Evotec and Owkin enter an A.I.-powered strategic partnership to accelerate therapeutics pipeline in oncology and I&I

On January 4, 2024 Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809; NASDAQ: EVO) and Owkin, a French-American techbio company reported an A.I.-powered integrated multi-target collaboration in oncology, immunology and inflammation ("I&I") (Press release, Evotec, JAN 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234638959]).

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The collaboration brings together highly complementary platforms and expertise to accurately select targets, discover and develop new therapeutics. Harmonising Owkin’s cutting-edge target discovery engine with Evotec’s end-to-end shared R&D platforms and disease biology expertise will accelerate Owkin’s novel programmes from the discovery phase to the clinic.

Owkin will identify indication-relevant targets and subgroups using A.I. applied to multimodal patient data. Evotec will leverage its shared R&D platform to accelerate and de-risk the validation of targets, identification of drug candidates and successful completion of pre-clinical development activities up to IND. An Owkin-Evotec joint Research Strategy Team formed of highly experienced drug hunters will drive the collaboration, designing fully tailored strategic programme plans from target selection to IND and ensuring delivery of the programmes. The partnership also enables Owkin to maximise capital efficiency while reducing risk. Evotec will receive R&D funding from Owkin and is eligible to earn performance milestone payments and royalties on product sales.

Dr Matthias Evers, Chief Business Officer of Evotec, commented: "Owkin and Evotec both feel there is something special brewing by convergence between A.I. and science in drug innovation – hence, we are thrilled to strike this partnership towards accelerating therapeutics in therapeutic areas of highest unmet needs – patients need us, together."

Dr Thomas Clozel, Co-founder and CEO of Owkin, remarked: "The combination of in silico hypothesis generation through A.I. and experimental lab validation is the core of our pipeline strategy. Evotec’s broad capabilities in drug discovery, which range all the way from target validation through to IND-enabling studies, coupled with their understanding of artificial intelligence and its implementation in their workflows make them an ideal partner for us."

Inspirna to Present at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

On January 4, 2024 Inspirna, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class cancer therapeutics, reported that Chief Executive Officer Dr. Usman "Oz" Azam, M.D., will participate in a corporate presentation at the 42nd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 8:30am PT / 11:30am ET (Press release, Inspirna, JAN 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234638975]).

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Boehringer Ingelheim and 3T Biosciences enter into a second partnership to develop next-generation cancer immunotherapies

On January 4, 2024 Boehringer Ingelheim and 3T Biosciences ("3T") reported they have entered into a new strategic collaboration and licensing agreement focused on discovering and developing next-generation life-changing cancer immunotherapies (Press release, Boehringer Ingelheim, JAN 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234638992]).

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Despite the significant transformation of the cancer treatment landscape by immunotherapies, sustained remission only occurs in 15-20% of all cases of cancer. Boehringer Ingelheim is on a mission to considerably increase this rate by utilizing complementary immuno-oncology platforms such as T-Cell Engagers (TcEs), oncolytic viruses and cancer vaccines to extend the benefits of immunotherapy to more patients in need.

This second research partnership with 3T builds on the successful completion of the initial research partnership announced last year by the two companies. It brings together 3T’s best-in-class 3T-TRACE (T-Cell Receptor Antigen and Cross-Reactivity Engine) discovery platform with Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to develop first-in-class immuno-oncology treatments that boost the immune system’s ability to recognize, attack and kill tumors.

"At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are committed to transforming patients’ lives. The initial success of our work with 3T gives us confidence that together we can and will expand and accelerate our pipeline of first-in-class T-cell based anti-cancer therapies," said Lamine Mbow, Ph.D., Global Head of Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim.

"The work we have done with Boehringer Ingelheim over the past year provides a higher degree of validation of our 3T-TRACE discovery platform," said Stefan J. Scherer, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of 3T Biosciences. "Based on the success of this initial work, we will now go broader and deeper into other cancers."

Under the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will provide patient-derived T-cell receptor (TCR) data to fuel 3T’s target discovery efforts to identify cognate antigens using its 3T TRACE discovery platform. 3T will receive an upfront payment and research and development support, and is eligible for discovery, preclinical, clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones for both agreements totaling $538.5 million in addition to royalties on future Boehringer Ingelheim product sales. Boehringer Ingelheim is eligible to receive royalties on future product sales by 3T Biosciences arising from the agreement.

ADC Therapeutics Provides Business Updates

On January 4, 2024 ADC Therapeutics reported business updates (Press release, ADC Therapeutics, JAN 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234642026]).

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"During 2023, we took a number of decisive actions to help position the Company for success in 2024 and beyond. We prioritized our pipeline, strengthened our organization and implemented a disciplined capital allocation model to generate cost efficiencies," said Ameet Mallik, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "We believe we are starting to see signs of the commercial turnaround. We are also encouraged to see positive initial signals in the LOTIS-7 trial of ZYNLONTA in combination with bispecifics as well as early signs of antitumor activity in the Phase 1b trial of ADCT-601. We now expect our cash runway to extend into the fourth quarter of 2025 and believe we are on a path to unlock the substantial value in the Company."

Recent Highlights and Developments

ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl)

ZYNLONTA net sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 are expected to be approximately $16.5 million.
The Phase 1 LOTIS-7 trial of ZYNLONTA in combination with bispecifics glofitamab or mosunetuzumab for the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is actively enrolling patients. The dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) period has been cleared for the first dosing level of ZYNLONTA 90 µg/kg in both arms, and there have been no discontinuations due to adverse events (AEs). To date, each of the first five patients eligible for assessment in this dosing level has shown a response (partial response or complete response) at first scan.​
An oral presentation at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2023 Annual Meeting from the University of Miami investigator-initiated trial exploring ZYNLONTA in combination with rituximab in high-risk relapsed or refractory FL indicated a best overall response rate of 96.3% and a complete response rate of 85.2%​. After a median follow-up of 9.7 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached, and the 12-month PFS was 92.3%​. The majority of AEs were grade 1. Grade 3 AEs included neutropenia (n=2; 6.2%), and one case each (3.1%) of hyperglycemia, increased ALT, fatigue, dyspnea and skin infection. Neutropenia was the only grade 4 AE (n=1; 3.1%).
Pipeline

ADCT-601 (targeting AXL): In the Phase 1b trial, the maximum-tolerated dose has been reached, and the study is currently in dose optimization. There have been early signs of antitumor activity in both monotherapy and in combination. The dose-optimization/ expansion phase is comprised of a monotherapy arm including patients with sarcoma, pancreatic cancer and AXL-expressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a combination arm with gemcitabine in patients with sarcoma and pancreatic cancer.
ADCT-901 (targeting KAAG1): The Company has decided to discontinue this program due to limited signs of efficacy in the dose escalation phase and to reallocate capital to prioritized programs.
ADCT-602 (targeting CD22): Dose escalation and expansion in the Phase 1 trial in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center for patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia is progressing, and additional clinical trial sites are being added to accelerate enrollment.
Early-stage pipeline: The Company is advancing a portfolio of investigational ADCs including those targeting Claudin-6, NaPi2b and PSMA. These candidates utilize exatecan with a novel hydrophilic linker as a highly potent and differentiated payload.
Balance Sheet
The Company ended the fourth quarter of 2023 with cash and cash equivalents of ~$278.5 million.

Guidance
The Company expects the following based on its current business plan:

Decrease in total operating expenses expected in full year 2023 and 2024 as compared to 2022
Cash runway expected into 4Q 20252 (previously: mid-2025)
Expected Milestones in 2024

ZYNLONTA

Achieve commercial brand profitability in 2024
LOTIS-5: Complete enrollment in 2024
LOTIS-7: Additional safety and efficacy data from the dose-escalation and dose-expansion portions of the Phase 1 study in 2024
Pipeline

ADCT-601 (targeting AXL)

Additional data updates from the Phase 1 study in patients with sarcoma, pancreatic cancer and NSCLC in 2024
ADCT-602 (targeting CD22)

Additional data from Phase 1 study in 2024
Please refer to the Company’s Form 8-K and accompanying presentation filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today for additional information.

About ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl)

ZYNLONTA is a CD19-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC). Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, ZYNLONTA is internalized by the cell, where enzymes release a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) payload. The potent payload binds to DNA minor groove with little distortion, remaining less visible to DNA repair mechanisms. This ultimately results in cell cycle arrest and tumor cell death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (NOS), DLBCL arising from low-grade lymphoma and also high-grade B-cell lymphoma. The trial included a broad spectrum of heavily pre-treated patients (median three prior lines of therapy) with difficult-to-treat disease, including patients who did not respond to first-line therapy, patients refractory to all prior lines of therapy, patients with double/triple hit genetics and patients who had stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy prior to their treatment with ZYNLONTA. This indication is approved by the FDA under accelerated approval and in the European Union under conditional approval based on overall response rate and continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. Please see full prescribing information including important safety information about ZYNLONTA at www.ZYNLONTA.com.

ZYNLONTA is also being evaluated as a therapeutic option in combination studies in other B-cell malignancies and earlier lines of therapy.

Adaptimmune Projects Sarcoma Franchise to Deliver US Peak Year Sales up to $400 Million – Presentation at JP Morgan Healthcare Conference

On January 4, 2024 Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: ADAP), a leader in cell therapy to treat cancer, reported the Company’s plans for its emerging sarcoma franchise including projections for peak US sales of up to $400 million (Press release, Adaptimmune, JAN 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234638960]).

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The Company will present plans for the franchise at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference on January 11th from 8:15 to 8:55 a.m. PST at the Westin, San Francisco. The presentation will be webcast and a replay will be available at the same link.

Adrian Rawcliffe, Adaptimmune’s Chief Executive Officer: "2024 is the year Adaptimmune transforms into a commercial cell therapy company with the anticipated approval and launch of afami-cel, the first asset in our sarcoma franchise. By 2026, we plan to have two marketed cell therapies for sarcoma. These therapies will redefine the treatment paradigm for people with sarcoma and are projected to deliver US peak sales of up to $400m. Our sarcoma franchise has tremendous upside with potential for expansion and is only the beginning of our solid tumor cell therapy aspirations."