On June 10, 2020 AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) and Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) reported that AbbVie and Genmab have signed a broad collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize three of Genmab’s early-stage investigational bispecific antibody product candidates and enter into a discovery research collaboration for future differentiated antibody therapeutics for cancer (Press release, AbbVie, JUN 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234560959]). The companies will partner to develop Genmab’s next-generation bispecific antibody programs, epcoritamab (DuoBody-CD3xCD20), DuoHexaBody-CD37 and DuoBody-CD3x5T4. The collaboration combines Genmab’s world-class discovery and development engine and next-generation bispecific antibody therapeutic candidates with AbbVie’s deep clinical expertise, innovative antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform and global commercial leadership in hematological cancers.

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The discovery research collaboration will combine proprietary antibodies from both companies along with Genmab’s DuoBody technology and AbbVie’s payload and ADC technology to select and develop up to four additional differentiated next-generation antibody-based product candidates, potentially across both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Genmab’s DuoBody-CD3 technology engages and directs cytotoxic T cells selectively to tumors to elicit an immune response towards malignant tumor cells. AbbVie’s ADC technology allows the delivery of a therapeutic toxin directly to cancer cells while sparing normal, healthy cells, providing for a more targeted, less toxic treatment approach.

"This transformative collaboration will allow us to accelerate, broaden and maximize the development of some of our promising early-stage bispecific antibodies, including epcoritamab, with the ultimate goal of bringing these potential therapies much faster to cancer patients," said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. "Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a new journey for Genmab that combines our world-class knowledge in antibody biology and deep expertise in truly innovative next-generation antibody technology platforms, with AbbVie’s R&D prowess and their leadership position in hematological cancers."

"Epcoritamab is a strong fit for our robust hematological oncology franchise", said Michael Severino, M.D., Vice Chairman and President, AbbVie. "By combining the strengths of our two organizations, we can advance the treatment landscape for patients battling cancer."

Collaboration Details
This collaboration will provide for the joint development and commercialization of the three bispecific antibody therapeutic candidates. For epcoritamab, the companies will share commercial responsibilities in the U.S. and Japan, with AbbVie responsible for further global commercialization. Genmab will book net sales in the U.S. and Japan and receive tiered royalties on remaining global sales. For DuoHexaBody-CD37, DuoBody-CD3x5T4 and any product candidates developed as a result of the companies’ discovery research collaboration, Genmab and AbbVie will share responsibilities for global development and commercialization in the U.S. and Japan. Genmab retains the right to co-commercialize these products, along with AbbVie, outside of the U.S. and Japan. For the discovery research partnership, Genmab will conduct Phase 1 studies for these programs. AbbVie retains the right to opt-in to program development.

Financial Terms
Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will pay Genmab USD 750 million in upfront payment with the potential for Genmab to receive up to USD 3.15 billion in additional development, regulatory and sales milestone payments for all programs as well as tiered royalties between 22% and 26% on net sales for epcoritamab outside the U.S. and Japan. Except for these royalty-bearing sales, the parties share in pre-tax profits from the sale of products on a 50:50 basis. Included in these potential milestones are up to USD 1.15 billion in payments related to clinical development and commercial success across the three existing bispecific antibody programs. In addition, if all four next-generation antibody product candidates developed as a result of the discovery research collaboration are successful, Genmab is eligible to receive up to USD 2.0 billion in option exercise and success-based milestone payments.

Conference Call
Genmab will hold a conference call in English to discuss this news today, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at 6:00 AM CDT / 7:00 AM EDT / 1:00 PM CEST. The dial in numbers are:

+1 855 857 0686 (US participants)
+44 3333000804 (international participants)

Confirmation code: 48035919

A live and archived webcast of the call and relevant slides will be available at www.genmab.com.

