On November 8, 2018 BioTime, Inc. (NYSE American:BTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on degenerative diseases, reported financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 (Press release, BioTime, NOV 8, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2376133 [SID1234531179]). BioTime management will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time/5:30 a.m. Pacific Time to provide a business update.

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"I am excited to have joined BioTime at a pivotal time in the Company’s development. This past quarter is a great example of how we plan to transform BioTime into a premiere cell therapy company, as we were highly active on the clinical, corporate development, and operational fronts," stated Brian M. Culley, Chief Executive Officer of BioTime. "Our upcoming acquisition of Asterias will create a pipeline of product candidates which supports our objective of turning ambitious plans into treatment reality. Moreover, as evidenced by the planned spin-off of AgeX Therapeutics, we will seek to unlock value from our broad patent platform and invest capital into our core programs. Importantly, our lead program, OpRegen, continues to generate encouraging results in a disease with no currently-approved therapies. Successfully delivering on our stated milestones at each stage of corporate and clinical development and increasing our visibility within the investment and medical communities through strategic and active engagement are key areas of focus for us which will help drive the company’s success."

Recent Highlights

Biotech executive Brian M. Culley appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Culley brings more than 25 years of experience, spanning diverse operational areas including strategy, finance, licensing, and clinical development. Ms. Culley holds a B.S. in biology from Boston College, a masters in biochemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.B.A. from The Johnson School of Business at Cornell University. He has worked as a bench scientist, technology transfer professional, head of business development and most recently served consecutively as the CEO of two publicly-traded biotech companies.
Announced today entry into a merger agreement to acquire Asterias Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American:AST) in an all stock transaction. Upon consummation of the transaction and as a result of the merger, BioTime will acquire two clinical-stage cell therapy product candidates addressing significant unmet medical needs in spinal cord injury and immuno-oncology.
Received $43.2 million for approximately one-half of BioTime’s interest in AgeX Therapeutics Inc. ("AgeX") to Juvenescence Ltd., which will help support development of BioTime’s core programs. BioTime received $21.6 million in cash. The remaining $21.6 million was received in the form of a two year promissory note, which is convertible into Juvenescence common stock, upon its IPO, if completed prior to maturity. BioTime and AgeX will continue to collaborate towards the success of both companies in order to maximize the potential of the AgeX programs and provide for enhanced equity value, milestone payments, and royalties owed to BioTime under this agreement.
Encouraging OpRegen Data Presented at 2018 American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting. Treatment with OpRegen continues to be well tolerated and shows signs of structural improvement in the retina and decreases in drusen density in some patients. Notably, early data from Cohort 4 patients with earlier-stage dry-AMD are promising and indicate structural improvement within the retina, evidence of the continued presence of the transplanted OpRegen cells, and improvements in visual acuity.
Announced November 16, 2018 Record Date and November 28, 2018 Distribution Date for the distribution of the majority of shares of AgeX common stock owned by BioTime on a pro rata basis to eligible BioTime shareholders as of the Record Date. BioTime shareholders will receive one share of AgeX common stock for every 10 Shares of BioTime common stock held as of the Record Date. BioTime shareholders will not have to surrender or exchange BioTime common shares in order to receive AgeX shares.
Third Quarter Financial Results

Cash Position and Marketable Securities: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $21.4 million as of September 30, 2018, compared to $29.2 million as of June 30, 2018. On November 2, 2018, BioTime received the second installment of the $10.8 million receivable from Juvenescence.

Value of Holdings in Public Affiliates: At September 30, 2018, BioTime held common stock in publicly-traded affiliates valued at approximately $65.0 million. This amount was the market value of BioTime’s 21.7 million shares in Asterias Biotherapeutics (NYSE American: AST) and 14.7 million shares in OncoCyte (NYSE American: OCX). If the acquisition of Asterias is completed by BioTime, Asterias will cease to exist as a public entity and there will be no market value to the Asterias shares.

If the planned AgeX distribution is completed on or about November 28, 2018, AgeX common stock will be publicly traded and the AgeX shares BioTime continues to hold after the distribution may be a source of additional liquidity to BioTime, as needed. The AgeX distribution is subject to a number conditions, including the SEC declaring AgeX’s Registration Statement on Form 10 effective.

