On May 12, 2022 Orca Bio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing purified, high-precision cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, genetic blood disorders and autoimmune diseases, reported that new clinical data on its lead investigational high-precision cell therapy, Orca-T, will be shared in an oral presentation at the hybrid European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Congress from June 9-17, 2022, in Vienna, Austria (Press release, Orca Bio, MAY 12, 2022, View Source [SID1234614424]).

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Oral Session: Clinical Studies in Transplantation

Title: Orca-T, an Engineered Allograft, Results in High GVHD-Free and Relapse-Free Survival Following Myeloablative Conditioning for Hematological Malignancies
Abstract Number: S237
Date and Time: Sunday, June 12, at 11:30–12:45 CEST / 5:30AM–6:45AM EDT
Location: Hall Stolz 1-2

The presentation will highlight results from the single-center Phase 2 and multi-center Phase 1b trials of Orca-T in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Data included in the abstract will be updated at the time of presentation.

The oral session will take place in Vienna and will be livestreamed on the EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) Congress platform.

About Orca-T

Orca-T is an investigational, high-precision allogeneic cell therapy derived from the stem and immune cells from either related or unrelated HLA-matched donors. Orca-T is intended to safely replace a patient’s compromised blood and immune system with that from a healthy donor. Orca-T is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of multiple hematologic malignancies and has received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

On May 12, 2022 Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:XBIO) ("Xenetic" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing innovative immune-oncology technologies addressing hard to treat oncology indications, reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2022 and provided a business update (Press release, Xenetic Biosciences, MAY 12, 2022, View Source [SID1234614471]).

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"Our strategic focus throughout the first quarter was working towards the completion of our exclusive license agreement with CLS Therapeutics ("CLS") to develop its interventional DNase based oncology platform. This platform was extremely attractive to us as we realized that adding the licensed programs could expand and enhance our oncology pipeline, provide an accelerated path to the clinic, create the potential for value-driving clinical and regulatory milestones, and position us as an emerging clinical-stage company," commented, Jeffrey Eisenberg, Chief Executive Officer of Xenetic. "Our team, along with advisors and preeminent key opinion leaders in this space, will make it a priority to advance the systemic DNase program into the clinic as an adjunctive therapy for locally advanced or metastatic cancers, as quickly and efficiently as possible."

DNase Oncology Platform: Targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps ("NETs") to improve cancer therapies with a focus on advancing systemic DNase program into the clinic as an adjunctive therapy for locally advanced or metastatic cancers.

The Company’s interventional DNase based oncology platform is aimed at improving outcomes of existing treatments, including immunotherapies. The exclusive license to CLS’ intellectual property for uses of DNases in cancer include systemic co-administration of DNases along with standard therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation and checkpoint inhibitors, or along with conventional chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T therapies. In addition, the licenses cover "DNase-armored" CAR T therapies in which novel CAR T products are engineered to secrete DNases into the tumor microenvironment to potentially improve T-cell infiltration, activity and persistence.

The licensed DNase platform is designed to target NETs, which are weblike structures composed of extracellular chromatin coated with histones and other proteins. NETs are expelled by activated neutrophils, in response to microbial or pro-inflammatory challenges. However, excessive production or reduced clearance of NETs can lead to aggravated inflammatory and autoimmune pathologies, as well as creation of pro-tumorigenic niches in the case of cancer growth and metastasis.

A substantial amount of scientific literature has implicated NETs in the context of cancer pathogenesis and resistance to cancer therapies (including chemo, radio, and immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors and cell therapies). In published reports, elevated levels of NETs have been a biomarker associated with poor prognosis in patients with a variety of cancers.

In addition, resistance to existing therapeutic agents can involve the release of immunosuppressive signaling factors from NETs, or physical barriers created by NETs which can impede the infiltration, activity, and survival of cytotoxic T cells in the tumor microenvironment.

Published pre-clinical models have demonstrated the effectiveness of systemically administered DNase, alone or in combination with other agents, for the elimination of NETs and prevention of tumor growth and metastasis.

