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1.The high expression level of full length human antibody in CHO cell line
2.Tumor angiogenesis specific mechanism and safe to healthy tissue

3.Broad-spectrum antitumor effect

Current stage: Preclinical study

Immatics and MD Anderson announce launch of Immatics US, Inc., to develop multiple T-cell and TCR-based adoptive cellular therapies

On August 26, 2015 Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH (Immatics) and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported the launch of Immatics US, Inc., a new company aiming at becoming a global leader in adoptive cellular therapies (ACT) for the treatment of a range of tumor types (Press release, immatics biotechnologies, AUG 26, 2015, View Source [SID:1234514979]).

Immatics believes that ACT approaches to be developed by the new company can achieve a step change in the treatment of cancer, by delivering significant, long- lasting clinical benefits. The new company will strive to develop three different ACT approaches for the treatment of tumors with high un-met medical needs, the first of which will enter the clinic in 2016.
Immatics US, Inc. will develop both autologous and allogenic ACT approaches by capitalizing on MD Anderson’s world-leading clinical oncology and cell therapy expertise and Immatics’ unrivaled cancer target and T-cell receptor (TCR) discovery capabilities.
Immatics US, Inc. will be based in Houston and has secured a first funding round totaling over $60m with more than $40m committed by the parent company Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH and $19.7 million by a recently awarded grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).

Immatics has been able to use its unique and world-leading technology platform XPRESIDENT for the discovery and further qualification of dozens of novel, proprietary and highly specific cancer targets that can be used as the basis for a range of cancer immunotherapy applications including ACT. This capability will enable Immatics US, Inc. to develop TCR-based approaches and to have complementary utility with other approaches for addressing tumor targets. Immatics believes its ACT will be both efficacious and safe due to the specificity of its novel well-characterized targets, including novel over-expressed, cancer-testis and neo-antigens ideally suited for specific and safe ACT approaches.

lmmatics has been benefiting from MDACC’s outstanding understanding of cancer immunotherapy. Two leading MD Anderson scientists, Patrick Hwu, M.D., Division Head of Cancer Medicine, and Cassian Yee, M.D., Professor of Medical Melanoma Oncology, have laid the scientific foundation for the adoptive cell therapy development plans of lmmatics US, Inc., and they will continue to provide ongoing practical support and guidance as the Company develops its ACT approaches and therapies.
Immatics has also gained access to various technologies developed or in-licensed by MD Anderson. These include the use of the cytokine IL-21 for expansion of T cells, a gamma-delta T-cell platform for allogeneic cell therapy approaches and various technologies designed to optimize the development of ACT.

"The potential of cancer immunotherapy has been constrained by the lack of novel targets. Immatics has been working for the last 15 years to gain a broad and in-depth understanding of the immunopeptidome of tumor and normal tissue cells," said Harpreet Singh, CEO of Immatics US, Inc. "Based on this unique expertise we have discovered dozens of novel immunotherapy targets that will be central to the success of Immatics US, Inc. With several complementary development programs guided by some of the most exceptional scientists in the field of cancer immunotherapy, we are in exactly the right place to deliver transforming therapies to cancer patients with high medical need."

"We are extremely excited about the potential of Immatics US, Inc. to develop and commercialize the world’s best ACT," said Paul Higham, CEO of the parent company Immatics. "The combination of MD Anderson’s significant clinical oncology and cell therapy expertise and our own unrivaled cancer target discovery capabilities will allow us to develop the optimal ACT for the treatment of cancer, initially a range of solid tumors with high un-met medical need. I would like to thank CPRIT and our investors for their financial support and look forward to developing Immatics US, Inc. into one of the world’s leading cancer immunotherapy companies."

"Our on-going efforts to provide the most innovative therapies to our patients are due, in part, to collaborations both in academia and industry," said Ronald DePinho, M.D., president of MD Anderson. "It is only through working with other leaders in cancer science will we provide the solutions of tomorrow."

