On January 8, 2020 Transcenta Holding Limited ("Transcenta"), a global biotherapeutics company with fully-integrated capabilities in discovery, R&D, and manufacturing of antibody-based therapeutics, reported that it has sealed a 100 million USD series B+ round (Press release, Transcenta, JAN 8, 2020, View Source [SID1234552880]). CR-CP Life Science Fund ("CR-CP") and Fortune Capital co-led the financing round, participated by new investors including Epiphron Capital, CCT China Merchant Buyout Fund, China Equity Group, as well as the existing shareholders including Lilly Asia Ventures, Temasek, Hillhouse Capital, Teng Yue Partners, Sequoia Capital China, and ARCH Venture Partners. China Renaissance acted as the exclusive financial advisor for this transaction.

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Since the merger at the beginning of last year, Transcenta has made significant progresses, for example, it has built a well-rounded team with extensive global industrial experience, assembled a robust pipeline with over 10 innovative molecules in oncology, bone disorders and nephrology, and adopted integrated continuous process and manufacturing in its Hangzhou facility, signed an exclusive license agreement for Greater China with Eli Lilly and Company regarding a portfolio of novel antibodies for bone diseases, including the phase 2-completed Blosozumab for osteoporosis, etc.

"We very much appreciate the continuous support from our existing investors and the trust from new investors. The proceeds from new funding will be used to advance lead programs, including a second generation Claudin 18.2 antibody, a PDL1-TGFβ bispecific antibody and other oncology assets with undisclosed targets, as well as Blosozumab, a transformative agent for the treatment of severe osteoporosis. In addition, Transcenta is to further expand its continuous manufacturing capability and employ it at full scale in order to reduce cost of goods, as an important competitive edge. Finally, we are planning to strengthen our senior management team to prepare for IPO," commented Dr. Xueming Qian, Transcenta’s Co-Founder and CEO.

"This is the first and successful financing round of Transcenta as the merged company. We are very thankful in particular to our new investors for their faith in us. And we will focus our resources on delivering our pipeline," said Transcenta’s Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Dr. Jonathan Y. Zhao. "Transcenta has become a fully integrated biotherapeutics company with comprehensive capabilities. We are committed to transcending the best and bringing quality and affordable biotherapeutics to all the patients."

Mr. Da Liu, Managing Director of CR-CP, stated "We are pleased to team up with other prominent investors investing in Transcenta and supporting the elite team anchored by the two top minds, Dr. Qian and Dr. Zhao. Transcenta has firmly established itself as an integrated biotech company with cutting-edge technology platforms ranging from discovery to manufacturing. We share the Company’s mission to providing patients worldwide with innovative and affordable biologics, and will actively extend resources from CR and CP to support the Company’s growth. I have confidence that this company will become a unicorn."

Mr. Shen Qi, Senior Vice President and Head of Healthcare Investment at Fortune Capital, said "We appreciate having the chance to support Transcenta team in this financing round together with the other investors. Transcenta has built up, through its integrated technology platform, an innovative and robust pipeline with huge potentials. We believe that Transcenta will become the next-generation biotech company with the most competitive edges by adhering to its core advantages as ‘innovation, quality, speed and cost-efficiency.’"

Kevin Xie, Managing Director of China Renaissance, stated "We are honored and excited advising Transcenta in its first and successful financing round upon the merger. We believe with its integrated capabilities and the world-class management, Transcenta is to become the flagship company in biotherapeutics arena."

On January 8, 2020 NexImmune, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel immune-therapeutics based on a proprietary Artificial Immune Modulation (AIM) nanotechnology platform, reported that industry veterans Han Myint, MD, and John Trainer, MBA, have been appointed as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively (Press release, NexImmune, JAN 8, 2020, View Source [SID1234554873]).

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Dr. Myint commented, "I am very excited to join NexImmune at such a time where I can leverage my professional experience to oversee the Company’s first two clinical trials for NEXI-001 and NEXI-002 in patients with relapsed forms of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Multiple Myeloma, respectively. The Company has developed a novel technology that direcects endogenous T cells against multiple tumor antigen targets. For patients suffering from a variety of cancers, I believe this approach has the potential to deliver potent anti-tumor activity while minimizing potential off-target toxicities, and I am looking forward to working with team to make this a reality for these patients."

