Factor Bioscience to Deliver Six Digital Presentations at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 24th Annual Meeting

On May 11, 2021 Factor Bioscience Inc., a Cambridge-based biotechnology company focused on developing mRNA and cell-engineering technologies, reported its participation in the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) 24th Annual Meeting to be held virtually May 11-14, 2021, at which Factor will deliver six digital presentations (Press release, Factor Bioscience, MAY 11, 2021, View Source;cell-therapy-asgct-24th-annual-meeting-301288301.html [SID1234579730]):

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"High-efficiency generation of biallelic gene knockout iPSC lines using mRNA gene editing." -to be presented by Mitchell Kopacz on May 11 from 8-10 am.
"Removing T0 constraint reveals differences in specificity of engineered gene-editing proteins." -to be presented by Mackenzie Parmenter on May 11 from 8-10 am.
"Knock-in iPS cell line generation using end-modified linear DNA donors." -to be presented by Aidan Simpson on May 11 from 8-10 am.
"Splint and ribozyme-free enzymatic synthesis and purification of long circular RNA for in vitro translation in human cells." -to be presented by Aisha Svihla on May 11 from 8-10 am.
"DNA-binding domains containing novel repeat sequences enable temperature-tunable gene editing in primary human cells." -to be presented by Yemi Osayame on May 11 from 8-10 am.
"Lipid-stripped albumin enables high-efficiency mRNA reprogramming of adult human fibroblasts." -to be presented by Jasmine Harris on May 11 from 8-10 am.
Factor reveals advances in mRNA, circleRNA, gene editing, cell reprogramming, and iPS cell-derived NK-cell technologies.

Digital presentations will be made available on the ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) website on May 11, 2021. For more information on the upcoming American Society of Genetic & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, visit View Source

Samus Therapeutics Receives IND Clearance from FDA for PU-AD for the Treatment of Recurrent Malignant Glioma

On May 11, 2021 Samus Therapeutics, Inc. ("Samus Therapeutics" or the "Company"), a privately held, Boston-based biopharmaceutical company developing epichaperome inhibitors to treat CNS diseases and hematologic malignancies, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application to develop PU-AD for the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma (Press release, Samus Therapeutics, MAY 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234579728]). Under this IND, Samus will proceed with its Phase 1b study addressing the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of PU-AD (icapamespib) in patients with recurrent malignant glioma. Icapamespib is an orally administered small molecule that is a specific inhibitor of epichaperomes.

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Under the leadership of Dr. John de Groot, at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Dr. Howard Colman at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, the multicenter Phase 1b study will be conducted in two stages at multiple sites across the U.S. The dose escalation will address daily administration of icapamespib in patients with a first, second or third recurrence of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild type glioblastoma, or grade 3 or 4 IDH mutant astrocytoma.

"The expansion stage of this trial will not only confirm safety of the Phase 2 dose, but also investigate the biology of recurrent disease through biomarker analysis and evidence of target engagement," said Dick Bagley, President and CEO of Samus Therapeutics.

Malignant glioma is a characterization of Stage 3 and 4 glioblastoma/astrocytoma diagnoses. Standard of care at outset is varied but predominantly includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. According to the American Cancer Society, glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive form of the primary brain tumors in adults, accounting for half of all primary brain cancers. Despite extensive research, available treatments have not improved the median survival of 14-16 months.

"Through the work of our scientific founder Gabriela Chiosis, PhD and her collaborators, we have established that glioblastomas express high levels of epichaperomes as evidenced in explants, primary and secondary neurospheres, and glial stem cells. Epichaperome driven glioblastoma cells respond well to icapamespib treatment in xenograft mouse models and ex vivo studies even when resistant to Temodar (temozolomide) and Avastin (bevacizumab), giving us a signal that icapamespib could have a clinical impact on this devastating disease," commented Barbara Wallner, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer.

CASI Pharmaceuticals To Report First Quarter 2021 Financial Results And Host Conference Call May 13, 2021

On May 11, 2021 CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASI), a U.S. biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics and pharmaceutical products, reported the Company will host a conference call reviewing the first quarter highlights at 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, May 13th, 2021 (Press release, CASI Pharmaceuticals, MAY 11, 2021, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/casi-pharmaceuticals-to-report-first-quarter-2021-financial-results-and-host-conference-call-may-13-2021-301288283.html [SID1234579727]).

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On the call, CASI’s Chairman & CEO will provide an update on the Company’s business and upcoming milestones. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (833) 420-0382 (U.S.), 8008700181 (China), 58086567 (Hong Kong) to listen to the live conference call. The conference ID number for the live call is 7478587.

This call will be recorded and available for replay by dialing (800) 585-8367 (U.S.) or (404) 537-3406 (international) and enter 7478587 to access the replay.

Poseida Therapeutics Presents Encouraging Preclinical Data Across its CAR-T and Gene Therapy Programs at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting

On May 11, 2021 Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company utilizing proprietary genetic engineering platform technologies to create cell and gene therapeutics with the capacity to cure, reported that it will give multiple oral and poster presentations at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting being held May 11-14, 2021 (Press release, Poseida Therapeutics, MAY 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234579726]).