If the Juvenescence note is converted to Juvenescence common stock prior to its maturity date, the Juvenescence common stock may be a marketable security that BioTime may use to supplement its liquidity, as needed. If the Juvenescence note is not converted, it is payable in cash, plus accrued interest at 7% per year, at maturity.

Revenues: BioTime’s revenue is generated primarily from research grants, licensing fees and royalties. Total revenue was $1.0 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2017, a decrease of $0.7 million. The decrease was primarily due to a $0.5 million decrease in grant revenues and $0.2 million decrease in subscriptions and advertisement revenues, which are generated by LifeMap Sciences, AgeX’s subsidiary. Beginning on August 30, 2018, subscription and advertising revenues were no longer be included with BioTime due to the deconsolidation of AgeX.

BioTime grant revenues are generated primarily for the development of OpRegen and from a Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health ("NIH") for its vision restoration program. The decrease in grant revenues for the third quarter of 2018, as compared to the third quarter of 2017, was primarily due to timing of revenues generated as more grant revenues were generated during the first six months of 2018 as compared to 2017, during which grant revenues were earned primarily in the third quarter.

Total revenue was $4.2 million for the nine months ended September 2018 compared to $2.4 million in the same period of the prior year, an increase of $1.8 million. The increase was primarily due to a $1.7 million increase in BioTime grant revenues. Grant revenues generated by Cell Cure from the IIA for the development of OpRegen and the NIH grant amounted to $2.1 million and $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to grant revenues of $1.2 million in the same period in the prior year generated from the IIA.

Operating Expenses: Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2018 were $11.3 million, as reported, which is comprised of $9.7 million for BioTime and $1.6 million for AgeX. AgeX was deconsolidated from BioTime on August 30, 2018, and beginning on that date, AgeX’s operating expenses will not be included in BioTime’s operating expenses. Total operating expenses, as adjusted, were $8.8 million for the third quarter of 2018, which is comprised of $7.4 million for BioTime and $1.4 million for AgeX.

The reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses, by entity, is provided in the financial tables included with this earnings release.

R&D Expenses: Third quarter research and development expenses were $4.9 million compared to $6.6 million for the comparable period in 2017, a decrease of $1.7 million. Research and development expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were $17.2 million and $19.3 million, respectively, a decrease of $2.1 million. The decreases of $1.7 million and $2.1 million in total research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to the same periods in the prior year, respectively, were mainly attributable to the following: a decrease of $0.9 million and $0.6 million, respectively, in BioTime related program expenses, primarily related to the completion of the Renevia clinical trial in 2018; decreases of $0.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively, in AgeX related programs, including LifeMap Sciences, due to the deconsolidation of AgeX on August 30, 2018; a decrease of $0.8 million from the nonrecognition of OncoCyte research and development expenses incurred after February 17, 2017 as a result of the deconsolidation of OncoCyte; and a decrease of $0.5 million in LifeMap Solutions expenses resulting from the cessation of its mobile health software development application business in July 2017. The decreases were partially offset by a nonrecurring $0.8 million expense incurred by AgeX on March 23, 2018 with respect to certain acquired in-process research and development.

Beginning on August 30, 2018, BioTime ceased recognizing research and development expenses related to AgeX and its programs due to the deconsolidation of AgeX on that date.

G&A Expenses: Third quarter general and administrative expenses were $6.4 million compared to $4.6 million for the comparable period in 2017, an increase of $1.8 million. This increase was primarily attributable to the following: a $1.4 million increase due to management transition costs, including the hiring of BioTime’s new Chief Executive Officer during September 2018; a $0.5 million increase in legal, accounting and compliance fees for the planned AgeX distribution; $0.2 million increase in license and related fees for patent prosecution and patent fees; and a $0.2 million increase in noncash stock-based compensation expense due to increases in option grants, and restricted stock unit grants made to the CEO. These increases were offset to some extent by a $0.5 million decrease in noncash shareholder expense recorded in the third quarter of 2017 for certain Cell Cure warrants issued in July 2017.

