On November 6, 2018 Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) reported that it will participate in the Credit Suisse 27th Annual Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, November 13th, at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, AZ. Scott White, Company Group Chairman, North America Pharmaceuticals will represent the Company in a session scheduled at 8:35 a.m. (MST) (Press release, Johnson & Johnson, NOV 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234530870]).

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This webcast will be available to investors and other interested parties by accessing the Johnson & Johnson website at www.investor.jnj.com.

A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours after the live webcast.

On November 6, 2018 Vedanta Biosciences, a clinical-stage company developing a new category of therapies for immune-mediated diseases based on rationally-defined consortia of human microbiome-derived bacteria, reported preclinical data for VE800, the Company’s orally-administered, live biotherapeutic product candidate in immuno-oncology (Press release, Vedanta Biosciences, NOV 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234530930]). The study showed that VE800 elicited an anti-tumor immune response as a monotherapy and also enhanced effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Additionally, the results describe a mechanism of action for VE800 as the robust interferon-gamma producing CD8+ (cytotoxic) T cell response was elicited via activation of dendritic cells. The data will be presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper)’s (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 33rd Annual Meeting by Dr. Bruce Roberts, Chief Scientific Officer of Vedanta Biosciences, on November 8. Vedanta Biosciences expects to initiate a clinical study of VE800 in mid-2019.

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"Our work shows that VE800 induces robust tumor infiltration by cytotoxic T cells – one of the strongest predictors of response to checkpoint inhibitors – and promotes suppression of tumor growth and enhanced survival in a range of cancer models," said Bruce Roberts, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Vedanta Biosciences. "To our knowledge, VE800 is the most advanced immuno-oncology product candidate based on a defined consortium of human microbiome-derived bacteria, a therapeutic modality that Vedanta is pioneering. With our cGMP manufacturing processes in place, we’re well-positioned to take VE800 into the clinic in the coming months."

In the preclinical study, VE800 was assessed alone and in combination with various checkpoint inhibitors in colon carcinoma and melanoma tumor models. VE800 was assessed for its ability to induce CD8+ T cells, an important marker of anti-tumor response, as well for its ability to influence accumulation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. The study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Kenya Honda of Keio University, a leader in the microbiome field and a scientific co-founder of Vedanta Biosciences.

Data highlights include:

1. VE800 robustly promoted induction of interferon-gamma producing CD8+ T cells via activation of intestinal dendritic cells and stimulation of interferon-gamma producing CD8+ T cells in a manner dependent on the transcription factor BATF3
2. VE800 enhanced the anti-tumor activity of both anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA4 antibodies by increasing the level of tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells
3. VE800 also promoted systemic immune cell activation as evidenced by accumulation of CD8+ T cells in the spleen.

Unlike fecal transplants or single strain approaches to microbiome modulation, Vedanta Biosciences uses pure, clonal cell banks to produce defined collections, or consortia, of bacterial strains designed to effect durable therapeutic changes in a patient’s microbiota. This bypasses the need to rely on direct sourcing of fecal donor material of inconsistent composition.

About VE800
VE800 is Vedanta Biosciences’ oral immuno-oncology product candidate. It consists of a rationally-defined bacterial consortium that activates cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, a type of white blood cell that is the predominant effector in cancer immunotherapy. In preclinical studies, VE800 has been shown to enhance the ability of these T cells to infiltrate tumors, thereby promoting suppression of tumor growth and improving survival. Data also suggest that VE800 may enhance the effects of checkpoint inhibitors. Vedanta Biosciences is evaluating VE800 alone and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors as a potential treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic cancers.

On November 6, 2018 Oncoceutics, Inc. reported that it will host an investigator meeting and that initial efficacy data of its lead compound ONC201 in patients with H3 K27M-mutant gliomas will be presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology in New Orleans, on November 15th to November 18th (Press release, Oncoceutics, NOV 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234558365]).

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The company, along with scientific and medical collaborators, will give 10 presentations that describe several aspects of ONC201, including clinical efficacy and safety, mediated via highly specific interaction with dopamine receptor 2 (DRD2), unique molecular characteristics, and novel insights on dopamine receptor dysregulation in glioma. Moreover, presentations will include the preclinical effectiveness and mechanism of action of ONC206, another molecule from this newly established class of compounds, called imipridones. One of the highlights of the event will be an oral presentation entitled, "Integrated clinical experience with ONC201 in previously-treated H3 K27M-mutant glioma patients," which scored highly in the review process of the SNO conference and will be one of three selected abstracts to be presented by a discussant separate from the oral presentation. The data set that will be disclosed will focus on radiographic and clinical responses in H3 K27M-mutant glioma patients from several clinical programs with ONC201.

"The reported findings are very meaningful for the medical community, and we look forward to sharing our experience with ONC201 in this first group of patients," said Yazmin Odia, MD, Lead Physician of Medical Neuro-Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute. "Patients with H3 K27M-mutant gliomas have a dismal prognosis, and there is currently no known effective drug for these patients."

Additionally, Oncoceutics will hold an investigator meeting for physicians involved in ongoing and future clinical trials with ONC201.

