On September 5, 2024 Ribometrix, a biotechnology company developing small molecule therapeutics that modulate RNA biology, reported the latest data from its eIF4E program will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress, taking place in Barcelona, Spain, September 13-17 (Press release, Ribometrix, SEP 5, 2024, View Source [SID1234646375]). A poster presentation will review in vitro and in vivo studies of a small molecule eIF4E inhibitor, RBX-6610, as a potential treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), specifically NSCLC with KRASG12C, a common mutation. Acquired resistance is observed in the majority of patients treated with the two approved therapies for KRASG12C mutant NSCLC, creating a significant opportunity for a therapy that resensitizes tumors to these treatments. Ribometrix’s data supports RBX-6610’s ability to deliver this mechanism in combination with the approved therapies. "The close relationship of eIF4E and KRAS signaling suggested the potential for eIF4E inhibition to restore tumor sensitivity to KRAS inhibition, and it is exciting to see this thesis borne out given the important medical need among patients with NSCLC," said Jessica Sorrentino, Ph.D., SVP of Translational Medicine. "We look forward to sharing our full dataset at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2024."

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In vitro outcomes in the poster include:

1. RBX-6610 monotherapy demonstrated consistent anti-proliferative effects in KRASG12C mutant tumor cell lines, in both treatment-naïve lines and those with acquired resistance

2. RBX-6610 combined with KRAS inhibitors resulted in a synergistic apoptotic induction in treatment-naïve tumor cells and re-sensitized resistant tumor cells to KRAS inhibitors.

In vivo outcomes in the poster include:

1. RBX-6610 monotherapy caused significant tumor growth inhibition

2. RBX-6610 combined with a KRAS inhibitor resulted in significant tumor regression in a treatment-naïve model

3. A further in vivo study reviewing RBX-6610’s ability to re-sensitize tumor cells to KRAS inhibition will be included in the final poster presentation.

The presentation details are:

Date: Sunday, September 15, 2024

Location: Dedicated poster area of Hall 6.

Presentation number: 202P

Title: eIF4E inhibition exhibits anti-tumor activity and re-sensitizes acquired resistant KRASG12C NSCLC to KRAS inhibitors

The ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) poster will be available to view on the "Publications" page of Ribometrix’s website following the presentation.

About eIF4E

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is a crucial regulatory component of mRNA translation and well-documented driver of oncogenesis. Clinically, eIF4E activity is elevated in many tumor indications and it is typically associated with poor prognosis. Targeting eIF4E has the potential to enhance anti-cancer activity when given in combination with standard-of-care. Additionally, eIF4E inhibition has the potential to overcome drug resistance and re-sensitize tumors to anti-cancer therapies. Based on substantial external and in-house data, Ribometrix is developing eIF4E inhibitors as a promising combination therapy approach and treatment for treatment-resistant tumors.

On September 5, 2024 Nurix therapeutics presented its corporate presentation (Presentation, Nurix Therapeutics, SEP 5, 2024, View Source [SID1234646374]).

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On September 5, 2024 Nerviano Medical Sciences S.r.l. (NMS), a part of NMS Group S.p.A. (NMS Group) and Nerviano Medical Sciences, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NMS S.r.l, focused on the discovery and development of oncology drugs and the largest oncological R&D company in Italy, reported an agreement with funds managed by Blue Owl Capital ("Blue Owl") (Press release, Nerviano Medical Sciences, SEP 5, 2024, View Source [SID1234646373]). This investment will enable NMS to monetize $80 million or more in potential future BRAFTOVI royalties, with Blue Owl providing in excess of $50 million in upfront cash and contingent proceeds. Under the terms of the agreement, NMS retains all subsequent royalties tied to BRAFTOVI ‘s global net sales once a specific multiple of Blue Owl’s investment has been met, which in NMS’s estimation are anticipated to exceed $30 million.

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"This non-dilutive capital infusion allows us to strengthen our balance sheet to focus on our strategic priorities, after an important exercise to further prioritize and reinforce efforts on our core clinical programs." said Hugues Dolgos, Pharm.D., Chief Executive Officer, NMS. "Main part of the proceeds will be used to advance and expand our pipeline and accelerate the development of our ADC platform. We are delighted to see that our confidence in the commercial opportunity of BRAFTOVI is aligned with that of Blue Owl through this transaction."

