Novo Nordisk A/S – Share repurchase programme

On June 28, 2021 Novo Nordisk reported that initiated a share repurchase programme in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council of 16 April 2014 (MAR) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 of 8 March 2016 (the "Safe Harbour Rules") (Press release, Novo Nordisk, JUN 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234584464]). This programme is part of the overall share repurchase programme of up to DKK 18 billion to be executed during a 12-month period beginning 3 February 2021.

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Under the programme initiated 7 May 2021, Novo Nordisk will repurchase B shares for an amount up to DKK 3.3 billion in the period from 10 May 2021 to 3 August 2021.

Since the announcement as of 21 June 2021, the following transactions have been made:

The details for each transaction made under the share repurchase programme are published on novonordisk.com.

With the transactions stated above, Novo Nordisk owns a total of 14,707,509 B shares of DKK 0.20 as treasury shares, corresponding to 0.6% of the share capital. The total amount of A and B shares in the company is 2,310,000,000 including treasury shares.

Novo Nordisk expects to repurchase B shares for an amount up to DKK 18 billion during a 12- month period beginning 3 February 2021. As of 25 June 2021, Novo Nordisk has since 3 February 2021 repurchased a total of 15,869,011 B shares at an average share price of DKK 461.50 per B share equal to a transaction value of DKK 7,323,503,112.

Philogen to attend the 11th Post-Chicago Meeting on Melanoma / Skin Cancer on July 8-9, 2021

On June 28, 2021 Philogen reported its participation at the virtual 11th Post-Chicago Meeting on Melanoma / Skin Cancer organised by the European Association of Dermatology-Oncology and the Melanoma World society taking place on July 8- 9, 2021 (Press release, Philogen, JUN 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234584930]).

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Philogen is a Sponsor of the event and organises a Satellite Symposium on July 9, 2021 (09:00-09:30 CET).

Initial Clinical Experience of FAP-2286 in Independent Named Patient Use Published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine

On June 28, 2021 Clovis Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLVS), reported that Professor Dr. Richard P. Baum and Dr. Harshad R. Kulkarni, in conjunction with 3B Pharmaceuticals (Clovis’ licensing partner and discoverer of FAP-2286), published a retrospective report of their independent experience with FAP-2286 in named-patient use in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (Press release, Clovis Oncology, JUN 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234584399]). In the first named-patient experience of the investigational compound conducted at Zentralklinik, Bad Berka, Germany, patients were treated with the FAP-targeted radiotherapy FAP-2286 linked to the radionuclide lutetium-177 (177Lu) as a therapeutic agent after prior confirmation of tumor FAP-positivity in patients by PET/CT imaging.

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In this palliative use setting, FAP-2286 was administered on a named-patient basis to 11 patients with progressive and metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, breast, rectum, and ovary after prior confirmation of FAP expression. According to the authors, administration of 177Lu-FAP-2286 demonstrated high uptake and long retention in primary and metastatic tumor lesions and an acceptable toxicity profile. The report concludes that the data warrant further investigation of 177Lu-FAP-2286 in clinical studies to systematically evaluate its safety and efficacy, and to define the patient population who would benefit most from treatment.

The Clovis Oncology-sponsored Phase 1/2 LuMIERE study of 177Lu-FAP-2286 is evaluating the compound in patients with advanced solid tumors. FAP-2286 labeled with gallium-68 (68Ga-FAP-2286) will be utilized as an investigational imaging agent to identify patients appropriate for treatment in LuMIERE.

"We believe the early clinical experience from named-patient use validates our plans to further investigate FAP-2286 as a therapeutic and imaging agent across a variety of solid tumor types," said Patrick J. Mahaffy, President and CEO of Clovis Oncology. "We are very pleased to move FAP-2286 into formal clinical development with the recent initiation of the Phase 1/2 LuMIERE study of FAP-2286, a novel peptide-targeted radionuclide therapy in patients with solid tumors."

About FAP-2286

FAP-2286 is a clinical candidate under investigation as a peptide-targeted radionuclide therapy (PTRT) and imaging agent targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAP). FAP-2286 consists of two functional elements; a targeting peptide that binds to FAP and a site that can be used to attach radioactive isotopes for imaging and therapeutic use. FAP is highly expressed in many epithelial cancers, including more than 90 percent of breast, lung, colorectal and pancreatic carcinomas. Clovis holds U.S. and global rights for FAP-2286 excluding Europe, Russia, Turkey, and Israel.

FAP-2286 is an unlicensed medical product.

