Theriva™ Biologics to Discuss the Trial Design for VIRAGE – a Phase 2b Clinical Study of Systemically Administered VCN-01 in Combination with Chemotherapy in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma – at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting

On April 25, 2024 Theriva Biologics (NYSE American: TOVX), a diversified clinical-stage company developing therapeutics designed to treat cancer and related diseases in areas of high unmet need, reported that, based on the strength of the science and its relevance, VIRAGE – the Phase 2b randomized, open-label, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial of systemically administered VCN-01 in combination with standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapy (gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel) as a first line therapy for patients with newly-diagnosed metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) – has been accepted for presentation as a trial-in-progress poster at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, being held in Chicago, IL, from May 31-June 4 (Press release, Theriva Biologics, APR 25, 2024, View Source [SID1234642361]).

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ASCO Presentation Details

Title: VIRAGE: A Phase IIb, Open-label, Randomized Study of Nab-Paclitaxel and Gemcitabine plus/minus VCN-01 in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
Presenter: Dr. Rocío García-Carbonero
Session Title: Poster Session – Gastrointestinal Cancer: Gastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary
Poster Session Date and Time: 01 June 2024, 1:30 PM-4:30 PM US CDT
Abstract Number: TPS4210

GILEAD SCIENCES ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2024 FINANCIAL RESULTS

On April 25, 2024 Gilead Sciences, Inc. reported its first quarter 2024 results of operations (Press release, Gilead Sciences, APR 25, 2024, View Source [SID1234642343]).

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"Gilead delivered another strong quarter of revenue growth in the first quarter with 6% year-over-year growth in our base business driven by HIV, Oncology and Liver Disease," said Daniel O’Day, Gilead’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The acquisition of CymaBay brings us another potentially transformative therapy for people with liver disease, and a regulatory decision on seladelpar is expected in August. New HIV data demonstrates the continued progress in our long-acting HIV pipeline, and we look forward to providing updates on this and our broad Oncology portfolio throughout the rest of 2024."
First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
•Total first quarter 2024 revenue increased 5% to $6.7 billion, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to higher HIV, Oncology and Liver Disease sales.
•Diluted (loss) earnings per share ("EPS") was $(3.34) in the first quarter 2024, compared to $0.80 in the same period in 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by an acquired in-process research and development ("IPR&D") charge of $3.9 billion, or $3.14 per share, related to the acquisition of CymaBay Therapeutics, Inc. ("CymaBay"), as well as a pre-tax IPR&D impairment of $2.4 billion, or $1.46 per share, related to assets acquired by Gilead from Immunomedics, Inc. ("Immunomedics") in 2020.
•Non-GAAP diluted (loss) EPS was $(1.32) in the first quarter 2024, compared to $1.37 in the same period in 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by the charge related to the acquisition of CymaBay.
•As of March 31, 2024, Gilead had $4.7 billion of cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities, compared to $8.4 billion as of December 31, 2023.
•During the first quarter 2024, Gilead generated $2.2 billion in operating cash flow.
•During the first quarter 2024, Gilead paid dividends of $990 million and repurchased $400 million of common stock.
First Quarter 2024 Product Sales
Total first quarter 2024 product sales increased 5% to $6.6 billion, compared to the same period in 2023. Total product sales, excluding Veklury, increased 6% to $6.1 billion in the first quarter 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to higher sales in HIV, Oncology and Liver Disease.
HIV product sales increased 4% to $4.3 billion in the first quarter 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily driven by higher demand.
•Biktarvy (bictegravir 50mg/emtricitabine 200mg ("FTC")/tenofovir alafenamide 25mg ("TAF")) sales increased 10% to $2.9 billion in the first quarter 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily driven by higher demand in the United States, Europe and other international markets.