"We are delighted to enter into this royalty monetization transaction with NMS, whose foundational IP contributed to the development and commercialization of Pfizer’s BRAFTOVI." said Sandip Agarwala, Managing Director at Blue Owl. "Our structurally flexible approach to investing in the life sciences allowed us to design a mutually rewarding transaction, and we are excited for the company to reinvest these proceeds into high potential R&D programs."

Transaction Terms
Upon closing the BRAFTOVI royalty agreement, NMS will receive in excess of $50 million in upfront cash and contingent payments based on a U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval milestone. The transaction allows NMS to maintain royalties in excess of a multiple of Blue Owl’s purchase price, with NMS projecting these earnings to surpass $30 million.

Advisors
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as the sole structuring agent. Fenwick provided legal counsel to NMS Group, and Ice Miller and Cooley LLP provided legal counsel to Blue Owl.

On September 5, 2024 Leapfrog Bio, a clinical-stage precision oncology company, accelerating oncology drug development by identifying novel therapies for undruggable cancer-driving mutations, reported a publication in Nature PJ Precision Oncology describing and validating its Precision PGx Platform, a novel pharmacogenomic approach to screening and discovering drug-genotype combinations that are clinically actionable and demonstrate the potential to significantly impact overall survival for cancer patients (Press release, Leapfrog Bio, SEP 5, 2024, View Source [SID1234646371]). The platform evaluates cancers resulting from LoF mutations and leverages real driver biology to expose hidden vulnerabilities that accompany these mutations and finds the drugs that exploit those vulnerabilities to destroy cancer cells.

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As outlined in the paper, the approach employs driver-focused CRISPR screens with and without drug in a pool of isogenically controlled cell lines, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify genes that cause cells to ‘drop out’ of the pool when mutated and treated with a particular drug. Proof-of-concept experiments using PARP (poly-ADP ribose polymerase) inhibitors – the only drug class currently directed at cancers with LoF mutations – allowed the team to technically optimize their pharmacogenetic approach. They then applied the platform to approved cancer drugs for which real-world data was available and showed that platform-discovered genetic sensitizers impacted patient survival.

"This was a pivotal moment for me," says Tomas Babak, CSO of Leapfrog Bio and corresponding author. "Not only did we see 100% validation in mouse xenografts, but our platform was able to point out which patients would respond best to specific drugs based on the genetic drivers of their tumors. Unlike traditional synthetic lethality screening, which is based on testing combinations of gene knockouts, pharmacogenomic interactions capture the effects of drugs, which can be far more complex than a simple genetic knockout."

"Two-thirds of cancers are caused by a loss of function mutation in a tumor suppressor gene, where the absence of a functional protein results in tumor growth. Due to the challenge of developing a targeted drug that treats a disease caused by the absence of a protein target, most patients with tumors caused by loss-of-function mutations do not have access to genetically targeted therapies," said Greg Vontz, CEO of Leapfrog Bio. "Our precision PGX Platform addresses this area of tremendous patient and clinician need."

Mr. Vontz continued, "There are more than 2,400 clinical stage cancer therapeutics that have not advanced to FDA approval due to lack of efficacy but were generally safe and well tolerated. After screening only a small portion of these molecules, Leapfrog has identified several compelling opportunities and has filed corresponding intellectual property applications around the discoveries."

On September 5, 2024 Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDTX) (the Company), a biotechnology company using its proprietary Cloudbreak platform to develop drug-Fc conjugate (DFC) immunotherapies designed to save lives and improve the standard of care for patients facing serious diseases, reported that Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the H.C. Wainwright 26th Annual Global Investment Conference (Press release, Cidara Therapeutics, SEP 5, 2024, https://www.cidara.com/news/cidara-to-present-at-the-h-c-wainwright-26th-annual-global-investment-conference/ [SID1234646369]).

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Presentation details are as follows:

Event: H.C. Wainwright 26th Annual Global Conference
Date: Monday, September 9, 2024
Time: 7:00 am ET
Webcast: View Source

Cidara’s presentation will be available on-demand from the above date/time in the investors section on the Company’s website at www.cidara.com. The replay of the presentation will be available for 90 days.