BriaCell Confirms 100% Resolution of Lung Metastasis with Bria-OTS(TM)

On April 24, 2025 BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq: BCTX, BCTXW) (TSX: BCT) ("BriaCell" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care, reported the sustained complete resolution of the lung metastasis, first reported in February 2025 , two months after initial treatment in the ongoing Phase 1/2 Bria-OTS study (Press release, BriaCell Therapeutics, APR 24, 2025, View Source [SID1234652431]). The latest data at four months also demonstrates stable disease elsewhere.

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The patient, a 78-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer (hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative), had failed several prior lines of therapy and received the lowest dose level in the Phase 1/2a Bria-OTS study. At enrollment on November 21, 2024, she had extensive metastases including bone, lymph node and lung involvement. Following Bria-OTS intradermal injections every 2 weeks for six weeks (4 total doses), and subsequent dosing every 3 weeks, the lung metastasis completely resolved with stable disease elsewhere. This response is now confirmed and shows the potentially promising activity of the Bria-OTS platform as monotherapy.

"Despite recent advancements with Antibody-drug-conjugates (ADCs) and immune check point inhibitors (CPIs), many patients, including those with HR+ disease, like BriaCell’s first OTS patient, have very few options," stated Neal S. Chawla MD, Director at the Sarcoma Oncology Center, Santa Monica, Ca., and Principal Investigator for the Bria-OTS study. "We are thrilled with our initial data with single agent Bria-OTS showing rapid and strong anti-tumor activity in an HR+ patient and look forward to continuing this novel approach in patients with MBC, and other cancers."

"This unprecedented anti-cancer response in the first patient dosed with Bria-OTS is an important milestone for us and provides early validation of BriaCell’s personalized immunotherapy approach," stated Dr. William V. Williams, BriaCell’s President and CEO.

Bria-OTS is a personalized off-the-shelf immunotherapy, currently under investigation in a Phase 1/2a dose escalation study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06471673 ) in metastatic recurrent breast cancer. Bria-OTS represents a personalized, next generation, advancement of BriaCell’s lead candidate Bria-IMT which is currently in a pivotal Phase 3 study for metastatic breast cancer. The Phase 1/2a clinical trial in metastatic breast cancer is a dose escalation study initially evaluating the safety and efficacy of Bria-OTS as monotherapy and will be followed by Bria-OTS in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor.

GENFIT Reports Full-Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

On April 24, 2025 GENFIT (Nasdaq and Euronext: GNFT), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of patients with rare and life-threatening liver diseases, reported annual financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024. A summary of the consolidated financial statements is included below (Press release, Genfit, APR 24, 2025, https://ir.genfit.com/news-releases/news-release-details/genfit-reports-full-year-2024-financial-results-and-provides [SID1234652102]).

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Pascal Prigent, CEO of GENFIT commented: "In 2024 the commercial launch of Iqirvo by Ipsen marked a major milestone in GENFIT’s history as we evolved from a pure R&D company into a company with commercial revenues. This enabled us to considerably strengthen our financial visibility and eliminate our convertible debt overhang, as we pivot decisively towards the advancement of our innovative pipeline in ACLF. With five dedicated programs, GENFIT has positioned itself as a key player to address this deadly condition, for which there is no approved treatment. In 2024, major progress was achieved in our understanding of the ACLF continuum and patients with ACLF. Key insights generated will provide a solid foundation for the continued development of our programs in 2025."

I. 2024 Highlights – including post-closing events

Iqirvo in Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC): regulatory approvals and commercial launch

In 2024, GENFIT and its partner Ipsen reported significant commercial and regulatory advances with Iqirvo1 (elafibranor) in the United States, Europe and the UK.

Ipsen’s Iqirvo2 received accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 10, 2024 as a first-in-class treatment for PBC in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in adults with an inadequate response to UDCA, or as monotherapy in adults who are unable to tolerate UDCA. GENFIT received a milestone payment of €48.7 million upon the first sale of Iqirvo in the US.

Ipsen also received conditional approval from the European Commission on September 20, 2024 for the treatment of PBC in combination with UDCA in adults with an inadequate response to UDCA, or as monotherapy in adults who are unable to tolerate UDCA, and from the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on October 9, 2024, followed by reimbursement approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on October 22, 2024.

