On April 1, 2021 Fresenius Kabi, a global health care company that specializes in lifesaving medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition, reported it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement for the U.S. with Corvida Medical (Press release, Fresenius, APR 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234577519]).

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Under the terms of the agreement, Fresenius Kabi will be the exclusive U.S. distributor for the HALO Closed System Drug-Transfer Device (CSTD). The HALO system is an airtight and leak-proof CSTD that mechanically prohibits the transfer of environmental contaminants into the system and the escape of drug or vapor concentrations outside the system, thereby minimizing individual and environmental exposure to drug vapor, aerosols and droplets. These are common challenges during the compounding and administration of hazardous drugs like chemotherapy.

"Fresenius Kabi is committed to offering solutions that provide the safe preparation and delivery of medications across the continuum of care," said John Ducker, president and CEO of Fresenius Kabi USA. "CSTDs play a critical role in protecting health care professionals from the risks of exposure to hazardous drugs during the preparation in the pharmacy and during patient administration by nurses. The combination of Fresenius Kabi freeflex/freeflex+ IV solution containers, oncology medicines and Corvida Medical’s HALO CSTD allows Fresenius Kabi to provide customers a broad range of products to assist with their oncology needs."

Mitch Moeller, CEO of Corvida Medical added, "We believe Fresenius Kabi is a great partner for the HALO Closed System Drug-Transfer Device. Their reputation for quality and patient focus along with their commercial infrastructure, distribution experience, customer relationships and extensive product portfolio will help our efforts to make HALO a leading CSTD option for U.S. customers. We are pleased that Fresenius Kabi recognized the design benefits, innovation and quality of the HALO product portfolio."

The distribution agreement may be expanded to other territories in the future. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

On April 1, 2021 Leap Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:LPTX), a biotechnology company focused on developing targeted and immuno-oncology therapeutics, reported the completion of enrollment for the first-line patient cohort in the DisTinGuish study, a clinical trial evaluating Leap’s anti-Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) antibody, DKN-01, in combination with tislelizumab, BeiGene Ltd.’s anti-PD-1 antibody, with or without chemotherapy, in patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (G/GEJ) (Press release, Leap Therapeutics, APR 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234577503]).

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"The completion of enrollment for the first-line patients in the DisTinGuish study is an important milestone for the DKN-01 and tislelizumab combination development program," said Cynthia Sirard, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Leap Therapeutics. "In collaboration with our partner, BeiGene, we are committed to realizing the potential of DKN-01 as part of a new combination therapy with tislelizumab aimed at treating gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer patients, where a high global unmet medical need remains."

The DisTinGuish trial (NCT04363801) is a Phase 2a, nonrandomized, open-label, multicenter study of DKN-01 in combination with tislelizumab with or without chemotherapy as first-line or second-line therapy in adult patients with inoperable, locally advanced G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. The study, which will be conducted in two parts in the United States and the Republic of Korea, includes up to 24 patients with first-line G/GEJ cancer and up to 48 patients with second-line G/GEJ cancer whose tumors express high levels of DKK1. Initial data is expected in the second half of 2021. Leap is conducting this combination study as part of an exclusive option and license agreement with BeiGene for the development of DKN-01 in Asia (excluding Japan), Australia, and New Zealand. Leap retains exclusive rights for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of DKN-01 for the rest of the world.

About gastric / gastroesophageal junction cancer
Gastric adenocarcinoma (gastric cancer) remains one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide, especially among older malesi. Based on GLOBOCAN 2018 data, stomach cancer is the 5th most common neoplasm and the 3rd most deadly cancer, with an estimated 783,000 deaths globally in 2018i. Ninety-five percent of cancers of the stomach are adenocarcinomasi. Gastric cancer incidence and mortality are highly variable by region and highly dependent on diet and Helicobacter pylori infectioni. The gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) is the area where the esophagus and stomach join together. Given its anatomic location, GEJ adenocarcinomas have often been grouped together with either esophageal or gastric cancers in clinical trials.

About DKN-01
DKN-01 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to and blocks the activity of the Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) protein. DKK1 modulates the Wnt/Beta-catenin and PI3kinase/AKT signaling pathways, which have an important role in tumor cell signaling and in mediating an immuno-suppressive tumor microenvironment through enhancing the activity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and downregulating NK cell ligands on tumor cells. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted DKN-01 Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer and Fast Track Designation in combination with tislelizumab for the treatment of patients with gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma whose tumors express high DKK1 protein, following disease progression on or after prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy and if appropriate, human epidermal receptor growth factor (HER2)/neu-targeted therapy.

On April 1, 2021 Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: FUSN), a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing next-generation radiopharmaceuticals as precision medicines, reported it has completed the acquisition of Ipsen’s (Euronext: IPN; ADR; IPSEY) intellectual property and assets related to IPN-1087 (Press release, Fusion Pharmaceuticals, APR 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234577520]). IPN-1087 is a small molecule targeting neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1), a protein expressed on multiple solid tumor types. Fusion intends to use IPN-1087 to create an alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical, FPI-2059, targeting solid tumors expressing NTSR1.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Fusion issued to Ipsen 600,000 shares of its common stock at the time of closing, including shares due upon the achievement of a patent-related milestone which occurred prior to closing. Such shares were issued pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Fusion will also be obligated to pay Ipsen up to an additional €67.5 million upon the achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones; low single-digit royalties on potential future net sales; and up to €350.0 million in net sales milestones, in each case, relating to products covered by the asset purchase agreement. Fusion will be responsible for paying to a third-party licensor up to €70.0 million in development milestone payments and mid-single to low-double-digit royalties on potential future net sales of products covered by the license agreement.

