Propanc Biopharma Receives Allowance of Key Patent Application in the EU

On February 20, 2018 Propanc Biopharma Inc. (OTCQB: PPCB) ("Propanc Biopharma" or the "Company"), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on development of new and proprietary treatments for cancer patients suffering from solid tumors such as pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancers, reported allowance of a key patent application from the European Patent Office (EPO) covering a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen within the European Union (Press release, Propanc, FEB 20, 2018, View Source [SID1234524077]). The allowed patent application is the first approval for the Company in the EU, which protects the Company’s lead product candidate, PRP, a solution for once-daily intravenous administration of a combination of two pancreatic proenzymes trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen.

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"We continue to make significant progress with respect to building our intellectual property portfolio, which is an important cornerstone for biotech companies like ours," said James Nathanielsz, Propanc Biopharma’s Chief Executive Officer. "In addition to our lead patent application, we also have three patents entering national phase this year and another patent application currently under preparation. It is a promising sign that we are advancing a world class portfolio covering a new therapeutic approach using pancreatic proenzymes for the treatment and prevention of metastatic cancer from solid tumors."

Currently progressing towards a First-In-Human study, PRP aims to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis from solid tumors. Eighty percent of all cancers are solid tumors and metastasis is the main cause of patient death from cancer. According to the World Health Organization, 8.2 million people died from cancer in 2012. Consequently, a report by IMS Health states innovative therapies are driving the global oncology market to meet demand, which is expected to reach $150 billion by 2020. The Company’s initial target patient populations are pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancers, representing an estimated combined market segment of $14 billion in 2020, according to GBI Research.

To view Propanc Biopharma’s "Mechanism of Action" video on anti-cancer product candidate, PRP, please click on the following link: View Source

To be added to Propanc Biopharma’s email distribution list, please click on the following link: View Source and submit the online request form.

INSYS Therapeutics to Present at RBC Healthcare Conference

On February 20, 2018 INSYS Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:INSY), a leader in the development, manufacture and commercialization of pharmaceutical cannabinoids and spray technology, reported that Saeed Motahari, president and chief executive officer, and Andrew Long, chief financial officer, will present at the RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Conference as follows (Press release, Insys Therapeutics, FEB 20, 2018, View Source [SID1234524107]):

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Date: Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018
Time: 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time
Location: Lotte New York Palace Hotel

The presentation will be webcast live at the aforementioned time, and archived for 90 days thereafter, via the Investors section of company’s website at View Source, under Presentations & Events. Accessible at the same webpage, the presentation slides will be available during and after the conference.

In addition to making a presentation, management will also provide an overview of the company’s business in one-on-one meetings with investors who are registered to attend the conference.

Incyte to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences

On February 20, 2018 Incyte Corporation (Nasdaq:INCY) reported that it will present at the following investor conferences during the month of March (Press release, Incyte, FEB 20, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2333288 [SID1234524053]):

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Cowen and Company 38th Annual Health Care Conference on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 12:00 pm (EDT) in Boston; and
Barclays Global Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 9:30 am (EDT) in Miami
The presentation will be webcast live and can be accessed at www.incyte.com in the Investors section under "Events and Presentations." Investors interested in listening to the live webcast should log on before the start time in order to download any software required.

Medtronic Reports Third Quarter Financial Results

On February 20, 2018 Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT) reported financial results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2018, which ended January 26, 2018 (Press release, Medtronic, FEB 20, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2333238 [SID1234524055]).

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The company reported third quarter worldwide revenue of $7.369 billion, an increase of 1 percent as reported, or 7 percent on a comparable, constant currency basis, which adjusts for the divestiture of its Patient Care, Deep Vein Thrombosis (Compression), and Nutritional Insufficiency businesses to Cardinal Health that occurred in the second quarter, and a $177 million positive impact from foreign currency.

As reported, third quarter GAAP net loss and loss per share (LPS) were $1.389 billion and $1.03, respectively. GAAP results included a $2.2 billion net charge primarily related to the U.S. transition tax charge as part of U.S. tax reform. As detailed in the financial schedules included through the link at the end of this release, third quarter non-GAAP net income and diluted EPS were $1.592 billion and $1.17, increases of 3 percent and 4 percent, respectively. Adjusting for the divestiture and a negative 1 cent impact from foreign currency, third quarter non-GAAP diluted EPS increased 12 percent.

