Alaunos Therapeutics Announces Early Clinical Data Showing Objective Clinical Response Using its TCR-T Cell Therapy

On September 6, 2022 Alaunos Therapeutics, Inc. ("Alaunos" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: TCRT), a clinical-stage oncology-focused cell therapy company, reported early clinical findings from its ongoing TCR-T Library Phase 1/2 trial (Press release, Alaunos Therapeutics, SEP 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234619073]).

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"We are excited to announce early findings from our TCR-T Library trial. This is the first time that an objective clinical response has been observed in a solid tumor cancer in connection with non-viral TCR-T cell therapy," said Kevin S. Boyle, Sr., Chief Executive Officer of Alaunos. "We believe this reinforces our approach targeting shared tumor-specific hotspot mutations using our non-viral Sleeping Beauty technology. We look forward to presenting additional details at the CICON conference on September 30."

The TCR-T Library Phase 1/2 trial is an open label, dose escalation study being conducted at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The trial is enrolling patients with non-small cell lung, colorectal, endometrial, pancreatic, ovarian, and bile duct cancers that have a matching human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and hotspot mutation pairing in Alaunos’ TCR library. The first patient dosed was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer with a KRAS G12D mutation, matching one of the ten TCRs within the Company’s TCR library. The patient received TCR-T cells, which were produced using Sleeping Beauty at the Company’s in house cGMP manufacturing facility. The patient had a confirmed objective partial response. The Company has dosed a second patient in the study, diagnosed with colon cancer, who has been treated at the second dose level and has cleared the 28-day safety window.

"While cell therapies have demonstrated success in hematological cancers, there remains a significant unmet medical need for effective and cost-efficient cell therapies for patients with solid tumors, which account for nearly 90% of all cancer diagnoses. These early clinical findings show the potential for the first time that we may be able to use a non-viral TCR-T cell therapy to achieve measurable regression in solid tumors," added Marcelo V. Negrao, MD, Department of Thoracic-Head & Neck Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine at MD Anderson. "We are encouraged by these findings, and we look forward to continuing enrollment in the study."

Data is scheduled to be presented during a proffered talk at CICON, which is being held in New York, NY from September 28 – October 1, 2022.

Keros Therapeutics to Present at the Morgan Stanley 20th Annual Global Healthcare Conference

On September 6, 2022 Keros Therapeutics, Inc. ("Keros") (Nasdaq: KROS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from hematological, pulmonary, and musculoskeletal disorders with high unmet medical need, reported that Jasbir S. Seehra, Ph.D, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Keith Regnante, Chief Financial Officer, will participate in a fireside chat presentation at the Morgan Stanley 20th Annual Global Healthcare Conference on Monday, September 12, 2022 at 3:40 pm Eastern time (Press release, Keros Therapeutics, SEP 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234619072]).

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A live audio webcast of the fireside chat presentation will be available at View Source;tp_key=ccabae4d4a&tp_special=8 and an archived replay will be accessible in the Investors section of the Keros website at View Source for up to 90 days following the conclusion of the event.

Black Diamond Therapeutics to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conferences

On September 6, 2022 Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDTX), a precision oncology medicine company pioneering the discovery and development of Master Key therapies, reported that its President and Chief Executive Officer, David M. Epstein, Ph.D., will present an update on the Company’s progress at the H.C. Wainwright 24th Annual Global Investment Conference (Press release, Black Diamond Therapeutics, SEP 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234619071]). The presentation will be available for on-demand viewing beginning Monday, September 12, 2022, starting at 7:00 AM ET.

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Black Diamond Therapeutics management will also participate in investor meetings at the Morgan Stanley 20th Annual Global Healthcare Conference being held from Monday, September 12th to Wednesday, September 14th, 2022, in New York, NY.

A webcast of the H.C. Wainwright presentation can be accessed by visiting the investors relations section of the Company’s website at: www.blackdiamondtherapeutics.com. A replay of the webcast will also be available and archived on for 90 days following the event.

