Black Diamond Therapeutics to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conferences

On November 1, 2024 Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDTX), a clinical-stage oncology company developing MasterKey therapies that target families of oncogenic mutations in patients with cancer, reported its participation in upcoming investor conferences (Press release, Black Diamond Therapeutics, NOV 1, 2024, View Source [SID1234647633]). Presentation details with President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Velleca, M.D., Ph.D., are as follows:

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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

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Stifel Healthcare Conference fireside chat at 4:10pm ET on Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Piper Sandler 36th Annual Healthcare Conference fireside chat at 3:00pm ET on Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Webcasts will be available at the start of the presentations on the investor relations section of the Company’s website, www.blackdiamondtherapeutics.com. Replays of the presentations will also be available and archived on the site for 90 days.

Biodesix Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results and Highlights

On November 1, 2024 Biodesix, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDSX), a leading diagnostic solutions company, reported its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 (Press release, Biodesix, NOV 1, 2024, View Source [SID1234647632]).

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"The Biodesix team is pleased to report another solid quarter focused on executing and delivering on our three main goals – driving revenue growth through the adoption of our lung diagnostic tests and biopharma services, continued implementation of operational efficiencies, and maintaining a cost-disciplined approach as we drive our business to profitability," said Scott Hutton, CEO of Biodesix.

"We reported 40% year-over-year growth in lung diagnostics revenue, a growing book of biopharma services contracts, sustained gross margins in the high 70% range, and improved Net Loss on our path to profitability. In addition, at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), we presented new clinical data on our Nodify XL2 and Nodify CDT tests, and announced a new clinical study (CLARIFY) to expand our data in diverse patient populations tested in a real-world clinical setting. Building on this momentum, we are reiterating our prior guidance of $70-$72 million for 2024 and we look forward to achieving Adjusted EBITDA profitability in the second half of 2025. At Biodesix, our tests play a vital role in treating the deadliest of all cancers. Our committed and driven team embraces the opportunity, and the responsibility, to transform the standard of care to improve outcomes for patients."

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2024 Business Highlights


Grew Lung Diagnostic test volume to 13,900, a 34% improvement over the third quarter of 2023.

Quarterly gross profit margin of 77.0% versus 76.1% for the third quarter of 2023.

Presented compelling new data at the CHEST Annual Meeting and announced the launch of a new clinical study, CLARIFY.
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New data was presented detailing the experience of healthcare providers using the Nodify Lung Nodule Risk Assessment Tests (Nodify XL2 and Nodify CDT tests) in over 35,000 patients tested in a real-world clinical setting. Results shared were consistent with prior studies, highlighting the high proportion of results that up- or down-classify patients into actionable risk categories with clear, guideline-recommended, diagnostic plans.
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The new study, CLARIFY, is designed to confirm performance of the Nodify CDT and Nodify XL2 tests in diverse patient subgroups through a retrospective chart review of up to 4,000 patients that were tested in a real-world clinical setting. The study’s intent is to expand the extensive evidence characterizing the validation and utility of Nodify Lung testing.

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2024 Financial Highlights


Total revenue of $18.2 million, an increase of 35% over the third quarter 2023:
o
Lung Diagnostic revenue of $17.2 million reflected a year-over-year increase of 40% driven by the continued adoption of Nodify XL2 and Nodify CDT nodule risk assessment tests and strong reimbursement. However, test volumes were impacted at the end of the third quarter by disruption to patients, healthcare providers, and Biodesix teammates in the southeast due to Hurricane Helene;
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Biopharmaceutical Services revenue of $1.0 million decreased 17% year-over-year, driven by the timing of receipt of samples and shift of the completion of certain projects from the end of the third quarter into the beginning of the fourth;

Third quarter 2024 gross profit of $14.0 million, or 77.0% gross margin compared to 76.1% gross margin in the comparable prior year period. Our steady margin performance is primarily driven by volume growth in Lung Diagnostic testing that continues to drive down the per test costs;

Operating expenses (excluding direct costs and expenses) of $22.6 million, an increase of 29% as compared to the third quarter 2023, which includes $3.0 million of non-cash stock compensation expense and depreciation and amortization as compared to $1.7 million in third quarter of 2023. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in sales and marketing costs to support both business lines’ sales growth to enhance product awareness and drive adoption, and an increase in depreciation expense related to the leasehold improvements in the Company’s Louisville, CO offices and laboratory which opened in January 2024;

Net loss of $10.3 million, an improvement of 6% as compared to the same period of 2023;

Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $5.6 million, a slight increase over the loss of $5.4 million in the third quarter of 2023 and consistent with the second quarter of 2024;

Cash and cash equivalents of $31.4 million as of September 30, 2024, a decrease from $42.2 million from June 30, 2024;
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Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2024 includes the final milestone payment of $6.1 million for the acquisition of Integrated Diagnostics in 2018.
2024 – 2025 Financial Outlook

The Company is reiterating the 2024 revenue forecast of between $70 million and $72 million.

Conference call and webcast information

Listeners can register for the webcast via this link. Analysts who wish to participate in the question-and-answer session should use this link. A replay of the webcast will be available via the Company’s investor relations page on the website approximately two hours after the call’s conclusion. Participants are advised to join 15 minutes prior to the start time.

For a full list of Biodesix press releases and webinars, please visit biodesix.com.

