AstraZeneca enters license agreement with Alteogen for subcutaneous formulations of multiple oncology assets

On March 17, 2025 AstraZeneca and Alteogen Inc. reported to have entered into an exclusive license agreement for ALT-B4, a novel hyaluronidase utilising Hybrozyme platform technology (Press release, AstraZeneca, MAR 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234651195]). Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will acquire worldwide rights to use ALT-B4 to develop and commercialise subcutaneous formulations of several oncology assets. Alteogen will be responsible for clinical and commercial supply of ALT-B4 to AstraZeneca.

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Subcutaneous formulations have the potential to offer many advantages including time savings for patients, clinical staff, and health systems due to shorter administration times.

Cristian Massacesi, Chief Medical Officer and Oncology Chief Development Officer, AstraZeneca, said: "We are dedicated to advancing new medicines for people with cancer and that includes new methods of delivery which are more convenient for patients, physicians and healthcare systems. We look forward to collaborating with Alteogen on several assets in our portfolio with the goal of bringing new subcutaneous options to patients that can transform the way cancer care is delivered."

Dr Soon Jae Park, Chief Executive Officer of Alteogen, said: "We are excited to expand our Hybrozyme Technology by collaborating with AstraZeneca in their development of novel subcutaneous cancer medicines to meet the needs of patients."

Financial considerations
AstraZeneca will make an upfront payment to Alteogen and additional payments upon achievement of specific development, regulatory and sales-related milestones. Additionally, Alteogen will receive royalties on the sales of the commercialised products.

The transaction does not impact AstraZeneca’s financial guidance for 2025.

Notes

ALT-B4
ALT-B4 is Alteogen’s proprietary human recombinant hyaluronidase enzyme developed utilizing Hybrozyme technology. ALT-B4 can enable the large volume subcutaneous administration of drugs that are typically administered as an IV infusion. ALT-B4 does this by temporarily hydrolyzing hyaluronan in the extracellular matrix.

EsoBiotec to Be Acquired by AstraZeneca to Advance Cell Therapy Ambition

On March 17, 2025 EsoBiotec SA, a biotechnology company pioneering in vivo cell therapies that has demonstrated promising early clinical activity, reported it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by AstraZeneca (Press release, EsoBiotec, MAR 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234651164]). The EsoBiotec Engineered NanoBody Lentiviral (ENaBL) platform empowers the immune system to attack cancers and could offer many more patients access to transformative cell therapy treatments delivered in just minutes rather than the current process which takes weeks.

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ENaBL uses highly targeted lentiviruses to deliver genetic instructions to specific immune cells, such as T cells, which programme them to recognise and destroy tumour cells for cancer treatment or autoreactive cells for potential use in immune-mediated diseases. This approach enables cell therapies to be administered through a simple IV injection and without the need for immune cell depletion.

Traditional cell therapies require cells to be removed from a patient, genetically modified outside the body, and then readministered to the patient as a medicine after immune cell depletion, typically taking weeks. By engineering immune cells directly within the patient’s body, the EsoBiotec in vivo approach has the potential to address many of the barriers associated with traditional cell therapies, reducing complexities and manufacturing timelines, thereby increasing access for patients.

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "We are excited about the acquisition of EsoBiotec and the opportunity to rapidly advance their promising in vivo platform. We believe it has the potential to transform cell therapy and will enable us to scale these innovative treatments so that many more patients around the world can access them. EsoBiotec will accelerate and expand the impact of our recent investments and marks a major step forward in realising our ambition to harness the full potential of cell therapy."

Jean-Pierre Latere, PhD, CEO, EsoBiotec, said: "We look forward to working with AstraZeneca, a global leader in drug development, to advance our shared goal of bringing transformative cost-effective cell therapies to more patients globally. By combining our expertise and resources, we can accelerate the development of our in vivo platform which has a novel delivery technology we believe will have broad therapeutic applicability."

EsoBiotec will become a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca, with operations in Belgium.

Financial considerations
AstraZeneca will acquire all outstanding equity of EsoBiotec for a total consideration of up to $1,000m, on a cash and debt free basis. This will include an initial payment of $425m on deal closing, and up to $575m in contingent consideration based on development and regulatory milestones.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances.

Centerview Partners UK LLP is acting as exclusive financial advisor to EsoBiotec.

Cooley LLP is acting as legal advisor to EsoBiotec. Covington & Burling LLP is acting as legal advisor to AstraZeneca.

