On October 4, 2019 Elicio Therapeutics reported that Six months after raising a $30 million series A round, Elicio has added $33 million via its B round to begin Phase I/II testing of its KRAS-driven cancer vaccine ELI-002 and advance its other immunotherapies (Press release, Elicio Therapeutics, OCT 4, 2019, View Source [SID1234540058]).

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Elicio Therapeutics’ Amphiphile platform, which attaches antigens to an albumin-binding lipid tail for transport to lymph nodes, was developed by co-founder Darrell Irvine. Irvine is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor of materials science and engineering and of biological engineering.

CEO Robert Connelly told BioCentury that the series B, led by new investor Livzon Pharmaceutical Group, was driven by Elicio’s preclinical data, investor interest in KRAS and the potential for a near-term clinical readout for ELI-002.

In August, Elicio presented preclinical data at the Immuno-Oncology Summit in Boston showing that ELI-002 generated immune responses against all common KRAS mutations, resulting in cytolytic activity against cells expressing the mutations. It plans to begin a controlled Phase I/II trial in 90 post-resection pancreatic cancer patients next half, with initial data due in 2H20.

The vaccine contains seven Amphiphile-modified peptides, each corresponding to the seven KRAS mutations driving the majority of KRAS-driven cancers. Connelly said that the most commonly targeted KRAS mutation, G12C, isn’t a major driver of pancreatic cancer. By immunizing against the seven KRAS mutations, ELI-002 could target the cancer’s existing mutation as well as prepare the immune system to respond to emergence of a new KRAS mutation.

ELI-002’s next indications are colorectal cancer, which Connelly said is proving to not be a G12C-driven cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. See View Source for full story

On October 4, 2019 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, reported that it will report third quarter 2019 results on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, before the market opens (Press release, Quest Diagnostics, OCT 4, 2019, View Source [SID1234540060]). It will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss the results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on that day.

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The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-455-0391 within the U.S. and Canada, or 773-756-0467 internationally, using the passcode: "Investor." The earnings release and live webcast will be posted on www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor. The company suggests participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call.

A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or by phone at
888-566-0408 for domestic callers or 402-998-0597 for international callers; no passcode is required. Telephone replays will be available from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on October 22, 2019 until midnight Eastern Time on November 5, 2019.

Anyone listening to the call is encouraged to read the company’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and historical results of operations and financial condition in those reports.

On October 4, 2019 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, reported that it will report third quarter 2019 results on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, before the market opens (Press release, Quest Diagnostics, OCT 4, 2019, View Source [SID1234540061]). It will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss the results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on that day.

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Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-455-0391 within the U.S. and Canada, or 773-756-0467 internationally, using the passcode: "Investor." The earnings release and live webcast will be posted on www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor. The company suggests participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call.

A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or by phone at
888-566-0408 for domestic callers or 402-998-0597 for international callers; no passcode is required. Telephone replays will be available from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on October 22, 2019 until midnight Eastern Time on November 5, 2019.

Anyone listening to the call is encouraged to read the company’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and historical results of operations and financial condition in those reports.

On October 4, 2019 I-Mab Biopharma ("I-Mab"), a China and U.S.-based clinical stage biopharmaceutical company exclusively focused on the discovery and development of novel or highly differentiated biologics in immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases, reported that its IND application for TJD5, a novel CD73 antibody has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration(NMPA) to initiate clinical trials in patients with advanced solid tumours in China (Press release, I-Mab Biopharma, OCT 4, 2019, View Source [SID1234540045]).

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TJD5 is a proprietary, differentiated blocking antibody against CD73, a surface enzyme on stromal cells and cancer cells responsible for the production of adenosine, which is highly immunosuppressive. TJD5 is currently being investigated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S. to assess the tolerability and preliminary efficacy both as a single agent and in combination with TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab), a PD-L1 antibody marketed by Roche in the U.S., and Tuoyi (toripalimab), a PD-1 antibody marketed by Junshi Biosciences in China, in patients with varying types of tumours.

"We are currently conducting clinical trials with five of our novel drug candidates in China and are very pleased with the recent submission and acceptance of TJD5 by NMPA", said Jingwu Zang, MD., PhD., Founder and Chairman of I-Mab Biopharma. TJD5 is a highly differentiated and innovative potential cancer drug being developed by I-Mab and we are excited about reaching this important milestone in our efforts to bring high quality innovative treatments to improve the lives of patients."

About TJD5

TJD5 is a differentiated monoclonal antibody against a promising immuno-oncology target. It is believed to stimulate the immuno-suppressive tumour micro-environment and to work in concert with other cancer therapies such as PD-1 and PD-L1 antibodies. TJD5 is in a Phase 1 clinical trial in the US, and is a proprietary, innovative CD73 monoclonal antibody from I-Mab’s discovery pipeline with best-in-class potential

On October 4, 2019 Qurient reported the company has established a joint venture with Professors Robert Huber, a researcher at Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1988, and Michael Hamacher of the Lead Discovery Center (LDC) (Press release, QLi5 Therapeutics, OCT 4, 2019, View Source [SID1234654541]).

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Both Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie and LDC are based in Germany.

The joint venture will develop anticancer drugs and immunotherapy using proteasome inhibition technology, Qurient said in a press release on Friday.

Proteasome is a complex of protease involved in cancer cell growth. One of the most well-known treatments that use proteasome is Takeda’s Velcade. The drug is a blockbuster drug with 5 trillion won ($4.1 billion) in sales in 2018. Takeda acquired the drug from Millennium pharmaceuticals, a U.S. firm, for about 10 trillion won in 2008.

Qurient had been consulting with Max-Planck-Institut and LDC to secure their proteasome inhibition technology and agreed with the two German institutions to acquire the technology at the current optimizing stage. As the company has managed to set up a joint venture firm with the two institutes, it expects to accelerate research using the underlying technologies and development capabilities of the Max-Planck-Institut and LDC.

Qurient will be the major shareholder of the joint venture, while Max-Planck-Institut, LDC and Professor Huber will invest in the company as shareholders.

"The company has increased its chance of success as both the German research institutes and Professor Huber will participate in future research and development as shareholders of the joint venture," Qurient CEO Nam Ki-yean said.