DiaMedica Therapeutics Provides a Business Update and Announces First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

On May 5, 2021 DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: DMAC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for neurological disorders and kidney diseases, reported that financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 (Press release, DiaMedica, MAY 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234579252]). DiaMedica will host a conference call Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 7:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss its business update and first quarter financial results.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Clinical Developments

DM199 for the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke

IND Submitted
Initiation of Phase 2/3 Trial of DM199 in AIS in Summer 2021
DiaMedica has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an adaptive Phase 2/3 clinical trial of DM199, the Company’s recombinant form of human tissue kallikrein-1 being developed as a treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. The proposed trial of DM199 is for AIS patients who do not receive tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and do not have large vessel occlusions, a group that represents up to 80% of all AIS patients. DiaMedica believes that the proposed trial has the potential to serve as a pivotal registration study of DM199 in this patient population.

The FDA has confirmed its receipt of the IND and DiaMedica expects the FDA to complete its regulatory review of the IND by mid-May. If authorized by the FDA, the Company anticipates initiating the study this summer. DiaMedica has selected a contract research organization to assist with the conduct of the study and is actively working to identify, qualify and engage clinical study sites—the expected pacing item for initiation of the study.

The clinical trial is proposed to be a double blinded, placebo controlled, randomized study of approximately 350 participants, based on a 90% powering for statistical significance on the primary endpoint of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at day 90. Secondary endpoints will include stroke recurrence, mRS shift, NIHSS and Barthel Index, deaths, safety and tolerability measures, and biomarkers relating to KLK1. Independent of this study, the Company plans to discuss with the FDA a second study for the evaluation of the efficacy of DM199 in reducing stroke recurrence based upon the statistically significant reduction in severe recurrent strokes observed in its ReMEDy Phase 2 AIS trial.

"We are pleased with the overall progress of our AIS program," commented Rick Pauls, Chief Executive Officer of DiaMedica. "We look forward to initiation of this trial and moving closer to potentially providing stroke patients and physicians a much-needed new treatment option for AIS."

DM199 for the Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease

Data Read-out Expected in Q2 2021 on CKD Caused by Type II Diabetes Cohort
Enrollment Continues in IgA Nephropathy and CKD in African Americans with Hypertension
DiaMedica’s Phase 2 REDUX trial is a multi-center, open-label, investigation to assess the safety and efficacy of multiple doses of DM199, administered over 90 days, in participants with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (Stage 2 or 3) targeting enrollment of approximately 90 participants in three equal Cohorts. Cohort 1 of the study is focused on non-diabetic African Americans with hypertension, a group that is at greater risk for CKD than Caucasians. Additionally, the study is designed to identify African American participants with the APOL1 gene mutation as an exploratory biomarker as these individuals have an even higher risk of developing CKD. Cohort 2 of the study is focused on participants with IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) which is found more commonly in Asians, Caucasians and people of Eastern Europe and is very rare in Blacks and people of African descent and Cohort 3 includes participants with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) which is defined by elevated urine albumin excretion and/or reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) – is a serious complication that occurs in 20% to 40% of all diabetics.

As of April 30, 2021, DiaMedica had enrolled a total of 70 subjects, including a fully enrolled DKD Cohort, and approximately 70% of the IgAN and 60% of the African American Cohorts. The Company has continued to experience slower than expected enrollment in the first two Cohorts of the REDUX trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the significant declines in new COVID-19 cases and the anticipated availability and effectiveness of vaccines, the Company currently anticipates completion of Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 in the second half of 2021. Preliminary topline results from the DKD Cohort are expected to be available in the second quarter of 2021.

Financial Results

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $1.0 million. The increase was due to a number of factors including a year-over-year increase in costs incurred for the REDUX Phase 2 CKD study, and costs associated with an increase in staff levels, consulting services and non-clinical testing required to support preparation for the ReMEDy2 Phase 2/3 stroke study. These increases were partially offset by a year-over-year decrease in costs incurred for the ReMEDy Phase 2 stroke study which completed during 2020.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, up from $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase in G&A expenses resulted primarily from increased directors and officers liability insurance, personnel and non-cash share-based compensation costs.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

The Company had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $23.4 million, current liabilities of $1.2 million and working capital of $23.0 million as of March 31, 2021, compared to $27.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, $2.0 million in current liabilities and $25.9 million in working capital as of December 31, 2020. The decreases in combined cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and in working capital are due primarily to increased clinical study costs related to the REDUX Phase 2 CKD study and costs associated with preparing for the ReMEDy2 Phase 2/3 stroke study.

Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $4.3 million compared to $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. This increase relates primarily to the increase in the net loss, partially offset by the effects of the changes in operating assets and liabilities.

Conference Call Information

DiaMedica Management will host a conference call to discuss its business update and first quarter 2021 financial results on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 7:00 a.m. Central Time:

Interested parties may access the conference call by dialing in or listening to the simultaneous webcast. Listeners should log on to the website or dial in 15 minutes prior to the call. The webcast will remain available for play back on DiaMedica’s website, under investor relations – events and presentations, following the earnings call and for 12 months thereafter. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until May 13, 2021, by dialing (855) 859-2056 (US Toll Free), (404) 537-3406 (International), and entering the replay passcode: 2966016.

About DM199

DM199 is a recombinant (synthetic) form of human tissue kallikrein-1 (KLK1). KLK1 is a serine protease (protein) that plays an important role in the regulation of diverse physiological processes including blood flow, inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress and neurogenesis via a molecular mechanism that increases production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin. KLK1 deficiency may play a role in multiple vascular and fibrotic diseases such as chronic kidney disease, retinopathy, stroke, vascular dementia, and resistant hypertension where current treatment options are limited or ineffective. DiaMedica is the first company to have developed a recombinant form of the KLK1 protein. The KLK1 protein, produced from porcine pancreas and human urine, has been used to treat patients in Japan, China and Korea for decades. DM199 is currently being studied in patients with chronic kidney disease and patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Lumos Pharma Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Clinical and Corporate Updates

On May 5, 2021 Lumos Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUMO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on therapeutics for rare diseases, reported its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2021 and provided an update on clinical and corporate activities (Press release, NewLink Genetics, MAY 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234579251]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"The first quarter of 2021 was notable for data published further supporting the differentiated mechanism of action of LUM-201 and its potential for efficacy in patients with pediatric growth hormone deficiency identified by our Predictive Enrichment Marker strategy," commented Rick Hawkins, Chairman, CEO and President of Lumos Pharma. "In addition, final proceeds received in January from our PRV sale further strengthened our balance sheet and support our clinical and corporate strategy as we advance our OraGrowtH210 Trial in PGHD and pursue licensing opportunities to expand our pipeline."

Recent Highlights

PK/PD Data for LUM-201 in PGHD Presented by Investigator at KOL Event – Newly released data from a prior PK/PD trial evaluating LUM-201 in PGHD patients was presented in April by Dr. Fernando Cassorla at a KOL event hosted by Lumos Pharma. These data on three PGHD patients demonstrate the potential for Predictive Enrichment Markers of baseline IGF-1 levels and peak stimulated GH levels to identify patients likely to respond to LUM-201. These data further illustrate the potential for LUM-201 to augment the pulsatile secretion of GH for 24 hours, and induce a substantial increase in height velocity, over six-months of treatment in PEM-positive patients.
Poster Presented at ENDO 2021 Differentiates LUM-201 from Standard GH Secretagogues – The poster entitled, "LUM-201 Elicits Greater GH Response than Standard GH Secretagogues in Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency," was presented at the Endocrine Society 2021 Annual Meeting, March 20th-23rd. These data showed GH responses to single oral doses of LUM-201 were substantially higher than those elicited by standard GH secretagogues in two stimulation tests and that the difference in responses increased with higher baseline IGF-1 and higher GH stimulation test results.
Phase 2b OraGrowtH210 Trial Continues to Advance – The Phase 2b OraGrowtH210 Trial initiated in Q4 2020 continues to add clinical sites and enroll patients. Over 50% of the trial sites are currently open with additional sites to open more imminently as we advance toward our target of 40-50 sites. This trial will evaluate orally administered LUM-201 in approximately 80 patients diagnosed with PGHD. The purpose of the OraGrowtH210 Trial will be to prospectively confirm both the repeatability of our selected Predictive Enrichment Markers (PEMs) and the validity of our PEM strategy, and to identify the optimal dose of LUM-201 to be used in a Phase 3 registration trial. The Company continues to anticipate data read-out for the OraGrowtH210 Trial mid-year 2022.
Initiation of PK/PD OraGrowtH212 Trial of LUM-201 in PGHD Anticipated Q2 2021 – This study will evaluate the PK/PD effects of LUM-201 in PGHD patients at two dose levels to confirm prior clinical data illustrating the increased pulsatile release of endogenous growth hormone unique to LUM-201 and its potential for efficacy in a sizable PGHD patient population identified by Predictive Enrichment Markers (PEMs). We continue to anticipate the initiation of this trial in Q2 2021.
Final Tranche of Funds from PRV Sale Received – In January 2021, Lumos received the second and final tranche of $26.0 million from the total $60.0 million due to the Company from the PRV sale. We anticipate these funds will serve as additional capital to support the expansion of the Company’s pipeline through its business development efforts.
Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2021