"We are conducting a number of clinical trials to translate these compelling findings into robust clinical data sets," said Wolfgang Oster, MD, PhD, and CEO of Oncoceutics. "We are excited about the progress in our development programs and hope that our findings will make a difference for patients with unmet medical need. We are grateful to the Society for Neuro-Oncology and its members for their interest and collaboration."

More Information: Imipridone-related SNO 2018 Abstracts

ONC201 glioma clinical experience (3 abstracts)

ACTR-34 (Talk): Integrated clinical experience with ONC201 in previously-treated H3 K27M-mutant glioma patients, Chi et al, Sunday November 18th, 8:50-9:00am
ACTR-33 (Talk): Tumor Tissue Penetration and Pharmacodynamics of ONC201 in Adult Recurrent Glioblastoma Patients, Arrillaga-Romany et al, Friday November 16th, 2:40-2:45pm
PDCT-06 (Talk): Phase I clinical trial of ONC201 in pediatric H3 K27M-mutant glioma or newly diagnosed DIPG, Gardner et al, Friday November 16th, 8:22-8:26pm
DRD2 dysregulation in glioma and ONC201 preclinical efficacy (4 abstracts)

DRES-10 (Talk): DRD5 is a modulator of glioma susceptibility to DRD2 antagonism by ONC201, Prabhu et al, Sunday November 18th, 11:25-11:30am
EXTH-26 (Poster): Molecular determinant of clinical response to ONC201, an inhibitor of dopamine receptor 2 (DRD2) signaling, in glioblastoma patients, Li et al, Saturday November 17th
DDIS-12 (Poster): ONC201: The first selective, non-competitive DRD2/3 antagonist for clinical neuro-oncology, Prabhu et al, Saturday November 17th
DDIS-16 (Poster): ONC201 in combination with radiation exhibits synergistic efficacy in high grade gliomas and other advanced cancers, Tarapore et al, Saturday November 17th
Utility of imipridone scaffold in neuro-oncology (3 abstracts)

EXTH-64 (Talk): Imipridones Cause Metabolic Reprogramming and Elicit Unique Vulnerabilities in Glioblastoma, Ishida et al, Friday November 16th, 8:06-8:10pm
EXTH-17 (Talk): Selective, non-competitive DRD2/3 antagonism by imipridone ONC206 is effective in tumors with dopamine receptor dysregulation, Prabhu et al, Friday November 16th, 8:02-8:06pm
EXTH-58 (Poster): ONC206, an imipridone family member, suppresses glioblastoma cells via blocking cancer stemness pathways, Jung et al, Saturday November 17th

On November 6, 2018 Eidos Therapeutics, Inc. (Eidos) (Nasdaq:EIDX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on addressing the large unmet need in transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis (ATTR), reported its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and provided an update on the Company’s recent achievements (Press release, Eidos Therapeutics, NOV 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234576272]).

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"We are working to advance the AG10 clinical development program," said Neil Kumar PhD, chief executive officer of Eidos. "The Phase 1 data demonstrated that AG10 was well tolerated at blood concentrations resulting in near-complete TTR stabilization in healthy volunteers. We are announcing the results from the Phase 2 study in ATTR cardiomyopathy patients at the 2018 American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions on November 10, 2018."

Recent Achievements and Upcoming Milestones

Eidos presented Phase 1 data at the 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America, demonstrating that AG10 was well tolerated and establishing clinical proof-of-concept in healthy adult volunteers.

The U.S Food & Drug Administration granted Orphan Drug Designation to AG10 for the treatment of ATTR.

The European Medicines Agency adopted a positive opinion for the designation of AG10 as an orphan medicinal product for the treatment of ATTR.

The Journal of Medicinal Chemistry published the design and preclinical characterization of AG10, demonstrating that AG10’s potentially superior stabilizing activity is driven by the unique ability to mimic the disease-protective T119M mutation and its selectivity for TTR.

The Phase 2 study of AG10 in ATTR cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) wild-type and mutant patients with symptomatic heart failure (NYHA Class II-III) concluded and eligible subjects entered a long term, open label extension study.

Eidos will present the Phase 2 data for AG10 in ATTR-CM at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association (AHA) in a late-breaking Featured Science oral presentation on November 10, 2018 at 10am EST. Eidos will also host a conference call and webcast on November 12, 2018 at 8am EST to discuss the results of the Phase 2 trial. Details for the conference call can be found at www.eidostx.com.
Financial Results for the Third Quarter 2018

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $166.6 million at September 30, 2018 compared with $5.5 million at December 31, 2017.

Research and development expenses were $7.9 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to $2.3 million for the same period of 2017, an increase of $5.6 million. The increase was primarily due to increased expenses for contract consultants, contract manufacturing and other activities for AG10 clinical trials and increases in headcount and related salaries and expenses.

General and administrative expenses were $2.6 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to $0.5 million for the same period in 2017, an increase of $2.1 million. The increase was primarily due to increased salaries and employee-related expenses and increases in professional fees and services in connection with becoming a public company.

Net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was $10.2 million or $0.29 per common share, compared to a net loss of $2.8 million or $0.74 per common share for the same period in 2017.

About AG10
AG10 is an orally administered small molecule designed to potently stabilize tetrameric transthyretin, or TTR, thereby halting at its outset the series of molecular events that give rise to amyloidosis, or ATTR. AG10 has completed a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with ATTR cardiomyopathy and symptomatic heart failure. Results from this trial will be presented on November 10, 2018 at the American Heart Association’s Annual Scientific Sessions.

AG10 was designed to mimic a naturally-occurring variant of the TTR gene (T119M) that is considered a "rescue mutation" because it has been shown to prevent ATTR in individuals also carrying a pathogenic, or disease-causing, mutation in their other copy of the TTR gene. To our knowledge, AG10 is the only TTR stabilizer in development that has been observed to mimic the "super-stabilizing" properties of this rescue mutation that have been well described.

On November 6, 2018 Zymeworks Inc. (NYSE/TSX: ZYME), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing multifunctional therapeutics, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 (Press release, Zymeworks, NOV 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234530768]).

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"We continue to expand our business with our seventh pharmaceutical partner, LEO Pharma, recently entering into a strategic collaboration with Zymeworks," said Ali Tehrani, Ph.D., Zymeworks’ President & CEO. "Importantly, this deal represents the evolving structure of our partnerships to include collaborations that provide potential assets for pipeline expansion in new disease areas, as well as significant royalty participation."

Dr. Tehrani continued, "In addition, results from the Phase 1 study for ZW25 will be presented in a plenary session at an upcoming European oncology conference later this month, highlighting new and updated data in gastric and other HER2-expressing cancers, which support our fast-to-market single agent registrational strategy. We are also on track to file an IND for ZW49, our second product candidate, by year end and plan to initiate a Phase 1 study in early 2019."

Recent Business Highlights

Zymeworks and LEO entered into a licensing and research collaboration to generate bispecific antibodies targeting cytokine-receptor pathways with Zymeworks’ Azymetric, EFECT, and antibody generation platforms. The deal expands Zymeworks’ therapeutic reach into new disease areas beyond oncology with potential applications in dermatology, inflammation, and autoimmunity and includes up to US$480 million in upfront and potential milestone payments, in addition to royalties. LEO obtains rights to two bispecifics for dermatology and Zymeworks maintains rights in all other therapeutic areas.

New ZW25 data will be presented at the 30th EORTC-NCI-AACR (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) symposium in a plenary session by Dr. Murali Beeram, START, San Antonio, TX, on November 14, 2018. Ongoing clinical activity and durability in gastric and tumor-agnostic cohorts will be highlighted, including new patients and data from patients continuing on study since the last data update.

Anthony (Tony) Polverino, Ph.D., joined Zymeworks as Executive Vice President of Early Development and Chief Scientific Officer. With an extensive background in drug discovery and development, including cancer biology and immunotherapy, Dr. Polverino, a former Kite Pharma and Amgen executive, will play a key role in driving Zymeworks’ R&D strategy and the advancement of product candidates from discovery research through translational research/early development.

Zymeworks hosted an R&D Briefing featuring the clinical development strategy of the Company’s lead clinical candidate, ZW25, as well as differentiating IND-enabling studies for its second product candidate, ZW49. Zymeworks also showcased the depth of its ADC platform and selected immuno-oncology programs from its maturing multispecific pipeline.

An IND-submission milestone was achieved in the Lilly collaboration. Eli Lilly is Zymeworks’ first pharmaceutical partner to submit an IND application to the U.S. Food

and Drug Administration (FDA) for a bispecific antibody enabled by Zymeworks’ Azymetric platform.

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was $2.1 million as compared to $0.1 million in the same period in 2017. The change between the two periods was primarily due to a $2.0 million development milestone upon Lilly’s submission of an IND.

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, research and development expenditures were $14.1 million as compared to $11.5 million for the same period in the prior year. The change between the two periods was primarily due to an increase in clinical and drug manufacturing costs for ZW25, as well as an increase in other research and development activities.

General and administrative expenses were $7.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, and $5.3 million for the same period in 2017, primarily due to an increase in non-cash liability classified equity adjustments and stock-based compensation, as well as other increases in compensation and professional fees associated with year-on-year growth following the Company’s initial public offering in 2017.

Non-cash charges for the three months ended September 30, 2018 included $1.8 million ($1.3 million in G&A and $0.5 million in R&D) related to the quarterly mark-to-market revaluation of liability classified equity adjustments (attributed to the accounting treatment of historical stock-based compensation in both Canadian and US dollars) and stock-based compensation.

The net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was $18.8 million as compared to $16.2 million for the same period in 2017. Zymeworks expects R&D expenditures to increase over time due to the ongoing development of product candidates and other clinical, preclinical, and regulatory activities. Additionally, Zymeworks expects to continue receiving revenue from its existing and future strategic partnerships, including technology access fees and milestone-based payments. However, Zymeworks’ ability to receive these payments is dependent upon either Zymeworks or its collaborators successfully completing specified research and development activities.

As of September 30, 2018, Zymeworks had $150.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments.