MOLECULAR PARTNERS TO PRESENT AT THE 37th ANNUAL J.P. MORGAN HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE

On January 7, 2019 Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the use of DARPin therapeutics* to treat serious diseases, reported that it will present at the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 8:00 AM Pacific Standard Time (11:00 AM Eastern Time; 5:00 PM CET) (Press release, Molecular Partners, JAN 7, 2019, View Source [SID1234532536]). The presentation, followed by a Q&A session, will be hosted by Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO of Molecular Partners.

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Beyond highlighting the progress of the clinical DARPin compounds and the evolution of the company’s therapeutic design space in oncology research, the presentation will outline the collaboration and license agreement for the clinical development and commercialization of MP0310 (FAP x 4-1BB) which the company and Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) announced on December 19, 2018. MP0310 is a preclinical molecule designed to locally activate immune cells in the tumor by binding to FAP on tumor stromal cells (localizer) and co-stimulating T cells via 4-1BB (immune modulator).

Audio webcast
The presentation will be webcast live. A copy of the presentation handout as well as a replay of the webcast will be made available on the company’s website www.molecularpartners.com under the Investors section. The replay will be available for 30 days following the presentation.

Financial Calendar
February 7, 2019 – Publication of Full-year Results 2018 (unaudited)
March 15, 2019 – Expected Publication of Annual Report 2018
April 16, 2019 – Annual General Meeting
May 9, 2019 – Interim Management Statement Q1 2019
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About the DARPin Difference
DARPin therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics opening an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin candidates are potent, specific, safe and very versatile. They can engage more than 5 targets at once, offering potential benefits over those offered by conventional monoclonal antibodies or other currently available protein therapeutics.
The DARPin technology is a fast and cost-effective drug discovery engine, producing drug candidates with ideal properties for development and very high production yields.

With their good safety profile, low immunogenicity and long half-life in the bloodstream and the eye, DARPin therapeutics have the potential to advance modern medicine and significantly improve the treatment of serious diseases, including cancer and sight-threatening disorders. Molecular Partners is partnering with Allergan to advance clinical programs in ophthalmology, and is advancing a proprietary pipeline of DARPin drug candidates in oncology and immuno-oncology. The most advanced global product candidate is abicipar, a molecule currently in phase 3, in partnership with Allergan. Several DARPin molecules for various ophthalmic indications are also in development. The most advanced DARPin therapeutic candidate wholly owned by Molecular Partners, MP0250, is in phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological tumors. MP0274, the second-most advanced DARPin drug candidate owned by Molecular Partners, has broad anti-HER activity; it inhibits HER1, HER2 and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. MP0274 is currently in phase 1. Molecular Partners is also advancing a growing preclinical pipeline that features several immuno-oncological development programs. DARPin is a registered trademark owned by Molecular Partners AG.

Chi-Med to Present at the 37th Annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference

On January 7, 2019 Hutchison China MediTech Limited ("Chi-Med") (AIM/Nasdaq: HCM) reported that Christian Hogg, Chief Executive Officer, will present at the 37th Annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 9:30am PST in San Francisco, CA (Press release, Hutchison China MediTech, JAN 7, 2019, View Source [SID1234532552]).

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The presentation will be webcast live and can be accessed at www.chi-med.com in the Shareholder Information section under "Events, Circulars & Forms." Investors interested in listening to the live webcast should log on before the start time to download any software required. A replay of the event will be available shortly thereafter, for 90 days.

Alnylam Announces Unaudited Fourth Quarter 2018 Global Revenues for ONPATTRO® (patisiran) and Provides Additional Commercial Updates

On January 7, 2019 Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), the leading RNAi therapeutics company, reported its unaudited fourth quarter 2018 global net product revenues for ONPATTRO and provided additional updates on the product’s commercial launch (Press release, Alnylam, JAN 7, 2019, View Source [SID1234532505]). These updates will be discussed during a webcast presentation at the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, California today, Monday, January 7, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. PT (1:30 p.m. ET). Specifically, the Company reported:

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ONPATTRO global net product revenues (unaudited) for the fourth quarter of 2018 were $11-12 million.

