On January 27, 2022 Genprex, Inc. ("Genprex" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, reported that its collaborators published positive preclinical data for the use of Genprex’s ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System for delivery of a FAS DNA plasmid to treat metastatic colorectal cancer. Published in the journal Cancers1, the preclinical study found that tumor selective ONCOPREX nanoparticles carrying FAS DNA plasmids suppress human colon tumor growth in vivo in mouse models, indicating that this may be an effective therapy for human colorectal cancer (Press release, Genprex, JAN 27, 2022, View Source [SID1234607437]).

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The manuscript, "Restoring FAS Expression via Lipid-Encapsulated FAS DNA Nanoparticle Delivery Is Sufficient to Suppress Colon Tumor Growth In Vivo," provides data indicating that complete loss of FAS expression is often observed in metastatic human colorectal tumors. Using Genprex’s ONCOPREX system to deliver the FAS gene, the researchers found that overexpression of codon usage-optimized FAS in metastatic mouse colon-tumor cells enabled FASL-induced elimination of FAS positive tumor cells in vitro, suppressed colon tumor growth, and increased the survival of tumor-bearing mice in vivo.

"These positive preclinical data validate that the ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System can be used to deliver tumor suppressor genes other than TUSC2, which we are using in lung cancer studies with REQORSA, to address multiple types of cancer," said Mark S. Berger, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Genprex. "The data also provide early support for FAS as a tumor suppressor gene in colorectal cancer. With this compelling data, Genprex is positioned to expand its oncology programs in the future and to further explore use of its delivery system for other therapeutic genes, alone or in combination with other approved cancer therapies, to provide new therapeutic approaches for patients with serious medical conditions and unmet medical needs. We will continue to evaluate FAS using our ONCOPREX delivery platform as a potential pipeline addition within our oncology program."

Genprex’s oncology program utilizes its unique, proprietary, non-viral ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System, which is the first systemic gene therapy delivery platform used for cancer in humans.

The ONCOPREX delivery system is used to deliver TUSC2 plasmid DNA in Genprex’s REQORSA immunogene therapy. REQORSA is being combined with Tagrisso (by AstraZeneca) in the Company’s Acclaim-1 clinical trial and is being combined with Keytruda (by Merck & Co.) in the Company’s Acclaim-2 clinical trial, both targeting progressing lung cancers.

In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track Designation for REQORSA for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in combination therapy with Tagrisso (osimertinib) for late-stage patients with EFGR mutations whose tumors progressed after treatment with Tagrisso. In 2021, the FDA granted Fast Track Designation for REQORSA for NSCLC in combination therapy with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for late-stage patients whose disease progressed after treatment with Keytruda.

The ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System is designed to deliver tumor suppressor genes, which are encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are then administered intravenously and taken up by tumor cells where the encapsulated gene is translated to express proteins that are missing or depleted in cancer cells. Genprex has treated more than 50 NSCLC patients in clinical trials with REQORSA, the Company’s lead drug candidate that uses the ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System to deliver the TUSC2 gene.

A Phase 1 clinical trial showed that systemic, intravenous therapy using the ONCOPREX Nanoparticle Delivery System was shown to selectively and preferentially target tumor cells, resulting in clinically significant anticancer activity. The nanoparticles are non-immunogenic, allowing repetitive therapeutic dosing and providing extended half-life in the circulation.

1Cancers 2022, 14(2), 361; View Source

On January 27, 2022 The Board of Directors of McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) reported that declared a regular dividend of 47 cents per share of common stock (Press release, McKesson, JAN 27, 2022, View Source [SID1234607454]). The dividend will be payable on April 1, 2022, to stockholders of record on March 1, 2022.

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On January 27, 2022 Signify Health, Inc. (NYSE: SGFY), a leading value-based healthcare platform enabled by advanced analytics, technology and nationwide healthcare networks, reported that it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter 2021 after the market closes on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, and will hold a conference call at 8:30am ET on Thursday, March 3, 2022 to discuss the results (Press release, Signify Health, JAN 27, 2022, View Source [SID1234607607]).