Allarity Therapeutics Announces Presentation of Phase 2 Clinical Data from Ongoing Trial in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients at the 2025 Annual Meeting for the Society of Gynecologic Oncology

On March 17, 2025 Allarity Therapeutics, Inc. ("Allarity" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ALLR), a Phase 2 clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing stenoparib—a differentiated dual PARP/Wnt pathway inhibitor— reported the presentation of new clinical data from its ongoing Phase 2 trial with stenoparib monotherapy in advanced Ovarian Cancer at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2025 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, held March 14-17 in Seattle, Washington (Press release, Allarity Therapeutics, MAR 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234651196]). SGO is the world’s premier organization for professionals working to lessen the impact of gynecologic cancers, and the Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer is the premier educational and scientific event for gynecologic oncologists and others dedicated to advancing gynecologic cancer care.

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The poster presentation, titled "A Phase II Trial of Stenoparib (2X-121): A Novel Dual Tankyrase and PARP Inhibitor in Advanced, Recurrent Ovarian Cancer," will be presented by Dr. Fernanda B. Musa, MD, MS, Director of Clinical Trials in Gynecologic Oncology, Providence-Swedish Cancer Institute.

Session: Poster Tour Group 14: Clinical Trials Impacting Future Therapies
Date/Time: Monday, March 17, 10:30 a.m. PST
The poster presents data from the first Phase 2 study of stenoparib in advanced ovarian cancer and the first stenoparib study ever to dose twice daily. The study exclusively enrolled patients who had been previously treated with three or more lines of therapy and included patients with especially difficult-to-treat disease. Fourteen of the fifteen enrolled were platinum-resistant, while one patient had primary platinum-refractory disease that did not respond to first-line chemotherapy. There are very few effective treatment options for patients with platinum-resistant and refractory ovarian cancer, who unfortunately tend to have their disease recur within an average of three months. In this study, five patients stayed on therapy longer than four months, with four of these staying on beyond 20 weeks. Importantly, one patient showed a confirmed complete response (i.e., absence of measurable disease) that lasted more than 10 months. The patient with primary platinum-refractory disease remained on therapy beyond 40 weeks. Two patients remain on therapy currently—now more than 17 months.

The data also revealed significant clinical benefit in patients who typically do not get benefit from first-generation PARP inhibitors—those without mutations in the DNA repair gene, BRCA. One of the two patients still on therapy, now more than 17 months, did not have a BRCA mutation or other deficit in homologous DNA repair. Benefit in these BRCA wild-type patients may reflect the unique, dual therapeutic action of stenoparib in inhibiting not only PARP but also the Wnt pathway—a pathway activated in ovarian, colon, and other advanced cancers.

Key Findings:

First study to dose stenoparib twice daily optimizing inhibition of PARP and Tankyrase across every 24-hour period.
First stenoparib study to show potential durable clinical benefit in platinum-resistant and refractory patients.
Data continue to show that stenoparib is well-tolerated and does not elicit the bone marrow toxicity typical of first-generation PARP inhibitors.
Study shows clinical benefit across distinct genetic backgrounds including in both BRCA-mutant patients and in BRCA wild-type (non-mutated) patients, a larger patient group than those with BRCA mutation.
Study supports the unique mechanism of action for stenoparib, which inhibits PARP and the Wnt oncogenic pathway.
Study sets the stage for the newly announced protocol to evaluate stenoparib monotherapy dosed twice daily in platinum-resistant patients.
Dr. Fernanda B. Musa, MD, MS, site investigator for the study, commented, "This remains a challenging disease with limited therapies for patients who have already undergone many prior lines of treatment and who have been declared platinum-resistant or platinum-refractory. The findings from this study suggest that stenoparib may offer a new, well-tolerated therapeutic approach for a broader group of patients, including those with BRCA wild-type disease, who historically have had fewer options. It is a privilege to present these data at SGO 2025 and to share our findings with esteemed colleagues dedicated to advancing gynecologic oncology research."

Thomas Jensen, Chief Executive Officer of Allarity Therapeutics, stated, "These results are foundational for us as they show stenoparib monotherapy can provide durable clinical benefit to very heavily pre-treated patients, both platinum-resistant and refractory. These data also show clinical benefit in patients both with and without BRCA mutations, or defects in homologous DNA damage repair, and may reflect the unique dual action of stenoparib on both PARP and Tankyrase targets. The data also continue to show that stenoparib is well-tolerated and does not show the bone marrow toxicity of earlier PARP inhibitors. All in all, the results of this exploratory phase 2 study have helped us to craft a new protocol designed with Dr. Fernanda Musa, Dr. Kathleen Moore, and other ovarian cancer thought leaders that will deepen and enrich our understanding of stenoparib’s durable clinical benefit—even in heavily pre-treated patients, enhance our understanding of its unique mechanism of action and accelerate the advance of stenoparib toward regulatory approval."

