On March 16, 2021 Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based precision oncology provider Geneseeq Technology Inc. ("Geneseeq"), will collaborate with Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) ("Illumina") to develop comprehensive in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) NGS testing kits for cancer, using Illumina’s NextSeq 550Dx sequencing platform (Press release, Illumina, MAR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234576755]). The companies will work together to promote the use and application of world leading Next-Generation-Sequencing technology to enhance standards-of-care for Chinese patients.

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Geneseeq’s comprehensive genomic profiling panel, GeneseeqPrime, analyzes genomic alterations in 425 cancer-related genes and assesses key biomarkers, such as tumor mutation burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI). This pan-cancer panel screens for actionable clinical next steps to therapy by providing valuable insight into key oncogenic genes and drug resistance mechanisms. In 2020, Geneseeq’s TMB Testing Kit in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) became the first comprehensive NGS panel entered into the Breakthrough Medical Devices Program of Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

Geneseeq will conduct all testing studies using IVD instruments and components supplied by Illumina in order to develop and commercialize the IVD kits. The IVD kits will be made available directly to patients acquiring testing services from Geneseeq, as well as hospital testing centers. According to Dr. Xue Wu, CEO and co-founder of Geneseeq Canada, this collaboration will deliver streamlined workflow and produce accurate testing results rapidly. This will help cancer patients access critical information to optimize their treatment plans, and benefit from precision medicine.

"We’re pleased to extend our collaboration with Geneseeq to develop assays based on the newly approved NextSeq 550Dx in China," said Li Qing, Vice President & General Manager of Greater China at Illumina. "Together with partners such as Geneseeq, we are able continuously bring in innovative NGS testing products to patients in China, and ultimately help them by unlocking the power of genome."

This is the second time that the two companies joined forces to accelerate clinical availability in precision cancer care. In 2018, the two companies collaborated on the NMPA approval of the IVD kit, Essencare(EGFR/ALK/ROS1/BRAF/KRAS/HER2 mutation testing kit, Reversible terminator sequencing) for NSCLC.

On March 16, 2021 Isofol Medical reported The approved abstract for the congress American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2021 has been published on their website (Press release, Isofol Medical, MAR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234576723]). The congress will take place during April 10-15, 2021 and the poster will be available on April 10.

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On March 16, 2021 aTyr Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIFE), a biotherapeutics company engaged in the discovery and development of innovative medicines based on novel biological pathways, reported that it will report fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results and provide a corporate update after the market close on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 (Press release, aTyr Pharma, MAR 16, 2021, https://investors.atyrpharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/atyr-pharma-webcast-conference-call-reporting-fourth-quarter-and [SID1234576740]). Management will host a conference call and webcast to review the results and provide an operational update.

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On March 16, 2021 Synlogic, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBX), a clinical stage company bringing the transformative potential of synthetic biology to medicine, reported the Company will release its fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, March 25, 2021 (Press release, Synlogic, MAR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234576724]). The press release will be followed by a conference call at 8:30 am ET, which will be open to the public via telephone and webcast. During the conference call, the Company will review its financial results and provide a corporate update.

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The conference call dial-in numbers are (844) 815-2882 for domestic callers and (213) 660-0926 for international callers. The conference ID number for the call is 4897219. Participants may access the live webcast via a link on the Synlogic website in the Events Calendar of the Investors and Media section. For those unable to participate in the conference call or webcast, a replay will be available for 30 days on the Company’s website.

On March 16, 2021 Be Biopharma ("Be Bio"), whose mission is to pioneer the emerging new category of engineered B cells as medicines, reported that Joanne Smith-Farrell, Ph.D., has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and Director (Press release, Be Biopharma, MAR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234576741]). Dr. Smith-Farrell will be joined by Chief Scientific Officer, Richard Morgan, Ph.D., a leading expert in cell and gene therapies.