Adoptive transfer of CAR T cells has emerged as one of the most promising advances in cancer immunotherapy. Engineered CAR T cells, designed to recognize cancer-associated antigens, are capable of sustained and selective killing of tumor cells, with substantial reduction of tumor burden. CAR T therapies have exhibited remarkable clinical success against hematological malignancies but thus far have failed to demonstrate success in the context of solid tumors. Recent approaches to CAR T design include "armored" CAR-T cells, so named because they can express additional factors to resist immunosuppression or degrade physical components of the tumor’s extracellular matrix, including NETs. The Company plans to conduct pre-clinical research with the goal of demonstrating that armoring CAR T cells to secrete DNase can support depth and durability of response against solid tumor indications.

Program Highlights:

In April 2022, executed exclusive license and sublicense agreements with CLS Therapeutics to develop its interventional DNase based oncology platform, which is aimed at improving outcomes of existing treatments, including immunotherapies.
Advancing toward first-in-human study with IND filing targeted for the end of 2023.
Systemic DNase program initially targeting multi-billion-dollar indications including pancreatic carcinoma.
DNase armored CAR T program focused on demonstrating that armoring CAR T cells to secrete DNase can support depth and durability of response against solid tumor indications.
XCART Platform Technology: Significantly differentiated, proprietary approach to personalized CAR T lymphoma therapy targeting tumor-specific neoantigens that target independently of CD19 or other surface antigens that are common to both normal and malignant B-cells.

Program Highlights:

Advancing preclinical efforts through ongoing research and development collaborations including with The Scripps Research Institute and other institutions in the U.S. covering design and implementation of the pre-clinical development program, as well as activities supporting process development for clinical manufacturing.
Bolstered intellectual property portfolio with issuance of a U.S. patent covering the co-administration of XCART-derived CAR T cells, together with a personalized vaccine designed to enhance the effectiveness of the CAR T therapy.
PolyXen Platform Technology: Patent-protected platform technology designed for protein or peptide therapeutics, enabling next-generation biological drugs by prolonging a drug’s circulating half-life and potentially improving other pharmacological properties.

Program Highlight:

Royalty payments of approximately $0.4 million were received in the three months ended March 31, 2022, representing an approximate 103.4% increase over the same period in 2021 as Takeda’s sublicensee continued its worldwide launch of the product.
Summary of Financial Results for First Quarter 2022

Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was approximately $1.6 million. Research & development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 increased by approximately $0.5 million, or 74.9%, to approximately $1.1 million from approximately $0.6 million in the comparable quarter in 2021. The increase was primarily due to the Company’s increase in spending related to XCART U.S. pre-clinical development efforts. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 decreased by approximately $23,000, or 2.5%, to approximately $0.9 million from approximately $0.9 million in the comparable quarter in 2021. The decrease was primarily due to lower consulting costs offset by an increase in legal costs related to the CLS transaction during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.

The Company ended the quarter with approximately $16.2 million of cash.

On May 11, 2022 Scandion Oncology (Scandion), a biotech company developing first-in-class medicines aimed at treating cancer which is resistant to current treatment options, reported ramps up its clinical development capabilities with the appointment of Dr. Alfredo Zurlo as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) (Press release, Scandion Oncology, MAY 11, 2022, View Source,c3564960 [SID1234614185]). Alfredo Zurlo joins Scandion immediately as part of the company’s Executive Management-team.

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A medical doctor by training, Alfredo Zurlo has more than 20 years of experience in planning and conducting early and late-stage clinical programs in oncology (cancer). He has held several global management positions in a seven-year long career with Roche, including serving as International Medical Director of Oncology and heading the launch of bevacizumab (Avastin) in Europe and the rest of the world for the colorectal indication.

Following his tenure at Roche, Alfredo Zurlo has served as CMO in the two biotech companies Glycotope and Mologen. In addition to his extensive strategic and operational clinical trial experience, he brings a large international network of health care professionals, research scientists and industry experts to Scandion.

