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InnoCare Appoints Dr. Sean Zhang as Chief Medical Officer

On February 28, 2021 InnoCare Pharma (HKEX: 09969), a leading biopharmaceutical company focusing on cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported that the Company appointed Dr. Sean Zhang as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) (Press release, InnoCare Pharma, FEB 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234575798]). Reporting to the Co-founder, Chairwoman and CEO, Dr. Jasmine Cui. Dr. Zhang will be responsible for global clinical development strategy and execution for InnoCare. Dr. Zhang is based in U.S., thus demonstrating InnoCare’s ongoing commitment to globalization.

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As a physician scientist, Dr. Zhang has more than 30 years working experience in clinical practice, academic research and drug discovery and development. Before joining InnoCare, Dr. Zhang served as CMO and Member of the Board of Directors of Hengrui Therapeutics Inc. (HTI) before his promotion to CEO. HTI is a joint venture between Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine and a leading global investment firm focused on oncology, autoimmune and other unmet medical-need disease areas. Under Dr. Zhang’s leadership, his team has successfully launched two global phase III oncology studies in US and EU and one global phase II study for autoimmune disease, submitted more than ten U.S. FDA Investigational New Drug applications (INDs) and conducted a number of successful FDA meetings on several major development programs. Before HTI, Dr. Zhang assumed increasing responsibilities in clinical development at GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Johnson and Johnson. He also worked as staff gastroenterologist and clinical investigator at 301 Hospital in Beijing in his early career.

"It is my pleasure to welcome Dr. Zhang to join InnoCare," said Dr. Cui. "We established this senior role in U.S. to not only expand our global footprint but also to enhance our clinical development competency globally. Dr. Zhang has accumulated solid experience in clinical development, drug discovery and business leadership, and he has established a broad network with physicians in both the U.S. and China. I believe his on-boarding will further advance our ongoing clinical trials in the field of oncology and autoimmune diseases worldwide."

"It is my honor and privilege to join InnoCare at this exciting moment in the company’s evolution," said Dr. Zhang. "I am very impressed with InnoCare’s strong innovation capabilities and rich product pipelines. I look forward to working closely with our clinical team and partners to further advance our clinical development pipelines to benefit patients worldwide."

Dr. Zhang completed his postdoctoral training at Sepulveda VA Hospital of UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles and Michigan State University. After passing the United States Medical License Examination (USMLE), Dr. Zhang completed his medical followship training at Clinical Center of U.S. National Institute of Health in 2006. He was elected Fellow of American College of Clinical Pharmacology (FCP) in 2012. He is also board of director of Sino-American Pharmaceutical Association (SAPA).

SunRock Biopharma and IDIS secure 1.8 million euros in funding for the IMPANC project

On February 27, 2021 SunRock Biopharma reported the consortium formed by SunRock Biopharma and the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS) has obtained funding of 1.8 million euros to develop the IMPANC research project, whose objective is finding new immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer (Press release, SunRock Biopharma, FEB 27, 2021, View Source [SID1234647348]). This project is being developed within the framework of the 2022 call for R&D&i Projects in Strategic Lines, of the State Research Agency, financed by public funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious and late-diagnosed cancers. In 2020, 495,773 new cases were diagnosed worldwide (8,211 in Spain alone), a figure that is expected to increase by 60% by 2040. This cancer also has the lowest five-year survival expectations, with only 7%, and is the third leading cause of cancer death in Spain.

Given the urgent need to find more effective and safe treatments, the IMPANC project aims to progress on studying a novel and effective therapeutic alternative using a new approach to understanding the role of the CCR9 target in pancreatic cancer. SunRock Biopharma, partially owned by XesGalicia, has developed a first-in-class antibody against CCR9 that has been shown to improve survival in animal models of different types of cancer, which would be a major breakthrough in the fight against this disease. The new anti-CCR9 antibody could be used in combination with standard chemotherapy or immunotherapies currently used in clinical practice, or even as an alternative to them.

The three research groups of IDIS participating in the IMPANC project (ONCOMET, Pathological Anatomy, and GITEAD) will validate the results obtained so far in samples from cancer patients. At the same time, they will develop strategies for the characterization of new biomarkers that allow this treatment to be brought closer to patients using liquid biopsy techniques.