General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $17.6 million compared to $14.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $3.5 million. This increase was primarily attributable to the following: a $2.3 million increase due to management transition and other compensation related costs noted above; a $1.3 million increase in legal, audit and compliance costs for the planned distribution of AgeX; a $0.7 million increase in license and related fees for patent prosecution and patent fees; a $0.7 million increase in noncash stock based compensation expense; and a $0.4 million increase in AgeX related costs, including LifeMap Sciences, incurred through August 29, 2018, the date before the deconsolidation of AgeX, primarily related to AgeX’s share of legal, audit and compliance costs for the planned distribution of AgeX. These increases were offset by a decrease of $1.4 million in combined general and administrative expenses related to OncoCyte and LifeMap Solutions, and a $0.5 million decrease in noncash shareholder expense recorded in the third quarter of 2017 for certain Cell Cure warrants issued in July 2017.

Beginning on August 30, 2018, BioTime ceased recognizing general and administrative expenses related to AgeX and its subsidiaries due to the deconsolidation of AgeX on that date.

Net Income or loss attributable to BioTime: Third quarter net income attributable to BioTime was $66.7 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, compared to a net income attributable to BioTime of $14.3 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2017. Net loss attributable to BioTime for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was ($1.0) million, or ($0.01) per share, compared to a net income attributable to BioTime of $52.0 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Net income or loss attributable to BioTime was primarily driven by noncash gains and losses from the changes in market values of the Asterias and OncoCyte shares held by BioTime, and the gains from deconsolidation of AgeX due to BioTime’s sale of AgeX shares to Juvenescence in 2018, and deconsolidation of OncoCyte in 2017.

Conference Call and Webcast
BioTime will host a conference call and webcast today, at 5:30am PT, 8:30am ET to discuss its third quarter 2018 financial results and to provide a business update. Interested parties may access the conference call by dialing (866) 888-8633 from the U.S. and Canada and (636) 812-6629 from elsewhere outside the U.S. and should request the "BioTime Inc. Call". A live webcast of the conference call will be available online in the Investors section of BioTime’s website. A replay of the webcast will be available on BioTime’s website for 30 days and a telephone replay will be available through November 15th, 2018, by dialing (855) 859-2056 from the U.S. and Canada and (404) 537-3406 from elsewhere outside the U.S. and entering conference ID number 8658619.

On November 8, 2018 ADC Therapeutics, an oncology drug discovery and development company that specializes in the development of proprietary antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), reported it will present two posters highlighting preclinical data and the Phase Ib clinical trial design for ADCT-301 (camidanlumab tesirine) in advanced solid tumors at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper)’s (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 33rd Annual Meeting, which is being held November 7-11 in Washington, DC (Press release, ADC Therapeutics, NOV 8, 2018, View Source [SID1234596074]).

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Jay Feingold, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at ADC Therapeutics, said, "ADCT-301 is already being evaluated in relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, and at the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting we will be updating our abstract data from June, at which time we had an overall response rate of 80.8 percent with a complete response rate of 50 percent in median 6th line patients. Based on the immune-oncology potential ADCT-301 demonstrated in preclinical studies, we are excited to be starting a clinical trial for ADCT-301 in solid tumors to see if we can make an impact and improve patient outcomes in multiple solid tumor cancers."

Patrick van Berkel, PhD, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at ADC Therapeutics, said, "ADCT-301 targets CD25, which is expressed on Tregs that infiltrate the local tumor environment. In preclinical models, a single dose of the CD25-targeted ADC induced strong and durable anti-tumor activity against established CD25 negative solid tumors with infiltrating Tregs. Moreover, re-challenged mice did not develop new tumors indicating the CD25-targeted ADC was able to induce tumor-specific protective immunity."

ADC Therapeutics’ posters will be located in Poster Hall E in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The Poster Hall will be open Friday, November 9 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 10 from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST. Details of the posters are below.

Abstract Poster Number: P11
Title: A CD25 targeted pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer-based antibody-drug conjugate shows potent anti-tumor activity in pre-clinical models of solid tumors either alone or in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor
Presentation Date and Time: Friday, November 9, 12:45-2:15 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m. EST
Presenter: Francesca Zammarchi, PhD, ADC Therapeutics

Abstract Poster Number: P316
Title: Phase 1b dose-escalation and dose-expansion study to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of ADCT-301 (camidanlumab tesirine) in patients with advanced solid tumors
Presentation Date and Time: Saturday, November 10, 12:20-1:50 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m. EST
Presenter: Francesca Zammarchi, PhD, ADC Therapeutics

For more information about the SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2018 Annual Meeting, please visit View Source

About ADCT-301

ADCT-301 (camidanlumab tesirine) is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a monoclonal antibody that binds to CD25 (HuMax-TAC, licensed from Genmab A/S), conjugated to the pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer payload tesirine. Once bound to a CD25-expresing cell, ADCT-301 is internalized into the cell where enzymes release the PBD-based warhead. The intra-tumor release of its PBD warhead may cause bystander killing of neighboring tumor cells. In addition, the PBD warhead will trigger immunogenic cell death, which in turn will strengthen the immune response against tumor cells. ADCT-301 is being evaluated in a Phase Ib clinical trial in solid tumors (NCT03621982), as well as ongoing Phase Ia/Ib clinical trials in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NCT02432235).

On November 8, 2018 Actym Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company focused on therapeutic targeting of intractable immune pathways in the tumor microenvironment, reported that it will be presenting data at the upcoming Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) annual meeting in Washington, D.C. from November 9-11, 2018 (Press release, Actym Therapeutics, NOV 8, 2018, View Source [SID1234530898]). The presentation is titled "STACT-TREX1: A novel tumor-targeting systemically-delivered STING pathway agonist demonstrates robust anti-tumor efficacy in multiple murine cancer models."

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"We look forward to sharing data demonstrating the potent anti-tumor activity of our first-in-class STING pathway agonist therapy, STACT-TREX1, in preclinical models. We are encouraged by the data showing that single-agent treatment with STACT-TREX1 generates tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses, suggesting induction of adaptive anti-tumor immunity after intravenous administration in mice. We believe this mechanism for activating the STING pathway in the tumor microenvironment represents a novel and superior approach for the treatment of cancer," said Dr. Christopher Thanos, President and CEO of Actym Therapeutics.

Details of the presentation are as follows:

Abstract

P235:

STACT-TREX1: A novel tumor-targeting systemically-delivered STING pathway agonist demonstrates robust anti-tumor efficacy in multiple murine cancer models

Date:

November 9, 2018

Location:

Hall E, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

For those unable to attend the conference who would like a copy of the presentation, please send an email request to [email protected]. Please include your name, company, title and phone number. The presentation will be emailed to those making proper requests after November 10, 2018.

On November 8, 2018 Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) reported that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) recommending Vyxeos 44 mg/100 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion for routine use on the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed, therapy-related acute myeloid leukaemia (t-AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC)1 – two types of secondary AML (Press release, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, NOV 8, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2376093 [SID1234530972]).

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"This is the first new chemotherapy in forty years for adults with specific types of newly diagnosed secondary AML, a particularly aggressive cancer that typically affects older people and has a high mortality rate," said Dr. Nigel Russell, Professor of Haematology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham. "I am pleased that NICE has recognised the value of this medicine for adults with secondary AML. In time, it is expected to become the standard of care for this specific group of older AML patients."

Patients diagnosed with t-AML or AML-MRC have a very poor prognosis and have the poorest survival of all AML diagnostic subgroups.2,3 Thus they are classified as having high risk disease because of these poor outcomes. In the UK, the expected number of these high-risk AML cases is 680 per year.4 Its incidence increases with age and accounts for approximately 25% of all AML cases in the UK.4

"A diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia can have a huge emotional impact on the lives of patients, as well as their family and friends," said Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, Patient Advocacy Director at Leukaemia Care. "We welcome the decision to recommend this treatment for adults with high-risk AML. Leukaemia Care has been working with NICE to enable patients to access this important new medicine, where options have been previously limited."

"Jazz is delighted that Vyxeos will now be made routinely available on the NHS in England and Wales as people with therapy-related AML or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes have had limited treatment options until now," said Iain McGill, senior vice president, Europe and Rest of World at Jazz Pharmaceuticals. "We believe that it is a meaningful medicine for patients with this rapidly progressing and life-threatening blood cancer."

Vyxeos is an advanced liposomal formulation that delivers a synergistic molar ratio of daunorubicin and cytarabine. It is the first chemotherapy to demonstrate a significant overall survival advantage versus the current treatment standard, 7+3 chemotherapy, in a Phase 3 study of older adult patients with newly diagnosed t-AML or AML-MRC,5 and the first chemotherapy treatment option specifically for people who have these types of high-risk AML.

Notes to Editors

About Vyxeos
It is an advanced liposomal formulation that has been shown in vitro to deliver a synergistic combination of daunorubicin and cytarabine to leukaemia cells for a prolonged period of time. Based on data in animals, the liposomes accumulate and persist in high concentration in the bone marrow, where they are preferentially taken up intact by leukaemia cells.6 It is the first product developed with the company’s proprietary CombiPlex platform, which enables the consideration and design of various combinations of therapies.

It received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the European Commission in January 2012 with retention of the ODD reaffirmed in July 2018 following assessment by the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP), and by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2008 for the treatment of AML. It received Promising Innovative Medicine (PIM) designation from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom. In August 2018, the European Commission approved it for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed t-AML or AML-MRC in all European Union Member States, as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

View the Summary of Product Characteristics here.

About CombiPlex
The CombiPlex proprietary technology enables the design and rapid evaluation of various combinations of therapies to deliver enhanced anti-cancer activity. The CombiPlex technology seeks to identify the most synergistic ratio of drugs in vitro and fix this ratio in a nano-scale delivery complex that maintains the synergistic combination after administration. CombiPlex utilizes two proprietary nano-scale delivery platforms: liposomes to control the release and distribution of water-soluble drugs and drugs that are both water- and fat-soluble (amphipathic), and nanoparticles to control the release and distribution of non-water-soluble (hydrophobic) drugs.

About AML
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow, which produces most of the body’s new blood cells. AML cells crowd out healthy cells and move into the bloodstream to spread cancer to other parts of the body.7 The median age at diagnosis is 72 years old, with rising age associated with a progressively worsening prognosis.4 There is also a reduced tolerance for intensive chemotherapy as patients age.8 Patients with t-AML or AML-MRC have the lowest survival rates compared with people with other forms of leukaemia.2,3 A haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) may be a curative treatment option for patients.9

On November 8, 2018 OncoSec Medical Incorporated (OncoSec) (NASDAQ:ONCS), a company developing intratumoral cancer immunotherapies, reported the appointment of Robert Ward to its Board of Directors. Mr. Ward is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Eloxx Pharmaceuticals (Press release, OncoSec Medical, NOV 8, 2018, View Source [SID1234530999]).

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"It is with great pleasure that we welcome Bob to our Board. His considerable industry experience leading pharmaceutical companies in bringing new therapies to market and deep insight into successful commercialization strategies will be extremely valuable to OncoSec as we continue to advance our TAVO platform," said Avtar Dhillon, Chairman of OncoSec.

Mr. Ward brings to OncoSec over 30 years of experience as a global biopharmaceutical industry leader with experience across the full spectrum of drug development and commercialization. Mr. Ward currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Eloxx Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Eloxx, Mr. Ward was President and Chief Executive Officer of Radius Health, Inc., where he helped the company successfully complete its initial public offering and lead the development, approval and launch of the company’s TYMLOS injection. Prior to joining Radius, Mr. Ward was Vice President for Strategy and External Alliances for the New Opportunities iMed of Astra Zeneca. He has held a series of progressive management and executive roles with established companies such as NPS Pharmaceuticals, Schering-Plough (Merck), Pharmacia (Pfizer), Bristol-Myers Squibb and Genentech. Mr. Ward currently serves as a Director of the Massachusetts High Technology Council and had served as a Director of Akari Therapeutics from October 2016 to August 2018.

Mr. Ward received a B.A. in Biology and a B.S. in Physiological Psychology, both from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an M.S. in Management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and an M.A. in Immunology from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine.