Altimmune Announces $4.9 million Registered Direct Offering of Common Stock

On September 24, 2018 Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALT), a clinical-stage immunotherapeutics company, reported it has entered into purchase agreements with several institutional investors for the purchase in a registered direct offering of 286,633 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $17.02 per share, for expected gross proceeds of approximately $4.9 million before placement agent fees and other offering expenses payable by Altimmune (Press release, Altimmune, SEP 24, 2018, View Source [SID1234529902]). The offering is expected to close on or about September 26, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions.

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Altimmune intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for the continued advancement of development activities for our clinical-stage product pipeline, general corporate purposes, and strategic growth opportunities.

Roth Capital Partners acted as sole placement agent for the offering.

The securities described above are being offered by Altimmune pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-217034) that was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 6, 2017. A final prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained, when available, by contacting Roth Capital Partners, LLC, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 888 San Clemente Drive, Suite 400, Newport Beach, California 92660, by telephone at (800) 678-9147 or e-mail at [email protected].

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

Calithera Biosciences to Present at the 2018 Cantor Fitzgerald Global Healthcare Conference and the Leerink Partners Rare Disease & Oncology Roundtable

On September 24, 2019 Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALA), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule drugs directed against tumor metabolism and tumor immunology targets for the treatment of cancer, reported its participation at two upcoming healthcare investor conferences in October (Press release, Calithera Biosciences, SEP 24, 2018, View Source [SID1234535236]).

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Cantor Fitzgerald Global Healthcare Conference. On Tuesday, October 2, 2018, Susan M. Molineaux, Ph.D., the company’s Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer will present a corporate update at 9:10 a.m. EDT at the
Cantor Fitzgerald Global Healthcare Conference in New York City.

Leerink Partners Rare Disease & Oncology Roundtable. On Wednesday, October 3, 2018, Susan M. Molineaux, Ph.D., the company’s Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer will participate in a fireside chat to discuss immunooncology at the Leerink Partners Rare Disease & Oncology Roundtable being held in New York City at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

Genentech’s TECENTRIQ in Combination With Pemetrexed and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Reduced the Risk of Disease Worsening or Death in a Type of Previously Untreated Advanced Lung Cancer

On September 24, 2018 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported results from the Phase III IMpower132 study of TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) plus pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin) for the initial (first-line) treatment of people with non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Press release, Genentech, SEP 24, 2018, View Source [SID1234529536]). This interim analysis showed that TECENTRIQ and chemotherapy reduced the risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival, PFS) by 40 percent compared with chemotherapy alone (PFS=7.6 versus 5.2 months; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.60, 95 percent CI: 0.49-0.72; p<0.0001). While a numerical improvement of 4.5 months for the co-primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) was observed, at this interim analysis statistical significance has not yet been met (median OS=18.1 versus 13.6 months; HR=0.81, 95 percent CI: 0.64-1.03; p=0.0797). The study will continue as planned, with final OS results expected next year. Safety for the TECENTRIQ and chemotherapy combination appeared consistent with the known safety profile of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified with the combination.

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"This is our third Phase III trial in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer demonstrating that a TECENTRIQ-based regimen can help reduce the risk of disease progression for people living with this disease," said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "We will discuss these results with health authorities globally."

Data will be presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2018 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) on Monday, September 24 at 2:35 – 2:45 p.m. EDT (Abstract OA05.07 Oral) and featured in the official WCLC press conference at 9:45 – 10:30 a.m. EDT.

About the IMpower132 study

IMpower132 is a Phase III, open-label, randomized study evaluating the efficacy and safety of TECENTRIQ plus chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin and pemetrexed) versus chemotherapy alone in chemotherapy-naïve patients with NSCLC. The study enrolled 578 people who were randomized equally (1:1) to receive:

TECENTRIQ in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin and pemetrexed (Arm A), or
Cisplatin or carboplatin and pemetrexed (Arm B, control arm)
During the treatment-induction phase, people received TECENTRIQ, pemetrexed and investigator’s choice of either cisplatin or carboplatin on Day 1 of every three weeks for a dosing period of four or six cycles. People who experienced clinical benefit during the induction phase began maintenance therapy until disease progression.

Safety for the TECENTRIQ and chemotherapy combination appeared consistent with the known safety profile of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified with the combination. Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were reported in 53.6 percent of people receiving TECENTRIQ plus chemotherapy compared to 39.1 percent of people receiving chemotherapy alone.

