On June 9, 2016 Aptose Biosciences (APTO +8.1%) reported that it enters into an exclusive global option and license agreement with Seoul, South Korea-based CrystalGenomics to develop CG026806, a small molecule inhibitor of a group of enzymes called Aurora kinases, as well as Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) (Press release, CrystalGenomics, JUN 9, 2016, View Source;id=1463&page=4&num=93&nowpos=512&type=&sermun=&qu=&tb_name=eng_news&rt_page=/en/news/news.php [SID1234539168]).

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CrystalGenomics could earn up to $303M, including milestones, and will receive single-digit royalties on worldwide net sales exclusive of Korea and China.

The product candidate, expected to enter early-stage development in mid-2017, has potential efficacy in a range of cancers, including blood cancers, and certain autoimmune diseases. BTK plays a key role in B cell blood cancers, FLT3 occurs in about a third of acute myeloid leukemia and Aurora kinases are principal drivers of certain blood cancers and solid tumors.

On June 9, 2016 argenx (Euronext Brussels: ARGX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on creating and developing differentiated therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of cancer and severe autoimmune diseases, reported the presentation of efficacy and safety data from its Phase 1 expansion study of ARGX-110 in patients with T-cell lymphoma (TCL) during an e-poster session at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Annual Congress (Copenhagen, Denmark) (Press release, arGEN-X, JUN 9, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513200]).

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The data from the Phase 1 expansion study show evidence of clinical and/or biological anti-tumor activity with ARGX-110 in highly refractory cutaneous TCL & peripheral TCL patients with confirmed overexpression of CD70. The abstract can be accessed here.

"The data presented today during EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) 2016 are very encouraging and further support the important role of CD70 in the TCL patient population. We are seeing signs of biological activity in both CTCL and PTCL patients that have failed standard therapy, as well as favourable safety profiles, so we are eager to present the full data set later this year in this critical indication," said Tim van Hauwermeiren, Chief Executive Officer of argenx. "We remain on track with patient recruitment, which we expect to complete by mid 2016."

About ARGX-110

ARGX-110 is a SIMPLE Antibody targeting CD70, an immune checkpoint target involved in hematological malignancies, several solid tumors and severe autoimmune diseases. ARGX-110 works in three ways: i) blocks growth of tumor cells, ii) kills cancer cells and iii) restores immune surveillance against tumors (Silence K. et al. mAbs 2014; 6 (2):523-532). ARGX-110 is currently being evaluated in both hematological and solid tumors.

On June 8, 2016 Cantargia AB reported that its patent application for IL1RAP as target molecule for antibody-based therapies and diagnostics of solid tumours has been approved by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) (Press release, Cantargia, JUN 8, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513154]).

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The patent approval (patent no. 5940093) refers to the company’s method of using IL1RAP as target molecule for treatment of the vast majority of solid tumours. The approved patent includes those diseases which Cantargia has chosen to focus its initial development activities on, i.e. lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, as well as other major diseases such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. The patent’s validity extends to 2032. The patent also provides protection for several different antibody-drug conjugates targeted to IL1RAP and for associated diagnostic methods.

"The approval of the patent is of great strategic significance for Cantargia and the future commercialisation of our CAN04 product candidate", CEO Göran Forsberg says. "Having received approval in Japan, we now have protection for treatment of solid tumours in both Europe and Japan, which are two of the largest pharmaceutical markets".

On June 08, 2016 Oncothyreon Inc. (NASDAQ:ONTY), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported that the Company is changing its name to Cascadian Therapeutics, Inc. and will trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the new ticker symbol "CASC," effective at market open on June 9, 2016 (Press release, Oncothyreon, JUN 8, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513127]).

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The new name reflects the change in the Company’s focus from therapeutic vaccines to advancing targeted treatments for cancer. The Company’s lead product candidate, ONT-380, is an orally bioavailable, highly selective small molecule HER2 inhibitor being developed as a combination therapy to treat HER2+ advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

"We chose to implement a new name to emphasize our organization’s transformation and vision for the future," said Scott Myers, President and CEO of Cascadian Therapeutics. "By incorporating the imagery of the Cascade Mountains, our goal was to highlight our Company’s heritage, but more importantly, to underscore our transition away from therapeutic vaccines to developing innovative targeted therapies for cancers, with a lead indication for metastatic HER2+ breast cancer. HER2CLIMB, our Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, was also named in the spirit of our mission to improve outcomes in this disease. We look forward to providing an update on this important program at our upcoming R&D Day."

On June 14th at 2 p.m. Eastern, the Company will present updated data from the ongoing "Triplet" Phase 1b trial, in addition to the future product development plans for ONT-380, at the Company’s R&D Day in New York City. The webcast will be available on the Events and Presentations Page of the Company’s website at www.cascadianrx.com.

No action is required by stockholders with respect to the name change. The Company’s common stock has been assigned a new CUSIP number of 14740B 101 in connection with the name change. Outstanding stock certificates are not affected by the name change and will not need to be exchanged.

On June 8, 2016 Sanofi today reported that it has filed an investor presentation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with its proposed acquisition of Medivation, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDVN) (Press release, Sanofi, JUN 8, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513242]). This presentation is available on the Investor Relations section of Sanofi’s website.

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Among other things, the presentation notes:
The proposed transaction would provide compelling strategic and financial benefits for Sanofi and Medivation shareholders;

Sanofi’s proposal is not subject to any financing condition and the company is confident in its ability to receive all necessary regulatory approvals;

Combining with Medivation would accelerate Sanofi’s strategic priority of rebuilding a competitive position in oncology;

Sanofi has stated on several occasions that if Medivation were to engage and provide information, it would be in a position to increase its offer and is confident that it would be able to offer significant additional value;

Sanofi is willing to enter into a customary confidentiality agreement with Medivation, which would include a reasonable standstill to give time for Medivation to conduct a sale process;

The consent solicitation process allows Medivation shareholders to demonstrate support for a transaction by removing and replacing the Medivation Board with directors committed to acting in the best interest of maximizing value for Medivation shareholders;

Sanofi believes there is a clear path to completion: the record date to determine Medivation shareholders entitled to give their written consent has been established as June 1, 2016; Sanofi expects the initial Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) waiting period to expire on June 13, 2016; Sanofi anticipates filing definitive consent solicitation materials in mid-June 2016; and Sanofi signed a consent on
June 3, 2016 for the shares it owns in Medivation and therefore expects that the 60-day consent solicitation period will conclude no later than August 1, 2016; and

Sanofi believes that Medivation’s shareholders overwhelmingly support the sale of Medivation and want Medivation to engage with Sanofi.