On June 21, 2023 Avid Bioservices, Inc. (NASDAQ:CDMO), a dedicated biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) working to improve patient lives by providing high quality development and manufacturing services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year ended April 30, 2023 (Press release, Avid Bioservices, JUN 21, 2023, View Source [SID1234632818]).

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Highlights from the Quarter Ended April 30, 2023, and Other Events:

"Fiscal 2023 was a record-setting year, with Avid recording its highest single quarter revenue, its highest annual revenue, and ending the year with its largest backlog to-date," stated Nick Green, president and CEO.

"Our business development team continues to execute, generating net fourth quarter bookings of $55 million, and as a result, we ended fiscal 2023 with a new record-high backlog of $191 million.

"In operations, our mammalian cell manufacturing and process development facility expansions are now in full operation and we are actively working on customer projects. We continue to make progress with our cell and gene therapy facility ("CGT Facility") and remain on schedule to bring this online later this calendar year.

"We are pleased to begin fiscal 2024 with a strong backlog and a mature pipeline. Having said that, we acknowledge today’s challenging macro-economic conditions and their impact on the biotech sector. Accordingly, we feel compelled to broaden our revenue guidance for fiscal year 2024 to between $145 million to $165 million. We do note, however, that the industry’s focus on late-phase and commercial projects should benefit Avid’s long-term growth prospects, as we are one of a small number of biotech CDMOs with extensive experience manufacturing approved biologics. This is evidenced by the contribution made to our backlog by late phase projects (defined as Phase III and PPQ campaigns) increasing by 34% in fiscal 2023 over the prior fiscal year."

Financial Highlights and Guidance

· The company is providing revenue guidance for fiscal year 2024 of between $145 million and $165 million.

· Revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 were $39.8 million, representing a 28% increase compared to $31.2 million recorded in the prior year period. For the 2023 full fiscal year, revenues were $149.3 million, a 25% increase compared to $119.6 million in the prior year period. For both the quarter and the fiscal year, the increase in revenues can primarily be attributed to increases in manufacturing runs and process development services provided to new customers.

· As of April 30, 2023, the company’s revenue backlog was $191 million, representing an increase of 25% compared to $153 million at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The company expects a growing portion of the backlog will extend beyond a year.

· Gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was 21%, and in-line as compared to a gross margin of 22% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Gross margin for the 2023 full fiscal year was 21%, compared to a gross margin of 31% for the same period during fiscal 2022. During the three and twelve months ended April 30, 2023, as compared with the same prior year periods, our labor, overhead, and depreciation expenses increased primarily due to the hiring of personnel and additional facility, equipment and related costs ahead of our mammalian and cell and gene therapy CGMP facility expansions. This decrease in margin was partially offset by a current year period benefit to margin from revenue associated with a change in variable consideration under a contract where uncertainties have been resolved. In addition, the same period in the prior year included a margin benefit from unutilized capacity fees. Excluding these factors, our fourth quarter and fiscal year adjusted gross margin would have been six percentage points and three percentage points higher, respectively, than the adjusted gross margin would have been in the same prior year periods.

· Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 were $7.6 million, an increase of 29% compared to $5.9 million recorded for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. SG&A expenses for 2023 full fiscal year were $27.9 million, an increase of 32% as compared to $21.2 million recorded in the same prior year period. The increases in SG&A for both the fourth quarter and full fiscal year were primarily due to increases in compensation and benefits, legal, accounting, and other professional expenses.

· During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, Avid recorded a non-cash income tax benefit of $115 million, or $1.63 per diluted share, due to release of the company’s valuation allowance recorded against the company’s deferred tax assets ("DTAs"). The company previously maintained a valuation allowance on its DTAs until there was sufficient evidence to support the reversal of all or some portion of those allowances. During the prior year fourth quarter, the company determined that it was more-likely-than-not that its DTAs would be realized and released the valuation allowance related to federal and state DTAs as of April 30, 2022.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the company recorded a net loss of approximately $0.3 million or $0.00 per basic and diluted share, as compared to net income of $115.6 million or $1.87 per basic and $1.65 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. For the 2023 full fiscal year, the company recorded net income of approximately $0.6 million or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, as compared to net income of $127.7 million or $2.08 per basic and $1.84 per diluted share, respectively, during the same prior year period.

