Agenus Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Study of AGEN1571 (anti-ILT2) in Advanced Solid Tumors

On August 1, 2022 Agenus Inc. (Nasdaq: AGEN), an immuno-oncology company with an extensive pipeline of therapeutics designed to activate the immune response to cancers and infections, reported that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1 study of AGEN1571 in advanced solid tumors (Press release, Agenus, AUG 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234617209]). The dose-escalation and expansion study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic profiles of AGEN1571, a novel anti-ILT2 antibody designed to modulate tumor-associated macrophages, T, NK, and NKT cells. Participants will receive treatment with AGEN1571 as a single agent or in combination with botensilimab (Fc-enhanced anti-CTLA-4) and/or balstilimab (anti-PD-1).

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"ILT2 is a major suppressor of anti-tumor immune responses and contributes to resistance to PD-1-directed therapies," said Steven O’Day, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Agenus. "We believe AGEN1571 has best-in-class potential to overcome this resistance and combining AGEN1571 with botensilimab and/or balstilimab may further enhance innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity."

The initiation of the AGEN1571 study in patients with advanced solid tumors is based on preclinical data reported at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2022, demonstrating the ability of AGEN1571 to polarize macrophages to a pro-inflammatory phenotype and enhance the activation of CD8 T, NK, and NKT cells in the tumor microenvironment to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint blockade. These data demonstrate the superior potency and functional activity of AGEN1571 compared to the only known clinical-stage competitor and enhanced immune cell activation when combined with botensilimab or balstilimab.

The poster presentation on these data can be accessed in the investor section of the Agenus website at View Source

More information on the Phase I study (NCT05377528) is available at clinicaltrials.gov.

Tavanta Therapeutics Announces Completion of Enrollment in Pivotal Phase 3 Trial of TAVT-45 for the Treatment of Metastatic Prostate Cancer

On August 1, 2022 Tavanta Therapeutics, a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company developing a diverse pipeline of specialty drugs that bring clinically meaningful benefits to patients with serious or debilitating diseases, reported the completion of patient enrollment in the Company’s pivotal Phase 3 study for TAVT-45 (abiraterone acetate) Granules for Oral Suspension ("TAVT-45") (Press release, Tavanta Therapeutics, AUG 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234617225]). TAVT45CO2 is a global Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating TAVT-45 in patients with metastatic castrate-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) and metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The primary objective of the study is to establish therapeutic equivalence between TAVT-45 and Zytiga tablets.

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TAVT-45 is designed to provide an easy-to-consume oral suspension of abiraterone acetate, reconstituted in water or juice, for patients with difficulty taking large tablets. Approximately 20 to 30 percent of cancer patients have difficulty swallowing pills and capsules (dysphagia) and may benefit from an alternate formulation. The prevalence of dysphagia also increases with age and is an issue for many patients with prostate cancer, whom have a median age of over 65 years old at time of diagnosis.

"The current standard of care treatment for metastatic prostate cancer requires patients to ingest multiple large tablets, and under strict fasting conditions due to the risk of increased and highly variable abiraterone exposures with food," said Kenneth M. Kernen, M.D., study investigator and partner in the Michigan Institute of Urology. "Dysphagia is an issue for many – and it occurs more frequently in elderly patients. If TAVT-45 proves successful in this trial, clinicians may soon have access to an alternative, easy-to-drink formulation of abiraterone acetate with improved bioavailability and reduced systemic variability, which may ultimately help patients achieve better clinical outcomes."

This Phase 3 registrational trial (NCT04887506) is a global, randomized, multi-center, open-label trial designed to evaluate the pharmacodynamic effect and safety profile of TAVT-45 Granules compared to Zytiga tablets, in combination with prednisone, in patients with mCSPC and mCRPC. In addition to establishing therapeutic equivalence between TAVT-45 Granules and Zytiga tablets, the study aims to characterize the multiple-dose pharmacokinetic profile of TAVT-45 Granules. Topline results for the trial are expected by the end of this year.