April 25, 2024
2

•Descovy (FTC 200mg/TAF 25mg) sales decreased 5% to $426 million in the first quarter 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily driven by lower average realized price due to channel mix, partially offset by higher demand.
The Liver Disease portfolio sales increased 9% to $737 million in the first quarter 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. This was primarily driven by favorable inventory dynamics, the timing of chronic hepatitis C virus ("HCV") purchases by the Department of Corrections in the United States, as well as higher demand across chronic hepatitis B virus ("HBV"), HCV and, in the European Union ("EU"), chronic hepatitis D virus ("HDV").
Veklury sales decreased 3% to $555 million in the first quarter 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily driven by lower rates of COVID-19 related hospitalizations.
Cell Therapy product sales increased 7% to $480 million in the first quarter 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
•Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) sales increased 6% to $380 million in the first quarter 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily driven by strong demand in relapsed or refractory ("R/R") large B-cell lymphoma ("LBCL") outside the United States.
•Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel) sales increased 13% to $100 million in the first quarter 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, with increased demand in R/R adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia and R/R mantle cell lymphoma.
Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) sales increased 39% to $309 million in the first quarter 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily driven by higher demand.
First Quarter 2024 Product Gross Margin, Operating Expenses and Effective Tax Rate
•Product gross margin was 76.6% in the first quarter 2024, compared to 77.8% in the same period in 2023, primarily driven by product mix and higher intangible asset amortization expenses. Non-GAAP product gross margin was 85.4% in the first quarter 2024, compared to 86.2% in the same period in 2023, primarily driven by product mix.
•Research & development ("R&D") expenses were $1.5 billion in the first quarter 2024, compared to $1.4 billion in the same period in 2023, primarily driven by costs related to the acquisition of CymaBay and restructuring expenses. Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $1.4 billion in the first quarter 2024, flat with the same period in 2023.
•Acquired IPR&D expenses were $4.1 billion in the first quarter 2024, primarily driven by the $3.9 billion charge related to the acquisition of CymaBay that closed on March 22, 2024.
•IPR&D impairment was $2.4 billion related to the assets acquired from Immunomedics in 2020 with no similar charges in 2023.
•Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $1.4 billion in the first quarter 2024, compared to $1.3 billion in the same period in 2023. This increase reflects costs related to the acquisition of CymaBay and restructuring expenses. Non-GAAP SG&A expenses were $1.3 billion in the first quarter 2024, flat with the same period in 2023.
•The effective tax rate ("ETR") was 7.0% in the first quarter 2024, compared to 24.3% in the same period in 2023, and non-GAAP ETR was (29.8)% in the first quarter 2024, compared to 18.9% in the same period in 2023. These changes primarily reflect the non-deductible acquired IPR&D charge for CymaBay.

April 25, 2024
3

Guidance and Outlook
For the full-year, Gilead expects:
(in millions, except per share amounts) 4/25/24 Guidance
Low End High End Comparison to Prior Guidance
Product sales $ 27,100 $ 27,500
Unchanged
Product sales, excluding Veklury $ 25,800 $ 26,200
Unchanged
Veklury $ 1,300 $ 1,300 Unchanged
Diluted EPS $ 0.10 $ 0.50
Previously $5.15 to $5.55
Non-GAAP diluted EPS $ 3.45 $ 3.85
Previously $6.85 to $7.25

Additional information and a reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial information for the 2024 guidance is provided in the accompanying tables. The financial guidance is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. See the Forward-Looking Statements section below.
Key Updates Since Our Last Quarterly Release
Virology
•Presented data at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections ("CROI") across Gilead’s HIV long-acting treatment pipeline. For once-weekly oral dosing, this included Phase 2 data evaluating lenacapavir in combination with Merck & Co., Inc.’s islatravir as well as initial Phase 1b data for GS-1720, Gilead’s novel, investigational integrase inhibitor. Additionally, updated results were presented from the twice-yearly injectable Phase 1b study of lenacapavir in combination with investigational broadly neutralizing antibodies, teropavimab and zinlirvimab.
•Announced data at CROI evaluating Biktarvy for treatment of people with HIV and coinfections of HBV or tuberculosis, as well as results from a Phase 2/3 study evaluating once-daily oral combination of bictegravir and lenacapavir.
•Presented multiple real-world analyses at CROI supporting the use of Veklury for people hospitalized with COVID-19, including in immunocompromised people. Additionally, presented a real-world analysis evaluating the impact of Veklury on the risk of developing long-COVID.
•Announced data at CROI evaluating the safety and efficacy of Hepcludex (bulevirtide) in people living with coinfections of HIV, HBV and HDV. In the United States and other areas outside of the EU and European Economic Area, bulevirtide is an investigational product and its safety and efficacy have not been established.
•Received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") to expand Biktarvy’s label to include treatment of people with HIV who have suppressed viral loads with known or suspected M184V/I resistance.
•Received approval from FDA to expand the indication for Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) to include treatment of chronic HBV in children six years and older who weigh at least 25 kg with compensated liver disease.
Oncology
•Announced a research collaboration, option and license agreement with Merus N.V. ("Merus") to discover novel antibody-based trispecific T-cell engagers in oncology.
•Entered into an exclusive license agreement with Xilio Therapeutics, Inc. ("Xilio") to develop and commercialize Xilio’s tumor-activated IL-12 program, including investigational candidate XTX301 in advanced solid tumors.

