On December 23, 2020 NETRIS Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next generation molecules targeting cancer, reported the closing of a €16.1m Series A financing and the reinforcement of its Board of Directors (Press release, Netris Pharma, DEC 23, 2020, View Source [SID1234573284]). The round was subscribed by historical investors converting their outstanding loans, and joined by New Investors collectively investing €7.5m.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Patrick Mehlen, NETRIS Pharma Founder and CEO, commented "NETRIS Pharma is proud to have achieved major milestones in these highly turbulent times and thank BPDG for its active role in this fundraising process. Further to the signature of a collaboration Agreement with MSD for the coming Phase 1B/2 trial in combination with Pembrolizumab,such funding creates opportunities to accelerate the clinical development plan of NETRIS Pharma in other indications of interest."

Banque Profil de Gestion (BPDG) acted as the sole advisor for the fundraising process led by Gianpaolo Chiriano, Managing Director and Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences at BPDG, who added: "we are glad to have contributed to the achievement of this milestone for NETRIS Pharma with the hope to impact lives of cancer patients."

Netris Pharma was founded as a spin-off of Centre Léon Bérard to develop a complete novel approach in oncology based on the biology of dependence receptors. The company, driven by scientific excellence and strong clinical insights, successfully develop NP137 targeting Netrin-1, which exhibited encouraging signs of clinical activity in its Phase 1A trial and extensions.

Netris Pharma will primarily use the proceeds of the Series A to conduct the planned Phase1B /2 clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of NP137 in combination with KEYTRUDA in patients with advanced/metastatic uterine tumors and for general corporate purposes.

On December 23, 2020 A2 Biotherapeutics (www.a2bio.com), a biotechnology company developing innovative cell therapies for cancer patients with solid tumors, reported that it has entered into an agreement with Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, in which A2 will continue research and preclinical development of its undisclosed Tmod cell therapy candidate (its third candidate therapy), with the parties to co-fund A2’s clinical development and allogeneic manufacturing activities through Phase 1 (Press release, A2 Biotherapeutics, DEC 23, 2020, View Source [SID1234573233]). Merck will assist with preclinical development and has the option to exclusively develop, manufacture and commercialize the candidate following Phase 1.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

A2’s Tmod engineered T cells uniquely combine a potent activating mechanism to kill tumor cells with a blocking mechanism that protects normal cells from harm by exploiting the loss of genetic material in tumors. Tmod engineered T cells have the potential to make existing targets safer and more effective by protecting normal cells and delivering a more therapeutically effective dose to kill the tumor cells.

"In vitro studies have provided compelling evidence supporting the view that Tmod-based cell therapy can distinguish tumor cells from normal cells, across multiple tumor targets," said Dr. Roger M. Perlmutter, President, Merck Research Laboratories. "We hope that the combined efforts of Merck Research Laboratories and A2 Biotherapeutics will enable the application of this ingenious approach to improve the treatment of patients suffering from refractory solid tumors."

Under the agreement A2 will receive an upfront payment, and will be eligible for opt-in and milestone payments, plus royalties on sales of any approved product. A2 will also receive from Merck an equity investment and reimbursement of certain expenses. Merck has the option to designate a new Tmod program with increased economic terms.

"This transaction extends our cash runway on the heels of our successful $71.5M Series B in October. It also brings Merck’s immunotherapy and other expertise for the Tmod candidate especially in the later stages of development, manufacturing and commercialization and enables A2 to build allogeneic product development and manufacturing capabilities," said Scott Foraker, President and CEO of A2 Biotherapeutics.

A2 will continue to pursue its first two Tmod product candidates using its autologous manufacturing to reduce the number of variables for clinical proof of concept and expedite timelines. A2 anticipates that the successful development of its allogeneic Tmod candidate therapy will enable subsequently developed allogeneic Tmod candidates.

On December 23, 2020 BioInvent International AB (OMXS: BINV ), a biotech company focused on the discovery and development of novel and first-in-class immune-modulatory antibodies for cancer immunotherapy, reported that Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer") (NYSE: PFE) has selected antibodies directed at a previously-selected target under the companies’ cancer immunotherapy research collaboration and license agreement (Press release, BioInvent, DEC 23, 2020, View Source [SID1234573216]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The agreement, into which the companies entered in December 2016, covers developing antibodies from BioInvent’s proprietary F.I.R.S.TTM drug discovery platform targeting tumor-associated myeloid cells.

The selection of these antibodies triggers a payment from Pfizer to BioInvent of $3,000,000. BioInvent is eligible for further milestone payments from development of these antibodies and potential selection and development of further antibodies directed at the same target.

BioInvent’s CEO Martin Welschof said: "Pfizer’s selection of antibodies under our agreement is a great demonstration of the actionable leads generated by our drug discovery technology platform. We are very pleased with how our partnership is progressing and look forward to further strengthening our collaboration. Our F.I.R.S.TTM platform is a patient-centric approach, drawing on our high-quality n-CoDeR antibody library to produce promising drug candidates, and we believe this partnership is an important validation of this technology."

On December 23, 2020 CNS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) ("CNS" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of novel treatments for primary and metastatic cancers of the brain and central nervous system, reported the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 5,000,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to 2,500,000 shares of common stock (Press release, CNS Pharmaceuticals, DEC 23, 2020, View Source [SID1234573234]). The shares of common stock and warrants are being sold together at a combined public offering price of $2.00 per share and warrant. The warrants will have an exercise price of $2.20 per share, will be immediately exercisable and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The Company has granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 750,000 shares of common stock and/or 375,000 warrants to cover over-allotments, if any.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for its Phase 2 trial for Berubicin, other research and development, and for working capital. The offering is expected to close on or about December 28, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

This offering is being made pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-251530) previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and declared effective on December 22, 2020. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. A final prospectus relating to the proposed offering will be filed and made available on the SEC’s website. A copy of the final prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, from A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, 590 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10022 or via telephone at 212-624-2060 or email: [email protected]. Before investing in this offering, interested parties should read the prospectus.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities 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 December 23, 2020 ViewRay, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRAY) reported its participation in the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (Press release, ViewRay, DEC 23, 2020, View Source [SID1234573235]). Scott Drake, President and CEO, is scheduled to present at 10:50 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, January 14, 2021.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

An audio webcast of the Company’s presentation will be available on the "Financial Events and Webinars" portion of ViewRay’s investor website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be available for 14 days after the date of the presentation.