"I am delighted to welcome Alfredo Zurlo to Scandion. As we develop both our company and development pipeline, most notably our lead asset SCO-101, it is critical to further strengthen our capabilities in clinical development. With his experience in the field of cancer drug development, Alfredo is an excellent addition to our team, and he will play a key role in the execution of our clinical trials and the planning of pivotal development", says Bo Rode Hansen, President & CEO of Scandion.

"Scandion has a tremendous potential to help address cancer’s resistance to existing treatments, which is perhaps the biggest problem in modern cancer treatment. I am excited by the opportunity to join this company and contribute to the development of new treatments to the benefit of patients, their relatives, health care professionals and society", says Alfredo Zurlo, CMO at Scandion.

Alfredo Zurlo replaces Peter Michael Vestlev, who will continue to work for Scandion in the position of Distinguished Medical Scientist, ensuring an effective handover to Alfredo Zurlo.

On May 11, 2022 TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:TCON), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel targeted cancer therapeutics and utilizing a cost efficient, CRO-independent product development platform to partner with companies to develop and commercialize innovative products in the U.S., reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 (Press release, Tracon Pharmaceuticals, MAY 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234614213]). The Company will host a conference call and webcast today at 4:30 PM Eastern Time / 1:30 PM Pacific Time.

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"We are pleased with the pace of enrollment under the amended ENVASARC protocol and remain on track to deliver interim efficacy data in the second half of this year," said Charles Theuer, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of TRACON. "Additionally, with the arbitration hearing now completed we look forward to the outcome of the binding arbitration for the TJ4309 and Bispecific Antibody agreements during the second half of this year. We also continue preparations to initiate dosing of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of envafolimab with our potential best-in-class CTLA-4 antibody, YH001, as well as doxorubicin chemotherapy in the second half of 2022."

Recent Corporate Highlights

In March, we announced the amended ENVASARC protocol using a higher dose of envafolimab was approved by the FDA.

In April, we announced the amended ENVASARC protocol was approved by internal review boards or ethic committees at each of the 30 clinical sites in the U.S. and U.K. and that all sites were open for enrolment, with more than 10 patients enrolled.
Expected Key Upcoming Milestones

Two interim safety reviews and the interim efficacy data review by the ENVASARC Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) in the second half of 2022.

Initiate dosing of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of envafolimab with our potential best in class CTLA-4 antibody YH001 as well as with doxorubicin chemotherapy in the second half of 2022.

Report the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration Panel’s binding decisions on the legal disputes involving the TJ4309 and bispecific antibody agreements with I-Mab this year.

Complete the TJ4309 Phase 1 trial permitting I-Mab the opportunity to terminate the license for $9M this year.

Initiate dosing of a randomized Phase 2 trial of TRC102 in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer sponsored and funded by the National Cancer Institute this year.
First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $16.6 million at March 31, 2022, compared to $24.1 million at December 31, 2021. The Company expects that its current cash and cash equivalents will fund operations into 2023.

Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2022 were $3.0 million, compared to $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2021.

General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2022 were $6.5 million, compared to $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to legal expenses incurred due to the arbitration hearing held in February 2022 with I-Mab related to the TJ4309 and bispecific antibody agreements, and the Company expects general and administrative expenses to decrease significantly for the remainder of the year.

Net loss for the first quarter of 2022 was $9.5 million, compared to $5.1 million for the first quarter of 2021.
Conference Call Details

A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the Investor/Events and Presentation page of the Company’s website at www.traconpharma.com.

After the live webcast, a replay will remain available on TRACON’s website for 60 days.

About Envafolimab

Envafolimab (KN035), a single-domain antibody against PD-L1 invented by Alphamab Oncology, is the first approved subcutaneously injected PD-(L)1 inhibitor. Envafolimab was approved by the Chinese NMPA in November 2021 in adult patients with MSI-H/dMMR advanced solid tumors who failed systemic treatment and have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. In December 2019, Alphamab Oncology, 3D Medicines and TRACON entered into a collaboration whereby TRACON has the right to develop and commercialize envafolimab in soft tissue sarcoma in North America. Envafolimab is currently being studied in the pivotal ENVASARC Phase 2 trial in the United States sponsored by TRACON and a Phase 3 pivotal trial in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in advanced biliary tract cancer patients in China sponsored by TRACON’s corporate partners, Alphamab Oncology and 3D Medicines.

About ENVASARC (NCT04480502)

The ENVASARC pivotal trial is a multicenter, open label, randomized, non-comparative, parallel cohort study at 30 top cancer centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that began dosing in December 2020. TRACON expects the trial to enroll more than 160 patients with UPS or MFS who have progressed following one or two lines of prior treatment and have not received an immune checkpoint inhibitor, with 80 patients enrolled into a cohort of treatment with single agent envafolimab at 600 mg every three weeks and 80 patients enrolled into a cohort of treatment with envafolimab at 600 mg every three weeks with Yervoy. The primary endpoint is objective response rate by central review with duration of response a key secondary endpoint.

About YH001

YH001 is an IgG1 antibody against CTLA-4 that has shown enhanced antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) in vitro. In preclinical studies YH001 demonstrated superior T cell activation and superior tumor growth inhibition activity compared to ipilimumab. YH001 also demonstrated superior activity compared to ipilimumab in human transgenic mouse tumor models when combined with a PD-(L)1 antibody. In these models, single agent YH001 depleted regulatory T cells and increased CD8+ T cells in tumor tissue. YH001 is being dosed as a single agent in a Phase 1 trial in China (NCT04699929) and in combination with the PD-1 antibody toripalimab in a Phase 1 trial in Australia (NCT04357756).

About TRC102

TRC102 (methoxyamine) is a novel, small molecule inhibitor of the DNA base excision repair pathway, which is a pathway that causes resistance to alkylating and antimetabolite chemotherapeutics. TRC102 is currently being studied in multiple Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) and has orphan drug designation from the FDA in malignant glioma, including glioblastoma.

About TJ004309

TJ004309 is a novel, humanized antibody against CD73, an ecto-enzyme expressed on stromal cells and tumors that converts extracellular adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to adenosine, which is highly immunosuppressive. TJ004309 is currently being studied in an ongoing Phase 1 trial to assess safety and preliminary efficacy as a single agent and when combined with the PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq in patients with advanced solid tumors.

On May 11, 2022 Cleveland Diagnostics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation diagnostic tests for the early detection of cancers, reported that its prostate cancer test, IsoPSA, has been added to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines for Prostate Cancer Early Detection (version 1.2022) (Press release, Cleveland Diagnostics, MAY 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234614246]). The NCCN panel now recommends the use of IsoPSA as an option to further define the probability of high-grade prostate cancer (Gleason score ≥ 3+4, Grade Group 2 or higher) prior to a first biopsy or after a negative biopsy.

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"We are honored that NCCN, an organization that provides valuable guidelines based on the latest evidence and expert consensus, now includes our IsoPSA test in its guidelines for prostate cancer early detection," said Arnon Chait, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at Cleveland Diagnostics. "The NCCN’s new recommendation highlights years of extensive clinical validation and clinical utility studies that all point to how IsoPSA could change the way prostate cancer is diagnosed and subsequently treated."

"Most urologists follow NCCN prostate cancer guidelines as a standard in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease," said Mark Stovsky, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Cleveland Diagnostics. "We are pleased to have IsoPSA included in these guidelines as it will give urologists more insight into the best course of action for patients for which they are evaluating for prostate cancer."

IsoPSA is a non-invasive, blood-based test that has demonstrated in large, multicenter studies superior diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility when compared to prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the current standard of care in prostate cancer, in men being considered for prostate biopsy.

"In the Introduction section of the new guidelines, the NCCN panel recognizes that maximizing early detection of prostate cancer will increase the detection of both indolent (slower-growing) and aggressive (faster-growing) prostate cancers," adds Bob Rochelle, Chief Commercial Officer at Cleveland Diagnostics. "The panel also describes a goal of minimizing immediate treatment or overtreatment of indolent cancers by accurately characterizing the biology of detected cancer, and that there are some indolent cancers and benign prostate conditions that can be monitored rather than immediately treated. This is precisely the rationale for our IsoPSA test."