On October 17, 2019 Selexis SA and Teneobio, Inc. reported that they have signed three commercial license agreements (CLAs) for the development of Teneobio’s Human Heavy-Chain Antibodies (UniAbs), a new class of multi-specific biologics, for the treatment of multiple myeloma, lymphoma and prostate cancer (Press release, TeneoBio, OCT 17, 2019, View Source [SID1234542339]). The CLAs expand the companies’ previously established relationship, including a service agreement signed between Teneobio and Selexis in December 2018.

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Through each new CLA, Selexis will provide Teneobio with access to high performance research cell banks (RCBs) developed using the Selexis SUREtechnology Platform, with each expressing a unique UniAb product candidate.

"Today, new generations of biologically engineered antibody therapies are reaching the clinic with Selexis technologies that are specifically engineered to address the challenges of achieving high expression levels for and quality thresholds of bi- and multi-specific antibodies. Teneobio’s multi-specific UniAbs represent an exciting opportunity to leverage our capabilities," said Yemi Onakunle, PhD, MBA, Selexis senior vice president, licensing and business development. "We’re pleased that the SUREtechnology Platform has positively impacted the trajectory of Teneobio’s pipeline and we look forward to working with their team to bring these exciting new oncology biologics to the clinic."

Bi- and multi-specific antibodies represent one of the fastest-growing classes of molecules offering new therapeutic perspectives. A bi/multi-specific antibody is a recombinant, engineered protein that can simultaneously bind to two or more different types of antigens, often on two or more different types of cells. For cancer therapies, one-half of a bispecific recognizes an antigen on an immune cell, typically a T-cell, and the other half recognizes an antigen on the tumor. By binding both antigens simultaneously, a bispecific brings T-cells in close proximity to tumor cells where they can kill them.

"Since we began working with Selexis two years ago, we’ve seen firsthand the benefits of its cell line expression technologies – high-yield, speed, stability, flexibility and applicability for use with our differentiated, multi-specific platform – all of which are essential for bringing our innovative UniAbs to patients," said Omid Vafa, PhD, MBA, chief business officer at Teneobio, Inc. "We look forward to continuing our important work together."

Selexis’ modular SUREtechnology Platform facilitates the rapid, stable, and cost-effective production of virtually any recombinant protein and provides seamless integration of the biologics development continuum, spanning discovery to commercialization.

On October 17, 2019 Plexium reported the launch of the company with the closing of a $28 million Series A financing (Press release, Plexium, OCT 17, 2019, View Source [SID1234542338]). The financing was led by DCVC Bio and The Column Group, with participation from M Ventures, CRV, and Neotribe Ventures. The company’s proprietary platform, DELPhe, enables cell-based phenotypic screening of DNA-encoded libraries in nanoliter volumes.

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Proceeds from the financing will be used to further advance Plexium’s DELPhe platform and build a pipeline of small molecules that modulate E3 ligases to selectively enhance and degrade protein targets. Disease-specific profiles of desired protein modulation are informed by human clinical and translational biomarker observations. By screening millions of small molecules, simultaneously, for their impact on cellular RNA and protein levels, compounds with the desired activity profiles will be selected and advanced as therapeutic candidates in oncology and neurodegenerative diseases.

"Inducing protein degradation by redirecting E3 ligases is an exciting therapeutic modality with immense potential to create safe and effective new medicines," said Kandaswamy (Swamy) Vijayan, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Plexium. "The levels of a vast majority of proteins in the cell are modulated by E3 ligases, including disease targets considered ‘undruggable.’ DELPhe can efficiently identify therapeutic small molecules for the precise manipulation of E3 ligases, unlocking control of disease-modifying pathways."

Plexium’s strategy employing the DELPhe platform is unlike other approaches to targeted protein degradation. While other strategies require a small molecule known to bind a protein target to be degraded, the DELPhe platform utilizes target-specific degradation assays and phenotypic screens to find small molecules that reduce levels of the target protein in cells. This creates an opportunity to identify small molecules to undruggable protein targets through screening approaches that do not require prior knowledge of molecules that bind the target.

In conjunction with the financing, Kiersten Stead, Ph.D., managing partner of DCVC Bio, and Tim Kutzkey, Ph.D., managing partner of The Column Group, have joined Plexium’s board of directors.

