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Trillium Securityholders Approve Acquisition by Pfizer

On October 26, 2021 Trillium Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ/TSX: TRIL) ("Trillium" or the "Company") reported that its securityholders approved a statutory arrangement with PF Argentum ULC ("PF Argentum") a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) ("Pfizer") at the special meeting of Trillium securityholders (Press release, Trillium Therapeutics, OCT 26, 2021, View Source [SID1234592006]). Pursuant to the arrangement, PF Argentum will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares and warrants of Trillium, other than Trillium securities owned by Pfizer and its affiliates.

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The special resolution approving the arrangement was approved by: (i) 99.61% of the votes cast by Trillium shareholders voting as a single class present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting; and (ii) 99.64% of the votes cast by Trillium shareholders and warrant holders, voting as a single class present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.

A non-binding resolution approving the compensation that may become payable to certain executive officers of Trillium in connection with the arrangement was also approved by 97.11% of the votes cast by holders of Trillium common shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting.

Upon closing of the arrangement, Trillium shareholders other than Pfizer and its affiliates will receive US$18.50 per share in cash subject to any applicable withholdings and other source deductions, and warrant holders will receive, at the holder’s election, (1) a cash payment equal to the amount by which US$18.50 exceeds the exercise price per share of such warrant, subject to applicable withholdings and other source deductions, or (2) a cash payment equal to the Black Scholes value of such warrant (as calculated pursuant to the terms and conditions of the certificate governing such warrant), subject to applicable withholdings and other source deductions.

The arrangement is subject to court and regulatory approvals and clearances, as well as other customary closing conditions. Subject to the satisfaction of such conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021 or the first half of 2022.

Evotec SE: Translational BRIDGE beLAB2122 in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb identifies first project

On October 26, 2021 Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) reported the first project to be developed within beLAB2122, a collaboration between Evotec and Bristol Myers Squibb (Press release, Evotec, OCT 26, 2021, View Source;announcements/press-releases/p/evotec-se-translational-bridge-belab2122-in-collaboration-with-bristol-myers-squibb-identifies-first-project-6110 [SID1234591992]). beLAB2122 aims to bring together leading academic institutions from the Rhine-Main-Neckar region of Germany with the goal of efficiently advancing first-in-class therapeutic options across all therapeutic areas and formats into investable drug discovery and early development projects. After signing the beLAB2122 collaboration agreement in April 2021, the first project to be developed within this academic BRIDGE collaboration has now been nominated.

Originating in the laboratory of Dr Darjus Tschaharganeh, Group Leader at the German Cancer Research Center ("DKFZ"), Heidelberg, and Professor at Heidelberg University, the project is based on the observation of synthetic lethal interactions in certain cancer types and aims at the development of small molecule inhibitors of a nutrient transporter essential for the survival of these cancer cells.

beLAB2122 will now leverage Evotec’s integrated discovery and development platform to validate and develop the project further. The goal of beLAB2122 is to develop academic projects to value inflection points that allow the formation of new jointly owned spin-off companies.

Dr Thomas Hanke, EVP & Head of Academic Partnerships at Evotec, commented: "We are pleased to further explore the promising approach from the DKFZ and Heidelberg University as the first funded project of beLAB2122. Evotec’s BRIDGE collaborations aim at seamlessly integrating academic innovations into the pharmaceutical value chain and accelerating them to new company formations. We look forward to progressing this and many more interesting academic projects using Evotec’s highly efficient integrated drug discovery & development infrastructure called the ‘Data-driven R&D Autobahn to Cures’. At the same time, we are pleased to receive additional promising applications from scientists working within the beLAB2122 member institutions at the EMBL, the German Cancer Research Center, the Goethe University Frankfurt, Heidelberg University and Tübingen University, and are looking forward to expanding the scope of the project portfolio further."

