West to Host Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Conference Call

On February 4, 2021 West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST), a global leader in innovative solutions for injectable drug administration, reported that it will release fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, February 18, 2021, and will follow with a conference call to discuss the results and business expectations at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (Press release, West Pharmaceutical Services, FEB 4, 2021, View Source [SID1234574657]). To participate on the call, please dial 877-930-8295 (U.S.) or 253-336-8738 (International). The conference ID is 4095168.

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A live broadcast of the conference call will be available at the Company’s website, www.westpharma.com, in the "Investors" section. Management will refer to a slide presentation during the call, which will be made available on the day of the call. To view the presentation, select "Presentations" in the "Investors" section of the Company’s website.

An online archive of the broadcast will be available at the site three hours after the live call and will be available through Thursday, February 25, 2021, by dialing 855-859-2056 (U.S.) or 404-537-3406 (International). The conference ID is 4095168.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend 10.7% To $0.62 Per Quarter; Announces $1 Billion Increase in Share Repurchase Authorization

On February 4, 2021 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, reported the Company’s Board of Directors has authorized a 10.7% increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.56 to $0.62 per share (Press release, Quest Diagnostics, FEB 4, 2021, View Source [SID1234574656]). The increase is effective with the dividend payable on April 21, 2021 to shareholders of record of Quest Diagnostics common stock on April 7, 2021. With the increase, the annual dividend will be $2.48 per share. This dividend increase is the Company’s tenth since 2011.

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Additionally, the Board of Directors has increased the Company’s share repurchase authorization by $1 billion. The increased authority is in addition to the $917 million that was available as of December 31, 2020 under the Company’s share repurchase program. For the three months ended December 31, 2020, the Company repurchased 2.0 million shares of its common stock for $250 million.

Quest will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-455-0391 within the U.S. and Canada, or 773-756-0467 internationally, using the passcode: "7895081." The earnings release and live webcast will be posted on www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor. The Company suggests participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call.

Karyopharm Announces XPOVIO® (selinexor) Receives Regulatory Approval in Israel for the Treatment of Patients with Multiple Myeloma and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

On February 4, 2021 Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:KPTI), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company pioneering novel cancer therapies, reported that its partner Promedico Ltd., a member of the Neopharm Group, has received a principal approval letter from the Israeli Ministry of Health, Israel’s regulatory agency responsible for the approval of new medicines, granting the approval of XPOVIO (selinexor) for the treatment of patients with either multiple myeloma or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (Press release, Karyopharm, FEB 4, 2021, View Source [SID1234574655]). The approved indications for XPOVIO are a) in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least one proteasome inhibitor, at least one immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and b) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma, after at least two lines of systemic therapy.

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Karyopharm expects Promedico to receive a registration license providing commercial and marketing authorization for XPOVIO in Israel during the second quarter of 2021. Separately, today’s announcement follows Karyopharm’s recently announced adoption of a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommending conditional approval for NEXPOVIO (selinexor) in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of multiple myeloma in patients who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least two proteasome inhibitors, two immunomodulatory agents, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. Karyopharm expects to receive a final decision from the European Commission by April 2021.

"The approval of XPOVIO in Israel represents its first regulatory approval outside the United States and is a tremendous milestone for both Karyopharm and the patients we hope to serve in the future," said Sharon Shacham, PhD, MBA, Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Karyopharm. "The approval of XPOVIO in Israel further demonstrates our commitment to expand XPOVIO’s reach to cancer patients across the globe who are in need of novel therapies. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our dedicated partner, Promedico, and its world-class team to bring XPOVIO to patients in Israel."

