KQ Labs data driven health accelerator announces its first exit, as Glamorous AI is acquired by X-Chem Inc

On November 1, 2021 KQ Labs reported that a programme delivered by the Francis Crick Institute and funded by LifeArc, is proud to announce its first exit as Glamorous AI, a company that was part of KQ Labs’ third cohort, has been acquired by X-Chem, the US based global leader in DNA-encoded library (DEL) driven discovery solutions(Press release, LifeArc, NOV 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234594651]).

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Glamorous AI is a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for drug discovery. GlamorousAI is radically changing how drugs are designed and optimised using their proprietary artificial intelligence platform, RosalindAI, and applying it to low and sparse data problems inherent to drug discovery.

X-Chem is the pioneer of DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology and a recognized leader in generating actionable results to drive small molecule drug discovery and the first to demonstrate applying machine learning to large, high quality, DEL datasets can accelerate hit generation. The acquisition of the innovative AI capabilities of Glamorous AI positions X-Chem as a leading service provider in machine learning-driven drug discovery.

Noor Shaker, CEO and Founder of Glamorous AI said: "Glamorous AI is one of a few fortunate startups to have been accepted to the KQ labs programme. The programme provided a great opportunity to be part of an innovative ecosystem and connect with likeminded founders looking to transform the life sciences industry. With its focus on healthcare and life sciences, the programme has helped us build and strengthen our connections with the industry."

Barbara Domayne-Hayman, who leads the KQ Labs programme, commented: "We are very excited that Glamorous AI has achieved this excellent result, and in such a short space of time. The greater resources that X-Chem can bring will enable wider uptake of Glamorous AI’s platform technology. We wish the Glamorous AI team every success in their next phase as they transition to the X-Chem organisation".

Lantern Pharma’s Proprietary A.I. Platform for Precision Oncology Drug Development, RADR®, Surpasses 10 Billion Datapoints – Significantly Enhancing Precision Medicine Capabilities & Expanding Potential for Biopharma Collaborations and Partnerships

On November 1, 2021 Lantern Pharma (NASDAQ: LTRN), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company using its proprietary RADR artificial intelligence ("A.I.") platform to transform the cost, pace, and timeline of oncology drug discovery and development, reported that its proprietary A.I. platform RADR has exceeded 10.4 billion datapoints(Press release, Lantern Pharma, NOV 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234594650]). RADR is Lantern’s proprietary integrated A.I. platform for large-scale biomarker and drug-tumor interaction data analytics that leverages machine-learning. RADR is used to provide mechanistic insights about drug-tumor interactions, predict the potential response of cancer types and subtypes to existing drugs and drug candidates, and uncover patient groups that may respond to potential therapies being developed by Lantern and its collaborators.

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RADR is also being used to: (1) help define and develop combination strategies involving drugs in development by Lantern and existing drugs that are approved for a range of oncology indications; (2) guide the prioritization of potential indications for development; and (3) identify potential new drug candidates to in-license and develop.

The increase to 10.4 billion datapoints was also accompanied by other significant improvements in the functionality, feature set and further automation of RADR, which are intended to help scale the A.I. platform’s drug development capabilities. The significant increase in the number of drug-tumor interaction data sets and cancers sub-types covered by RADR includes new data from collaborations in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and pancreatic cancer and data from transcriptome, genome and methylome data-sets in blood, bladder and other rare cancers being considered for future development or have limited therapeutic options.

Panna Sharma, CEO and President of Lantern Pharma, stated, "Our team has been well ahead of schedule in the growth of our platform, and RADR has now surpassed 10.4 billion data points covering more cancer sub-types, which further advances our goal of building the most complete and powerful A.I. platform for precision oncology drug development. Additionally, the new data will drive insights and potential drug-candidate innovations faster and into areas of cancer that have remained untouched or intractable."

Corresponding with this growth in datapoints, the Company has also focused resources and technology development on the growth and improvements to the library of algorithms designed specifically to help solve challenging data and correlation problems for cancer drug development. By using an ensemble-based approach in applying the library of algorithms to statistical, correlative and inferential problems related to drug-tumor interaction, RADR can rapidly analyze large amounts of complex data and predict with high accuracy how both tumors and patients will respond to drugs and drug candidates. RADR’s ability to rapidly sift through large amounts of curated and complex datasets is key in predicting the probability of a tumor or a patient group in responding to a cancer treatment. Additionally, the RADR platform evolves as new datasets are added, which improves and sharpens the insights generated from the algorithms. Lantern plans on continuing further RADR expansion by incorporating and curating additional datasets from proprietary studies and public data sources and further automating the evolution of its library of algorithms. Additionally, the Company will be augmenting the 10.4 billion datapoints with additional data from immuno-oncology related studies and clinical trials, including antigen, immune-response and protein data that it believes will enable a potentially more robust and more powerful multiomic analysis. "In the next phase of growth for RADR our belief is that we can deepen our capabilities in novel ADC development and also predict combination therapy approaches using our drug candidates and existing approved immuno-oncology therapies," stated Mr. Sharma.

"Previously, the task of identifying new cancer therapies has been costly, risky, and inefficient. Specifically, studying how existing compounds and therapeutic combinations can affect different cancer subtypes often took years, whereas our platform can reduce many key aspects of this process to months. As a result, we believe our platform changes the industry paradigm in a meaningful way. We have witnessed first-hand the growing industry interest in solutions that innovate the development of precision therapeutics and combination therapies, which we believe will pave the road to new partnerships. Accordingly, we believe our growing A.I. platform will be pivotal in uncovering potential new therapeutic opportunities and developing insights into the creation of combination-therapy programs, both internally and through third-party party collaborations to drive long-term shareholder value."

RADR’s highly scalable machine-learning methods are designed to guide drug development and yield new biological insights, while also having the potential to increase response rates and improve outcomes in clinical trials. The robustness and growing number of datasets powering RADR is anticipated to continue to improve machine-learning results, accelerate automation of other features and aid oncology drug development for Lantern and its partners with an ultimate focus on benefitting cancer patients.

Leidos Awarded $531 Million Contract by Air Combat Command Acquisition Management and Integration Center

On November 1, 2021 Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, reported that it was recently awarded a new task order by the Air Combat Command (ACC) Acquisition Management and Integration Center (AMIC) to support ACC intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations (Press release, Leidos, NOV 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234594652]). The single-award, firm-fixed price task order has a one-year base period of performance, four one-year options, and a total contract value of approximately $531 million if all options are exercised. Work will be performed at over 25 CONUS locations.

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"Combating global threats requires our armed forces to possess and constantly obtain critical knowledge of the strategic, operational, and tactical environments," said Leidos Defense Group President Gerry Fasano. "We look forward to leveraging our more than 33 years of strategic intelligence experience and exceptional performance on the current ACC ISR program to support our warfighters in meeting the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime air defense."

Under the contract, Leidos will provide subject matter expertise and threat mitigation support for ACC ISR operations along with a full range of intelligence support and ISR operational services that encompass analysis and assessment support, ISR training support, and intelligence support for HQ ACC Staff, subordinate NAF Staffs, Centers, and Wings.

Headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, the AMIC provides services acquisition solutions for ACC, the largest of the Air Force’s major commands.

Thermo Fisher Scientific adds patterned microchip-based technology to liquid chromatography portfolio

On November 1, 2021 Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, reported its acquisition of Belgium-based PharmaFluidics, the developer of the μPAC range of micro-chip-based chromatography columns (Press release, Lifescience Newswire, NOV 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234594649]).

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The µPAC portfolio of columns enhance liquid chromatography (LC) performance in biomarker, proteomics and drug research and development applications, helping biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies uncover new insights and advance scientific discovery. Through an innovative approach, separation performance and sensitivity are improved with the μPAC chromatography columns, allowing for the identification of substantially more compounds in complex biological samples. The μPAC portfolio acquisition complements Thermo Fisher’s existing chromatography solutions to deliver extended analytical capabilities to researchers.

"LC is a key analytical technique across numerous applications, and its accuracy, reproducibility and robustness is critical to the delivery of meaningful results," said Kent Davidson, vice president and general manager, high performance chromatography solutions, chromatography and mass spectrometry, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Columns are an essential part of these workflows, and the next-generation μPAC columns push this element to a new level through innovative pillar array technology, improving the quality of data."

The μPAC columns deliver excellent separation and sensitivity to achieve greater identifications from samples with a large dynamic range, ultimately enhancing the solutions available for pharmaceutical laboratories to help meet changing needs in medical research.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On November 1, 2021, Theralink Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") reported that it entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the "SPA") with two investors (the "Investors") pursuant to which the Investors agreed to purchase convertible notes ("Notes") and accompanying warrants ("Warrants") for an aggregate investment amount of $1,000,000.00 (Filing, 8-K, Oncbiomune, NOV 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234594578]). The SPA contains customary representations, warranties, and covenants of the Company and Investors as detailed therein.

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The Notes have an aggregate face value of $1,000,000 and each Note bears interest at a rate of 8% per annum (which shall increase to 10% per year upon the occurrence of an "Event of Default" (as defined in the Notes)) and shall mature on November 1, 2026 (the "Maturity Date"). The Notes will be funded in two tranches on November 1, 2021 and December 1, 2021. The Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price equal to $0.00366 per share for any amount of principal and accrued interest remaining outstanding (subject to adjustment as provided therein). The Company may prepay the Notes at any time in an amount equal to 110% of outstanding principal balance and accrued interest.

In connection with each Note, the Investors were issued Warrants to purchase an amount of common stock equal to 20% of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes at an exercise price of $0.00366 per share (subject to adjustment as provided therein) until November 1, 2026. The Warrants are exercisable for cash at any time.