Q BioMed Bolsters Commercialization of Strontium89 with EVERSANA Partnership

On November 8, 2021 Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO) a biotech acceleration and commercial stage company focused on licensing and acquiring undervalued biomedical assets in the healthcare sector, reported it has engaged EVERSANA, the pioneer of next generation commercial services to the global life sciences industry, to immediately support the commercialization of Strontium89, an FDA-approved cancer bone palliation radiotherapy (Press release, EVERSANA, NOV 8, 2021, View Source [SID1234594721]).

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Strontium89 (Strontium Chloride Sr-89 Injection, USP) is the only approved radiotherapy currently available in the U.S. indicated for metastatic cancer bone pain palliation. In the Strontium89 pivotal trial, as many as 79% of patients had pain relief with Strontium89, and twice as many patients treated with Strontium89 had no pain for three months compared with a placebo. Further, new pain sites were less frequent in patients treated with Strontium89. Strontium89 is administered once every three months via injection, and patients can be re-treated if needed. Please see Important Safety Information below.

To support and accelerate the product’s rollout in the U.S., Q BioMed will leverage the EVERSANA COMPLETE Commercialization model which fully integrates services for: market access, agency services, clinical and commercial field teams, health economics and outcomes research and compliance. Each service is optimized by data and predictive analytics.

"We are pleased to have a partner like EVERSANA leading our commercialization efforts going forward, and I believe this adds tremendous value to what we had already established. The team is passionate about obtaining deep insights into the patient journey and using this knowledge to shape the strategic and creative process needed to maximize commercial successes," said Denis Corin, Chief Executive Officer of Q BioMed.

"Millions of patients are bearing the burden of devastating pain. We are immediately activating our commercial model to create more awareness, faster access and optimized product support for Strontium89 and its potential to change lives," said Jim Lang, CEO of EVERSANA.

The ready-to-deploy commercial platform is complemented by more than 5,500 EVERSANA employees and a dedicated commercialization leadership team, replacing Kristin Keller who is leaving Q BioMed. The EVERSANA field force and commercial team will augment an in-place contract sales force focused on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD).

Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides an Update on Clinical Development Programs

On November 8, 2021 Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RETA) ("Reata," the "Company," "our," "us," or "we"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, and provided an update on the Company’s business operations and clinical development programs (Press release, Reata Pharmaceuticals, NOV 8, 2021, View Sourcenews/news-details/2021/Reata-Pharmaceuticals-Inc.-Announces-Third-Quarter-2021-Financial-Results-and-Provides-an-Update-on-Clinical-Development-Programs/default.aspx" target="_blank" title="View Sourcenews/news-details/2021/Reata-Pharmaceuticals-Inc.-Announces-Third-Quarter-2021-Financial-Results-and-Provides-an-Update-on-Clinical-Development-Programs/default.aspx" rel="nofollow">View Source [SID1234594737]).

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Recent Company Highlights

Bardoxolone in Patients with CKD Caused by Alport Syndrome

The New Drug Application ("NDA") for bardoxolone methyl ("bardoxolone") for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease ("CKD") caused by Alport syndrome is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). An Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for December 8, 2021, and the Prescription Drug User Fee Act ("PDUFA") date, the FDA action date for the application, is scheduled for February 25, 2022.

We are pursuing marketing approvals outside of the United States. On October 28, 2021, we announced the submission of a Marketing Authorization Application ("MAA") with the European Medicines Agency ("EMA") for marketing approval of bardoxolone for the treatment of CKD caused by Alport syndrome in the European Union.

Bardoxolone in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

FALCON is an international, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial studying the safety and efficacy of bardoxolone in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease ("ADPKD") randomized one-to-one to active drug or placebo. We are preparing a protocol amendment following the Type B meeting with the FDA as outlined in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of 2021. We will increase the sample size from 550 to 700 patients. The trial will remain blinded until study completion. The primary endpoint will be the off-treatment estimated glomerular filtration rate ("eGFR") change from baseline versus placebo at Week 104. The key secondary endpoint will be the eGFR change from baseline versus placebo at Week 100. More than 450 patients are currently enrolled in the study, and we expect to complete enrollment by the middle of 2022.

