Gilead Sciences to Present at Upcoming Investor Conference

On November 18, 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported that its executives will be speaking at the following investor conference (Press release, Gilead Sciences, NOV 18, 2021, View Source [SID1234595814]):

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Evercore ISI Annual HealthCONx Conference on Thursday, December 2 at 2:40pm ET

The live webcast can be accessed at the company’s investors page at investors.gilead.com. The replay will be available for at least 30 days following the presentation.

Labcorp to Acquire Toxikon, Expanding Nonclinical Development Testing Capabilities for Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Medical Device Clients

On November 18, 2021 Labcorp (NYSE: LH), a leading global life sciences company, reported that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Toxikon, a contract research organization delivering best-in-class nonclinical testing services (Press release, LabCorp, NOV 18, 2021, View Source [SID1234595763]). Once completed, the transaction will create a strategic footprint for Labcorp to partner with pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients in the Boston, Mass., area and bolster its strong nonclinical development portfolio.

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"Adding Toxikon underscores our commitment to nonclinical development and advances our capabilities for both drug development and medical device testing," said Dr. Paul Kirchgraber, CEO of Labcorp Drug Development. "This acquisition extends Labcorp’s portfolio of full-service drug development and medical device solutions from discovery to market approval."

Toxikon’s strategic location allows Labcorp to further engage with large pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms in the region on nonclinical work, as well as facilitating entry into medical device investigational device exemption (IDE) submissions. As such, Toxikon will also complement Labcorp’s existing nonclinical medical device efficacy and safety testing and the associated clinical work performed by Labcorp’s medical device and diagnostics unit.

Headquartered in Bedford, Mass., and with annual revenues of around $40 million, Toxikon maintains specialized, state-of-the-art facilities and a robust roster of pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device clients. Its highly trained staff provides an extensive portfolio of in vivo and in vitro testing and related consulting services to support life sciences companies. The facility in Bedford also has capacity for growth and provides Labcorp Drug Development with an opportunity to expand its traditional toxicology business.

"As a part of the Labcorp family, we will have an opportunity to broaden our impact through access to extensive resources, knowledge and support," said Dr. Laxman S. Desai, Toxikon’s founder, president and CEO. "Together, we can provide better outcomes for our clients and, ultimately, the health care providers and patients who depend on our continued success and innovation."

The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. Specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Cardiff Oncology Announces $15 Million Equity Investment from Pfizer through its Pfizer Breakthrough Growth Initiative

On November 18, 2021 Cardiff Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRDF), a clinical-stage oncology company developing new precision medicine treatment options for cancer patients in indications with the greatest unmet medical need (including KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and castrate-resistant prostate cancer), reported that Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has made a $15 million equity investment in the company as part of the Pfizer Breakthrough Growth Initiative, a program focused on funding innovative science to meet patient needs. Pursuant to a securities purchase agreement between the parties, Pfizer purchased 2.4 million shares of Cardiff Oncology’s common stock at a price of $6.22 per share (Press release, Cardiff Oncology, NOV 18, 2021, View Source [SID1234595781]).

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"This collaborative relationship with Pfizer will support our mission to bring treatment options to patients with difficult-to-treat cancers, such as KRAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer, and underscores the breadth of onvansertib’s potential as a platform molecule," said Mark Erlander, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Cardiff Oncology, speaking about the company’s lead asset onvansertib, a first-in-class, third generation PLK1 inhibitor. "Pfizer’s investment and participation on our Scientific Advisory Board will support our efforts as we progress onvansertib’s clinical development and work to address the needs of patients."

In connection with the equity investment, Adam Schayowitz, Ph.D., MBA, Vice President & Medicine Team Group Lead for Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer and Melanoma at Pfizer, will join Cardiff Oncology’s Scientific Advisory Board, once formed. Dr. Schayowitz commented, "Pfizer strives to make a meaningful difference for people living with cancer through the advancement of innovative therapies, and we believe that collaboration and strategic investments are key to achieving this goal. We are pleased to be supporting Cardiff Oncology and look forward to potential new approaches to addressing cancers with pressing unmet needs."

Cardiff Oncology intends to use the proceeds from the equity investment to advance its ongoing clinical programs in KRAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, as well as to support onvansertib’s development in additional indications. Additionally, the company has agreed to grant Pfizer rights of first access to data from its development programs.

Kintara Presents Updates on Two Phase 2 Clinical Studies at the 2021 Society for Neuro-oncology Annual Meeting

On November 18, 2021 Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTRA) ("Kintara" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new solid tumor cancer therapies, reported data from two scientific posters for its Phase 2 clinical studies of VAL-083, the Company’s lead compound for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (Press release, Kintara Therapeutics, NOV 18, 2021, View Source [SID1234595798]). The data are being presented at the 26th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) being held in Boston on November 18-21, 2021.

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Kintara is presenting posters on two Phase 2 clinical studies evaluating VAL-083 in patients with MGMT-unmethylated GBM as follows:

Poster CTNI-21: "Phase 2 clinical trial of dianhydrogalactitol (VAL-083) in patients with newly diagnosed MGMT-unmethylated GBM"

The first poster outlined the open-label, Phase 2 study of VAL-083 as a first-line treatment in newly-diagnosed, unmethylated GBM patients conducted at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in China.

For the 25 efficacy evaluable patients enrolled with a starting dose of 30 mg/m2/day x 3 days every 21 days, progression free survival (PFS) was 8.7 months (95% confidence interval: CI 6.4-12.5) and median overall survival (mOS) was 19.1 months (CI 12.0-22.3). While not a head-to-head study, this compares favorably to historical temozolomide (TMZ) control ranging from 5.0-6.9 months PFS and 12.7-16.0 months mOS*.

The poster also highlights a case report from the study for a patient who remains progression free for more than 37 months after diagnosis. All patients have completed treatment. Adverse events have been consistent with prior studies with myelosuppression being the most common adverse event.

Poster CTNI-26: "Phase 2 study of dianhydrogalactitol (VAL-083) in patients with MGMT unmethylated, bevacizumab naïve glioblastoma in the adjuvant or recurrent setting"

The second poster outlined the two groups of patients receiving VAL-083 in the open-label, Phase 2 study in recurrent and adjuvant unmethylated GBM being conducted at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

In the recurrent group, for the 48 efficacy evaluable patients enrolled with a starting dose of 30 mg/m2/day x 3 days every 21 days, mOS was 8.0 months (CI 6.6-10.3). While not a head-to-head study, this compares favorably to historical lomustine control mOS of 7.2 months**.

In the adjuvant group, for the 36 efficacy evaluable patients enrolled with a starting dose of 30 mg/m2/day x 3 days every 21 days, PFS was 9.5 months (CI 8.2-10.8) and mOS was 16.5 months (CI 13.6-19.3). While not a head-to-head study, this compares favorably to historical TMZ control ranging from 5.0-6.9 months PFS and 12.7-16.0 months mOS*.

All patients have completed treatment. Consistent with prior studies, myelosuppression was the most common adverse event in both recurrent GBM and in the adjuvant setting.

*Hegi et al N Eng J Med (2005); Tanguturi et al. NeuroOncol (2017); Alnahhas et al. Neurooncol Adv (2020)

** Wick et al N.Eng.J.Med (2017)

Personalis to Participate in the 33rd Annual Piper Sandler Virtual Healthcare Conference

On November 18, 2021 Personalis, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSNL), a leader in advanced genomics for cancer, reported that its management will participate in the 33rd Annual Piper Sandler Virtual Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 (Press release, Personalis, NOV 18, 2021, View Source [SID1234595815]).

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Interested parties may access the pre-recorded and archived webcast of the presentation for 90 days following the conference through the "Events" section of Personalis’ website at View Source