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OBI Pharma, Inc. to Present at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

On January 8, 2019 OBI Pharma, Inc., a Taiwan biopharma company (TPEx: 4174), reported that Amy Huang, General Manager, will present a company overview at the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. PST/12 noon EST, in San Francisco, CA (Press release, OBI Pharma, JAN 8, 2019, View Source [SID1234532589]).

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Cellular Biomedicine Group Initiates Patient Recruitment for Clinical Trial in B Cell Maturation Antigen (Anti-BCMA) Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (CAR-T) Therapy Targeting Multiple Myeloma (MM)

On January 8, 2019 Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CBMG) ("CBMG" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical firm engaged in the development of immunotherapies for cancer and stem cell therapies for degenerative diseases, reported the initiation of patient recruitment to support the study of anti-BCMA CAR-T therapy targeting relapsed and refractory Multiple Myeloma in China (Press release, Cellular Biomedicine Group, JAN 8, 2019, View Source [SID1234532588]).

"China has seen a substantial increase in the incidence of Multiple Myeloma. As a drug development company, BCMA is the first of multiple assets that CBMG is advancing amongst our oncology pipeline beyond our collaboration with a global leader in cell therapy," commented Tony (Bizuo) Liu, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "We plan to provide updates in the near future on the progress of our other proprietary technologies, including anti-CD22 and anti-CD20 CAR-T targeting relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) patients post anti-CD19 CAR-T treatment, Alpha Fetoprotein T-cell Receptor (AFP-TCR-T) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and next generation Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other solid tumor indications. We hope to be able to provide expeditious, safe and effective therapies to cancer patients who currently have limited treatment options."

About the Study
This Phase I clinical study will enroll 22 patients to evaluate the safety and efficacy of C-CAR088 (anti-BCMA Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell therapy) in patients with relapsed and/or refractory Multiple Myeloma.

About Multiple Myeloma in China
It is estimated that there are 27,800 new cases of Multiple Myeloma, a cancer derived from plasma cells, diagnosed in China each year. With the acceleration of the aging process in China, it is predicted that Multiple Myeloma, with a rapid growth in incidence, will become one of the more significant diseases that affect people’s health in the country. (Source: Blood Cancer J. 2014 Aug 15;4:e239. doi: 10.1038/bcj.2014.55)

Cambridge Epigenetix announces programme for routine screening and detection of colorectal cancer and other common tumours

On January 8, 2019 Cambridge Epigenetix Ltd, a pioneer in the development and application of epigenetic technologies, reported its discovery and development programme for a test to detect colorectal and other cancers (Press release, Cambridge Epigenetix, JAN 8, 2019, View Source [SID1234532587]). This follows completion of a c. $30 million funding round, as well as the acquisition of exclusive patent rights for its epigenetic sequencing platform.

Epigenetic changes act as a control layer for the genome and can alter gene expression, but not the genetic code itself. These alterations may involve the presence of small chemical groups on the building blocks, or nucleotide bases, which make up DNA. DNA from cancer cells has a distinct epigenetic signature, and this is the basis for the use of epigenetic tests in cancer testing.

"The global burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) is expected to increase by 60% to more than 2.2 million new cases and 1.1 million deaths by 2030,"1 stated Dr David Johnson MD, MACG, FASGE, MACP, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Gastroenterology at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, who serves as a member of the company’s clinical advisory board. "Detection of CRC remains a challenge, and the availability of a non-invasive, easy-to-administer and affordable screening test as our first initiative could transform the diagnosis, detection and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions and CRC." Dr Johnson has previously been President of the American College of Gastroenterology and has played a pivotal role in shaping the dialogue around colon cancer screening and early detection. He was instrumental in putting through the historic first legislation to mandate colon cancer screening using colonoscopy as the preferred standard in the state of Virginia, USA.

In support of its mission, the company has been granted broad and exclusive patent rights (US Patent number 10,041,938) for the use of epigenetic modification 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) as a diagnostic biomarker for cancer. Cambridge Epigenetix is using proprietary technology for analysing 5hmC in circulating free DNA (cfDNA) to develop a test for detection of CRC. The company is currently conducting a large discovery study with over 2,000 patient samples, including healthy volunteers, and individuals with adenomas and all stages of CRC. This study follows encouraging preliminary results from profiling 5hmC in over 200 CRC and healthy volunteer cfDNA samples.2 Several independent studies have indicated that measuring 5hmC in plasma circulating cfDNA is effective for non-invasive cancer detection. 3,4

Sir Shankar Balasubramanian, co-founder of Cambridge Epigenetix, FRS, FMedSci, Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, said: "Cambridge Epigenetix’s 5hmC platform analyses some of the earliest markers of cancer development in patients’ blood samples to detect disease. Ultimately, our aim is to develop a diagnostic test that can detect multiple cancers from one standard blood draw."

The latest round of secured funding will advance the company’s proprietary technology platform, which enables the sensitive and specific detection of epigenetic biomarkers for cancer in blood and other liquid biopsy samples. Ahren Innovation Capital (UK) led the funding round with current US-based supporters GV, New Sciences Ventures and Sequoia Capital. Additionally, new investors – including DNA Capital (Brazil) – also participated, bringing the total amount raised by the company since founding to $56.5 million.