About Epcoritamab (DuoBody-CD3xCD20)
Epcoritamab (DuoBody-CD3xCD20) is a bispecific antibody created using Genmab’s proprietary DuoBody technology. Epcoritamab is designed to target CD3, which is expressed on T cells and is part of the T cell receptor signaling complex, and CD20, a clinically well validated therapeutic target. CD20 is expressed on a majority of B cell malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). In a number of laboratory models, epcoritamab has shown highly effective killing of CD20+ tumors and induced potent tumor cell lysis across a panel of B cell tumor lines. Epcoritamab is currently evaluated in a Phase 1/2 study for multiple hematological B cell malignancies.

Complete dose escalation data for epcoritamab was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2020 (ASCO20) Virtual Scientific Program. The data and preliminary activity from the Phase 1/2 study of subcutaneous epcoritamab in patients with relapsed / refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) are highly encouraging showing substantial single-agent activity for epcoritamab with a manageable safety profile. In the study, epcoritamab induced rapid and deep responses in heavily pretreated patients with B-NHL across different subtypes and no dose-limiting toxicities were observed.

On June 10, 2020 Menarini Group, a privately held Italian pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, reported that is has successfully completed the acquisition of Stemline Therapeutics Inc., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel oncology therapeutics (Nasdaq: STML), for an aggregate cash consideration up to $677 million on a fully diluted basis (Press release, Menarini, JUN 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234560977]).

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The transaction, which was announced on 4 May 2020, strengthens Menarini’s oncology portfolio with the addition of both commercial and clinical-stage assets. Menarini acquired Stemline for an upfront payment of $11.50 per share in cash and one non-tradeable Contingent Value Right (CVR) that will entitle each holder to an additional $1.00 per share in cash upon completion of the first sale of ELZONRIS in any EU5 country after European Commission approval.

Stemline launched ELZONRIS for the treatment of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) in adult and pediatric patients, two years or older, following the approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration in December 2018. ELZONRIS is a novel targeted therapy directed to the interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor-α (CD123), a target present on a wide range of malignancies. In parallel, Stemline has been evaluating ELZONRIS in clinical trials in additional indications including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), myelofibrosis (MF), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and others. Stemline’s additional pipeline candidates include felezonexor (SL-801) (XPO1 inhibitor; Phase 1 in advanced solid tumor patients ongoing) and SL-1001 (RET kinase inhibitor, IND-enabling studies ongoing).

Elcin Barker Ergun, CEO of Menarini Group, commented, "We are very excited to complete the acquisition of Stemline and to welcome their accomplished team to Menarini. The addition of ELZONRIS, which has potential to treat many other malignancies, as well as the other attractive pipeline assets augments our research and development capabilities and will accelerate our efforts to deliver novel oncology therapeutics to patients in need."

About ELZONRIS

ELZONRIS (tagraxofusp), a targeted therapy directed to CD123, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and commercially available in the U.S. for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients, two years or older, with BPDCN. For full prescribing information in the U.S., visit www.ELZONRIS.com. In Europe, a marketing authorization application (MAA) is under review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

ELZONRIS is also being evaluated in additional clinical trials in other CD123+ indications, including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), myelofibrosis (MF), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and others are planned including a CD123+ all-comers trial.

About CD123

CD123 is a cell surface target expressed on a wide range of malignancies including blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), certain myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and myelofibrosis (MF), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (and potentially enriched in certain AML subsets), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). CD123 has also been reported on multiple myeloma (MM), acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), hairy cell leukemia (HCL), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), and certain Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL). In addition, CD123+ cells have been detected in the tumor microenvironment of several solid tumors as well as in certain autoimmune disorders including cutaneous lupus and scleroderma.

About BPDCN

BPDCN, formerly blastic NK-cell lymphoma, is an aggressive hematologic malignancy, often with cutaneous manifestations, with historically poor outcomes. BPDCN typically presents in the bone marrow and/or skin and may also involve lymph nodes and viscera. The BPDCN cell of origin is the plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) precursor. The diagnosis of BPDCN is based on the immunophenotypic diagnostic triad of CD123, CD4, and CD56, as well as other markers. The World Health Organization (WHO) termed this disease "BPDCN" in 2008; previous names included blastic NK cell lymphoma and agranular CD4+/CD56+ hematodermic neoplasm. For more information, please visit the BPDCN disease awareness website at www.bpdcninfo.com.