Verastem Issues Statement Regarding WCLC Presentations

On August 26, 2015 Verastem, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSTM), focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells, today issued the following statement in response to inquiries regarding the anticipated oral presentation of VS-6063 (defactinib) data from a Phase 2 study in patients with KRAS mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the 16th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC):

"While updated results from the Phase 2 study of VS-6063 in KRAS mutant non-small cell lung cancer are under embargo until WCLC, Verastem believes the study has met its goals, with encouraging outcomes that the Company plans to explore in future studies (Press release, Verastem, AUG 26, 2015, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2082284 [SID:1234507350]). The population explored in this study has refractory, advanced lung cancer, with a median of three prior therapies, and as many as eight prior therapies. The advanced stage of disease led, in some cases, to deaths even in the period between screening and prior to first dose of VS-6063. Two subjects reported as having grade 5 respiratory failure were on multiple concomitant medications and presented with multiple co-morbidities. Both were thoroughly evaluated and reported to the regulatory authorities in 2013 and 2014 when they occurred.

"The totality of safety and efficacy data seen to date with VS-6063 across multiple clinical trials, multiple tumor types and stages of treatment is promising. In addition, in the Company’s registration-directed COMMAND trial in mesothelioma, an independent data safety monitoring board has met and reviewed study data, including adverse events, three times and recommended no changes to study protocol. There have been over 300 patients treated to date with VS-6063, including patients on drug for more than one year. Verastem remains encouraged by the clinical potential of targeting cancer stem cells through FAK inhibition, and is unwavering in its commitment to delivering novel, safe and effective treatments to patients with unmet medical needs."

About VS-6063
VS-6063 (defactinib) is an orally available compound designed to target cancer stem cells through the potent inhibition of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor resistance to chemotherapy, recurrence and ultimate disease progression. Research has demonstrated that FAK activity is critical for the growth and survival of cancer stem cells. VS-6063 is currently being studied in the registration-directed COMMAND trial in mesothelioma (www.COMMANDmeso.com), a "Window of Opportunity" study in patients with mesothelioma prior to surgery, a Phase 1/1b study in combination with paclitaxel in patients with ovarian cancer, a trial in patients with KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer and a trial evaluating the combination of VS-6063 and VS-5584 in patients with relapsed mesothelioma. VS-6063 has been granted orphan drug designation for use in mesothelioma in the U.S. and EU.

Cellectis to Present Data on its CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy Programs During Upcoming Conferences

On August 26, 2015 Cellectis (Alternext: ALCLS – Nasdaq Global Market: CLLS), a pioneering gene-editing company employing proprietary technologies to develop best-in-class products in the emerging field of immuno-oncology, reported that pre-clinical data on its engineered allogeneic CAR T-cells will be featured during several conferences in the coming weeks (Press release, Cellectis, AUG 26, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507344]).

The Immunotherapy and Vaccine Summit

August 24th to 28th, 2015, Boston, USA

• André Choulika, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Cellectis, will be presenting in the panel "Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Gene Editing Technologies" on Thursday, August 27th at 11:45AM.

• Dr Choulika will also give a presentation entitled "Allogeneic Universal CAR-T Cells Engineered With TALEN" during the session "Merging Gene Editing and Immunotherapy" on Thursday, August 27th at 3:05PM.

• Julien Valton, Ph.D., Senior Scientist at Cellectis, will give a presentation entitled "A Multidrug Resistant Engineered CAR T-Cell for Allogeneic Combination Immunotherapy" during the session "Chimeric Antigen Receptors" on Thursday, August 27th at 11:15AM.

CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Immunotherapy Conference

September 16th to 19th, 2015, New York, USA

• Laurent Poirot, Head of Early Discovery at Cellectis, to present a poster entitled "Targeted genome modifications for Improved Adoptive Immunotherapy" on Wednesday, September 16.

• Philippe Duchateau, Chief Scientific Officer at Cellectis, to present a poster entitled "Design of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) with controllable function via small molecule" on Friday, September 18.

• Julianne Smith, VP CAR T Development at Cellectis, to present a poster entitled "Allogeneic CAR T-cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy" on Friday, September 18.

Phacilitate Cell & Gene Therapy

September 29th to 30th, 2015, Barcelona, Spain

• Stéphan Reynier, Chief Regulatory and Compliance Officer at Cellectis, to present as a chairperson during the session: "What is the most realistic, practicable supply chain solution for this particular class of products in Europe? What would be most feasible for rare vs. common indications?" This roundtable discussion will take place on Wednesday, September 30th, from 4:20 to 5:30PM.