Third quarter U.S. revenue of $3.912 billion represented 53 percent of company revenue and decreased 5 percent as reported, or increased 6 percent on a comparable basis. Non-U.S. developed market revenue of $2.355 billion represented 32 percent of company revenue and increased 7 percent as reported, or 5 percent on a comparable, constant currency basis. Emerging market revenue of $1.102 billion represented 15 percent of company revenue and increased 12 percent on both a reported and a comparable, constant currency basis.

"Our results reflect a solid quarter for Medtronic, and as we expected, a strong turnaround from the first half of our fiscal year," said Omar Ishrak, Medtronic chairman and chief executive officer. "We continue to execute on our broad, sustainable growth strategy, driving therapy innovation and global market penetration, while delivering enterprise synergies to enable margin improvement."

Cardiac and Vascular Group
The Cardiac and Vascular Group (CVG) includes the Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure (CRHF), Coronary & Structural Heart (CSH), and Aortic & Peripheral Vascular (APV) divisions. CVG worldwide third quarter revenue of $2.800 billion increased 10 percent, or 7 percent on a constant currency basis. CVG revenue performance was driven by strong, mid-teens growth in CSH and mid-single digit growth in CRHF and APV, all on a constant currency basis.

CRHF third quarter revenue of $1.457 billion increased 6 percent, or 4 percent on a constant currency basis. Arrhythmia Management grew in the low-single digits on a constant currency basis, driven by high-teens constant currency growth in AF Solutions, as well as strong adoption of the Micra Transcatheter Pacing System and TYRX absorbable antibacterial envelope. Heart Failure grew in the mid-single digits on a constant currency basis, driven by strong double digit constant currency growth in Mechanical Circulatory Support from sales of the HVAD(TM) System, as well as continued solid demand for the company’s portfolio of quadripolar cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers (CRT-P).
CSH third quarter revenue of $886 million increased 18 percent, or 14 percent on a constant currency basis, led by low-thirties constant currency growth in transcatheter aortic valves on the strength of the CoreValve Evolut PRO and U.S. intermediate risk indication. Coronary grew in the low-double digits on a constant currency basis, driven by strong demand for the company’s Resolute Onyx(TM) drug-eluting stent in the U.S. and Japan.
APV third quarter revenue of $457 million increased 7 percent, or 5 percent on a constant currency basis. Aortic grew in the low-single digits on a constant currency basis, driven by the performance of the Valiant Captivia thoracic stent graft system. Peripheral grew in the mid-single digits on a constant currency basis, driven by double digit growth in both PTA balloons and drug-coated balloons. High-single digit growth in endoVenous was driven by a strong performance of the VenaSeal(TM) closure system.
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group
The Minimally Invasive Therapies Group (MITG) includes the Surgical Innovations (SI) and the Respiratory, Gastrointestinal & Renal (RGR) divisions. MITG worldwide third quarter revenue of $2.041 billion decreased 16 percent as reported, or increased 6 percent on a comparable, constant currency basis. MITG revenue performance was driven by high-single digit growth in SI and low-single digit growth in RGR, both on a comparable, constant currency basis.

SI third quarter revenue of $1.384 billion increased 7 percent on a comparable, constant currency basis, driven by growth from new products in Advanced Energy and Advanced Stapling, including LigaSure(TM) vessel sealing instruments with nano-coating, endo stapling specialty reloads, and the Signia(TM) powered stapler.
RGR third quarter revenue of $657 million increased 3 percent on a comparable, constant currency basis. GI and Hepatology grew in the low-double digits on a comparable, constant currency basis, with strength across the GI therapeutics, diagnostics, and ablation product lines. Respiratory and Patient Monitoring grew in the low-single digits on a comparable, constant currency basis, with strength in Nellcor(TM) pulse oximetry sensors given the strong incidence of influenza in the U.S.
Restorative Therapies Group
The Restorative Therapies Group (RTG) includes the Spine, Brain Therapies, Specialty Therapies, and Pain Therapies divisions. RTG worldwide third quarter revenue of $1.944 billion increased 7 percent, or 5 percent on a constant currency basis. Group results were driven by low-double digit growth in Brain Therapies, high-single digit growth in Pain Therapies, and mid-single digit growth in Specialty Therapies, offsetting flat results in Spine, all on a constant currency basis.