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Pre-registration is required for participation in the conference call. Please follow the link below to pre-register. After registering, you will be provided with your access details via email.

View Source

A webcast of the conference call will also be available live on the investor relations section of Signify Health’s website at View Source Please go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to complete the registration process.

The webcast replay will be available through June 3, 2022 on Signify Health’s website at View Source

On January 27, 2022 Ostentus Therapeutics, Inc., reported that it has entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement with City of Hope, a world-renowned cancer treatment and research organization and a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, to conduct preclinical research on OST compounds, which could be used as future therapies for leukemia and other cancers (Press release, City of Hope, JAN 27, 2022, View Source [SID1234607455]).

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"Ostentus is honored to work with City of Hope and Dr. Marcucci on this exciting new phase in the journey of bringing OST proprietary compounds to the market as a potential anti-cancer therapy"

OST compounds are natural products derived from plants native of tropical and subtropical America, which have been used in alternative and traditional medicine. At City of Hope, these compounds will undergo rigorous pharmacologic and toxicologic testing at specialized laboratories. The compounds’ active principles will be investigated individually and in combination to identify their mechanisms of action and anticancer activity.

Guido Marcucci, M.D., director of City of Hope’s Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, Chair of the Department of Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science and Chief of its Division of Leukemia Research, will lead the research, which is expected to culminate into a first-in-human clinical trial.

"Ostentus is honored to work with City of Hope and Dr. Marcucci on this exciting new phase in the journey of bringing OST proprietary compounds to the market as a potential anti-cancer therapy," said Elisabetta Graff, Ostentus President and Chief Financial Officer.

"We look forward to working with Ostentus on this exciting preclinical project and the potential application of the OST natural products to our personalized therapeutic approaches for cancer and leukemia patients," Dr. Marcucci added.

On January 27, 2022 Nurix Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: NRIX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted protein modulation drugs, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended November 30, 2021 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Nurix Therapeutics, JAN 27, 2022, View Source [SID1234607439]).

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"2021 was a remarkable year for Nurix with the advancement of four wholly owned drug candidates into clinical development. We are very encouraged by our early clinical results having obtained positive proof-of-mechanism data from all patients treated in the first two cohorts with advanced B-cell malignancies," said Arthur T. Sands, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Nurix. "We look forward to an exciting year as we advance our proprietary protein modulation portfolio for patients with significant unmet medical need in both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies."

Recent Business Highlights

Initiated Phase 1 clinical development for four wholly owned and internally developed drug candidates: Nurix proprietary protein modulation clinical programs include two targeted protein degraders of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), NX-2127 and NX-5948, for the treatment of relapsed and refractory B-cell malignancies, a first-in-class oral E3 ligase inhibitor, NX-1607, for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, and a first-in-class cell therapy program, DeTIL-0255, that combines tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) with a small molecule E3 ligase inhibitor with the aim of generating a superior T-cell product with enhanced efficacy.
Presented initial data from its first-in-human, Phase 1 dose-escalation trial of NX-2127 in adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies: In October 2021, Nurix reported initial pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) data from the first six patients in its Phase 1a clinical trial of NX-2127, including completed cohorts 1 and 2 treated at 100 mg and 200 mg once daily. The data showed BTK levels in peripheral blood significantly decreased in all patients in the trial starting on day 1 and remained suppressed throughout the dosing period. BTK degradation exceeded 80% at steady state in the first dose cohort and exceeded 90% in the second dose cohort. Such levels of BTK degradation have been associated with anti-tumor effects in preclinical animal models. Clinical observations were presented for the one patient in cohort 1, a 78-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and significant mutations in the BTK gene associated with resistance to standard of care BTK inhibitors, who achieved a partial remission with lymphocytosis.
Strengthened financial position: In March 2021, Nurix completed an underwritten public offering of 5,175,000 shares of its common stock, at a public offering price of $31.00 per share, which included 675,000 shares issued upon the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of common stock. The net proceeds to Nurix from the offering were approximately $150.2 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. Combined with additional capital from partners in 2021, Nurix ended fiscal year 2021 with $432.9 million in cash and equivalents compared to $372.0 million as of November 30, 2020.
Upcoming Program Highlights