On April 16, 2025, Ipsen reported "accelerated sales growth in the U.S. based on increasing patient uptake from new patients, switch and market expansion, successful launches in Germany and the UK with additional launches expected in 2025".3

Meaningful progress across ACLF programs

In 2024, we launched and executed a major Real-World data program designed to improve understanding of the ACLF syndrome and support more targeted, data-driven decision-making:

Using a U.S. database including comprehensive information on patients, encompassing clinical characteristics, diagnosis, prescriptions, comorbidities, outcomes, and laboratory values. Data from ~270 000 patients provided a longitudinal perspective on patient profiles and disease progression.
Development of a machine learning model to segment subgroups of patients with ACLF and those with Acute Decompensation (AD) of the liver, facilitating a deeper understanding of risk stratification across different patient profiles.
The first key outcome of this project was an in-depth analysis of the disease continuum between patients with AD and ACLF, as well as a detailed characterization of subpopulations at varying levels of mortality risk. These insights served as a scientific foundation for updating GENFIT’s 2025 strategic action plan, supporting the decision to expand our target population in upcoming trials to include a subset of patients with high-risk AD who are more likely to progress to ACLF.
VS-01-ACLF – The UNVEIL-IT1 Phase 2 trial for VS-01 continued to progress, with expanded geographic reach including new sites in the U.S. Following early recruitment challenges, protocol adjustments were implemented to better reflect patient care logistics and comorbidities. New data were also generated to give more flexibility to healthcare providers in the timing of administration of the drug. New datasets were showcased during international scientific congresses. New "blood and peritoneal metabolomics data suggesting that VS-01 actively captures metabolites associated with ACLF" were presented at EASL congress, and "VS-01 effects on ACLF-related toxins such as lipopolysaccharide and hydrophobic bile acids in vitro" were shared during AASLD The Liver Meeting.

NTZ (nitazoxanide) – Data indicating that "NTZ directly protects from stress-induced cell death to alleviate liver damage in preclinical models of ACLF" were reported at EASL congress, and "NTZ efficacy in PAMPs-induced disease models" was showcased during AASLD The Liver Meeting. These data reinforce the therapeutic potential of investigational drug NTZ to act on major pathological pathways of ACLF. In 2024, a program aimed to develop G1090N – a new formulation of NTZ – also initiated to optimize dose-response and permit sufficient dosing flexibility in patients with ACLF, who are known to have varying degrees of renal or hepatic impairment or failure.

SRT-015 – As highlighted during AASLD The Liver Meeting, preclinical analyses demonstrated that "intravenous administration of SRT-015 alleviates liver injury and systemic inflammation in disease models of liver failure", supporting further development. Additional positive data were also obtained in a gut leakage-induced sepsis model, where SRT-015 was shown to protect animals from mortality.

CLM-022 – Significant progress was made, with new data positioning "CLM-022, a potent inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis, as a potential treatment for acute and chronic inflammatory liver diseases". First in-vivo data have shown that one oral administration of CLM-022 decreases inflammation and protects against liver injury in a model of acute liver injury in mice.

2024 also marked the start of a research collaboration between GENFIT and the European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure (EF CLIF), reinforcing our leadership in advancing the understanding of ACLF. Other collaboration with learned societies included engagement with US KOLs from NACSELD4.

Other R&D developments

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) – Preliminary safety data analyzed end of 2024 from the patients treated in the first cohort of Phase 1b with the combination of GNS561 and trametinib were supportive of the continuation of the study. ​​In early 2025, GENFIT completed the acquisition of the full intellectual property rights for GNS561 from Genoscience Pharma, replacing the more limited license agreement rights initially obtained at the end of 2021.

Diagnostics – NIS2+ was included in the European clinical practice guidelines for the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) as a key tool for detecting at-risk MASH. These new recommendations were presented at the EASL 2024 congress, and have been published in the Journal of Hepatology5.