Dr Darjus Tschaharganeh, Group Leader at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Professor at Heidelberg University, added: "We are excited to be chosen as the first beLAB2122 project and to be part of the collaboration bridge. Our project evolved from fundamental basic research and we are now at a point that our results clearly illustrate that pharmacological inhibitors for this target could be very successful for cancer treatment. The beLAB2122 initiative with strong pharmaceutical partners is ideally suited to pursue this project. We are looking forward to a close interaction with Evotec and Bristol Myers Squibb and hope that we can find potent inhibitors for our target in order to get to the next step and hopefully will be able to bring this in the future to the clinics for the benefit of patients."

beLAB2122 is backed by Evotec in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb. The total volume of US$ 20 m will allow for several more funding rounds. For more information on beLAB2122, visit www.belab2122.org.

Evotec announces first funded projects of translational BRIDGE beLAB1407 in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb

On October 26, 2021 Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) reported the first two projects to be developed within beLAB1407, a collaboration between Evotec and Bristol Myers Squibb to accelerate translational research from the UK’s academic life science ecosystem (Press release, Evotec, OCT 26, 2021, View Source;announcements/press-releases/p/evotec-announces-first-funded-projects-of-translational-bridge-belab1407-in-collaboration-with-bristol-myers-squibb-6108 [SID1234591991]). Only six months after signing the beLAB1407 collaboration agreement in May 2021, the first projects to be developed within this academic BRIDGE collaboration have now been identified.

Both projects offer innovative and promising new mechanisms to treat cancer. The first project is based on the findings of Dr Paul Badenhorst at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences. The project aims to develop novel small molecule inhibitors targeting an epigenetic reader associated with the survival of cancer cells.

The second project has its origins in the lab of Dr Ashish Dhir at the University of Edinburgh’s MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer and focuses on the development of small molecules promoting interferon signaling, driving an inflammation-mediated anti-tumour response.

Both projects will now be validated and developed within beLAB1407, making use of Evotec’s integrated discovery and development platform. The goal of beLAB1407 is to develop academic projects to value inflection points that allow the formation of new jointly owned spin-off companies.

Dr Thomas Hanke, EVP & Head of Academic Partnerships at Evotec, commented: "We are delighted to announce the first funded projects at beLAB1407 and we are looking forward to accelerating the promising translational work of Drs Badenhorst and Dhir in the area of novel cancer treatments on Evotec’s integrated drug discovery & development infrastructure called the ‘Data-driven R&D Autobahn to Cures’ towards a hit identification and beyond. At the same time, we are pleased to receive additional promising applications from scientists working within the beLAB1407 member institutions in Birmingham, Nottingham, Edinburgh and Dundee, and are looking forward to expanding the scope of the project portfolio further."

Dr Paul Badenhorst, Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, said: "The award of funding from the beLAB1407 BMS-Evotec Academic Collaboration marks a significant step in our ongoing research programmes to understand the roles of epigenetic readers in cancer, and to develop new strategies for therapeutic intervention in a diverse range of cancer types."

Dr Ashish Dhir, Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Edinburgh’s MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, said: "I’m truly honoured to receive this funding from beLAB1407 that will drive our fundamental research towards drug development, an important leap towards the clinic. As an early career researcher, this is a fantastic endorsement of the research vision and exciting science in my lab."

beLAB1407 is backed by Evotec in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb. The total volume of US$ 20 m will allow for several more funding rounds. For more information on beLAB1407, visit www.belab1407.org.

MacroGenics Announces Date of Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results Conference Call

On October 26, 2021 MacroGenics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGNX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, reported that the Company will release its financial results for the third quarter of 2021 after the market closes on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 (Press release, MacroGenics, OCT 26, 2021, View Source [SID1234591990]). MacroGenics will host a conference call to discuss the financial results and recent corporate progress on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 4:30 pm ET. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 303-6253 (domestic) or (973) 409-9610 (international) five minutes prior to the start of the call and providing the Conference ID# 6063045.

The listen-only webcast of the conference call can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at View Source A recorded replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and archived on the Company’s website for 30 days following the call.

Ligand to Report Third Quarter Financial Results on November 9, 2021

On October 26, 2021 Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: LGND) reported that it will report financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 after the close of the U.S. financial markets on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 and will hold a conference call that same day beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (Press release, Ligand, OCT 26, 2021, View Source [SID1234591989]). Speakers on the call will include Ligand’s CEO John Higgins, President and COO Matt Foehr and Executive Vice President and CFO Matt Korenberg.