On April 10, 2020, SCYNEXIS, Inc. (the "Company") reported that it has entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC, an Illinois limited liability company ("Aspire Capital"), pursuant to which the Company has the right to sell to Aspire Capital from time to time in its sole discretion up to $20.0 million in shares of the Company’s common stock ("Common Stock") over the next 30 months, subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement (Filing, 8-K, Scynexis, APR 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234556261]).

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Concurrently with entering into the Purchase Agreement, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement with Aspire Capital (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), in which the Company agreed to prepare and file under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under its current registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-227167), and file, if needed, one or more registration statements, as permissible and necessary, for the sale of the shares of Common Stock that have been and may be issued to Aspire Capital under the Purchase Agreement. The Company has filed with the Securities Exchange Commission a prospectus supplement to the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-227167) registering all of the shares of common stock that may be offered to Aspire Capital from time to time.

Under the Purchase Agreement, on any trading day selected by the Company, the Company has the right, in its sole discretion, to present Aspire Capital with a purchase notice (each, a "Purchase Notice"), directing Aspire Capital (as principal) to purchase up to 250,000 shares of Common Stock per business day, up to $20.0 million of Common Stock in the aggregate at a per share price (the "Purchase Price") equal to the lesser of:

the lowest sale price of Common Stock on the purchase date; or

the arithmetic average of the three (3) lowest closing sale prices for Common Stock during the ten (10) consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the purchase date.

The Company and Aspire Capital also may mutually agree to increase the number of shares that may be sold to as much as an additional 2,000,000 shares per business day.

In addition, on any date on which the Company submits a Purchase Notice to Aspire Capital in an amount equal to at least 250,000 shares, the Company also has the right, in its sole discretion, to present Aspire Capital with a volume-weighted average price purchase notice (each, a "VWAP Purchase Notice") directing Aspire Capital to purchase an amount of stock equal to up to 30% of the aggregate shares of Common Stock traded on its principal market on the next trading day (the "VWAP Purchase Date"), subject to a maximum number of shares the Company may determine. The purchase price per share pursuant to such VWAP Purchase Notice is generally 97% of the volume-weighted average price for Common Stock traded on its principal market on the VWAP Purchase Date.

The Purchase Price will be adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, or other similar transaction occurring during the period(s) used to compute the Purchase Price. The Company may deliver multiple Purchase Notices and VWAP Purchase Notices to Aspire Capital from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement, so long as the most recent purchase has been completed.

The Purchase Agreement provides that the Company and Aspire Capital shall not effect any sales under the Purchase Agreement on any purchase date where the closing sale price of Common Stock is less than $0.25. There are no trading volume requirements or restrictions under the Purchase Agreement, and the Company will control the timing and amount of sales of Common Stock to Aspire Capital. Aspire Capital has no right to require any sales by the Company, but is obligated to make purchases from the Company as directed by the Company in accordance with the Purchase Agreement. There are no limitations on use of proceeds, financial or business covenants, restrictions on

future fundings, rights of first refusal, participation rights, penalties or liquidated damages in the Purchase Agreement. In consideration for entering into the Purchase Agreement, concurrently with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, the Company issued to Aspire Capital 709,103 shares of Common Stock (the "Commitment Shares"). The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time, at its discretion, without any cost to the Company. Aspire Capital has agreed that neither it nor any of its agents, representatives and affiliates shall engage in any direct or indirect short-selling or hedging of Common Stock during any time prior to the termination of the Purchase Agreement. Any proceeds that the Company receives under the Purchase Agreement are expected to be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital.

On April 10, 2020 BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKEX: 06160), a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative molecularly-targeted and immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of cancer, reported that its anti-PD-1 antibody tislelizumab has received approval from the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) as a treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) with PD-L1 high expression whose disease progressed during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy (Press release, BeiGene, APR 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234556251]). Following tislelizumab’s initial approval in classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cHL) by the NMPA in December 2019, this is the second indication approved for tislelizumab, and the first in a solid tumor indication. The supplemental new drug application (sNDA) was previously granted priority review by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the NMPA.

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"At BeiGene, we strive to bring innovative, impactful, and quality treatments to patients around the globe. This is our third NDA approval in the past five months for our internally developed products, a tremendous accomplishment for a young biotechnology company like BeiGene and validation of the team’s hard work," commented John V. Oyler, Chairman, Co-Founder, and CEO of BeiGene. "Our strategy for tislelizumab has always been to pursue a broad label and serve patients who are battling different types of cancer. With tislelizumab’s first solid tumor approval, we are even more excited about the outlook for this immunotherapy than ever."

