Tikva Allocell to Participate in Keynote Panel Discussion at Asian Pharma and Biotech Project, Program and Portfolio Management Conference

On August 4, 2025 Tikva Allocell (Tikva), a biotechnology company developing off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapies for solid tumors, reported that its Founder and CEO, Dr. Ivan Horak will join a keynote panel at the Asian Pharma and Biotech Project, Program and Portfolio Management Conference, being held in Singapore, August 5-6, 2025 (Press release, Tikva Allocell, AUG 4, 2025, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tikva-allocell-to-participate-in-keynote-panel-discussion-at-asian-pharma-and-biotech-project-program-and-portfolio-management-conference-302519921.html [SID1234654741]).

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"I look forward to exploring how innovation, investment, and strategic thinking are shaping the region’s future in drug development, including advancing next generation therapies for cancer," said Dr. Horak. "Headquartered in Singapore, Tikva is led by a seasoned cell therapy development team with extensive experience in designing and developing ‘off-the-shelf’ T cell therapies utilizing Allogeneic Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Specific T cells (ALLO EBVST). We look forward to discussing how Tikva is leading this next generation of CAR-T technology, and the role Singapore will play in the future of this key sector."

The panel is titled "The Evolving Pharma and Biotech Landscape in Asia, Accelerating Drug Development Through Innovation, Investment, and Strategic Growth." Panelists will discuss the state of drug development projects in Asia including key opportunities and challenges in clinical trials, R&D, and commercialization, as well as the role of incubators, government agencies, and venture funding are playing to supporting early-stage innovation and accelerate drug development. The dialogue will also elaborate on key regulatory shifts, AI, and emerging technologies and how these factors are transforming clinical development and portfolio management in Asia.

Details of the presentation are as follows:

Event:

Asian Pharma and Biotech Project, Program and Portfolio Management Conference

Date and Time:

August 5, 2025 at 9:00 AM SGT

Location:

One Farrer Hotel, Singapore

Participant:

Dr. Ivan Horak, Founder and CEO, Tikva Allocell

During the conference, Dr. Horak will conduct one-on-one meetings with registered investors and potential partners, showcasing the company’s business and clinical development strategy, recent achievements, and anticipated milestones.

Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. Raises $6.6 Million from At The Market Offering (ATM) Stock Sales in July 2025

On August 4, 2025 Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: INTS) ("Intensity" or "the Company"), a late-stage clinical biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel intratumoral cancer therapies that are designed to kill tumors and increase immune system recognition of cancers using its proprietary non-covalent conjugation technology, reported that in July 2025 the Company added $6.6 million in gross proceeds ($6.3 million net) by selling 19,868,658 shares of its common stock via its At-the-Market offering (the "ATM") at an average price of $0.3323 per share (Press release, Intensity Therapeutics, AUG 4, 2025, View Source [SID1234654727]). Following such sales of common stock pursuant to the ATM, the Company has 46,035,081 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of July 31, 2025.

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"We were able to take advantage of strong liquidity and favorable prices in our stock last month. The proceeds from these ATM sales strengthen our balance sheet considerably and allow us to continue to advance the clinical trials into the second half of 2026," said Lewis H. Bender, President and CEO of Intensity. "We are also pleased to announce that the average price per share for these ATM sales was more than 10% higher than our recently completed June 2025 public offering, and the costs to raise this incremental capital were much lower. We will continue to be selective and strategic in the deployment of the remainder of the ATM."

About At the Market Transactions

"At-the-Market" (ATM) offerings, also known as "ATM" programs, refer to a method where a public company sells its newly issued shares directly into the existing trading market at the prevailing market price, rather than through a traditional underwritten offering. This approach allows companies to raise capital opportunistically and incrementally, as needed, with minimal disruption to the market and typically lower costs.

