Novocure to Report Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

On July 1, 2022 Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR) reported that it will report financial results for the second quarter 2022 on Thursday, July 28, 2022, before the U.S. financial markets open (Press release, NovoCure, JUL 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234616445]). Novocure’s management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the company’s financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, at 8 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 28, 2022. To access the conference call by phone, use the following registration link, and dial-in details will be provided.

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The webcast, earnings slides presented during the webcast and the corporate presentation can be accessed live from the Investor Relations page of Novocure’s website, www.novocure.com/investor-relations, and will be available for at least 14 days following the call. Novocure has used, and intends to continue to use, its investor relations website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

ADC Therapeutics Appoints Jean-Pierre Bizzari, MD, to Board of Directors

On July 1, 2022 ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT) reported the appointment of veteran oncology drug developer Jean-Pierre Bizzari, MD, to its Board of Directors (Press release, ADC Therapeutics, JUL 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234616444]). Additionally, Ameet Mallik, who was appointed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer in May 2022, will join the Board.

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"Jean-Pierre is an exceptional addition to our Board," said Ron Squarer, Chairman of ADC Therapeutics’ Board of Directors. "His integral role in the development and approval of leading cancer treatments across global markets will bring valuable perspective to ADC Therapeutics as we advance a robust pipeline of ADCs for the treatment of hematological cancers and solid tumors."

Dr. Jean-Pierre Bizzari is an internationally renowned oncologist with over 35 years of experience in oncology drug development. He was Executive Vice President and Group Head of Clinical Oncology Development at Celgene Corporation where he was responsible for clinical development and operations across the United States, Europe and Asia/Japan. During his tenure at Celgene, he oversaw the development and approval of leading oncology products including REVLIMID (lenalidomide), VIDAZA (azacytidine), and ABRAXANE (nab-paclitaxel). Dr. Bizzari also served as Vice President, Clinical Oncology Development for Sanofi-Aventis (formerly Rhône-Poulenc, Rhône-Poulenc Rorer and Aventis) where he oversaw the approval of ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin), TAXOTERE (docetaxel) and ELITEK (rasburicase).

Dr. Bizzari currently serves on the scientific advisory boards of France’s National Cancer Institute and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer. He also serves on the scientific advisory boards and board of directors at numerous global pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Bizzari has received various industry honors and has authored hundreds of scientific articles and publications.

Dr. Bizzari received his medical degree from the University of Nice and has trained at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, and the McGill Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre (formerly the McGill Cancer Center) in Montreal, Canada.

"With a proprietary ADC platform validated by the FDA approval of ZYNLONTA, a robust pipeline of solid tumor targets and a global team committed to transforming patients’ lives, ADC Therapeutics is poised to build on its success," said Dr. Bizzari. "I look forward to working with the Board to continue ADC Therapeutics’ positive momentum and make a meaningful difference for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers."

CYTOKINETICS ANNOUNCES PRICING OF $450 MILLION CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES OFFERING

On July 1, 2022 Cytokinetics, Incorporated ("Cytokinetics") (Nasdaq: CYTK) reported the pricing of its offering of $450.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.50% convertible senior notes due 2027 (the "notes") in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") (Press release, Cytokinetics, JUL 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234616442]).

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Key elements of the transaction include:

$450.0 million 3.50% Convertible Senior Notes Offering (up 30.0% conversion premium)
Repurchase of approximately $116.9 million aggregate principal amount of 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the "2026 notes")
The issuance and sale of the notes are scheduled to settle on July 6, 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. Cytokinetics also granted the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase, for settlement within a period of 13 days from, and including, the date the notes are first issued, up to an additional $90.0 million aggregate principal amount of notes.

The notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of Cytokinetics. The notes will accrue interest at an annual rate of 3.50%, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 1 and July 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2023. The notes will mature on July 1, 2027, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased by Cytokinetics. Before March 1, 2027, noteholders will have the right to convert their notes only in certain circumstances. From and after March 1, 2027, noteholders may convert their notes at any time at their election until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date. Cytokinetics will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at Cytokinetics’ election. The initial conversion rate is 19.5783 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $51.08 per share of common stock. The initial conversion price represents a premium of 30.0% over the last reported sale price of $39.29 per share of Cytokinetics’ common stock on June 30, 2022. The conversion rate and conversion price will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.

The notes will not be redeemable at Cytokinetics’ election before July 7, 2025. The notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part (subject to certain limitations), at Cytokinetics’ option at any time, and from time to time, on or after July 7, 2025 and, in the case of any partial redemption, on or before the 60th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of Cytokinetics’ common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time.

If a "fundamental change" (as defined in the indenture for the notes) occurs, then, subject to a limited exception, noteholders may require Cytokinetics to repurchase their notes at a cash repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.

Use of Proceeds: Cytokinetics estimates that the net proceeds from the offering will be approximately $436.0 million (or approximately $523.3 million if the initial purchasers fully exercise their option to purchase additional notes), after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and Cytokinetics’ estimated offering expenses. Cytokinetics intends to use:

Approximately $140.3 million of the net proceeds from the offering and to issue 8,071,342 shares of its common stock to repurchase approximately $116.9 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 2026 notes through privately negotiated transactions entered into concurrently with the pricing of the offering; and
The remainder of the net proceeds of this offering to (a) expand and support its clinical development program for aficamten in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ("HCM"), including the spending associated with the potential conduct of a second Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with obstructive HCM and a first Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with non-obstructive HCM; (b) expand commercial capabilities and conduct readiness activities in the United States, Canada and Europe to support the potential launch of omecamtiv mecarbil and aficamten in those geographies; (c) advance its early stage clinical development pipeline, including the progression of CK-136 to proof of concept studies and the potential development of additional cardiac myosin inhibitors for the potential treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction ("HFpEF"); (d) expand its muscle biology focused research activities to energetics, growth and metabolism of muscle, and (e) for general corporate purposes, including working capital.
In connection with any repurchase of the 2026 notes, Cytokinetics expects that holders of the outstanding 2026 notes that have hedged their equity price risk with respect to the 2026 notes (the "hedged holders") may have, concurrently with the pricing of the notes, unwound their hedge positions by buying Cytokinetics’ common stock and/or entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to its common stock. The amount of common stock purchased by the hedged holders may have been substantial in relation to the historic average daily trading volume of Cytokinetics’ common stock. This activity by the hedged holders may have increased the effective conversion price of the notes.

In connection with the offering, Cytokinetics agreed with Royalty Pharma Development Funding, LLC to increase the size of the required draw of the Tranche 4 or Tranche 5 term loans under Cytokinetics’ Development Funding Loan Agreement with Royalty Pharma and the other parties thereto from $25 million to $50 million, if the conditions for such loans have been met.

The offer and sale of the notes and any shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or any other securities laws, and the notes and any such shares cannot be offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, the notes or any shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes, nor will there be any sale of the notes or any such shares, in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or solicitation would be unlawful.

PHARMAXIS STRENGTHENS CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT ONCOLOGY CAPABILITY WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF DR JANA BASKAR AS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

On July 1, 2022 Pharmaxis Limited (ASX:PSX), a clinical stage drug development company developing novel therapies to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, reported the appointment of Dr Jana Baskar to the role of Chief Medical Officer (Press release, Pharmaxis, JUL 1, 2022, View Source;utm_campaign=Appointment%20of%20Jana%20Basker&utm_content=Appointment%20of%20Jana%20Basker+CID_bca45eeb80226d41b6b06560a3261988&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&utm_term=View%20Full%20Media%20Release [SID1234616441]).

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Dr Baskar is a highly experienced executive who has worked in both pharmaceutical and contract research companies.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr Baskar to Pharmaxis, where his deep experience leading clinical programs will be an asset to the continued advancement of our pipeline," commented Gary Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Pharmaxis. "Dr Baskar brings significant oversight, clinical development and strategic expertise, having previously guided numerous programs through all phases of development. His extensive background and experience will be particularly valuable as the Company progresses its lead asset, PXS‐5505, towards clinical proof of concept in myelofibrosis and other oncology indications."

Dr Jana Baskar has over two decades of experience including overseeing more than 70 phase I‐III trials of oncology treatments in his 6 years as Medical Director at Novartis Oncology in Australia. In his most recent role, he served as Medical Director for IQVIA in Australia and New Zealand where he also co‐ chaired the IQVIA ANZ Oncology Advisory Board providing strategic advice to Biopharma companies. Dr Baskar received his Bachelor of Medicine degree (MBBS) from the University of Western Australia. He holds a Master of Medical Science in Drug Development from the University of New South Wales, Sydney (MMedSc) and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Pharmaxis founding scientist and Medical Director, Dr Brett Charlton, is retiring after more than 20 years’ service with the company during which time he has overseen development programs that lead to two products achieving global regulatory approval and the transition of several pipeline products into clinical development including Pharmaxis’ two lead assets in myelofibrosis (PXS‐5505) and scarring (PXS‐6302). Page 2 of 3 Gary Phillips said, "I’d like to recognise and sincerely thank Dr Charlton for his extensive contribution to the Pharmaxis business and to advances in patient care. His experience and knowledge of transitioning drugs into early phase development has been extremely valuable and we will continue to seek his advice in a part time consultancy capacity until the end of 2022."

UCLB spinout, KIT-AR, announces €2m in seed stage funding round

On July 1, 2022 KIT-AR, the augmented worker platform for the manufacturing industry, reported the completion of a €2m seed stage funding round (Press release, UCLB, JUL 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234616439]).

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This investment was co-led by Armilar Venture Partners and Caixa Capital Risc, with participation from RKKVC and Techtree fund (managed by Iberis Semper) and follow-on investment from Sintef Venture V and Best Horizon.

This round of financing will help KIT-AR push onwards with its goal to become the premier augmented worker platform for the manufacturing industry.

Incorporated in the United Kingdom, with a subsidiary in Portugal, KIT-AR has strong roots in applied research and innovation having spun out of UCL (University College London) and SINTEF, the largest research institute in Norway.

Marina Santilli, Associate Director of Physical Science and Engineering at UCLB, said: "Having followed the development of the team and the evolution of the product platform from its initial roots as a collaborative research project between UCL computer scientists and SINTEF engineers, I am delighted that KIT-AR has secured this significant seed funding award. I look forward to seeing the company evolve and grow even further."