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Biocept Receives South Korean Patent for Primer-Switch Platform Used to Identify Rare Genetic Mutations, Including Cancer Biomarkers

On July 6, 2021 Biocept, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOC), a leading provider of molecular diagnostic assays and services, reported that it has been awarded a South Korean Patent for its Primer-Switch technology, which detects rare mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) using real-time PCR and associated analysis methods (Press release, Biocept, JUL 6, 2021, View Source [SID1234584627]). The patent (No. 2252447) is titled Methods for Detecting Nucleic Acid Sequence Variants.

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This is the fourth issued patent for the technology, which identifies rare cancer biomarkers found in tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Primer-Switch provides a unique method for specifically enriching patient specimens for mutations of interest. It can be used to enhance the performance and specificity of the PCR method, the most widely used amplification approach for research and clinical diagnostic applications. It also enables the interrogation of fragmented DNA that is often found in biological fluids.

"Primer-Switch methodology adds to the capabilities of our Switch-Blocker technology used in our Target Selector assays, providing key information about cancer biomarkers to aid physician decision-making, with the goal of improving outcomes for patients with cancer," said Michael Nall, Biocept’s President and CEO. "Our strong and growing intellectual property portfolio enables Biocept to develop and commercialize our highly differentiated technologies and testing services."

Biocept’s core technologies and products are protected by more than 70 issued patents in the U.S., EU, Australia, China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as other countries. This includes worldwide patent protection on its highly sensitive methods for detecting cancer biomarkers that are used by physicians for treatment decisions.

Eureka Therapeutics Announces New GPRC5D License Agreement with Sanofi to Target Multiple Myeloma

On July 6, 2021 Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. reported that Eureka and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) entered into a license agreement with Sanofi for the non-CAR use of a novel, human binding domain targeting GPRC5D (G Protein-Coupled Receptor Family C Group 5 Member D). The GPRC5D binding domain was discovered using Eureka’s proprietary E-ALPHA antibody discovery platform and developed under a collaboration agreement between Eureka and MSK.

"GPRC5D is a novel target that has emerged as a promising option for the treatment of multiple myeloma, particularly for patients who have relapsed from other therapies," said Dr. Eric L. Smith, myeloma physician-scientist and an inventor on the patents.

"We are delighted to contribute technology for the development of next generation therapies against multiple myeloma," said Dr. Cheng Liu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eureka Therapeutics. "Targeting GPRC5D has the potential to improve the durability of response from current therapies and to improve the long-term clinical benefits for patients."

Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi has exclusive rights to the GPRC5D binder for non-CAR use. Eureka and MSK are eligible to receive an upfront payment and over $1 billion of potential development, regulatory and sales milestone payments. Eureka and MSK are also eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales.

ABOUT MULTIPLE MYELOMA

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects a type of white blood cells called plasma cells that are specialized mature B-cells, which secrete antibodies to combat infections. Multiple myeloma is characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of neoplastic plasma cells in the bone marrow, where they overcrowd healthy blood cells. Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematologic cancer and affects approximately 130,000 people. Each year, about 32,000 people in the US are diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Immunome to Present at the Ladenburg Thalmann 2021 Healthcare Conference

On July 6, 2021 Immunome, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMNM), a biopharmaceutical company that utilizes its human memory B cell discovery engine platform to discover and develop first-in-class antibody therapeutics, reported that Purnanand Sarma, Ph.D., Immunome’s President and CEO, will present at the Ladenburg Thalmann 2021 Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. ET (Press release, Immunome, JUL 6, 2021, View Source [SID1234584625]).

Interested parties can access the live audio webcast for this conference from the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at www.immunome.com. The webcast replay will be available after the conclusion of the live presentation for approximately 30 days.

4D pharma Announces Publication of Preclinical Research Showing Single Strain Megasphaera massiliensis improves activity of CAR-T

On July 6, 2021 4D pharma plc (AIM: DDDD, NASDAQ: LBPS), a pharmaceutical company leading the development of Live Biotherapeutic products (LBPs), a novel class of drug derived from the microbiome, reported the publication of pre-clinical research relating to its second-generation immuno-oncology LBP MRx1299 improving the activity of CAR-T (Press release, 4d Pharma, JUL 6, 2021, View Source [SID1234584624]).

The research, conducted in collaboration with the Philipps-University Marburg, Germany, and Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Germany, and published in Nature Communications, demonstrates the ability of the bacterium Megasphaera massiliensis or its short chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolite pentanoate to enhance the anti-tumor activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and CAR-T therapies in animal models of cancer, resulting in better tumor clearance.

4D pharma identified M. massiliensis MRx1299 using its MicroRx platform and previously showed MRx1299 to have specific histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory activity and be a rare prolific producer of pentanoate. This led to discussions with the lab of Dr. Alexander Visekruna, corresponding author on the recent publication, due to their work investigating the effects of SCFAs on immune cell subsets.

"Our existing clinical oncology programs, such as the study of MRx0518 and Keytruda in refractory patients, have shown the important role our live biotherapeutics have to play in the fight against cancer in combination with immunotherapies. Using the MicroRx platform we have now shown we have the potential to improve the efficacies of cell therapies such as CAR-T," commented Dr. Imke Mulder, Research Director, 4D pharma. "This demonstrates not only the importance of Live Biotherapeutics as a new modality poised to revolutionize the treatment of a wide range of cancers, but also the power of our MicroRx platform to continue making significant discoveries and advances in this field."

"Collectively, these results suggest that low-abundant commensal bacterial species such as M. massiliensis and their selective metabolites such as pentanoate, rather than broadly distributed and abundant commensals, may be used as specific microbial biotherapeutics to enhance anti-tumor immunity and increase the efficacy of CAR-T therapy for treating tumors," commented Dr Alexander Visekruna of the Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene at Philipps-University Marburg. "Combined therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors or CAR-T and simultaneous provision of low-abundant bacteria synthesizing specific metabolites as an adjunctive agent may be therapeutically useful."

Luu et al., Nature Communications, ‘Microbial short-chain fatty acids modulate CD8+ T cell responses and improve adoptive immunotherapy for cancer’ View Source

MiNA Therapeutics Announces Equity Investment From Lilly

On July 6, 2021 MiNA Therapeutics Limited ("MiNA" or the "Company"), the pioneer in small activating RNA therapeutics, reported that Eli Lilly and Company has entered into a definitive agreement under which it will make a direct equity investment in MiNA (Press release, MiNA Therapeutics, JUL 6, 2021, View Source [SID1234584623]).

The equity investment of approximately $15m follows the recent agreement between the two companies to develop novel drug candidates using MiNA’s proprietary small activating RNA (saRNA) technology platform, announced on 11 May 2021.

Proceeds from the equity investment will be used to advance and expand MiNA’s internal pipeline of saRNA therapeutics, which is initially focused on immuno-oncology and genetic diseases.

Robert Habib, CEO of MiNA Therapeutics, commented:
"We welcome Lilly as an important shareholder in MiNA. This investment from Lilly, together with our recently announced multi-target research collaboration, represents an important endorsement of our saRNA platform."