On September 6, 2018 Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), currently developing REOLYSIN (pelareorep), an intravenously delivered immuno-oncolytic virus turning cold tumors hot, reported that it has entered into a Master Clinical Supply Agreement (Agreement) with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Roche) to supply atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for use in the company’s clinical development program (Press release, Oncolytics Biotech, SEP 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234534182]).

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"The supply agreement enables us to further investigate pelareorep’s impact on cancer treatments in combination with atezolizumab," said Dr. Matt Coffey President and CEO of Oncolytics Biotech. "We plan on incorporating this anti-PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy into our clinical program immediately. Data from these studies will broaden our experience with this drug class as we look to demonstrate the impact of pelareorep with checkpoint inhibitors."

Under this five-year Master Clinical Supply Agreement, Roche will supply atezolizumab for the proposed clinical trial with both parties having access to the clinical data.

On September 6, 2018 Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRA), a leading off-the-shelf, allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy company developing novel treatments for patients with cancer, autoimmune and viral diseases, reported that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with Moffitt Cancer Center to develop multi‑targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) immunotherapies for patients with AML and B‑cell malignancies (Press release, Atara Biotherapeutics, SEPT 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234529322]). As part of the collaboration, Atara will gain access to novel CAR T targeting and co‑stimulation domains designed to improve T cell proliferation and enhance persistence. This agreement, along with Atara’s prior CAR T collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), furthers the Company’s strategy to develop next generation engineered CAR T immunotherapies across multiple therapeutic areas and leverage the Company’s off-the-shelf, allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy platform.

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"Atara is a leader in the development of off-the-shelf, allogeneic T-cell immunotherapies based on their novel EBV-specific T-cell technology platform," said Marco Davila, M.D., Ph.D., medical oncologist in the Department of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Medical Director of the GMP Cell Production Facility, Moffitt Cancer Center. "I look forward to rapidly advancing our CAR T engineering and multi-antigen targeting technologies with Atara to address the high unmet need in patients with advanced AML and B-cell malignancies."

Under the agreement, Atara will collaborate with Dr. Davila to develop multi-targeted CAR T immunotherapies designed to address cancers with diverse cell types that often become resistant to treatment such as AML and B-cell malignancies. In addition, the collaboration includes the use of novel CAR T intracellular co-stimulatory domains based on CD28 and 4-1BB that may improve CAR T proliferation when responding to an appropriate antigen and enhance CAR T persistence by reducing T cell exhaustion.

Dietmar Berger, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head of Research and Development of Atara Biotherapeutics said, "Our focus is to rapidly advance development of next generation off-the-shelf, allogeneic CAR T immunotherapies across multiple therapeutic areas by combining our EBV-specific T-cell platform, development, manufacturing and regulatory expertise with cutting edge T-cell engineering discoveries by our external collaborators. Our new strategic collaboration with Moffitt Cancer Center builds our novel CAR T preclinical pipeline and has the potential to benefit patients with myeloid and B cell malignancies."

James J. Mulé, Ph.D., Associate Center Director, Translational Research, and Director of Cell-Based Immunotherapies, Moffitt Cancer Center added, "Atara is a strong technology and development partner. The Company’s clinically advanced EBV-specific T-cell technology platform is complementary to Moffitt’s CAR T engineering and multi-antigen targeting technologies. I look forward to following the progress of Dr. Davila and Atara to develop the next generation of CAR T immunotherapies."

Under the terms of the agreement, Atara will contribute resources and relevant experience to the research activities at Moffitt. Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

On September 6, 2018 LabCorp (NYSE: LH) reported it will participate at the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference (Press release, LabCorp, SEP 6, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2366346 [SID1234529384]). LabCorp’s presentation is planned for Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 2:05 pm (ET).

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A live audio webcast will be available via the Company website at www.labcorp.com and archived for replay

On September 6, 2018 Genmab A/S (Nasdaq Copenhagen: GEN) reported that its CEO, Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., will give a company update at the Morgan Stanley 16th Annual Global Healthcare Conference in New York, New York at 2:15 PM EDT / 8:15 PM CEST on September 12, 2018 (Press release, Genmab, SEPT 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234529323]). A webcast of the update, which will include brief opening remarks followed by a question-and-answer session, will be available on Genmab’s website at View Source

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On September 6, 2018 BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKEX: 06160), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative molecularly-targeted and immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of cancer, and SpringWorks Therapeutics, a clinical-stage rare disease and oncology company focused on sourcing and developing innovative treatments for underserved patient populations, reported that the companies have entered into a global clinical collaboration agreement to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of combining BeiGene’s investigational RAF dimer inhibitor, lifirafenib (BGB-283) and SpringWorks Therapeutics’ investigational MEK inhibitor, PD-0325901, in patients with advanced solid tumors (Press release, BeiGene, SEPT 6, 2018, View Source;p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2366390 [SID1234529325]). Under the terms of the agreement, BeiGene will be responsible for administering the Phase 1b clinical trial that is expected to commence during the first quarter of 2019 in patients with advanced solid tumors that harbor RAS, RAF mutations and other MAPK pathway aberrations, with all costs of the clinical studies and governance responsibilities to be shared equally among both parties. SpringWorks Therapeutics will also oversee fixed-dose formulation work as part of the collaboration.

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"BeiGene is committed to developing innovative medicines for cancer patients with little or no treatment options. We are delighted to work with SpringWorks Therapeutics to explore the potential benefits of this combination in patients with RAS mutations, a patient population with high unmet medical needs," said John V. Oyler, co-founder, chief executive officer and chairman of BeiGene.

"Mutations in RAS genes are found in roughly one-fourth of all human cancers, making this a critically important area for developing new cancer treatments. Despite decades of research, no anti-RAS therapies have been approved to date," said Saqib Islam, chief executive officer of SpringWorks Therapeutics. "The combination of a MEK inhibitor with a RAF dimer inhibitor has strong scientific rationale, and we look forward to partnering with BeiGene to build upon the existing preclinical data, which have demonstrated potential benefits with this combination therapy approach."

About Lifirafenib

Lifirafenib was discovered in BeiGene’s research facilities in Beijing, China, and is an investigational small molecule kinase inhibitor with RAF monomer and dimer inhibition activities. Lifirafenib has shown antitumor activities in preclinical models and in cancer patients with tumors harboring BRAF V600E mutations, non-V600E BRAF mutations, non-small cell lung cancer and endometrial cancer harboring KRAS mutations. To date, lifirafenib has been dosed in more than 150 patients globally.

About PD-0325901

PD-0325901 was originally discovered by Pfizer scientists and is an inhibitor of MEK, a key signaling protein for cellular survival and proliferation. PD-0325901 has been shown in clinical biopsies to block MEK phosphorylation, thereby arresting cellular growth and causing cell death to occur. Preclinical models have demonstrated significant synergy between MEK and RAF inhibition in RAS-mutant solid tumors. By vertically inhibiting the MAPK pathway, the combination approach of PD-0325901 and lifirafenib may potentially overcome feedback loops that have impeded therapeutic development for RAS-mutant solid tumors.

SpringWorks Therapeutics also plans to initiate a Phase 2b study of PD-0325901 as monotherapy for neurofibromatosis type 1 patients with plexiform neurofibromas in 2019. The company is also continually evaluating new licensing and partnership opportunities for its MEK program and is seeking other innovative partnerships designed to complement the existing clinical programs to advance its ambition of developing novel therapies for underserved patient populations.