About INT230-6

INT230-6, Intensity’s lead proprietary investigational product candidate, is designed for direct intratumoral injection. INT230-6 was discovered using Intensity’s proprietary DfuseRx℠ technology platform. The drug consists of two proven, potent anti-cancer agents, cisplatin and vinblastine sulfate, and a diffusion and cell penetration enhancer molecule ("SHAO") that facilitates the dispersion of potent cytotoxic drugs throughout tumors, allowing the active agents to diffuse into cancer cells. These agents remain in the tumor, resulting in a favorable safety profile. In addition to local disease control and direct tumor killing, INT230-6 causes a release of a bolus of neoantigens specific to the malignancy, leading to immune system engagement and systemic anti-tumor effects. Importantly, these effects are mediated without immunosuppression, which often occurs with systemic chemotherapy.

XOMA Royalty Enters into Agreement to Acquire LAVA Therapeutics
for Between $1.16 and $1.24 Per Share in Cash, Plus a Contingent Value Right

On August 4, 2025 XOMA Royalty Corporation ("XOMA Royalty") (NASDAQ: XOMA) and LAVA Therapeutics N.V. ("LAVA") (NASDAQ: LVTX) reported they have entered a definitive share purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement" and the transactions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, the "Transactions") whereby XOMA Royalty will acquire LAVA for (i) USD between $1.16 and $1.24 per share in cash, consisting of (A) USD $1.16 (the "Base Price Per Share") in cash per share (the "LAVA common stock"), plus (B) an additional amount of cash of up to $0.08 per Share (such amount as finally determined in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, the "Additional Price Per Share," and together with the Base Price Per Share, the "Cash Amount"), plus (ii) a non-transferable contingent value right ("CVR") per share representing the right to receive 75% of the net proceeds related to LAVA’s two partnered assets and 75% of any net proceeds from any out license or sale of LAVA’s unpartnered programs (Press release, Lava Therapeutics, AUG 4, 2025, View Source [SID1234654728]).

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"We believe the structure of this transaction has the potential to benefit both LAVA and XOMA Royalty shareholders over time," stated Owen Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of XOMA Royalty. "We are adding economics related to LAVA’s partnered programs investigating the utility of gamma delta bispecific antibodies, which hold significant promise for patients."

"The Purchase Agreement with XOMA Royalty announced today is the result of a thorough and wide-ranging strategic review process, conducted with the support of our legal and financial advisors, aimed at maximizing shareholder value while participating in the sustained success of LAVA’s business," said Steve Hurly, Chief Executive Officer of LAVA.

In accordance with its fiduciary duties under Dutch law, LAVA’s Board of Directors (the "Board") has unanimously determined that the Transactions are in the best interests of LAVA and the sustainable success of its business, having carefully considered the interests of LAVA shareholders, employees, and all other relevant stakeholders and has approved the Purchase Agreement. The Board unanimously recommends that shareholders support the Offer, accept the Offer and vote in favor of the resolutions to be proposed to LAVA’s shareholders’ meeting, as noted below.

Transaction Terms

Pursuant and subject to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, XOMA Royalty will commence a tender offer (the "Offer") by August 15, 2025, to acquire all outstanding shares of LAVA common stock. The closing of the Offer is subject to certain conditions, including the tender of LAVA common stock representing at least 80% (or, in certain cases, 75%) of LAVA’s issued and outstanding shares, the condition that certain resolutions are adopted by LAVA’s shareholders meeting; a minimum cash balance at closing, and other customary closing conditions. Following a subsequent offering period, LAVA will undergo a corporate reorganization designed to result in XOMA Royalty acquiring 100% of the shares in LAVA’s successor and all then-remaining LAVA shareholders (other than XOMA Royalty) receiving the same cash and CVR consideration per share as is provided in the tender offer, subject to applicable withholding taxes. LAVA will hold a shareholder’s meeting in connection with the Transactions. The closing of the Transactions is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.

In connection with the Transactions, the Company plans to discontinue its Phase 1 clinical trial of LAVA-1266 for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome and initiate the wind-down of the LAVA-1266 program.

