On November 21, 2017 Kancera reported that it performs the second partial payment for the Fractalkine project (Press release, Kancera, NOV 21, 2017, View Source;releaseID=1396141 [SID1234522211]). According to the agreement with Acturum Real Estate AB, the second partial payment for the Fractalkine project is due when the drug candidate KAND567 has been given to a certain number of subjects in the ongoing Phase Ia study.Therefore, Kancera announces that two millions of the company’s shares have been newly issued to Acturum Real Estate AB.

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Kancera AB (publ) has previously announced the Board’s decision to acquire the Fractalkine project by Acturum Real Estate AB. Payment for the Fractalkine project takes place through a three-stage offset issue with a total of up to 6 million shares in Kancera AB, of which now 4 million shares have been paid. Partial payments are due as the project develops to certain milestones up to the start of the second clinical study.

About the Fractalkine project
KAND567 is an orally available small molecule that blocks CX3CR1, the Fractalkine receptor. Fractalkine is an immune-modulating factor, a so-called chemokine, which transmits signals via the CX3CR1 receptor, thereby controlling the function of immune cells and cancer cells. The levels of Fractalkine molecules and CX3CR1 receptors have been shown to be elevated in several inflammatory diseases, in cancer and in chronic pain conditions.

Kancera’s drug candidate KAND567 is the most advanced drug candidate against CX3CR1 and has been shown to be effective against inflammation and pain in multiple preclinical disease models.

In the healthy individual, Fractalkine and its receptor, CX3CR1, regulate migration of immune cells from the blood capillary wall into areas where the immune system is needed. Cancer cells use the same system (CX3CR1 and Fractalkine) to invade healthy organs and form metastases. In addition, the presence of Fractalkine has been associated with a lack of effect of immuno-oncological drugs. Therefore, Kancera evaluates how well KAND567 can stop tumor growth.

Animal studies show that Fractalkine’s receptor is not essential for survival and that important immune functions remain intact despite the lack of receptor. The basis for successful development of KAND567 lies in effectively addressing local inflammation while maintaining a healthy immune system.

In clinical trials, blocking of the Fractalkine system has been shown to have the desired effect against auto-immune diseases such as Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis in refractory patients. These studies have been conducted by the pharmaceutical company Eisai using a monoclonal antibody. The results of these studies indicate that the probability increases for the Kancera AB drug candidate KAND567 to achieve clinical and commercial success as the first small-molecule drug that works through the Fractalkine system to combat many common diseases.

On November 21, 2017 Molecular Templates, Inc., (Nasdaq:MTEM) a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of Engineered Toxin Bodies (ETBs), a new class of targeted biologic therapies that possess unique mechanisms of action in oncology, reported that Eric E. Poma, Ph.D., Chief Executive and Chief Scientific Officer, will provide a corporate overview at the 29th Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference, taking place November 28-29 at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York City (Press release, Molecular Templates, NOV 21, 2017, View Source [SID1234522212]).

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Molecular Templates Presentation Details
Date: Tuesday, November 28
Time: 9:30am Eastern Time
Location: Lotte New York Palace Hotel, Track 6, Kennedy 1 Room
Webcast: View Source;tp_key=3ce376224c

On November 21, 2017 Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) reported atezolizumab and combination of chemotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in progression free survival (PFS), one of the co-primary endpoints of the phase III IMpower150 study, compared with combination of chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with stage IV non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Press release, Chugai, NOV 21, 2017, View Source [SID1234522179]). The IMpower150 study was designed to evaluate atezolizumab with combination of chemotherapy (atezolizumab, carboplatin, paclitaxel and bevacizumab) compared to combination of chemotherapy (carboplatin, paclitaxel and bevacizumab) in the first line treatment patients with stage IV non-squamous NSCLC. Initial observations for another co-primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) analysis are encouraging. These data are not fully mature and the next OS analysis will be expected in the first half of 2018. The safety profile of atezolizumab and bevacizumab plus chemotherapy combination appeared consistent with the known safety profile of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified with the combination. The data of the IMpower150 study will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Immuno Oncology Congress in Geneva, Switzerland in December 2017.

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"Lung cancer is third most frequent cancer among Japanese1). High unmet medical needs exist especially in advanced non-squamous NSCLC. We are pleased that the combination of atezolizumab and chemotherapy demonstrated an improved PFS this segment compared to chemotherapy alone," said Dr. Yasushi Ito, Senior Vice President and Head of the Project Life Cycle Management Unit. "OS will be also investigated in future data analyses. We hope atezolizumab can further bring benefits to patients by showing improvement in OS."

About the IMpower150 Study
The global phase III, multi-center, open label, randomized controlled study designed to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of atezolizumab in combination of chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with stage IV non-squamous NSCLC.

The study’s co-primary endpoints include:
PFS in all randomized people without an ALK or EGFR genetic mutation (intent to treat wild type, ITT-WT) and T-effector gene signature, "Teff" selected sub group people. This analysis of the study’s endpoint of PFS was only statistically powered to demonstrate a comparison between Arm B versus Arm C.
OS in ITT-WT population
Study design
1,202 patients were randomized into Arm A to C groups in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive the following treatment regimens once every three weeks. Treatment with atezolizumab was continued as long as the principal investigator determined that the patient was receiving a clinical benefit or until an unacceptable adverse event was confirmed.
Arm A atezolizumab (1,200mg IV) + carboplatin (AUC 6) + paclitaxel (200mg/m2 IV)
Arm B atezolizumab (1,200mg IV) + carboplatin (AUC 6) + paclitaxel (200mg/m2 IV) + bevacizumab (15mg/kg IV)
Arm C carboplatin (AUC 6) + paclitaxel (200mg/m2 IV) + bevacizumab (15mg/kg IV)

On November 21, 2017 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: NBIX) reported that it will present at the 29th Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference at 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, in New York City (Press release, Neurocrine Biosciences, NOV 21, 2017, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2318193 [SID1234522213]). Timothy P. Coughlin, Vice President Finance of Neurocrine Biosciences, will present at the conference.

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The live presentation will be webcast and may be accessed on the Company’s website at View Source A replay of the presentation will be available on the website approximately one hour after the conclusion of the event and will be archived for one month.

On November 21, 2017 Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SYRS), a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of medicines to control the expression of disease-driving genes, reported that its Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Simonian, M.D., will participate in a fireside chat at the 29th Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference. Details are as follows (Press release, Syros Pharmaceuticals, NOV 21, 2017, View Source [SID1234522201]):

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29th Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference
Date: Tuesday, November 28
Presentation Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lotte New York Palace Hotel, 455 Madison Ave, New York, NY

A live webcast of the fireside chat will be available on the Investors & Media section of the Syros website at www.syros.com. An archived replay will be available for approximately 30 days following the fireside chat.