On January 24, 2022 Demonstrating innovation leadership on a global level, ImmVira reported that, its custom-designed new-generation oncolytic herpes simplex virus ("oHSV") vector enabling CAR-T treatment for solid tumors has started pilot-scale manufacturing and Pharmacological and toxicological studies for IND filing in both the U.S. and China (Press release, Immvira, JAN 24, 2022, View Source [SID1234606744]).

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Solid tumor has long been a challenge for CAR-T. Major obstacles include solid tumor heterogeneity, lack of tumor associated antigens as CAR-T targets, complicated tumor microenvironment ("TME"), inadequacy of T-cell homing to the tumor site, T-cell immunosuppression and exhaustion and etc. While most efforts continue to focus on further modification of CAR-T cells, including locating highly-specific targets, receptor modification, recognition of multiple antigens, modulating CAR-T viability through other drugs, incorporation of external "weapons" to overcome immunosuppression and etc. ImmVira takes a new approach, leveraging viral vectors that can modify the tumor into targets to achieve a more direct and safe effect. The first three products of MVR-T7 series are MVR-T7011 with the combination of CD19 and BCMA, MVR-T7012 with the combination of CD19 and Trop-2, and MVR-T7013 with the combination of CD19 and HER-2. With MVR-T7, extracellular domains of aforementioned biomarkers can be continuously and precisely expressed on the cell membranes of solid tumors after customized oHSV entering into tumor site, providing targets for CAR-T treatment. At the same time, MVR-T7 series also carry chemokine CCL5, PD-1 antibody and IL-12 genes to further enhance the killing effects on tumor cells.

The design principle of MVR-T7 series is to use oHSV as vector to safely deliver biomarkers that have demonstrated success in CAR-T treatment of hematologic malignancies and make these biomarkers viable in solid tumors. Specifically engineered to allow biomarkers to be precisely expressed on target tumor cell membranes with a long and continuous time window, CAR-T therapy can be enabled on solid tumors without any further modification on the CAR-T cells targeting blood cancer. In addition, oncolysis caused by oHSV turn dense solid tumor tissues soft and loose, allowing CAR-T penetration into solid tumor stroma. More importantly, incorporation of CCL5 carried by the product enhances T-cell infiltration in solid tumors. CCL5 attracts and activates T-cells, and also promote macrophages and dendritic cells to secret CXCL9 thus further promoting circulating T-cell infiltration. Besides tumor modification, exogenous therapeutic genes including PD-1 antibody and IL-12 can induce prompt IFN-γ secretion to create 3-in-1 anti-tumor effects. The elegant design is a breakthrough to achieve maximum treatment benefit for CAR-T therapy on solid tumors.

As CAR-T enabler, MVR-T7 series made optimal modification of viral vector, combinations of biomarkers, chemokines and promoters based on scientific and treatment target specific design, in accordance with scientific foresight and clinical application. Completing rigorous in-vitro and in-vivo experiments, these three products did not compromise proliferation and viability of CAR-T and showed significant anti-tumor activities used in combination with CAR-T. Currently, ImmVira has independently completed in-house pilot-scale manufacturing for MVR-T7011, the first product of MVR-T7 series, and comprehensively launched extensive research for the purpose of IND application with strategic partners. In recent years, several CAR-T products have been approved as treatment, this breakthrough to treat solid tumors will open a significant market opportunity for CAR-T therapy.

ImmVira’s unique approach to modify the tumor environment paves way for a large range of current and emerging cancer therapies to become more effective. In addition to CAR-T, MVR-T7 series is designed to enhance treatment outcome when in combination with CAR-NK, ADC and BiTE. ImmVira will continue to adhere to a science-driven, original innovations and patient-focused philosophy, to continue research and development of new viral vectors drugs. Meanwhile, non-viral vector anti-tumor pipelines research, such as engineering exosomes for targeted drug delivery are underway with innovations in specific delivery scenarios or safety parameters to reignite the hope for patients around the world.

On January 24, 2022 MaaT Pharma (EURONEXT: MAAT – the "Company"), a French clinical-stage biotech and a pioneer in the development of microbiome-based ecosystem therapies dedicated to improving survival outcomes for patients with cancer, reported that positive interim engraftment data from the first four cohorts of the CIMON trial with MaaT033, the Company’s high-richness, high-diversity, Microbiome Ecosystem Therapy for oral administration (Press release, MaaT Pharma, JAN 24, 2022, View Source [SID1234606708]). These results represent the first confirmation of MaaT033’s mechanism of action in humans. MaaT033 is the company’s second product in clinical development and is intended to improve survival in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), which represents approximately 22,000 patients every year in the 7 major markets. Its oral formulation, designed for targeted delivery in the intestine, may support long-term, ambulatory use.

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In this dose-ranging study, data from four out of five intended cohorts showed satisfactory safety and good microbiome engraftment, which is characterized by the presence of microbial OTUs[1] in the gut as a result of product administration and that were not present at treatment start.