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Presents Data at Annual Immunotherapy and Vaccine Summit (ImVacS) Supporting Ability of Bavituximab to Mediate Anti-Tumor T Cell Responses Across Multiple Tumor Types

On August 26, 2015 Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPHM) (NASDAQ:PPHMP), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics to stimulate the body’s immune system to fight cancer,reported the presentation of a range of clinical, translational and pre-clinical study results highlighting the ability of bavituximab, Peregrine’s investigational phosphatidylserine (PS)-signaling pathway inhibitor, to promote anti-tumor T cell mediated activity in several tumor types (Press release, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, AUG 26, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507340]). The data were presented today by Jeff T. Hutchins, Ph.D., vice president, preclinical research at Peregrine Pharmaceuticals and chairperson of the Combination Immunotherapy Strategies session at the 10th Annual Immunotherapy and Vaccine Summit (ImVacS), being held August 24-28, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Bavituximab is an investigational immunotherapy designed to assist the body’s immune system by targeting and modulating the activity of phosphatidylserine (PS), a highly immune-suppressive signaling molecule expressed broadly on the surface of cells in the tumor microenvironment. Peregrine’s PS signaling pathway inhibitor candidates, including bavituximab, reverse the immunosuppressive environment that many tumors establish in order to proliferate and fight cancer by activating macrophages and cytotoxic T cells in tumors. Preclinical data demonstrate that combining the enhanced T cell anti-tumor activity of bavituximab-like antibodies with checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1 antibodies, results in significantly improved tumor control in multiple models of cancer.

Dr. Hutchins’ presentation highlighted key findings from several recent bavituximab-focused studies including:
The potential of bavituximab to shift the tumor microenvironment from immuno-suppressive in which tumors evade immune detection to a state of immune activation in which the immune system recognizes and fights the tumor. Presented findings demonstrate that bavituximab-like antibodies significantly increase the prevalence of tumor infiltrating CD8+ T-cells and immune-activating cytokines, while decreasing macrophages and myeloid cells that allow the tumor to evade immune detection. This elucidation and confirmation of bavituximab’s mechanism of action highlights the potential of bavituximab to enhance the anti-tumor effects of both chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Bavituximab increases the number of activated CD8+ cells in the tumor, which stimulates PD-1 expression, thereby upregulating the target for checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1.

Importantly, translational study data across multiple cancers indicated that tumors with low PD-L1 or PD-1 expression on tumor infiltrating T cells showed promising signs of immune activation after treatment with bavituximab. This suggests the potential for bavituximab to activate a tumor specific immune response in patients with PD-L1 negative tumors that generally do not respond as well to PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors. By doing so, it is believed that bavituximab may hold potential to increase the number of patients able to respond to PD-1 and PD-L1 targeting immunotherapies.

Furthermore, the combination of bavituximab-like antibodies and anti-PD-1 antibodies resulted in enhanced, synergistic anti-tumor activity in animal models of multiple tumor types, as compared to either agent alone. In some cases, complete tumor regressions were achieved, highlighting the anti-tumor potential of bavituximab in combination with checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 antibodies.
Results from several clinical and preclinical studies in a range of tumor types show that bavituximab and bavituximab-like antibodies, in combination with conventional therapy, have consistently demonstrated estimated survival curves that plateau.

"We continue to generate a broad collection of pre-clinical, translational and clinical data highlighting bavituximab’s novel mechanism of action and synergistic activity for a range of combination treatments. These study results, particularly as they relate to the potential synergies between bavituximab and checkpoint inhibitors, create great excitement for us as we begin work with our new collaborators at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and AstraZeneca, while continuing our long-standing relationship with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center where this technology was originally developed," said Dr. Hutchins. "By aligning with these world leaders in cancer immunotherapy to study novel immuno-oncology combination therapies, we are best positioning ourselves to maximize the potential role that bavituximab can play in this new era of innovative cancer treatments."

About Bavituximab: A Targeted Investigational Immunotherapy
Bavituximab is an investigational chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets phosphatidylserine (PS). Signals from PS inhibit the ability of immune cells to recognize and fight tumors. Bavituximab, the lead compound in Peregrine’s immuno-oncology development program, blocks PS to alter this immunosuppressive signal and sends an immune activating signal. Targeting PS with bavituximab has been shown to shift the functions of immune cells in tumors, resulting in anti-tumor immune responses.