On June 10, 2020 Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: APVO), a biotechnology company focused on developing novel immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its proprietary ADAPTIR bispecific technology platform, and Alligator Bioscience AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: ATORX), a biotechnology company developing antibody-based pharmaceuticals for tumor-directed immunotherapy, reported that new preclinical data for ALG.APV-527 are being presented at the PEGS Virtual Interactive Global Summit, on June 10, 2020 in an oral presentation entitled, "ALG.APV-527: Tumor-directed T-cell stimulation, in vivo tumor regression, and safety studies of a 4-1BB x 5T4 ADAPTIR bispecific antibody (Press release, Alligator Bioscience, JUN 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234560960])."

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"Our latest preclinical data for ALG.APV-527 looks very encouraging and shows that ALG.APV-527 may overcome many of the limitations observed with other 4-1BB monoclonal antibody therapeutics by improving the biodistribution, efficacy and potential safety of this novel class of immunotherapies," said Jane Gross, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer for Aptevo. "Since ALG.APV-527 localizes at the tumor site, immune activation depends on binding with 5T4 tumor antigen to activate via 4-1BB, therefore limiting systemic activation seen with other 4-1BB agonists. Most interestingly, our latest preclinical data show the potential for a favorable safety profile for ALG.-APV-527. In a head-to-head comparison with a urelumab analogue in preclinical studies, ALG.APV-527 did not induce systemic T-cell activity at high doses, a key differentiator from other 4-1BB therapies."

ALG.APV-527 is a novel immunotherapeutic bispecific candidate intended for the treatment of multiple solid tumors expressing 5T4, a tumor-restricted antigen. 5T4 is an antigen that is highly expressed in a large percentage of solid tumors, including, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), head and neck cancer and mesothelioma. ALG.APV-527 is designed to activate anti-tumor responses by inducing signaling through the co-stimulatory receptor 4-1BB (CD137), which is an immune receptor that is upregulated on activated T cells and natural killer (NK) cells.

The preclinical data presented at the PEGS Virtual Interactive Global Summit show that ALG.APV-527 may overcome many of the limitations of competitor 4-1BB antibodies as it selectively enhances the function of activated T cells and NK cells in the presence of the tumor antigen 5T4, as shown in vitro, and potently rejects tumors in an in vivo animal model.

In a high-dose toxicity human 4-1BB knock-in murine study comparing ALG.APV-527 with a urelumab analogue, ALG.APV-527 was well tolerated at high doses with no evidence of systemic T-cell activation and no impact on body or spleen weight, whereas the urelumab analogue induced weight loss, systemic activation of T cells, and signs of ulcerative dermatitis.

In summary, the data presented at PEGS demonstrate that ALG.APV-527:

Enhances CD8+ T cell and NK function and proliferation upon 5T4-mediated engagement
Accumulates at 5T4-positive tumors in preclinical models
In an in vivo human 4-1BB knock-in model:
Induces rejection of established bladder cancer cells at low doses
Induces anti-tumor immunological memory responses
Does not induce systemic T-cell activation at high doses, which were observed in a side-by side comparison with a urelumab analogue

Is well tolerated after repeated dosing in a GLP toxicology study and displays an antibody-like half-life with a mean half-life of 8 days
"Our data supports that ALG.APV-527 has the potential to induce a strong anti-tumor immune response without systemic toxicity, which is exactly what we hoped to see," commented Christina Furebring, Ph.D., Vice President Projects at Alligator.

About ALG.APV-527
ALG.APV-527 is a bispecific antibody (4-1BB x 5T4) intended for tumor-directed treatment of solid cancers. ALG.APV-527 was built using Aptevo’s ADAPTIR bispecific platform and combines binding domains sourced from the ALLIGATOR-GOLD human scFv library. The ALG.APV-527 bispecific antibody consists of two moieties, one moiety activating tumor-specific T cells through the co-stimulatory receptor 4-1BB, the other moiety binding to the 5T4 protein displayed on the surface of tumor cells. This enables the immune-activating effect of ALG.APV-527 to be directed specifically to the tumor and not against normal tissue.

On June 10, 2020 Genetron Holdings Limited ("Genetron Health"), a China-based precision oncology company that covers full-cycle cancer care, reported that it has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Thermo Fisher Scientific ("Thermo Fisher") (Press release, Genetron Health Technologies, JUN 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234560978]). With plans to build on the sequencer Genetron S5 (Registration Number 20193220820), the partnership aims to enhance innovation, commercialization and promotion of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms in the field of molecular cancer diagnosis in China’s public hospitals.

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The partnership will introduce the Company’s medium-throughput NGS system Genetron S5 to public hospitals across China, promoting the application and development of Genetron S5 in more fields, such as reproductive health, genetic disease, pathological microorganism testing, and other independent clinical lab testing and scientific research.

"Genetron Health is committed to leading and empowering the cancer diagnostics and treatment industry," said Wang Sizhen, Co-Founder and CEO of Genetron Health. "We have been working with Thermo Fisher, one of our world-class partners, to create open, flexible, convenient and accurate molecular diagnostic products, and to offer a comprehensive one-stop solution. Our products and solutions are designed to empower medical institutions continuously improve their diagnostic and treatment capabilities, bringing more accurate and speedy services to the public."

" Thermo Fisher’s memorandum of understanding with Genetron in this field will help further our companies’ work together to develop IVD solutions for the fast-growing Chinese market," said Tony Acciarito, president of Thermo Fisher Scientific China "We look forward to generating significant customer value and promoting precision medicine to improve public health throughout China."

Genetron Health has received National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approval for clinical application of seven IVD products, which cover three major technology platforms: the NGS, dPCR and qPCR. The NGS platform, in particular, provides flexible combinations of products with low, medium and high-throughput. Genetron Health also offers overall R&D and commercialization solutions for in vitro diagnostic technologies available on multiple technology platforms and in various application scenarios, by fully exploring and tapping into the unique strength of each technology platform.

About Genetron S5

Genetron S5 platform approved by NMPA on November 1, 2019, is a medium-throughput NGS system that enables simple targeted sequencing workflows at an affordable price, without compromising on performance or reliability. Genetron S5 platform offers several throughput options, which provide the flexibility to scale from small to large projects, enabling multiple targeted sequencing applications on a single system. Based on the design, Genetron S5 is particularly suitable for hospitals as it offers more practical solutions and greater scalability.

On June 10, 2020 Celyad SA (Euronext & Nasdaq: CYAD), clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapies for cancer, reported the launch of its corporate rebranding, including changing its name to Celyad Oncology (Press release, Celyad, JUN 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234560961]). The new name highlights the Company’s significant progress with its next-generation CAR T programs and emphasizes its commitment to cancer patients.

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As part of the rebranding, the Company also introduced a new logo and launched a new corporate website, www.celyad.com. The Company’s common stock will continue trading on the Euronext and Nasdaq Global Market exchanges under the ticker symbol "CYAD".

"Our rebranding under Celyad Oncology more accurately reflects our team’s expertise in developing innovative cell therapies against cancer," said Filippo Petti, CEO of Celyad Oncology. "As we embark on this next chapter, we look forward to our continued evolution as we strive to shape the future of our off-the-shelf and personalized CAR T cell therapies for cancer patients with unmet medical needs. In addition, today’s announcement offers us the opportunity to reiterate our strong position in the field of oncology and increased strategic focus in our allogeneic CAR T franchise on the heels of our recent update at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) conference, which featured our non-gene edited allogeneic candidates and technology platforms."