Karyopharm has previously entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Promedico, a member of the Neopharm Group, a leader in launching and marketing novel therapies in Israel, for the commercialization of XPOVIO (selinexor) in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

About XPOVIO (selinexor)

XPOVIO is a first-in-class, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compound. XPOVIO functions by selectively binding to and inhibiting the nuclear export protein exportin 1 (XPO1, also called CRM1). XPOVIO blocks the nuclear export of tumor suppressor, growth regulatory and anti-inflammatory proteins, leading to accumulation of these proteins in the nucleus and enhancing their anti-cancer activity in the cell. The forced nuclear retention of these proteins can counteract a multitude of the oncogenic pathways that, unchecked, allow cancer cells with severe DNA damage to continue to grow and divide in an unrestrained fashion. Karyopharm received accelerated U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of XPOVIO in July 2019 in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least two proteasome inhibitors, at least two immunomodulatory agents, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Karyopharm has also submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) with a request for conditional approval of selinexor in this same RRMM indication. Karyopharm’s supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) requesting an expansion of its indication to include the treatment for patients with multiple myeloma after at least one prior therapy was approved by the FDA on December 18, 2020. In June 2020, Karyopharm received accelerated FDA approval of XPOVIO for its second indication in adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma, after at least 2 lines of systemic therapy. Selinexor is also being evaluated in several other mid-and later-phase clinical trials across multiple cancer indications, including as a potential backbone therapy in combination with approved myeloma therapies (STOMP), in liposarcoma (SEAL) and in endometrial cancer (SIENDO), among others. Additional Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies are ongoing or currently planned, including multiple studies in combination with approved therapies in a variety of tumor types to further inform Karyopharm’s clinical development priorities for selinexor. Additional clinical trial information for selinexor is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

For more information about Karyopharm’s products or clinical trials, please contact the Medical Information department at:

Tel: +1 (888) 209-9326
Email: [email protected]

XPOVIO (selinexor) is a prescription medicine approved in the U.S.:

In combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy (XVd).
In combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least two proteasome inhibitors, at least two immunomodulatory agents, and an anti–CD38 monoclonal antibody (Xd).
For the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B–cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma, after at least 2 lines of systemic therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trial(s).
SELECT IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Warnings and Precautions

Thrombocytopenia: Monitor platelet counts throughout treatment. Manage with dose interruption and/or reduction and supportive care.
Neutropenia: Monitor neutrophil counts throughout treatment. Manage with dose interruption and/or reduction and granulocyte colony–stimulating factors.
Gastrointestinal Toxicity: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and weight loss may occur. Provide antiemetic prophylaxis. Manage with dose interruption and/or reduction, antiemetics, and supportive care.
Hyponatremia: Monitor serum sodium levels throughout treatment. Correct for concurrent hyperglycemia and high serum paraprotein levels. Manage with dose interruption, reduction, or discontinuation, and supportive care.
Serious Infection: Monitor for infection and treat promptly.
Neurological Toxicity: Advise patients to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities until neurological toxicity resolves. Optimize hydration status and concomitant medications to avoid dizziness or mental status changes.
Embryo–Fetal Toxicity: Can cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential and males with a female partner of reproductive potential, of the potential risk to a fetus and use of effective contraception.
Cataract: Cataracts may develop or progress. Treatment of cataracts usually requires surgical removal of the cataract.
Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients with multiple myeloma who receive XVd are fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, diarrhea, peripheral neuropathy, upper respiratory tract infection, decreased weight, cataract and vomiting. Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormalities (≥10%) are thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, hypophosphatemia, anemia, hyponatremia and neutropenia. In the BOSTON trial, fatal adverse reactions occurred in 6% of patients within 30 days of last treatment. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 52% of patients. Treatment discontinuation rate due to adverse reactions was 19%.
The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients with multiple myeloma who receive Xd are thrombocytopenia, fatigue, nausea, anemia, decreased appetite, decreased weight, diarrhea, vomiting, hyponatremia, neutropenia, leukopenia, constipation, dyspnea and upper respiratory tract infection. In the STORM trial, fatal adverse reactions occurred in 9% of patients. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 58% of patients. Treatment discontinuation rate due to adverse reactions was 27%.
The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) in patients with DLBCL, excluding laboratory abnormalities, are fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, appetite decrease, weight decrease, constipation, vomiting, and pyrexia. Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormalities (≥15%) are thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, neutropenia, anemia, and hyponatremia. In the SADAL trial, fatal adverse reactions occurred in 3.7% of patients within 30 days, and 5% of patients within 60 days of last treatment; the most frequent fatal adverse reactions was infection (4.5% of patients). Serious adverse reactions occurred in 46% of patients; the most frequent serious adverse reaction was infection(21% of patients). Discontinuation due to adverse reactions occurred in 17% of patients.

Poseida Therapeutics to Participate in Guggenheim Healthcare Talks 2021 Oncology Day

On February 4, 2021 Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company utilizing proprietary gene engineering platform technologies to create cell and gene therapeutics with the capacity to cure, reported that Eric Ostertag, M.D., Ph.D., Poseida Therapeutics’ Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the Guggenheim Healthcare Talks 2021 Oncology Day on February 12, 2021 at 10:30am ET (Press release, Poseida Therapeutics, FEB 4, 2021, View Source [SID1234574654]). In addition, management will be available for one-on-one meetings with investors .

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A live webcast of the fireside chat will be available on the Investors & Media Section of the Poseida website, www.poseida.com. An archived replay of the webcast will be available for approximately 30 days following the presentation.

I-Mab Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 Clinical Trial of TJ107 in Glioblastoma Multiforme in China

On February 4, 2021 I-Mab (the "Company") (NASDAQ: IMAB), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel biologics, reported that the first patient has been dosed in a phase 2 clinical trial (NCT04600817) of TJ107 (efineptakin alpha), a novel long-acting recombinant human interleukin-7 (rhIL-7), in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in China (Press release, I-Mab Biopharma, FEB 4, 2021, View Source [SID1234574653]).

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The phase 2 trial is a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TJ107 in lymphopenic patients with newly diagnosed GBM who have been treated with standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The study’s goal is to determine the proportion of patients with an increase in the absolute lymphocyte counts and associated clinical response after the administration of the first TJ107 dose.

There is increasing evidence that lymphopenia induced by radiotherapy and chemotherapy is associated with poor survival in cancer patients. In case of GBM, standard treatments induce long-lasting lymphopenia in most patients, and currently there are no definitive therapies for it. A phase 1b study conducted by Genexine Inc. (KOSDAQ: 095700) demonstrated that TJ107 rapidly increased absolute lymphocyte counts and restored T cell counts especially in the naïve and memory subsets but not the regulatory T cells in terminally ill patients with solid tumors. TJ107 was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicity or cytokine release syndrome observed.

"Despite advances in standard therapy, GBM is associated with poor clinical outcomes and survival rates," said Professor Wenbin Li, Director of Department of Neuro-Oncology at Beijing Tiantan Hospital of Capital Medical University and the leading principal investigator of the clinical trial. "Based on its preclinical and clinical data, TJ107 promises to improve tolerance to the standard therapy, quality of life and prognosis in patients with GBM, and we look forward to making this drug accessible to our patients."

"TJ107 is the first and only long-acting rhIL-7 in the clinical stage globally and early studies have shown its potential to treat patients with GBM whose prognosis is still poor," said Dr. Joan Shen, Chief Executive Officer of I-Mab. "The initiation of the phase 2 trial brings us one step closer to delivering a highly innovative therapy to treat patients with one of the most life-threatening forms of cancer."

GBM is the most aggressive type of glial cancer which can arise in the brain de novo or evolve from existing tumors. GBM accounts for 17% of new brain and nervous system cancers in China, according to data from the World Health Organization in 2018.[1]

[1] Ostrom Q T, Gittleman H, Liao P, et al. CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2010–2014[J]. Neuro-oncology, 2017, 19(suppl_5): v1-v88.

About TJ107/GX-I7

TJ107/GX-I7 (efineptakin alpha) is the world’s first and only long-acting recombinant human interleukin-7 (rhIL-7), known to boost T lymphocytes by increasing their number and functions. It emerged from Genexine’s proprietary hyFc platform for discovering of long-acting biologics. I-Mab has acquired exclusive rights from Genexine to develop and commercialize TJ107/GX-I7 in Greater China. TJ107/GX-I7 may have utility in cancer treatment-related lymphopenia (low blood lymphocyte levels), a common condition that occurs in cancer patients who have received chemotherapy or radiation therapy, for which there is no approved treatment. TJ107/ GX-I7 has also been shown to synergize with a PD-1 antibody in various tumor animal models potentially through increased T-lymphocyte activation and proliferation.