About lung cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that more than 234,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018, and NSCLC accounts for 85 percent of all lung cancers. It is estimated that approximately 60 percent of lung cancer diagnoses in the United States are made when the disease is in the advanced stages.

About TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab)

TECENTRIQ is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1. TECENTRIQ is designed to bind to PD-L1 expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, TECENTRIQ may enable the re-activation of T cells. TECENTRIQ may also affect normal cells.

TECENTRIQ U.S. Indication (pronounced ‘tē-SEN-trik’)

TECENTRIQ is a prescription medicine used to treat:

A type of bladder and urinary tract cancer called urothelial carcinoma.

TECENTRIQ may be used when your bladder cancer:
has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, and if you have any one of the following conditions:
you are not able to take chemotherapy that contains a medicine called cisplatin, and your doctor has tested your cancer and found high levels of a specific protein on your cancer called programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or
you are not able to take chemotherapy that contains any platinum regardless of PD-L1 status on your cancer, or
you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working
The approval of TECENTRIQ in these patients is based on a study that measured response rate and duration of response. There is an ongoing study to confirm clinical benefit.

A type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

TECENTRIQ may be used when your lung cancer:
has spread or grown, and
you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working
If your tumor has an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene, you should have also tried an FDA-approved therapy for tumors with these abnormal genes, and it did not work or is no longer working.

It is not known if TECENTRIQ is safe and effective in children.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information about TECENTRIQ?

TECENTRIQ can cause the immune system to attack normal organs and tissues and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become serious or life threatening and can lead to death.

Patients should call or see their healthcare provider right away if they get any symptoms of the following problems or these symptoms get worse.

TECENTRIQ can cause serious side effects, including:

Lung problems (pneumonitis)–signs and symptoms may include new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain
Liver problems (hepatitis)–signs and symptoms of hepatitis may include yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, severe nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of the stomach area (abdomen), drowsiness, dark urine (tea colored), bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, and feeling less hungry than usual
Intestinal problems (colitis)–signs and symptoms of colitis may include diarrhea (loose stools) or more bowel movements than usual, blood or mucous in the stools or dark, tarry, sticky stools, and severe stomach area (abdomen) pain or tenderness
Hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, and pituitary)–signs and symptoms that the hormone glands are not working properly may include headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches, extreme tiredness, weight gain or weight loss, dizziness or fainting, feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual, hair loss, changes in mood or behavior (such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness), feeling cold, constipation, the voice gets deeper, urinating more often than usual, nausea or vomiting, and stomach area (abdomen) pain
Problems in other organs–signs and symptoms may include severe muscle weakness, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, confusion, blurry vision, double vision, or other vision problems, changes in mood or behavior, extreme sensitivity to light, neck stiffness, eye pain or redness, skin blisters or peeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or swelling of the ankles
Severe infections–signs and symptoms of infection may include fever, cough, flu-like symptoms, pain when urinating, and frequent urination or back pain
Severe infusion reactions–signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include chills or shaking, itching or rash, flushing, shortness of breath or wheezing, swelling of the face or lips, dizziness, fever, feeling like passing out, and back or neck pain
Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. A healthcare provider may treat patients with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. A healthcare provider may delay or completely stop treatment with TECENTRIQ if patients have severe side effects.

Before receiving TECENTRIQ, patients should tell their healthcare provider about all of their medical conditions, including if they:

have immune system problems (such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus); have had an organ transplant; have lung or breathing problems; have liver problems; have a condition that affects the nervous system (such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barre syndrome); or are being treated for an infection
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. TECENTRIQ can harm an unborn baby. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they become pregnant or think they may be pregnant during treatment with TECENTRIQ. If patients are able to become pregnant:
A healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before they start treatment with TECENTRIQ.
They should use an effective method of birth control during their treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of TECENTRIQ.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if TECENTRIQ passes into the breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of TECENTRIQ
Patients should tell their healthcare provider about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of TECENTRIQ in people with urothelial carcinoma include:

feeling tired
decreased appetite
nausea
constipation
urinary tract infection
diarrhea
fever
The most common side effects of TECENTRIQ in people with non-small cell lung cancer include:

feeling tired
decreased appetite
muscle pain
cough
shortness of breath
TECENTRIQ may cause fertility problems in females, which may affect the ability to have children. Patients should talk to their healthcare provider if they have concerns about fertility.

