On July 23, 2021 ImaginAb Inc, a market leading global biotechnology company, reported that focused on developing next generation immuno oncology imaging agents and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals (RPT), reported the signing of a new significant multi-year, non-exclusive license agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim (Press release, ImaginAb, JUL 23, 2021, View Source [SID1234585143]).

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The agreement, which builds on the long-term collaboration between the two companies that started in 2017 will see ImaginAb supply clinical doses of its market leading 89Zr CD8 ImmunoPET technology to Boehringer Ingelheim for use in the clinical development of its novel oncology therapeutics throughout North America and Europe.

ImaginAb will receive license fees and payments for providing ongoing technical, clinical, and regulatory support to enable the successful implementation of its CD8 ImmunoPET technology. No other terms were disclosed.

Commenting on the announcement, Ian Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of ImaginAb stated:

"Boehringer Ingelheim were the first to partner with us on our CD8 ImmunoPET agent, and we are delighted we can expand our partnership and enable our technology to be used across multiple clinical programs."

Wilson continued: "ImaginAb has a clear aim to become the lead in diagnostic and treatment choices, transforming patient care and helping patients live better and healthier lives. Our CD8 ImmunoPET technology enables quicker identification of drug efficacy, potentially reduce the length of trials and allowing new therapies to advance to market quicker. It also removes the need for repeat, painful biopsies. All of which will ultimately transform patient care."

"This announcement is just the latest in a number of new non-exclusive license agreements that we have announced this year. It is a clear indication that not only is our technology gaining wider acceptance, but many others also share our vision, and belief in the benefits that our CD8 ImmunoPET technology offers."

On July 23, 2021 GNT Biotech & Medicals Corporation (GNTbm), a Taiwan-based biotechnology company, reported to focus on other treatment options against breast cancer (Press release, GNT Biotech & Medicals, JUL 23, 2021, View Source [SID1234585144]). Dr. Chia-Nan Chen, President of GNTbm, explains, "Fortunately, endocrine therapy combined with other target drugs can overcome endocrine resistance and significantly prolong the progression-free survival of patients."

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In treatment-resistant cancer, "epigenetic" abnormalities (changes unrelated to our genetic sequences) are common. These abnormalities can often be found in enzymes that act on "histones"—proteins that support the DNA structure. Thus, these enzymes can be targeted to suppress tumor growth in breast cancer. An example is "chidamide/tucidinostat," a benzamide-based selective inhibitor of "histone deacetylase" (HDAC; a histone-modifying enzyme that is seen to be overexpressed in certain cancers). This motivated GNTbm to collaborate with Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences (a drug development company in China) and conduct a phase III clinical trial in Taiwan and China. Dr. Chen says, "In a clinical study in China, Chipscreen Biosciences showed that chidamide, in combination with exemestane, effectively reduced tumor growth in hormone-receptor (HR)-positive patients, inspiring the final outcome of this cross-strait clinical trial. And thereafter, chidamide was approved and launched in China."

In this new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, GNTbm used chidamide (brand name Kepida in Taiwan) in combination with exemestane (a standard endocrine drug against breast cancer) in 55 patients from Taiwan and 365 patients from China. These patients had HR-positive and HER-2-negative advanced breast cancer, resistant to endocrine therapy. And, the results were promising!

According to the data for Taiwan and China combined, the median progression-free survival was 7.4 months for the chidamide group and 3.7 months for the placebo group, whereas according to Taiwan’s separate data on 55 patients, the median progression-free survival was 8.6 months for the chidamide group and 3.7 months for the placebo group. These findings firmly establish the efficacy of the medication.

"The current clinical study is the first to explore the effects of an HDAC inhibitor combined with exemestane. The findings show progression-free survival benefit in HR-positive endocrine treatment-resistant patients with breast cancer, hopefully, leading to better survival rates for patients in the future," concludes Dr. Chen.

These findings from GNTbm’s new clinical trial generate some much-needed hope for patients fighting against breast cancer!

