On February 5, 2020 Genprex, Inc Presented the corporate Presentation (Presentation, Genprex, FEB 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234553889]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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!

On February 5, 2020 Oncotarget reported that tumor-derived ANGPTL2 stimulates lung epithelial cells, which is essential for primary tumor-induced neutrophil recruitment in lung and subsequent pre-metastatic niche formation (Press release, Oncotarget, FEB 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234553905]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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!

Lastly, they identified that a p63 isoform, Np63, drives a high level of ANGPTL2 secretion and pharmaceutical inhibition of ANGPTL2 signaling by a non-RGD-based integrin-binding peptide diminished metastatic load in lungs likely due to reduction of the lung pre-metastatic niche formation.

Dr. Hakan Cam from the Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as well as the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio USA said in their Oncotarget paper, "Primary tumors selectively and actively modify potential sites of metastasis, even prior to dissemination"

For instance, neutrophils have been identified as facilitators of breast cancer metastasis and of lung cancer metastasis after UV-induced inflammation through tumor-secreted exosomal RNAs.

Here, the scientists set out to determine how tumor-derived factors might affect the activation of lung epithelial cells in ways that elicit pro-metastatic inflammatory responses and facilitate the formation of the pre-metastatic following the recruitment of neutrophils.

It is also well established that the induction of inflammation-related genes results in the activation of neutrophils and as described above a body of evidence suggesting that the recruitment of neutrophils promotes cancer metastasis.

Collectively, by using spontaneous metastatic models, they investigated whether tumor secreted ANGPTL2 induces inflammation on lung epithelial cells by activating alpha5beta1 receptor and recruiting neutrophils to the pre-metastatic niche.

The Cam Research Team concluded in their Oncotarget article that they investigated whether lung epithelial cells might be essential for primary tumor-induced neutrophil recruitment to lung and the role that these infiltrating cells play in osteosarcoma PMN formation using spontaneous metastatic models.

On February 5, 2020 Oncocyte Corporation (NYSE American: OCX), a molecular diagnostics company with a mission to provide actionable answers at critical decision points across the cancer care continuum, reported that it has closed its previously announced merger agreement with Insight Genetics (IG) (Press release, Oncocyte, FEB 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234553890]). The acquisition expands the decision points addressed by Oncocyte’s portfolio of tests with the addition of a potentially transformative immuno-oncology diagnostic test and will also add diverse technology and pharma service offerings including targeted therapeutic panels and a pharma trial lab compliant with 21 C.F.R Parts 820 and 11.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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 Insight Genetics’ IM Score test was an ideal addition to the Oncocyte portfolio, and while our current focus is on lung cancer, this acquisition significantly expands our suite of proprietary tests to manage key decision points potentially across multiple stages and types of cancers," said Ron Andrews, CEO of Oncocyte. "With immunotherapies currently approved for thirteen solid tumors and additional clinical trials in progress to advance these treatments to earlier stages of cancer, there is a growing need for accurate immunotherapy response prediction tests. Data presented at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) in November show our new IM Score test outperforms two currently marketed tests for immunotherapy selection suggesting this may be a transformative test to identify immunotherapy responders. This acquisition is an important step in the evolution of Oncocyte as it not only expands our impact to a broader patient population but also provides us access to a CLIA certified lab with the certifications required to submit data to regulatory agencies around the world. Having the ability to truly partner with pharma companies and assist in their global regulatory approvals will help us grow significant new opportunities for pharma services in the expanding immunotherapy and companion diagnostic markets. We are proud of our exceptional progress and look forward to continued growth as we establish Oncocyte as leaders in lung cancer diagnostics and beyond."

At closing, Oncocyte delivered $6.4 million in cash, which was net of a $0.6 million cash holdback, plus 1.9 million shares of Oncocyte common stock valued at $5 million.

This general description is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger that will be filed as an exhibit to Oncocyte’s Form 8-K on or about February 5, 2020.

On February 5, 2020 Ziopharm Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZIOP) reported that it intends to offer and sell shares of its common stock in an underwritten registered public offering (Press release, Ziopharm, FEB 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234553872]). All of the shares in the offering are to be sold by Ziopharm. Ziopharm also intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional fifteen percent (15%) of the number of shares of common stock offered in the public offering at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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!

Jefferies is acting as sole book-running manager for this offering and Cantor is acting as lead manager for this offering.

The securities are being offered pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR, which became automatically effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 21, 2019. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus that form a part of the registration statement. A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained for free from Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at +1 877 821 7388 or by email at [email protected]; or Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Attention: Capital Markets, 499 Park Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, New York 10022, or by email at [email protected].

On February 5, 2020 Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq: PHIO), a biotechnology company developing the next generation of immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its proprietary self-delivering RNAi (INTASYL) therapeutic platform, reported that it has entered into definitive agreements with several institutional and accredited investors for the purchase and sale of 197,056 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price of $8.83 per share, in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules, for gross proceeds of approximately $1.74 million (Press release, Phio Pharmaceuticals, FEB 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234553891]). The Company has also agreed to issue to the investors unregistered warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 197,056 shares of common stock. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about February 6, 2020, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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!

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.

The warrants have an exercise price of $8.71 per share of common stock, will be exercisable immediately upon issuance and will expire five and one-half years following the date of issuance.

Phio intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund the development of its immuno-oncology programs, other research and development activities and for general working capital needs.

The shares of common stock (but not the warrants or the shares of common stock underlying the warrants) are being offered by the Company pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-224031) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 29, 2018 and declared effective by the SEC on April 6, 2018. A prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the shares of common stock being offered will be filed with the SEC. Electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained, when available, on the SEC’s website at View Source or by contacting H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC at 430 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by phone at (646) 975-6996 or e-mail at [email protected].

The warrants described above were offered in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the shares of common stock underlying the warrants, have not been registered under the Act, or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the warrants and underlying shares of common stock may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Act and such applicable state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.