XNK Therapeutics enters into research collaboration with Karolinska University Hospital in acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

On August 24, 2023 XNK Therapeutics AB ("XNK") reported that the company has entered into a research collaboration with the Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden, to evaluate the suitability of the company’s autologous natural killer (NK) cell therapy candidate XNK02 as a novel therapy for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Press release, XNK Therapeutics, AUG 24, 2023, View Source [SID1234634689]).

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In collaboration with Karolinska University Hospital, XNK will perform a large-scale bioreactor culture study of AML patients’ immune cells. These cells will be activated and expanded using XNK’s proprietary technology. The study aims to further investigate the expansion procedure (NK cell growth) and to study the properties of the expanded NK cells with respect to their ability to kill the patient’s own tumor cells ex vivo.

"We look forward to conducting this important study together with the group of Dr Martin Jädersten, Medical lead for AML at the Karolinska University Hospital. The study will evaluate our product candidate XNK02 as a novel therapy for patients with AML, for which new treatment modalities are desperately needed," said Dr Tim D’Alessandri, senior scientist and project leader at XNK.

The research collaboration complements the current collaboration with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to study XNK02 in AML patient material from various stages of the disease.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

AML is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults. Globally, close to 200,000 new patients are diagnosed and about 150,000 will die from AML each year. In AML, the bone marrow produces a large number of abnormal immature blood cells, so called blasts, that can overcrowd the bone marrow and interfere with the production of healthy mature blood cells. This results in, for example, infections and anemia. The blasts can also spread to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system.

Current treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplantation and targeted therapy such as kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. The overall outcome for patients remains poor, relapse is common and 5-year survival rates are around 30%.

For more information, please contact:

Johan Liwing, CEO, XNK Therapeutics
Tel: +46 706 70 36 75
E-mail: [email protected]

Carisma Therapeutics to Present at Upcoming Healthcare Industry Conferences in September 2023

On August 24, 2023 Carisma Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: CARM) ("Carisma" or the "Company"), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing innovative immunotherapies, reported that the Company will present at two healthcare industry conferences in September 2023 (Press release, Carisma Therapeutics, AUG 24, 2023, View Source [SID1234634688]). These conferences include:

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8th Annual CAR-TCR Summit

Michael Klichinsky, PharmD, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, will give a presentation during the summit.
"CAR-M: Pioneering a Novel Approach for Solid Tumor Immunotherapy"
Friday, September 1, 2023 at 9:20 am ET
Boston, Massachusetts

CAR-T Consortia Seminar

Michael Klichinsky, PharmD, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, will give a presentation during the meeting.
"CAR Macrophages"
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 12:00 pm ET
Virtual
A replay of webcasts, when available, will be posted and archived at Carisma’s Investor Events webpage for a limited time following the event.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals to Participate in Citi’s 18th Annual BioPharma Conference

On August 24, 2023 Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) reported that the Company will participate in the Citi Annual BioPharma Conference in Boston (Press release, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, AUG 24, 2023, View Source [SID1234634687]). Company management will participate in a fireside chat on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 8:20 a.m. PT / 11:20 a.m. ET / 4:20 p.m. IST.

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An audio webcast of the presentation will be available via the Investors section of the Jazz Pharmaceuticals website at www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the website for 30 days.

EDAP Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

On August 24, 2023 EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq: EDAP), the global leader in robotic energy-based therapies, reported unaudited financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2023, and announced the appointment of Ryan Rhodes to the Board of Directors of the Company (Press release, EDAP TMS, AUG 24, 2023, View Source [SID1234634686]).

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"Our record second quarter and first half revenues and strong system placements reflect continued business momentum, as Focal One HIFU is one of the fastest-growing technology platforms enabling urologists to ablate targeted tissue in low to intermediate-risk and salvage prostate cancer patients," said Ryan Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer of EDAP. "We also continue to make notable progress in the growth of our sales pipeline. We experienced strong year over year system placement growth in the quarter, with four Focal One units sold as compared to just one system in the second quarter of 2022. We are also pleased with strong U.S. Focal One HIFU procedure growth, which grew 85% during the second quarter of 2023 versus the second quarter of 2022. Though still in the early adoption phase, we believe there is a growing appreciation of Focal One amongst community urology practices, and we continue to make excellent progress in cultivating these relationships to help drive Focal One adoption across this large segment of the market.

