OmniSeq Receives New York State Approval for OmniSeq INSIGHT Genomic and Immune Profiling Test

On April 28, 2021 OmniSeq, an innovator in next generation sequencing in oncology, reported the New York State Department of Health’s Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program has approved the OmniSeq INSIGHTSM test (Press release, OmniSeq, APR 28, 2021, View Source,the%20OmniSeq%20INSIGHTSM%20test.&text=OmniSeq%20INSIGHT%20is%20a%20tissue%2Dbased%2C%20next%20generation%20sequencing%20test. [SID1234579250]). The test detects genomic variants, genomic signatures, and immune gene expression, providing physicians with clinically actionable evidence to inform therapeutic treatment decisions and identify potential clinical trial options for patients with late-stage solid tumor cancers.

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The test will be commercially available to U.S.-based clinicians exclusively through Labcorp and globally to biopharmaceutical companies through Labcorp Drug Development. Throughout Canada, the test will be available through Dynacare, a Labcorp company.

"The launch of OmniSeq INSIGHT represents the continued evolution of our commitment to innovation and to the delivery of the most advanced, comprehensive solid tumor profiling assay," said Margot Schoenborn, Chief Executive Officer, OmniSeq. "It is designed to detect and characterize the genomic and immune features of patients’ cancer tumors to quickly guide more precise, individualized treatment decisions for patients to ensure they receive the best personalized medicine options available."

OmniSeq INSIGHT is a tissue-based, next generation sequencing test. It has been clinically and analytically validated for all solid tumors, interrogating gene alterations that are targets identified for therapy. Completely unique to the test is the integration of immune expression profiling, which detects genes involved in the anti-cancer immune response and tumor-immune mechanisms including low-expressing genes involved in inflammatory signaling. The combined profiling of molecular and immune genes delivers an unparalleled and powerful new tool to help physicians more effectively select personalized therapies and immunotherapies, as well as match patients to clinical trials based on multi-immune marker analyses.

OmniSeq INSIGHT delivers the distinct advantage of leveraging three technologies to better inform physicians in selecting the most appropriate therapies or clinical trials for their patients. DNA sequencing is used to detect base substitutions, insertions, deletions, copy number alterations, tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability. RNA sequencing is employed for detection of known and novel gene arrangements in order to maximize detection of fusion events and gene expression profiling; this also provides differentiating insight into critical tumor-immune interactions. Additionally, PD-L1 expression is measured by immunohistochemistry using FDA-approved assays based on the tumor type tested.

OmniSeq INSIGHT can be used in both diagnostic and drug development settings. It is actively integrated into numerous drug development programs and can be configured as an effective discovery tool, screening tool or clinical trial assay and can drive companion diagnostics development and commercialization initiatives. OmniSeq INSIGHT is offered to global biopharmaceutical customers directly and through Labcorp Drug Development, which collectively have an extensive track record in validating assays across key regulatory standards, including CLIA, CLEP, CE-IVD and FDA under an ISO 13485 quality management system for medical devices.

Boundless Bio Raises Oversubscribed $105 Million Series B Financing to Advance Next-Generation Precision Oncology Therapies Directed Against Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA)

On April 28, 2021 Boundless Bio, a next-generation precision oncology company developing innovative therapeutics directed against extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) in aggressive cancers, reported the closing of an oversubscribed $105 Million Series B financing (Press release, Boundless Bio, APR 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234578623]). With the proceeds of the financing, the company will advance into the clinic multiple ecDNA-directed therapeutic programs and the accompanying ecDNA Harboring Oncogenes (ECHO) companion diagnostic and expand its pipeline of novel cancer therapies targeting ecDNA.

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RA Capital Management and Nextech Invest co-led the financing, with participation from a top-tier syndicate of funds, including Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, Redmile Group, Wellington Management, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company), PFM Health Sciences, and Logos Capital. Current investors ARCH Venture Partners, City Hill Ventures, Vertex Ventures HC, GT Healthcare Capital Partners, Boxer Capital of Tavistock Group, and Alexandria Venture Investments also participated in the Series B. In conjunction with the financing, Jakob Loven, Ph.D., Partner at Nextech Invest, will join the Boundless Bio Board of Directors.

"Boundless Bio has made tremendous progress since launching in 2019," said Zachary Hornby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boundless Bio. "Over the past two years our team has custom built a platform, called Spyglass, that enables us to interrogate ecDNA in cancer and reveal key therapeutically targetable liabilities in ecDNA-driven, gene amplified tumors. From these efforts, we have discovered and validated three ecDNA-essential targets and have initiated drug discovery against each. In addition, we are developing the ECHO companion diagnostic assay to identify patients with ecDNA-driven tumors. This financing round and stellar investor syndicate reflects the investment community’s appreciation for the high unmet clinical need of patients with oncogene amplified cancers and the promise of our innovative approach to targeting ecDNA to improve and prolong the lives of these patients."

ecDNA are circular units of DNA that contain functional genes and are highly transcriptionally active. ecDNA constitute a primary driver of gene amplification and copy number heterogeneity in cancer. ecDNA are present in many solid tumor cancers but generally not in healthy cells. Boundless Bio’s Spyglass platform combines proprietary ecDNA model systems with bespoke analytical tools to enable Boundless Bio scientists to interrogate ecDNA cancer biology to discover new cancer targets that are synthetically lethal in ecDNA-driven cancers. Boundless Bio is leveraging these insights to discover and develop innovative new precision medicines targeting the underlying cellular machinery that enables ecDNA to function in cancer.

