On January 3, 2019 1ST Biotherapeutics, Inc., a preclinical-stage biotechnology company focused on neurodegenerative diseases, immuno-oncology, and orphan diseases, and twoXAR, Inc., an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven biopharmaceutical company, reported an agreement to jointly discover and develop novel, efficacious treatments to address unmet medical needs in glioblastoma multiforme ("glioblastoma") (Press release, 1ST Bio Therapeutics, JAN 3, 2019, View Source [SID1234532432]).

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Under the agreement, twoXAR will use its proprietary AI technology to identify a set of drug candidates with the potential to slow, stop, or reverse the progression of glioblastoma. twoXAR and 1ST Biotherapeutics will select candidates from this set to test in preclinical efficacy models of glioblastoma. Following identification of one or more candidates based on those evaluated, 1ST Biotherapeutics will use its team’s expertise in drug development to optimize candidates and finalize the creation of novel, efficacious treatments. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Glioblastoma is the most common and lethal primary malignant brain tumor with a median survival of approximately 15 months1. It is characterized by an aggressive tumor that infiltrates various portions of the brain and is associated with rapid onset of neurological symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, severe headaches, cognitive issues, and seizures2. Current treatment options consist of surgical resection, radiation, chemotherapy, and angiogenesis inhibitors2. However, most glioblastoma patients experience disease relapse despite these aggressive therapies. It is estimated that 25,000 people will be diagnosed with glioblastoma in 20181.

"1ST Biotherapeutics is focused on efficiently building a pipeline of first-in-class therapeutic candidates with high likelihood of clinical success," said Jamie Jae Eun Kim, CEO of 1ST Biotherapeutics. "The twoXAR team has a track record of rapidly identifying testable novel treatments that can lead to first-in-class therapeutics. This collaboration is an opportunity to combine twoXAR’s AI-driven drug discovery approach and the 1ST Biotherapeutics team’s expertise in chemistry and pharmacology to discover and develop effective molecular therapeutics for glioblastoma patients."

"We are pleased to collaborate with 1ST Biotherapeutics, because we share common goals of efficiently discovering and developing novel therapeutics for diseases with high unmet medical need, such as glioblastoma," said Andrew A. Radin, Co-Founder and CEO of twoXAR. "The 1ST Biotherapeutics team’s deep medicinal chemistry and drug development experience in CNS and oncology diseases provides a strong complement to twoXAR’s data-driven discovery approach."

On January 3, 2019 Unum Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: UMRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel cellular immunotherapies, reported its anticipated milestones for 2019 (Press release, Unum Therapeutics, JAN 3, 2019, View Source [SID1234532383]).

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"Unum made substantial progress in 2018 as we reported early data from our programs in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma, while simultaneously expanding applications of our ACTR platform into solid tumors and introducing a second novel technology platform, BOXR, designed to improve the functionality of engineered T cells," said Chuck Wilson, CEO of Unum. "We expect 2019 also to be a year of significant momentum, with data expected from all four of our ongoing clinical programs, including readouts from the ATTCK-20-03 and ATTCK-17-01 trials, as well as an initial data readout from our first study in solid tumors. Additionally, we continue to innovate in the field of cell therapy and have recently nominated our first development candidate from our BOXR technology platform to advance toward clinical development."

Anticipated 2019 Milestones

ACTR707 + rituximab in r/r NHL

Complete the dose escalation phase of ATTCK-20-03, the ongoing, multicenter Phase 1 study testing ACTR707 in combination with rituximab to treat patients with relapsed/refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Advance into cohort expansion to confirm the preliminary recommended Phase 2 dose.
Report results from the dose escalation phase and preliminary data from the cohort expansion phase of the ATTCK-20-03 study.
ACTR087 + SEA-BCMA in r/r multiple myeloma

Progress dose escalation of ACTR087 and SEA-BCMA in ATTCK-17-01, a Phase 1, multi-center, open-label trial designed to test the safety, tolerability and anti-myeloma activity of the combination in patients with r/r multiple myeloma.
Report clinical data from multiple cohorts of the dose escalation phase.
ACTR707 + trastuzumab in HER2+ advanced cancers

Enroll and dose patients in Unum’s first ACTR T cell study in solid tumors, ATTCK-34-01, a multicenter, single-arm, open-label dose escalation study evaluating ACTR T cells in combination with trastuzumab in patients with HER2+ advanced cancers.
Report initial clinical data from ongoing dose escalation.
ACTR087 + rituximab in r/r NHL

Complete enrollment in ATTCK-20-2, a Phase I clinical trial evaluating safety and anti-lymphoma activity of ACTR087 in combination with rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell NHL, and report data from the trial.
BOXR Platform

Continued progress with new Bolt-On Chimeric Receptor technology platform ("BOXR") that improves T cell functionality by countering immunosuppression in solid tumor cancers. Initiate clinical development of BOXR1030, which has been nominated as the first product candidate from this platform.

On January 3, 2019 bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLUE) reported that members of the management team will present at the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Tuesday, January 8, at 2:30 p.m. PT at the Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, followed by a question and answer breakout session at 3:00 p.m (Press release, bluebird bio, JAN 3, 2019, View Source [SID1234532417]).

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To access the live webcast of bluebird bio’s presentation and breakout session, please visit the "Events & Presentations" page within the Investors & Media section of the bluebird bio website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be available on the bluebird bio website for 90 days following the conference.

On January 3, 2019 Dynavax Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: DVAX), a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel vaccines and immuno-oncology therapeutics, reported that Eddie Gray, Chief Executive Officer, will present at the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Thursday, January 10, at 9 am PT (Press release, Dynavax Technologies, JAN 3, 2019, View Source [SID1234532433]).

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The presentation will be webcast and may be accessed at the "Events & Presentations" section of the Company’s website at View Source

On January 3, 2019 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, reported it will release its financial results for the 2018 fourth quarter and full year before the market opens on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, and will hold a conference call on the same day at 8:30 a.m. EDT (Press release, Thermo Fisher Scientific, JAN 3, 2019, View Source [SID1234532453]).

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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

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During the call, the company will discuss its financial performance, as well as future expectations. To listen, call (877) 273-7122 within the U.S. or (647) 689-5496 outside the U.S. You may also listen to the call live on the "Investors" section of our website, www.thermofisher.com. The earnings press release and related information can be found in that section of our website under "Financial Results." A replay of the call will be available under "Webcasts and Presentations" through Friday, February 8, 2019.