April 25, 2024
4

Inflammation
•Completed the acquisition of CymaBay for $4.3 billion in total equity value, or $3.9 billion net cash paid, adding investigational candidate seladelpar for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis ("PBC") to Gilead’s Liver Disease portfolio. Seladelpar is an investigational, oral, selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) agonist, with Orphan Drug Designation in the United States and Europe. PPARδ has been shown to regulate critical metabolic and liver disease pathways. FDA accepted the New Drug Application for seladelpar in February 2024 for priority review, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date of August 14, 2024.
Corporate
•Announced that Kevin Lofton is retiring from Gilead’s Board of Directors (the "Board"), effective at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders ("Annual Meeting") on May 8, 2024. Anthony Welters, if re-elected at the Annual Meeting, will succeed Mr. Lofton as Lead Independent Director.
•Recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies by Just Capital and CNBC, reflecting Gilead’s longstanding commitment to operate responsibly.
•The Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.77 per share of common stock for the second quarter of 2024. The dividend is payable on June 27, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 14, 2024. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval.
Certain amounts and percentages in this press release may not sum or recalculate due to rounding.
Conference Call
At 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time today, Gilead will host a conference call to discuss Gilead’s results. A live webcast will be available on View Source and will be archived on www.gilead.com for one year.

HOOKIPA Pharma Announces Pivotal Phase 2/3 Trial Design for HB-200 in Combination with Pembrolizumab

On April 25, 2024 HOOKIPA Pharma Inc., a company developing a new class of immunotherapeutics based on its proprietary arenavirus platform, reported its final pivotal Phase 2/3 trial design for HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab (Press release, Hookipa Biotech, APR 25, 2024, View Source [SID1234642344]). The Phase 2/3 trial design and protocol are based on alignment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following the Company’s Type C meeting with the FDA.

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The seamless Phase 2/3 trial is for the investigational product HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with Human Papillomavirus 16-positive (HPV16+) recurrent/metastatic PD-L1 CPS ≥ 20 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in the first line setting. The Company anticipates the first patient will be enrolled in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The Company also announced acceptance of its HB-200 study abstract as an oral presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2024 Annual Meeting in the head and neck cancer session to be held on June 4, 2024. The presentation will include data for approximately 40 head and neck cancer patients treated with HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab.

"It has been a dream of mine—and my HOOKIPA colleagues—to translate our science into a product that will make an impact for patients and help them fight cancer and infectious diseases. I am happy to say that we are taking a very big step forward to making this dream a reality," said Joern Aldag, Chief Executive Officer of HOOKIPA. "We believe our data is best-in-class and puts us in the lead position for OPSCC in the first line setting. We have alignment with the FDA on our pivotal trial design and protocol, as well as PRIME designation for HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with OPSCC in the first line setting from the European Medicines Agency. We believe our trial design and alignment with our primary regulators can help us reach a potential registration more quickly. Further, we have been accepted for an oral abstract presentation at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) in June 2024 where we will present an update from our Phase 1/2 trial with approximately 40 patients treated with the combination of HB-200 and pembrolizumab."

HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab pivotal Phase 2/3 trial design summary

The trial will treat patients with HPV16+ recurrent/metastatic PD-L1 CPS ≥ 20 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in the first line setting.
The trial is expected to enroll approximately 250 patients across the seamless Phase 2/3 design.
Patients will be randomized one-to-one for HB-200 plus pembrolizumab or placebo plus pembrolizumab.
The primary endpoints are objective response rate for the Phase 2 portion and overall survival for the Phase 3 portion.
The Company may seek accelerated approval based on data from the Phase 2 portion of the trial, from approximately half of the Phase 2/3 study patients, if favorable.
Phase 2 primary analysis expected in 2026 with potential subsequent filing for accelerated approval.
The Company will host a conference call today where HOOKIPA’s Executive Team will discuss the full details of the trial design, and the Company’s clinical development strategy for oncology.

Call Details:
HOOKIPA HB-200 Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial Update
Thursday, April 25, 2024, 8:00 a.m. ET
Webcast Registration
Dial-in Registration

Abstract details: ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2024 Annual Meeting

HB-200:
Title: HB-200 arenavirus-based immunotherapy plus pembrolizumab as first-line treatment of patients with recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer: Updated results
Presenter: Dr. Alan L. Ho, Head and Neck Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a trial investigator
Abstract Type: Oral abstract
Session Name: Head and Neck Cancer
Session Date and Time: June 4, 2024; 9:45 AM-12:45 PM CDT
Abstract Number: 6005

Title: Neoadjuvant HPV16-specific arenavirus-based immunotherapy HB-200 plus chemotherapy followed by response-stratified de-intensification in HPV16+ oropharyngeal cancer: TARGET-HPV
Presenter: Dr. Ari Rosenberg, Principal Investigator, TARGET-HPV Trial, University of Chicago Medicine
Abstract Type: Rapid oral abstract
Session Name: Head and Neck Cancer
Session Date and Time: June 3, 2024; 8:00 AM-9:30 AM CDT
Abstract Number: 6017
Trial Sponsor: UChicago Medicine

HB-700
Title: Development of an arenavirus-based immunotherapy for treatment of KRAS mutant cancer
Abstract Type: Abstract only
Session Date: May 23, 2024
Abstract Number: e14672

About HB-200
HB-200 is HOOKIPA’s lead oncology candidate engineered with the company’s proprietary replicating arenaviral vector platform. It comprises two single-vector compounds with arenaviral backbones based on lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and pichinde virus (PICV). Both express the same transgene encoding an E7E6 fusion protein derived from HPV16. HB-200 is an alternating 2-vector immunotherapy designed to further focus the immune response against the encoded antigen.

HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and PRIME designation from the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of first-line HPV16+ recurrent/metastatic oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. These designations are supported by preliminary clinical evidence from the Phase 1/2, open-label, clinical trial (NCT04180215) evaluating safety, T cell response, and efficacy based on objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) as defined by RECIST 1.1. and iRECIST. As presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Annual Congress 2023, HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab showed a 42 percent confirmed ORR and disease control rate DCR of 74 percent across 19 evaluable patients, doubling the 19 percent ORR for pembrolizumab alone.

Mabwell to Present Clinical Data of 9MW2821 in Multiple Advanced Solid Tumor

On April 25, 2024 Mabwell (688062.SH), an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company with an entire industry chain, reported that the Phase I/II clinical study results of the novel Nectin-4-targeting ADC 9MW2821 for multiple advanced solid tumors will be presented in an oral presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting, which will be held in Chicago, USA, from May 31-June 4, 2024 (Press release, Mabwell Biotech, APR 25, 2024, View Source;mabwell-to-present-clinical-data-of-9mw2821-in-multiple-advanced-solid-tumor-302127436.html [SID1234642363]).

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Oral Presentation

Abstract Title: 9MW2821, a nectin-4 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in patients with advanced solid tumor: Results from a phase 1/2a study.
Session Date and Time: 6/3/2024; 8:00 AM-9:30 AM CDT
Presenter: Prof. Zhang Jian Chief Physician/Doctoral Supervisor (Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center)
Abstract Number for Publication: 3013

About 9MW2821

9MW2821 is the first site-specific conjugated novel ADC targeting Nectin-4 developed by Mabwell using ADC platform and automated high-throughput hybridoma antibody molecular discovery platform, and is the first drug candidate to enter clinical study among the Nectin-4-targeting ADCs developed by Chinese companies. Multiple clinical studies of 9MW2821 have been conducted in China to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic characteristics, and efficacy of 9MW2821 in patients with various advanced solid tumors.

The phase III clinical study of 9MW2821 monotherapy has officially been initiated in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have previously received platinum-based chemotherapy and PD-(L)1 inhibitor therapy. The phase I/II clinical study of 9MW2821 in combination with PD-1 inhibitors is also ongoing, with the first patient already enrolled. 9MW2821 was granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2024 for the treatment of advanced, recurrent, or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Currently, 9MW2821 is the first therapeutic drug candidate targeting Nectin-4 in the world to disclose clinical efficacy and safety data for indications of cervical cancer and esophageal carcinoma.

TuHURA Biosciences to Present Its IFx-2.0 Personalized Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trial Results at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting

On April 25, 2024 TuHURA Biosciences, Inc. ("TuHURA"), a Phase 3 registration-stage immune-oncology company developing novel technologies to overcome resistance to cancer immunotherapy, reported that its IFx-2.0 Phase 1b clinical trial results have been accepted for poster presentation at the 2024 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting taking place May 31-June 4, 2024 in Chicago, IL (Press release, TuHURA BioPharma, APR 25, 2024, View Source [SID1234642345]).

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Details of the presentation are as follows:

Title: Phase 1b trial of IFx-Hu2.0, a novel in situ cancer vaccine, in checkpoint inhibitor-resistant Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC)

Abstract #: 9592

Presenter: Andrew Brohl, MD, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Session Title: Melanoma/Skin Cancers

Session Date and Time: Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 1:30 PM CDT

Location: Hall A, Poster #376

TuHURA recently announced it has entered into a definitive agreement for an all-stock transaction with Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. ("Kintara") to form a company combining expertise and resources to advance a risk diversified late-stage oncology pipeline. In conjunction with the execution of the definitive agreement, TuHURA entered into subscription agreements for a $31 million financing. The combined company will focus on advancing TuHURA’s personalized cancer vaccine(s) and first-in-class bi-functional Antibody Drug Conjugates ("ADCs"), two technologies that seek to overcome the major obstacles that limit the effectiveness of current immunotherapies in treating cancer. The combined company is expected to operate under the name "TuHURA Biosciences, Inc." and to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker "HURA". The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including stockholder approval of both companies, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024.