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Be Bio’s rapidly growing team of scientists, drug developers, manufacturing experts, and business builders is leading the creation of a new category of cellular therapies, engineered B cell medicines. B cells are exquisitely designed by nature to embody a unique mix of functionalities, including prolific protein production, tissue targeting, and durable engraftment in cellular niches. Be Bio was founded by Longwood Fund in October 2020 with a $52 million Series A investment led by Atlas Ventures and RA Capital, and joined by Alta Partners and Takeda Ventures to unlock this rich biology by precisely engineering B cells as therapies to develop a broad pipeline of potent and potentially curative cellular medicines.

Prior to joining Be Bio as Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Smith-Farrell was Chief Operating Officer and Business Unit Head, Oncology, at bluebird bio, where she led the growth of bluebird Oncology from an early single-candidate effort into a leading oncology cell therapy business. Prior to this, she held executive leadership roles as Chief Business Officer of bluebird bio, Vice President of Transactions at Merck, and Vice President of Business Development at Pfizer, as well as executive positions in public and private biotechs. Prior to entering the biopharmaceutical industry, she worked in the healthcare practice at The Boston Consulting Group. Dr. Smith-Farrell did her postdoctoral research in Biomedical Engineering in Bob Langer’s lab at the Harvard-MIT Division for Health Science and Technology and holds a Ph.D. in Physics from The Catholic University of America and a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Vanderbilt University.

"Be Bio’s mission – to unleash the power of B cells, nature’s protein factories, on many of humanity’s most challenging diseases – is an inspiring and humbling journey to be joining," said Dr. Smith-Farrell. "It has been a great privilege to participate in the birth of the first generation of cell therapies to come to market, and to witness, first-hand, cell therapy’s power to transform the lives of patients with devastating diseases. Be Bio’s aspiration, fueled by the broad utility of engineered B cell medicines to offer previously impossible solutions across a wide array of therapeutic areas, takes the potential of cell therapy to an entirely new level."

Rick Morgan, Ph.D., joins Be Bio as Chief Scientific Officer, and brings decades of experience as one of the pioneers of cell and gene therapy. Most recently, Dr. Morgan was Senior Vice President of Immunogenetics at Editas Medicine, where he focused on genome engineering to produce off-the-shelf cell medicines for cancer. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Immunotherapy at bluebird bio in 2013, where he led pre-clinical activities for bluebird’s first oncology medicine, the anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel)—the first CAR-T for the treatment of multiple myeloma filed in the U.S. and Europe. He started his career at the National Institutes of Health, where he conducted groundbreaking research in the development of gene therapy for genetic diseases such as hemophilia, HIV/AIDS, and cancer immunotherapy. He was a member of the team that published the first approved human gene transfer experiment in 1990, and was also the first to report the successful use of T-cell receptor gene therapy for the treatment of cancer in 2006.

"By exploiting the intrinsic drug-like properties of B cells, we can make redosable medicines with superior pharmacokinetic profiles that can be administered without toxic conditioning regimens," said Dr. Morgan. "Be Bio’s ability to engineer B cells is a true paradigm shift in gene therapy that creates major opportunities to treat diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, infectious disease, and protein deficiencies. As CSO, I am excited to have the rare opportunity to shape the development of a new class of medicine from the very start."

"Extraordinary science attracts extraordinary leaders," said David Steinberg, Longwood General Partner, Director and and outgoing Chief Executive Officer, Be Bio. "For over 25 years, Dr. Smith-Farrell has been leading teams that are committed to conquering cancer and rare diseases, most recently at bluebird bio where she built a 400 person oncology cell therapy business unit. We are very fortunate to have her joining alongside Dr. Morgan, an internationally recognized trailblazer in cell and gene therapy and a member of an elite group of scientists who have successfully developed these groundbreaking medicines. Together, Joanne and Rick will be invaluable to Be Bio as they lead our efforts to unlock the potential of B cell medicines, bringing transformational therapies to patients in need."