up to $150 million in share repurchases, dependent on market conditions and other factors, as part of the $750 million three-year share repurchase plan authorized by Halozyme’s board of directors in December 2021 demonstrating the Company’s continued commitment to a balanced capital allocation strategy.
2023 Financial Guidance:

•Revenue: Halozyme expects total revenue of $815 million to $845 million, representing growth of >20% over 2022 expected total revenue. The Company expects revenue from royalties to increase >20% over expected revenue from royalties in 2022, to a range of $445 million to $455 million.
•EBITDA: Halozyme expects EBITDA of $415 million to $440 million, representing growth of >30% over 2022 expected EBITDA and excludes the impact of amortization costs in 2023 related to the Antares Pharma acquisition.
•Earnings per Share: Halozyme expects Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $2.50 to $2.65. The Company’s earnings per share guidance does not consider the impact of potential future share repurchases.

Table 1. 2023 Financial Guidance
Guidance Range
Total Revenue $815 to $845 million
Royalty Revenue $445 to $455 million
EBITDA $415 to $440 million
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS $2.50 to $2.65