· Avid reported $38.5 million in cash and cash equivalents as of April 30, 2023, compared to $126.2 million as of April 30, 2022.

More detailed financial information and analysis may be found in Avid Bioservices’ Annual Report on Form 10-K, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today.

Recent Corporate Developments

· The company’s commercial team signed multiple new orders during the fourth quarter, totaling approximately $55 million net. These orders are with new and existing customers, and span all areas of the business, from process development to commercial manufacturing.

· During fiscal 2023, the company completed and opened each of its mammalian expansion projects in the same quarter as backlog equaled or exceeded prior capacity. As a result, the company transitioned to a fully disposable platform with more than 20,000 liters of state-of-the-art capacity. The company’s remaining expansion project is the build-out of its new CGT Facility, which will support early-stage development through commercial manufacturing. The company has already launched analytical and process development capabilities at this facility and remains on track to launch the CGMP manufacturing suites by the end of the third quarter of calendar 2023.

· As previously reported, on March 14, 2023, the company entered into a credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with certain guarantors, certain lenders and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and letter of credit issuer. The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility") in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $50 million, and (ii) a borrowing base calculated as the sum of (a) 80% of the value of certain eligible accounts of the company, plus (b) up to 100% of the value of eligible cash collateral. The Credit Facility will mature on March 13, 2024 and is secured by substantially all the assets of the company. Loans under the Credit Facility will bear interest on the outstanding principal, at either (1) a term secured overnight financing rate ("SOFR") for a specified interest period plus a SOFR adjustment (equal to 0.10%) plus a margin of 1.40% or (2) base rate plus a margin of 0.40% at the option of the company. Should the company obtain any loans under the Credit Facility, the proceeds are expected to be used for general corporate purposes.

Statement Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures such as non-GAAP adjusted net income, free cash flow, as well as adjusted EBITDA. The company uses these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. The company believes that they provide useful information about operating results, enhance the overall understanding of our operating performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in our financial and operational decision making. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude amounts that the company does not consider part of ongoing operating results when planning and forecasting and when assessing the performance of the organization and our senior management. The company computes non-GAAP financial measures primarily using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and year to year, and may consider whether other significant items that arise in the future should be excluded from our non-GAAP financial measures.

The company reports non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, differ from GAAP measures with the same names, and may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar names that are used by other companies. The company believes that non-GAAP financial measures should only be used to evaluate our results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP financial measures and encourages investors to carefully consider our results under GAAP, as well as the supplemental non-GAAP information and the reconciliations between these presentations, to more fully understand our business.

Non-GAAP net income (loss) excludes stock-based compensation; business transition and related costs including corporate initiatives into new business activities such as initial start-up costs related to our expansion into viral vectors for the cell and gene therapy sector of the market, and severance and related expenses; non-cash interest expense on debt; and other income or expense items and is adjusted for income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA excludes non-cash operating charges for stock-based compensation, depreciation, and amortization as well as non-operating items such as interest income, interest expense, and income tax expense or benefit and is adjusted for income taxes. For the reasons explained above, adjusted EBITDA also excludes certain business transition and related costs. The company also uses measures such as free cash flow, which represents cash flow from operations less cash used in the acquisition and disposition of capital.

Additionally, non-GAAP net income (loss) and adjusted EBITDA are key components of the financial metrics utilized by the company’s compensation committee to measure, in part, management’s performance and determine significant elements of management’s compensation. The company encourages investors to carefully consider its results under GAAP, as well as its supplemental non-GAAP information and the reconciliation between these presentations, to more fully understand its business. Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures included at the end of this press release.

Webcast

Avid will host a webcast this afternoon, June 21, 2023, at 4:30 PM EDT (1:30 PM PDT).