Trainer commented, "The tremendous potential of the NexImmune AIM platform in multiple types of cancer and other disease areas is a significant growth opportunity. Scaling up and financing this growth through additional capital raises, partnerships and a potential IPO will be a top priority. I’m excited to be a part of the NexImmune team as we push forward on our mission to help patients."

Dr. Myint most recently served as the Vice President of Global Medical Affairs – Myeloid Diseases at Celgene. While in that role, he led the Global Franchise Team – Myeloid, and worked very closely with cross-functional teams representing commercial, market access, regulatory, translational and clinical functions to create a cohesive global disease strategy for all development stage compounds in the Myeloid disease pipeline including AML, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Myelofibrosis and Thalassemia. Prior to his six year tenure at Celgene, Dr. Myint practiced academic hematology at multiple prestigious institutions, including Rush University in Chicago, and became a Fellow at the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Pathologists in London, England. He has expertise and clinical experience in hematological malignancies and stem cell transplantation. Additionally, Dr. Myint built a FACT-accredited and Center of Excellence-Designated Transplant Program at the University of Colorado, Denver, while becoming a fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Trainer most recently served as Vice President and Head of Partnering & Strategy for MedImmune, the biologics-focused R&D unit of AstraZeneca. There, he led all in-licensing, out-licensing and collaboration work for MedImmune including such transactions as the spin-out of Viela Bio (which raised a $250m Series A). Trainer was also responsible for working with partners such as Johns Hopkins University and the NIH to help develop promising new companies and technologies. Previous to that role, Trainer was Vice President, Corporate Development for AstraZeneca and the commercial leader for AstraZeneca’s Infection, Neuroscience and Gastrointestinal group globally, as well as holding a variety of financial, transactional and commercial roles at MedImmune. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his undergraduate degree from Harvard College.

Scott Carmer, President and CEO of NexImmune, commented on the additions to the Company’s Executive Leadership Team, "I am thrilled to have both Han and John join our team. Individually, each is a highly respected and accomplished industry leader. Together, their combined experience, expertise and leadership will be a strong complement to those of our existing executive team. As we initiate our first clinical trials in 1Q2020, NexImmune is now poised to exploit the full potential of our unique technology platform for the benefit of patients in need."

On January 8, 2020 UroGen Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: URGN), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to building novel solutions that treat specialty cancers and urologic diseases because patients deserve better options, reported that Liz Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the 38th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 1:30 PM Pacific Time (Press release, UroGen Pharma, JAN 8, 2020, View Source [SID1234552865]). The event will be held in San Francisco at the Westin St. Francis.

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A live audio webcast of the event will be available on the Investors section of UroGen’s website, www.urogen.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the website for approximately two weeks.

On January 8, 2020 ArcherDX, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company dedicated to developing breakthrough solutions that advance the application of personalized genomic medicine, reported that Jason Myers, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, will present an overview of the company and its products at the 38th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, California (Press release, ArcherDX, JAN 8, 2020, View Source [SID1234552881]).

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Event:

38th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

Presenter:

Jason Myers, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, ArcherDX

Date:

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Time:

9:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Dr. Myers will outline ArcherDX’s plans to introduce IVD test kits for pan-solid tumor companion diagnostics (STRATAFIDE) and personalized cancer monitoring, which, once approved, will enable individualized genomic cancer treatment to be practiced at any level of the health care system, from academic centers to community practices. He will also provide an update on the growing demand for on-site and local genomic testing for both research and clinical applications.

On January 8, 2020 Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: "HBP") ("Helix" or the "Company"), an immuno-oncology company developing innovative drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, reported it has been selected to present at the Biotech Showcase Conference on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 11:00am (PT) at Hilton San Francisco Union Square (Press release, Helix BioPharma, JAN 8, 2020, View Source [SID1234553138]).

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Biotech Showcase Conference, produced by Demy-Colton and EBD Group, is an investor and networking conference devoted to providing private and public biotechnology and life sciences companies with an opportunity to present to, and meet with, investors and pharmaceutical executives in one place during the course of one of the industry’s largest annual healthcare investor conferences, J.P. Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference.

During the conference, Helix will discuss its current development programs and opportunities for partnership. Helix will also update clinical progress on L-DOS47, its lead candidate for the treatment of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.

"We are making excellent progress with our various DOS47 clinical initiatives," said Dr. Heman Chao, Helix’s Chief Executive Officer. "I look forward to updating everyone with our progress, especially our new pancreatic cancer study where we recently commenced patient dosing."