About Targeted Radionuclide Therapy

Targeted radionuclide therapy is an emerging class of cancer therapeutics, which seeks to deliver radiation directly to the tumor while minimizing delivery of radiation to normal tissue. Targeted radionuclides are created by linking radioactive isotopes, also known as radionuclides, to targeting molecules (e.g., peptides, antibodies, small molecules) that can bind specifically to tumor cells or other cells in the tumor environment. Based on the radioactive isotope selected, the resulting agent can be used to image and/or treat certain types of cancer. Agents that can be adapted for both therapeutic and imaging use are known as "theranostics." Clovis, together with licensing partner 3B Pharmaceuticals, is developing a pipeline of novel, targeted radiotherapies for cancer treatment and imaging, including its lead candidate, FAP-2286, an investigational peptide-targeted radionuclide therapeutic (PTRT) and imaging agent, as well as three additional discovery-stage compounds.

About the LuMIERE Clinical Study

LuMIERE is a Phase 1/2 study evaluating FAP-2286 as a peptide-targeted radionuclide therapy (PTRT) targeting fibroblast activation protein, or FAP, in patients with advanced solid tumors. The Phase 1 portion of the LuMIERE study is evaluating the safety of the investigational therapeutic agent and will identify the recommended Phase 2 dose and schedule of lutetium-177 labeled FAP-2286 (177Lu-FAP-2286). FAP-2286 labeled with gallium-68 (68Ga-FAP-2286) will be utilized as an investigational imaging agent to identify patients with FAP-positive tumors appropriate for treatment with the therapeutic agent. Once the Phase 2 dose is determined, Phase 2 expansion cohorts are planned in multiple tumor types.

Actinium Pharmaceuticals Announces Inclusion in Russell Microcap® Index

On June 28, 2021 Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) ("Actinium" or the "Company") reported that it will be added to the Russell Microcap Index at the conclusion of the 2021 Russell indexes annual reconstitution, effective after the US market opens on June 28, according to a preliminary list of additions posted June 4, 2021 (Press release, Actinium Pharmaceuticals, JUN 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234584415]).

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Membership in the Russell Microcap Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $10.6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell’s US indexes. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider.

For more information on the Russell Microcap Index and the Russell indexes reconstitution, go to the "Russell Reconstitution" section on the FTSE Russell website.

About FTSE Russell

FTSE Russell is a leading global index provider creating and managing a wide range of indexes, data and analytic solutions to meet client needs across asset classes, style and strategies. Covering 98% of the investable market, FTSE Russell indexes offer a true picture of global markets, combined with the specialist knowledge gained from developing local benchmarks around the world.

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $16 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create investment funds, ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives. FTSE Russell indexes also provide clients with tools for asset allocation, investment strategy analysis and risk management.

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on index innovation and customer partnership applying the highest industry standards and embracing the IOSCO Principles. FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group.

Innovent Announces License Agreement with Synaffix in an ADC Technology Deal

On June 28, 2021 Innovent Biologics, Inc. (Innovent) (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of cancer, metabolic, autoimmune and other major diseases, reported the signing of a non-exclusive, target-specific license agreement with Synaffix B.V., a biotechnology company focused on commercializing its clinical-stage platform technology that enables antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with best-in-class therapeutic index (Press release, Innovent Biologics, JUN 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234584432]).

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Under the terms of the agreement, Synaffix will provide all the necessary proprietary ADC technologies including GlycoConnect , HydraSpace and one of its toxSYN linker-payloads, to enable Innovent to rapidly progress one of its antibodies as a best-in-class ADC candidate. The deal is the culmination of a successful initial proof-of-concept research period between the companies.

Upon signature, Innovent is granted the rights to deploy the above ADC technologies for one therapeutic molecule. Innovent will be responsible for the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of the ADC product. Synaffix will closely support Innovent’s research activities and will be responsible for the manufacturing of components that are specifically related to its proprietary technologies.

Under the terms of the agreement, Synaffix is eligible to receive upfront payment, potential milestone payments related to certain development and sales performance achievements as well as royalties based on potential future commercial sales of the ADC product.

Dr. Yongjun Liu, President of Innovent said, "We are excited to collaborate with Synaffix as Innovent is expanding its pipeline into the ADC space. Our collaboration with Synaffix adds a promising new ADC candidate to our preclinical pipeline through leveraging Synaffix’s validated, differentiated and innovative ADC technology platform and Innovent’s strong antibody capabilities. Based on Synaffix’s seamless partnering model, we could rapidly combine Synaffix’s ADC technologies with Innovent’s antibody, generate compelling research data and keep moving the project ahead swiftly."

Peter van de Sande, CEO of Synaffix said, "This collaboration is yet another example that illustrates the potential of the Synaffix platform to increase the competitive position of our partners within the ADC space. Innovent is an ideal partner for Synaffix due to its strategic focus on innovative medicines and strong R&D capability for high quality biologic drugs. We look forward to working closely together on this exciting development program."