"Patients with advanced UC have limited treatment options, so we are delighted to have tislelizumab, a new immuno-oncology treatment available to them. Supported by encouraging efficacy and safety results from the trial, including an objective response rate of 24.8%, we believe tislelizumab will bring significant benefits to this patient population," commented Dingwei Ye, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Vice President of the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.

"We are thrilled about today’s approval of tislelizumab in UC, which was made possible by dedicated clinicians who participated in the trial, patients who entrusted our clinical trial with their treatment, and the team at BeiGene. We hope our broad development program for tislelizumab, which encompasses 15 potentially registration-enabling trials globally and in China, in indications including lung, liver, esophageal, gastric, nasopharyngeal, and MSI-H or dMMR cancers, in addition to classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma and UC, will continue its momentum and benefit more patients," said Wendy Yan, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Regulatory Affairs at BeiGene.

The NMPA approval is based on the clinical results from a single-arm, multi-center pivotal Phase 2 trial of tislelizumab in patients in China and South Korea with PD-L1+ locally advanced or metastatic UC who were previously treated with platinum-containing chemotherapy (NCT04004221). Among patients who were evaluable for response, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months and a median follow-up of 14 months, the objective response rate (ORR) as assessed by the independent review committee (IRC) per RECIST v1.1 criteria was 24.8%, and the complete response (CR) rate was 9.9%.

The safety data for tislelizumab included in the label is based on 934 patients treated with tislelizumab monotherapy from four clinical trials, including the aforementioned pivotal Phase 2 trial in patients with UC. Most common (≥ 10%) adverse reactions included rash, fatigue, and increased alanine aminotransferase. Grade 3 or higher adverse reactions occurring in ≥ 1% of patients included: increased gamma‑glutamyl transferase, anemia, increased aspartate aminotransferase, increased alanine aminotransferase, pneumonitis, severe skin reactions, and hypokalemia.

Like other immune checkpoint inhibitors, tislelizumab could cause immune-related adverse reactions that mainly include pneumonitis, diarrhea and colitis, hepatitis, endocrinopathies (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and thyroiditis, adrenocortical insufficiency, hyperglycemia and type 1 diabetes mellitus), and skin adverse reactions. Occasionally, nephritis, pancreatitis, myocarditis, myositis, and other immune-related adverse reactions were also reported.

The recommended dose of tislelizumab is 200 mg administered as an intravenous infusion every three weeks until disease progression or intolerable toxicity.

Tislelizumab is a biologic product approved under the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) pilot program in China and is being manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim at its facility in Shanghai as the commercial supplier. Established in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim has over 35 years of biologic manufacturing experience, and with more than 3,600 employees and a global network, its contract biopharmaceutical manufacturing business has helped to bring more than 30 molecules to the market globally.

About Urothelial Carcinoma

Urothelial carcinoma (UC), also known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), is by far the most common type of bladder cancer,1 accounting for more than 90 percent of all bladder cancers.2 Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer worldwide with approximately 550,000 new cases in 2018.3 In China, bladder cancer is the 8th most common cancer in men with approximately 62,000 new cases in 2019.4 Although UC is most common in the bladder, it can occur in other parts of the urinary system.

About Tislelizumab

Tislelizumab (BGB-A317) is a humanized IgG4 anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody specifically designed to minimize binding to FcγR on macrophages. In pre-clinical studies, binding to FcγR on macrophages has been shown to compromise the anti-tumor activity of PD-1 antibodies through activation of antibody-dependent macrophage-mediated killing of T effector cells. Tislelizumab is the first drug from BeiGene’s immuno-oncology biologics program and is being developed as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies for the treatment of a broad array of both solid tumor and hematologic cancers.

Tislelizumab is approved by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) as a treatment for patients with classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma who received at least two prior therapies and for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) with PD-L1 high expression whose disease progressed during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Tislelizumab is being manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim at its facility in Shanghai as the commercial supplier. Following required qualifications and approvals, BeiGene plans to provide additional commercial supply through its commercial-scale biologics manufacturing facility in Guangzhou, which completed its initial phase of construction in September 2019.

Currently, 15 registration-enabling clinical trials of tislelizumab are being conducted in China and globally, including 11 Phase 3 trials and four pivotal Phase 2 trials.

