On July 22, 2024 Sensorion (FR0012596468 – ALSEN) a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology company which specializes in the development of novel therapies to restore, treat and prevent within the field of hearing loss disorders, reported that the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (or DSMB) has undertaken a review of the safety data for the patients participating in the NOTOXIS Phase 2a Proof-of-Concept (POC) clinical study of SENS-401 for the prevention of Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity (CIO) (Press release, Sensorion, JUL 22, 2024, View Source [SID1234645009]).

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The DSMB has recommended the continuation of the study and confirmed the absence of any concern as to the safety of SENS-401 when administered in adult patients receiving a daily dose of 43.5 mg, administered twice daily, over a period of up to 23 weeks. Data previously published in December 2023, indicated a favorable safety profile when administered continuously for up to 11 weeks in patients receiving SENS-401.

The patient enrolment continues to progress at a steady pace, in 13 clinical centers open to date. Sensorion’s management team will report preliminary safety and efficacy data of the Phase 2a POC clinical trial of SENS-401 CIO at the World Congress of Audiology, to be held on September 19-22, 2024, in Paris, France.

The NOTOXIS Phase 2a trial is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label study designed to assess the efficacy of SENS-401 in preventing cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in adult patients with neoplastic disease, four weeks after completion of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The trial assesses several endpoints, including the rate and severity of ototoxicity, changes in pure tone audiometry (PTA) (dB) throughout the study compared to before cisplatin treatment, and tolerability.

About SENS-401
SENS-401 (Arazasetron), Sensorion’s clinical stage lead drug candidate, is an orally available small molecule that aims to protect and preserve inner ear tissue from damage responsible of progressive or sequelae hearing impairment. Sensorion currently develops SENS-401 in a Phase 2a for the prevention of residual hearing loss in patients scheduled for cochlear implantation and in a Phase 2 clinical trial for the prevention of Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity. SENS-401 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the EMA in Europe for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and by the FDA in the U.S. for the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric population.

On July 22, 2024 Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) ("Immutep" or "the Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel LAG-3 immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune disease, reported that positive feedback has been received from the US Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") regarding the planned TACTI-004 Phase III trial of eftilagimod alfa ("efti") in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), MSD’s anti-PD-1 therapy, and histology-based platinum doublet chemotherapy for the treatment of first-line metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (1L NSCLC), regardless of PD-L1 expression (Press release, Immutep, JUL 22, 2024, View Source [SID1234644994]).

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The FDA feedback from this Type C meeting, along with feedback previously received from the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut ("PEI") and the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products ("AEMPS"), concludes the preparatory regulatory interactions for the design of this registrational trial. This marks a significant step forward to develop an effective treatment for non-squamous and squamous 1L NSCLC patients who have high, low, or no PD-L1 expression and are eligible for anti-PD-1 therapy.

The TACTI-004 Phase III trial, which will enrol ~750 patients, is based on the positive efficacy and safety data in 1L NSCLC generated from the TACTI-002 Phase II and INSIGHT-003 trials.

"We are pleased with the FDA’s feedback as this allows us to successfully conclude our regulatory preparation for the TACTI-004 registrational trial. This represents a key milestone in our late-stage development process for efti centred on potentially driving a new standard of care globally in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. We hope to achieve this through efti in combination with KEYTRUDA, which has led to strong efficacy data with a favourable safety profile in 1L NSCLC patients regardless of PD-L1 expression," stated Christian Mueller, Immutep’s SVP, Regulatory and Strategy.

KEYTRUDA is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

TACTI-004 (Two ACTive Immunotherapies-004) Registrational Phase III Trial Design
TACTI-004 will be a 1:1 randomized, double-blind, multinational, controlled clinical trial to evaluate Immutep’s efti in combination with KEYTRUDA and standard chemotherapy compared to the standard-of-care, KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy and placebo in first-line metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), regardless of PD-L1 expression. In this pivotal PD-L1 all comer trial, the dual primary endpoints will be progression-free and overall survival with a prespecified futility boundary and a pre-planned interim analysis. The trial will be conducted globally and enrol approximately 750 NSCLC patients (including both squamous and non-squamous subtypes).

About Eftilagimod Alfa (Efti)
Efti is Immutep’s proprietary soluble LAG-3 protein and MHC Class II agonist that stimulates both innate and adaptive immunity for the treatment of cancer. As a first-in-class antigen presenting cell (APC) activator, efti binds to MHC (major histocompatibility complex) Class II molecules on APC leading to activation and proliferation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, CD4+ helper T cells, dendritic cells, NK cells, and monocytes. It also upregulates the expression of key biological molecules like IFN-ƴ and CXCL10 that further boost the immune system’s ability to fight cancer.

Efti is under evaluation for a variety of solid tumours including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and metastatic breast cancer. Its favourable safety profile enables various combinations, including with anti-PD-[L]1 immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Efti has received Fast Track designation in first line HNSCC and in first line NSCLC from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

On July 22, 2024 NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC (NorthStar) and BWXT Medical Ltd., a subsidiary of BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT) reported that they have signed a Master Services Agreement (MSA), which will facilitate the production of actinium-225 (Ac-225), a critical medical isotope used to kill cancer cells while minimizing the impact to healthy tissues (Press release, NorthStar Medical Radiostopes, JUL 22, 2024, View Source [SID1234645010]).

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Medical isotopes are essential for a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including cancer treatments and advanced imaging techniques. Pursuant to the multi-year MSA, the companies will work together to process and purify radium-226 that will be irradiated to produce Ac-225. The scope of the agreement also includes potential target design projects and exploration of opportunities to provide backup supply to each other’s customers.