Alice Newcombe-Ellis, Founder & Managing Partner, Ahren Innovation Capital, said: "Cancer detection through liquid biopsy has the possibility of transforming human health. Our investment will help Cambridge Epigenetix build on its strong intellectual property foundation, based on the research conducted by Sir Shankar Balasubramanian and Professor Anjana Rao."

Cambridge Epigenetix also announces the appointment of Dr Suman Shirodkar, MBBS, PhD as the CEO of the company. Dr Shirodkar has extensive leadership experience in the industry and will lead the next phase of development of the diagnostic test. Prior to joining Cambridge Epigenetix, Dr Shirodkar led product teams in oncology, HIV, and cardiovascular medicine at Pfizer and Novartis.

"It is a very exciting time to be leading Cambridge Epigenetix" commented Dr Suman Shirodkar. "Our ability to detect 5hmC in circulating, cell-free DNA, and the discovery and development of a liquid biopsy signature for tumours, could revolutionise cancer care and decrease cancer mortality through widespread screening, early detection and timely intervention. I am excited to lead the talented team at Cambridge Epigenetix for the development and launch of the first of many tests to detect cancer".

Systems Oncology to Present at eChinaHealth Event During the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

On January 8, 2019 Systems Oncology, an AI-based biopharmaceutical company, reported that Dr. Spyro Mousses, Chief Executive Officer, will present their rapidly growing pipeline of innovative oncology programs discovered with their ExpansiveAI platform, during the 37th annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, CA (Press release, Systems Oncology, JAN 8, 2019, View Source [SID1234532586]). The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, January 9th at 10:45AM PST as part of Pitch Day presented by eChinaHealth.

The presentation will give specific examples of new programs and collaborative research opportunities that emerged from Systems Oncology’s unique ability to translate big data into novel insights. Systems Oncology then leverages its unique insights into cancer biology and clinical/regulatory development opportunities to enter into in-licensing and out-licensing deals with organizations around the world to build drug development programs and collaborate with partners to drive these programs forward. Systems Oncology recently closed another two deals: its first deal in China, an in-licensing agreement with a major Chinese university; and its first venture into Japan, an out-licensing collaboration with Toray Industries, a large Japanese corporation, on TRK-880, a novel anti-cancer drug that is projected to be effective across many cancer indications. The presentation at the eChinaHealth event will highlight some of these successful international programs and express Systems Oncology’s interest to continue to collaborate and partner with organizations in Asia as part of its overall global outreach.

ImmunoGen Announces Sale of Residual Kadcyla Royalties

On January 8, 2019 ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a leader in the expanding field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer, reported the sale of its residual rights to receive royalty payments on commercial sales of Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine) to OMERS, the defined benefit pension plan for municipal employees in the Province of Ontario, Canada, for $65 million (Press release, ImmunoGen, JAN 8, 2019, View Source [SID1234532585]).

"ImmunoGen played a key role in the generation and early development of Kadcyla, the first ADC approved for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, and we are pleased to see the continued progress of this important therapy in the market," said Mark Enyedy, President and Chief Executive Officer. "As ImmunoGen evolves into a fully-integrated company with our proprietary portfolio, this transaction further strengthens our balance sheet as we execute on our strategic priorities and work to deliver more good days to people living with cancer."

This transaction entails the sale of the residual interest held by ImmunoGen from a prior transaction with Immunity Royalty Holdings, L.P. (IRH). In 2015, ImmunoGen announced a $200 million non-dilutive royalty transaction through which ImmunoGen sold the right to receive 100% of the royalty revenue on Kadcyla commercial sales to an undisclosed threshold amount, subject to certain conditions. Once the applicable threshold was met, ImmunoGen would receive 85% of the Kadcyla royalty revenue and the original purchaser would receive 15% for the remaining term of the royalty. With this transaction, OMERS now owns 100% of ImmunoGen’s rights to receive Kadcyla royalties.

MTS Health Partners, L.P. acted as exclusive financial advisor to ImmunoGen and Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. acted as special transactional counsel to ImmunoGen.

ABOUT KADCYLA ROYALTIES

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, developed Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine) using ADC technology licensed from ImmunoGen under a 2000 agreement established between the companies. This agreement entitles ImmunoGen to receive royalties ranging from 3-5% on Kadcyla sales in countries where ImmunoGen holds valid patents covering Kadcyla, and 2% in countries without relevant ImmunoGen patents. ImmunoGen is entitled to receive royalties on commercial Kadcyla sales in each country for ten years after the launch of Kadcyla in that country. This period extends to twelve years for each country in which ImmunoGen has valid claims in relevant patents on the tenth anniversary of the commercial launch of Kadcyla in that country.

ABOUT OMERS

Founded in 1962, OMERS is one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans, with more than $95 billion in net assets, as at December 31, 2017. It invests and administers pensions for almost half a million members from municipalities, school boards, emergency services, and local agencies across Ontario. OMERS has employees in Toronto and other major cities across North America, the U.K., Europe, Asia, and Australia – originating and managing a diversified portfolio of investments in public markets, private equity, infrastructure, and real estate. For more information, please visit www.omers.com.