On February 14, 2018 Kuraray reported Business Results for the Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, 2017 (Press release, Kuraray, FEB 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234524012]).

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On February 13, 2018 Synlogic (Nasdaq: SYBX), a clinical-stage company applying synthetic biology to probiotics to develop novel living medicines, reported the presentation of positive preclinical data from its Synthetic Biotic immuno-oncology (IO) program at the Keystone Symposium Lymphocytes and their Roles in Cancer (Press release, Synlogic, FEB 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234523992]). The meeting is being held jointly with a related session, Emerging Cellular Therapies T-cells and Beyond, from February 11 to 15, 2018.

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"These data provide compelling, early scientific evidence supporting the development of our Synthetic Biotic medicines as potential novel immunotherapeutic agents for the treatment of various cancers," said J.C. Gutiérrez-Ramos, Ph.D., Synlogic’s president and chief executive officer. "The results demonstrate that we can design Synthetic Biotic medicines that dramatically modulate the tumor microenvironment, by generating potent and efficacious antitumor immunity, turning what is known as a "cold" tumor "hot" and resulting in greatly enhanced response rates. Our Synthetic Biotic medicines can be administered by intratumoral injection enabling achievement of these beneficial effects locally and without systemic toxicity. Moreover, we can engineer additional activities into this new class of living medicines that enhance and sustain the anti-tumor response. In the coming year we intend to advance these IO program candidates into IND-enabling studies."

The data presented at the meeting demonstrate the antitumor effects of treatment with a probiotic strain of E.coli engineered to produce inducible levels of STING (STimulator of INterferon Genes) agonist (SYN-STING). The STING pathway plays a critical role in the control of tumor growth at both steady state and following a variety of cytolytic and immune-based therapies. SYN-STING can be delivered directly into the tumor enabling its localized site of action in the tumor microenvironment. The approach of using intra-tumoral injection elicits innate responses in the tumor but not in the circulation, decreasing the risk of adverse events that may arise from the production of systemic interferon.

Specifically, the data demonstrated that the production of ci-di-AMP by SYN-STING results in the local upregulation of interferon beta by macrophages and dendritic cells in vitro, andthe rapid rejection of established B16F10 tumors in vivo. Treatment results in an early rise in a variety of potent cytokines, including interferon beta, followed by the activation of effector T cells in the tumor-draining lymph nodes and upregulation of molecules associated with a cytolytic T cell response in the tumor. Taken together, these data demonstrate the ability of Synthetic Biotic medicines to dramatically modulate the tumor microenvironment, generating potent and efficacious antitumor immunity.

About Synthetic Biotic Medicines
Synlogic’s innovative new class of Synthetic Biotic medicines leverages the tools and principles of synthetic biology to genetically engineer probiotic microbes to perform or deliver critical functions missing or damaged due to disease. The company’s two lead programs target a group of rare metabolic diseases – inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). Patients with these diseases are born with a faulty gene, inhibiting the body’s ability to break down commonly occurring by-products of digestion that then accumulate to toxic levels and cause serious health consequences. When delivered orally, these medicines can act from the gut to compensate for the dysfunctional metabolic pathway and have a systemic effect. Synthetic Biotic medicines are designed to clear toxic metabolites associated with specific metabolic diseases and have the potential to significantly improve symptoms of disease for affected patients.

On February 13, 2018 Cellectis (Paris:ALCLS) (NASDAQ:CLLS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing immunotherapies based on gene-edited allogeneic CAR T-cells (UCART), reported the issuance of two U.S. patents – US 9,855,297 and US 9,890,393 – for the invention of certain uses of RNA-guided endonucleases, such as Cas9 or Cpf1, for the genetic engineering of T-cells (Press release, Cellectis, FEB 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234523941]). The patents came into force on January 2nd, 2018 and February 13th, 2018, respectively.

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Both patents claim methods by which T-cells are gene edited using transient expression of CRISPR/Cas9 components. These inventions are based on the early work initiated by inventors at Cellectis when the CRISPR technology first came to light.

These therapeutic-focused patents follow the grant by the European Patent Office of patent No. EP3004337 for similar inventions and previous intellectual property that Cellectis has obtained over the last two decades for major gene editing technologies including meganucleases, TALEN, MegaTAL and CRISPR.

"Cellectis is a pioneering gene editing company that has always been keen to be at the forefront of all gene editing technologies," said Dr. André Choulika, Cellectis Chairman & CEO. "We have been the first to explore the potential of CRISPR in its early days in various applications, including therapeutics and plants. These early findings ultimately led to the grant of this set of new patents. As such, these patents only reinforce Cellectis’ leadership position in the gene editing industry."

Convinced of their strong value for the future development of engineered CAR T-cells, Cellectis will make these patents available for licensing to companies that are willing to use CRISPR technologies in T-cells. The technical knowledge in these patents could, for example, help users engineer allogeneic CAR T-cells while suppressing genes involved in checkpoint inhibitions, such as PD-1, engineer drug resistance, or remove MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) related genes. The technology could also be used to insert a DNA CAR construct by gene targeting a specific locus in the genome of T-cells.

