On September 9, 2018 Allogene Therapeutics, Inc. (Allogene) reported the completion of the previously announced transaction between Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and Allogene for Pfizer’s portfolio of assets related to allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy, an investigational immune cell therapy approach to treating cancer (Press release, Allogene, SEP 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234529314]).

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On April 3, 2018, Allogene and Pfizer announced that the companies had entered into a definitive asset contribution agreement for Pfizer’s allogeneic CAR T portfolio .As a result of the completed agreement, Allogene has received from Pfizer the rights to 16 preclinical CAR T assets licensed from Cellectis and Servier and one clinical asset licensed from Servier,UCART19, an allogeneic CAR T therapy that is being developed for treatment of CD19- expressing hematological malignancies. In partnership with Servier, UCART19 is initially being developed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and is currently in Phase 1.UCART19 utilizesTALEN gene editing technology pioneered and owned by Cellectis.

With the agreement completed, Allogene is well-positioned to rapidly advance the portfolio of CAR T assets contributed by Pfizer into potential innovative new therapies,and ultimately to reach patients in need more quickly."The completion of our agreement with Pfizer represents a bold undertaking by leaders in the field to expedite the development of the next wave of cancer immunotherapies," said David Chang, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Allogene.

Pfizer will continue to participate financially in the CAR T portfolio’s development through a 25 percent ownership stake in Allogene. Prior to the agreement’s completion, Gilead Sciences joined Allogene’s premier Series A investment consortium that already included TPG, Vida Ventures, BellCo Capital, the University of California Office of the Chief Investment Officer, and Pfizer, among others.

Centerview Partners acted as financial advisor to Pfizer, with Ropes & Gray LLP acting as its legal advisor. Coole. LLP served as legal counsel to Allogene, Vida Ventures and TPG. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP also served as legal counsel to TPG.

On April 9, 2018 F-star, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel bispecific antibodies, reported that new preclinical data from its lead immuno-oncology programme FS118 will be highlighted at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Chicago, US from 14 – 18 April 2018 (Press release, f-star, APR 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234526828]).

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FS118 is a first-in-class bispecific antibody that simultaneously blocks LAG-3 (Lymphocyte -Activation Gene 3) and PD-L1 (Programmed Death-Ligand 1) two key pathways in tumours evading the immune system. The new preclinical data show evidence of FS118’s efficacy both in primary human T cell assays and syngeneic tumour models. Specifically, FS118 is able to suppress LAG-3 expression on T cells in the tumour microenvironment and to promote a potent CD8+ T cells-mediated anti-cancer immune
response.

Neil Brewis, CSO of F-star commented: "Despite major advances on the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, many patients remain unresponsive to or relapse following treatment. FS118 preclinical data suggest that it can improve both efficacy and response rate compared to monotherapies or monotherapy combinations. It is a very exciting time for F-star, as these studies support the potential for FS118 to provide significant clinical benefits to cancer patients."

The new data will be published in a poster entitled "Dual blockade of PD-L1 and LAG-3 with FS118, a unique bispecific antibody, induces CD8+ T cell activation and modulates the tumour microenvironment to promote anti-tumour immune responses".

Details are below:

Session Title: Immune Checkpoints 2
Session Start Time: Monday, 16th April at 1pm
Session End Time: Monday, 16th April at 5pm
Location: Poster Section 32
Poster Board Number: 11
Poster Number: 2719

In June 2017, Merck and F-star entered into a new strategic collaboration that provides Merck with an exclusive option to acquire several immuno-oncology bispecific assets, including FS118, through the acquisition of F-star Delta Ltd

For further information, please contact:
At F-star For media enquiries
Pierre Peotta
Communications Manager
+44 (0)7392 080 279
[email protected]
Instinctif Partners (EU & RoW)
Sue Charles/Ashley Tapp
+44 (0)20 7866 7923
[email protected]
Lazar Partners (USA)
Glenn Silver
+1 (0)212 867 1762
[email protected]

On April 9, 2018 Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG) reported that it will host a conference call and live audio webcast on Friday, May 04, 2018 at 9 a.m. ET to discuss first quarter 2018 financial and operational results (Press release, Celgene, APR 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234525213]). The first quarter results will include the financial and operational results of Juno Therapeutics, Inc. following the March 6, 2018 close of the acquisition. The webcast can be accessed from the Investor Relations page at www.celgene.com.

