On November 18, 2020 ImmunoGen, Inc., (Nasdaq: IMGN), a leader in the expanding field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer, reported that the following presentations by Company management at upcoming investor conferences will be webcast (Press release, ImmunoGen, NOV 18, 2020, View Source [SID1234571364]):

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Piper Sandler 32nd Annual Virtual Healthcare Conference
November 23 at 10:00am ET
Evercore ISI Annual HealthCONx Conference
December 1 at 12:10pm ET
A webcast of each presentation will be accessible through the Investors and Media section of the Company’s website, www.immunogen.com. Following the live webcast, a replay will be available at the same location.

On November 18, 2020 AbCellera, a technology company that searches, decodes, and analyzes natural immune systems to find antibodies that can be developed to prevent and treat disease, reported it has acquired Trianni, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at US$90 million (Press release, AbCellera, NOV 18, 2020, View Source [SID1234571365]). The acquisition deepens AbCellera’s technology stack with a suite of genetically engineered mice for generating diverse panels of human antibodies with drug-like properties.

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"Trianni marks our fourth and largest strategic technology addition to date. With its technology and team, Trianni amplifies our capability to generate human antibodies and provides a strong foundation for developing increasingly powerful transgenic mouse technologies," said Carl Hansen, Ph.D., CEO of AbCellera. "Trianni adds a key pillar to our platform, which now includes genetically engineered rodents, microfluidic single-cell screening, repertoire sequencing, AI-powered computation, and bispecific protein engineering. By integrating these technologies, we aim to provide our partners with access to a modern operating system that improves the speed and probability of success of antibody drug development."

Trianni’s genetic engineering technology is a platform for developing humanized mice. The flagship Trianni Mouse was designed to maximize immune responses, increase antibody diversity, and preserve natural maturation of fully human antibodies in rodents. The Trianni Mouse is also a core platform that supports the rapid development of new mouse strains tailored to address the most challenging antibody discovery programs. Several next-generation humanized mice are currently being developed and when launched aim to provide partners with the following benefits:

Generate multispecific antibodies and access difficult targets with the Heavy-Chain Only (HCO) Mouse, which expresses smaller, single domain antibodies that can reach target sites conventional IgG molecules cannot. HCO antibodies are ideally suited for applications in cell therapy and for bispecific and multispecific antibody therapeutics.
Break immune tolerance with the All-Epitope Mouse, which generates robust immune responses against highly-conserved, high-value drug targets such as GPCRs and ion channels that are prevalent in multiple diseases and indications, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological diseases, inflammation, and pain.
Target new epitopes with the DD Mouse, which has long CDR3 loops that can access "hidden" or recessed binding sites that are unreachable by conventional IgG molecules.
Maximize efficiency with the Eazysort Mouse, which allows up-front enrichment of immune cells that recognize the target to focus discovery efforts on only high-value antibodies of interest.

On November 18, 2020 EORTC reported that Results of the 15-year update of the EORTC 22922/10925 phase III trial on internal mammary and medial supraclavicular (IM-MS) lymph node irradiation in stage I–III breast cancer were published in The Lancet Oncology journal this month1 (Press release, EORTC, NOV 18, 2020, https://www.eortc.org/blog/2020/11/18/15-year-follow-up-of-eortc-22922-10925-phase-iii-trial-shows-reduction-in-breast-cancer-mortality-and-recurrence-but-does-not-confirm-improved-overall-survival/ [SID1234571309]).

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This trial assessed the impact on overall survival of elective IM-MS irradiation. Breast cancer can spread to the regional lymph nodes, through the axillary and internal mammary nodes to the medial supraclavicular nodes. Traditionally, non-metastasised breast cancer is treated by surgical resection of the primary tumour with surgical axillary staging and, in case of involved axillary lymph nodes, elective nodal irradiation of the non-dissected axillary, the internal mammary and medial supraclavicular lymph nodes. While studies have shown a favourable effect of locoregional postoperative irradiation, an increased risk of non-breast cancer-related mortality was also seen, which is assumed to be due to radiation on the heart, resulting in some centres continuing to use locoregional nodal treatment while others restricting their treatments.

This trial was conducted across 46 radiation oncology departments from 13 countries. A total of 4004 patients, up to the age of 75, with unilateral stage I–III adenocarcinoma of the breast, with axillary nodal involvement and/or a primary tumour located centrally or in the medial quadrants of the breast, were randomised to IM-MS irradiation or no IM-MS irradiation. Surgery consisted of mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery and axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Results showed that 27·7% patients in the IM-MS irradiation group and 28·4% patients in the control group had died. Overall survival rate at 15 years was 73·1% in the IM-MS irradiation group and 70·9% in the control group. Breast cancer recurrence and breast cancer mortality rates at 15 years were lower in the IM-MS irradiation group (24.5% and 16·0% respectively) than in the control group (27.1% and 19·8%, respectively). No significant differences were seen in the IM-MS irradiation group versus the control group for disease-free survival, or distant metastasis-free survival. Causes of death between groups were similar.

