On October 27, 2021 Lantern Pharma (NASDAQ: LTRN), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company using its proprietary RADR artificial intelligence ("A.I.") platform to transform the cost, pace, and timeline of oncology drug discovery and development, reported a collaboration that will power A.I.-driven computational research for oncology-focused drug discovery and development with Code Ocean, the leading computational research environment for sharing scientific discoveries (Press release, Lantern Pharma, OCT 27, 2021, View Source [SID1234593961]). By leveraging Code Ocean’s Compute Capsule technology, the strategic approach is expected to further power Lantern Pharma’s RADR platform for faster, more collaborative discoveries from billions of RADR data points, as well as data and insights from Lantern’s network of collaborators.

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Computational researchers today are challenged with analyzing big data due to too many disparate tools, lack of specialized coding experience, and challenging, cumbersome DevOps processes required to organize and securely share research. Through this collaboration, Lantern Pharma is expected to benefit from significant efficiencies in development time and cost, as well as increased reproducibility from Code Ocean’s platform. The Code Ocean platform will offer an easy to use, collaborative research experience with an integrated development environment, secure repository, and portable Compute Capsule technology for guaranteed reproducibility.

"I’m thrilled to be working with a leading-edge technology partner like Lantern Pharma," said Simon Adar, Co-Founder and CEO of Code Ocean. "This collaboration truly enables large-scale, high-throughput collaboration both internally at Lantern and also with their leading research partners to accelerate the pace of oncology drug discovery."

"It’s clear that science and discovery need to be fully integrated using the latest tools and technologies to reduce costs, speed-up development, and increase probability of success," said Panna Sharma, President & CEO of Lantern Pharma. "We selected Code Ocean as we believe this collaboration will provide our scientists, researchers, data engineers and collaborators with a best-in-class, reproducible and highly secure platform environment to maximize the power and usability of our RADR A.I. platform to improve and enhance the research experience. Bringing together our proprietary A.I. with Code Ocean’s Compute Capsule technology we believe will allow us and other researchers to take collaborative drug development further and faster than ever before."

Lantern leverages advances in machine learning, genomics and artificial intelligence to develop oncology therapies by using its proprietary A.I. platform, RADR, to discover biomarker signatures aimed at helping identify patients more likely to respond to its pipeline of cancer therapeutics. Working within the Code Ocean platform is expected to help increase team productivity and enhance Lantern Pharma’s ability to collaborate more rapidly with industry leading partners, such as the National Cancer Institute, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins and Fox Chase Cancer Center, within a secure and agile research environment.

The Code Ocean platform does not require the user to be an IT expert to utilize the software properly. By integrating the essential triplet– code, data and a computing environment– Code Ocean offers the most complete platform for computational research that’s on the market. Code Ocean’s unique Compute Capsules provide a fundamentally easier and more efficient way for researchers to create and safely share their work, which is essential to moving science forward. This, combined with Lantern Pharma’s billions of data points and growing library of algorithms designed for oncology drug development, will allow researchers to have faster access to more data than ever before, without being overwhelmed by massive amounts of data management or computational structure.

On October 27, 2021 EpiAxis Therapeutics reported at three conferences this week – Australia Biotech Invest & Partnering 2021; Europe’s largest life science partnering conference, BIO-Europe 2021; and Wholesale Investor’s STEM 2021 Conference (Press release, EpiAxis Therapeutics, OCT 27, 2021, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=epiaxis-headlines-three-key-biotech-conferences [SID1234591993]).

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CEO of EpiAxis Therapeutics, Dr Jeremy Chrisp, presented at the Australia Biotech Invest & Partnering 2021 earlier this week which is Australia’s premier life sciences investment conference. It’s an interactive digital showcase, designed to foster growth and drive business-to-business investment and collaboration in what continues to be a significant time for life sciences and medical research. The conference was held online on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. Engaging capital with innovation, it was an opportunity for companies to present their technology and story to a network of potential international partners and investors. Investors include those in venture capital, private equity, HNW individuals, research analysts and brokers, as well as industry executives from major global pharmaceutical companies. The program also featured keynote sessions from investment leaders on industry trends and market updates.

The international BIO-Europe 2021 gathering is being held digitally from October 25-28, bringing the global biopharma and investment leaders together to build partnerships that facilitate innovation and medical breakthroughs.

Chrisp will also appear at Wholesale Investor’s STEM 2021 Conference on Thursday, October 28. EpiAxis recently joined Wholesale Investor, Australasia’s leading investment platform for connecting innovative, emerging companies that are looking to raise capital with an active, engaged and growing ecosystem of more than 29,300 high-net-worth investors, fund managers, family offices, PE and VC firms, government bodies and industry participants. The showcase includes everything investors need to capitalise on STEM investment opportunities.

"We are delighted to be presenting at these conferences with our biotech peers to raise the profile of EpiAxis and the importance of epigenetic therapies as a new approach to treating cancer," Chrisp said. "It has also been an excellent opportunity to network with potential investors and familiarise them with our novel approach, which targets cancer stem cells that can evade chemotherapy and immunotherapy, to ‘reprogram’ them back to normal cells."

On October 27, 2021 The Board of Directors of PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI), reported a regular quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share of common stock October 27, 2021 (Press release, PerkinElmer, OCT 27, 2021, View Source [SID1234592031]). This dividend is payable on February 11, 2022 to all shareholders of record at the close of business on January 21, 2022.