NX-2127: Nurix’s lead drug candidate from its protein degradation portfolio, NX-2127, is an orally bioavailable degrader of BTK with immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) activity. Nurix plans to initiate the Phase 1b expansion phase of its ongoing Phase 1a/1b clinical trial of NX-2127 in adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies in mid-2022 and to present additional data from Phase 1a in the second half of 2022. Additional information on the clinical trial can be accessed at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04830137).
NX-5948: Nurix’s second drug candidate from its protein degradation portfolio, NX-5948, is an orally bioavailable BTK degrader designed without IMiD activity for certain B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases. Nurix is evaluating NX-5948 in a Phase 1 clinical trial in adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies and expects to begin dosing at multiple clinical centers in the United Kingdom in the first half of 2022 and to have initial safety and PK/PD data from the Phase 1a portion of the study in the second half of 2022. Additional information on the clinical trial can be accessed at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05131022).
NX-1607: Nurix’s lead drug candidate from its E3 ligase inhibitor portfolio, NX-1607, is an orally bioavailable inhibitor of Casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene B (CBL-B) for immuno-oncology indications including a range of solid tumor types. Nurix is evaluating NX-1607 in an ongoing, Phase 1 dose escalation and expansion trial in adults with a variety of oncology indications at multiple clinical sites in the United Kingdom and expects to have initial PK/PD data from the Phase 1a stage of the study, including biomarker and safety data, in mid-2022. Additional information on the clinical trial can be accessed at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05107674).
DeTIL-0255: Nurix’s lead candidate in its cellular therapy portfolio, DeTIL-0255, is a drug-enhanced adoptive cellular therapy. Nurix is evaluating DeTIL-0255 in a Phase 1 trial in adults with gynecological malignancies including ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer. Nurix anticipates dosing the first patient in the first half of 2022 and providing a clinical update from the run-in portion of the study in the second half of 2022. Additional information on the clinical trial can be accessed at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05107739).
Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results

Collaboration revenue for the three months and twelve months ended November 30, 2021 was $7.4 million and $29.8 million, respectively, compared with $6.7 million and $17.8 million for the three and twelve months ended November 30, 2020, respectively. The increase for the twelve-month period was primarily due to the continued scale up of internal resources and external spending for Nurix’s collaborations with Sanofi and Gilead as compared to the prior year, resulting in a higher percentage of completion in the current year. The increase was also due to partial revenue recognized during the year ended November 30, 2021 for the achievement of certain preclinical milestones under Nurix’s collaborations with Gilead and Sanofi.

Research and development expenses for the three months and twelve months ended November 30, 2021 were $36.5 million and $116.4 million, respectively, compared with $20.4 million and $66.5 million for the three and twelve months ended November 30, 2020, respectively. The increase for the twelve-month period was primarily related to an increase in compensation and personnel costs attributable to an increase in headcount; increases in supplies and contract research, preclinical activities and contract manufacturing costs attributable to an increase in Nurix’s preclinical development activities and drug discovery research and preparation for upcoming clinical programs for its lead drug candidates; an increase in clinical costs due to ongoing clinical trial startup and patient enrollment; an increase in non-cash stock-based compensation expense; and an increase in facility and other costs primarily due to the expansion of leased premises and investments in information technology.

General and administrative expenses for the three months and twelve months ended November 30, 2021 were $8.8 million and $31.2 million, respectively, compared with $6.3 million and $16.3 million for the three and twelve months ended November 30, 2020, respectively. The increase for the twelve-month period was primarily related to non-cash stock-based compensation expense, compensation related expenses attributable to higher headcount, and consultant and other professional services costs primarily related to becoming a public company.

Net loss for the three months and twelve months ended November 30, 2021 was $37.7 million or ($0.85) per share and $117.2 million or ($2.73) per share, respectively, compared with $19.9 million or ($0.51) per share and $43.2 million or ($2.76) per share for the three and twelve months ended November 30, 2020, respectively.

Cash, cash equivalents and investments: As of November 30, 2021, Nurix had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $432.9 million, compared with $372.0 million as of November 30, 2020.