Spine third quarter revenue of $661 million increased 1 percent, or was flat on a constant currency basis. Mid-single digit constant currency growth in bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) partially offset low-single digit declines in Core Spine, which were consistent with the Core Spine market.
Brain Therapies third quarter revenue of $585 million increased 13 percent, or 10 percent on a constant currency basis. Neurovascular grew in the high-teens on a constant currency basis, with strength across its stroke product portfolio. Neurosurgery grew in the low-double digits on a constant currency basis, led by strong sales of the StealthStation S8 surgical navigation system and O-arm2 surgical imaging system.
Specialty Therapies third quarter revenue of $398 million increased 8 percent, or 6 percent on a constant currency basis. High-single digit growth in Pelvic Health and ENT was partially offset by low-single digit declines in Transformative Solutions, all on a constant currency basis.
Pain Therapies third quarter revenue of $300 million increased 10 percent, or 8 percent on a constant currency basis. The division returned to growth on the strength of the recently launched Intellis(TM) platform for spinal cord stimulation, as well as growth in drug pumps.
Diabetes Group
The Diabetes Group includes the Intensive Insulin Management (IIM), Diabetes Service & Solutions (DSS), and Non-Intensive Diabetes Therapies (NDT) divisions. Diabetes Group worldwide third quarter revenue of $584 million increased 17 percent, or 13 percent on a constant currency basis. The group is experiencing strong global demand for its new sensor-augmented insulin pump systems, and has made great progress on its ability to meet this demand, as evidenced by the improved sequential revenue growth.

IIM third quarter revenue grew in the high-teens on a constant currency basis, driven by the U.S. launch of the MiniMed 670G hybrid closed loop insulin pump system with the Guardian sensor 3 CGM. In international markets, IIM delivered low-twenties constant currency growth on the continued strength of the MiniMed 640G system.
DSS third quarter revenue grew in the mid-single digits on a constant currency basis, with growth in consumables benefitting from customer base growth and improved patient utilization.
NDT third quarter revenue declined in the mid-single digits on a constant currency basis, given the commercial focus on the MiniMed 670G launch and competitive pressures.
Guidance
Medtronic today reiterated its fiscal year 2018 revenue and non-GAAP guidance. The company’s guidance is given on a comparable, constant currency basis, which accounts for the divestiture of certain businesses from its prior period Patient Monitoring & Recovery division by removing the financial impact of these businesses from the second, third, and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2017, as well as removing the impact of foreign currency.

In fiscal year 2018, the company continues to expect comparable, constant currency revenue growth to be in the range of 4 to 5 percent. While the impact of foreign currency remains fluid, if current exchange rates remain similar for the remainder of the fiscal year, the company’s revenue would be positively affected by approximately $480 million to $500 million for the fiscal year, including an approximate $300 to $320 million positive impact in the fourth fiscal quarter.

In fiscal year 2018, the company continues to expect diluted non-GAAP EPS growth to be in the range of 9 to 10 percent on a comparable, constant currency basis from the prior year comparable EPS of $4.37. Assuming current exchange rates remain similar for the rest of the year, the foreign exchange impact on the company’s non-GAAP EPS would be approximately negative 4 cents for the fiscal year, including an approximate 2 cent negative impact in the fourth fiscal quarter.

"Looking ahead, we are confident in our ability to deliver mid-single digit constant currency revenue growth and strong constant currency EPS leverage, this fiscal year and beyond," said Ishrak. "We remain keenly focused on executing to deliver dependable results as we continue to leverage our global diversification and scale to fulfill our Mission of alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world."

Webcast Information
Medtronic will host a webcast today, February 20, at 8:00 a.m. EST (7:00 a.m. CST) to provide information about its businesses for the public, analysts, and news media. This quarterly webcast can be accessed by clicking on the Investor Events link at investorrelations.medtronic.com and this earnings release will be archived at newsroom.medtronic.com. Medtronic will be live tweeting during the webcast on our Newsroom Twitter account, @Medtronic. Within 24 hours of the webcast, a replay of the webcast and transcript of the company’s prepared remarks will be available by clicking on the Investor Events link at investorrelations.medtronic.com.

Financial Schedules
To view the third quarter financial schedules and non-GAAP reconciliations, click here. To view the third quarter earnings presentation, click here. Both documents can also be accessed by visiting newsroom.medtronic.com.

Fate Therapeutics Announces First Subject Treated with FATE-NK100 in DIMENSION Study for Advanced Solid Tumors

On February 20, 2018 Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FATE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of programmed cellular immunotherapies for cancer and immune disorders, announced today that the first subject has been treated in the DIMENSION study of FATE-NK100 for the treatment of advanced solid tumors (Press release, Fate Therapeutics, FEB 20, 2018, View Source [SID1234524182]). The clinical trial is intended to evaluate the safety and determine the maximum dose of FATE-NK100, the Company’s first-in-class, allogeneic donor-derived adaptive memory natural killer (NK) cell cancer therapy, when administered as a monotherapy and in combination with trastuzumab or cetuximab, two FDA-approved targeted monoclonal antibody therapies that are widely used today to treat various cancers.