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On October 27, 2021 Pyramid Biosciences, Inc., a clinical stage, biotechnology company developing a portfolio of precision therapies targeting a wide range of molecularly-defined diseases, reported the initial close of its Series B financing (Press release, Pyramid Biosciences, OCT 27, 2021, View Source [SID1234592056]). The financing will support the clinical development of multiple programs focused on novel tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) modulators. The funding round was led by Oracle Investment Management, Inc., along with support from Adage Capital Management, Averill Master Fund, Ltd., J.W. Childs Associates L.P. as well as several other investors. Pyramid Biosciences has raised more than $60 million USD to date.

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"We are very pleased to have reached this important financial milestone for the company, and more importantly, we are grateful for the support of both new investors and our existing investor base," said Jordan Leef, co-founder, chief business officer and chief financial officer of Pyramid Biosciences.

Pyramid Biosciences is in clinical development of two, highly-selective TRK inhibitors in the areas of oncology and dermatology. The lead program, PBI-200, which is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials, is a best-in-class, orally-active, CNS penetrant TRK inhibitor targeting a variety of genetically defined cancers, including primary and metastatic brain cancers. A second clinical stage program, PBI-100 is a first-in-class topical TRK inhibitor that is being developed for a number of skin disorders including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

"This financing allows Pyramid to fully realize the potential of our clinical pipeline and accelerate the development of novel effective treatments for helping patients with critical unmet medical conditions. Additionally, this financing will also allow us to bolster our pipeline with additional, innovative, precision oncology programs," said Kollol Pal, PhD, MBA, co-founder and chief executive officer of Pyramid Biosciences.

On October 27, 2021 The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, reported the signing of a voluntary licensing agreement to facilitate affordable global access for molnupiravir, an investigational oral COVID-19 antiviral medicine for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization (Press release, Merck & Co, OCT 27, 2021, View Source;and-Middle-Income-Countries/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-SZsvSFSeS2k6e-jDETKtk7rEQumBjqILHhqiwHg7GoJnkvYMqDDYxFrLs-oQ2BHQ-mJCMFkCosC_NGzuJ8TW18j0KvNpL5ik-rnXyj1_o5vU-QF2vCj0ELWlPt_oGwViA== [SID1234593962]). This agreement will help create broad access for molnupiravir use in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) following appropriate regulatory approvals. Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics are jointly developing molnupiravir.

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Under the terms of the agreement, MPP, through the license granted by Merck, will be permitted to further license non-exclusive sublicenses to manufacturers ("MPP License") and diversify the manufacturing base for the supply of quality-assured or WHO-prequalified molnupiravir to countries covered by the MPP License, subject to local regulatory authorization. Merck, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Emory University will not receive royalties for sales of molnupiravir under this agreement for as long as COVID-19 remains classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization.

Charles Gore, MPP, executive director, said, "The interim results for molnupiravir are compelling and we see this oral treatment candidate as a potentially important tool to help address the current health crisis. This transparent, public health-driven agreement is MPP’s first voluntary license for a COVID-19 medical technology, and we hope that Merck’s agreement with MPP will be a strong encouragement to others."

Frank Clyburn, executive vice president and president of Human Health, Merck, said, "Merck’s mission to save and improve lives is a truly global commitment. This agreement with MPP is another important element in our multi-faceted strategy to accelerate broad, affordable access to molnupiravir, if approved or authorized, for patients no matter where they live, including in countries where governments face greater challenges to finance healthcare."

Dr. Philippe Duneton, executive director, Unitaid, co-lead of the ACT-A Therapeutics Pillar, said, "Effective, easy to administer, oral treatments that can help to reduce the risk for progression to severe illness may be an important tool to help get the pandemic under control. We encourage further efforts in voluntary licensing to ensure that people in low- and middle-income countries can access COVID-19 treatments once authorized by WHO or a stringent regulatory authority."

Molnupiravir was invented at Emory University and licensed to Ridgeback Biotherapeutics by Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory (DRIVE), LLC, which was formed by Emory to advance the development of early-stage drug candidates for viral diseases of global concern. Emory received research funding from the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Gregory L. Fenves, president, Emory University, said, "The license for molnupiravir to the Medicines Patent Pool will support global public health and address unmet medical needs – reflecting Emory’s mission to serve humanity. Innovative research and collaboration across organizations have been vital in the fight against COVID-19."

Wendy Holman, chief executive officer, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, said, "We are pleased to collaborate with MPP to ensure that quality-assured generic versions of molnupiravir can be developed and distributed quickly following regulatory authorization. This agreement is another great example of how partnerships and collaboration can do more to address global health challenges than any organization could do on its own."

Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics recently announced the submission of an Emergency Use Authorization application for molnupiravir to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are actively working with additional regulatory agencies worldwide. If authorized, molnupiravir could be the first oral antiviral medicine available for COVID-19 therapy. The submission is based on positive results from a planned interim analysis of the Phase 3 MOVe-OUT study, a global Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multi-site study of non-hospitalized adult patients with laboratory-confirmed mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and at least one risk factor for progression to severe disease or death. Additionally, Merck announced the European Medicines Agency has initiated a rolling review for molnupiravir for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults.

Access the license agreement.

MPP invites Expressions of Interest (EoI) from potential sublicensees based anywhere in the world for sublicenses to manufacture and sell molnupiravir in the licensed territory:

Access the EoI portal
More information about the EoI process
About Molnupiravir

Molnupiravir (MK-4482 and EIDD-2801) is an investigational, orally administered form of a potent ribonucleoside analog that inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. Molnupiravir has been shown to be active in several preclinical models of SARS-CoV-2, including for prophylaxis, treatment, and prevention of transmission. Additionally, pre-clinical and clinical data have shown molnupiravir to be active against the most common SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Molnupiravir is also being evaluated for post-exposure prophylaxis in MOVe-AHEAD, a global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study, which is evaluating the efficacy and safety of molnupiravir in preventing the spread of COVID-19 within households. For more information, please visit View Source