These are not all the possible side effects of TECENTRIQ. Patients should ask their healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information. Patients should call their doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Interim Results for the Six Months Ended 30 June 2018
Advancing pipeline of next generation therapeutics and diagnostics for oncology and immune diseases of high unmet need

On September 24, 2018 Tiziana Life Sciences plc ("Tiziana", AIM: TILS), the research and clinical stage biotechnology company focussing on proprietary drug candidates to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2018 (Press release, Tiziana Life Sciences, SEP 24, 2018, View Source [SID1234529857]).

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Highlights during the period:

LEADERSHIP

The Company significantly enhanced its commercial and strategic development strength with the addition of a highly experienced executive to its Board of Directors:

Leopoldo Zambeletti joined as a non-executive director of the Company.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

CLINICAL PROGRAMMES

Foralumab

TZLS-401

Foralumab is the only fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in clinical development in contrast to the previous non-human or humanized anti-CD3 mABs. Recent data from studies conducted in the laboratories of Prof. Howard Weiner (Harvard University)[1] and Prof. Kevan Herold (Yale University) suggest that oral administration of formalumab has the potential to improve efficacy while minimizing toxicity in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), PBS (primary biliary cholangitis) and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Results from a previous Phase 1 evaluation of foralumab administered via intravenous injection in patients with Crohn’s disease demonstrated foralumab’s immunomodulatory activity in humans. Recent clinical studies conducted by Prof. Yaron Ilan with oral administration of anti-CD3 (OKT3; murine mAb) in hepatitis C virus infected patients and in NASH patients suggested that the treatment was well-tolerated and produced immunologic effects consistent with potential clinical benefits.

Our strategy is to build on these exciting findings to develop foralumab for treatment of NASH, PBC and other liver diseases. Foralumab may also be combined with TZLS-501, a fully human anti-IL-6R mAB, for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases.

Milciclib

TZLS-201

The Company’s lead compound, acquired from Nerviano Medical Sciences, is an orally bioavailable, small molecule pan-inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK: 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7) as well as Src family kinases.

The compound was well tolerated by patients with thymoma in Phase I and Phase 2 clinical trials. Interim data analysis from the Phase 2 trial indicated that the treatment was well-tolerated and it produced encouraging clinical responses. In another study, milciclib in combination with gemcitabine was found to be well tolerated, and the treatment improved clinical outcomes in patients with refractory solid tumors.

A unique feature of milciclib is its ability to reduce microRNAs miR-221 and miR-222. These microRNAs are consistently upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and might contribute towards resistance to treatment with sorafenib. Thus, we believe milciclib has potential to be developed as a drug candidate for treatment of HCC either as a monotherapy or in combination with sorafenib.

Our strategy is to first initiate clinical studies as a Phase 2a monotherapy with milciclib, which will be followed immediately by a Phase 2b clinical study in combination with sorafenib.

PRE-CLINICAL PROGRAMMES

Anti IL-6R mAb

TZLS-501, formerly NI-1201

Recently acquired anti IL-6R mAb is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R). Anti IL-6R mAb offers a unique mechanism of action in which, it binds to both the membrane-bound and soluble forms of the IL-6R and depletes circulating levels of the IL-6 in the blood. An excessive production of IL-6 is regarded as a key driver of chronic inflammation, associated with autoimmune diseases such as multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.

StemPrintER

StemPrintER is a multi-gene signature assay intended for use in patients diagnosed with estrogen-receptor positive ER+/HER2 negative breast cancers. This in-vitro prognostic test will be used in conjunction with clinical evaluation to identify those patients at increased risk for early and/or late metastasis.

Our diagnostic has a unique biological basis, being based on the detection of cancer stem cell markers, uses a reliable platform (qRT-PCR, FFPE), and has been evaluated in an initial retrospective validation study using a consecutive cohort of approximately 2400 patients with breast cancer. The development team is preparing for a retrospective validation study using an independent cohort and has discussed submission plans with the FDA.

FINANCIAL

£1.67m raised through issuance of equity.

For the six months to 30 June 2018 the consolidated Group made a loss of £3.94m (six months to 30 June 2017: £3.87m).

The Group ended the period with £0.1m cash as at 30 June 2018 (31 Dec 2017: £0.1m).

The Company continues to carefully manage its working capital position and continues the process,as referred to below, to seek to raise further funds through the issueof ADSs through a United States Offering.

