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CNS Pharmaceuticals Announces Inclusion in the Russell 2000® Index

On June 17, 2021 CNS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) ("CNS" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of novel treatments for primary and metastatic cancers in the brain and central nervous system, reported that as part of the annual reconstitution of the Russell stock indexes, CNS Pharmaceuticals has been selected to be added to the Russell 2000 Index effective June 25, 2021, after the close of the U.S. equity markets (Press release, CNS Pharmaceuticals, JUN 17, 2021, View Source;announces-inclusion-in-the-russell-2000-index-301314307.html [SID1234584146]).

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John Climaco, CEO of CNS Pharmaceuticals, commented "We are pleased to meet this noteworthy milestone and be included in the Russell 2000 Index. As our team continues to drive our clinical program forward for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), we believe this inclusion well-positions us to drive market awareness. We are honored to be listed among our industry peers on what is considered to be a widely respected performance benchmark for small-cap companies. We look forward to leveraging the access and positioning this inclusion brings to unlock additional value."

The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the US equity market. The Russell 2000 Index is a subset of the Russell 3000 Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership.

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $9 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell’s U.S. indexes which are part of FTSE Russell, a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide.

For more information on the Russell Indexes, please visit the FTS Russell website at www.ftserussell.com.

Innovent Announces First Patient Dosed in the Phase II Basket Trial of Taletrectinib for Solid Tumors with NTRK Fusion

On June 17, 2021 Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent", HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of cancer, metabolic, autoimmune and other major diseases, reported that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase II basket trial of taletrectinib for solid tumors containing NTRK fusion (NCT04617054) (Press release, Innovent Biologics, JUN 17, 2021, View Source [SID1234584145]).

In June 2021, Innovent entered an exclusive agreement with AnHeart Therapeutics Co., Ltd. ("AnHeart"), a clinical stage oncology company focused on underserved patients in global markets, under which Innovent obtained exclusive rights to co-develop and commercialize taletrectinib in Greater China.

Dr. Hui Zhou, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development, Innovent Biologics, stated, "Many patients with rare conditions, like NTRK fusion-positive cancer have limited treatment options and poor access to targeted therapies. We are very pleased to see that our partner AnHeart is advancing the phase II trial of taletrectinib in NTRK fusion driven solid tumors. We will work closely with AnHeart to bring taletrectinib to patients in Greater China."

"Building upon the promising preliminary results in the Phase II trials for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ROS1 fusions, we are moving forward with the Phase II trial of taletrectinib for NTRK fusion-driven solid tumors," said Bing Yan, MD, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of AnHeart. "We plan to enroll approximately 40 patients in this open-label, single-arm, multi-center Phase II study in China."

About Taletrectinib

Taletrectinib is an investigational next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) designed to effectively target ROS1 and NTRK fusion mutations with potential to treat TKI-naïve or pre-treated patients. ROS1 rearrangement is estimated to be an oncogenic driver in approximately 2 to 3 percent of patients with advanced NSCLC, and NTRK rearrangement is estimated to be an oncogenic driver in approximately 0.5 percent of patients with other advanced solid tumors. More information about the ongoing TRUST (Taletrectinib ROS1 LUng STudy) trial and the basket trial in NTRK fusion positive solid tumors of taletrectinib may be found by searching clinical trial identifiers NCT04395677 and NCT04617054, respectively at View Source

On 1 June 2021, Innovent and Anheart announced an exclusive license agreement for the co-development and commercialization of AnHeart’s lead drug candidate, taletrectinib – a next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) designed to effectively target ROS1 and NTRK – in Greater China, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Jacobio Announces First Two Patients Dosed in SHP2 Combination Study, Triggering US$20 Million Milestone Payment

On June 17, 2021 Jacobio Pharmaceuticals (1167.HK) reported that the first two patients have been dosed in the Phase 1/2a clinical trial of SHP2 inhibitor JAB-3312 in combination with PD-1 antibody Pembrolizumab and MEK inhibitor Binimetinib respectively, thereby triggering the US$20 million milestone payment from AbbVie (Press release, Jacobio Pharmaceuticals, JUN 17, 2021, View Source [SID1234584144]).

The US$20 million payment is the first milestone payment following the initial upfront fee of US$45 million at the outset of the Jacobio and AbbVie’s collaboration. "Jacobio’s SHP2 inhibitor JAB-3068 is the second SHP2 inhibitor drug candidate to receive investigational new drug (IND) approval from the U.S. FDA to enter clinical development. Since embarking on our collaboration with AbbVie, we have been working with AbbVie to accelerate the global development of SHP2 inhibitors, including JAB-3068 and JAB-3312. This clinical milestone provides financial support and injects confidence into our follow-up research and development," stated Dr. Yinxiang Wang, Chairman and CEO of Jacobio.

Jacobio entered into a licensing agreement with AbbVie in May 2020 to develop and commercialize SHP2 inhibitors, including JAB-3068 and JAB-3312, on a worldwide basis. SHP2 inhibitors (JAB-3068 and JAB-3312) are Jacobio’s innovative, in-house, small molecule anti-cancer drug candidates, which are being investigated in clinical trials as either monotherapy or in combination therapy at more than 30 sites globally.

Rakuten Medical and Shimadzu Corporation announce a joint development and commercialization agreement on a medical device to be used with the Illuminox™ platform

On June 17, 2021 Rakuten Medical, Inc. (HQ: San Mateo, Calif.; Chairman and CEO: Hiroshi Mikitani; hereinafter "Rakuten Medical") and Shimadzu Corporation (HQ: Kyoto, Japan; President and CEO: Teruhisa Ueda; hereinafter "Shimadzu") reported a joint development and commercialization agreement to advance a medical device for use on the Illuminox platform (Press release, Rakuten Medical, JUN 17, 2021, View Source [SID1234584143]). This partnership will allow for the development of a medical device using optical measurement technologies to support cancer treatment by photoimmunotherapy.

Therapies developed on the Illuminox platform involve administering a targeting moiety conjugated with one or more dyes, which is illuminated by light at a specific wavelength. Light illumination of the targeted cells transiently excites the drug, and pre-clinical data have shown this excitation elicits rapid and selective necrosis of targeted cells through a biophysical process.

Based on this agreement, both companies will use their expertise to work toward the joint development of technology that will allow visualization, measurement, and recording of the reaction of the dye to light illumination in real-time. This will allow for optimization of light irradiation depending on the tumor. Both companies will cooperate to aim for commercialization of the medical device using the technology on a worldwide basis.

Rakuten Medical is developing therapies on its Illuminox platform, an investigational treatment platform based on a cancer therapy called photoimmunotherapy developed by Dr. Kobayashi and team from the National Cancer Institute in the United States. In September 2020, Rakuten Medical announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Rakuten Medical Japan K.K. received conditional marketing approval in Japan from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for ASP-1929 Photoimmunotherapy and a laser light device to treat unresectable locally advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer, and began commercialization in January 2021. Shimadzu is focusing on creating innovative products and services, which combine analytical measurements with diagnostic imaging in the healthcare field. Utilizing its measurement technologies, Shimadzu has worked with cancer institutes in both USA and Japan for the development of photoimmunotherapy at the pre-clinical stage.

AbbVie Declares Quarterly Dividend

On June 17, 2021 The board of directors of AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) reported a quarterly cash dividend of $1.30 per share (Press release, AbbVie, JUN 17, 2021, View Source [SID1234584137]).

The cash dividend is payable August 16, 2021 to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 15, 2021.

Since the company’s inception in 2013, AbbVie has increased its dividend by 225 percent. AbbVie is a member of the S&P Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years.