On April 6, 2020 BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) reported that it will conduct a live webcast of its second fiscal quarter 2020 earnings conference call on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. (ET) (Press release, BD Pharmaceutical Systems, APR 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234556154]). BD will issue a press release detailing the quarter’s earnings earlier that morning.

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The webcast of the conference call, along with related slides, will be accessible through BD’s website at www.bd.com/investors and will be available for replay through Thursday, May 14, 2020.

On April 6, 2020 Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) reported that Evotec GT, with operations in Austria, has established a long-term research alliance with Takeda to support Takeda’s growing number of research stage gene therapy discovery programmes (Press release, Evotec, APR 6, 2020, View Source;announcements/press-releases/p/evotec-and-takeda-enter-into-multi-year-gene-therapy-research-alliance-5925 [SID1234556136]).

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Evotec GT is an integral part of Evotec’s integrated fully modality-agnostic drug discovery platform that combines all activities involved with the discovery, development, and manufacturing of therapeutics along the value chain.

Under the alliance, Evotec will support multiple Takeda programmes targeting conditions aligned with Takeda’s four core therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Diseases, Neuroscience and Gastroenterology. The alliance leverages Evotec’s growing gene therapy capabilities as well as Evotec’s broader drug discovery platform.

Dr Steven Hitchcock, Global Head of Research for Takeda, said: "We are excited to be broadening and expanding our discovery efforts with the Evotec team. Gene therapy is a growing therapeutic approach in our portfolio and this alliance with Evotec will help us further accelerate our delivery of transformative therapies for patients, particularly those with rare diseases."

Dr Craig Johnstone, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: "We’re pleased to expand the scope of our collaboration with Takeda into gene therapy by establishing an alliance with Takeda. This new alliance demonstrates the value of our multimodality platform with innovative technologies and best-in-class execution for addressing the most urgent requirements of our partners. Relationships like this will transform industry’s approach to drug discovery and development to ultimately find new therapies."

No financial details of the agreement were disclosed.

On April 6, 2020 Luminex Corporation reported 1st quarter 2020 revenues of just over $90 million, up approximately 10% over the 1st quarter of 2019 and approximately 8% above the top end of its previously communicated 1st quarter revenue guidance range of $82 to $84 million. Highlights include (Press release, Luminex, APR 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234556155]):

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Molecular Diagnostics Revenue of approximately $45 million, up more than 25% vs. Q1 2019, driven by SARS-CoV-2 pandemic-related sales:
Non-automated assays of $19 million, up more than 15% vs. Q1 2019
Sample-to-answer business of approximately $26 million, up more than 50% vs. Q1 2019
Automated assays of $23 million, up more than 35% vs. Q1 2019
Record sample-to-answer system placements: approximately 120 systems were sold or contracted, the majority of which were ARIES
Strong demand continues across all Respiratory/COV-19 products
Licensed Technologies Group revenue of approximately $37 million, up 5% vs. Q1 2019:
Placed 223 XMap systems, 6% higher than the 1st Qtr of 2019
In-line with expectations
Flow Cytometry revenue of more than $6 million
Down more than 40% vs. Q1 2019, but down just over 20% when adjusted for over $2 million of confirmed orders we have been unable to install due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Significantly affected by slowdown in academic research
"During the first quarter, and in the face of a global pandemic, our diversified business performed very well and showcased both our flexibility and creativity. In these challenging times, our organization has stepped up and provided multiple solutions to the marketplace, including several recent Emergency Use Authorized SARS-CoV-2 tests," said Nachum "Homi" Shamir, President and CEO. "Through the tireless efforts of our front-line employees, we have ramped up manufacturing to accommodate the ever-increasing needs of our customers, both existing and new. We look forward to providing a more detailed analysis of our full results during our quarterly results call."

The full financial results for the quarter and any changes to 2020 guidance and/or provision thereof, will be discussed on our first quarter earnings call, currently scheduled for May 11, 2020.

On April 6, 2020 Boston Biomedical, Inc. reported the first patient has been dosed in a phase 1 study evaluating the investigational agent TP-3654, a PIM kinase inhibitor, in patients with intermediate-2 and high-risk primary or secondary myelofibrosis (Press release, Boston Biomedical, APR 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234556156]). The multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation study will identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose as well as assess the overall safety of oral TP-3654 as a monotherapy administered in patients with myelofibrosis who have been previously treated and failed or are ineligible to receive treatment with a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor.