"On behalf of Tavanta, we would like to thank the clinical study site investigators and the patients who are participating in and supporting this pivotal trial, especially in light of the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to completing the dosing and follow-up phases of the study," said Lynne Powell, chief executive officer of Tavanta Therapeutics. "As we work to complete this registrational trial for TAVT-45, we will begin preparing for the submission of our New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the third quarter of 2023, while also evaluating strategic options for commercialization of TAVT-45."

About TAVT-45 Granules
TAVT-45 Granules is an enhanced formulation of abiraterone acetate for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. When reconstituted with water or juice to yield an oral suspension, TAVT-45 Granules may provide an alternative for the 20 to 30 percent of patients who suffer from dysphagia or have difficulty swallowing tablets and may increase the bioavailability of abiraterone and therefore allow a lower dose to be administered. In addition to the multiple large tablets required daily, other limitations of Zytiga include the requirement to be taken on an empty stomach and the high variability in systemic exposure. This high variability in systemic exposure has been shown to result in patients with low abiraterone plasma concentrations and exposure, which can lead to suboptimal clinical outcomes.i,ii It is anticipated that TAVT-45 Granules may be given regardless of food consumption and may result in fewer patients having sub-optimal abiraterone trough plasma concentrations.

CTI BioPharma to Report Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results on August 8, 2022

On August 1, 2022 CTI BioPharma Corp. (CTI BioPharma) (NASDAQ: CTIC) reported that management plans to report its second quarter 2022 financial results on Monday, August 8, 2022, after the close of the U.S. financial markets (Press release, CTI BioPharma, AUG 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234617177]). Following the announcement, members of the management team will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results and provide a general corporate update at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT).

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To access the live call by phone please dial (888) 317-6003 (domestic) or (412) 317-6061 (international); the conference ID is 0078819. A live audio webcast of the event may also be accessed through the "Investors" section of CTI’s website at www.ctibiopharma.com. A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days following the event.

August Conferences
CTI BioPharma also announced that it will participate in one-on-one meetings at the BTIG Biotechnology Conference on August 9, 2022. Additionally, the Company will participate in a fireside chat and one-on-one meetings at the Stifel Biotech Summer Summit on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at 11:00 am E.T.

The Stifel fireside chat will be webcast live and available for replay from the Investors section of CTI BioPharma’s website at www.ctibiopharma.com.

DBV Technologies Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

On August 1, 2022 DBV Technologies (Euronext: DBV – ISIN: FR0010417345 – Nasdaq Stock Market: DBVT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the second quarter of 2022 (Press release, DBV Technologies, AUG 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234617194]). The quarterly financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on July 29, 2022.

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Financial Highlights for the Second Quarter and the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022:1

Cash and cash equivalents were $248.0 million, as of June 30, 2022, compared to $77.3 million as of December 31, 2021, and $74.1 million as of March 31, 2022. The net increases of respectively $173.9 million and $170.7 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2022, were mostly comprised of a $195.3 million net cash flow received from the ATM Offering in May 2022 for $14.1 million; net of transaction costs and PIPE Offering in June 2022 for $181.2 million; net of transaction costs as well as a $27.1 million cash flow received following the reimbursement of the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Research Tax Credit (French Crédit Impôt Recherche, or CIR) offset by a $(38.9) million cash utilization in operating activities; and the effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents for $(12.6) million.

Excluding the effect of second quarter financing and reimbursement of the Research Tax Credit, the cash used in operating activities decreased by 42% in U.S. GAAP and 44% in IFRS between the first half of 2021 and 2022, reflecting the

1The Company’s interim consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2022, are prepared in accordance with both generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("U.S. GAAP") and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as adopted by the European Union. Unless otherwise indicated, the financial figures presented in the Q2 Financial Highlights comply with both U.S GAAP and IFRS financial statements. Differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS consolidated financial statements are mainly due to discrepancies arising from the application of lease accounting standards.
Company’s continued implementation of budget discipline measures.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Based on its current assumptions, DBV expects that its current cash and cash equivalents will support its operations several months beyond the current projected completion of VITESSE, the planned Phase 3 clinical study of the modified Viaskin Peanut patch in peanut-allergic children ages 4 years and older. DBV continues to engage in productive dialogue with the FDA on the key elements of the VITESSE protocol. As previously disclosed, the Company will communicate key elements of the VITESSE trial design and projected timelines once this process has concluded.