The closing of the acquisition was subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Additional details regarding the financial terms can be found in Fusion’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2021.

About FPI-2059
FPI-2059 will be a radioconjugate combining actinium-225 with IPN-1087, for development as a targeted alpha therapy for various solid tumors. The molecule targets NTSR1, a promising target for cancer treatment, that is overexpressed in multiple solid tumors. IPN-1087 was in Phase 1 clinical development as a lutetium-177-based radiopharmaceutical for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, colorectal cancer and gastric cancers expressing NTSR1.

On April 1, 2021 Autolus Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: AUTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation programmed T cell therapies, reported that management will participate in 1×1’s at investor conferences through April 2021 (Press release, Autolus, APR 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234577542]).

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April 6 and 8, 2021 – Wells Fargo Annual Biotech Corporate Access
April 14, 2021 – 20th Annual Needham Virtual Healthcare Conference – As well as 1×1’s, the CEO and CFO will participate in a Fireside Chat at 10:15 AM ET. A webcast of the Fireside Chat will be available on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at Autolus.
April 22, 2021 – Raymond James Oncology Summit
April 28, 2021 – Kempen & Co. European Life Sciences: Gene, Cell, and RNA Day

On April 1, 2021 Lantern Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRN), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company using its proprietary RADR artificial intelligence ("A.I.") platform to transform oncology drug discovery and development, reported a collaboration with Johns Hopkins Pediatric Oncology Division of The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and Dr. Eric Raabe, M.D., Ph.D. focused on Lantern’s drug candidate LP-184 in the area of brain tumors, and specifically in Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumors ("ATRT"), an ultra-rare and fast-growing cancerous tumor of the brain that presents primarily in children (Press release, Lantern Pharma, APR 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234577504]).

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"As we enriched our RADR A.I. platform for additional cancer indications, we began to discover common molecular pathways that drive response to our drug candidate, LP-184, across multiple additional CNS cancers," stated Panna Sharma, President and CEO of Lantern Pharma. "Chief among these newly identified CNS cancers was ATRT, an ultra-rare and fast-growing cancerous tumor of the brain that presents primarily in children with no effective therapies. The urgency of directing LP-184 towards helping children battle this particularly aggressive cancer was self-evident, as was the opportunity to collaborate with the Johns Hopkins’ pediatric oncologist, Dr. Eric Raabe, who has devoted his career to studying pediatric brain cancers, including ATRT."

Rhabdoid tumors (RTs) can emerge in the brain, kidneys, liver and all compartments of the central nervous system ("CNS"). Approximately 66% of RTs occur in the CNS and are called ATRTs. ATRTs predominantly affect infants and young children, with up to 15% of ATRTs arising in the brain. Incidence of ATRT is between 1.4 and 3.0 per million, and the survival rate is between 10% and 15% depending on the age at diagnosis. Pediatric brain cancer is the second-leading cause of pediatric cancer death with the incidence rate growing at ~2.7% per year in the United States.

Dr. Eric Raabe, M.D., Ph.D., is assistant professor of oncology in the Division of Pediatric Oncology at Johns Hopkins and a co-principal investigator at the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium. A physician-scientist, Dr. Raabe has devoted his career to the pursuit of treatment options for the most high-risk pediatric brain cancers, including ATRT where Dr. Raabe uses a unique and highly curated panel of cell lines and xenografts in preclinical studies for drug development and research. These models have had extensive molecular and genomic profiling including biomarker studies to help better understand the ATRT and other related CNS cancers.

Over 90% of cases of ATRT are caused by a mutation which drives a partial or whole loss of chromosome 22, resulting in the inactivation of the SMARCB1 gene (Switch/sucrose nonfermentable [SWI/SNF] related, Matrix-associated, Actin-dependent Regulator of Chromatin, subfamily B1). SMARCB1 is a protein encoding and tumor suppressor gene which drives downstream production of the SMARCB1 protein and other SWI/SNF protein subunits which are thought to act as tumor suppressors. While ATRT is diagnosed with standard immunochemistry staining to detect loss of the respective protein(s), no standard of care currently exists for ATRT and ATRT in the brain is typically unresectable. Treatment options are typically limited to only chemotherapy agents since radiotherapy is not advised in children.

"To support the discovery and development of innovative medicines that may help children diagnosed with rare diseases, the U.S. FDA has created a Rare Pediatric Disease Designation. We believe that the rarity of incidence of ATRT in the U.S and its prevalence in children supports the potential for LP-184 to qualify in the future for a possible grant by the US. FDA for a Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for use of LP-184 for ATRT," continued Mr. Sharma. "Moreover, if we are successful in receiving a Rare Pediatric Disease Designation, we believe LP-184, if it receives ultimate approval, may possibly qualify for the granting by the U.S. FDA of a Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher ("PRV"). We believe the award of a PRV would represent a significant value enhancing milestone for Lantern Pharma."

Lantern Pharma plans on continuing to use RADR to potentially uncover and develop other indications in brain and CNS cancers where LP-184 has the potential to show efficacy.