As of year-end 2018, over 200 patients in the U.S. and EU were receiving commercial ONPATTRO treatment, and approximately 550 total patients worldwide, including patients on commercial drug and patients in clinical studies and in the Company’s global Expanded Access Program (EAP), were being treated with patisiran.

In the U.S., a total of 250 Start Forms were submitted as of year-end 2018. Of these, approximately 50% were from patients previously treated on the ONPATTRO EAP.

The Start Forms came from a diverse range of prescribing physician specialties, including 44% neurologists, 35% cardiologists, and 21% from other specialties.

For Start Forms received, 62% of patients were covered by Medicare, 32% were covered by commercial insurers, and 6% were covered by other government insurers.

Significant progress has been made with value-based agreements (VBAs) in the U.S. and with market access efforts in the EU. Since launch, Alnylam has completed full VBAs with Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Humana, and another top five U.S. payer. Additional VBAs are under negotiation with over 15 other commercial payers with the potential to cover over 90% of commercial lives in the U.S.

"2018 was a landmark year for Alnylam, marked by the approval and launch in the U.S. and EU of ONPATTRO, heralding the arrival of RNAi therapeutics as a whole new class of medicines. Our unaudited fourth quarter 2018 global net product revenues of $11-12 million, with over 200 patients receiving treatment with commercial ONPATTRO in the U.S. and EU since launch, reflect strong patient and physician demand and excellent commercial execution by our U.S. and EU teams," said John Maraganore, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alnylam. "As we enter 2019, we are excited to continue our global launch of ONPATTRO, bringing the benefits of this innovative therapy to hATTR patients with polyneuropathy around the world, while also working to potentially expand the label for ONPATTRO to include ATTR amyloidosis patients with cardiomyopathy. We also look forward to achieving meaningful milestones across our broad late-stage pipeline of investigational RNAi therapeutics."

In addition, the Company today reported that at December 31, 2018, it had cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities, and restricted investments, excluding equity securities, of approximately $1.1 billion (unaudited). The Company intends to provide 2019 financial guidance on non-GAAP R&D and SG&A expenses and year-end cash balance in connection with its full, audited fourth quarter and year-end 2018 financial results in February 2019.

About ONPATTRO (patisiran)

Patisiran, based on Nobel Prize-winning science, is an intravenously administered RNAi therapeutic targeting transthyretin (TTR) for the treatment of hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. It is designed to target and silence TTR messenger RNA, thereby blocking the production of TTR protein before it is made. Patisiran blocks the production of TTR in the liver, reducing its accumulation in the body’s tissues in order to halt or slow down the progression of the disease. In August 2018, patisiran received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of the polyneuropathy of hATTR amyloidosis in adults, as well as European Medicines Agency marketing authorization for the treatment of hATTR amyloidosis in adults with Stage 1 or Stage 2 polyneuropathy.

Important Safety Information

Infusion-Related Reactions

Infusion-related reactions (IRRs) have been observed in patients treated with ONPATTRO. In a controlled clinical study, 19 percent of ONPATTRO-treated patients experienced IRRs, compared to 9 percent of placebo-treated patients. The most common symptoms of IRRs with ONPATTRO were flushing, back pain, nausea, abdominal pain, dyspnea, and headache.

To reduce the risk of IRRs, patients should receive premedication with a corticosteroid, paracetamol, and antihistamines (H1 and H2 blockers) at least 60 minutes prior to ONPATTRO infusion. Monitor patients during the infusion for signs and symptoms of IRRs. If an IRR occurs,

consider slowing or interrupting the infusion and instituting medical management as clinically indicated. If the infusion is interrupted, consider resuming at a slower infusion rate only if symptoms have resolved. In the case of a serious or life-threatening IRR, the infusion should be discontinued and not resumed.

Reduced Serum Vitamin A Levels and Recommended Supplementation

ONPATTRO treatment leads to a decrease in serum vitamin A levels. Supplementation at the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin A is advised for patients taking ONPATTRO. Higher doses than the RDA should not be given to try to achieve normal serum vitamin A levels during treatment with ONPATTRO, as serum levels do not reflect the total vitamin A in the body.

Patients should be referred to an ophthalmologist if they develop ocular symptoms suggestive of vitamin A deficiency (e.g. night blindness).

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions that occurred in patients treated with ONPATTRO were respiratory-tract infection (29 percent) and infusion-related reactions (19 percent).

About LNP Technology

Alnylam has licenses to Arbutus Biopharma LNP intellectual property for use in RNAi therapeutic products using LNP technology.

About RNAi

RNAi (RNA interference) is a natural cellular process of gene silencing that represents one of the most promising and rapidly advancing frontiers in biology and drug development today. Its discovery has been heralded as "a major scientific breakthrough that happens once every decade or so," and was recognized with the award of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. By harnessing the natural biological process of RNAi occurring in our cells, a new class of medicines, known as RNAi therapeutics, is now a reality. Small interfering RNA (siRNA), the molecules that mediate RNAi and comprise Alnylam’s RNAi therapeutic platform, function upstream of today’s medicines by potently silencing messenger RNA (mRNA) – the genetic precursors – that encode for disease-causing proteins, thus preventing them from being made. This is a revolutionary approach with the potential to transform the care of patients with genetic and other diseases.

Quest Diagnostics To Release Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2018 Financial Results On February 14

On January 7, 2019 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, reported that it will report fourth quarter and full year 2018 results on Thursday, February 14, 2019, before the market opens (Press release, Quest Diagnostics, JAN 7, 2019, View Source [SID1234532521]). 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 866-424-7881 for domestic callers or 203-369-0869 for international callers, no passcode is required. Telephone replays will be available from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on February 14, 2019 until midnight Eastern Time on February 28, 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.

Stemline Therapeutics Announces Submission of European Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for ELZONRIS™

On January 7, 2019 Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:STML), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel oncology therapeutics, reported that it has submitted the marketing authorization application (MAA) for ELZONRIS (tagraxofusp) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) (Press release, Stemline Therapeutics, JAN 7, 2019, View Source [SID1234532537]). The MAA seeks approval for treating patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). In November 2018, the EMA granted the ELZONRIS MAA accelerated assessment.

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On December 21, 2018, ELZONRIS was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of BPDCN in adult and pediatric patients, two years and older, in both treatment-naïve and previously-treated populations. ELZONRIS is the first treatment approved for BPDCN and the first approved CD123-targeted therapy.

"The submission of the ELZONRIS MAA is another major step forward for providing this important targeted treatment to patients, globally," said Ivan Bergstein, M.D., CEO of Stemline Therapeutics. "We look forward to working closely with the EMA to ensure this treatment is available to patients as quickly as possible. In parallel, our commercial team is continuing its ongoing effort to raise awareness of both CD123 testing and BPDCN worldwide. Potential European approval offers us an opportunity to significantly increase the number of patients who may benefit from ELZONRIS."

About ELZONRIS
ELZONRIS (tagraxofusp), a CD123-directed cytotoxin, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 21, 2018 for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients, two years and older, with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). In November 2018, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) granted ELZONRIS accelerated assessment to the marketing authorization application (MAA), which was submitted to the EMA in January 2019. ELZONRIS is also being evaluated in additional clinical trials in other indications including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), myelofibrosis (MF) and other CD123 positive diseases.

About BPDCN
Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with historically poor outcomes and an area of unmet medical need. The BPDCN cell of origin is the plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) precursor. BPDCN typically presents in the bone marrow and/or skin and may also involve lymph nodes and viscera. The diagnosis of BPDCN is based on the immunophenotypic diagnostic triad of CD123, CD4, and CD56. For more information, please visit the BPDCN disease awareness website at www.bpdcninfo.com.