Artiva Biotherapeutics Raises $120 Million in Series B Financing to Advance Pipeline of Allogeneic NK Cell Therapies

On February 26, 2021 Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc., an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing cell therapies based on primary allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells that have been optimized for their ability to kill tumors, reported the closing of a $120 million Series B financing (Press release, Artiva Biotherapeutics, FEB 26, 2021, View Source [SID1234580588]). New investor Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners led the financing. Other new investors participating in the financing included Acuta Capital Partners, Cormorant Asset Management, EcoR1 Capital, Franklin Templeton, Janus Henderson Investors, Logos Capital, RTW Investments, LP, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel Company), Wellington Management Company, and an undisclosed leading global investment firm. Existing investors, 5AM Ventures, RA Capital Management, and venBio Partners, along with strategic partners GC LabCell (Green Cross LabCell Corporation, KRX: 14451) and GC (Green Cross Holdings Corporation, KRX: 005250), also participated in the financing. Artiva plans to use the proceeds from the financing to advance its NK cell therapy development programs and expand ongoing research and development activities.

"The quality and support of the investor groups participating in this financing further validates the promise of our manufacturing first strategy, the potential of our NK cell platform, and our goal to provide safe, effective, and truly off-the-shelf cell therapy treatments that are immediately accessible to cancer patients," said Fred Aslan, M.D., CEO of Artiva. "I would also like to welcome Bong Koh to our board of directors and look forward to drawing upon his expertise as we continue to advance our clinical and other development activities."

"Artiva is a promising company with differentiated technology, strong manufacturing capabilities and a talented management team," said Bong Koh, M.D., with Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners. "I look forward to working closely with Artiva’s board and management during this exciting period of growth for the company."

Artiva’s cell therapies are designed to leverage the innate anti-tumor biology and safety features of NK cells. The therapies are optimized for targeted anti-cancer activity through CARs, or ADCC enhancement through therapeutic antibody or innate-cell engager combination therapy. Artiva’s manufacturing platform supports large-scale production and cryopreservation of off-the-shelf allogeneic NK cell therapies, and proprietary CAR-NK and NK-specific gene-editing technologies to augment therapeutic activity.

BriaCell Announces Closing of US$25 Million Public Offering

On February 26, 2021 BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (TSX-V:BCT) (NASDAQ: BCTX, BCTXW) ("BriaCell" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in targeted immunotherapies for advanced breast cancer, reported its previously announced underwritten public offering in the United States. The Company offered 4,852,353 common units at a public offering price of US$4.25 per unit, consisting of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock ("Warrant"), and 1,030,000 pre-funded units at a public offering price of US$4.24 per unit, consisting of one pre-funded common stock purchase warrant ("Pre-Funded Warrant") and one Warrant (Press release, BriaCell Therapeutics, FEB 26, 2021, View Source [SID1234575804]). The Pre-Funded Warrants are exercisable at any time after the date of issuance at an exercise price of US$0.01 per common share. The Warrants have a per share exercise price of US$5.3125, can be exercised immediately, and expire five years from the date of issuance.

The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company from the offering were approximately US$25 million, before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses. The Company has granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to 882,352 additional shares of common stock and/or Pre-Funded Warrants and/or 882,352 additional warrants to cover over-allotments, if any. In connection with the closing of this offering, the underwriter has exercised its over-allotment option to purchase an additional 882,352 warrants. The underwriter has retained the right to exercise the balance of its over-allotment option within the 45-day period.

The common shares and warrants began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols BCTX and BCTXW respectively, on February 24, 2021.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds to fund clinical trials, research and development, and for general working capital and general corporate purposes.

ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., acted as sole book-running manager for the offering.

A registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-234292) relating to the shares was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and became effective on February 23, 2021. This offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus may be obtained from ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., 17 State Street, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10004, by telephone at (877) 436-3673, by email at [email protected]. Investors may also obtain these documents at no cost by visiting the SEC’s website at View Source

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

Horizon Therapeutics plc to Present at the Cowen and Company 41st Annual Health Care Conference

On February 26, 2021 Horizon Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: HZNP) reported that the Company will participate in the following conference in March (Press release, Horizon Pharma, FEB 26, 2021, https://ir.horizontherapeutics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/horizon-therapeutics-plc-present-cowen-and-company-41st-annual [SID1234575793]):

Cowen and Company 41st Annual Health Care Conference (Virtual)

Date: Tuesday, Mar. 2, 2021
Presentation Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
The conference presentation will be webcast live and may be accessed by visiting Horizon’s website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be available following the event.