Omaveloxolone in Patients with Friedreich’s Ataxia

On September 30, 2021, we announced that we completed our pre-NDA meeting with the FDA for omaveloxolone for the treatment of patients with Friedreich’s ataxia ("FA"). The purpose of the pre-NDA meeting was to discuss the content of Reata’s planned NDA submission. We are not planning to conduct a second pre-approval clinical study prior to the submission. We are planning to finalize the NDA package for submission during the first quarter of 2022.

Recent Presentations

The following abstracts highlighting results from our various programs in CKD and FA were presented at recent international medical conferences:

David Lynch, MD, PhD, Director, Friedreich’s Ataxia Program, Division of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, presented the talk Efficacy of Omaveloxolone in Patients with Friedreich’s Ataxia: Delayed-Start Study at the MDS Virtual Congress of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, which was held virtually from September 17 – 22, 2021.
An oral presentation was made and six posters highlighting clinical data for bardoxolone and disease education data on Alport syndrome were presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2021 from November 4 – 7, 2021.
Third Quarter Financial Highlights

Cash and Cash Equivalents

At September 30, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of $713.2 million. We reaffirm our current cash runway to last through mid-2024.

Collaboration Revenue

Collaboration revenue was $7.4 million in the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $1.4 million for the same period of the year prior.

GAAP and Non-GAAP Research and Development ("R&D") Expenses

R&D expenses according to generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP") were $39.4 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $37.2 million, for the same period of the year prior.

Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $34.0 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $32.9 million, for the same period of the year prior.1

GAAP and Non-GAAP General and Administrative ("G&A") Expenses

GAAP G&A expenses were $25.7 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $18.3 million, for the same period of the year prior.

Non-GAAP G&A expenses were $17.5 million for the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $11.0 million for the same period of the year prior.1

GAAP and Non-GAAP Net Loss

The GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2021 was $71.8 million, or $1.97 per share, on both a basic and diluted basis, as compared to a GAAP net loss of $65.5 million, or $1.94 per share, on both a basic and diluted basis, for the same period of the year prior.

The non-GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2021 was $46.2 million, or $1.27 per share on both a basic and diluted basis, as compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $44.3 million, or $1.31 per share, on both a basic and diluted basis, for the same period of the year prior.1

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1 See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for a description of non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP R&D expenses, GAAP and non-GAAP G&A expenses, and GAAP and non-GAAP net loss, respectively, appearing later in the press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP R&D expenses, non-GAAP G&A expenses, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP net loss and non-GAAP net loss per common share – basic and diluted. These measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

The Company defines non-GAAP R&D expenses as GAAP R&D expenses, excluding stock-based compensation expense; non-GAAP G&A expenses as GAAP G&A expenses, excluding stock-based compensation expense; non-GAAP operating expenses as GAAP operating expenses, excluding stock-based compensation expense; non-GAAP net loss as GAAP net loss, excluding stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense from liability related to sale of future royalties, loss on extinguishment of debt, and gain on lease termination; and non-GAAP net loss per common share – basic and diluted as GAAP net loss per common share – basic and diluted, excluding stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense from liability related to sale of future royalties, loss on extinguishment of debt and gain on lease termination. The Company has excluded the impact of stock-based compensation expense, which may fluctuate from period to period based on factors including the variability associated with performance-based grants for stock options and restricted stock units and changes in the Company’s stock price, which impacts the fair value of these awards. The Company has excluded the impact of accreted non-cash interest expense from liability related to sale of future royalties as it may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, peer companies who also provide non-GAAP disclosures. The Company has excluded the impact of loss on extinguishment of debt and gain on lease termination as they are non-recurring transactions that make it difficult to compare its results to peer companies who also provide non-GAAP disclosures. The Company has excluded the impact of stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense from liability related to sale of future royalties, loss on extinguishment of debt, and gain on lease termination because the Company believes its impact makes it difficult to compare its results to prior periods and anticipated future periods. Because management believes certain items, such as stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense from liability related to sales of future royalties, loss on extinguishment of debt, and gain on lease termination, can distort the trends associated with the Company’s ongoing performance, the following measures are often provided, excluding special items, and utilized by the Company’s management, analysts, and investors to enhance consistency and comparability of year-over-year results, as well as to industry trends, and to provide a basis for evaluating operating results in future periods: non-GAAP net loss; non-GAAP net loss per common share – basic and diluted; non-GAAP R&D expenses; non-GAAP G&A expenses; and non-GAAP operating expenses.

