On December 20, 2018 SpringWorks Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing life-changing medicines for patients with severe rare diseases and cancer, reported that Saqib Islam, Chief Executive Officer, will present at the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco on Monday, January 7, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (Press release, SpringWorks Therapeutics, DEC 20, 2018, View Source [SID1234532200]).

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On December 20, 2018 Rakuten Aspyrian, a biotechnology company developing precision-targeted cancer therapies based on its proprietary Photoimmunotherapy platform, reported that it has raised an additional $134 million in a second tranche of its Series C financing, bringing the total amount raised to $284 million (Press release, Rakuten Aspyrian, DEC 20, 2018, View Source [SID1234532217]). New investors include the SBI Group, Japan and Rakuten Inc. Rakuten Aspyrian has raised approximately $372 million in equity since it was founded in 2015.

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"My unwavering confidence in the vision and potential of Rakuten Aspyrian’s Photoimmunotherapy platform has grown tremendously and was the impetus behind my further financial investment in the company," said Mickey Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten Aspyrian. "Our entire organization is committed to developing treatments for cancer patients and we will continue pressing forward with our corporate mission of conquering cancer."

"We are excited to support Rakuten Aspyrian, and strongly believe in the potential of its Photoimmunotherapy platform, which the company is studying in clinical trials for the selective destruction of cancer cells with minimal effects on normal cells developed by Dr. Hisataka Kobayashi of the Center for Cancer Research at the National Institutes of Health," said Mr. Yoshitaka Kitao, representative director, president & CEO of SBI Holdings.

The Series C financing supports the advancement of Rakuten Aspyrian’s proprietary investigational compound, ASP-1929 Photoimmunotherapy, currently in Phase 3 development for the treatment of patients with recurrent local regional head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), and new proof-of-concept Phase 1/2 studies in additional solid tumors to be initiated in early 2019. The financing will also support manufacturing processes to support the initial launch and commercialization of ASP-1929 if approved in the United States, Japan and Europe. The company also announced that it has established its corporate headquarters in San Mateo, California, where it will expand clinical, commercial and corporate functions.

"With this financing, we have expanded our team and footprint: We have established our corporate headquarters in San Mateo, California, where we will execute on our goal of building a full-fledged pharmaceutical company, and will continue advancing a number of our photoimmunotherapy programs in various cancer types," said Takashi Toraishi, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer of Rakuten Aspyrian. "In addition, proceeds from this financing will support continued development of our lead program, ASP-1929, which we recently announced has entered into a global, pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for head and neck cancer. We thank our generous investors for their belief and support of Rakuten Aspyrian as we continue executing on our mission."

About ASP-1929 Photoimmunotherapy
ASP-1929, a conjugate of cetuximab and IRDye 700DX, targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a cancer antigen expressed in multiple types of solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, esophagus, lung, colon, pancreas and other cancers. This first-in-class therapy targets cancer cells, after which the compound is locally activated with red light using a proprietary investigational laser and fiber optics. The local activation of the tumor-selective conjugate targets the tumor but not surrounding normal tissues and structures. ASP-1929 received Fast Track designation by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HNSCC.

Interim results of a Phase 1/2 trial in patients with HNSCC showed a clinically meaningful improvement in the objective response rate, and potential improvements in progression free survival and overall survival when compared to historical data for the standard of care treatments currently available to this patient population. Top line results of the ASP-1929 Phase 1/2 trial are expected in the first quarter of 2019.

ASP-1929 is an investigational compound that is not approved for any use in any country.

On December 20, 2018 GT Biopharma, Inc. (OTCQB: GTBP and Euronext Paris GTBP.PA) ("GT Biopharma" or the "Company"), an immuno-oncology biotechnology company focused on innovative treatments based on the Company’s proprietary NK-engager and Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugate platforms, reported that Raymond W Urbanski, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, will present at Biotech Showcase 2019 on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 11:30 AM PST in San Francisco, CA (Press release, GT Biopharma , DEC 20, 2018, View Source [SID1234539517]).