Tislelizumab is not approved for use outside China.

About the Tislelizumab Clinical Program

Clinical trials of tislelizumab include:

Phase 3 trial in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (NCT03967977);

Phase 3 trial comparing tislelizumab with docetaxel in the second- or third-line setting in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (NCT03358875);

Phase 3 trial of tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with advanced squamous NSCLC (NCT03594747);

Phase 3 trial of tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC (NCT03663205);

Phase 3 trial of tislelizumab combined with platinum and etoposide versus placebo combined with platinum and etoposide in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (NCT04005716);

Phase 3 trial comparing tislelizumab with sorafenib as first-line treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; NCT03412773);

Phase 2 trial in patients with previously treated unresectable HCC (NCT03419897);

Phase 3 trial comparing tislelizumab with chemotherapy as second-line treatment for patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC; NCT03430843);

Phase 3 trial of tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with ESCC (NCT03783442);

Phase 3 trial of tislelizumab versus placebo in combination with chemoradiotherapy in patients with localized ESCC (NCT03957590);

Phase 3 trial of tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy versus placebo combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with gastric cancer (NCT03777657);

Phase 2 trial in patients with MSI-H/dMMR solid tumors (NCT03736889); and

Phase 3 trial of tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy versus placebo combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NCT03924986).

On April 10, 2020 AstraZeneca reported the ADAURA Phase III trial for Tagrisso (osimertinib) in the adjuvant treatment of patients with Stage IB, II and IIIA epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with complete tumour resection will be unblinded early following a recommendation from an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) based on its determination of overwhelming efficacy (Press release, AstraZeneca, APR 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234556250]).

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José Baselga, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, said: "We are thrilled by the recommendation to unblind the Phase III ADAURA trial much earlier than expected and are incredibly excited with these unprecedented results in patients with early-stage EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. Lung cancer is a devastating diagnosis and for the first time an EGFR-targeted medicine can now provide the hope of cure."

The primary endpoint of the Phase III ADAURA trial is disease-free survival (DFS). Tagrisso was assessed against placebo for a treatment duration of up to three years. The trial will continue to assess the secondary endpoint of overall survival. In its communication to AstraZeneca, the IDMC did not raise any new safety concerns. The data will be presented at a forthcoming medical meeting.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, accounting for about one-fifth of all cancer deaths, more than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined.1 Lung cancer is broadly split into NSCLC and small cell lung cancer, with 80-85% classified as NSCLC.2 Approximately 10-15% of NSCLC patients in the US and Europe, and 30-40% of patients in Asia have EGFRm NSCLC.3,4,5 These patients are particularly sensitive to treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) which block the cell-signalling pathways that drive the growth of tumour cells. Based on AstraZeneca estimates, just over 60% of NSCLC patients are diagnosed with early-stage (Stage I-III) disease.

ADAURA

ADAURA is a randomised, double-blinded, global, placebo-controlled Phase III trial in the adjuvant treatment of 682 patients with Stage IB, II, IIIA EGFRm NSCLC with complete tumour resection and optional, standard post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy. In the experimental arm, patients were treated with Tagrisso 80mg once-daily oral tablets for three years or until disease recurrence. The trial enrolled in more than 200 centres across more than 20 countries, including the US, in Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East. The primary endpoint is DFS; data readout was originally anticipated in 2022.

Tagrisso

Tagrisso (osimertinib) is a third-generation, irreversible EGFR-TKI designed to inhibit both EGFR-sensitising and EGFR T790M-resistance mutations, with clinical activity against CNS metastases. Tagrisso 40mg and 80mg once-daily oral tablets have now received approval in 80 countries, including the US, Japan, China and the EU, for 1st-line EGFRm advanced NSCLC, and in 87 countries, including the US, Japan, China and the EU, for 2nd-line use in patients with EGFR T790M mutation-positive advanced NSCLC. Tagrisso is also being developed in the locally advanced unresectable setting (LAURA), in combination with chemotherapy (FLAURA2) in the metastatic setting, and with potential new medicines to address resistance to EGFR-TKIs (SAVANNAH, ORCHARD).