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The Company’s oral presentation will highlight new data demonstrating the potential of its proprietary piggyBac DNA Delivery System for the treatment of genetic liver disorders in children and infants. Two additional presentations will highlight preclinical data supporting Poseida’s first allogeneic CAR-T product candidate, P-BCMA-ALLO1 for R/R multiple myeloma, as well as preclinical data supporting the Company’s anti-c-kit CAR-T program as a potentially safer preconditioning regimen for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with AML.

"At Poseida, we are applying our proprietary technology platforms to develop the next wave of cell and gene therapies to not only treat severe cancers but to also unlock the potential of single treatment cures," said Eric Ostertag, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer. "The preclinical data being presented today further validate our CAR-T approach in multiple myeloma and in preconditioning for patients with AML, as well as demonstrate the exciting potential of our liver directed gene therapies, particularly in juvenile patients."

Presentation Highlights:

Oral Presentation: "Preclinical Evaluation of Combined Adeno-Associated Virus and Nanoparticle Delivery of piggyBac Transposon System for Durable Transgene Expression in the Growing Neonatal Murine Liver"
Session Date/Time: Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 5:45pm – 6:00pm ET
Abstract Number: 30

In a preclinical study, Poseida evaluated concomitant delivery of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors and novel nanoparticle (NP) vectors using its piggyBac and "Super" piggyBac (SPB) technologies in order to deliver transposon and transposase in a growing neonatal mouse model. Data demonstrated that the piggyBac DNA Delivery System was effective in using both rAAV and NP vectors to introduce edited genes into targeted hepatocyte genomes. Poseida also found that SPB, a hyperactive form of the transposase, produced stable vector integration into the hepatocyte genome for more than three months, compared to transpose alone. Similarly, delivery of a novel NP formulation using SPB produced efficient delivery of mRNA to the liver hepatocytes, with similarly high levels of durability in the transgene expression. Taken together, these preclinical findings suggest the potential of piggyBac and SPB technology for gene therapies that treat congenital liver disease in infants and young children.

Poster Presentation: "P-BCMA-ALL01: A Fully Allogeneic Stem Cell Memory T Cell (TSCM) CAR-T Therapy Targeting BCMA for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma Shows Potent Anti-Tumor Activity"
Session Date/Time: Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 8:00am – 10:00am ET
Abstract Number: 789

P-BCMA-ALLO1 is Poseida’s first fully allogenic product candidate targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. In in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies, P-BCMA-ALL01 showed effective, targeted cancer cell killing and cytokine secretion, with similar or superior performance in anti-tumor efficacy compared to an autologous CAR-T therapy. Inclusion of a proprietary "booster molecule" in the allogeneic manufacturing process further improved expansion of gene-edited cells and enabled production of hundreds of patient doses from a single manufacturing run, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost per dose into the same range as that of a monoclonal antibody.

Poster Presentation: "Anti-c-kit CAR-T Cells Afford Effective Eradication of Human AML and Normal Hematopoietic Cells in a Preclinical Model of Safer Non-Genotoxic Stem Cell Transplant Conditioning"
Session Date/Time: Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 8:00am – 10:00am ET
Abstract Number: 715

Poseida is investigating its anti-c-kit CAR-T program, which leverages its proprietary piggyBac DNA Delivery System in preclinical studies as a potentially safer precursor conditioning therapy to the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for patients suffering from AML. The piggyBac delivery vectors under investigation include a transposon that generates pure CAR+ product as well as a safety switch that allows rapid clearance of the reactive CAR-T cells prior to donor transplant of hematopoietic stem cells. Preclinical data to be presented in the poster showed that the lead CAR-T cells that express the anti-c-kit binder (CAR 1) deplete up to 92% of human CD34+ stem and progenitor cells in bone marrow within 48 hours. Additionally, an enhanced anti-c-kit CAR-T product, CAR 2, killed an estimated >99% of leukemia cells, exceeding the killing ability of a single dose of 30 mg/kg dose of busulfan. These encouraging data suggest that stem cell-directed CAR-T cells may be a safer preconditioning regimen compared to the current standard of care and may expand access to treatment for acute myeloid leukemia patients needing HSC transplant.

Imvax to present at UBS Global Healthcare Virtual Conference

On May 11, 2021 Imvax, a clinical stage immuno-oncology company driven to transform patient treatment and outcomes with its novel technology platform, reported that John Furey, chief executive officer, will present at the UBS Global Healthcare Virtual Conference at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 26, 2021 (Press release, Imvax, MAY 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234579725]).

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Mr. Furey, Dr. David Andrews, chief medical officer, and Dr. Mark Exley, chief scientific officer, will also participate in one-on-one investor meetings during the conference.

The presentation will be webcast live and will be available for replay for 30 days following the event at https://bit.ly/3gPPF8U.