On January 7, 2025 Alivexis, Inc. (Headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO S. Roy Kimura, "Alivexis") a preclinical-stage computation-driven drug discovery firm, reported the first closing of its Series D round in the amount of 800M JPY (approximately $5.1M USD) (Press release, Alivexis, JAN 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234649452]). Investors participating in the first closing include funds managed by JIC Venture Growth Investments Co., Ltd., DBJ Capital Co., Ltd., and Fast Track Initiative, Inc. Alivexis has raised a total of 6.66B JPY (approximately $42.3M USD) to date.

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Alivexis will use the proceeds to further research and development programs utilizing its cutting-edge computational science-based drug discovery platform "ModBindTM", in addition to accelerating over 10 in-house R&D programs. Alivexis will expand key business strategies in early out-licensing and drug discovery collaboration, with the aim of further increasing its corporate value.

Comment from S. Roy Kimura, Ph.D., Co-founder and CEO:
"We are excited to announce the first closing of our latest funding round led by the JIC Venture Growth Investments Co., Ltd. with follow-on investments from existing shareholders. Since our last fund-raise, we have successfully licensed our cathepsin C inhibitor program and are currently working together with our partner toward IND submission. We also published a scientific article on the first version of our ModBindTM simulation platform, based on a unique theoretical approach that enables accurate absolute ligand efficacy predictions at ~2000x speeds relative to existing methods. In the next several months, we expect to sign additional licensing partnerships from our portfolio of immunology and oncology R&D programs, as well as additional ModBindTM-related alliances and collaborations. We look forward to continuing our mission with our shareholders and partners to accelerate discovery of new medicines for patients and their families in need."

Comment from Hanae Suzuki, JIC Venture Growth Investments Co., Ltd.:
"We are thrilled to announce our recent investment in Alivexis and are honored to collaborate with their exceptional team, renowned for its extensive expertise in the pharmaceutical a industries and its globally integrated operations. In this era of rapid innovation in AI and semiconductor technologies, we recognize the significant potential of Alivexis’s cutting-edge computational chemistry-based simulation platform.
Our firm is deeply committed to supporting Alivexis in driving its continued growth and innovation. We are confident that this investment will not only accelerate the development of groundbreaking medicines for patients and their families but also play a pivotal role in advancing Japan’s drug discovery ecosystem"

On January 7, 2025 BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing the novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitor bemcentinib for lung cancer reported that the first patient has been included in a clinical trial sponsored by the Mays Cancer Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) (Press release, BerGenBio, JAN 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234649446]). The study is led by Josephine A. Taverna, MD, a thoracic oncologist at the Mays Cancer Center and Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UT Health San Antonio.

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"Dr. Taverna’s research has shown that AXL and JAK-STAT3 work in tandem to transmit signals promoting tumor growth and metastasis in advanced lung cancer. We are pleased to see this research advancing into clinical application and believe this study aligns closely with BerGenBio’s strategic focus on addressing the significant unmet needs of lung cancer patients, including first-line Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients with mutations in the STK11 gene," said Olav Hellebø, Chief Executive Officer of BerGenBio.

The trial is designed to study BerGenBio’s bemcentinib in combination with pacritinib, which is a JAK2 inhibitor indicated for treatment of the bone marrow disorder myelofibrosis in patients with platelet counts below 50 x 109/L. It works by blocking certain growth factors and cytokines. Pacritinib is marketed in the United States as VONJO and owned by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) (STO: SOBI), a specialized international biopharmaceutical company. Bemcentinib is a first-in-class, selective, oral once-a-day inhibitor of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, a promising therapeutic target for serious diseases.

The study will include patients with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer in the United States, accounting for approximately 40% of all lung cancers. The study is funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

On January 7, 2025 4SC AG (4SC, FSE Prime Standard: VSC), a biotech company improving the lives of patients suffering with advanced-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), reported that it had submitted its responses to the Day-120 List of Questions from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in December 2024 as planned, following 4SC’s initial Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) filing for resminostat (Kinselby) in March 2024 (Press release, 4SC, JAN 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234649444]). The EMA has notified 4SC that examination of the Company’s MAA shall continue according to schedule.

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The Day-120 List of Questions were issued by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) as part of the centralized review process for resminostat (Kinselby), an orally available treatment for Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma (CTCL).

Subject to the EMA’s decision, marketing authorisation approval is expected around mid-2025. This filing moves resminostat (Kinselby) another step closer to market following Orphan Drug Designation from the EMA in 2023 and from the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (SwissMedic) in September 2024.

Jason Loveridge, Ph.D., CEO of 4SC, commented: "This filing marks a significant step forward for resminostat (Kinselby) as we progress ever closer to marketing authorisation approval, which is expected in mid-2025. We remain committed to bringing this much needed treatment to patients as soon as possible, and preparations for market launch are ongoing, as well as actively engaging with potential partners interested in commercializing the drug."

On January 7, 2025 Orion’s collaboration partner Bayer reported it has submitted an application to the Center of Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the oral androgen receptor inhibitor (ARi) darolutamide (Press release, Orion, JAN 7, 2025, View Source [SID1234649443]). Bayer is seeking approval for the use of darolutamide in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). The submission is based on positive results from the pivotal Phase III ARANOTE trial which showed that darolutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) significantly reduced the risk of radiological progression or death by 46% compared to placebo plus ADT in patients with mHSPC.

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The compound is already approved in mHSPC, under the brand name Nubeqa, in combination with ADT and docetaxel in over 80 markets around the world, including China. The compound is also approved in combination with ADT for the treatment of patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) who are at high risk of developing metastatic disease in more than 85 countries around the world, including China. Darolutamide is developed jointly by Orion and Bayer.

On January 6, 2025 Genprex, Inc. ("Genprex" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, reported that members from its executive leadership team will be attending and participating in investor, industry and business development meetings at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, taking place Jan. 13-16, 2025 in San Francisco, California (Press release, Genprex, JAN 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234649484]).

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In attendance will be Ryan Confer, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer; Mark Berger, MD, Chief Medical Officer; and Thomas Gallagher, Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing. Throughout the duration of the conference, Genprex executives will be available to conduct one-on-one meetings with industry and investor groups to provide an overview of the Company’s gene therapies for cancer and diabetes.

For those interested in meeting Genprex management during the conference, please request a meeting through Investor Relations at [email protected].