Cash Position – Lumos Pharma ended the first quarter on March 31, 2021, with cash and cash equivalents totaling $114.1 million compared to $98.7 million on December 31, 2020. The Company expects an average cash use of approximately $8.0 to $9.0 million per quarter through 2021. Cash on hand as of the end of Q1 is expected to support operations through OraGrowtH210 readout and completion of the OraGrowtH212 Trial.
R&D Expenses – Research and development expenses increased by $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 primarily due to increases of $1.6 million in personnel-related and stock compensation expenses, $1.3 million in clinical trial and contract manufacturing expenses, $0.2 million in supplies and other expenses and $0.1 million in legal expenses, offset by a decrease of $0.4 million in expensed IPR&D.
G&A Expenses – General and administrative expenses increased by $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020 primarily due to increases of $0.9 million in personnel-related and stock compensation expenses and $0.5 million in operating expenses for insurance, rent, supplies, and depreciation expenses, offset by a decrease of $0.8 million in legal and consulting.
Net Loss – The net loss for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 was $8.6 million compared to net income of $0.3 million for the same period in 2020.
Lumos Pharma ended Q1 2021 with 8,332,193 shares outstanding.
Conference Call and Webcast Details

The Company has scheduled a conference call and webcast for 4:30 p.m. ET today to discuss its financial results and to give an update on clinical and business development activities. There will also be a question-and-answer session following management’s prepared remarks.

Access to the live conference call is available five minutes prior to the start of the call by dialing (855) 469-0612 (U.S.) or (484) 756-4268 (international). The conference call will be webcast live and a link to the webcast can be accessed through the Lumos Pharma website at View Source in the "Investors & Media" section under "Events and Presentations" or through this link: View Source To ensure a timely connection, it is recommended that users register at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled webcast. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call and can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 (U.S.) or (404) 537-3406 (international) and using the passcode 5863619. The replay will be available for two weeks from the date of the call.

Servier Announces FDA Filing Acceptance and Priority Review for TIBSOVO® (ivosidenib tablets) in IDH1-mutated Cholangiocarcinoma

On May 5, 2021 Servier Pharmaceuticals, a growing leader in oncology committed to bringing the promise of tomorrow to the patients we serve, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for TIBSOVO (ivosidenib tablets) as a potential treatment for patients with previously treated IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma (Press release, Servier, MAY 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234579238]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The sNDA was granted Priority Review, which accelerates the review time from 10 months to a goal of 6 months from the day of filing acceptance. Priority Review is typically given to drugs that may offer major advances in treatment or may provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists.

"While today is a significant milestone in our company’s history, it is also a beacon of hope for the cholangiocarcinoma patient community," said David K. Lee, CEO, Servier Pharmaceuticals. "As we continue to expand our oncology leadership presence in the U.S. into the solid tumor space, we remain committed to addressing the critical unmet needs of patients with difficult-to-treat cancers including cholangiocarcinoma."

The sNDA acceptance is supported by data from the ClarIDHy study, the first and only randomized Phase 3 trial for previously treated IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma. An encore presentation of the data will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting on June 4-8, 2021.

"Currently, there are no approved systemic therapies for IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma and limited chemotherapy options are available for patients with advanced disease," said Susan Pandya, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development, Head of Cancer Metabolism Global Development, Servier Pharmaceuticals. "The FDA’s Priority Review is a major milestone for patients. I’d like to acknowledge and thank all the patients, their families and the investigators and research teams who took part in the ClarIDHy study."

TIBSOVO (ivosidenib tablets) is currently approved in the U.S. as monotherapy for the treatment of adults with IDH1-mutant relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and for adults with newly diagnosed IDH1-mutant AML who are ≥75 years old or who have comorbidities that preclude the use of intensive induction chemotherapy.

In an effort to meet more patient needs than ever before, Servier Pharmaceuticals has grown by nearly 20% in the past two years. The company will continue to grow its oncology portfolio through new and existing research and development collaborations, potential acquisitions and a new lab opening in 2022.

About Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare, aggressive cancer of the bile ducts within and outside of the liver. IDH1 mutations occur in approximately 13% of cholangiocarcinoma cases and are not associated with prognosis. There are no approved systemic therapies for IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma and limited chemotherapy options are available in the advanced setting. Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy is often recommended for newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic disease.

About TIBSOVO (ivosidenib tablets)

TIBSOVO is indicated for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test in:

Adult patients with newly-diagnosed AML who are ≥75 years old or who have comorbidities that preclude use of intensive induction chemotherapy.
Adult patients with relapsed or refractory AML.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: DIFFERENTIATION SYNDROME

Patients treated with TIBSOVO have experienced symptoms of differentiation syndrome, which can be fatal if not treated. Symptoms may include fever, dyspnea, hypoxia, pulmonary infiltrates, pleural or pericardial effusions, rapid weight gain or peripheral edema, hypotension, and hepatic, renal, or multi-organ dysfunction. If differentiation syndrome is suspected, initiate corticosteroid therapy and hemodynamic monitoring until symptom resolution.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Differentiation Syndrome: See Boxed WARNING. In the clinical trial, 25% (7/28) of patients with newly diagnosed AML and 19% (34/179) of patients with relapsed or refractory AML treated with TIBSOVO experienced differentiation syndrome. Differentiation syndrome is associated with rapid proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells and may be life-threatening or fatal if not treated. Symptoms of differentiation syndrome in patients treated with TIBSOVO included noninfectious leukocytosis, peripheral edema, pyrexia, dyspnea, pleural effusion, hypotension, hypoxia, pulmonary edema, pneumonitis, pericardial effusion, rash, fluid overload, tumor lysis syndrome, and creatinine increased. Of the 7 patients with newly diagnosed AML who experienced differentiation syndrome, 6 (86%) patients recovered. Of the 34 patients with relapsed or refractory AML who experienced differentiation syndrome, 27 (79%) patients recovered after treatment or after dose interruption of TIBSOVO. Differentiation syndrome occurred as early as 1 day and up to 3 months after TIBSOVO initiation and has been observed with or without concomitant leukocytosis.

If differentiation syndrome is suspected, initiate dexamethasone 10 mg IV every 12 hours (or an equivalent dose of an alternative oral or IV corticosteroid) and hemodynamic monitoring until improvement. If concomitant noninfectious leukocytosis is observed, initiate treatment with hydroxyurea or leukapheresis, as clinically indicated. Taper corticosteroids and hydroxyurea after resolution of symptoms and administer corticosteroids for a minimum of 3 days. Symptoms of differentiation syndrome may recur with premature discontinuation of corticosteroid and/or hydroxyurea treatment. If severe signs and/or symptoms persist for more than 48 hours after initiation of corticosteroids, interrupt TIBSOVO until signs and symptoms are no longer severe.

QTc Interval Prolongation: Patients treated with TIBSOVO can develop QT (QTc) prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias. One patient developed ventricular fibrillation attributed to TIBSOVO. Concomitant use of TIBSOVO with drugs known to prolong the QTc interval (e.g., anti-arrhythmic medicines, fluoroquinolones, triazole anti-fungals, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists) and CYP3A4 inhibitors may increase the risk of QTc interval prolongation. Conduct monitoring of electrocardiograms (ECGs) and electrolytes. In patients with congenital long QTc syndrome, congestive heart failure, or electrolyte abnormalities, or in those who are taking medications known to prolong the QTc interval, more frequent monitoring may be necessary.

Interrupt TIBSOVO if QTc increases to greater than 480 msec and less than 500 msec. Interrupt and reduce TIBSOVO if QTc increases to greater than 500 msec. Permanently discontinue TIBSOVO in patients who develop QTc interval prolongation with signs or symptoms of life-threatening arrhythmia.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Guillain-Barré syndrome occurred in <1% (2/258) of AML patients treated with TIBSOVO in the clinical study. Monitor patients taking TIBSOVO for onset of new signs or symptoms of motor and/or sensory neuropathy such as unilateral or bilateral weakness, sensory alterations, paresthesias, or difficulty breathing. Permanently discontinue TIBSOVO in patients who are diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions including laboratory abnormalities (≥20%) were hemoglobin decreased (60%), fatigue (43%), arthralgia (39%), calcium decreased (39%), sodium decreased (39%), leukocytosis (38%), diarrhea (37%), magnesium decreased (36%), edema (34%), nausea (33%), dyspnea (32%), uric acid increased (32%), potassium decreased (32%), alkaline phosphatase increased (30%), mucositis (28%), aspartate aminotransferase increased (27%), phosphatase decreased (25%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (24%), rash (24%), creatinine increased (24%), cough (23%), decreased appetite (22%), myalgia (21%), constipation (20%), and pyrexia (20%).
In patients with newly diagnosed AML, the most frequently reported Grade ≥3 adverse reactions (≥5%) were fatigue (14%), differentiation syndrome (11%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (11%), diarrhea (7%), nausea (7%), and leukocytosis (7%). Serious adverse reactions (≥5%) were differentiation syndrome (18%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (7%), and fatigue (7%). There was one case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES).
In patients with relapsed or refractory AML, the most frequently reported Grade ≥3 adverse reactions (≥5%) were differentiation syndrome (13%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (10%), dyspnea (9%), leukocytosis (8%), and tumor lysis syndrome (6%). Serious adverse reactions (≥5%) were differentiation syndrome (10%), leukocytosis (10%), and electrocardiogram QT prolonged (7%). There was one case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
DRUG INTERACTIONS

Strong or Moderate CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Reduce TIBSOVO dose with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Monitor patients for increased risk of QTc interval prolongation.
Strong CYP3A4 Inducers: Avoid concomitant use with TIBSOVO.
Sensitive CYP3A4 Substrates: Avoid concomitant use with TIBSOVO.
QTc Prolonging Drugs: Avoid concomitant use with TIBSOVO. If co-administration is unavoidable, monitor patients for increased risk of QTc interval prolongation.

LACTATION
Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for adverse reactions in breastfed children, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with TIBSOVO and for at least 1 month after the last dose.

BridGene Biosciences Announces $12 Million Series A Financing to Advance the Company’s Proprietary Chemoproteomic Platform and Pipeline of Oncology Programs

On May 5, 2021 BridGene Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company using cutting-edge chemoproteomic technology to discover and develop small molecules for high value, yet traditionally undruggable targets, reported that it has raised $12 million in a Series A private financing round led by Wedo Venture Partners with additional participation by Kaitai Capital and Takeda Ventures, alongside existing investor Pangu Venture (Press release, Bridgene Biosciences, MAY 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234579237]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

BridGene plans to use proceeds from the Series A financing to expand the company’s proprietary covalent library to discover small-molecule ligands for a broader range of targets, advance existing oncology programs and enhance operations.

The Company’s proprietary chemoproteomic platform, IMTAC (Isobaric Mass Tagged Affinity Characterization), addresses many of the challenges associated with small-molecule drug discovery. Many disease drivers have long been deemed undruggable because their functional pockets are either too shallow or formed transiently in live cells, making such conditions difficult for conventional small molecules to address. While phenotypic screening can be performed in live cells, it is extremely difficult to identify small-molecule hits’ cellular targets that are responsible for the phenotypic modulation. BridGene has the unique ability to meet these challenges as IMTAC screening not only enables the efficient discovery of novel hits for myriad proteins, including those deemed undruggable in live cells, but also allows target deconvolution for phenotypic screening hits.

"We are pleased to make this investment, as we believe BridGene plays an important role in discovering small molecules for traditionally undruggable targets, as well as rapidly identifying (deconvoluting) targets in phenotypic screening, and revolutionarily developing precision medicine for a wide range of unmet medical need," said Leilei Wang, managing partner of Wedo Venture Partners. "Medical advancement requires greater efficiency across the spectrum of development – from discovery through commercialization, and BridGene’s IMTAC platform has the potential to positively impact the earliest, and often most challenging, steps in this process."

"This financing, combined with our recently announced collaboration with Takeda, affirms the strong support among investors and pharmaceutical developers for our proprietary drug discovery and development platform and experienced management team," stated Ping Cao, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of BridGene Biosciences. "Over the last few years, we have pursued pioneering work in covalent small molecules and chemoproteomic screening to identify small molecules for traditional undruggable targets and quickly move from hits to leads. Today, thanks to the help of our investors, we are in a strong financial position to continue building a unique chemoproteomic platform and advance the development of our internal pipeline with the goal of providing new therapies for unmet medical needs."

Alkermes to Take Part in the BofA Securities 2021 Virtual Healthcare Conference

On May 5, 2021 Alkermes plc (Nasdaq: ALKS) reported that management will participate in a virtual fireside chat at the BofA Securities 2021 Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 2:45 p.m. ET (7:45 p.m. BST) (Press release, Alkermes, MAY 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234579236]). The presentation may be accessed under the Investors tab on www.alkermes.com and will be archived for 14 days.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!