The Company believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to management and investors regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. When GAAP financial measures are viewed in conjunction with these non-GAAP financial measures, investors are provided with a more meaningful understanding of the Company’s ongoing operating performance and are better able to compare the Company’s performance between periods. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are among those indicators the Company uses as a basis for evaluating performance, allocating resources and planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation between these non-GAAP measures and the most directly comparable GAAP measures is provided later in this press release.

Conference Call Information

Reata’s management will host a conference call on November 8, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The conference call will be accessible by dialing (844)200-6205 (toll-free domestic) or (929)526-1599 (international) using the access code: 052919. The webcast link is View Source

Third quarter financial results to be discussed during the call will be included in an earnings press release that will be available on the Company’s website shortly before the call at View Source and will be available for 12 months after the call. The audio recording and webcast will be accessible for at least 90 days after the event at View Source.

Zymeworks to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences

On November 8, 2021 Zymeworks Inc. (NYSE: ZYME), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing multifunctional biotherapeutics, reported that management will participate in three upcoming investor conferences (Press release, Zymeworks, NOV 8, 2021, View Source [SID1234594754]).

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Stifel 2021 Virtual Healthcare Conference, November 16th – 17th. Zymeworks is participating in a fireside chat on November 17th at 1:20 p.m. ET.
Jefferies London Healthcare Conference, November 18th – 19th. Zymeworks’ pre-recorded presentation will be available on the Zymeworks’ website listed below on November 18th.
Evercore ISI 4th Annual HEALTHCONx Virtual Conference, November 30th – December 1st. Zymeworks is participating in a fireside chat on November 30th at 3:05 p.m. ET.
The Stifel and Evercore fireside chats will be webcast live and available for replay on Zymeworks’ website at View Source

Vaccinex Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

On November 8, 2021 Vaccinex, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCNX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a differentiated approach to treating cancer and neurodegenerative disease through the inhibition of SEMA4D, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Vaccinex, NOV 8, 2021, View Source [SID1234594781]).

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"We made steady progress on our pepinemab clinical programs since our last quarterly update. Enrollment is now underway in the Phase 1b/2 head and neck cancer trial and the Phase 1/2a Alzheimer’s disease trial, two of the serious indications in which SEMA4D is overexpressed and is believed to contribute to disease pathology," stated Maurice Zauderer, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer.

"As presented at the September European Huntington’s Disease Network meeting, we believe post-hoc analysis of the Phase 2, SIGNAL trial of pepinemab in patients with early manifest Huntington’s disease (HD) supports the potential cognitive benefit of treatment with pepinemab in HD patients, particularly those with mild advanced disease. We are engaged in discussions with potential partners for the advancement of this important program."

Pepinemab Clinical Updates:

Head and Neck Cancer. Enrollment is underway in the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating pepinemab in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in advanced recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.

The study will enroll up to 65 subjects across 18 U.S. trial sites and will assess whether combination therapy can improve responses in this population. Key endpoints of the study will include objective response, progression free survival and overall survival. Vaccinex anticipates data from this study in the second half of 2022.

Multiple prior studies suggest that inhibition of SEMA4D increases immune infiltration and alters the balance of cytotoxic and immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment. As SEMA4D is highly expressed in head and neck cancer, there is strong rationale for development in this indication.

