On March 30, 2023 Allogene Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALLO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of allogeneic CAR T (AlloCAR T) products for cancer, reported its 2022 annual ESG report (Press release, Allogene, MAR 30, 2023, View Source [SID1234629575]). The report provides an update on the Company’s robust efforts to retain talent, protect the environment, practice good corporate governance and most importantly, increase patient access to potentially life-saving products.

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"Last year, we took great pride in being one of the first companies of our size and in our industry to publish an ESG report as we look to make a difference for patients while being good corporate citizens," said David Chang, M.D., Ph.D., President, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Allogene. "With our second report, we continue to embrace being the face of change as we have initiated the industry’s first potentially pivotal Phase 2 allogeneic CAR T trial and are the first company to demonstrate proof-of-concept for an AlloCAR T product in multiple diseases, including the potential for an AlloCAR T in the treatment of solid tumors."

The full ESG report is available on the Culture page and the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.

Highlights of the ESG report describe Allogene’s commitment to:

Improving Access to CAR T Therapy: Because of its off-the-shelf nature, allogeneic CAR T addresses the limitations of autologous CAR T therapies and other modalities and has the potential to treat dramatically more patients, across more cancer types and at earlier stages, faster and with greater convenience. In 2022, Allogene launched the industry’s first potentially pivotal Phase 2 allogeneic CAR T trial, treating patients with large B cell lymphoma with ALLO-501A, the Company’s lead anti-CD19 AlloCAR T product.
Creating a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: The Company is proud of the diversity of its workforce and strives to enable opportunity for underrepresented minorities. Allogene continues to stand by its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policy. Recruitment efforts are designed to attract candidates from underrepresented groups. Newly implemented interview practices safeguard against potential unconscious bias and Allogene recruiters are trained as Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiters.
Retaining best-in-class talent: In 2022, the Company hired its first Chief People Officer, a role aimed at attracting and retaining talent while cultivating team culture.
Prioritizing Environmental Sustainability: In 2022, the Company’s state-of-the-art cell manufacturing facility, Cell Forge 1, earned LEED Gold certification in design and construction.
Practicing Good Corporate Governance: The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (NCGC) is responsible for ESG oversight and oversees Allogene’s ESG initiatives at the Board level. ESG was reviewed at each NCGC meeting in 2022.

On March 30, 2023 Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX), a late-stage biotechnology company developing advanced therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, reported that it has entered into definitive agreements with certain institutional investors and accredited investors (Press release, Akari Therapeutics, MAR 30, 2023, View Source [SID1234629574]). The direct offering includes participation by all members of the Akari Board of Directors, including Chairman Dr. Ray Prudo, as well as Akari President and CEO Rachelle Jacques. Akari is expected to receive gross proceeds of approximately $4 million. The definitive agreements include no warrants.

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In connection with the offering, the Company will issue approximately 26,666,667 registered American Depository Shares ("ADSs") of Akari at a purchase price of $0.15 per ADS, each representing one hundred ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, in a registered direct offering. The closing of the offering is expected to take place on or about March 31, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Net proceeds from the transaction are expected to support advancement of Akari’s two priority pipeline programs investigating nomacopan, a bispecific recombinant inhibitor of complement C5 and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). The first pipeline priority is the acceleration of the Phase 3 clinical trial of nomacopan in severe pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant-related thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) into pivotal Part B, expected later this year. The second pipeline priority is the promising pre-clinical program investigating long-acting PAS-nomacopan as a potential treatment for geographic atrophy (GA).

Paulson Investment Company, LLC is acting as the exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering.

The securities described above are being offered by Akari pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-251673) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on December 23, 2020 and declared effective by the SEC on December 31, 2020. The offering of the securities will be made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement.

Akari will file a prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus with the SEC relating to the securities being offered. When available, electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus may be obtained at the SEC’s website at View Source, or by contacting Donald A. Wojnowski Jr. of Paulson Investment Company, LLC, at (646) 553-3691 or at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein. There shall not be any offer, solicitation of an offer to buy, or sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offering, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

On March 30, 2023 Agenus Inc. (Nasdaq: AGEN), an immuno-oncology company with a pipeline of immunological agents targeting cancer and infectious disease, reported that its Board of Directors has declared a dividend of 5 million shares of common stock of its subsidiary, MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. ("MiNK"), to shareholders of Agenus as of April 17, 2023 (the "Record Date") (Press release, Agenus, MAR 30, 2023, View Source [SID1234629573]). MiNK is a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing allogeneic, invariant natural killer T cell therapies and operates as a separate publicly traded company.

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"We are excited to declare the distribution of MiNK equity dividend, demonstrating our commitment to delivering additional value for our shareholders," said Garo H. Armen, Chairman and CEO of Agenus. With the upcoming year, MiNK aims to extend its solid tumor program and harness its robust groundwork to expedite the development of cell therapies that hold promise in saving lives. This distribution exemplifies our unwavering confidence in MiNK’s approach and empowers our shareholders to participate in MiNK’s future growth through direct ownership."

On March 15, 2023, MiNK announced plans to present updated clinical data and development plans for its allogeneic invariant natural killer T cells (iNKTs), agenT-797, alone or in combination with pembrolizumab or nivolumab in patients with advanced solid tumors at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, April 14-19th, 2023.

About the Dividend

The dividend of 5 million shares of MiNK common stock will be made to all Agenus shareholders of record as of April 17, 2023, on a pro rata basis. The Dividend Distribution will be paid no earlier than April 27, 2023, or later than May 17, 2023.