To listen to the live webcast, or access the archived webcast, please visit: View Source

On June 21, 2023 Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for BLINCYTO (blinatumomab) for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients with CD19-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in first or second complete remission with minimal residual disease (MRD) greater than or equal to 0.1%, based on additional data from two Phase 3 studies that were submitted (Press release, Amgen, JUN 21, 2023, View Source [SID1234632817]). The approval converts BLINCYTO’s accelerated approval to a full approval.

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"We are pleased the FDA has granted full approval for BLINCYTO, the first FDA-approved CD19-directed CD3 T-cell engager BiTE immunotherapy and the first to be FDA-approved for MRD in 2018," said David M. Reese, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "Today’s full approval underscores the clinical benefit of BLINCYTO for people living with B-ALL, and we look forward to exploring how we can continue to make a significant impact for these patients."

Amgen continues to advance a robust development program for BLINCYTO, including studies aimed at treating patients with MRD-negative B-ALL, trials designed to minimize chemotherapy, and the clinical investigation of a subcutaneous formulation, all intended to help address remaining unmet needs for patients.

"In a Phase 2 study, roughly 80% of adult patients treated with blinatumomab experienced a complete MRD response," said principal investigator Elias Jabbour, M.D., Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. "The FDA’s decision to grant a full approval for blinatumomab further validates the use of this therapy to treat adults and children with B-cell precursor ALL with MRD present following a remission, which is a strong predictor of relapse in this patient population."

About BLINCYTO (blinatumomab)
BLINCYTO is a BiTE (bispecific T-cell engager) immuno-oncology therapy that targets CD19 surface antigens on B cells. BiTE molecules fight cancer by helping the body’s immune system detect and target malignant cells by engaging T cells (a type of white blood cell capable of killing other cells perceived as threats) to cancer cells. By bringing T cells near cancer cells, the T cells can inject toxins and trigger cancer cell death (apoptosis). BiTE immuno-oncology therapies are currently being investigated for their potential to treat a wide variety of cancers.

BLINCYTO was granted breakthrough therapy and priority review designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of:

CD19-positive B-cell precursor ALL in first or second complete remission with minimal residual disease (MRD) greater than or equal to 0.1% in adults and pediatric patients.
relapsed or refractory CD19-positive B-cell precursor ALL in adults and pediatric patients.
In the European Union (EU), BLINCYTO is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of:

adults with Philadelphia chromosome-negative CD19 positive relapsed or refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
adults with Philadelphia chromosome-negative CD19 positive B-precursor ALL in first or second complete remission with minimal residual disease (MRD) greater than or equal to 0.1%.
pediatric patients aged 1 year or older with Philadelphia chromosome negative CD19 positive B-precursor ALL which is refractory or in relapse after receiving at least two prior therapies or in relapse after receiving prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME and NEUROLOGICAL TOXICITIES

Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), which may be life-threatening or fatal, occurred in patients receiving BLINCYTO. Interrupt or discontinue BLINCYTO and treat with corticosteroids as recommended.
Neurological toxicities, which may be severe, life-threatening or fatal, occurred in patients receiving BLINCYTO. Interrupt or discontinue BLINCYTO as recommended.
Contraindications

BLINCYTO is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to blinatumomab or to any component of the product formulation.