"Looking ahead, our commercial success in prostate cancer and the expansion of our pipeline have created a strong foundation for growth. Increased adoption of Focal One HIFU is being driven by our state-of the-art technology platform that can be seamlessly integrated into urology practices. Further supporting growth and adoption are Focal One’s strong clinical outcomes that clearly demonstrate excellent oncologic control and faster patient recovery times. Additionally, ease of use, reduced procedure times and higher CMS reimbursement are also contributing to the adoption of Focal One HIFU technology. As we have referenced in the past, we are supporting a current Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating Focal One HIFU in the treatment of deep-infiltrating endometriosis. This trial supports Focal One HIFU as a potentially viable and less invasive treatment option for women suffering from this painful and debilitating condition. More than half of the patients are now enrolled in our 60-patient trial and we are encouraged by the progress and pace of enrollment."

On August 23rd, 2023, the Board of Directors appointed Ryan Rhodes as a new Director of EDAP TMS. Ryan replaces Robrecht Michiels, who has resigned. As previously announced, Ryan was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Company on May 1, 2023, to lead, strengthen and accelerate the Company’s corporate strategy and development. "We would like to thank Robrecht for his significant contribution and guidance to the Board and the Company over the last several years," said Marc Oczachowski, Chairman of the Board.

Business Update

Sold four Focal One units in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2023. The Company saw continued strong momentum in securing new placements across both academic medical centers and community hospitals, as clinicians and providers increasingly recognize Focal One as an essential option to effectively treat select prostate cancer patients.
In July, the Company announced reimbursement approval in Switzerland for the use of High-intensity Focused Ultrasound in the treatment of prostate cancer; reimbursement took effect on July 1, 2023. Switzerland is a member of the DACH market region (including Germany, Austria and Switzerland) with over 100 million combined total inhabitants. Switzerland has many hospitals ranked amongst the best 250 in the world according to Newsweek’s "The World’s Best Hospitals 2023". Included in this list is the University of Zurich, an active prominent Focal One site and the leading innovation center for HIFU in the country, and a member of the League of European Research Universities, placing it among Europe’s most prestigious research institutions.
In May, the Company initiated a double-blind, randomized controlled Phase 3 study to evaluate Focal One HIFU therapy for the treatment of deep-infiltrating rectal endometriosis. Patient recruitment has started at a strong pace, with more than 30 patients now enrolled across 6 different treatment centers. The Phase 3 study is expected to enroll a total of 60 patients.
In April, EDAP received approval from Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency for commercialization of ExactVuTM micro-ultrasound. ExactVu is a platform that enables urologists to gain unparalleled visualization of prostate ultrasound images, including detection of suspicious areas in real-time to better assess cancer aggressiveness during the performance of a precision biopsy. The Japanese market is the second largest global market for advanced medical device technology, with prostate cancer as the most common cancer diagnosis in Japanese men, with over 100,000 new prostate cancer diagnoses made annually.
In April, the Company hosted a webcast featuring a live broadcast of a Focal One procedure performed by Andre Abreu, MD and Amir H. Lebastchi, MD, Assistant Professors of Clinical Urology at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), the first U.S. institution to acquire and adopt Focal One technology.
Several plenary presentations and instructional courses were delivered by leading academic urologists at the Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA), held April 28th to May 1st, showcasing the Focal One platform’s ability to meet accepted oncological standards for the management of prostate cancer, while preserving sexual function and urinary control. Additionally, ExactVu micro-ultrasound was featured in the AUA Accredited Hands-on Ultrasound Skills Training Course under the guidance of expert faculty.
Upcoming Corporate Presentations

H.C. Wainwright Global Investment Conference, September 12, New York, NY
Morgan Stanley 21st Annual Global Healthcare Conference, September 13, New York, NY
Jefferies LLC Global Healthcare Conference, November 14-16, London, UK

Second Quarter 2023 Results

Total revenue for the second quarter of 2023 was EUR 14.3 million (USD 15.5 million), an increase of 0.9% as compared to total revenue of EUR 14.2 million (USD 15.0 million) for the same period in 2022.

Total revenue in the HIFU business for the second quarter of 2023 was EUR 4.9 million (USD 5.3 million), as compared to EUR 3.0 million (USD 3.2 million) for the second quarter of 2022. The increase was driven by four Focal One units sold in the second quarter 2023 versus one unit sold in the second quarter of 2022.

Total revenue in the LITHO business for the second quarter of 2023 was EUR 2.2 million (USD 2.4 million), as compared to EUR 3.6 million (USD 3.8 million) for the second quarter of 2022. The decline in LITHO revenue was driven by two lithotripsy units sold in the second quarter of 2023 as compared to eight units sold in the second quarter of 2022.

Total revenue in the Distribution business for the second quarter of 2023 was EUR 7.2 million (USD 7.8 million), as compared to EUR 7.6 million (USD 8.1 million) for the second quarter of 2022. The decline in Distribution revenue was driven primarily by nine ExactVu units sold during the second quarter of 2023 as compared to fifteen units sold during the second quarter of 2022.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2023 was EUR 5.7 million (USD 6.1 million), compared to EUR 6.2 million (USD 6.6 million) for the year-ago period. Gross profit margin on net sales was 39.6% in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 43.8% in the year-ago period. The decrease in gross profit margin year-over-year was primarily due to three main factors: Distribution product mix, global inflationary price pressure on components which increased manufacturing costs, and continued investments in our U.S. service and clinical application organizations to support HIFU and long-term revenue growth.

Operating expenses were EUR 9.9 million (USD 10.7 million) for the second quarter of 2023, compared to EUR 6.6 million (USD 7.0 million) for the same period in 2022. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to the strategic and planned build-out of the U.S. team and commercial infrastructure, variable compensation, and increased marketing activities.

Operating loss for the second quarter of 2023 was EUR 4.2 million (USD 4.6 million), compared to an operating loss of EUR 0.4 million (USD 0.5 million) in the second quarter of 2022.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2023 was EUR 4.7 million (USD 5.1 million), or EUR 0.13 per diluted share, as compared to net income of EUR 1.8 million (USD 1.9 million), or EUR 0.05 per diluted share in the year-ago period.

Year-to-Date Results

Total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was EUR 29.1 million (USD 31.5 million), an increase of 7.1% from total revenue of EUR 27.1 million (USD 29.5 million) for the same period in 2022.

Total revenue in the HIFU business for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was EUR 10.1 million (USD 11.0 million), an increase of 49.0% as compared to EUR 6.8 million (USD 7.4 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Total revenue in the LITHO business for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was EUR 5.0 million (USD 5.4 million), a decrease of 13.9% from EUR 5.8 million (USD 6.3 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Total revenue in the Distribution business for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was EUR 14.0 million (USD 15.1 million), a 4.1% decrease compared to EUR 14.6 million (USD 15.9 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was EUR 11.7 million (USD 12.7 million), compared to EUR 12.0 million (USD 13.0 million), for the year-ago period. Gross profit margin on net sales was 40.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to 44.0% for the comparable period in 2022. The decrease in gross profit margin year-over-year was primarily due to three main factors: Distribution product mix, global inflationary price pressure on components which increased manufacturing costs, and continued investments in our U.S. service and clinical application organizations to support HIFU and long-term revenue growth.

Operating expenses were EUR 22.5 million (USD 24.3 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to EUR 12.5 million (USD 13.6 million) for the same period in 2022. The increase in operating expenses is mainly due to the strategic and planned build-out of the U.S. team and commercial infrastructure, and non-recurring expenses linked to the leadership succession plan.

Operating loss for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was EUR 10.8 million (USD 11.7 million), compared to an operating loss of EUR 0.5 million (USD 0.6 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was EUR 12.2 million (USD 13.2 million), or EUR 0.33 per diluted share, as compared to a net income of EUR 2.2 million (USD 2.4 million), or EUR 0.06 per diluted share in the year-ago period.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company held cash and cash equivalents of EUR 51.3 million (USD 56.0 million) as compared to EUR 63.1 million (USD 67.5 million) as of December 31, 2022.

Conference Call

A conference call and webcast to discuss second quarter 2023 financial results will be hosted Ryan Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer, François Dietsch, Chief Financial Officer and Ken Mobeck, Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. subsidiary, today, Thursday, August 24th, 2023 at 8:30am EDT. Please refer to the information below for conference call dial-in information and webcast registration.

Date: Thursday, August 24th @ 8:30am Eastern Time
Domestic: 1-877-451-6152
International: 1-201-389-0879
Passcode: 13740016
CallMe: LINK (active 15 minutes prior to conference call)
Webcast: View Source;tp_key=5f05cd313e

TransCode Therapeutics Announces First Subject Dosed with Radiolabeled TTX-MC138 in First-In-Human Clinical Trial

On August 24, 2023 TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAZ), the RNA oncology company committed to more effectively treating cancer using RNA therapeutics, reported the dosing of the first subject in its First-in-Human Phase 0 clinical trial (Press release, TransCode Therapeutics, AUG 24, 2023, View Source [SID1234634685]). The Phase 0 trial is an open-label, single-center, microdose study intended to demonstrate delivery of the radio-labeled version of TransCode’s lead therapeutic candidate, TTX-MC138, to radiographically-confirmed metastases in subjects with advanced solid tumors.

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The subject received a single subtherapeutic dose of radiolabeled TTX-MC138 and appeared to tolerate the dosing well. Analysis and monitoring of data from this subject is ongoing including results of positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI), to determine uptake of TTX-MC138 to the subject’s metastatic lesions. Enrollment of additional subjects is also currently underway.

TTX-MC138 is designed to inhibit the pro-metastatic RNA, microRNA-10b, described as the master regulator of metastasis in a number of advanced solid tumors. TransCode believes that TTX-MC138 could be used as a treatment for many of these cancers.

"We are pleased to have commenced our First-in-Human (FIH) clinical trial," said TransCode’s Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, Michael Dudley. "The capability to deliver nucleic-acid based therapeutics to cancer represents a major turning point in the field of RNA because it opens up the possibility of developing an entire new class of drugs against most previously undruggable genetic targets. Overcoming this challenge could constitute an unprecedented step in unlocking therapeutic access to a range of cancers and beyond. Demonstrating successful delivery to cancer using TransCode’s proprietary TTX delivery platform could also enable progress towards more personalized cancer therapy guided by genetic profiling."

The Company believes that TTX-MC138 has the potential to dramatically improve clinical outcomes in a range of cancers, including breast, pancreatic, ovarian and colon cancer, glioblastomas and others. In a preclinical murine model of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), treatment with TTX-MC138 eliminated pre-existing local metastases in 100% of treated animals representative of stage II/III metastatic cancer. In a more aggressive murine model representative of stage IV metastatic cancer, treatment with TTX-MC138 resulted in elimination of distant metastases in 65% of animals treated. In a murine model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, administration of TTX-MC138 as monotherapy resulted in complete responses, manifested as regression without recurrence, in 40% of treated animals. In addition to murine models of cancer, TTX-MC138 was successfully delivered and demonstrated preliminary efficacy in spontaneous feline mammary carcinoma.

TransCode’s Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, Dr. Zdravka Medarova, said, "TTX-MC138 is a first-in-class therapeutic candidate against cancer, not only because of its molecular mechanism of action as an inhibitor of a noncoding RNA, but also because of its novel relevance to metastatic disease. There is currently a lack of drugs in cancer therapy that specifically exploit features unique to drivers of metastatic disease. If successful, TTX-MC138 could help demonstrate the potential for treatments specific to metastatic progression offering new hope for advanced cancer subjects who often have limited options for long-term disease remission."

A Phase 0 clinical trial is an exploratory study conducted under an Investigational New Drug application. Up to 12 subjects may be enrolled in this clinical trial, each of which is intended to receive a single microdose of radiolabeled TTX-MC138 followed by PET-MRI. The trial is intended to quantify the amount of TTX-MC138 delivered to metastatic lesions and the pharmacokinetics of the therapeutic candidate in cancer subjects, but not to have a therapeutic effect. The trial could yield critical data regarding therapeutic dosing, timing, and potential safety that could inform later clinical trials, including a Phase 1 trial planned to commence in 2024.