1stOncology™: Cancer Intelligence Service – Page 12504 – 1stOncology is recognized as a Top 10 Global Pharma Analytic Provider

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Enters into Asset Purchase and Master Services Agreements with MD Anderson

On January 21, 2020 Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLCM), a leader in developing novel, controllable cellular immunotherapies for cancers, reported it has entered into an asset purchase agreement under which The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will acquire Bellicum’s approximately 60,000-square-foot Houston facility, including manufacturing, office and laboratory space, for $15 million (Press release, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, JAN 21, 2020, View Source [SID1234553370]).

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!

As part of the transaction, Bellicum also will enter into a master services agreement with MD Anderson. Following completion of the transaction, MD Anderson will operate the Houston facility for its own internal programs as well as to manufacture Bellicum’s GoCAR and other cellular therapy programs for clinical trials and potentially early commercial supply.

"After conducting a thorough evaluation of our manufacturing strategy, we pursued and structured this agreement with MD Anderson to serve the best interests of our patients, employees, partners, and shareholders," said Rick Fair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals. "The preferred supply agreement assures Bellicum’s access to cell therapy product supply while reducing our operating expenses. Bellicum’s corporate headquarters in Houston will remain the center of excellence for our research, process and analytical development, third-party manufacturing, and quality assurance functions."

The sale of the manufacturing facility is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020. Transition activities are underway. Closing of the transaction is subject to several conditions, including consent of the building landlord. Approximately 35 employees currently employed at the facility will be employed by MD Anderson.

228,223 Orion Corporation A shares converted into B shares

On January 21, 2020 228,223 Orion Corporation reported that A shares converted into B shares (Press release, Orion , JAN 21, 2020, View Source [SID1234553369]).

In accordance with Section 3 of the Articles of Association of Orion Corporation, 228,223 A shares have been converted into 228,223 B shares. The conversion has been entered into the Trade Register on 21 January 2020.

The total number of shares in Orion Corporation is 141,257,828 which, after the conversion, consists of 36,107,240 A shares and 105,150,588 B shares. The number of votes of the company’s shares is after the conversion 827,295,388.

Trovagene to Present New Clinical Data for Onvansertib in Metastatic KRAS-Mutated Colorectal Cancer at ASCO 2020 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

On January 21, 2020 Trovagene, Inc. (Nasdaq: TROV), a clinical-stage, oncology therapeutics company developing onvansertib for the treatment of various cancers including colorectal, prostate and leukemia, reported that a poster featuring safety and efficacy data from its Phase 1b/2 study in metastatic KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer (mCRC), will be presented on Saturday, January 25th, 2020 at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2020 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco (Press release, Trovagene, JAN 21, 2020, View Source [SID1234553368]).

The poster presentation will be available for download from the Scientific Presentations page on the Trovagene website at View Source
Details of the Poster Presentation are as follows:
Title: A Phase 1b/2 Study of Onvansertib in Combination with FOLFIRI and Bevacizumab for Second-Line Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC) in Patients with a KRAS Mutation
Session: Trials in Progress Poster Session C: Anal and Colorectal Cancer
Abstract: TP5265
Poster: M21
Date/Time and Location: Saturday, January 25th, 6:30 AM – 7:55 AM – Moscone Convention Center Level 1, West Hall

About the Phase 1b/2 Trial of Onvansertib in Metastatic KRAS-mutated Colorectal Cancer
The trial, A Phase 1b/2 Study of Onvansertib (PCM-075) in Combination with FOLFIRI and Bevacizumab for Second‑Line Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in Patients with a KRAS Mutation (NCT03829410), will evaluate the safety and efficacy of onvansertib in combination with standard-of-care FOLFIRI and Avastin (bevacizumab). Up to 44 patients, with a confirmed KRAS mutation, metastatic and unresectable disease, who have failed or are intolerant of treatment with FOLFOX (fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin) with or without Avastin (bevacizumab), will be enrolled. The trial is being conducted at two prestigious cancer centers: USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and The Mayo Clinic Arizona.
About Onvansertib
Onvansertib is a first-in-class, third-generation, oral and highly-selective adenosine triphosphate (ATP) competitive inhibitor of the serine/threonine polo-like-kinase 1 (PLK1) enzyme, which is over-expressed in multiple cancers including leukemias, lymphomas and solid tumors. Onvansertib targets the PLK1 isoform only (not PLK2 or PLK3), is orally administered and has a 24-hour half-life with only mild-to-moderate side effects reported. Trovagene believes that targeting only PLK1 and having a favorable safety and tolerability profile, along with an improved dose/scheduling regimen will significantly improve on the outcome observed in previous studies with a former panPLK inhibitor in AML.

Trovagene Inc. | 11055 Flintkote Avenue | San Diego | CA 92121 | Tel.: USA [+1] 888-391-7992

Onvansertib has demonstrated synergy in preclinical studies with numerous chemotherapies and targeted therapeutics used to treat leukemias, lymphomas and solid tumor cancers, including irinotecan, FLT3 and HDAC inhibitors, taxanes and cytotoxins. Trovagene believes the combination of onvansertib with other compounds has the potential to improve clinical efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), colorectal cancer and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), as well as other types of cancer.
Trovagene has three ongoing clinical trials of onvansertib: A Phase 2 trial of onvansertib in combination with Zytiga (abiraterone acetate)/prednisone in patients with mCRPC who are showing signs of early progressive disease (rise in PSA but minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic) while currently receiving Zytiga (NCT03414034); a Phase 1b/2 Study of onvansertib in combination with FOLFIRI and Avastin for second-line treatment in patients with mCRC with a KRAS mutation (NCT03829410); and a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of onvansertib in combination with low-dose cytarabine or decitabine in patients with relapsed or refractory AML (NCT03303339). Onvansertib has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA in the U.S. and by the EC in the European Union for the treatment of patients with AML.
Trovagene licensed onvansertib (also known as NMS-1286937 and PCM-075) from Nerviano Medical Sciences (NMS), the largest oncology-focused research and development company in Italy, and a leader in protein kinase drug development. NMS has an excellent track record of licensing innovative drugs to pharma/biotech companies, including Array (recently acquired by Pfizer), Ignyta (acquired by Roche) and Genentech.

Sirona Biochem Announces Grant of Stock Options

On January 21, 2020 Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM) (FSE: ZSB)(US-OTC: SRBCF)("Sirona" or the "Company") reported that it has granted an aggregate of 6,800,000 incentive stock options to management, independent directors and consultants of the Company (Press release, Sirona Biochem, JAN 21, 2020, View Source [SID1234553367]). The options, to purchase common shares in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.45 per common share, will be for periods ranging from 1 to 10 years. The options have been granted under the terms of the Company’s stock option plan.

Quest Diagnostics Named One of 2020 "World’s Most Admired Companies" by FORTUNE Magazine for Sixth Consecutive Year

On January 21, 2020 Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, reported that it has been selected as one of FORTUNE’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2020 for the sixth consecutive year (Press release, Quest Diagnostics, JAN 21, 2020, View Source [SID1234553366]).

The annual survey designated Quest Diagnostics as one of only five companies to attain Most Admired status in the "Health Care: Pharmacy and Other Services" industry category.

"This award belongs to our 46,000 employees who are committed to creating a healthier world every day," said Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, President and CEO. "We are honored to receive this award for the sixth consecutive year."

FORTUNE’s "World’s Most Admired Companies" list is based on surveys of 680 companies from 30 countries, asking executives, directors, and analysts to rate enterprises within their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and ability to attract talent. A company’s score had to rank in the top half of its industry peer group to be listed.