Warnings and Precautions

Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS): CRS, which may be life-threatening or fatal, occurred in 15% of patients with R/R ALL and in 7% of patients with MRD-positive ALL. The median time to onset of CRS is 2 days after the start of infusion and the median time to resolution of CRS was 5 days among cases that resolved. Closely monitor and advise patients to contact their healthcare professional for signs and symptoms of serious adverse events such as fever, headache, nausea, asthenia, hypotension, increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST), increased total bilirubin (TBILI), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The manifestations of CRS after treatment with BLINCYTO overlap with those of infusion reactions, capillary leak syndrome, and hemophagocytic histiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome. If severe CRS occurs, interrupt BLINCYTO until CRS resolves. Discontinue BLINCYTO permanently if life-threatening CRS occurs. Administer corticosteroids for severe or life-threatening CRS.
Neurological Toxicities: Approximately 65% of patients receiving BLINCYTO in clinical trials experienced neurological toxicities. The median time to the first event was within the first 2 weeks of BLINCYTO treatment and the majority of events resolved. The most common (≥ 10%) manifestations of neurological toxicity were headache and tremor. Severe, life-threatening, or fatal neurological toxicities occurred in approximately 13% of patients, including encephalopathy, convulsions, speech disorders, disturbances in consciousness, confusion and disorientation, and coordination and balance disorders. Manifestations of neurological toxicity included cranial nerve disorders. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms and interrupt or discontinue BLINCYTO as outlined in the PI.
Infections: Approximately 25% of patients receiving BLINCYTO in clinical trials experienced serious infections such as sepsis, pneumonia, bacteremia, opportunistic infections, and catheter-site infections, some of which were life-threatening or fatal. Administer prophylactic antibiotics and employ surveillance testing as appropriate during treatment. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of infection and treat appropriately, including interruption or discontinuation of BLINCYTO as needed.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS), which may be life-threatening or fatal, has been observed. Preventive measures, including pretreatment nontoxic cytoreduction and on-treatment hydration, should be used during BLINCYTO treatment. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of TLS and interrupt or discontinue BLINCYTO as needed to manage these events.
Neutropenia and Febrile Neutropenia, including life-threatening cases, have been observed. Monitor appropriate laboratory parameters (including, but not limited to, white blood cell count and absolute neutrophil count) during BLINCYTO infusion and interrupt BLINCYTO if prolonged neutropenia occurs.
Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines: Due to the possibility of neurological events, including seizures, patients receiving BLINCYTO are at risk for loss of consciousness, and should be advised against driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities such as operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery while BLINCYTO is being administered.
Elevated Liver Enzymes: Transient elevations in liver enzymes have been associated with BLINCYTO treatment with a median time to onset of 3 days. In patients receiving BLINCYTO, although the majority of these events were observed in the setting of CRS, some cases of elevated liver enzymes were observed outside the setting of CRS, with a median time to onset of 19 days. Grade 3 or greater elevations in liver enzymes occurred in approximately 7% of patients outside the setting of CRS and resulted in treatment discontinuation in less than 1% of patients. Monitor ALT, AST, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and TBILI prior to the start of and during BLINCYTO treatment. BLINCYTO treatment should be interrupted if transaminases rise to > 5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) or if TBILI rises to > 3 times ULN.
Pancreatitis: Fatal pancreatitis has been reported in patients receiving BLINCYTO in combination with dexamethasone in clinical trials and the post-marketing setting. Evaluate patients who develop signs and symptoms of pancreatitis and interrupt or discontinue BLINCYTO and dexamethasone as needed.
Leukoencephalopathy: Although the clinical significance is unknown, cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes showing leukoencephalopathy have been observed in patients receiving BLINCYTO, especially in patients previously treated with cranial irradiation and antileukemic chemotherapy.
Preparation and administration errors have occurred with BLINCYTO treatment. Follow instructions for preparation (including admixing) and administration in the PI strictly to minimize medication errors (including underdose and overdose).
Immunization: Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended for at least 2 weeks prior to the start of BLINCYTO treatment, during treatment, and until immune recovery following last cycle of BLINCYTO
Benzyl Alcohol Toxicity in Neonates: Serious adverse reactions, including fatal reactions and the "gasping syndrome," have been reported in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates born weighing less than 1500 g, and early preterm neonates (infants born less than 34 weeks gestational age) who received intravenous drugs containing benzyl alcohol as a preservative. Early preterm VLBW neonates may be more likely to develop these reactions, because they may be less able to metabolize benzyl alcohol.

Use the preservative-free preparations of BLINCYTO where possible in neonates. When prescribing BLINCYTO (with preservative) for neonatal patients, consider the combined daily metabolic load of benzyl alcohol from all sources including BLINCYTO (with preservative), other products containing benzyl alcohol or other excipients (e.g., ethanol, propylene glycol) which compete with benzyl alcohol for the same metabolic pathway.

Monitor neonatal patients receiving BLINCYTO (with preservative) for new or worsening metabolic acidosis. The minimum amount of benzyl alcohol at which serious adverse reactions may occur in neonates is not known. The BLINCYTO 7-Day bag (with preservative) contains 7.4 mg of benzyl alcohol per mL.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action, BLINCYTO may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to the fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with BLINCYTO and for 48 hours after the last dose.
Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) are pyrexia, infusion-related reactions, infections (pathogen unspecified), headache, neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia.
Dosage and Administration Guidelines

BLINCYTO is administered as a continuous intravenous infusion at a constant flow rate using an infusion pump which should be programmable, lockable, non-elastomeric, and have an alarm.
It is very important that the instructions for preparation (including admixing) and administration provided in the full Prescribing Information are strictly followed to minimize medication errors (including underdose and overdose).
Please see BLINCYTO full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNINGS, at www.BLINCYTO.com.

About BiTE Technology

BiTE (bispecific T-cell engager) technology is a targeted immuno-oncology platform that is designed to engage patient’s own T cells to any tumor-specific antigen, activating the cytotoxic potential of T cells to eliminate detectable cancer. The BiTE immuno-oncology platform has the potential to treat different tumor types through tumor-specific antigens. The BiTE platform has a goal of leading to off-the-shelf solutions, which have the potential to make innovative T cell treatment available to all providers when their patients need it. Amgen is advancing more than a dozen BiTE molecules across a broad range of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, further investigating BiTE technology with the goal of enhancing patient experience and therapeutic potential. To learn more about BiTE technology, visit www.AmgenBiTETechnology.com.

On June 21, 2023 Aldeyra, a biotechnology company devoted to discovering and developing innovative therapies designed to treat immune-mediated diseases, reported receipt of a Complete Response Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the 505(b)(2) New Drug Application (NDA) of ADX-2191 (methotrexate for injection, USP), an investigational drug candidate, for the treatment of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) (Press release, Aldeyra Therapeutics, JUN 21, 2023, View Source [SID1234632816]). Although no safety or manufacturing issues with ADX-2191 were identified, the FDA stated that there was a "lack of substantial evidence of effectiveness" due to "a lack of adequate and well-controlled investigations" in the literature-based NDA submission. Based on prior discussions with the FDA, Aldeyra did not conduct any clinical trials of ADX-2191 in PVRL.

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"While we appreciate the FDA’s position with respect to providing evidence from adequate and controlled trials, we do not currently believe that randomized clinical trials of ADX-2191 in PVRL, a rare and fatal cancer with no approved therapy, are feasible," stated Todd C. Brady, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Aldeyra Therapeutics. "Given the current shortage of methotrexate, the lack of approved therapy for PVRL, and the desire to avoid potential safety risks associated with ocular injection of compounded formulations, we look forward to discussing with the FDA the potential for making ADX-2191 available to PVRL patients under an Expanded Access Program."

PVRL is a rare, high-grade, aggressive cancer, with a median survival of less than five years.1 Methotrexate, the compounded intravitreal injection of which is the standard of care for the treatment of PVRL,2 is currently in shortage, per the FDA Drug Shortages database. An Expanded Access Program allows for access to treatment options for serious diseases when other therapeutic options are not available. Aldeyra plans to discuss ADX-2191 for the treatment of PVRL with the FDA, including the potential to make ADX-2191 accessible to PVRL patients under an Expanded Access Program protocol.

ADX-2191 is also under development for the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy and retinitis pigmentosa, both of which are rare, sight-threatening retinal diseases. Top-line results from a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADX-2191 in retinitis pigmentosa are expected to be announced in June of 2023. Additionally, Aldeyra plans to conduct a Type C meeting with the FDA in the second half of 2023 to discuss the completion of clinical development of ADX-2191 for the prevention of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

On June 21, 2023 Amplia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: ATX), ("Amplia" or the "Company"), reported that the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) for AMP945 is narmafotinib (Press release, Amplia Therapeutics, JUN 21, 2023, View Source;[email protected] [SID1234632802]).

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The process for naming a drug compound requires an extensive process of review prior to approval. These reviews take into account similarity with other drug names, ease of pronunciation across multiple languages, language review for accidental meaning, and finally a period for parties to report an objection to the name. With these processes now complete the Company is now free to use the name narmafotinib for AMP945.

Amplia’s CEO and Managing Director, Dr Chris Burns, commented: "Approval of the name narmafotinib is an important step in the commercial development of the drug, signalling to potential partners and collaborators our commitment to the long-term development of this exciting agent.

On June 20, 2023 Alamar Biosciences, a company powering precision proteomics to enable the earliest detection of diseases, and Frazier Life Sciences, reported the launch of Attovia Therapeutics, a newly formed company focused on creating a pipeline of biotherapeutics in immune-mediated disease and cancer (Press release, Attovia Therapeutics, JUN 20, 2023, View Source [SID1234647438]). The company, based on Attobody, Alamar’s novel proprietary biparatopic nanobody platform, concurrently closed a $60 million Series A financing led by Frazier and joined by venBio and Illumina Ventures.

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Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

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Attovia will receive an exclusive world-wide license to the Attobody platform and associated intellectual property and pipeline assets in the therapeutic field in exchange for equity and potential milestones and royalties. The company plans to use the proceeds from the Series A financing to achieve clinical proof-of-concept on its lead program in immune-mediated disease, nominate additional development candidates across the company’s core areas of focus in immunology and oncology, as well as continue to advance the core Attobody technology platform.

"By creating Attovia with Frazier and other investors, we can give the Attobody platform the dedicated attention and resources it deserves to fully realize its potential," said Yuling Luo, Ph.D., founder, chairman and CEO of Alamar and co-founder of Attovia. "Alamar scientists developed the Attobody platform to improve the affinity and specificity of antibodies and we are very excited to expand its applications to therapeutic development."

Tao Fu, M.S., M.B.A., co-founder of Attovia and Venture Partner at Frazier Life Sciences, will serve as Attovia’s chief executive officer and join the Board. Mr. Fu is a seasoned industry leader with over 25 years of executive experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, including leadership roles at Zai Lab, Portola Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Johnson & Johnson. Attovia’s leadership team is fully rounded out by Petter Veiby, Ph.D., chief scientific officer; Hangjun Zhan, Ph.D., chief technology officer; and Zaneta Odrowaz, Ph.D., chief business officer.

"The ability to combine two nanobodies into a single biparatopic Attobody creates opportunities to fine-tune therapies for specific targets and to expand the target universe," said Mr. Fu. "I am excited to be partnering with a proven executive team, leading investors and an experienced board to develop medicines for some of the most prevalent disorders that still do not have ideal therapeutic solutions."

Jamie Topper, M.D. Ph.D., managing partner at Frazier Life Sciences and Aaron Royston, M.D., M.B.A., managing partner at venBio, will join the Attovia’s Board of Directors.

"Company creation is one of Frazier’s core strategies, and we are thrilled to partner with Alamar and other investors to launch Attovia," said Dr. Topper. "We believe Attovia is in a strong position to create a robust pipeline of first- and best-in-class drugs derived from the Attobody platform."

"Small format nanobodies have demonstrated recent success in delivering best-in-class efficacy in select immune-mediated disease as evidenced by Acelyrin, one of our early investments," said Dr. Royston. "We are thrilled to join the Attovia investor syndicate and to further advance the increasingly promising nanobody field."

About the Attobody Platform
The Attobody platform generates small format binders (referred to as "Attobodies") with ultra-high affinity, enhanced internalization and fast tissue penetration. These properties make Attobodies ideal binders for hard-to-drug targets such as G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and enable broad applicability across a number of modalities such as antibody-drug conjugate, radioconjugate or multi-specific biologics development. The biparatopic binding mode of Attobodies, combined with the high-throughput, evolution-driven method of discovering binders, significantly expands druggable epitope and target space. Attobodies do not require affinity maturation and can be engineered into a variety of valencies and half-life extension formats. Thus far, Alamar and Attovia have successfully generated Attobodies against a host of membrane, soluble and viral targets.