On April 14, 2022 Market leading innovator in laboratory digital transformation, Scitara, reported a collaboration with scientific analytical technology leader, PerkinElmer (Press release, PerkinElmer, APR 14, 2022, View Source [SID1234613232]). The move will support the integration of the PerkinElmer Signals Research Suite informatics platform, which provides seamless, end-to-end scientific data and workflow management, with laboratory instruments, applications and resources via the Scitara Scientific Integration Platform SIP. The Scitara SIP provides a universal connectivity solution in a cloud native infrastructure that allows scientific laboratories using the PerkinElmer Signals platform to realize the full benefits of digital transformation. The combination of technologies facilitates a fully connected laboratory with standard data integrity, data mobility, system flexibility and user reconfigurability.

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This new connectivity aligns with PerkinElmer’s strategy of using its informatics offerings to drive digital transformation in the lab. Around the world today, more than 2 million scientists across pharmaceutical, agrochemical, advanced materials and food labs are using PerkinElmer’s cloud-based informatics solutions to capture, store, and analyze research data, collaborate, and support data-driven R&D and clinical decisions.

Ajit Nagral, founder and CEO of Scitara, said: "Our collaboration with PerkinElmer will create a new model of the modern lab, in which self-enabled scientists have timely access to the cross-functional data needed to advance science. The agile integration framework facilitated by the Scitara SIP adapts to changing work demands, facilitating on-the-fly workflow reconfiguration, rapid instrumentation deployment and best-of-breed informatics systems."

He added, "This comprehensive approach offers system flexibility as standard. It provides the ability to extract maximum value from legacy equipment, while dramatically lowering the barrier to introduce new, innovative technology into the connected lab. We drive data aggregation to any selected customer repository in an agile, compliant and future-proof solution. A breakthrough level of automation – from the simplest to the most complex tasks – is achieved while complying with the most stringent requirements of regulated markets."

Kevin Willoe, VP and General Manager, Informatics at PerkinElmer, Inc., commented on the collaboration further, stating: "The synergy between our two offerings, expertise areas and how we can help our respective customers, is exciting. Our market-leading informatics solutions empower scientists and researchers to improve productivity by leveraging the true value of their data. Use of the Scitara Scientific Integration Platform with our informatics solutions provides customers the ability and flexibility to work in a truly integrated laboratory environment. This will help tie together instruments, software and systems and support our customers in curating data in a standardized platform. This is the power of the lab of the future in action."

As the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries come under growing pressure to bring new drugs to market faster and more cost-effectively, they increasingly depend on new technology to support their goals. The ability to integrate the SIP infrastructure with the PerkinElmer Signals Research platform presents a new approach to data management that will enhance collaboration and drive lab automation. Integrated scientific data can also be used in tandem with AI and analytics tools, providing scientists with new insights to drive faster decision making and turn data into knowledge, helping accelerate products to market.

To learn more, join our webinar on April 27th at 11am EST.

On April 14, 2022 Heat Biologics, Inc. ("Heat") (NYSE American: HTBX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-class therapies to modulate the immune system and novel biodefense assets, reported it plans to host an investor and media livestream event on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 10:30 AM Eastern Time to discuss the latest developments (Press release, NightHawk Biosciences, APR 14, 2022, View Source [SID1234612542]). The event will be broadcast at: View Source

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On April 14, 2022 Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) ( "Akeso" ), a China-based biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutic antibodies for Oncology & Immunology, reported the publication of preclinical results of its PD-1/CD73 bi-specific antibody (AK131) at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2022 (Press release, Akeso Biopharma, APR 14, 2022, View Source [SID1234612264]). AK131 has demonstrated to have potent in-vitro and in-vivo anti-tumor activities.

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Abstract: AK131, an anti-PD1/CD73 bispecific antibody for cancer immune therapy

View Source!/10517/presentation/17745

AK131 is a bi-specific antibody derived from Penpulimab (Akeso’s marketed PD-1 antibody ) and AK119 (Akeso’s CD73 antibody in clinical stage). AK119 is a dual mechanism antibody (2021 SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) poster #750) that both blocks the generation of adenosine and stimulates antigen specific B cell activation. Adenosine is a key immune suppressive molecule contributing to the resistance of PD-1 antibody therapy. Both CD73 and PD-1 are with high expression in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, a growing body of literature evidence supports an important role of B cells in anit-tumor immunity. Thus the company developed a bi-specific PD-1/CD73 antibody with the capacity to relieve immune checkpoint control of T cells, activate B cells, and eliminate immune suppression by adenosine, for immune therapy of cancer.

The results and observations in AK131’s preclinical study support the development of AK131 as an anti-tumor agent in the clinic：

AK131 effectively bound to human PD-1 and CD73 with high affinity. The interaction between PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 was blocked by AK131 in reporter gene assay.
In cellular assays, AK131 effectively promoted the secretion of IFN-γ and IL-2 by T cells in co-culture of PBMCs and Raji-PDL1 cells.
Moreover, AK131 inhibited CD73 enzymatic activity and induced endocytosis of CD73. AK131 enhanced the expression of CD69, CD83, HLA-DR and IgM which are markers of B cell activation in an adenosine-independent manner.
In in-vivo assay, AK131 successfully inhibited tumor growth in C57BL/6-hPD1/hPDL1/hCD73 transgenic mice MC38-hPDL1-hCD73 tumor syngeneic model.
Reference

[1] Huang S, Apasov S, Koshiba M, Sitkovsky M. Role of A2a extracellular adenosine receptor-mediated signaling in adenosine-mediated inhibition of T-cell activation and expansion. Blood. 1997; 90:1600-10.

