On May 31, 2021 PCI Biotech (OSE: PCIB), a cancer focused biopharmaceutical company, reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has informed the company that a new US patent will be granted early June 2021 (Press release, PCI Biotech, MAY 31, 2021, View Source [SID1234585159]). The US patent covers the use of fimaVacc in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

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The use of ICIs has revolutionised cancer immunotherapy, as this class of drugs may induce long-lasting effects in those patients responding to treatment. Unfortunately, most patients do not respond to ICI therapy and different treatment combination strategies are explored with the aim to increase the number of patients responding. Combining ICIs with therapeutic cancer vaccines that induce relevant immune responses against the tumour cells is regarded as one of the most promising strategies. The patent that soon will be granted in the US covers the use of PCI Biotech’s fimaVacc vaccination technology in combination with important classes of ICIs and an important type of immunological adjuvants (a class of so-called Toll like receptor agonists).

"Increasing the response rates to ICI’s is one of the pharma industry’s main priorities in cancer and therapeutic cancer vaccination is a rational approach to this aim. The fimaVacc technology has delivered encouraging immune responses in early phase clinical trials and this US patent provides relevant intellectual property for the further development of this technology." said Dr. Per Walday, CEO of PCI Biotech.

As part of PCI Biotech’s strategy for applying the PCI technology for therapeutic cancer vaccines, several global patent applications were filed in 2013-2016. Today’s announced US patent secure protection until 2036 and this patent application is still pending in Europe and key Asian markets.

On May 31, 2021 Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hitoshi Kawahara; hereinafter "Kuraray") reported that it has published the Kuraray Report 2021, an integrated report (A4 size, 52 pages, full color) (Press release, Kuraray, MAY 31, 2021, View Source [SID1234583292]).
The aim of the Kuraray Report is to help shareholders, investors, and all other stakeholders better understand the value that the Kuraray Group creates over the medium to long term by providing a comprehensive overview of financial and non-financial information, including environmental, social and governance data.

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On May 31, 2021 Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNST), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company using its expertise in epigenetics to discover and develop novel therapeutics, reported that the Company will participate in an upcoming virtual investor conference (Press release, Constellation Pharmaceuticals, MAY 31, 2021, View Source [SID1234583293]). Jigar Raythatha, president and chief executive officer, will present at the Jefferies Virtual Healthcare Conference at 3:00 PM EDT on June 3 . Live audio webcast of Mr. Raythatha’s presentation and archives for replay will be available on the Investor Relations section of Constellation’s website at View Source The audio webcast replays will be available for 90 days following the live presentation.

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On May 31, 2021 Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) reported the initiation of a share buy-back program to mitigate dilution from warrant exercises and to honor our commitments under our Restricted Stock Units program (Press release, Genmab, MAY 31, 2021, View Source [SID1234583294]).

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The share buy-back program is expected to be completed no later than June 30, 2021 and comprises up to 200,000 shares.

The following transactions were executed under the program from May 24, 2021 to May 28, 2021:

Details of each transaction are included as an appendix to this announcement.

Following these transactions, Genmab holds 254,206 shares as treasury shares, corresponding to 0.39% of the total share capital and voting rights.

The share buy-back program is undertaken in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (‘MAR’) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, also referred to as the "Safe Harbour Regulation." Further details on the terms of the share buy-back program can be found in our company announcement no. 11 dated February 23, 2021.

On May 31, 2021 Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, "Eisai") and ITO EN, LTD. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President: Daisuke Honjo, "ITO EN") reported that both parties have entered into a business alliance agreement concerning the initiatives for supporting people living with and preventing dementia with the aim of realizing a healthy and long-lived society (Press release, Eisai, MAY 31, 2021, View Source [SID1234583295]).

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Through this alliance, Eisai and ITO EN aim to contribute to the solution of dementia, which is one of the important social issues, with integrating Eisai’s wealth of experience and knowledge in drug creation and disease awareness activities in the area of dementia, as well as Eisai’s solution measures such as digital technology, and ITO EN’s customer network through its community-based sales activities, as well as ITO EN’s problem-solving project related to cognitive function based on abundant research on Matcha (powdered green tea). The specific initiatives planned are as follows.

1. Providing the packaged solution

As support for holding seminars on exercise and food related to dementia disease awareness and brain health by local governments for residents, the packaged solution plans to be provided through ITO EN’s 186 business offices nationwide. The packaged solution includes Eisai’s information materials for disease awareness, opportunities for checking brain performance using Eisai’s brain performance (brain-health) self-check tool "NouKNOWTM" (pronounced "NOH-NOH", non-medical equipment), and ITO EN ‘s information and services related to Matcha and health.

2. Providing a set of products focusing on brain health

A set product which includes the Foods with Function Claims "Oi Ocha OMATCHA POWDER (stick 1.7g x 32)" produced by ITO EN, a prepaid card that can be used for "NouKNOW" and Eisai’s information materials related to brain health will be distributed in Japan.

3. Providing an opportunity to check brain performance at events and campaigns hosted by ITO EN

At the events and campaigns hosted by ITO EN, participants will be provided with the information on brain health and the opportunity to check brain performance using "NouKNOW".

4. Initiation of brain performance check trial internally at ITO EN, towards the future utilization of brain performance checks in corporate health examinations

As a trial for the utilization of "NouKNOW" in corporate health examinations, verification of the effects of health consciousness and behavioral changes based on regular brain performance checks among willing ITO EN employees has been ongoing.

Eisai, which aims to eliminate the diverse anxieties of each individual (The People) by constructing a dementia ecosystem through coexisting with other industries and organizations, and ITO EN, which explores the potential of tea and aims to be a health creation company that contributes to the era of 100 years of life, will promote co-creation of value toward the realization of a healthy and long-lived society so that people can lead a happy life in their own way by combining the strengths of both company.