Based on this positive data, the Company will close the CIMON trial to enable faster than planned completion and evaluation of the full data from the trial, in order to advance MaaT033 towards a planned Phase 2/3 trial, which could start in the second half of 2022. Complete results from the Phase 1b CIMON trial are expected in the first half of 2022.

"These interim results are an important milestone for MaaT Pharma as MaaT033 is our second product, and our first oral formulation, to demonstrate proof of engraftment in humans. This expands the potential of our proprietary Microbiome Ecosystem Therapy (MET) platform to the ambulatory setting, after positive data achieved in aGvHD with MaaT013, an enema product for acute, hospital use. This is the first step towards treating larger patient populations that may benefit from orally-administered microbiome therapies, including patients receiving allo-HSCT, but also patients with solid tumors."

said Hervé Affagard, CEO and co-founder of MaaT Pharma.

MaaT033 is intended to improve survival outcomes in hemato-oncology patients receiving allo-HSCT by protecting and restoring their gut microbiome. In these patients, intensive chemotherapy and antibiotic treatments that are administered to prepare for the allo-HSCT procedure result in a severely damaged gut microbiome. Importantly, higher gut microbiome diversity at the time of allo-HSCT has been correlated to higher survival and lower risks of complications, including incidence of graft-vs-host-disease and multi-resistant infections[2].

"With a very satisfactory safety profile and very promising engraftment data in the first four cohorts of this trial, we believe we have the appropriate amount of data in hand to confidently move forward with MaaT033’s clinical development, without testing the highest planned dose of nine capsules a day. We look forward to further exploring the data from CIMON and preparing for a Phase 2/3 trial start."

added John Weinberg, MD, Chief Medical Officer at MaaT Pharma.

The CIMON Phase 1b trial (NCT04150393) is an open-label, dose-ranging study and has enrolled to date a total of 21 patients in four cohorts (up to three capsules a day for 14 days) across six sites in France. CIMON is designed to investigate the maximum tolerated dose of MaaT033, over 7 or 14 days of therapy, that supports optimal gut microbiome colonization in patients with acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome who have undergone intensive chemotherapy. Overall, four Data and Safety Monitoring Board meetings have been conducted evaluating the safety of the trial. All concluded in support of the continuation of the study with the latest taking place in December 2021. Complete results from the trial will be submitted for a presentation at an upcoming key major conference in hemato-oncology as well as for peer-reviewed publication.

[1] OTU or Operational Taxonomic Unit is used to classify bacteria at the genus level, based on sequence similarity of the 16S marker gene. An OTU consists of a group of bacteria whose 16S marker gene shows a sequence identity of 97 percent and above.
[2] Peled, J.U. & al N Engl J Med 2020;382:822-34
About MaaT033

MaaT033 is an oral, full-ecosystem, off-the-shelf, standardized, pooled-donor, high-richness Microbiome Ecosystem Therapy. It is manufactured at MaaT Pharma’s centralized European cGMP production facility. MaaT033 is designed to restore the gut ecosystem to full functionality to improve clinical outcomes as well as to control adverse events related to conventional treatments for liquid tumors. The capsule formulation facilitates administration while maintaining the high and consistent richness and diversity of microbial species, including anti-inflammatory ButycoreTM species, which characterize MaaT Pharma’s Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies.

On January 24, 2022 TG Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TGTX), reported that Michael S. Weiss, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat during the B. Riley Securities’ 2022 Virtual Oncology Investor Conference, taking place on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at 10:00 AM ET (Press release, TG Therapeutics, JAN 24, 2022, View Source [SID1234606727]).

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A live webcast of this presentation will be available on the Events page, located within the Investors & Media section, of the Company’s website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be available on TG’s website following the event.

On January 24, 2022 The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Oncology Research Program (ORP) reported new funding for quality projects to improve patient care and outcomes in lung and thyroid cancers (Press release, NCCN, JAN 24, 2022, View Source [SID1234606745]). Funding will be provided through support from Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly).

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"The overall goal of this project is to develop innovative healthcare provider and systems performance and quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient care and outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer and thyroid cancer" said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, FACP, Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, NCCN. "Congratulations to all of these inspiring investigators. We are eager to learn their findings and hope they can be expanded to other practices as well."

The selected projects are:

Waddah Arafat, MD, UT Southwestern Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
Harnessing an Electronic Health Record (EHR) Genomics Module to Guide Clinical Decisions for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Care
Grace K. Dy, MD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Multidisciplinary Workflow Optimization to Overcome Challenges in Biomarker Testing and to Expedite Biomarker-Based Treatment Decisions for Patients with NSCLC
Cristina P. Rodriguez, MD and Perrin E. Romine, MD, MSc, University of Washington School of Medicine/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Streamlining Molecular Profiling of Thyroid Malignancies in an Academic Tertiary Referral Oncology Center and its Community Satellite Clinics
John Strickler, MD, Duke Cancer Institute
Expansion of the Duke Molecular Tumor Board to Community Oncology Sites Across the Southeast to Support Adoption of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling and Biomarker Driven Therapy Selection for Lung and Thyroid Cancer Patients
"Lilly is committed to supporting initiatives that increase the appropriate use of comprehensive biomarker testing in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and thyroid cancer," said Anthony N. Sireci, MD, MSc, Vice President, Clinical Biomarkers and Diagnostics Development Loxo Oncology at Lilly. "We are proud to collaborate with NCCN on the selected projects to explore how the proposed innovations can ultimately improve patient care and outcomes."

Proposals were peer reviewed by a Scientific Review Committee, which consisted of leading expert oncologists from NCCN Member Institutions. It is known that predictive biomarker testing on tumor-derived tissue or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) plays an important role in the treatment decision-making process for both metastatic non-small cell lung cancer as well as metastatic thyroid cancers. The goal of this project is to provide funding to study projects that, ultimately, are aimed at helping healthcare professionals deliver the optimal guideline-adherent treatment to each patient at the appropriate time. The selected projects are set to be completed within two years. The total amount of grants awarded for this research is approximately $1.2 million.

The NCCN ORP fosters innovation and knowledge discovery that improve the lives of people with cancer and supports preclinical, translational, and clinical research and quality improvement projects in oncology at NCCN Member Institutions. In an effort to improve collaboration in cancer research, the NCCN ORP also maintains a shared resources website, an informed consent database, and points to consider on the best practices for biorepositories, registries, and databases. For more information, visit NCCN.org/orp.

On January 24, 2022 Samsung Biologics (KRX: 207940.KS), the world’s leading contract development and manufacturing organization, reported strong financial results for the fourth quarter and record-high earnings for the fiscal year of 2021 (Press release, Samsung BioLogics, JAN 24, 2022, View Source;schBoardCtgryCcd=&schString=&schBoardYear=&boardDtm=1642950000000&page=1 [SID1234607434]).

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John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics, stated, "With a steep increase in demand for medicines due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, there was a great need for CDMO capabilities around the world to ensure a reliable supply of high-quality biological products. By successfully managing all potential impact from the pandemic with strong business continuity and operational excellence, Samsung Biologics achieved solid growth and increased sales in an extraordinary year and made meaningful progress in building momentum around our long-term business and capacity. Our fourth-quarter financial performance demonstrates our ability to execute a robust and resilient approach to maintaining business continuity while adapting at every level to the needs of our clients and partners. Our concerted efforts have enabled us to achieve our financial targets and lay a foundation to deliver future growth. As we look towards 2022, we remain fully committed to delivering high-quality, life-saving treatments to our partners and patients around the world."

FOURTH QUARTER & FISCAL YEAR 2021 RESULTS

Fourth quarter 2021 revenue was KRW 444.3 billion, an increase of 18% from KRW 375.3 billion reported for the fourth quarter in the previous year, attributable to increased utilization of Plants 1 and 3, and sales activities bringing in new contracts.

Fourth quarter 2021 operating profit was KRW 128.8 billion, 39% higher than the prior-year period leveraging steady sales growth.

Fourth quarter 2021 net profit reached KRW 79.3 billion, a decrease of KRW 16.9 billion from KRW 96.2 billion in the fourth quarter a year ago, and fourth quarter 2021 operating margin was 29% due to increased utilization across all plants and improved product mix.

Samsung Biologics demonstrated strong operational excellence and business agility in 2021 with Plants 1, 2, and 3 in stable operations, and laid a strong mRNA business foundation through signing strategic partnership agreements with Moderna for fill and finish and Greenlight Biosciences for the manufacturing of mRNA vaccines. Samsung Biologics also launched its newest CDO process platform, S-CellerateTM, which offers an expedited process for the development and commercialization of monoclonal antibodies.

FISCAL YEAR 2022 OUTLOOK

At the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, the company addressed the three core pillars of its multidimensional growth plan, which includes increasing manufacturing capacity, enhancing portfolio diversification, and expanding facilities overseas.

In addition to steadily securing client pre-sales, Plant 4 construction is expected to complete six months ahead of schedule, commencing operations to support 10KL production capacity in Q4 2022 and 15KL by mid-2023. Upon its full completion, the company is expected to hold a total of 620KL of capacity, reaffirming its position as the world’s largest CDMO.

As part of its growth plan, Samsung Biologics is planning to start the construction of a new facility, Plant 5 in 2022 where it will offer multi-modal product services including cell and gene therapies and next-gen vaccines utilizing mRNA, pDNA and viral vectors, all at a single site. This is in addition to the mRNA vaccine drug substance (DS) manufacturing suite, which is expected to be ready for cGMP operations at its existing facility in Songdo within the earlier part of this year.

The company is further venturing into securing additional land within Songdo for the construction of future plants and an Open Innovation Center, as well as overseas in multiple locations to maximize both its manufacturing capacity to produce large-scale biologics and be in closer proximity to its global clients, further expanding its global footprint beyond its San Francisco R&D center.

With the increasing importance of sustainability, Samsung Biologics will continue to prioritize its ESG commitments through steady improvement in lowering operational GHG emissions and participating various climate change initiatives including the Sustainable Markets Initiative in the lead up to COP27.