[2] [2] Novitskiy SV, Ryzhov S, Zaynagetdinov R, Goldstein AE, Huang Y, Tikhomirov OY, Blackburn MR, Biaggioni I,Carbone DP, Feoktistov I, et al. Adenosine receptors in regulation of dendritic cell differentiation and function. Blood. 2008; 112:1822-31.

On April 14, 2022 Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) ( "Akeso" ), a China-based biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutic antibodies for Oncology & Immunology, reported the publication of preclinical results of its anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody (AK127) showing potent preclinical anti-tumor activities at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2022 (Press release, Akeso Biopharma, APR 14, 2022, View Source [SID1234612263]).

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Abstract：AK127, a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting T cell immunoreceptor (TIGIT)

View Source!/10517/presentation/17743

AK127 is a novel humanized immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domain (TIGIT). AK127 specifically binds to TIGIT and blocks the interaction of TIGIT with its ligands, thus relieving immune suppression and promoting anti-tumor immune response.

Immune checkpoint blocking antibodies achieved great clinical success, yet a large fraction of cancer patients receive minimum benefit from current immunotherapies targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4. As a new multifunctional immune checkpoint molecule, TIGIT holds promise to become an important cancer immune therapy target.

The observations in AK127’s preclinical study support the development of AK127 as an anti-tumor agent in the clinic：

AK127 blocked the immune inhibitory signal mediated by TIGIT, resulting in enhanced IL-2 secretion.
AK127 exhibited binding to FcγRIa, FcγRIIIa and C1q, and eliciting ADCC, ADCP and CDC.
In animal models, both AK104 (0.5 mg/kg) and AK127 (4 mg/kg) significantly inhibited tumor growth.
The combination of AK127 and AK104 produced a significantly enhanced anti-tumor effect than either monotherapy, demonstrating the synergistic anti-tumor activity of AK127 combined with AK104.

On April 14, 2022 Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) ( "Akeso" ), a China-based biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutic antibodies for Oncology & Immunology, reported the publication of preclinical results of its PD-1/LAG-3 bi-specific antibody (AK129) at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2022 (Press release, Akeso Biopharma, APR 14, 2022, View Source [SID1234612262]). Both in vitro and in vivo preclinical data demonstrated that AK129 has enhanced T cell activation activity with robust anti-tumor activity compared to PD-1 and LAG-3 antibody combo.

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Abstract: AK129, an anti-PD1/LAG-3 bi-specific antibody for cancer therapy

View Source!/10517/presentation/17739

AK129, a bi-specific antibody, acts by co-blocking two immune checkpoint molecules co-expressed on T cells, PD-1 and LAG-3. Signaling through PD-1/PD-L1 exerts major effects on cytokines production by T cells, inhibiting the production of IFN-γ and IL-2. LAG-3 is a cell surface molecule expressed on effector T cells and Tregs, which plays a vital role in regulating T cell function to promote tumor immune escape. LAG-3 and PD-1 mediate different signaling pathways, but they may act synergistically to cause effector T cells inactivation and exhaustion. AK129 is being investigated as a cancer immunotherapeutic agent.

Results and observations from AK129’s preclinical study support the development of AK129 as a cancer immunotherapeutic agent in the clinic：

AK129 showed good antigen binding to PD-1 and LAG-3. Coinsidently, AK129 potently inhibited the binding of LAG-3 to its ligand MHC-II, and the binding of PD-1 to its ligand PD-L1, thus blocking downstream immune suppression.
At the individual target level, AK129 demonstrated a similar PD-1 blocking activity compared to penpulimab, and similar LAG-3 blocking activity compared to relatlimab. Importantly, at the whole cell level, the enhancement effect of AK129 is stronger than the combination of penpulimab and relatlimab, as evidenced by significantly higher level of IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion from PBMCs.
AK129 showed favorable anti-tumor activity in BALB/c-hPD1/hLAG3 mice CT26.WT tumor model, with tumor growth inhibition values reaching 99.27% and 89.48% in high dose (20 mg/kg) and low dose (4 mg/kg) group of AK129, respectively.
Reference

[1] Kraman M, Faroudi M, Allen N, Kmiecik K, Gliddon D, Seal C, Koers A, Wydro M, Winnewisser J, Young L, Tuna M, Doody J, Morrow M, Brewis N. FS118, a bispecific antibody targeting LAG-3 and PD-L1, Enhances T-Cell activation result_x0002_ing in potent antitumor activity. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:3333–3344

[2] Maruhashi T, Sugiura D, Okazaki IM, Okazaki T. LAG-3: from molecular functions to clinical applications. J Immunother Cancer. 2020 Sep;8(2):e001014. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001014. PMID: 32929051; PMCID: PMC7488795. [3] Long L, Zhang X, Chen F, Pan Q, Phiphatwatchara P, Zeng Y, Chen H. The promising immune checkpoint LAG-3: from tumor microenvironment to cancer immunotherapy. Genes Cancer. 2018 May;9(5-6):176-189. doi: 10.18632/genesandcancer.180. PMID: 30603054; PMCID: PMC6305110.