The inventors of these patents are Dr. André Choulika, Chairman & CEO of Cellectis and one of the pioneers in the development of nuclease-based genome editing technologies; Dr. Philippe Duchateau, Cellectis Chief Scientific Officer and seasoned gene editing expert; and Dr. Laurent Poirot, Cellectis Head of Early Discovery and expert of gene functions in immune cells.

Claims 1 and 2 of US 9,855,297:

1. A method of preparing genetically modified primary T-cells for immunotherapy comprising the steps of: (a) transfecting mRNA encoding an RNA-guided endonuclease into the primary T-cells, wherein the RNA-guided endonuclease is expressed from the transfected m RNA; (b) introducing a DNA vector that encodes a specific guide RNA, wherein the specific guide RNA directs the RNA-guided endonuclease to at least one targeted locus in the T-cell genome into the primary T-cells; (c) cleaving at least one targeted locus in the T-cell genome with the RNA-guided endonuclease; (d) generating a genetic modification at the site of the cleavage; and (e) expanding the resulting genetically modified T-cells.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the RNA-guided endonuclease is Cas9.

Claim 1 of US 9,890,393:

1. A method of preparing T-cells for immunotherapy comprising the step of:

(a) genetically modifying primary T-cells by introduction and/or expression into the cells of at least:

– a RNA-guided endonuclease; and

– a specific guide RNA that directs said endonuclease to at least one targeted locus in the T-cell genome,

wherein said RNA-guided endonuclease is expressed from transfected mRNA;

wherein said RNA-guided endonuclease comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2; and

(b) expanding the resulting cells.

On February 13, 2018 Myovant Sciences (NYSE: MYOV), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for women’s health and endocrine diseases, reported corporate updates and reported financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2017 (Press release, Myovant Sciences, FEB 13, 2018, http://investors.myovant.com/news-releases/2018/02-13-2018-210634955 [SID1234523951]).

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"We continue to execute on each of our ongoing global Phase 3 development programs of relugolix for the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain, heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids, and advanced prostate cancer with the goal of completing enrollment in each program this year," stated Lynn Seely, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Myovant Sciences. "In addition, in October, we secured flexible financing commitments of up to $140 million, which will help support the continued advancement of our Phase 3 programs."

Third Fiscal Quarter 2017 Business Highlights

Positive results in two Phase 3 clinical studies conducted by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") to evaluate the efficacy and safety of relugolix for the treatment of uterine fibroids.

On October 2, 2017, Myovant announced that Takeda reported positive top-line results from a Phase 3 study in Japan evaluating the efficacy and safety of relugolix compared with leuprorelin for the treatment of women with heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids. Relugolix met the study’s primary endpoint, the proportion of patients achieving a pre-defined reduction in menstrual bleeding, demonstrating an 82.2% response rate, and was observed to be statistically non-inferior to leuprorelin (p = 0.0013). The incidence of adverse events in the study was generally similar between treatment groups and consistent with the mechanism of action of the study medications.
On November 9, 2017, Myovant announced that Takeda reported positive top-line results from a Phase 3 study in Japan evaluating the efficacy and safety of relugolix compared with placebo for the treatment of pain associated with uterine fibroids. Of the women treated with relugolix, 57.6% achieved a marked improvement in pain symptoms compared to 3.1% treated with placebo (p < 0.0001). Adverse events in the study were consistent with the mechanism of action of relugolix and adverse events observed in previous clinical studies.
Takeda plans to submit the data from both studies to regulatory authorities in Japan for marketing authorization of relugolix for the treatment of uterine fibroids. Myovant will be solely responsible for obtaining FDA approval for relugolix in the United States.
Secured flexible financing commitments of up to $140 million. On October 16, 2017, Myovant announced that it had secured up to $140 million in flexible financing commitments from NovaQuest Capital Management ("NovaQuest") and Hercules Capital, Inc. ("Hercules"). The NovaQuest financing is comprised of a note purchase commitment of up to $60 million and an equity purchase commitment of up to $40 million. An additional $40 million of debt financing capacity is committed in the form of a term loan facility from Hercules. Myovant plans to use the net proceeds from both financings to fund the ongoing Phase 3 development of relugolix in uterine fibroids, endometriosis and advanced prostate cancer. Pursuant to the agreements, upon closing, Myovant issued notes and shares of common stock of approximately $33 million under the financing commitments.

Third Fiscal Quarter 2017 Financial Summary

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 were $34.9 million, compared to $6.2 million for the comparable period in 2016. The increase over the prior year period is primarily due to costs associated with the progress in our five ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials of relugolix which were initiated in 2017. R&D expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2017 consisted primarily of clinical trial-related costs of $28.4 million, personnel expenses of $3.2 million, share-based compensation expense of $1.0 million, and costs billed to us under the services agreements with Roivant Sciences Ltd. and Roivant Sciences, Inc. ("the Services Agreements") of $1.9 million, including personnel expenses and third-party costs associated with our ongoing clinical trials and other research programs.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 were $6.6 million, compared to $2.9 million for the same period in 2016. G&A expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2017 consisted primarily of personnel-related and general overhead expenses of $2.7 million, share-based compensation expense of $2.3 million, legal and professional fees of $0.6 million and costs of $1.0 million billed to us under the Services Agreements, including personnel expenses, overhead allocations and third-party costs.

