On May 25, 2022 CureVac N.V. (Nasdaq: CVAC), a global biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of transformative medicines based on messenger ribonucleic acid ("mRNA"), and myNEO N.V., a Belgium-based immunotherapy company, reported that they have entered into a research and option agreement (Press release, myNEO, MAY 25, 2022, View Source [SID1234640209]). Under the agreement, both companies aim to identify specific antigens found on the surface of tumors for the development of novel mRNA immunotherapies. To achieve this goal, myNEO will leverage its biological datasets and its integrated machine learning and bioinformatics platform to identify and validate specific antigen targets predicted to elicit a strong immune response.

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"We are translating our mRNA technology insights and learnings to create value in oncology," said Antony Blanc, Chief Business Officer and Chief Commercial Officer of CureVac. "myNEO’s state-of-theart predictive approach to analyze tumor and normal genetic data inputs from multiple sources, perfectly complements our mRNA technology as we advance the development of novel cancer vaccines. Through this collaboration, we prepare to build a strong pipeline in oncology and accelerate growth beyond our progress in prophylactic vaccines."

myNEO utilizes a broad range of underlying genomic alterations to identify constantly emerging, novel classes of antigens of defined tumor types. The immunogenicity of identified antigens is predicted using proprietary algorithms, machine and deep learning methods and an extensive database containing data on tumor specific mutations. Incorporating new ranking methodologies based on tumor cell antigen processing and presentation allows for selection of antigens with the highest confidence of success for potential clinical testing.

"CureVac is a front-runner in the mRNA technology ecosystem, and its use for the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines has shown great promise," said Cedric Bogaert, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of myNEO. "We’re convinced that combining our innovative neoantigen target identification and selection methods with mRNA technology holds great potential for immunotherapies, and CureVac was the logical choice for us to further validate this avenue. Supplementing our own developments with this collaboration will allow us to benefit from CureVac’s years of experience and know-how, and to create a significant impact on the immunotherapy domain."

On May 25, 2022 BlueSphere Bio, a T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapy company developing a powerful TCR discovery platform and novel therapeutic candidates for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, reported that Sawa Ito, M.D., Ph.D., was selected to provide an oral presentation during the 2022 Joint ASTCT + EBMT Basic and Translational Scientific retreat (Press release, BlueSphere Bio, MAY 25, 2022, View Source [SID1234616065]). The retreat is a select gathering limited to 100 attendees focused on basic and translation biology in the field.

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The presentation will highlight the capabilities of the company’s TCXpress platform and its ability to rapidly clone TCRs against specific targets from single T cells. This work enabled the discovery of BlueSphere’s first clinical candidate, a TCR T-cell therapy directed against the minor histocompatibility antigen (miHA) HA-1. The company anticipates filing its first IND by the end of 2022. The TCXpress platform has also enabled the discovery of four new TCRs reactive against other relevant miHAs, in addition to HA-1. BlueSphere plans to announce details on these other targets later this year.

Title: High Throughput Cloning Reveals Diverse Properties of anti-HA-1 T Cell Receptors

Presenter: Dr. Sawa Ito, hematologist/oncologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology-Oncology and Department of Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

About TCXpress

TCXpress is a proprietary high-throughput and efficient T-cell receptor (TCR) capture, expression and functional screening platform capable of processing thousands of single T cells directly into functionally expressed TCRs within a matter of days, thereby creating extensive libraries without the need for sequencing or TCR gene synthesis.

On May 25, 2022 DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: DMAC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for neurological disorders and kidney diseases, reported that it will be participating in the 19th Annual Craig-Hallum Institutional Investor Conference being held virtually on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 (Press release, DiaMedica, MAY 25, 2022, View Source [SID1234615110]). Management will be available to participate in one-on-one meetings. Investors and attendees that would like to schedule a meeting with DiaMedica’s management can contact their Craig-Hallum representative to arrange a meeting.

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On May 25, 2022 ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a leader in the expanding field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer, reported that the following presentations by Company management at upcoming investor conferences will be webcast (Press release, ImmunoGen, MAY 25, 2022, View Source [SID1234615058]):

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William Blair 42nd Annual Growth Stock Conference
June 8 at 11:20am CT / 12:20pm ET
Jefferies Healthcare Conference
June 9 at 9:30am ET
A webcast of each presentation will be accessible through the "Investors and Media" section of the Company’s website, www.immunogen.com. Following the live webcast, a replay will be available at the same location.

On May 25, 2022 Oxford BioTherapeutics (OBT), a clinical stage oncology company with a pipeline of immuno-oncology and Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC)-based therapies, reported that it has entered into a collaboration and supply agreement with Agenus Inc., an immuno-oncology company with an extensive pipeline of therapeutics designed to activate immune response to cancers and infections, to support a clinical trial evaluating the combination of OBT076 with the anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) balstilimab (Press release, Oxford BioTherapeutics, MAY 25, 2022, View Source [SID1234615056]).

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OBT has observed near complete responses in two chemotherapy-refractory advanced cancer patients with low to no PD-L1 expression after 2-5 cycles of OBT076 and 1-2 cycles of a CPI, indicating preliminary signs of clinical activity. Immuno-blood profiling during translational work on these patients revealed a potential novel immuno-oncology mechanism for immune system reactivation and tumor shrinkage.

OBT plans to evaluate the clinical efficacy of OBT076 in combination with Agenus´ proprietary CPI, balstilimab. Balstilimab is an PD-1 blocking antibody currently in clinical development in several solid tumor indications.

"I am very excited about our new partnership with Agenus, which will allow us to progress the clinical development of OBT076 in combination with balstilimab," said Christian Rohlff, PhD, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oxford BioTherapeutics. "Our preliminary data suggest that depletion of CD205+ immuno-suppressive cells and subsequent T-cell activation after OBT076 treatment followed by a single cycle of a CPI coincides with the rapid resolution of the primary tumor, as well as metastases, and we believe that balstilimab is the ideal combination agent for these studies."

Under the terms of the agreement, OBT will be the sponsor of the combination trial and responsible for operational execution, and Agenus will provide drug supply and scientific support.

"We look forward to collaborating with Oxford BioTherapeutics to bring this novel combination to patients," said Steven O’Day, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Agenus. "The clinical data generated with OBT076 in advanced solid tumors is promising, and we believe will broaden the therapeutic benefit of balstilimab observed across treatment-resistant tumors."

The study will be conducted in the US as well as in several European countries including France, Germany, Belgium and Greece, and will focus on patients with solid tumors including lung, gastric and ovarian cancer.

"Our initial Phase 1 findings suggest that OBT076 may activate the immune response against the tumor through a potentially novel mechanism in some patients; based on these encouraging results, we are advancing OBT076 into the next stage of clinical development in combination with a CPI," said Rahim Fandi, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Oxford BioTherapeutics. "With their deep experience in the field of immune-oncology, Agenus is the ideal partner for us in this next stage of OBT076’s development."

About OBT076

OBT’s lead clinical program, OBT076, an ADC utilizing an ImmunoGen toxin, initiated expansion in a U.S. Clinical Trial in 2021 in patients with advanced or refractory solid tumors, including gastric, bladder, ovarian and lung cancer, where CD205 is overexpressed. Infiltration of tumors by immunosuppressive cells correlates with adverse outcomes (lower progression free and overall survival), suggesting that this process contributes to the progression of several cancers. OBT076 is advancing into Phase 1b trials assessing the efficacy of OBT076 as a monotherapy as well as in combination with a CPI in both checkpoint-naïve and resistant patients with solid tumors. Subsequent disease-specific Phase 2a trials are planned in non-small cell lung, ovarian and gastric cancer patients. OBT is also planning for later-stage trials of OBT076, including in combination with a CPI.