On September 6, 2018 Pfizer Inc. reported its invites investors and the general public to listen to a webcast of a discussion with Frank D’Amelio, Executive Vice President, Business Operations, and Chief Financial Officer, at the Morgan Stanley 16th Annual Global Healthcare Conference on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 2:55 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (Press release, Pfizer, SEP 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234529428]).

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To listen to the webcast, visit our web site at www.pfizer.com/investors. Information on accessing and pre -registering for the webcast will be available at www.pfizer.com/investors beginning today.

Visitors will be able to listen to an archived copy of the webcast at www.pfizer.com/investors.

On August 6, 2018 Aileron Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ALRN), the clinical-stage leader in the field of stapled peptide therapeutics for cancers and other diseases, reported that Manuel Aivado, MD, PhD, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer and elected to its Board of Directors (Press release, Aileron Therapeutics, SEPT 6, 2018, View Source;p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2366358 [SID1234529414]). Since 2012, Dr. Aivado has served as Aileron’s Senior Vice President and Chief Medical and Scientific Officer. He succeeds John P. Longenecker, PhD, who was appointed interim CEO on May 15, 2018.

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"We are very pleased to announce this well-deserved promotion for Dr. Aivado," said Aileron Chairman Jeff Bailey. "Manuel clearly best exemplifies the skill set and talent needed to lead the company through its next stage of development."

"I am very excited to take on this new responsibility at Aileron as we further expand the clinical development of our lead product candidate, ALRN-6924, into combination therapies. ALRN-6924 represents the proof-of-concept for Aileron’s stapled peptide technology, which I believe to be capable of producing additional novel drug candidates that address previously undruggable targets," said Dr. Aivado. "In the future, we plan to broaden the applicability of our technology and expand our external collaborations. I am pleased with the external recognition that ALRN-6924 and our stapled peptide technology have earned in the scientific community, and I look forward to additional collaborations translating this recognition into therapeutic and commercial success."

Dr. Aivado brings more than 20 years of scientific, medical, and executive leadership to this position. Most recently, Dr. Aivado led Aileron’s clinical testing of stapled peptides against intracellular targets and designed and implemented the ALRN-6924 first-in-human trial. ALRN-6924 was selected for the "Best of ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Meetings," which highlights the most cutting-edge science and education from the world’s premier oncology event. Prior to joining Aileron, Dr. Aivado served as Vice President of Clinical Development and Pharmacovigilance at Taiho Oncology, Inc. He previously served as a Senior Medical Director in clinical development at GlaxoSmithKline. In addition, Dr. Aivado was an Instructor in Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. Prior to his industry experience, Dr. Aivado practiced clinical medicine in Germany for nearly ten years, during which he was awarded the Dr. Mildred Scheel cancer research scholarship award in 2002. Dr. Aivado is a German board-certified physician in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. He received his MD and PhD degrees from the Medical School of the University of Dusseldorf, Germany.

About ALRN-6924
ALRN-6924 is a first-in-class product candidate designed to reactivate wild-type p53 tumor suppression by disrupting the interactions between p53 and its two primary suppressor proteins, MDMX and MDM2. Aileron believes ALRN-6924 is the first and only product candidate in clinical development that can equipotently bind to and disrupt the interaction of MDMX and MDM2 with p53. Based on preclinical data and preliminary evidence of safety and anti-tumor activity in its ongoing clinical trials, the Company believes there may be a significant opportunity to develop ALRN-6924 as a monotherapy or combination therapy for a wide variety of solid and liquid tumors. ALRN-6924 is currently being evaluated in multiple clinical trials for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), advanced myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). For information about its clinical trials, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

On September 6, 2018 LabCorp (NYSE: LH) reported it will participate at the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference (Press release, LabCorp, SEP 6, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2366346 [SID1234529384]). LabCorp’s presentation is planned for Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 2:05 pm (ET).

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A live audio webcast will be available via the Company website at www.labcorp.com and archived for replay

On September 6, 2018 Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) reported that new data from its broad clinical development programme across different types of lung cancer will be presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2018 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), taking place from 23–26 September in Toronto, Canada (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, SEP 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234529353]). 10 abstracts have been accepted, including three ‘late breakers’ and five oral presentations.