Interest Expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 was $0.9 million and consisted of interest expense accrued and paid under the financing agreements with NovaQuest and Hercules as well as the associated amortization of debt discount and issuance costs. There was no interest expense for the comparable prior year period.

Net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 was $41.8 million, or $0.70 per share, compared to a net loss of $8.1 million or $0.15 per share for the same period in 2016. The increase in net loss was driven by the increase in costs associated with our ongoing LIBERTY 1 and LIBERTY 2, SPIRIT 1 and SPIRIT 2, and HERO Phase 3 clinical studies which were initiated in 2017, as well as increased personnel expenses to support Myovant’s growing operations.

Cash and committed funding totaled $235.9 million at December 31, 2017 consisting of $128.9 million of cash and financing commitments totaling $107.0 million available under our financing agreements with NovaQuest and Hercules.

About Relugolix

Relugolix is an oral, once-daily, small molecule gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist that has been evaluated in over 1,600 study participants in Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials. In these trials, relugolix has been shown to be generally well tolerated and to suppress estrogen and progesterone levels in women and testosterone levels in men. Common side effects are consistent with suppression of these hormones. In the ongoing Phase 3 SPIRIT clinical trials in women with endometriosis-associated pain and the ongoing Phase 3 LIBERTY clinical trials in women with heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids, relugolix will be evaluated with and without low-dose hormonal add-back therapy, the addition of which is expected to decrease potential side effects such as bone mineral density loss and hot flashes. The ongoing Phase 3 HERO study is evaluating relugolix in men with advanced prostate cancer.

On February 13, 2018 ERYTECH Pharma (Euronext: ERYP- Nasdaq: ERYP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies by encapsulating therapeutic drug substances inside red blood cells, reported the selection of Triple Negative Breast Cancer as the next target indication for broadening the scope of eryaspase (GRASPA) development in solid tumors (Press release, ERYtech Pharma, FEB 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234523942]).

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L-asparaginase is a cornerstone treatment in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), especially for pediatric patients, but the excessive toxicity of conventional L-asparaginase formulations has limited its use in other indications.

The positive Phase 2b result of eryaspase (L-asparaginase encapsulated in red blood cells) in metastatic pancreatic cancer, reported in 2017, represents, to our knowledge, the first-ever evidence of clinical benefit of an asparaginase-based product in a solid tumor indication. In this 141-patient randomized Phase 2b study, eryaspase in combination with chemotherapy demonstrated a 40% reduction in risk of death rate (HR=0.60; p=0.009) compared to chemotherapy alone.

Following these very encouraging results, ERYTECH conducted a comprehensive evaluation to determine other potential solid-tumor indications for developing eryaspase. Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) has now been selected as the next indication to expand the potential use of eryaspase in solid tumors. TNBC is an aggressive and metabolically active form of breast cancer with high rates of symptomatic metastases. A recent publication in Nature1 supports the hypothesis that restricting availability of asparagine can reduce metastatic progression of cancer cells in breast cancer. One of the most striking observations from our Phase 2b trial in pancreatic cancer was the 40% reduction of new lesions in the eryaspase arm compared to the control arm.

"TNBC is a heterogenous subgroup of breast cancer associated with poor patient outcome and high risk of recurrence compared to other breast cancer subtypes. Aside from BRCA1/2 mutation status, treatment options for TNBC remain limited," commented Iman El-Hariry, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of ERYTECH. "There is growing evidence of altered metabolism in TNBC. The evaluation of eryaspase in metastatic TNBC provides a promising new therapeutic approach, which capitalizes on reprogramming of the metabolic pathways in this disease."

Gil Beyen, Chairman and CEO of ERYTECH, added, "The selection of TNBC as the second solid tumor indication for evaluating eryaspase anti-tumor activity brings hope for improving the health of these women. The safety profile of eryaspase provides additional rationale for combination with currently existing therapies to increase treatment options in TNBC."

The development in TNBC complements ERYTECH’s pipeline of programs, which focus on the development of therapies that target amino acid metabolism of tumor cells. Set-up activities of a Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical study have started and ERYTECH expects to enroll the first patient in Q3 2018.

About Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women globally with nearly 1.8 million new cases diagnosed annually2. It is estimated that over 600,000 women each year are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States and Europe in aggregate3. Approximately 10-20% of breast cancers are TNBC, a form of breast cancer that lacks expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and does not overexpress HER24. TNBC is associated with a poorer prognosis when compared to other breast cancer subtypes. As commonly utilized hormone therapy and HER2 targeting agents are not treatment options for women with TNBC, there is significant unmet need for novel therapeutic approaches in this subtype of breast cancer.