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"Patients with cancer often have deficient or dysfunctional natural killer cells. The co-administration of FATE-NK100 alongside a targeted monoclonal antibody therapy is a novel approach to restore a patient’s immune cell function and to selectively recognize and kill antibody-coated tumor cells," said Manish R. Patel, D.O., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation at the University of Minnesota and the lead investigator of the clinical trial at the Masonic Cancer Center. "We are excited to have initiated what we believe to be the first clinical investigation of healthy allogeneic donor NK cell therapy in combination with FDA-approved monoclonal antibody therapy for solid tumor malignancies. This new treatment paradigm holds great promise for cancer patients who have progressed on or failed monoclonal antibody therapy and have no other therapeutic options."

Monoclonal antibodies are a well-established class of cancer immunotherapy agents designed to selectively target and bind to proteins on the surface of tumor cells. Compelling clinical data indicate that NK cells mediate the therapeutic effect of monoclonal antibody therapy by recognizing and efficiently killing antibody-coated tumor cells via a potent immune response mechanism known as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). The combination of FATE-NK100 and monoclonal antibody therapy is designed to enhance ADCC by administering an activated population of healthy allogeneic donor NK cells to augment the killing of antibody-coated tumor cells. It is estimated that the worldwide market for cancer monoclonal antibodies is over $30 billion, and is poised to reach $45 billion by the end of 2020.

DIMENSION is the third clinical trial of FATE-NK100 currently being conducted. FATE-NK100 is also being clinically investigated in the VOYAGE study for the treatment of refractory or relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia and in the APOLLO study for the treatment of ovarian cancer resistant to, or recurrent on, platinum-based treatment.

About DIMENSION
DIMENSION is a multi-center, open-label, accelerated dose-escalation Phase 1 clinical trial of FATE-NK100 in subjects with advanced solid tumors who have progressed on or failed available approved therapies. The clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety and determine the maximum dose of a single intravenous infusion of FATE-NK100 when administered as a monotherapy and in combination with monoclonal antibody therapy after outpatient lymphoconditioning therapy followed by sub-cutaneous IL-2 administration. Other endpoints to be assessed include objective response rates and progression-free and overall survival.

The clinical trial is being conducted across three independent treatment arms: (i) as a monotherapy for advanced solid tumor malignancies, including small cell lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma; (ii) in combination with trastuzumab for advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) cancers, including breast and gastric cancers; and (iii) in combination with cetuximab for advanced epidermal growth factor receptor 1 positive (EGFR1+) cancers, including colorectal and head and neck cancers. In the combination arms, subjects will receive the monoclonal antibody therapy two days prior to and seven days following administration of FATE-NK100. Subjects with evidence of tumor shrinkage at Day 29 following administration of FATE-NK100 may be considered for retreatment.

Up to three dose levels in the monotherapy arm, and up to four dose levels in the monoclonal antibody therapy arms, of FATE-NK100 are intended to be assessed. In the event a dose limiting toxicity is observed in an arm, the arm will convert to a 3+3 design. Following dose escalation, expansion cohorts of 20 subjects per arm may be enrolled.

About FATE-NK100
FATE-NK100 is a first-in-class, allogeneic donor-derived natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy comprised of adaptive memory NK cells, a highly specialized and functionally distinct subset of activated NK cells expressing the maturation marker CD57. Higher frequencies of CD57+ NK cells in the peripheral blood or tumor microenvironment in cancer patients have been linked to better clinical outcomes. In preclinical studies, FATE-NK100 has demonstrated enhanced anti-tumor activity across a broad range of hematologic and solid tumors, with augmented cytokine production, improved persistence, enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and increased resistance to immune checkpoint pathways compared to other NK cell therapies that are being clinically administered today. FATE-NK100 is produced through a feeder-free, seven-day manufacturing process during which NK cells sourced from a healthy allogeneic donor are activated ex vivo with pharmacologic modulators. In August 2017, non-clinical data describing the unique properties and anti-tumor activity of FATE-NK100 were published by Cancer Research (doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-0799), a peer-reviewed journal of the American Association of Cancer Research.