ALX Oncology Announces Results from Phase 1b/2 Trial of Evorpacept in Combination with Zanidatamab will be Presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) 2024

On November 1, 2024 ALX Oncology Holdings Inc., ("ALX Oncology" or "the Company") (Nasdaq: ALXO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing therapies that boost the immune system to treat cancer in new ways and extend patients’ lives, reported that results from a Phase 1b/2 combination trial evaluating ALX Oncology’s evorpacept in combination with Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ zanidatamab in HER2-positive and HER2-low metastatic breast cancer have been accepted for a poster spotlight presentation at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), which will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from December 10-13, 2024 (Press release, ALX Oncology, NOV 1, 2024, View Source [SID1234647631]).

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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

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The Phase 1b/2 clinical trial is a two-part, open-label, multicenter study (NCT05027139) that evaluated the potential of evorpacept in combination with zanidatamab as a novel treatment for patients with HER2-expressing breast cancer and other cancers. Data from this study will be summarized in the following poster spotlight presentation:

Title: Zanidatamab in combination with evorpacept in HER2-positive and HER2-low metastatic breast cancer: Results from a phase 1b/2 study
Abstract Number: SESS-2007
Presenter: Alberto J. Montero, M.D., MBA, Clinical Director, Breast Cancer Medical Oncology Program, Diana Hyland Endowed Chair for Breast Cancer, and Professor of Medicine at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University
Presentation Date and Time: Thursday, Dec. 12, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. CST
Presentation ID: PS8-09
Location: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas

China’s first domestically produced PD-L1 antibody approved in the UK! CStone Pharmaceuticals announced that Sugemalimab has been approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

On October 31, 2024 CStone Pharmaceuticals (HKEX: 2616), an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of oncology drugs, reported that the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved sugemalimab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who do not harbor EGFR-sensitizing mutations or genomic tumor alterations in ALK, ROS1, or RET (Press release, CStone Pharmaceauticals, OCT 31, 2024, View Source [SID1234656225]). This is the second marketing authorization application (MAA) approval for sugemalimab in an overseas market, following the approval by the European Commission.

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Dr. Jianxin Yang, CEO, President of R&D, and Executive Director of CStone Pharmaceuticals, said: "The approval of Sugemalimab in the UK marks another important milestone in our global expansion. Sugemalimab is the first domestically produced PD-L1 monoclonal antibody to successfully enter the global market. Following its entry into the EU, the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market, Sugemalimab has secured entry into the UK, a key overseas market. The long-term survival data presented at this year’s ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) further solidified Sugemalimab’s important position in the first-line treatment landscape for metastatic NSCLC."

Dr. Yang added, "In terms of overseas commercialization and registration, we are actively negotiating with partners in Western Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Canada, and other regions, and expect to reach several commercial collaborations in the near future. Concurrently, we are actively communicating with international regulatory agencies, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), regarding the marketing authorization of sugemalimab for other indications, such as stage III NSCLC, first-line gastric cancer, and first-line esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We look forward to bringing innovative treatment options to more patients worldwide."

This approval is primarily based on results from the multicenter, randomized, double-blind Phase III GEMSTONE-302 clinical study. Sugemalimab combined with chemotherapy significantly prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival compared with placebo combined with chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated metastatic NSCLC. The study data have been published in The Lancet Oncology and Nature Cancer, and have been presented at numerous international conferences as oral presentations and posters.

About Sugemalimab Injection

Sugemalimab is an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody developed by CStone Pharmaceuticals. Its development is based on the OmniRat transgenic animal platform, licensed from Ligand Corporation in the United States . This platform enables the one-stop production of fully human antibodies. As a fully human, full-length anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, sugemalimab is the closest to the body’s natural G-type immunoglobulin 4 (IgG4) monoclonal antibody, minimizing the potential risk of immunogenicity and related toxicities in patients, offering distinct advantages over similar agents. Sugemalimab’s unique molecular design equips it with a dual mechanism of action: it not only blocks the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction but also mediates the interaction between PD-L1-expressing tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), inducing antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) while sparing effector T cells. This differentiated design enables sugemalimab to demonstrate potentially best-in-class efficacy and safety across various tumor types.

Currently, the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved five indications for Sugemalimab (trade name: Zegemet) :

First-line treatment in combination with chemotherapy for patients with metastatic squamous and non-squamous NSCLC;
For the treatment of patients with unresectable, stage III NSCLC who have not experienced disease progression after concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy;
Treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma;
Combined with fluorouracil and platinum chemotherapy drugs as the first-line treatment for patients with unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma;
In combination with fluorouracil-containing and platinum-based chemotherapy, it is used for the first-line treatment of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma that expresses PD-L1 (combined positive score [CPS] ≥ 5).
The European Commission (EC) has approved sugemalimab (trade name: Cejemly ) in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC who do not have EGFR-sensitive mutations or genomic tumor alterations in ALK, ROS1, or RET.

The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved sugemalimab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC who do not have EGFR-sensitive mutations or genomic tumor alterations in ALK, ROS1, or RET.

Takeda Quarterly Financial Report For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2024

On October 31, 2024 Takeda reported Quarterly Financial Report For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2024 (Presentation, Takeda, OCT 31, 2024, View Source [SID1234649516]).

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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

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