Given the relatively heterogeneous patient population in this study, there are no direct comparisons to earlier studies. Importantly, this exploratory trial allowed enrollment of patients with very advanced disease, including massive ascites, following multiple prior lines of therapy. Some of these patients progressed very quickly in the study. The recently announced phase 2 protocol trial was expressly designed to narrow in on patients with platinum-resistant disease who have progressed through only a single, additional line of chemotherapy after the emergence of platinum resistance and who are without active evidence of ascites.

The poster presentation will be available on March 17 at 7:00 a.m. CT on Allarity’s website under the Scientific Publications section.

About Stenoparib
Stenoparib is an orally available, small-molecule dual-targeted inhibitor of PARP1/2 and tankyrase 1/2. At present, tankyrases are attracting significant attention as emerging therapeutic targets for cancer, principally due to their role in regulating the Wnt signaling pathway. Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been implicated in the development and progression of numerous cancers. By inhibiting PARP and blocking Wnt pathway activation, stenoparib’s unique therapeutic action shows potential as a promising therapeutic for many cancer types, including ovarian cancer. Allarity has secured exclusive global rights for the development and commercialization of stenoparib, which was originally developed by Eisai Co. Ltd. and was formerly known under the names E7449 and 2X-121.

Akoya Reports Fourth Quarter of 2024 and Full Year Financial Results

On March 17, 2025 Akoya Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKYA) ("Akoya"), The Spatial Biology Company, reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2024 (Press release, Akoya Biosciences, MAR 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234651177]).

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"Akoya navigated a challenging 2024 in the life science tools market, which was constrained by subdued capital equipment purchases, by successfully strengthening gross margins, reducing operating expenses and advancing our companion diagnostics programs throughout the year. We remain optimistic about the long-term growth outlook of Akoya’s leading spatial biology solutions," said Brian McKelligon, CEO of Akoya. "In 2024, Akoya achieved multiple milestones, including expanding our market-leading installed base to 1,330 instruments, launching our Manufacturing Center of Excellence to drive improvements in gross margins and the expansion of our content menu into new markets like neurobiology, and continued advancement of our clinical partnerships led by Acrivon and NeraCare."

Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

Revenue was $21.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $26.5 million in the prior year period; a decrease of 19.4%. This topline revenue decrease was primarily due to a decline in instrument revenue.
Gross margin was 67.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 62.7% in the prior year period. The increase in gross margin was primarily driven by operational efficiency from in-house reagent manufacturing and product mix.
Operating expenses were $20.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $26.1 million in the prior year period; an improvement of 22.9%. The improvement was primarily driven by further realized operating leverage and efficiencies.
Operating loss was $5.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to an operating loss of $9.4 million in the prior year period; an improvement of 39.5%.
$35.0 million of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of December 31, 2024.
Business Highlights

Announced the pending acquisition of Akoya Biosciences by Quanterix Corporation (Nasdaq: QTRX), which, if consummated, would create the first integrated solution for ultra-sensitive detection of blood and tissue-based protein biomarkers.
Announced a strategic product roadmap, powered by the success of IO60 and upcoming launch of neurobiology panels to solidify leadership in spatial proteomics across new research verticals.
Announced an exclusive global license agreement with NeraCare for the development and commercialization of the Immunoprint test for early-stage melanoma patient treatment decisions.
Nature Methods named spatial proteomics "Method of the Year 2024" — a key milestone which reaffirms Akoya’s leadership position in the spatial proteomics field with the largest installed base and publications volume in the industry.
Financial Highlights

Full year 2024 revenue was $81.7 million, compared to $96.6 million in the prior year; a decrease of 15.5%.
Full year 2024 reported gross margin was 58.6% while non-GAAP adjusted gross margin(1) was 61.1% when excluding the write-off from discontinued legacy products in the first quarter of 2024. Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin were 58.3% in the prior year.
Full year 2024 operating expenses were $94.6 million while non-GAAP operating expenses(1) were $88.6 million when excluding the impairment charge for facility consolidation and restructuring associated with reductions in force completed in the first quarter of 2024 and third quarter of 2024, respectively. Both GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses were $114.0 million in the prior year.
Full year 2024 loss from operations was $46.7 million while non-GAAP loss from operations(1) was $38.6 million excluding the items noted above. Both GAAP and non-GAAP loss from operations were $57.7 million in the prior year.
Instrument installed base of 1,330 as of December 31, 2024 (400 PhenoCyclers, 930 PhenoImagers), compared to an installed base of 1,183 in the prior year (342 PhenoCyclers, 841 PhenoImagers); an increase of 12.4%.
1,733 total publications citing Akoya’s technology as of December 31, 2024, compared to 1,160 total publications in the prior year; an increase of 49.4%.