Advisors

XOMA Royalty was represented by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Loyens & Loeff N.V, who acted as U.S. and Dutch legal advisors, respectively. Leerink Partners is acting as exclusive financial advisor to LAVA, Cooley LLP is acting as U.S. legal advisor to LAVA and NautaDutilh N.V. is acting as Dutch legal advisor to LAVA.

Overall Response Rate (ORR) increases to 79% with two additional Partial Responses in azer-cel CAR T Phase 1b trial

On August 4, 2025 Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, reported further encouraging efficacy data from its Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating azer-cel (azercabtagene zapreleucel) in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), an aggressive form of blood cancer (Press release, Imugene, AUG 4, 2025, https://mcusercontent.com/e38c43331936a9627acb6427c/files/0cd26d83-b2ce-132b-a8a5-f76d576d40ed/79_Overall_Response_Rate_With_Two_Further_Partial_Responses.pdf [SID1234654707]).
In July 2025, Imugene announced that a total of nine out of twelve patients had achieved a ORR of 75%, defined as either Complete Response, (the disappearance of signs of cancer in response to treatment) or Partial Response, (defined as cancer reduction by at least 50%). Since then, two new patients have become evaluable for responses and both patients have achieved a Partial Response increasing the best ORR to 79% with eleven out of fourteen patients showing response to treatment. The duration of maintaining response continues to mature. These patients are being treated with azer-cel and interleukin 2 (IL -2).

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Azer-cel is being developed as a potential allogeneic, off-the-shelf, CAR T-cell therapy, addressing key limitations of approved autologous CAR T drugs, including geographical access to treatment centres, manufacturing complexity and time to receive treatment (on-demand).

Imugene is actively enrolling patients to the Phase 1b azer-cel trial at ten US sites with up to six sites in Australia planned, after the first Australian patient was dosed in January 2025 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, resulting in a Complete Response.

About the Phase 1b azer-cel trial

The azer-cel allogeneic CAR T trial is an ongoing, open-label, multi-centre Phase 1b clinical trial in the U.S. and Australia, for CAR T relapsed patients with DLBCL. The study has recently expanded to include and treat CAR T naïve patients diagnosed with a broad range of Non-Hodgkins lymphomas including primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/ small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) and follicular lymphoma (FL). Treatment with azer-cel, lymphodepletion (LD) and IL-2 is showing promising results with evidence of meaningful clinical activity, and durability of response. Additionally, the safety profile is manageable and generally well tolerated.

About diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL)

DLBCL is an aggressive and fast-growing type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a type of blood cancer. DLBCL is the most common type of NHL, with approximately 160,000¹ global cases per year and approximately 30,000 new cases per year in the U.S. Relapsed/refractory DLBCL has a high unmet medical need; ~60% of patients treated with approved autologous CD19 CAR T relapse.

About primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL)

PCNSL is a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a type of blood cancer that originates in the brain, spinal cord, leptomeninges, or eyes, usually without evidence of systemic disease. In the U.S., there are approximately 1,500 to 1,800 new cases per year with limited approved treatment options and is a high unmet need. Currently, there are no CAR T-cell products approved for the treatment of PCNSL providing a unique opportunity for azer-cel to treat CART naïve patients.

About other types of B Cell Lymphoma

Other subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) include chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), the most common slow growing leukemia that can become resistant to therapy; marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), a slow-growing B-cell lymphoma that arises in lymphoid tissues associated with mucosal sites like the stomach and lung; Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), a rare slow-growing lymphoma characterized by excess IgM production, which can cause multiple complications ; and follicular lymphoma (FL), a common slow-growing NHL that can become more aggressive. While several targeted therapies and monoclonal antibodies are available for these types of B Cell Lymphoma, relapsed or refractory disease remains an ongoing challenge, highlighting the ongoing need for continued innovation and new and better treatments.