Highlights post period:

In July 2018, the Company announced the filing of a registration statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC") relating to a proposed initial public offering of its American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), representing ordinary shares of nominal value £0.03 each in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares"), in the United States (the "Offering").

On August 16, 2018 – the Company announces the submission of an Investigational New Drug ("IND") application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in collaboration with the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA ("BWH") to Initiate Phase 1 Clinical Trials with Foralumab, to be administered nasally to healthy volunteers, with the objective of demonstrating proof of concept in a potentially revolutionary approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as progressive multiple sclerosis ("MS").

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Announces Release of Updated Poziotinib Data From MD Anderson Phase 2 Study in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

On September 24, 2018 Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NasdaqGS: SPPI), a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in hematology and oncology, reported preliminary poziotinib data from the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center Phase 2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) study which were released today during an oral presentation at the IASLC 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (Press release, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, SEP 24, 2018, View Source [SID1234529537]). The MD Anderson study is the single largest data set of patients with an exon 20 mutation in EGFR or HER2.

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"There are currently no approved targeted therapies for this hard-to-treat population," said John Heymach, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman and Professor, Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. "For this reason, it is especially exciting to observe that poziotinib is highly active, with a manageable safety profile, in these heavily pre-treated patients. The study is ongoing with nineteen EGFR patients remaining on treatment, six of which have been on drug for longer than a year. Poziotinib may offer a much needed option to NSCLC patients with exon 20 mutations in EGFR or HER2."

In the interim analysis presented at the WCLC, the following observations were made:

This phase II study demonstrates high anti-tumor activity for poziotinib in metastatic, heavily pretreated EGFR exon 20 mutant NSCLC, a group for which no targeted agents have proven effective to date (other than patients bearing T790M or S768I mutations) with best response of PR in 55% of evaluable patients (43% confirmed ORR to date; 19 patients remain on treatment).
Median PFS 5.5m; durable responses observed with 6 treated for >1year thus far.
Compares favorably to historical ORR rates of <8% approved TKIs and <19% for standard of care 2L agents (docetaxel, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors).
Significant activity also observed in HER2 exon 20-mutant NSCLC with initial responses observed in 50% (6/12) evaluable patients and median PFS 5.1m.
EGFR-related toxicities (including rash, diarrhea, & paronychia) were manageable and required dose reductions in 60%. Discontinuation due to poor tolerance was rare (3%).
Encouraging activity has prompted a confirmatory, international, multicenter study in EGFR and HER2 exon 20 mutant NSCLC patients which is currently enrolling (NCT03318939), including a first-line cohort, and development of a separate pan-tumor basket study.
The poziotinib NSCLC clinical program for patients with EGFR or HER2 exon 20 insertion mutations currently consists of a Phase 2 investigator-initiated study at The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center and a Phase 2 pivotal, Spectrum-sponsored, multi-center, global study (ZENITH20) with active sites in the United States and future centers planned in Canada and Europe. The overall poziotinib clinical development program is focused on four pillars, including previously treated NSCLC, first-line treatment of NSCLC, combination therapy and treatment of other solid tumors.

Following the oral presentation of data, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals will be hosting a live webcast featuring Dr. John Heymach.

Conference Call Details:

Monday, September 24, 2018 @ 4:30 p.m. Eastern/1:30 p.m. Pacific

Domestic: (877) 837-3910, Conference ID# 1993267
International: (973) 796-5077, Conference ID# 1993267

The conference call will also be webcast live. To access the webcast and additional documents related to the call, please visit the Investor Relations page of the Spectrum Pharmaceuticals website at View Source

For interested individuals unable to join the call, a replay will be available from September 24, 2018 @ 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT through October 1, 2018, until 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.

Domestic Replay Dial-In: (855) 859-2056, Conference ID# 1993267
International Replay Dial-In: (404) 537-3406, Conference ID# 1993267

About Poziotinib

Poziotinib is a novel, orally available Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (EGFR TKI) that inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity of EGFR as well as HER2 and HER4. Importantly this, in turn, leads to the inhibition of the proliferation of tumor cells that overexpress these receptors. Mutations or overexpression/amplification of EGFR family receptors have been associated with a number of different cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer, and gastric cancer. Spectrum received an exclusive license from Hanmi Pharmaceuticals to develop, manufacture, and commercialize worldwide, excluding Korea and China. Poziotinib is currently being investigated by Spectrum and Hanmi in several mid-stage trials in multiple solid tumor indications.