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As part of his presentation, Dr. Urbanski will provide a corporate update and discuss GT Biopharma’s pipeline of immuno-oncology products based off the Company’s proprietary Tri-specific Killer Engager (TriKE), Tetra-specific Killer Engager (TetraKE) and bi-specific Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) technology platforms.

The Company’s most advanced bi-specific ADC in development, GTB-1550, targets CD19+ and/or CD22+ hematological malignancies and is currently in the Phase 2 component of a Phase 1/2 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL)/Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) trial which is an open-label, investigator-led study. GT Biopharma expects to announce topline results from the Phase 2a trial of GTB-1550 in the first quarter of 2019.

Additionally, the Company recently announced its Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now open and it is authorized to initiate a first-in-human Phase 1 study with GTB-3550 (formerly OXS-3550), its first-in-class (TriKE), for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), myelodysplatic syndrome (MDS) and mastocytosis. The study, which is expected to commence in the first half of 2019, will be led by Principal Investigator, Sarah A. Cooley, MD, MS, Associate Professor, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation at Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota. The Company believes that GTB-3550 could serve as a relatively safe, cost-effective, and easy-to-use therapy for refractory/relapsed AML, high-risk MDS and advanced systemic mastocytosis and could also be combined with chemotherapy and/or other agents as frontline therapy thus targeting a much larger patient population.

In addition to the presentation, Dr. Urbanski will also be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with qualified members of the investor community who are registered to attend the conference. For more information about the conference, please click here to visit the conference website.

A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available on the Events page of the Investors section of the Company’s website (www.gtbiopharma.com). A webcast replay will be accessible for 90 days following the live presentation.

On December 20, 2018 Servier reported the the Food and Drug Administration approved calaspargase pegol-mknl (ASPARLAS, Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC), an asparagine specific enzyme, as a component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in pediatric and young adult patients age 1 month to 21 years (Press release, Servier, DEC 20, 2018, View Source [SID1234645703]). This new product provides for a longer interval between doses compared to other available pegaspargase products.

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Approval was based on a demonstration of the achievement and maintenance of nadir serum asparaginase activity above the level of 0.1 U/mL when using calaspargase pegol-mknl, 2500 U/m2 intravenously, every 3 weeks. The pharmacokinetics of calaspargase pegol-mknl were studied when administered in combination with multiagent chemotherapy in 124 patients with B-cell lineage ALL.

The most common (incidence ≥ 10%) grade ≥ 3 adverse reactions were elevated transaminase, increased bilirubin, pancreatitis, and abnormal clotting studies. In a randomized trial, the safety profile of calaspargase pegol-mknl administered every 3 weeks was similar to that of pegaspargase administered every 2 weeks.

The recommended calaspargase pegol-mknl dose is 2,500 units/m2 intravenously administered at a minimum dosing interval of every 21 days.

View full prescribing information for ASPARLAS.

Calaspargase pegol-mknl received FDA orphan product designation.

Healthcare professionals should report all serious adverse events suspected to be associated with the use of any medicine and device to FDA’s MedWatch Reporting System or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088.

Follow the Oncology Center of Excellence on Twitter @FDAOncologyExternal Link Disclaimer.

Check out recent approvals at the OCE’s podcast, Drug Information Soundcast in Clinical Oncology (D.I.S.C.O.).

On December 20, 2018 Myovant Sciences (NYSE: MYOV), a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on women’s health and endocrine diseases, reported that Lynn Seely, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Myovant Sciences, will present at the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, CA (Press release, Myovant Sciences, DEC 20, 2018, http://investors.myovant.com/news-releases/2018/12-20-2018-133012290 [SID1234532186]). The presentation will begin at 9:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at the Westin St. Francis, followed by a Q&A session at 9:30 a.m. PT.

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The company’s presentation will be webcast live and will be accessible from the Events page under the Investors and Media section of the Myovant website at www.myovant.com. Please connect to the company’s website at least 15 minutes prior to the presentation to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be required to listen to the webcast. A replay will also be available at the same location for 30 days following the conference.