AstraZeneca in lung cancer

AstraZeneca has a comprehensive portfolio of approved and potential new medicines in late-stage development for the treatment of different forms of lung cancer spanning different histologies, several stages of disease, lines of therapy and modes of action. We aim to address the unmet needs of patients with EGFRm tumours as a genetic driver of disease, which occur in 10-15% of NSCLC patients in the US and EU and 30-40% of NSCLC patients in Asia, with the approved medicines Iressa (gefitinib) and Tagrisso, and its ongoing Phase III trials ADAURA, LAURA, and FLAURA2.3,6-7

We are also committed to addressing tumour mechanisms of resistance through the ongoing Phase II trials SAVANNAH and ORCHARD which test Tagrisso in combination with savolitinib, a selective inhibitor of c-MET receptor tyrosine kinase, along with other potential new medicines. Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan), a HER2-directed antibody drug conjugate is in development for metastatic non-squamous HER2-overexpressing or HER2-mutated NSCLC including trials in combination with other anticancer treatments.

An extensive late-stage Immuno-Oncology programme focuses on lung cancer patients without a targetable genetic mutation which represents up to three-quarters of all patients with lung cancer.8 Imfinzi, an anti-PDL1 antibody, is in development for patients with advanced disease (Phase III trials POSEIDON and PEARL) and for patients in earlier stages of disease including potentially curative settings (Phase III trials AEGEAN, ADJUVANT BR.31, PACIFIC-2, PACIFIC-4, PACIFIC-5, and ADRIATIC) both as monotherapy and in combination with tremelimumab and/or chemotherapy. Imfinzi is also in development in the Phase II combination trials NeoCOAST, COAST and HUDSON in combination with potential new medicines from the early-stage pipeline.

AstraZeneca in oncology

AstraZeneca has a deep-rooted heritage in oncology and offers a quickly growing portfolio of new medicines that has the potential to transform patients’ lives and the Company’s future. With six new medicines launched between 2014 and 2020, and a broad pipeline of small molecules and biologics in development, the Company is committed to advance oncology as a key growth driver for AstraZeneca focused on lung, ovarian, breast and blood cancers. In addition to AstraZeneca’s main capabilities, the Company is actively pursuing innovative partnerships and investments that accelerate the delivery of our strategy, as illustrated by the investment in Acerta Pharma in haematology.

By harnessing the power of four scientific platforms – Immuno-Oncology, Tumour Drivers and Resistance, DNA Damage Response and Antibody Drug Conjugates – and by championing the development of personalised combinations, AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer treatment and one day eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

On April 10, 2020 Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNA) reported that Amit D. Munshi, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to participate in a virtual fireside chat at the 19th Annual Needham Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, April 14, at 10:40 AM ET (7:40 AM PT) (Press release, Arena Pharmaceuticals, APR 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234556248]).

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A live webcast of the presentation will be posted under the investor relations section of Arena’s website at www.arenapharm.com. A replay of the presentation will be available for 30 days following the event.

On April 10, 2020 GRAIL, Inc., a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured, reported the appointment of Sir Harpal Kumar as President of GRAIL Europe (Press release, Grail, APR 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234556247]). In this new role, Sir Harpal will be responsible for leading GRAIL’s entry and growth in Europe.

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"I am delighted to welcome Harpal to the GRAIL team. He is a passionate advocate for better outcomes in cancer, with a widely recognized appreciation of the challenges health systems face in battling the increasing burden of this disease," said Hans Bishop, Chief Executive Officer at GRAIL. "With Harpal’s leadership, we can build partnerships that will bring the benefits of early cancer detection to patients and providers in Europe.’’

"I’m thrilled to be joining GRAIL and to have the opportunity to transform cancer care through early detection," said Sir Harpal. "I look forward to leading the company’s partnerships with European medical and healthcare services and the broader innovation community to support our goal of decreasing the burden of cancer."

Sir Harpal joins GRAIL from Johnson & Johnson where he most recently served as Senior Vice President and Head of Innovation EMEA. There, he oversaw a portfolio of co-investments and collaborations across the region to grow Johnson & Johnson’s networks within the EMEA innovation community. Before joining Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Sir Harpal spent 15 years with Cancer Research UK, and served as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer from April 2007 until June 2018. Prior to this, he was Chief Operating Officer & Executive Director of Development at CRUK and served as Chief Executive of Cancer Research Technology (a subsidiary of CRUK). Before CRUK, he worked with McKinsey & Co, The Papworth Trust, and Nexan Group. Sir Harpal received a Masters in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge, and an MBA as a Baker Scholar from Harvard Business School. He has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Manchester, Newcastle, and Glasgow, and the Institute of Cancer Research, and he is a Fellow of The Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2016, he was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to cancer research.