On July 23, 2021 HUTCHMED (China) Limited ("HUTCHMED" or the "Company") (Nasdaq/AIM: HCM; HKEX: 13) reported that the stabilization period in connection with the Global Offering ended on July 23, 2021, being the 30th day after the last day for the lodging of applications under the Hong Kong Public Offering on June 23, 2021 (Press release, Hutchison China MediTech, JUL 23, 2021, View Source [SID1234586917]). The stabilizing actions undertaken by Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, as the Stabilizing Manager (or any person acting for it) during the stabilization period were:

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(1) over-allocations of an aggregate of 15,600,000 Offer Shares in the International Offering, representing approximately 15% of the total number of the Offer Shares initially available under the Global Offering before any exercise of the Over-allotment Option;

(2) borrowing of an aggregate of 15,600,000 Shares by Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Asia Limited) from Hutchison Healthcare Holdings Limited (an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited) pursuant to the Stock Borrowing Agreement dated June 23, 2021, to cover over-allocations in the International Offering; and

(3) the full exercise of the Over-allotment Option by the Joint Global Coordinators, on behalf of the International Underwriters, on July 12, 2021, in respect of an aggregate of 15,600,000 Offer Shares, representing approximately 15% of the total number of the Offer Shares initially available under the Global Offering before any exercise of the Over-allotment Option, at the Offer Price, to facilitate the return to Hutchison Healthcare Holdings Limited of all the borrowed Shares under the Stock Borrowing Agreement which were used to cover over-allocations in the International Offering.

There has been no purchase or sale of any Shares on the market for the purpose of price stabilization by the Stabilizing Manager during the stabilization period.

For further details of the full exercise of the Over-allotment Option, please refer to the HUTCHMED announcement dated July 12, 2021.

On July 23, 2021 Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) reported the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 11,500,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $27.50 per share (Press release, Cytokinetics, JUL 23, 2021, View Source [SID1234585127]). This includes the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase 1,500,000 additional shares of common stock. The gross proceeds to Cytokinetics from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses payable by Cytokinetics, were approximately $316.25 million.

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J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley acted as joint book-running managers for the offering. Mizuho Securities and JMP Securities acted as passive book-runners, and H.C. Wainwright & Co. and Needham & Company acted as co-lead managers.

The securities described above were offered by Cytokinetics pursuant to a shelf registration statement (including a base prospectus) filed on November 6, 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has become automatically effective. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering have been filed with the SEC and can be accessed for free on the SEC’s website at View Source Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, by telephone: 1-866-803-9204, or by email at [email protected]; or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, by telephone at 866-718-1649 or by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

On July 23, 2023 Hanmi Pharmaceutical and LegoChem Biosciences reported that they will jointly develop a new antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) to treat cancers based on a bispecific antibody developed by Hanmi Pharm’s affiliate in China, the South Korean drug company announced on Friday (Press release, Hanmi, JUL 23, 2021, View Source;no=709881 [SID1234628155]).

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Under an agreement between the two companies, they will use the penta amino acid mutated bispecific antibody or Pentambody independently developed by Beijing Hanmi Pharmaceutical to develop a novel cancer treatment. This is an advanced antibody technology that allows one antibody to simultaneously bind to two different antigens.

Hanmi Pharm will be responsible for commercial development of an ADC candidate made by combining Beijing Hanmi’s proprietary molecule and LegoChem’s ADC technology, the company explained in a press release.

An ADC is a new class of highly potent biopharmaceutical drug composed of an antibody linked to a biologically active drug or cytotoxic compound via a chemical linker. A bispecific antibody-based ADC can recognize cancer cells more easily and minimize toxicity to normal cells. It can be a new treatment option for cancer patients who fail to respond to single antibody ADCs.

Hanmi Pharm said it expects to initiate preclinical trials of the drug next year.

Hanmi Pharm shares finished up 0.45 percent at 331,500 won ($287.64) on Friday.