Operating Income is primarily generated from DBV’s Research Tax Credit (French Crédit Impôt Recherche, or CIR) and from revenue recognized by DBV under its collaboration agreement with Nestlé Health Science. Operating income was $4.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The variation in operating income is primarily attributable to the revision of the revenue recognized under Nestlé’s collaboration agreement conducted as part of the existing contract, as the Company updated the measurement of progress of its Phase II APTITUDE milk-diagnostic tool clinical study.

Operating Expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022, were $(25.4) million, compared to $(29.6) million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, each under U.S. GAAP or -14%. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, operating expenses were $(44.7) million under U.S. GAAP and $(44.3) million under IFRS, compared to $(62.2) million and $(62.0) million under U.S. GAAP and IFRS respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2021. DBV has continued to practice financial diligence and implemented further cost containment strategies.

Employee-related costs decreased by $3.8 million, from $15.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, to $12.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 – a 23.8% decrease, compared to a 21% decrease of the average number of headcounts between the two periods (88 and 111 full-time equivalent employees for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively). As of June 30, 2022, DBV had 86 employees.

Net Loss and Net Loss Per Share

For the three months ended June 30, 2022, net loss was $(23.0) million compared to a net loss of $(30.7) million for the comparable period in 2021.

On a per share basis, net loss (based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding over the period) was $(0.35) and $(0.56) for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

For the six months ended June 30, 2022, net loss was $(39.7) million and $(39.5) million under U.S. GAAP and IFRS, respectively. Net loss per share was $(0.66) under U.S. GAAP and $(0.65) under IFRS.

Monthly Information Regarding the Total Number of Voting Rights and Total Number of Shares of the Company as of June 30, 2022:

* Total net = total number of voting rights attached to shares – shares without voting rights

The PIPE financing DBV completed in June included the sale of prefunded warrants to purchase up to 28,276,331 ordinary shares. The pre-funded warrants are not included in the number of shares outstanding. If all 28,276,331 pre-funded warrants were exercised, the total number of DBV shares outstanding would be 122,299,010.

Class Action Complaint:

As previously disclosed, a class action complaint was filed in January 2019 in the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, alleging that the Company and certain current and former executive officers violated certain U.S. federal securities laws. Plaintiffs filed a Third Amended Complaint on September 30, 2021. On July 29, 2022, the Court entered an order granting the Company’s Motion to Dismiss the Plaintiff’s Third Amended Complaint with prejudice. The Court indicated that the Third Amended Complaint was deficient in a number of ways, failing to allege a violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and ordered the matter closed. Per court procedural rules, the Plaintiffs have 30 days to appeal the dismissal of the Third Amended Complaint. The Company believes that the allegations contained in the complaint are without merit and will continue to defend the case vigorously.

2Unaudited financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("U.S. GAAP").
3Unaudited financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as adopted by the European Union.

CohBar to Announce 2022 Second Quarter Financial Results and Provide Business Update on August 15, 2022

On August 1, 2022 CohBar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWBR), a clinical stage biotechnology company leveraging the power of the mitochondria and the peptides encoded in its genome to develop potential breakthrough therapeutics targeting chronic and age-related diseases, reported that the company will release its 2022 second quarter financial results after the market closes on Monday, August 15, 2022 (Press release, CohBar, AUG 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234617210]). Management will host a conference call and webcast at 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT) on the same day to provide an update on the company’s business.

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A simultaneous webcast of the call will be accessible via the Investors section of the CohBar website at www.cohbar.com.
For individuals participating in the Investor Call or webcast, please call or login to the conference audio approximately 10 minutes prior to its start.

An audio replay of the call will be available beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 15, 2022, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 5, 2022. To access the recording please dial (844) 512-2921 in the U.S. and Canada, or (412) 317-6671 internationally, and reference Conference ID# 13730421. The audio recording will also be available at www.cohbar.com during the same period.