Transformative royalty financing and debt overhang reduction

In 2024, GENFIT initiated a dual-transaction initiative to reinforce its financial outlook, that was successfully completed in March 2025:

Completion of a non-dilutive royalty financing agreement for up to €185 million. This agreement triggered an initial payment of €130 million, with the possibility of receiving a further €55 million in two installments depending on the achievement of short-term net sales targets for Iqirvo (elafibranor).
Repurchase of 99% of the outstanding OCEANE convertible debt, effectively extinguishing the convertible debt burden without any dilution to shareholders.
The royalty financing signed with HCRx on January 30, 2025 has significantly extended GENFIT’s cash runway, beyond the end of 2027, enabling the Company to further develop its pipeline focused on ACLF and support general corporate purposes. This estimation is based on current assumptions and programs and does not include exceptional events. This estimation assumes i) our expectation to receive significant future milestone revenue in 2025, including the €26.55 million milestone pending a third pricing and reimbursement approval of Iqirvo (elafibranor) in a major European market and Ipsen meeting its sales-based thresholds, ii) drawing down all installments under the Royalty Financing, and iii) the Repurchase of the OCEANEs as described and the reimbursement at maturity in October 2025 of any OCEANEs not repurchased and cancelled.

Sustainability performance

In 2024, the sustainability roadmap validated at the beginning of the year by GENFIT’s ESG Committee was executed according to plan. Furthermore, the company’s work in this area was recognized by external stakeholders. Notably, GENFIT was ranked among the top 5 companies in its sector by Ethifinance (out of 222), retained its Gold Medal status (since 2023) while increasing its score from 74 to 82 in 2024 and its "Prime status" with ISS6 (since 2022), and received additional forms of acknowledgment.

Corporate governance updates

Following the death of Mr. Xavier Guille des Buttes in April 2024, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company changed. In accordance with the succession plan, Mr. Éric Baclet was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. He was also appointed Chairman of the Nomination and Compensation Committee. Mr. Jean-François Tiné joined the Audit Committee. In May, the Board of Directors appointed Ms. Katherine Kalin to the ESG Committee.

The Board of Directors will propose the renewal of Board members Mr. Éric Baclet and Ms. Katherine Kalin at the annual shareholders meeting scheduled on June 17, 2025. The Board of Directors will also propose the appointment of Mr. Tristan Imbert as a new Director, in order to strengthen its composition and its expertise in financial and extra-financial matters.

II. 2025 Outlook

ACLF programs – next steps

VS-01-ACLF – Data readout for UNVEIL-IT Phase 2 is targeted for the second half of 2025. Leveraging the new insights gained in 2024 about patients with ACLF, a proof-of-concept study was initiated in 1Q25. The target population includes patients with AD or ACLF grade 1 having grades 2, 3, or 4 overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) and ascites as a prerequisite for enrollment. The primary endpoint is time-to-improvement in overt HE. Data readout is also expected in the second half of 2025.

G1090N – A proof-of concept study with the new formulation of NTZ was initiated as planned in 1Q25. Following recent exchanges with the FDA, it was decided to optimize dose-selection for the planned proof-of-concept study in patients with ACLF, by first evaluating our new formulation in healthy volunteers, followed by hepatic and renal impairment studies. These studies will also generate additional safety data as well as provide data on early markers of efficacy-in-patients with compromised liver function. These data are expected by the end of the year and will serve to optimize the design of the proof-of-concept study now targeted to launch in early 2026.

SRT-015 – Following the positive preclinical data generated up to and including in 1Q25, GENFIT will advance the program and work on an improved formulation aimed at increasing exposure. Pending positive development, the launch of a first-in-human trial could be initiated as early as the second half of 2026.

CLM-022 – Next experiments will aim at confirming the therapeutic efficacy of CLM-022 using different disease models relevant for AD and ACLF as well as starting formulation development and first toxicological studies in 2025. Pending further positive developments, a first-in-human trial could be initiated as early as end of 2026 or beginning of 2027.

VS-02-HE – We intend to develop VS-02-HE as a unique oral formulation designed to act where ammonia is primarily produced, minimizing systemic absorption of ammonia while reducing glutamine levels in the brain. Investigational New Drug-enabling nonclinical studies and formulation development started in 2024 with completion expected in 2025. Pending further confirmation, a first-in-human trial could be initiated in 2027.

Several new datasets will be presented at the upcoming EASL Congress, presenting advancements across multiple programs and underscoring both recent progress and the potential of our pipeline assets.

