Wugen to Present Virtually at the Upcoming Oppenheimer 32nd Annual Healthcare Conference

On March 9, 2022 Wugen, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of off-the-shelf cell therapies to treat a broad range of hematological and solid tumor malignancies, reported that management will present virtually at the Oppenheimer 32nd Annual Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. ET (Press release, Wugen, MAR 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234609793]). The presentation will be available to registered conference attendees.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Mustang Bio Announces City of Hope, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Nationwide Children’s Hospital Abstract Accepted for Late-Breaker Poster Presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2022

On March 9, 2022 Mustang Bio, Inc. ("Mustang") (NASDAQ: MBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on translating today’s medical breakthroughs in cell and gene therapies into potential cures for hematologic cancers, solid tumors and rare genetic diseases, reported that an abstract reporting on Phase 1 trials being conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and City of Hope of Mustang Bio’s exclusively licensed oncolytic viral and CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma (GBM), has been selected as a late-breaking poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2022, taking place April 8 – 13, 2022, in New Orleans, Louisiana (Press release, Mustang Bio, MAR 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234609809]). The abstract will also be published in the online Proceedings of the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Manuel Litchman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Mustang, said, "We look forward to the upcoming data to be presented by City of Hope’s Dr. Christine Brown at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting about the potential of our MB-108 oncolytic virus to enhance the efficacy of our MB-101 CAR T cell therapy for GBM. Each program is actively enrolling patients in respective investigator-sponsored UAB and City of Hope Phase 1 trials, and we believe that the clinical data from those trials, together with results from the in vivo combination studies currently underway at City of Hope, will support the first ever industry-sponsored trial of an oncolytic virus with a CAR T for the treatment of cancer patients. Mustang will refer to the combination therapy as MB-109, and we anticipate filing an Investigational New Drug application for MB-109 later this year."

Details of the presentation are as follows:

Title: Oncolytic viral reshaping of the tumor microenvironment to promote CAR T cell therapy for glioblastoma
Abstract Number: CT541
Session Title: Phase I Trials in Progress 2
Session Date and Time: Wednesday, April 13, 2022 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT
Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Exhibit Halls D-H, Poster Section 35
Poster Board Number: 19
Presenter: Christine Brown, Ph.D., Deputy Director, T Cell Therapeutics Research Laboratory, Professor, Departments of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Immuno-Oncology and The Heritage Provider Network Professor in Immunotherapy at City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States

For more information, please visit the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting website.

About MB‐101 (IL13Rα2‐targeted CAR T cells)
MB-101 is an IL13Rα2-targeted CAR T cell therapy developed by Dr. Brown and her City of Hope colleagues for the treatment of GBM. It is the first CAR T cell therapy to demonstrate durable complete responses in GBM based on a 54-patient Phase 1 trial conducted by City of Hope (NCT02208362), with Dr. Behnam Badie, Professor and Chief, Division of Neurosurgery, as the Principal Investigator. IL-13Rα2 is a GBM restricted receptor expressed abundantly on over 75% of GBM patients. Mustang is developing MB‐101 as an optimized CAR T product incorporating enhancements in CAR design and T cell engineering to improve antitumor potency and T cell persistence. MB‐101 includes a second‐generation hinge optimized CAR containing mutations in the IgG4 linker to reduce off‐target Fc interactions, the 4-1BB (CD137) co‐stimulatory signaling domain for improved persistence of CAR T cells and the extracellular domain of CD19 as a selection/safety marker. To further improve persistence, central memory T cells are enriched and genetically engineered using a manufacturing process that limits ex vivo expansion to reduce T cell exhaustion and maintain a memory T cell phenotype. Ongoing MB-101 malignant glioma clinical trials under City of Hope’s IND include a study in patients with leptomeningeal disease (NCT04661384) and a combination study with checkpoint inhibitors (NCT04003649).

About MB-108 (C134 oncolytic virus)
Developed by Dr. Kevin Cassady, Professor of Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and his colleagues for the treatment of malignant brain cancers, MB-108 (C134 oncolytic virus) is a second-generation attenuated herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) oncolytic virus that has improved replication in tumors in murine models, but with the same toxicity profile as its first-generation predecessors. MB-108 can replicate in tumor cells, but not in normal cells, which kills the infected tumor cells and causes the tumor cell to act as a factory to produce new virus. MB-108 can also induce pro-inflammatory signals and chemotaxis, thereby improving CAR T infiltration into the tumor mass. In February 2019, Mustang Bio entered into a licensing agreement with Nationwide Children’s Hospital for worldwide development rights to C134 oncolytic virus, including but not limited to developing MB-108 for the treatment of GBM, and a Phase 1 clinical trial is currently ongoing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in patients with recurrent disease (NCT03657576), with Dr. James Markert, Professor and Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, as the Principal Investigator.

About MB-109 (MB-101 (IL-13Rα2) + MB-108 oncolytic virus)
MB-109 is a treatment that combines MB-101 (IL13Rα2‐targeted CAR T cells) CAR T cell therapy with MB-108 (C134 oncolytic virus). The combination is designed to leverage MB-108 to make cold tumors "hot," as described above, and thereby improve the efficacy of MB-101 CAR T cell therapy. MB-108 oncolytic virus is first injected to infect tumor cells which, in turn, leads to inflammation of the tumor microenvironment and cytokine production. MB-101 CAR T cells are injected into and around the hot tumor to better allow MB-101 to infiltrate into, undergo activation and kill the tumor. Mustang intends to file a Phase 1 Investigational New Drug application for MB-109 in the second half of 2022.