After a follow-up of 10.9 years, the study showed that regional nodal irradiation improved overall disease-free survival, distant disease-free survival, and breast cancer mortality. At 15·7 years of follow-up, the trial confirmed a significant reduction of breast cancer-related mortality and any recurrence after medial supraclavicular and internal mammary lymph node irradiation in stage I–III breast cancer. However, this is not translated into improved overall survival. Remarkably, toxicity after IM-MS irradiation was very limited, without an increased non-breast cancer related mortality.

Philip PoortmansProfessor Philip Poortmans, Principal Investigator of the study, from Iridium Kankernetwerk and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium commented: "The 15-year results of the EORTC trial hoped to shed light in the uncertainties surrounding selecting the right breast cancer patients for more extensive regional lymph node treatment. Unfortunately, it is not clear yet. For the time being, supported by the low level of side effects, we advise elective nodal irradiation for patients at high risk for recurrence, especially in case of a long-life expectancy and providing that modern volume-based treatment techniques are used. We continue follow-up up to 20 years and contribute to the ongoing EBCTCG meta-analysis, both helping to sort out the remaining questions."

On November 18, 2020 Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health" or the "Company") reported that it has priced and upsized its previously announced offering of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due 2029 (the "2029 Notes") and $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.250% senior notes due 2031 (the "2031 Notes" and, together with the 2029 Notes, the "Notes") (Press release, Bausch Health, NOV 18, 2020, View Source [SID1234571367]). The size of the offering reflects an increase of $250 million from the previously announced offering size of $1.75 billion. The 2029 Notes will be sold to investors at a price of 100% of the principal amount thereof, and the 2031 Notes will be sold to investors at a price of 100% of the principal amount thereof.

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The proceeds from the offering of the Notes, along with cash on hand, are expected to be used to fund the Company’s (i) previously announced conditional redemption (the "Euro Redemption") in full of its outstanding €1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.50% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "Euro Notes") and (ii) conditional redemption (the "5.50% Redemption") in full of its outstanding $233 million aggregate principal amount of 5.50% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "5.50% Notes" and, together with the Euro Notes, the "Existing Notes"), and to pay related fees and expenses. With these redemptions, Bausch Health will have no note maturities until 2024.

The Notes will be guaranteed by each of the Company’s subsidiaries that are guarantors under the Company’s credit agreement and existing senior notes. Consummation of the offering of the Notes is subject to various closing conditions.

The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Notes will be offered in the United States only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been and will not be qualified for sale to the public by prospectus under applicable Canadian securities laws and, accordingly, any offer and sale of the Notes in Canada will be made on a basis, which is exempt from the prospectus requirements of such securities laws.

This announcement does not constitute a notice of redemption with respect to the Existing Notes. The Euro Redemption is conditioned upon the completion by the Company or its subsidiaries of one or more debt financings in an aggregate principal amount of at least $1.75 billion, which the Company expects to satisfy upon closing of the offering of the Notes.

The Company also announced that it has issued today a conditional notice of redemption to redeem the full aggregate principal amount of outstanding 5.50% Notes. The 5.50% Redemption will be conditioned upon the completion by the Company or its subsidiaries of one or more debt financings in an aggregate principal amount of at least $2.0 billion (the "5.50% Condition"), which the Company expects to satisfy upon closing of the offering of the Notes.

A copy of the conditional notice of redemption with respect to the 5.50% Notes has been issued to the record holders of the 5.50% Notes. Payment of the redemption price and surrender of the 5.50% Notes for redemption will be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository Trust Company on Dec. 18, 2020, unless the 5.50% Condition is not satisfied, in which case the redemption date will be delayed until the 5.50% Condition is satisfied. The name and address of the paying agent are as follows: The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., c/o The Bank of New York Mellon; 111 Sanders Creek Parkway, East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057; Attn: Redemption Unit; Tel: (800) 254- 2826.

This news release is being issued pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities Act and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

On November 18, 2020 Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) reported that its Board of Directors has declared the first quarter dividend of $0.33 per share, payable on March 1, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 17, 2021 (Press release, Aflac, NOV 18, 2020, View Source [SID1234571370]). This represents a 17.9% increase over the previously declared fourth quarter dividend.

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Commenting on the announcement, Aflac Incorporated Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Amos said: "I am pleased with the Board’s action to increase the first quarter 2021 dividend. We treasure our record of 38 consecutive years of dividend increases, and we are looking to reward our shareholders by extending that track record in 2021. We remain committed to maintaining strong capital ratios on behalf of our policyholders and balance this financial strength with a focus on increasing the dividend, repurchasing shares and reinvesting in our business. Our dividend track record is supported by the strength of our capital and cash flows."