Other life-threatening diseases – next steps

GNS561 in CCA – The Phase 1b/2a clinical trial is currently ongoing and results from Phase 1b are targeted by the end of 2025.

VS-01-HAC (pediatric indication) – Following feedback from FDA (U.S.) and PDCO7 (Europe), we are in a situation to start a pivotal juvenile toxicology study in Göttingen Minipigs earlier than initially planned, potentially as early as 2H25, with data expected before the end of 2025. Pending further confirmation, a first-in-human trial could be initiated toward the end of 2026.

III. Financial results (*)


(in € thousands, except earnings per share data)
31/12/2023 31/12/2024
Revenues and other income
38,176 70,939
Research and development expenses
(46,503) (47,210)
General and administrative expenses
(17,741) (19,497)
Marketing and market access expenses
(876) (634)
Reorganization and restructuring expenses
505 0
Other operating income (expenses)
(141) (316)
Operating income (loss)
(26,580) 3,281
Financial income
3,680 3,339
Financial expenses
(5,614) (4,774)
Financial profit (loss)
(1,934) (1,434)
Net profit (loss) before tax
(28,514) 1,847
Income tax benefit (expense)
(380) (340)
Net profit (loss)
(28,894) 1,507
Basic/diluted earnings (loss) per share (€/share)
(0.58) 0.03
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (€/share)
(0.58) 0.03
Cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets
77,789 81,788
(*) Audit procedures on the Consolidated Financial Statements have been substantially completed. The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is forthcoming.

Revenues and other incomes

Revenue and other operating income for 2024 amounted to €70.9 million compared to €38.2 million for 2023.

Revenue specifically amounted to €67.0 million in 2024 and is primarily composed of the following:

€48.7 million was attributable to a milestone payment invoiced to Ipsen in June 2024 following the first commercial sale of Iqirvo/elafibranor in the U.S.
€15.3 million was attributable to previously deferred revenue of €40 million from 2021, in line with the progress in the ELATIVE clinical study and related expenses incurred during the period, estimated remaining expenses, and the fact that the study was fully transferred in 2024.
€2.7 million was attributable to royalty revenue from U.S. sales of Iqirvo/elafibranor which commenced mid-June.
€0.1 million in revenue was generated from the services rendered under the Transition Services Agreement and Part B Transition Services Agreement, signed in April 2022 and September 2023 respectively by GENFIT and Ipsen, in order to facilitate the transition of certain services related to the Phase 3 ELATIVE clinical trial until the complete transfer of the responsibility of the trial to Ipsen.
€0.2 million was attributable to other ancillary activities.

Other operating income specifically amounted to 3.9 million in 2024 and is primarily composed of the following:

The research tax credit (CIR) amounting to €3.4 million. It is important to note that this amount includes:
i) the 2024 CIR of €3.9 million,

ii) a reduction of €0.7 million following the conclusion of the tax audit relating to the 2019 and 2020 financial years, and

iii) an increase of €0.2 million in late payment interest collected for the 2022 and 2023 CIRs.

There were government grants and subsidies of €0.3 million and exchange gains on trade receivables of €0.2 million.

Operating results and expenses

Operating expenses for 2024 amounted to €67.7 million compared to €64.8 million for 2023. This is comprised of research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses, marketing and market access expenses, reorganization and restructuring expenses, and other operating expenses.

The increase is due to multiple factors:

An increase in research and development costs of €0.7 million, explained by the sharp decrease related to ELATIVE and GNS561 partially offset by costs related to new programs and product candidates, in particular VS-01, SRT-015, and CLM-022.
An increase in general and administrative expenses of €1.8 million, explained by increased headcount.
A decrease in marketing and market access expenses of €0.3 million.
An increase in reorganization and restructuring charges of €0.5 million due solely to the reversal of €0.5 million recorded in 2023 as the RESOLVE-IT study was complete.
A decrease in other operating expenses of €0.2 million.

In 2024, GENFIT generated a consolidated operating income of €3.3 million, compared to an operating loss of €26.6 million in 2023.

Financial results

2024 resulted in a financial loss of €1.4 million compared to a financial loss of €1.9 million in 2023.

Our net financial loss for 2024 consisted primarily of €0.7 million in foreign exchange gain on cash and cash equivalents, €2.6 million in interest income, offset by €4.7 million of interest expense.