Jonathan Cirtain, president and chief executive officer of BWXT Medical, stated, "We are pleased to enter into this agreement with NorthStar. This collaboration is a significant step forward in our mission to support healthcare providers and patients by providing high-quality medical isotopes. Together, we are accelerating our radium-226 target design and fabrication efforts and establishing another irradiation relationship that will enable us to expand our production of Ac-225."

BWXT Medical will collaborate closely with NorthStar, a global innovator in the development, production and commercialization of radiopharmaceuticals used for therapeutic applications and medical imaging, to streamline production processes, enhance safety protocols and innovate new methods of isotope generation. This collaboration will leverage the strengths of both organizations, combining cutting-edge technology with extensive industry knowledge.

"At NorthStar, we believe we’re on the cusp of a global paradigm shift in the development and commercialization of effective new radiodiagnostics and radiotherapies that can potentially be applied to devastating cancers and rare, complex conditions," said Dr. Frank Scholz, NorthStar’s president and chief executive officer. "This agreement could be instrumental to the radiopharmaceutical industry and patient health. We are excited to collaborate with BWXT on actinium production and believe our complementary technical capabilities will play a critical role in bringing novel therapies to patients who so urgently need them."

BWXT Medical recently announced that it has submitted a Drug Master File (DMF) for Actinium-225 API to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). DMFs are submissions to FDA used to provide confidential, detailed information about facilities, processes or articles used in the manufacturing, processing, packaging and storing of human drug products.

An active DMF enables clinical investigators or pharmaceutical companies to reference the filing in their regulatory submissions. BWXT Medical’s Ac-225 has been used in an early clinical study, and the DMF is now ready for reference to support later stage clinical studies and, ultimately, new drug applications.

On July 22, 2024 TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNAZ) ("TransCode" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage RNA oncology company committed to more effectively treating cancer using RNA therapeutics, reported that it intends to offer to sell shares of its common stock (and/or pre-funded warrants ("Pre-funded Warrants") in lieu thereof) in a best efforts public offering (Press release, TransCode Therapeutics, JUL 22, 2024, View Source [SID1234645046]). All of the shares of common stock (and/or Pre-funded Warrants) are to be sold by the Company.

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ThinkEquity is acting as the sole placement agent for the offering.

The offering is subject to market conditions and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering primarily for product development activities, including one or more clinical trials with TTX-MC138, its lead therapeutic candidate, and related investigational new drug (IND) enabling studies, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

The securities will be offered and sold pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-268764), including a base prospectus, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on December 13, 2022, and declared effective on December 16, 2022. The offering will be made only by means of a written prospectus forming part of the effective shelf registration statement. A preliminary prospectus supplement describing the terms of the offering, and an accompanying prospectus has been or will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may also be obtained from the offices of ThinkEquity, 17 State Street, 41st Floor, New York, New York 10004. Before investing in this offering, interested parties should read in their entirety the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the other documents that the Company has filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in such preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, which provide more information about the Company and such offering.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

On July 22, 2024 Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGS, "Aligos"), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapeutics to address unmet medical needs in liver and viral diseases, reported that it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Xiamen Amoytop Biotech Co., Ltd. ("Amoytop") (Press release, Aligos Therapeutics, JUL 22, 2024, View Source [SID1234644997]).

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Under the terms of the agreement, Amoytop will sponsor and perform a Phase 1b exploratory clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ALG-000184 in combination with PEGBING (Mipeginterferon alfa-2b) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in China. The clinical study is expected to begin after approval by the National Medical Products Administration in China.

"We are pleased to build on our existing relationship with Amoytop, as they have proven to be a valuable partner," stated Lawrence Blatt, Ph.D., MBA, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer at Aligos Therapeutics. "We look forward to initiating this exploratory study to evaluate the combination of ALG-000184 with PEGBING, one of the approved drugs for CHB patients in China, to assess the potential benefits of a combinatory approach."

ALG-000184 is a potent best/first-in-class oral small molecule capsid assembly modulator (CAM-E) being developed for CHB. It is designed to exploit the dual role of CAMs by disrupting hepatitis B cccDNA levels and its derived transcripts by reducing expression of viral markers such as DNA, RNA, and the relevant antigens (HBsAg, HBeAg, HBcrAg). Phase 1a studies have demonstrated after single and multiple daily doses that ALG-000184 was well-tolerated, with no safety signals observed, and demonstrated linear pharmacokinetics (PK) and excellent antiviral activity. In longer term Phase 1b studies of ALG-000184 300mg x ≤96 weeks ± entecavir (ETV), ALG-000184 monotherapy has demonstrated best-in-class reductions in HBV DNA, RNA, HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBcrAg without viral breakthrough to date.

PEGBING, independently developed by Amoytop, is the world’s first 40kD pegylated interferon α-2b injection. With dual effects of inhibiting viral replication and enhancing immunity, PEGBING is mainly used in the clinical treatment of viral hepatitis and is the first-line drug for the antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis B, which plays an important role in improving the clinical cure rate of hepatitis B and reducing the risk of liver cancer.

"We are pleased to deepen our cooperation in the field of liver disease treatment and look forward to working together to provide a new treatment solution for patients in need," said Sun Li, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Amoytop. "Amoytop is committed to further optimizing the chronic hepatitis B combination treatment pathway and hopes that the cooperation will lead to better clinical value drugs and drug combinations."

The Phase 1b study will be a randomized, double blinded, active controlled study to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of oral once daily doses of 300 mg ALG-000184 + PEGBING + entecavir (ETV) compared with 300 mg ALG-000184 + ETV or PEGBING + ETV in treatment naïve or currently-not-treated HBeAg-positive and nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) suppressed HBeAg-negative subjects with CHB for 48 weeks.