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"We look forward to presenting new data from our comprehensive lung cancer programme, including new immunotherapy and targeted treatment strategies across different types of lung cancer," said Sandra Horning, MD, Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "We are particularly pleased to be sharing positive TECENTRIQ data in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, which has seen limited progress in treatment over the last two decades, as well as new pivotal data for our investigational therapy entrectinib for the treatment of ROS1 fusion-positive lung cancer."

Key presentations
Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) data from the Phase III IMpower133 study of TECENTRIQ plus chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) for the initial (first-line) treatment of people with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) will be presented in the Presidential Symposium. These are the first positive survival data from a Phase III study with an immunotherapy-based combination in the initial treatment of ES-SCLC.

PFS and OS data will be presented from the Phase III IMpower132 study investigating TECENTRIQ plus pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin) in the initial treatment of people with advanced non-squamous NSCLC. The IMpower132 and IMpower133 data will be featured as part of WCLC’s official press programme on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th of September, respectively.

Additionally, results from a Phase Ib study investigating Tarceva plus TECENTRIQ in tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-naïve people with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC will also be presented.

New pivotal results of entrectinib, an investigational oral, CNS-active treatment for people with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1 fusion-positive NSCLC, from a pooled analysis including the global Phase II STARTRK-2 basket study will be presented. These data have also been selected to be featured in the WCLC press programme on Monday 24th of September.

Follow Roche on Twitter via @Roche and keep up to date with WCLC 2018 congress news and updates by using the hashtag #WCLC2018.

For more information on Roche’s approach to cancer, visit Roche.com.

Overview of key presentations featuring Roche medicines at WCLC 2018

About NSCLC and SCLC
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally.1 Each year 1.59 million people die as a result of the disease; this translates into more than 4,350 deaths worldwide every day.1 Lung cancer can be broadly divided into two major types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is the most prevalent type, accounting for around 85% of all cases,2 with SCLC accounting for approximately 15% of all lung cancer cases.2 Survival rates for people with SCLC vary depending on the stage (extent) of the cancer at the time of diagnosis.3 The five-year relative survival rate for people with stage I SCLC is approximately 31%, however, at stage IV, the five-year relative survival rate declines to approximately 2%.4

About TECENTRIQ
TECENTRIQ is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1 expressed on tumour cells and tumour-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, TECENTRIQ may enable the activation of T cells. TECENTRIQ has the potential to be used as a foundational combination partner with cancer immunotherapies, targeted medicines and various chemotherapies across a broad range of cancers.

Currently, Roche has eight Phase III lung cancer studies underway, evaluating TECENTRIQ alone or in combination with other medicines.

TECENTRIQ is already approved in the European Union, United States and more than 70 countries for people with previously treated metastatic NSCLC and for certain types of untreated or previously treated metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

About ROS1 fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
ROS1 is a tyrosine kinase, which play a role in controlling how cells grow and proliferate. When a ROS1 gene fusion occurs, ‘healthy’ cell signalling malfunctions, causing cells to grow and proliferate in an uncontrolled manner – this results in cancer.

ROS1 gene fusions account for 1-2% of NSCLC. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death across the world. Each year, 1.59 million people die as a result of the disease; this translates into more than 4,350 deaths worldwide every day.1 NSCLC is the most prevalent type of lung cancer, accounting for around 85% of all cases.2 While the ROS1 gene fusion can be found in any patient with NSCLC, young never-smokers with NSCLC have the highest incidence of ROS1 fusions.

About entrectinib
Entrectinib (RXDX-101) is an investigational, oral medicine in development for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours that harbour NTRK1/2/3 or ROS1 fusions. It is a selective, CNS-active tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to inhibit the kinase activity of the TRKA/B/C and ROS1 proteins, whose activating fusions drive proliferation in certain types of cancer. Entrectinib can block ROS1 and NTRK kinase activity and may result in the death of cancer cells with ROS1 or NTRK fusions. Entrectinib is being investigated across a range of solid tumour types, including NSCLC, pancreatic cancer, sarcomas, thyroid cancer, salivary cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) and cancers of unknown primary (CUP).

Entrectinib has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA); and Sakigake designation by the Japanese health authorities for the treatment of NTRK fusion-positive, locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours in adult and paediatric patients who have either progressed following prior therapies or have no acceptable standard therapies.