Cash position

As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents amounted to €81.8 million compared with €77.8 million as of December 31, 2023.

This amount includes the receipt of a €48.7 million milestone in August 2024 which was attributable to a milestone payment invoiced to Ipsen in June 2024 following the first commercial sale of Iqirvo/elafibranor in the U.S.

The overall increase in cash is offset by our continued research and development efforts, notably for:

UNVEIL-IT, our Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating VS-01 in ACLF;
Our cholangiocarcinoma program evaluating GNS561;
Our ACLF program evaluating NTZ;
Our non-clinical trial of SRT-015 in ACLF; and
Our preclinical work for CLM-022 in ACLF.

On March 20, 2025, GENFIT announced the closing of a royalty financing agreement (Royalty Financing) with HealthCare Royalty (HCRx) providing up to €185 million non-dilutive capital: €130 million upfront, with eligibility to receive up to €55 million in two additional installments based on near-term sales milestones for Iqirvo (elafibranor), and can be exercised at the discretion of GENFIT upon achievement of such milestones. In return, HCRx will receive a portion of royalties on global sales of Iqirvo (elafibranor) payable to GENFIT under its licensing agreement with Ipsen, up to an agreed upon cap after which all future royalties will revert back to GENFIT.

GENFIT retains rights to all future regulatory, commercial and sales-based milestone payments from Ipsen under the Ipsen agreement.

The royalty financing signed with HCRx in January 30, 2025 has significantly extended GENFIT’s cash runway, beyond the end of 2027, enabling the Company to further develop its pipeline focused on ACLF and support general corporate purposes. This estimation is based on current assumptions and programs and does not include exceptional events. This estimation assumes i) our expectation to receive significant future milestone revenue in 2025, including the €26.55 million milestone pending a third pricing and reimbursement approval of Iqirvo (elafibranor) in a major European market and Ipsen meeting its sales-based thresholds, ii) drawing down all installments under the Royalty Financing, and iii) the Repurchase of the OCEANEs as described below and the reimbursement at maturity in October 2025 of any OCEANEs not repurchased and cancelled.

APPENDICES

Consolidated Statement of Operations*

Year ended
(in € thousands, except earnings per share data) 31/12/2023 31/12/2024


Revenues and other income

Revenue 28,565 67,002
Other income 9,610 3,937
Revenues and other income 38,176 70,939


Operating expenses and other operating income (expenses)

Research and development expenses (46,503) (47,210)
General and administrative expenses (17,741) (19,497)
Marketing and market access expenses (876) (634)
Reorganization and restructuring income (expenses) 505 0
Other operating expenses (141) (316)


Operating income (loss) (26,580) 3,281


Financial income 3,680 3,339
Financial expenses (5,614) (4,774)
Financial profit (loss) (1,934) (1,434)


Net profit (loss) before tax (28,514) 1,847


Income tax benefit (expense) (380) (340)


Net profit (loss) (28,894) 1,507


Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share

Basic earnings (loss) per share (€/share) (0.58) 0.03
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (€/share) (0.58) 0.03


(*) Audit procedures on the Consolidated Financial Statements have been substantially completed. The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is forthcoming.

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position*

Assets

As of
(in € thousands) 31/12/2023 31/12/2024
Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents 77,789 81,788
Current trade and others receivables 32,707 7,564
Other current assets 2,615 3,409
Inventories 4 4
Total – Current assets 113,115 92,766
Non-current assets

Intangible assets 48,761 47,998
Property, plant and equipment 7,872 7,595
Other non-current financial assets 4,125 3,065
Total – Non-current assets 60,758 58,659
Total – Assets 173,872 151,424
(*) Audit procedures on the Consolidated Financial Statements have been substantially completed. The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is forthcoming.