Alzheimer’s Disease. Patient screening and enrollment have been initiated in the Phase 1/2a clinical trial of pepinemab in Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s trial is being funded in part by the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation by the Alzheimer’s Association under the 2020 Part the Cloud Program.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center safety and biomarker study of pepinemab in early AD is planned to enroll 40 subjects across 14 U.S. trial sites. Vaccinex anticipates topline data from this study in late 2022 or early 2023.
Huntington’s disease. We believe that post-hoc analysis of the Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled SIGNAL trial of pepinemab in patients with early manifest Huntington’s disease (HD) supports the potential cognitive benefit of treatment with pepinemab in HD patients, particularly those with mild cognitive deficits.
Highly significant improvement (p=0.007) in the (Huntington’s Disease Cognitive Assessment Battery (HD-CAB) Composite score, a widely employed measure comprised of 6 different cognitive assessments.
Significant benefit in reducing apathy severity (p=0.017, 1-sided), a problem behavior that has previously been correlated with cognition in both HD and AD.
Striking increase in brain metabolic activity as measured by FDG-PET in most brain regions. Decline in FDG-PET signal has been reported to correlate with cognitive decline in several studies of AD.
The company continues to actively explore advancing pepinemab into a Phase 3 HD trial in collaboration with a biopharmaceutical partner; discussions are ongoing.

Other Trials. Pepinemab is also being evaluated in multiple investigator-sponsored trials (ISTs) being conducted by the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University to evaluate pepinemab in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in "Window of Opportunity" studies in head and neck cancer and melanoma.
Upcoming Anticipated Milestones:

H2:2022– Meaningful data from open label head and neck cancer trial
Late 2022/Early 2023 – Topline data from randomized Alzheimer’s trial
ActivMAb Updates:

As previously announced, we have entered into several collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies employing the unique capabilities of our ActivMAb antibody discovery platform to address difficult to drug G-protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) known to be strongly associated with diseases. "We believe this enabling technology will allow us and our collaborators to address significant market opportunities," said Ernest S. Smith, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer.

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021:

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were $3.6 million as compared to $7.3 million for the comparable period in 2020.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were $1.5 million as compared to $1.9 million for the comparable period in 2020.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities. Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities on September 30, 2021 were $13.8 million, as compared to $10.6 million as of December 31, 2020.

GNS561, a clinical-stage PPT1 inhibitor is efficient against Hepatocarcinoma via modulation of lysosomal functions

On November 8, 2021 The Genoscience Pharma’s team and its collaborators reported that they are happy of this new publication in Autophagy Journal showing that GNS561, a clinical-stage candidate, inhibiting PPT1, is efficient in Hepatocarcinoma via modulation of lysosomal functions (Press release, GenoScience, NOV 8, 2021, View Source [SID1234594825]).

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GNS561, a clinical-stage PPT1 inhibitor, is efficient against hepatocellular carcinoma via modulation of lysosomal functions Sonia Brun a,#, Eloïne Bestion a,b,#, Eric Raymond a,c,#, Firas Bassissia, Zuzana Macek Jilkova d,e,f, Soraya Mezouar a, Madani Rachida, Marie Novello a, Jennifer Tracza, Ahmed Hamaïg,h, Gilles Lalmanach i,j, Lise Vanderlyndeni,j, Raphael Legouffek, Jonathan Stauberl, Thomas Schubertm, Maximilian G. Plachm, Jérôme Courcambecka, Cyrille Drouota, Guillaume Jacquemota, Cindy Serdjebia, Gael Roth d,e,f, Jean-Pierre Baudoin b, Christelle Ansaldia, Thomas Decaens d,e,f,#, and Philippe Halfona,#

ABSTRACT
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequent primary liver cancer. Macroautophagy/autophagy inhibitors have been extensively studied in cancer but, to date, none has reached efficacy in clinical trials. In this study, we demonstrated that GNS561, a new autophagy inhibitor, whose anticancer activity was previously linked to lysosomal cell death, displayed high liver tropism and potent antitumor activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines and in two hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo models. We showed that due to its lysosomotropic properties, GNS561 could reach and specifically inhibited its enzyme target, PPT1 (palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1), resulting in lysosomal unbound Zn2+ accumulation, impairment of cathepsin activity, blockage of autophagic flux, altered location of MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase), lysosomal membrane permeabilization, caspase activation and cell death. Accordingly, GNS561, for which a global phase 1b clinical trial in liver cancers was just successfully achieved, represents a promising new drug candidate and a hopeful therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment