On September 12, 2024 Nona Biosciences, a global biotechnology company providing a total solution from "Idea to IND" (I to ITM), reported that it has entered into a multi-target antibody discovery collaboration with Umoja Biopharma, a transformative immunotherapy company creating off-the-shelf treatments that aim to extend the reach and effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapies in oncology and autoimmunity (Press release, Nona Biosciences, SEP 12, 2024, View Source [SID1234646541]). This collaboration leverages Nona’s proprietary fully human heavy chain only antibody (HCAb) technology to produce novel in vivo generated CAR-T cell therapy drug candidates.

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Fully human HCAbs have the potential to significantly reduce immunogenicity and offer versatility in CAR design due to their compact size, simplified structure, and precisely calibrated binding properties. This partnership aims to combine Nona’s HCAb Harbour Mice platform and direct CAR-function-based HCAb library screening platform (NonaCarFx) with Umoja’s VivoVec platform to develop novel in vivo CAR-T cell therapies and expand the potential reach of this innovative delivery technology.

Dr. Jingsong Wang, MD, PhD, Chairman of Nona Biosciences, commented, "We are excited to collaborate with Umoja Biopharma, a pioneer in cell and gene therapy. We believe that our HCAb Harbour Mice technology and NonaCarFxTM platform, alongside with our extensive experience in oncology and immunology, will empower Umoja to generate novel CAR-T cell therapies that benefit patients worldwide."

Byoung Ryu, PhD, Umoja’s Executive Vice President of Discovery Research and Vector Biology added, "Nona is a great partner for Umoja as we continue to move the CAR-T cell field towards directly administrated in vivo CAR therapeutics. Nona has demonstrated capabilities for generating highly functional CAR candidates, and we look forward to developing multiple in vivo drug candidates through this partnership and ultimately, helping change outcomes for these patients."

On September 12, 2024 Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) ("Halozyme") reported that Roche received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Tecentriq Hybreza (atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs) with Halozyme’s ENHANZE drug delivery technology (Press release, Halozyme, SEP 12, 2024, View Source [SID1234646540]). Tecentriq Hybreza can be injected subcutaneously in approximately 7 minutes compared to 30-60 minutes for standard intravenous (IV) infusion of Tecentriq (atezolizumab). The treatment will be available in the U.S. for all approved adult indications of intravenous Tecentriq, including certain types of lung, liver, skin and soft tissue cancer.

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Tecentriq Hybreza is a subcutaneous product combination of atezolizumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets PD-(L)1 aiming to prevent cancer immune evasion, and Halozyme’s proprietary recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme, rHuPH20.

"We are delighted that Tecentriq Hybreza has been approved in the U.S. for all approved adult indications of the IV treatment," said Dr. Helen Torley, president and chief executive officer of Halozyme. "This approval represents another opportunity for our ENHANZE technology to provide patients and physicians with greater flexibility and a new option for how treatment is administered."

The FDA approval is based on pivotal data from Roche’s Phase IB/III IMscin001 study, which showed comparable levels of Tecentriq in the blood when administered subcutaneously, and a safety and efficacy profile consistent with the IV formulation.

On September 12, 2024 Xencor, Inc. ("Xencor") (Nasdaq: XNCR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered antibodies for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases, reported the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 8,093,712 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $18.00 per share, which includes the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to 1,458,600 additional shares of common stock, and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,088,888 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $17.99 per pre-funded warrant (Press release, Xencor, SEP 12, 2024, View Source [SID1234646539]). The pre-funded warrants are immediately exercisable and have an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The gross proceeds to Xencor from this offering were approximately $201.3 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.

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Leerink Partners, Raymond James and RBC Capital Markets acted as joint book-running managers for the offering. Wedbush PacGrow acted as a co-manager for the offering.

Xencor currently intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include research and development, capital expenditures, working capital and general and administrative expenses.

The public offering was made pursuant to an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-270030), previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 27, 2023, and which automatically became effective upon filing. The securities were offered only by means of a prospectus and prospectus supplement that form a part of the registration statement. A final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the offering have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may also be obtained by contacting Leerink Partners LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, 53 State Street, 40th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, by telephone at (800) 808-7525, ext. 6105, or by email at [email protected]; from Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Attention: Equity Syndicate, 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716, by telephone at (800) 248-8863, or by email at [email protected]; or from RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, Brookfield Place, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10281, by telephone at (877) 822-4089 or by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

On September 12, 2024 Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL), a commercial stage biotechnology company focused on hematologic disorders and cancer, reported that Raul Rodriguez, the company’s president and CEO, will present a company overview at the Cantor Global Healthcare Conference on Thursday, September 19, at 9:10 am ET in New York, NY (Press release, Rigel, SEP 12, 2024, View Source [SID1234646538]).

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To access the live webcast or archived recording, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at www.rigel.com. Please connect to Rigel’s website prior to the start of the live webcast to allow for any software downloads.

On September 12, 2024 Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCT) (the "Company") reported its decision to discontinue its clinical trials evaluating ONCT-534, its dual action androgen receptor inhibitor for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration resistant cancer, and ONCT-808, its ROR1-targeting autologous CAR T program for the treatment of patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma, and to explore strategic alternatives (Press release, Oncternal Therapeutics, SEP 12, 2024, View Source [SID1234646537]).

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In the current study, interim Phase 1 results of ONCT-534 did not show clinically meaningful improvements of disease, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, in the 20 patients treated in eight dosing cohorts with various doses and schedules of administration of ONCT-534. ONCT-534 was generally well tolerated, with dose limiting toxicity observed in 2 of 3 patients at the highest dose tested, 1200 mg given orally once per day.

The results with ONCT-808 at an interim Phase 1 analysis showed anti-tumor activity at every dose tested, including a complete metabolic response lasting eight months and long-term persistence of the CAR-T cells, with expected treatment emergent adverse events for a CAR-T therapy, and one death due to complications of shock at the highest dose tested.

Based on the available clinical data and capital requirements for continued development, the Company has decided to terminate these studies. The Company will focus on exploring strategic alternatives with the goal of maximizing value for its stockholders, which may include asset sales, licensing or other strategic transactions relating to the Company’s development programs or a merger, reverse merger, acquisition, or other business combination involving the Company. While this strategic exploration is ongoing, the Company will discontinue all product development activities and will take other steps to reduce costs, including a reduction in its workforce to preserve cash resources.

"The early results during dose escalation in the Phase 1/2 studies of ONCT-534 in heavily pretreated patients are disappointing, as the study was supported by extensive preclinical data and was designed to address important unmet medical needs for patients with advanced prostate cancer," said James Breitmeyer, M.D., Ph.D., Oncternal’s President and CEO. "In light of these data and the challenging financing environment, we intend to explore strategic options with the hope of advancing and realizing value from our pipeline including ONCT-534, ONCT-808, zilovertamab and ONCT-216."