Liabilities

As of
(in € thousands) 31/12/2023 31/12/2024
Current liabilities

Current convertible loans 415 54,572
Other current loans and borrowings 7,510 2,009
Current trade and other payables 18,799 18,387
Current deferred income and revenue 11,692 0
Current provisions 40 40
Other current tax liabilities 23 155
Total – Current liabilities 38,480 75,162
Non-current liabilities

Non-current convertible loans 52,206 0
Other non-current loans and borrowings 10,047 5,552
Non-current deferred income and revenue 3,755 0
Non-current employee benefits 978 1,341
Deferred tax liabilities 455 145
Total – Non-current liabilities 67,441 7,038
Shareholders’ equity

Share capital 12,459 12,499
Share premium 445,261 446,948
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) (361,870) (392,077)
Currency translation adjustment 996 347
Net profit (loss) (28,894) 1,507
Total – Shareholders’ equity 67,951 69,224
Total – Shareholders’ equity & liabilities 173,872 151,424
(*) Audit procedures on the Consolidated Financial Statements have been substantially completed. The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is forthcoming.

Statement of Cash Flows*

For the periods ended
(in € thousands) 31/12/2023 31/12/2024
Cash flows from operating activities

+ Net profit (loss) (28,894) 1,507
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities

Adjustments for:

+ Depreciation and amortization on tangible and intangible assets 1,654 1,724
+ Impairment and provisions (392) 169
+ Expenses related to share-based compensation 578 610
– Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment (81) (56)
+ Net finance expenses (revenue) 485 346
+ Income tax expense (benefit) 380 340
+ Other non-cash items (878) 2,549
Operating cash flows before change in working capital (27,148) 7,189
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables and other assets (17,418) 23,965
(Decrease) increase in trade payables and other liabilities (10,397) (15,531)
Change in working capital (27,815) 8,433
Income tax paid (465) (74)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) in operating activities (55,429) 15,548
Cash flows from investment activities

– Acquisition of other intangible assets (2,074) 0
– Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (414) (979)
+ Proceeds from disposal of / reimbursement of property, plant and equipment 172 80
– Acquisition of financial instruments (12) (140)
+ Proceeds from disposal of financial instruments 4,562 0
Net cash flows provided by (used in ) investment activities 2,234 (1,039)
Cash flows from financing activities

+ Proceeds from issue of share capital (net) 0 61
+ Proceeds from new loans and borrowings net of issue costs 89 0
– Repayments of loans and borrowings (3,619) (9,170)
– Payments on lease debts (1,075) (1,113)
– Financial interests paid (including finance lease) (2,201) (2,134)
+ Financial interests received 1,709 1,786
Net cash flows provided by (used in ) financing activities (5,098) (10,570)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (58,292) 3,939
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 136,001 77,789
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash 80 60
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 77,789 81,788

Flagship Pioneering Unveils Etiome to Pioneer Preemptive Healthcare

On April 24, 2025 Flagship Pioneering, the bioplatform innovation company, reported that it unveiled Etiome, a company redefining how we detect and preempt disease progression (Press release, Flagship Pioneering, APR 24, 2025, View Source [SID1234652210]). Etiome’s Temporal Biodynamics platform is the first end-to-end technology to characterize disease with increased resolution over time and accelerate the development of preemptive medicines that promise better health outcomes for people at risk of chronic or progressive diseases. The AI-powered platform makes it possible to forecast how individuals are likely to progress along the disease continuum, confirm disease biostages with temporally relevant markers, and develop Biostaged Medicines to halt or reverse disease before it becomes debilitating and irreversible. Flagship has initially committed $50 million to Etiome to advance the Temporal Biodynamics platform and develop an initial pipeline of preemptive medicines. Etiome was founded from Flagship Pioneering’s Preemptive Health and Medicine Initiative, which is pioneering a new field to protect, maintain, or improve people’s health before they get sick.

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"By combining expansive, multimodal population-level data and single cell omics with artificial intelligence, we have, for the first time, revealed unprecedented insights into the complex dynamics of disease biology over the course of progression," said Avak Kahvejian, Ph.D., Founding CEO of Etiome and General Partner at Flagship Pioneering. "In doing so, with our Temporal Biodynamics platform we have unlocked the ability to accurately characterize the biostages of disease progression, selectively identify and engage patients across stages, and create targeted medicines designed to alter the course of disease, even at its earliest stages, ensuring the right patient gets the right medicine at the right time."