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On April 9, 2018 Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing tumor-targeted and immuno-oncology therapies based on its pioneering research and development in cancer epigenetics, reported a $100 million financing (Press release, Constellation Pharmaceuticals, APR 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234525214]). New investors include Cormorant Asset Management, Deerfield Management, Fidelity Management and Research Company, Hillhouse Capital, NS Investment, OrbiMed, Sirona Capital, and Venrock Healthcare Partners. Current investors, including The Column Group, Third Rock Ventures, Venrock, SROne, University of California Investment Office, Topspin Partners, and Casdin Capital, also participated in the financing.

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"We are thrilled to welcome this new group of high-quality investors, and we are grateful for the continued support from our existing investors. Their strategic guidance and financial support will be instrumental to help accomplish our goal of improving outcomes for cancer patients," said Jigar Raythatha, president and chief executive officer of Constellation Pharmaceuticals. "This financing gives us additional flexibility and runway to pursue the clinical development of CPI-1205 and CPI-0610, our lead product candidates, as well as advance other novel molecules from our cancer epigenetics platform into development."

The company plans to utilize the proceeds of this financing to advance multiple clinical trials across its portfolio. Specifically, the ongoing ProSTAR and ORIOn-E trials are designed to demonstrate the potential for CPI-1205 to enhance the effectiveness of current-generation androgen inhibitors in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and cancer immunotherapies in other solid tumors, respectively. The company also plans to progress CPI-0610, a clinical-stage candidate, as a treatment for myelofibrosis either as a monotherapy or in combination with a JAK inhibitor.

Additionally, Constellation Pharmaceuticals plans to advance its second-generation EZH2 program into the clinic and identify more experimental therapies derived from its epigenetics discovery platform.

On April 9, 2018 Allogene Therapeutics, Inc. (Allogene) reported the completion of the previously announced transaction between Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and Allogene for Pfizer’s portfolio of assets related to allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy, an investigational immune cell therapy approach to treating cancer (Press release, Cellectis, APR 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234525478]).

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Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

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On April 3, 2018, Allogene and Pfizer announced that the companies had entered into a definitive asset contribution agreement for Pfizer’s allogeneic CAR T portfolio. As a result of the completed agreement, Allogene has received from Pfizer the rights to 16 preclinical CAR T assets licensed from Cellectis and Servier and one clinical asset licensed from Servier, UCART19, an allogeneic CAR T therapy that is being developed for treatment of CD19-­‐ expressing hematological malignancies. In partnership with Servier, UCART19 is initially being developed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and is currently in Phase I. UCART19 utilizes TALEN gene editing technology pioneered and owned by Cellectis.

With the agreement completed, Allogene is well-­‐positioned to rapidly advance the portfolio of CAR T assets contributed by Pfizer into potential innovative new therapies, and ultimately to reach patients in need more quickly. "The completion of our agreement with Pfizer represents a bold undertaking by leaders in the field to expedite the development of the next wave of cancer immunotherapies," said David Chang, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Allogene.

Pfizer will continue to participate financially in the CAR T portfolio’s development through a 25 percent ownership stake in Allogene. Prior to the agreement completion, Gilead Sciences joined Allogene’s premier Series A investment consortium that already included TPG, Vida Ventures, BellCo Capital, the University of California Office of the Chief Investment Officer, and Pfizer, among others.

Centerview Partners acted as financial advisor to Pfizer, with Ropes & Gray LLP acting as its legal advisor. Cooley LLP served as legal counsel to Allogene, Vida Venture and TPG. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP also served as legal counsel to TPG.