TRACON Pharmaceuticals Announces $35 Million Non-Dilutive Debt Financing with Runway Growth Capital

On September 6, 2022 TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: TCON), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company utilizing a cost-efficient, CRO-independent product development platform to advance its pipeline of novel targeted cancer therapeutics and to partner with other life science companies, reported entry into a $35 million non-dilutive long-term debt facility with Runway Growth Capital LLC (Runway), a leading provider of loans to venture and non-venture backed companies seeking non-dilutive capital (Press release, Tracon Pharmaceuticals, SEP 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234619070]).

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"This non-dilutive financing extends our cash runway to support the robust accrual of the pivotal ENVASARC trial while we await completion of the Phase 1 TJ4309 clinical trial that triggers I-Mab’s license termination option for $9 million as well as the outcome of the binding arbitration with I-Mab, both of which are expected this quarter," said Charles Theuer, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of TRACON. "We are pleased to partner with Runway, which seeks long-term relationships with late-stage life science companies who will benefit from non-dilutive capital."

"We are excited to enter into this facility with TRACON to help them achieve their goal of bringing envafolimab, the world’s first subcutaneous checkpoint inhibitor, to market in the underserved indication of sarcoma," said Igor DaCruz, Managing Director, Life Sciences at Runway.

$10 million of the $35 million loan was funded upon closing. The additional $25 million available under the facility may be funded upon achievement of certain clinical milestones and at Runway’s discretion. The loan has a 24-month interest-only period followed by 24 monthly payments of principal and interest. In connection with the debt financing, TRACON issued Runway warrants to purchase up to 150,753 of its common stock at an exercise price of $1.99 per share.

Proceeds from the facility will be used to support the ongoing pivotal ENVASARC trial and for general corporate purposes.

About Envafolimab

Envafolimab (KN035), a single-domain antibody against PD-L1 invented by Alphamab Oncology, is the first approved subcutaneously injected PD-(L)1 inhibitor. Envafolimab was approved by the Chinese NMPA in November 2021 in adult patients with MSI-H/dMMR advanced solid tumors who failed systemic treatment and have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. In December 2019, Alphamab Oncology, 3D Medicines and TRACON entered into a collaboration whereby TRACON has the right to develop and commercialize envafolimab in soft tissue sarcoma in North America. Envafolimab is currently being studied in the pivotal ENVASARC Phase 2 trial in the United States sponsored by TRACON and a Phase 3 pivotal trial in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in advanced biliary tract cancer patients in China sponsored by TRACON’s corporate partners, Alphamab Oncology and 3D Medicines.

About ENVASARC (NCT04480502)

The ENVASARC pivotal trial is a multicenter, open label, randomized, non-comparative, parallel cohort study at 30 top cancer centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that began dosing in December 2020. TRACON expects the trial to enroll more than 160 patients with UPS or MFS who have progressed following one or two lines of prior treatment and have not received an immune checkpoint inhibitor, with 80 patients enrolled into a cohort of treatment with single agent envafolimab at 600 mg every three weeks and 80 patients enrolled into a cohort of treatment with envafolimab at 600 mg every three weeks with Yervoy. The primary endpoint is objective response rate by central review with duration of response a key secondary endpoint.

Selecta Biosciences to Participate at the H.C. Wainwright 24th Annual Global Investment Conference

On September 6, 2022 Selecta Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: SELB), a biotechnology company leveraging its clinically validated ImmTOR platform to develop tolerogenic therapies for autoimmune diseases, enhance gene therapies and mitigate unwanted immune responses to biologics, reported that Company’s Management will participate in a fireside chat and participate virtually in one-on-one investor meetings at the H.C. Wainwright 24th Annual Global Investment Conference, to be held virtually and in New York, NY from September 12-14, 2022 (Press release, Selecta Biosciences, SEP 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234619069]).

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H.C. Wainwright 24th Annual Global Investment Conference
An archived webcast will also be accessible in the Investors & Media section of the company’s website at www.selectabio.com.