Etiome designed the Temporal Biodynamics platform based on an understanding that the underlying biology of disease is dynamic and will mandate stage-specific interventions to effectively impact progression. To pioneer these targeted preemptive medicines, the platform first leverages expansive clinical, cellular, and molecular data and artificial intelligence to develop a deeper, time-based understanding of disease biology and forecast when individuals are likely to progress further into disease. With proprietary phenotype-aware AI, the platform then isolates and uncovers underlying temporal shifts in thousands of genes and proteins specific to each disease, revealing unique Biostage Markers—stage-specific biomarkers that indicate where a patient resides along the disease journey—and potential stage-appropriate therapeutic targets. Finally, temporally tuned, translational assays allow for target validation and the development of Biostaged Medicines.

"Until now, healthcare practices for serious and progressive diseases have often been reactive, treating diseases after they have caused significant damage and resulting in patient decline that can be irreversible," said Raj Panjabi, M.D., MPH, Senior Partner and Head of Flagship Pioneering’s Preemptive Health and Medicine Initiative and board director of Etiome. "Etiome is redefining how we think about disease progression and developing interventions precisely designed for critical intervention windows, at the earliest stages of disease – helping to slow, stop or even reverse it. This represents a significant shift towards preemptive medicine—a future where people can live healthier and longer lives."

Etiome is initially focused on developing Biostaged Medicines to address serious and progressive metabolic, neurodegenerative, pre-cancerous and autoimmune diseases, all of which impact large populations and have clear unmet needs. With these targeted therapeutics, Etiome aims to reduce morbidity, lower healthcare burdens and costs, and extend healthy and productive lifespans.

Scott Lipnick, Ph.D., Co-Founder and President of Etiome and Flagship Pioneering Origination Partner, added, "We envision a world where patients can be treated for a disease when it is still possible to slow, stop, or entirely preempt its progression. Doing so can prevent suffering, save lives, and lower healthcare costs. Over the last four years we have been building Etiome around this vision and look forward to making meaningful and rapid progress towards this future."

Etiome’s team includes leaders with extensive expertise in biology, omics, and artificial intelligence. In addition to Kahvejian and Lipnick, Etiome’s founding team includes Noubar Afeyan, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering; Torben Straight Nissen, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board for Etiome, Flagship Pioneering Executive Partner and CEO of Repertoire Immune Medicines; Yann Echelard, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer of Etiome and Flagship Pioneering Operating Partner; and Katharine von Herrmann, Ph.D., Chief Innovation Officer of Etiome and Flagship Pioneering Principal. Additionally, the Etiome board includes Gregory J. Moore M.D., Ph.D., a Senior Advisor at Gates Ventures and the former Corporate Vice President at Microsoft leading Health and Life Sciences.

BriaCell Therapeutics Announces Pricing of $13.8 million Public Offering

On April 24, 2025 BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq: BCTX, BCTXZ) (TSX: BCT) ("BriaCell" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care, reported the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 3,066,666 units, including 399,999 units sold upon the full exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase additional units (Press release, BriaCell Therapeutics, APR 24, 2025, View Source [SID1234652432]). Each unit consists of one common share (or pre-funded warrant ("Pre-Funded Warrant") in lieu thereof) and one warrant (the "Warrants"). Each unit is being sold to the public at a price of $4.50 per unit (inclusive of the Pre-Funded Warrant exercise price) for gross proceeds of approximately $13.8 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The Warrants included in the units have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and are expected to commence trading under the symbol "BCTXZ" on April 25, 2025. Each Warrant is immediately exercisable, and will entitle the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $5.25 per share and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The common shares (or Pre-Funded Warrants) and Warrants can only be purchased together in the offering but will be issued separately.

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The offering is expected to close on April 28, 2025, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Company is relying upon the exemption set forth in Section 602.1 of the TSX Company Manual, which provides that the TSX will not apply its standards to certain transactions involving eligible interlisted issuers on a recognized exchange, such as Nasdaq.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital requirements, general corporate purposes, and the advancement of business objectives.

ThinkEquity is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-286670) relating to the securities was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and became effective on April 24, 2025. This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus, when available, may be obtained from ThinkEquity, 17 State Street, 41 st Floor, New York, New York 10004. The final prospectus will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website located at View Source .

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

Sanofi: strong Q1 performance and 2025 guidance confirmed

On April 24, 2025 Sanofi reported its first quarter 2025 financial results (Press release, Sanofi, APR 24, 2025, View Source [SID1234654329]).

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Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

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