"Plexium is replacing the complex infrastructure around drug discovery with an ultra-high-throughput microfluidic platform while reducing assay complexity and supercharging chemical diversity," said Kiersten Stead. "The richness and scale of data that can be generated from the DELPhe platform are poised to transform drug development. We are thrilled to support Plexium in its mission to develop the ultimate tool for drugging undruggable proteins."

"Plexium is an interesting amalgam of cutting-edge engineering coupled with the latest advances in chemistry and biology," said Tim Kutzkey. "We are impressed with the vision of the DELPhe platform and its applicability to E3 ligase modulation. We believe tuning E3 ligases opens up immense opportunities for first-in-class therapeutics, and we are excited to be supporting the novel approaches and therapeutic opportunities being pursued at Plexium."

Plexium will be presenting at the Targeted Protein Degradation Summit in Boston on October 23.

On October 17, 2019 Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRTX), a clinical-stage targeted oncology company, reported it will present pre-clinical data and initial clinical data on MRTX849, a novel and optimized KRAS G12C inhibitor, in presentations at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-NCI-EORTC AACR-NCI-EORTC (Free AACR-NCI-EORTC Whitepaper) International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (EORTC-NCI-AACR) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) in Boston, October 26-30, 2019 at the Hynes Convention Center (Press release, Mirati, OCT 17, 2019, View Source [SID1234542337]).

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On Monday, October 28, beginning at 4:20pm EDT, pre-clinical MRTX849 data will be presented in an oral presentation, "The KRAS G12C Inhibitor, MRTX849, Provides Insight Toward Therapeutic Susceptibility of KRAS Mutant Cancers" during "Concurrent Session 5: Targeting the RAS/MAP Kinase Pathway" by Dr. James Christensen, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Mirati. Following the pre-clinical presentation, MRTX849-001 Investigator, Dr. Pasi A. Janne, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Professor of Medicine, Harvard University and the Scientific Director of the Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science will highlight initial clinical data for MRTX849 in an oral presentation, "A Phase 1 Clinical Trial Evaluating the Pharmacokinetics (PK), Safety, and Clinical Activity of MRTX849, a Mutant-Selective Small Molecule KRAS G12C Inhibitor, in Advanced Solid Tumors".

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Additionally, MRTX849 pre-clinical data will be presented in two poster presentations.

Poster Title: Discovery and Pre-Clinical Development of MRTX849: A Mutation-Selective KRAS G12C Inhibitor
Session Title: Therapeutic Agents: Other
Session Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Session Start Time: 12:30pm EDT
Session End Time: 4:00pm EDT
Location: Hall D, Hynes Convention Center
Abstract/Poster Number: C069

Poster Title: The KRAS G12C inhibitor MRTX849 reconditions the tumor immune microenvironment and leads to durable complete responses in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy in a syngeneic mouse model
Session Title: Late-Breaking Poster Session C: Therapeutic Agents: Other
Session Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Session Start Time: 12:30pm EDT
Session End Time: 4:00pm EDT
Location: Hall D, Hynes Convention Center
Board Number: 156
Abstract/Poster Number: LB-C09

About MRTX849

MRTX849 is an investigational, orally-available small molecule that is designed to potently and selectively inhibit a form of KRAS which harbors a substitution mutation (G12C). KRAS G12C mutations are present in approximately 14% of NSCLC adenocarcinoma patients, 4% of colorectal cancer patients, and subsets of other types of cancer. Tumors characterized by KRAS G12C mutations are commonly associated with poor prognosis and resistance to therapy, and patients with these mutations have few treatment options. MRTX849 is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 trial treating patients with molecularly-identified, KRAS G12C-positive advanced solid tumors.

On October 17, 2019 Verastem, Inc. (Nasdaq:VSTM) (Verastem Oncology or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing medicines seeking to improve the survival and quality of life of cancer patients, reported that the Company will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss corporate updates and financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019 (Press release, Verastem, OCT 17, 2019, View Source [SID1234542336]).

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The call can be accessed by dialing (877) 341-5660 (U.S. and Canada) or (315) 625-3226 (international), five minutes prior to the start of the call and providing the passcode 5785818. The live, listen-only webcast of the conference call can be accessed by visiting the investors section of the Company’s website at www.verastem.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for 90 days following the call.

On October 17, 2019 Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) reported it will release third quarter 2019 financial results on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, prior to the open of U.S. financial markets (Press release, Allergan, OCT 17, 2019, View Source [SID1234542335]).

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Allergan plc logo

For additional materials related to Allergan’s third quarter results, please visit Allergan’s Investor Relations website at View Source