On June 16, 2021 — PierianDx, the global leader in clinical genomics knowledge, reported that it will work with existing partner, Intermountain Healthcare, to support Myriad Genetics’ comprehensive germline and somatic tumor testing service (Press release, PierianDx, JUN 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234584061]). The PierianDx support will enable Myriad to expand access to the highest quality somatic testing for patients in the U.S. and around the world. Somatic tumor tests performed using Intermountain Healthcare’s TheraMap test will be analyzed and interpreted using the PierianDx Clinical Genomic Workspace and then combined with Myriad’s existing germline and companion diagnostic tests, providing a holistic and integrated view for all oncologists.

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As our knowledge of cancer and the number of therapeutic options grows, oncologists are increasingly seeking both germline and somatic inputs to inform patient treatment. The new service from Myriad Genetics will provide oncologists with a single, easy-to-read report that combines the Myriad myRisk Hereditary Cancer test, which assesses germline alterations in 35 genes associated with increased risk for eight common cancers; its myChoice CDx, a tissue-based companion diagnostic test that assesses a patient’s HRD (homologous recombination repair deficiency) status and predicts the ability to respond to certain PARP (poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase) inhibitors; and Intermountain’s TheraMap test, which interrogates 523 genes with known relevance to cancer.

As a long-standing partner of PierianDx, Intermountain Healthcare already uses PierianDx Clinical Genomics Workspace to analyze results from the TheraMap test. The platform enables them to rapidly and accurately classify and interpret variants and produce a physician-ready report. Now, Clinical Genomics Workspace will enable Intermountain Healthcare to accommodate test volumes generated through Myriad’s global reach.

"We are pleased to enhance our partnership with PierianDx to provide comprehensive genomic test results to Myriad’s cancer testing service, thereby helping to improve outcomes for patients," says Lincoln Nadauld, Vice President and Chief of Precision Medicine and Genomics at Intermountain Healthcare.

"To advance precision oncology, we must collaborate across the healthcare ecosystem, combining capabilities from leading partners to increase access to genetic testing and provide better outcomes for all patients," states Paul J. Diaz, President and CEO, Myriad Genetics. "Our collaboration with Intermountain Healthcare, and the resulting use of Clinical Genomics Workspace, will enable us to provide a complete genetic picture to oncologists."

"We are thrilled to deepen our relationship with Intermountain Healthcare to provide comprehensive genomic test results as part of Myriad’s expanding cancer testing service," states Mark McDonough, PierianDx CEO. "Our contribution to Myriad’s enhanced testing service aligns with our mission to help catalyze the democratization of clinical genomics by partnering with leading-edge healthcare organizations like Intermountain Healthcare and Myriad to optimally serve patients and physicians."

On June 16, 2021 A1 Medical Imaging’s Chief Operating Officer, Marilyn Radakovic, applauded recent research that indicates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is effective in detecting interval breast cancers in women with a prior history of the disease (Press release, A1 Medical Imaging, JUN 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234584078]).

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The research that was published June 8, 2021, in the Radiology journal concluded that breast MRI has been shown to improve the early detection of recurrent breast cancers that may be missed by mammography.

The study took place between January 2008 and March 2019 and involved 2,809 women with a median age of 47 years who had undergone surgery because of breast cancer. In all, 6,603 MRI examinations were conducted.

"According to the report, the purpose of the research was to evaluate the screening of breast MRI in women with a personal history of breast cancer who might be at more risk for what’s known as interval breast cancers or IBC," Radakovic stated. "IBC is the cancer detected after a normal screening mammogram, but before the next scheduled mammogram."

Mammograms are low-dose X-rays of the breast. Regular mammograms are recommended to find breast cancer early, when treatment is most successful. However, mammograms may not be the best option for women who are at high risk.

A breast MRI is a noninvasive technology that uses strong magnets instead of radiation to make very detailed, cross-sectional pictures of the breast. It is much more sensitive than mammography and can find invasive breast cancers sooner than mammograms. It can also rule out abnormalities that appear suspicious on a mammogram.

Peter Solodko, A1 Medical Imaging’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, "This research indicates that breast MRIs can detect early stages of cancer better than mammography in women with a past history of breast cancer."

Radakovic added, "This research confirms the effectiveness of breast MRIs and provides encouraging hope for women who are at high risk of recurring cancer."

A1 Medical Imaging has open MRI centers throughout Florida and in Georgia and provides breast MRI screenings at its Aventura, Pembroke Pines, Plantation and Orange Park locations in Florida. Visit www.A1mri.com to learn more.

On June 16, 2021 Servier, a global independent pharmaceutical Group, and PRISM BioLab, a Japan based biotechnology company with proprietary small molecule drug discovery platform, "PepMeticsTechnology", reported that they have entered into a Collaboration and Exclusive License Option Agreement(Press release, Servier, JUN 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234584046]).

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Under the collaboration agreement, PepMetics technology provided by PRISM BioLab are utilized to identify from their library or synthetize, characterize, and optimize small molecule compounds capable of binding and stimulating the activity of the target specified by Servier.

Wesley Blackaby, Ph.D, Head of Chemistry at Servier says: "We look forward to working with PRISM BioLab in this collaboration. The PRISM BioLab technology has the potential to help with the identification and optimization of novel compounds against hard to drug targets, in particular in cancer, which is one of the Group’s priority R&D areas."

Upon finding the lead compounds, Servier has the option to license the lead compounds for further optimization and clinical development.

PRISM BioLab will receive collaboration fee and option fees payments under the Option Agreement, and further milestones and royalty payments under the License Agreement. Specific financial terms are not disclosed.

Dai Takehara, President and CEO, PRISM BioLab, says: "We are delighted to partner with Servier who is committed to delivering therapy for patients by challenging novel targets. Our proprietary PepMetics Technology has generated various pipelines for previously undruggable targets, and our team is excited to challenge Servier’s novel target together."

PepMetics Molecules are designed to mimic α-helix or β-turn peptide using unique scaffold with corresponding dihedral angles. These motifs are essential for protein-protein interactions within the cell especially related to transcription and translation.

Using this technology, two clinical stage pipelines for cancer and fibrosis have been developed and licensed to Japanese Pharma companies, and many early pipelines and research seeds are created for novel and previously undruggable targets.

Véronique Blanc, Ph.D, Research Program Head – Immuno-Oncology at Servier, says: "Intra-cellular pathways and targets offer multiple opportunities to modulate the innate and adaptive immune response in cancer and represent a source of future innovation, that we are committed to explore. As many immune-oncology intracellular targets are difficult to drug, the design of innovative and adapted modulators is critical for the development of new drugs.

On June 16, 2021 Plus Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSTV) (the "Company"), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel, targeted therapies for rare and difficult to treat cancers, reported that the Data and Safety Monitoring Board recommended the Company proceed to the eighth cohort of the Phase 1 dose escalation ReSPECT trial, which is evaluating the Company’s lead investigational drug, Rhenium NanoLiposome (RNL), in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM)(Press release, Cytori Therapeutics, JUN 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234584066]).

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"We are pleased with the favorable safety profile observed thus far with RNL in recurrent GBM," said Marc Hedrick, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Plus Therapeutics. "Moving to cohort eight will allow us to continue to push the envelope in terms of addressable tumor size and maximum radiation dose delivered."

Twenty-one patients with recurrent GBM have been treated in the ReSPECT trial across seven cohorts to date. In these patients, RNL has had no dose-limiting toxicities observed with absorbed radiation doses of up to 740 Gray per tumor.

The eighth cohort of the ReSPECT trial will implement a 40% increase in total radioactivity. The planned infused dose will be 31.2 millicuries in a volume of 12.3 milliliters (increased from 22.3 millicuries and 8.8 milliliters, respectively, used in cohort seven). The planned maximum flow rate will not change.

RNL is under investigation as a potentially safe, effective and convenient way to deliver a very high dose of radiation, possibly over 20 times greater than traditional external beam radiation therapy. This trial is supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute at three trial sites in the U.S., including UT Health Science Center San Antonio, UT Southwestern Medical Center and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted both Orphan Drug designation and Fast Track designation to RNL for the treatment of patients with GBM. Additional details about the ReSPECT trial are available at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01906385).

The latest corporate information can be found on the Company’s Investor Relations page at ir.plustherapeutics.com/presentations.

On June 16, 2021 Marker Therapeutics, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications, reported that its Chief Financial Officer, Anthony H. Kim, will present at the upcoming virtual Raymond James Human Health Innovation Conference on Monday, June 21, 2021 at 9:20 a.m. ET (Press release, Marker Therapeutics, JUN 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234584079]).

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A live webcast of the presentation will be accessible from the Investors section of the company’s website at markertherapeutics.com and will be available for replay following the event.