No fractional shares will be issued. Agenus shareholders who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional shares of the Dividend Distribution shall receive cash (without interest or deduction) in lieu of such fractional shares. The amount will be equal to the product obtained by multiplying (a) the closing price of the MiNK Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the Record Date, by (b) the fraction of one share of MiNK Common Stock that such shareholder would have otherwise been entitled to receive as a Dividend in respect of shares of Agenus Common Stock held by such shareholder (after aggregating all such fractional shares otherwise issuable to such shareholder in connection with the Dividend).

On March 30, 2023 Addex Therapeutics (SIX: ADXN and Nasdaq: ADXN), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company pioneering allosteric modulation-based drug discovery and development, reported financial results for the full-year ended December 31, 2022, and provided a corporate update (Press release, Addex Therapeutics, MAR 30, 2023, View Source [SID1234629572]).

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"Our partner, Janssen made excellent progress in advancing the ADX71149 phase 2 clinical study in epilepsy patients and we look forward to the recommendation from the independent interim review committee, established to review the data from part 1," said Tim Dyer CEO of Addex. "We continue to make solid progress across our preclinical portfolio. In parallel, we are continuing to focus on pursuing collaborative arrangements to secure the financial resources and specialist expertise to advance development and strengthen our balance sheet."

2022 Operating Highlights:

ADX71149 epilepsy Phase 2 study part 1 completed with Independent interim review committee recommendation expected early Q2 2023
Dipraglurant is Phase 2 ready – future development in PD-LID, post-stroke recovery and pain under evaluation
mGlu7 NAM for stress related disorders, including PTSD – drug candidate selected for IND enabling studies, with study preparation underway
GABAB PAM strategic partnership with Indivior for substance use disorders extended – multiple drug candidates in clinical candidate selection phase
GABAB PAM CMT1A, chronic cough and pain program profiling multiple drug candidates
Continued to progress with mGlu2 NAM mild neurocognitive disorders program
M4 PAM schizophrenia program progressing well through lead optimization
Partnering discussions across the portfolio progressing well
Completed the close-down of dipraglurant PD-LID development and implemented cost saving measures
Completed offering in July 2022 raising gross proceeds of $4.2 million
Key 2022 Financial Data

CHF’ thousands 2022 2021 Change
Income 1,445 3,153 (1,708)
R&D expenses (14,665) (12,840) (1,825)
G&A expenses (7,300) (5,819) (1,481)
Total operating loss (20,520) (15,506) (5,014)
Finance result, net (284) 154 (438)
Net loss for the period (20,804) (15,352) (5,452)
Basic and diluted net loss per share (0.46) (0.45) (0.01)
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (13,528) 1,790 (15,318)
Cash and cash equivalents 6,957 20,485 (13,528)
Shareholders’ equity 4,913 16,931 (12,018)
Financial Summary:

Income is primarily from our funded research collaboration with Indivior. Income decreased by CHF 1.7 million to CHF 1.4 million in 2022 compared to CHF 3.2 million in 2021. The decrease is a reflection of the positive progression of the collaboration into late stages of clinical candidate selection and the transfer of R&D activities to Indivior.

R&D expenses increased by CHF 1.8 million to CHF 14.6 million in 2022 compared to CHF 12.8 million in 2021, mainly due to increased outsourced R&D expenses for CHF 1.0 million and increased share-based compensation costs for CHF 0.6 million.

G&A expenses increased by CHF 1.5 million to CHF 7.3 million in 2022 compared to CHF 5.8 million in 2021, primarily due to higher share-based compensation costs.

The net loss was CHF 20.8 million in 2022 compared to CHF 15.4 million in 2021. Net loss increased by CHF 5.5 million, primarily due to our increased expenses and decreased income. Basic and diluted loss per share increased to CHF 0.46 for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to CHF 0.45 for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased to CHF 7.0 million at December 31, 2022, compared to CHF 20.5 million at December 31, 2021. This decrease of CHF 13.5 million is mainly due to our net loss of CHF 20.8 million adjusted for non-cash expense items such as share based compensation of CHF3.7 million and net proceeds of CHF 3.7 million from the offering executed on July 22, 2022.

2022 Consolidated Financial Statements:
The full-year 2022 financial report can be found on the Company’s website in the investor/download section here.

Conference Call Details:
A conference call will be held today, March 30, 2023, at 16:00 CEST (15:00 BST / 10:00 EDT / 07:00 PDT) to review the financial results. Tim Dyer, Chief Executive Officer and Robert Lütjens, Head of Discovery – Biology will deliver a brief presentation followed by a Q&A session.

Joining the Conference Call:

Participants are required to register in advance of the conference using the link provided below. Upon registering, each participant will be provided with Participant Dial-in numbers, and a unique Personal PIN.

In the 10 minutes prior to the call’s start time, participants will need to use the conference access information provided in the e-mail received at the point of registering. Participants may also use the call me feature instead of dialing the nearest dial in number.

Online Registration: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI8f6a1aee693c405ebc85b10adfa18648

Webcast URL: View Source

On March 30, 2023 Abcam plc (Nasdaq: ABCM), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, reported that, following release on 20 March 2023 of its final results for the year ended 31 December 2022 on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Abcam plc Annual Report and Accounts 2022 (the "Annual Report") have been published today and are available on the Abcam plc website at corporate.abcam.com (Press release, Abcam, MAR 30, 2023, View Source [SID1234629571]).

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The Annual Report will also be posted today, together with the Notice of Annual General Meeting, to those shareholders that have elected to receive paper communications. Shareholders that have not elected to receive paper communications will be notified of the availability of these documents on Abcam plc website at corporate.abcam.com. The Form 20-F can also be accessed on the Abcam plc website at corporate.abcam.com. Shareholders that have not elected to receive paper communications may still receive a hard copy of these documents upon request.