About Interleukin 2 (IL-2)

IL-2 is a cytokine (a protein that affects what happens between cells in the immune system) that helps T-cells (which are part of the immune system that help fight cancer) grow and survive. IL-2 has been shown to help T cells live longer and to enhance the cancer killing functions of CAR T cells, making them more effective at targeting and killing cancer cells.

Mural Oncology Announces Second Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update

On August 4, 2025 Mural Oncology plc (Nasdaq: MURA), reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2025 and provided a business update (Press release, Mural Oncology, AUG 4, 2025, View Source [SID1234654729]). On April 15, 2025, Mural announced that it was discontinuing all clinical development of its lead product candidate, nemvaleukin alfa, and was commencing the exploration of strategic alternatives focused on maximizing shareholder value. The Company is continuing to explore strategic alternatives.

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Following its announcement on April 15, 2025, Mural has taken steps to conserve its remaining cash, including the implementation of a reduction in workforce by approximately 90%, the discontinuation of the clinical development of nemvaleukin alfa, and the termination of its other research and development activities, including the research and development of its IL-18 and IL-12 programs. As of June 30, 2025, the company had approximately $77.1 million in cash and cash equivalents. The company estimates that, if it has not consummated a transaction or other strategic alternative by December 31, 2025, its cash and cash equivalents as of such date will total approximately $43 to $48 million. This estimate reflects anticipated costs to be incurred in connection with finalization of the discontinuation of the company’s remaining activities and expected residual operating expenses (e.g. lease expense, salary and benefits for remaining employees, insurance costs). This cash guidance is subject to a number of assumptions and actual cash balances may differ materially, particularly if the Company consummates a transaction or other strategic alternative prior to December 31, 2025. Mural has not included in its cash guidance, additional costs that may be incurred as a result of, or in connection with, any strategic alternative it may pursue, including, but not limited to, an offer for or other acquisition of the company, merger, business combination or other transaction, including a possible wind-down and liquidation of the company (e.g., legal and financial advisor fees and severance costs for remaining employees).

Further updates and developments will be disclosed as appropriate or where necessary under regulatory requirements. There can be no assurance that the company’s exploration of strategic alternatives will result in the company pursuing a transaction or that any acquisition or other transaction involving the company will be completed, nor as to the terms on which any acquisition or other transaction will occur, if at all.

Financial Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2025

Cash Position: As of June 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $77.1 million.

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $23.3 million for the second quarter of 2025 compared to $27.5 million for the second quarter of 2024. This decrease was primarily due to decreased employee-related expenses following the reduction-in-force implemented by the company during the second quarter of 2025 and the decreased spend on the ARTISTRY-7 clinical trial of nemvaleukin due to the termination of the development of nemvaleukin. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in spend on early discovery programs upon completion of certain manufacturing activities and on the ARTISTRY-6 trial of nemvaleukin related to the top-line read-out and wind-down of the trial during the second quarter of 2025.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $8.1 million for the second quarter of 2025 compared to $6.7 million for the second quarter of 2024. This increase in G&A expenses was primarily due to increased employee-related expenses associated with employee termination and retention benefits and increased legal expenses associated with corporate activities, partially offset by decreased share-based compensation expense resulting from an increase in the awards that were forfeited or were expected to be forfeited following the reduction-in-force.

Restructuring and Impairment Expenses: Mural incurred $17.5 million in restructuring and impairment charges during the second quarter of 2025, consisting of severance and termination benefits related to the reduction-in-force, an impairment charge related to lab equipment sold during the second quarter of 2025 and contract termination and write-offs related to the termination of the company’s research and development programs.

Net Loss: Net loss was $48.0 million for the second quarter of 2025 compared to $31.6 million for the second quarter of 2024. The increase in net loss was primarily driven by the restructuring and impairment charges incurred during the second quarter of 2025.

Cash Guidance: Mural estimates that its cash and cash equivalents will be approximately $43.0 million – $48.0 million as of December 31, 2025, if it has not consummated a transaction or other strategic alternative by such date.