(1) See discussion of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.
In light of the pending acquisition by Quanterix Corporation, Akoya will not be hosting an earnings conference call or providing forward guidance at this time.

Actinium Pharmaceuticals Announces Publication of Actimab-A + CLAG-M Trial Results in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia in the Peer-Reviewed Journal Leukemia

On March 17, 2025 Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) (Actinium or the Company), a pioneer in the development of targeted radiotherapies, reported that results from the clinical trial evaluating Actimab-A in combination with the chemotherapy CLAG-M in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML) have been published in the peer-reviewed journal Leukemia (Press release, Actinium Pharmaceuticals, MAR 17, 2025, View Source [SID1234651197]). The publication highlights data including long-term survival outcomes from two-year follow-up and better outcomes in high-risk patients. Actimab-A is a novel targeted radiotherapeutic that uses the Actinium-225 (Ac-225) isotope payload directed against CD33, a marker expressed ubiquitously on AML blasts. The trial was conducted at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) which has extensive experience treating relapsed refractory AML patients with CLAG-M.

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Actimab-A + CLAG-M Trial Data Highlights from Publication:

18.4 month median Overall Survival (OS) in patients who received 1 or 2 lines of prior therapy
52% of patients in the Actimab-A +CLAG-M trial had TP53 mutations, 56% had prior allogeneic stem cell transplant and 56% of patients had prior Venetoclax therapy
Actimab-A + CLAG-M outcomes compare favorably to the results from historical data with CLAG-M alone in the pre-Venetoclax era from MCW’s study (median OS of 13.3 months). Typically, patients who have failed Venetoclax treatment demonstrate median survival between 2.4 – 4.6 months as reported in the literature and the patients with a TP53 mutation even have more dismal survival outcomes. Hence this data supports the use of Actimab-A plus CLAG-M for these patients.
Actimab-A + CLAG-M produced high rates of measurable residual disease negativity (MRD-) including 75% across all patients, 83.3% in patients with a TP53 mutation and 100% in patients with prior Venetoclax therapy
71% of eligible patients received a bone marrow transplant (BMT) and median OS in these patients was 24.05 months
Dr. Sameem Abedin, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Principal Investigator of the Actimab-A + CLAG-M study said, "We are delighted that the Actimab-A + CLAG-M results have been published in the peer-reviewed journal Leukemia. Despite advancements in treatment, patients with r/r AML, particularly those with high-risk features including TP53 mutations and prior Venetoclax therapy like those in our study, continue to have dismal outcomes and limited treatment options. We are excited that the combination of Actimab-A and CLAG-M produced high response rates with deep remissions including high rates of MRD negativity, improving access to potentially curable BMT resulting in enhanced survival outcomes. Importantly, we observed that responses were retained in high-risk patients. We believe these results support the utility of targeted radiotherapy for the treatment of AML and its mutation agnostic mechanism of action. We look forward to the initiation of the Phase 2/3 trial of Actimab-A + CLAG-M and further advancing this potentially important therapeutic modality in this patient population with a high unmet need."

Actinium has aligned with the FDA on a pivotal Phase 2/3 operationally seamless trial that will study Actimab-A + CLAG-M in r/r AML patients. The trial will optimize the dose of Actimab-A in combination with CLAG-M, that will be studied in the Phase 3 portion of the trial, which will be a randomized trial comparing overall survival and other outcomes of patients with r/r AML receiving Actimab-A + CLAG-M to CLAG-M alone. The trial is expected to be initiated in 2025.

Sandesh Seth, Actinium’s Chairman and CEO, said, "There is significant momentum for Actimab-A with the publication of these positive results in Leukemia and the recent initiation of the frontline AML triplet combination with Venetoclax and the hypomethylating agent ASTX-727 under our NCI CRADA. Actinium is committed to addressing the needs of the over 100,000 patients with AML and MDS in the U.S. and Europe with Actimab-A to realize its multi-billion-dollar market opportunity. Over the course of 2025, we expect to generate additional clinical data further supporting Actimab-A’s mutation agnostic, backbone therapy potential for radiation sensitive myeloid malignancies."