Quanterix to Participate in Barclays Global Healthcare Conference

On March 9, 2022 Quanterix Corporation (NASDAQ: QTRX), a company digitizing biomarker analysis with the goal of advancing the science of precision health, reported that its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Hrusovsky will present in-person at the Barclays Global Healthcare Conference on March 15, 2022 at 10:45 a.m., EST (Press release, Quanterix, MAR 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234609824]). For those interested in tuning into the presentation virtually, please register here: View Source

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Hrusovsky will also host in-person one-on-one meetings with institutional investors on Tuesday, March 15. A live webcast of the conversation will be available on the investor section of the Quanterix website at View Source Replays of the webcast will be available on the Quanterix website for 90 days following the conference.

Labcorp Enters Into Strategic Relationship With Prisma Health

On March 9, 2022 Labcorp (NYSE: LH), a leading global life sciences company, reported that it is entering into a strategic laboratory relationship with Prisma Health, a nonprofit and the largest health system in South Carolina (Press release, LabCorp, MAR 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234609840]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Through this new relationship, Labcorp will acquire select assets of Prisma Health’s outreach laboratory business. In addition, Labcorp and Prisma Health have entered into a technical support agreement to apply Labcorp’s knowledge and expertise in Prisma Health’s hospital laboratories. Collectively, the strategic collaboration enhances Labcorp’s diagnostic footprint and capabilities in the Carolinas and allows Prisma Health’s patients and providers the benefit of enhanced care across multiple clinical areas.

"Prisma Health is an established leader in providing health care and diagnostic services to South Carolina residents, and its dedication to its patients closely aligns with Labcorp’s mission to improve health and improve lives," said Traci Butler, senior vice president of Labcorp Diagnostics’ Atlantic Division. "This relationship builds on Labcorp’s strong track record of providing the critical information that patients and providers need to make the best possible health decisions. It also underscores our commitment and dedication to the people who call the Carolinas home."

The strategic relationship will expand Prisma Health patients’ access to laboratory testing throughout South Carolina and offer individualized, dedicated support to physician practices. It follows other strategic collaborations with local and regional health systems that have enabled Labcorp to enhance service for patients and providers.

"Labcorp brings the scale and expertise of its internationally recognized laboratory services to help us achieve the next level of service and quality in this highly specialized area," said Clarence Sevillian, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Prisma Health. "We pride ourselves on providing the best possible experiences for our patients and providers. This relationship is another way we are building on our strong reputation of quality care and compassionate service, helping people in communities across South Carolina live their healthiest lives."

Once the transactions are complete, Prisma Health patients and clinicians will have access to a broad spectrum of services through Labcorp’s extensive lab test menu, along with its national network of patient service centers for improved patient access and convenience. Labcorp will also offer expanded health plan coverage, additional access to rural markets and the potential for reduced out-of-pocket lab costs for patients. Additionally, Labcorp will collaborate with Prisma Health to provide same-day STAT testing in local communities.

The transactions are expected to close in the second half of 2022. Specific terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

Jane Huang, M.D., Joins Prelude Therapeutics as President and Chief Medical Officer

On March 9, 2022 Prelude Therapeutics Incorporated (Nasdaq: PRLD) a clinical-stage precision oncology company, reported that Jane Huang, M.D., has been appointed to the newly created position of President and Chief Medical Officer, effective on April 4, 2022 (Press release, Prelude Therapeutics, MAR 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234609759]). Dr. Huang is currently Chief Medical Officer, Hematology, at BeiGene, Ltd., a global, science-driven biotechnology company developing oral small molecules and monoclonal antibodies for cancer.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"We are pleased to announce that Dr. Huang will be joining Prelude. Jane’s deep experience in oncology drug development and her strategic leadership throughout the lifecycle of multiple products resulting in successful global regulatory approvals will be of great value to Prelude," stated Kris Vaddi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Prelude.

Dr. Vaddi added, "With multiple distinct precision oncology programs underway, our growing pipeline offers tremendous promise. I am confident in Jane’s ability to build and lead high-performing cross-functional clinical development teams, and her strong relationships and recognized leadership within the cancer research community will be instrumental in achieving our goals to rapidly advance compounds through proof-of-concept and into potential registration trials."

"I am impressed by the strong execution of the Prelude R&D team and its ability to bring multiple proprietary and potentially best-in-class small molecule compounds forward. Their strategic selection of clinically relevant targets involved in many underserved cancers is equally impressive. This level of performance gives me confidence that Prelude is uniquely resourced to make a meaningful difference in the lives of cancer patients," stated Dr. Huang.

Most recently, Dr. Huang served as Chief Medical Officer of Hematology at BeiGene, Ltd. where she created a global development organization encompassing clinical pharmacology to global product safety and had strategic oversight of the development of five hematology medicines. During her tenure with BeiGene, she oversaw the approval of zanubrutinib in three diseases spanning more than 45 countries and was responsible for the first approval of tislelizumab in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Prior to joining BeiGene in 2016, Dr. Huang served as Vice President, Clinical Development at Acerta Pharma, where she oversaw global clinical development of the BTK inhibitor, acalabrutinib. Prior to this, she worked at Genentech, where she played a leading role in drug development programs for multiple therapies throughout all stages of development, including, Rituxan, Avastin, Kadcyla, Venclexta and Gazyva. She is board certified in hematology, oncology, and internal medicine and is Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University. Dr. Huang was recently named one of the 20 most influential women in biopharma R&D by Endpoints News.