On September 6, 2018 Twentyeight-Seven Therapeutics (28-7), a biotechnology company focused on modulating non-coding RNA (ncRNA) biology to develop treatments for cancer and other diseases, reported the successful completion of its $65 million Series A financing (Press release, Twentyeight-Seven Therapeutics, SEPT 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234529351]). Founding investor MPM Capital and Novartis Venture Fund co-led the financing. They were joined by additional investors including Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc., Vertex Ventures HC, Longwood Fund, and Astellas Venture Management. The funding will be used to advance 28-7’s lead program, aimed at the discovery and development of small molecules that increase the levels of the tumor suppressor microRNA (miRNA), Let-7, into serious cancer indications.

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"This strong financing round was achieved thanks to the new biological understanding and impressive scientific data around non-coding RNA produced by our four scientific founders and the progress the 28-7 team has made since it was founded two years ago," said Kazumi Shiosaki, Ph.D., founding President and Chief Executive Officer, 28-7. "Our experienced investors realize the promise in this new field of therapeutics and in the robust leads produced by our founders, who have made many of the seminal discoveries in this field, and by the exceptional scientists within the company."

In addition, 28-7 announced that Shomir Ghosh, Ph.D., has joined as its Chief Scientific Officer. Most recently CSO and a founding scientist at IFM Therapeutics, Dr. Ghosh has 25 years of scientific research, drug discovery and development experience in biotech and large pharma, and has successfully delivered multiple compounds into preclinical and clinical development in the immunology, oncology and CNS therapeutic areas.

"I am incredibly excited to join 28-7 and support the advancement of its lead program," said Dr. Ghosh. "I look forward to working with Kazumi and our accomplished team and Board as we discover new ways to fight cancer and grow our operations."

28-7’s initial focus is on modulating miRNAs, which are short ncRNAs that inhibit target gene expression by suppressing mRNA translation and/or promoting mRNA decay. It is now well recognized that miRNAs are directly involved in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. 28-7’s technology does not focus on directly targeting the RNA itself or on developing oligonucleotides, but rather targets RNA modulating proteins (RMPs), enabling the use of small molecule drug candidates with broader access to cells and tissues. Let-7 is an miRNA that suppresses the translation of oncogenes in cells, and low levels of this miRNA are correlated with greater cancer aggressiveness. The company’s leading protein target is Lin28, an RMP that reduces the levels of Let-7, and has been shown to be an oncogene, promoting cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. 28-7 is developing first-in-class drugs that inhibit Lin28’s activity and thus raise levels of Let-7 for treatment of various cancers.

The company’s core technology comes from its four founding scientists, all leading researchers in RNA biology and cancer:

George Daley, M.D., Ph.D. ─ Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Professor of Medicine, Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School
Richard Gregory, Ph.D. ─ Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, and Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Frank Slack, Ph.D. ─ Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Professor of Pathology and Director of Institute of RNA Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Piotr Sliz, Ph.D. ─ Associate Professor of Pediatrics and of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School
This founding group has been collaborating for years and has made substantial contributions to the science of ncRNA biology, including elucidating the role of ncRNAs in disease and identifying new RMP targets for drug discovery programs.

"Our founders have made important scientific contributions to the field of ncRNA biology, including the discovery of the Lin28/Let-7 pathway and its role in normal development, metabolism, and malignancy. Overall, our studies have established Lin28/Let-7 as a major regulatory pathway in stem cells and cancer," said George Daley, M.D., Ph.D., 28-7’s co-founder and Chairman of the company’s Scientific Advisory Board, and Dean and Professor of Medicine and Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School. "We felt that the time was right to move these insights from the laboratory to pharmaceutical development, and we are very pleased by the progress the company achieved in the first two years of its existence. With this impressive round of funding and our continued support, 28-7 will unlock the therapeutic potential of our work."

In addition to Dr. Shiosaki, several investors will join 28-7’s Board of Directors, including:

· Luke Evnin, Ph.D. ─ Managing Director and co-founder, MPM Capital

· Briggs Morrison, M.D. ─ Executive Partner, MPM Capital and CEO of Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

· Carolyn Ng, Ph.D. ─ Principal, Vertex Ventures HC

· Michal Silverberg, M.B.A. ─ Managing Director, Novartis Venture Fund