"We invest in oncology companies with compelling science," said Jakob Loven, Ph.D., Partner at Nextech Invest. "ecDNA is a transformative new area of cancer biology, and Boundless Bio is the clear leader in the rapidly emerging field. The Boundless team has made remarkable progress since the company formation, demonstrating that ecDNA biology is tractable as a therapeutic approach and advancing a powerful platform, exciting early drug programs and a promising companion diagnostic approach. We are eager to work with the experienced Boundless team to transform cancer care for underserved patients with gene amplified cancers."

"RA Capital has been following the Boundless Bio story for some time now and believes that the team has developed industry-leading expertise in the biology that underlies high unmet need, gene amplified tumors," said Zach Scheiner, Ph.D., Principal at RA Capital Management. "Boundless Bio has shown ecDNA to be a driver of both tumor growth and resistance to targeted therapies, and the team is poised to make significant therapeutic advances in this exciting new field. We are pleased to support their efforts to help bring these potentially transformative therapies to patients in need."

Advaxis to Present at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2021 Annual Meeting

On April 28, 2021 Advaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADXS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of immunotherapy products, reported that will present data from Part B of the Phase 1 study of ADXS-503 in combination with pembrolizumab at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting being held virtually, on June 4-8, 2021 (Press release, Advaxis, APR 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234578641]).

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Presentation Details:

Title: A phase 1 study of an off-the-shelf, multi-neoantigen vector (ADXS-503) in subjects with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progressing on pembrolizumab as last therapy.
Session Type: Poster Session
Abstract Number: 2616
Date and Time: June 4, 2021, 9:00 AM (EDT)

Arbutus to Report First Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provide Corporate Update

On April 28, 2021 Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (Nasdaq: ABUS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on developing a cure for people with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, as well as therapies to treat coronaviruses (including COVID-19), reported that it has scheduled its first quarter 2021 financial results and corporate update for Wednesday, May 5, 2021 (Press release, Arbutus Biopharma, APR 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234578661]). The schedule for the press release and conference call/webcast are as follows:

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•1Q/2021 Press Release: Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 7:30 a.m. ET
•1Q/2021 Conference Call/Webcast: Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 8:45 a.m. ET
•Domestic Dial-In Number: (866) 393-1607
•International Dial-In Number: (914) 495-8556
•Conference ID Number: 4445858
A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed through the Investors section of Arbutus’ website at www.arbutusbio.com or directly at Live Webcast.

An archived webcast will be available on the Arbutus website after the event. Alternatively, you may access a replay of the conference call by calling (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, and reference conference ID: 4445858.

Illumina to Donate US $60 Million in Sequencing Capabilities to Establish a Global Pathogen Genomics Initiative

On April 28, 2021 Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) reported that it has committed US $60 million in sequencing capabilities to a global pathogen genomics initiative, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other public and private entities (Press release, Illumina, APR 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234578684]). The initiative expands on the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) announced in October 2020, and will help create a comprehensive pathogen genomic network around the world, building critical public health capabilities in areas of need.

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Illumina will donate next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms, reagents, and training support worth approximately US $60 million over five years. The expanded scope will begin with a focus on South Asia, equipping national public health institutions with better public health tools, bringing us closer to the vision of an early warning system for global pathogens.

"Rapidly identifying outbreaks and tracking their spread and evolution will save lives around the world and is essential to strengthening health care systems," said Francis deSouza, Chief Executive Officer of Illumina. "Genomics has the power to revolutionize the way public health entities manage biological threats, and this global initiative will help make NGS technology and expertise accessible in areas of need."

"Expanding access to pathogen sequencing will accelerate efforts to detect new epidemics before they spread widely and to monitor their transmission in real time for more targeted and precise response. Pathogen sequencing will also contribute to research and development efforts for new vaccines, diagnostics and treatments for current and emerging infectious diseases," said Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "It’s critical to empower scientists in South Asia, like we’re doing in Africa, with the tools they need to stay one step ahead of pathogens."

The model for the global initiative builds upon the framework of Africa PGI by bringing together key partners from public health institutions, government, private industry, and local labs to create a comprehensive ecosystem of support for successful genomics adoption, which extends beyond simply dropping in new technology. The initiative will consider issues such as logistics, training, and sustainability, and will expand by country depending on maturity and needs. Prioritized pathogens will be unique to each country or region, as the initiative empowers individual countries to drive the program according to their specific needs and priorities.

Genomics can enable early detection of novel viruses by rapidly characterizing new pathogens directly from specimens. Building pathogen genomics capabilities globally protects the health of everyone, since a threat in one place can quickly become a threat everywhere. In the future, genomics has the potential to concurrently provide comprehensive diagnosis of infections, antimicrobial resistance information, and pathogen surveillance for known and emerging threats.