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"The initiation of this study marks an important milestone for our company as we continue to advance our oncology portfolio of investigational compounds into the clinical setting. Also, it is the first compound originating from our affiliate, Tolero Pharmaceuticals, that Boston Biomedical will develop," said Patricia S. Andrews, Chief Executive Officer and Global Head of Oncology. "We look forward to learning more about the safety profile and potential activity of TP-3654 in myelofibrosis."

Secondary objectives of the study are to establish the pharmacokinetic profile, assess preliminary clinical activity and determine the safety profile of TP-3654 as a single agent. The study also includes an exploratory objective to evaluate potential pharmacodynamic markers in patients receiving TP-3654 as monotherapy.

The trial is being conducted at sites in the United States. Additional information on this trial, including comprehensive inclusion and exclusion criteria, can be accessed at www.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04176198).

About TP-3654
TP-3654 is an investigational second-generation selective PIM kinase inhibitor under evaluation in a phase 1 study in patients with myelofibrosis (NCT04176198), led by Boston Biomedical, as well as a phase 1 study in patients with advanced solid tumors (NCT03715504), led by Tolero Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

About PIM Kinase
PIM kinases are major effectors of JAK/STAT proliferative signaling downstream of multiple growth factors and cytokines.1 PIM is overexpressed in cancers and it may enhance the ability of fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts.1

On April 6, 2020 AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) ("AbbVie") reported the extension of the expiration date of the offers to exchange (each, an "Exchange Offer" and, collectively, the "Exchange Offers") any and all outstanding notes of certain series issued by Allergan Finance, LLC ("Allergan Finance"), Allergan, Inc. ("Allergan Inc"), Allergan Sales, LLC ("Allergan Sales") and Allergan Funding SCS ("Allergan Funding" and, together with Allergan Finance, Allergan Inc and Allergan Sales, "Allergan") (the "Allergan Notes") for new notes to be issued by AbbVie (the "AbbVie Notes") and the related consent solicitations (each, a "Consent Solicitation" and, collectively, the "Consent Solicitations") being made by AbbVie on behalf of Allergan to adopt certain amendments to each of the indentures (each, an "Allergan Indenture") governing the Allergan Notes. AbbVie hereby extends such expiration date from 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 10, 2020 to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 24, 2020 (as the same may be further extended, the "Expiration Date") (Press release, AbbVie, APR 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234556141]).

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On the early participation date of November 7, 2019, requisite consents were received and supplemental indentures were executed eliminating substantially all of the covenants, restrictive provisions, events of default and any guarantees of the related Allergan Notes in each Allergan Indenture. Such supplemental indentures will become operative only upon settlement of the Exchange Offers.

The Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations were commenced in connection with AbbVie’s previously announced proposed acquisition of Allergan plc (the "Acquisition") and are being made pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the confidential offering memorandum and consent solicitation statement, dated October 25, 2019, and the related letter of transmittal, each as amended by the press releases dated November 18, 2019, December 20, 2019, January 27, 2020, February 24, 2020, March 9, 2020 and March 23, 2020 and as amended hereby (collectively, the "Offering Documents"), and are conditioned upon the closing of the Acquisition, which condition may not be waived by AbbVie, and certain other conditions that may be waived by AbbVie.

The settlement date for the Exchange Offers is expected to occur promptly after the Expiration Date and the Expiration Date of each of the Exchange Offers is expected to be extended to occur on or about the closing date of the Acquisition. As a result, the Expiration Date may be further extended one or more times. AbbVie currently anticipates providing notice of any such extension in advance of the Expiration Date.

Except as described in this press release, all other terms of the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations remain unchanged.

Documents relating to the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations will only be distributed to eligible holders of Allergan Notes who complete and return an eligibility form confirming that they are either a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or not a "U.S. person" and outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act. Except as amended by the press releases dated November 18, 2019, December 20, 2019, January 27, 2020, February 24, 2020, March 9, 2020 and March 23, 2020 and as amended hereby, the complete terms and conditions of the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations are described in the Offering Documents, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the exchange agent and information agent in connection with the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations, at (866) 470-3900 (U.S. toll-free) or (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers). The eligibility form is available electronically at: View Source

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of tenders or consents with respect to, any security. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations are being made solely pursuant to the Offering Documents and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as are permitted under applicable law.

The AbbVie Notes offered in the Exchange Offers have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Therefore, the AbbVie Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.