On February 6, 2025 AstraZeneca reported full year and fourth quarter 2024 financial results (Press release, AstraZeneca, FEB 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234650236]).

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On February 6, 2025 Kairos Pharma, Ltd. (NYSE American: KAPA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported that the Company presented a talk during the plenary session of the joint AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-JCA conference, From Cancer Discovery Science to Therapeutic Innovation, highlighting preclinical data on its glutocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) agonist, KROS101 (Press release, Kairos Pharma, FEB 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234650094]).

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In the talk, titled, "KROS 101: A Next-Generation GITR Agonist Boosting Anti-Tumor T Cell Responses and Reprogramming the Tumor Microenvironment," recent findings from the Company’s in vivo work on the compound was presented. The results, which can be found here, demonstrated that KROS 101 is a potent GITR ligand agonist that enhances T cell infiltration, proliferation, and ability to kill cancer cells in mouse models of melanoma and in human glioblastoma in vitro, while effectively reducing T reg-mediated suppression. KROS 101 showed significant activity in enabling T cell proliferation and killing of melanoma tumors in vivo as well as glioblastoma tumor in vitro.

GITRL, one of the checkpoint cytokines in the family of tumor necrosis factor ligand family, regulates T cell function in autoimmunity and cancer. KROS 101 stabilizes the active form of GITRL and thereby reduces suppressive T-cells and enhances cytotoxic T cells. In a preclinical study, KROS 101 reduced melanoma tumor in a human GITR knock-in mouse model compared to those in mice treated with the GITR antibody TRX518, which was recently in clinical trials for solid cancers.

Dr. Ramachandran Murali, VP of Research and Development at Kairos Pharma and co-inventor of KROS 101, stated, "The performance of KROS 101 as a central mediator of T cell expansion in cancer has been supported by these studies."

Dr. John Yu, CEO of Kairos Pharma and co-inventor, added that "the preclinical data support the potential to exploit GITR as a lever for T cell expansion and novel therapy for cancer."

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) and Japanese Cancer Association (JCA) hosted the 13th AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-JCA Joint Conference from February 1-5, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Maui, in Maui, Hawaii. The meeting series has a long tradition of bringing together outstanding researchers from the United States, Japan, and around the world to share their findings and present the latest advances in basic, translational, and clinical cancer research.

On February 6, 2025 Tubulis reported the appointment of Matthew Norkunas, MD, MBA, as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and President of Tubulis Inc., further strengthening its management team at a pivotal stage of growth. Dr. Norkunas’ proven track record of achieving financial and corporate goals for rapidly evolving biotechs will be instrumental in advancing Tubulis’ strategic objectives (Press release, Tubulis, FEB 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234650093]). His unique background as a physician-turned-business executive will support the company’s position as a leader and innovator in ADC drug development. Based in Tubulis’ U.S. Cambridge office, Dr. Norkunas’ appointment also expands the company’s U.S. presence.

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"Tubulis has built a strong financial position to advance its portfolio of ADC drug candidates and Matt’s impressive expertise in finance, business operations and capital markets, combined with his deep understanding of value creation in the biotech sector, makes him an outstanding addition to our team," said Dominik Schumacher, PhD, CEO and Co-founder of Tubulis. "As we focus on the next stage of corporate and pipeline development, his strategic insights and financial acumen will be critical in positioning Tubulis for long-term success."

"Tubulis is rapidly emerging as a front-runner in the ADC space, with a differentiated approach and cutting-edge technologies designed to overcome long-standing challenges in the field," said Matthew Norkunas, MD, MBA, CFO of Tubulis. "I am genuinely excited to join the company and look forward to working with the entire Tubulis team to further accelerate its innovative pipeline, which has the potential to make a profound difference in patients’ lives."

Dr. Norkunas brings extensive experience in financial leadership within the life sciences industry, having served as CFO at publicly listed and private biotech companies. Most recently, he was CFO at Generation Bio (Nasdaq: GBIO), where he oversaw financial operations and strategy for over four years. Before that, he served as CFO and Head of Corporate & Business Development at SomaLogic, driving key corporate growth initiatives. His career also includes experience in healthcare investment and operational roles, providing a broad perspective on biotech financial strategy. In addition to his position at Tubulis, Matthew Norkunas currently serves as a Board Member at oncology-focused cell and gene therapy company Obsidian Therapeutics. He is a trained anesthesiologist with an MD from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and an MBA from the Columbia Business School.

On February 6, 2025 RenovoRx, Inc. ("RenovoRx" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: RNXT), a life sciences company developing novel targeted oncology therapies and commercializing RenovoCath, a novel, FDA-cleared delivery platform, reported the pricing of a firm commitment, underwritten public offering of 11,523,810 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $1.05 per share (Press release, Renovorx, FEB 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234650092]). All shares in the offering are being sold by RenovoRx.

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The gross proceeds from the offering are expected to be approximately $12.1 million before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. The offering is expected to close on February 10, 2025, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

RenovoRx intends to use the net proceeds received from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, including continued progression of its Phase III TIGeR-PaC study and the continued development and execution of commercial sales and marketing activities for RenovoCath as a standalone device.

Titan Partners Group, a division of American Capital Partners, is acting as the sole bookrunner for the offering.

The shares of common stock will be issued pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-268302) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 10, 2022, which became effective on November 21, 2022. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. A final prospectus supplement relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website, located at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may be obtained by contacting Titan Partners Group LLC, a division of American Capital Partners, LLC, 4 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007, by phone at (929) 833-1246 or by email at [email protected].

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

On February 6, 2025 Caris Life Sciences (Caris), a leading next-generation AI TechBio company and precision medicine pioneer, reported that the company and collaborators within the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance (Caris POA) will collectively present three studies at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Genitourinary Cancers (ASCO GU) Symposium, February 13-15, in San Francisco (Press release, Caris Life Sciences, FEB 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234650091]). The findings demonstrate the continued and expanded capabilities of Caris’ comprehensive database to enable novel insights into cancer that could have profound effects on a patient’s diagnosis, prognosis, care plan and response to treatment.

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"We are proud to present innovative research for prostate cancer and urothelial carcinoma at the upcoming ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GU meeting," said James Hamrick, MD, MPH, Chairman of the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance. "Through our comprehensive molecular profiling, powerful database and in-depth collaboration with Caris POA members, we are pushing the boundaries of precision medicine and helping improve outcomes for cancer patients."

Caris will present three posters at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium:

Evaluating molecular alteration profiles to distinguish intraductal carcinoma of the prostate
Poster Session A | Poster Board L3 | Abstract 407
February 13; 11:25 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. PST

Downregulation of E-selectin and contributions to immune restraining in prostate cancer
Poster Session A | Poster Board G30 | Abstract 257
February 13; 11:25 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. PST

Real-world analysis of 2IR immune response score in urothelial carcinoma (UC)
Poster Session B | Poster Board D36 | Abstract 739
February 14; 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. PST
Poster and abstract summaries highlighting this research will be available onsite at Caris’ booth (#32). The full abstracts will be available on the Caris website beginning on February 13.

The Caris POA includes 96 cancer centers, academic institutions, research consortia and healthcare systems, including 47 NCI-designated cancer centers, collaborating to advance precision oncology and biomarker-driven research. Caris and POA members work together to establish and optimize standards of care for molecular testing through innovative research to improve clinical outcomes for cancer patients.