On June 5, 2018 The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer – Commercialization of Research (IRICoR) and its host institution, the Université de Montréal (UdeM) reported that they have entered into a research collaboration with AbbVie, a global research and development-driven biopharmaceutical company, in order to identify Tumor-Specific Neoantigens (TSNA) based on a novel proprietary platform developed by Drs. Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault, both of whom are Principal Investigators at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal (Press release, IRICoR, JUN 5, 2018, View Source [SID1234626500]).

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Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will fund certain research activities at the IRIC to identify TSNA in a specific cancer indication. AbbVie will obtain an option to secure an exclusive worldwide license on the intellectual property arising from the collaboration.

"We are very pleased to have been able to successfully conclude an agreement with AbbVie around the identification of TSNA that are of mutual interest to both AbbVie and to IRICoR," stated Dr. Steven Klein, Vice-President, Business Development of IRICoR. "Having a partner such as AbbVie validates the novel approach that Drs. Perreault and Thibault have developed to identify TSNA across multiple tumor types, and demonstrates the value of IRICoR in initially funding this unique platform. This is the second platform technology supported by IRICoR and developed by Drs. Perreault and Thibault that has been advanced towards commercialization. The first one is based on the identification of Minor Histocompatibility Antigens which has been licensed to SpecificiT, a Montreal-based immunotherapy-focused company."

"AbbVie is truly excited about this partnership because it provides a real opportunity to identify new antigens that are produced in cancer cells, which the immune system can recognize. Drs. Perreault’s and Thibault’s work consists of developing technologies to identify these specific proteins at the surface of cancer cells and their approach is quite novel. It’s an area of immuno-oncology we are eager to investigate in order to accelerate and discover new therapies," explains Dr. Thomas Hudson, VP, Head of Oncology Discovery and Early Development, AbbVie.

"Drs. Perreault’s and Thibault’s research will undoubtedly have a remarkable impact on how we treat cancer. Ultimately, AbbVie looks for innovative partnerships and partners who are pushing the boundaries of science in order to tackle the toughest challenges in oncology," says Stéphane Lassignardie, General Manager, AbbVie Canada.

On June 5, 2018 Jounce Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company") conducted meetings with investors attending the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois (Presentation, Jounce Therapeutics, JUN 5, 2018, View Source [SID1234527180]). As part of these meetings, the Company delivered the slide presentation.

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On June 5, 2018 LabCorp (NYSE: LH) reported it will participate at the 38th Annual William Blair Growth Stock Conference (Press release, LabCorp, JUN 5, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2353390 [SID1234527182]). LabCorp’s presentation is planned for Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 12:10 PM (CT).

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

On June 5, 2018 Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTLA) reported that the company will present at the following conferences in June (Press release, Portola Pharmaceuticals, JUN 5, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2353383 [SID1234527184]):

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Goldman Sachs 39th Annual Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at 9:20 a.m. Pacific Time in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

William Blair 38th Annual Growth Stock Conference on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at 12:40 p.m. Central Time in Chicago, IL.
Both presentations will be webcast live and available for replay from Portola’s website at www.portola.com in the Investor Relations section.

On June 5, 2018 Verastem, Inc. (President and CEO: Robert Forrester)(NASDAQ:VSTM) and Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. (President: Takashige Negishi)(Tokyo:2267), reported their entry into an exclusive licensing agreement for Yakult to develop and commercialize Verastem’s duvelisib, a first-in-class oral dual inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-delta and PI3K-gamma, for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of all oncology indications in Japan (Press release, Verastem, JUN 5, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2353165 [SID1234527168]). Verastem’s New Drug Application (NDA) for duvelisib is currently under review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is seeking full approval for the treatment of relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) and accelerated approval for the treatment of relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL). On April 9, 2018, Verastem announced that the FDA had accepted the NDA for filing with Priority Review.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Verastem will receive a one-time upfront payment of $10 million from Yakult. Verastem is eligible to receive up to an additional $90 million if certain future pre-specified development and commercialization milestones are successfully achieved by Yakult, plus double-digit royalties based on future net sales of duvelisib in Japan. In exchange, Yakult will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize duvelisib in Japan, at its own cost and expense. Yakult will also fund certain global development costs on a pro-rata basis. Verastem will retain all rights to duvelisib outside of Japan.

"In Japan, current therapies to treat CLL/SLL and FL are extremely limited and duvelisib has robust clinical data supporting its efficacy and safety in both indications, which we can build upon," said Masanori Ito, Head of Pharmaceutical Business Division/Managing Executive Officer, Member of the Board of Yakult. "We are eager to collaborate with Verastem to develop duvelisib in these initial hematologic malignancies, and then plan to later expand development to include the additional indications of PTCL and DLBCL. We believe this collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation, growing our oncology franchise, and commercializing medicines that positively impact the lives of patients in Japan."

"This agreement is an important, validating achievement for both duvelisib and Verastem Oncology and speaks to the significant global potential of this novel therapeutic for a broad range of hematologic malignancies," said Robert Forrester, President and Chief Executive Officer of Verastem. "Yakult is an established oncology leader in Japan that successfully markets several branded anti-cancer therapies, including Elplat and Campto. We look forward to working with the world-class development, regulatory and commercial teams at Yakult as they advance oral duvelisib toward commercialization in Japan."

About Duvelisib

Duvelisib is a first-in-class investigational oral, dual inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-delta and PI3K-gamma, two enzymes known to help support the growth and survival of malignant B-cells and T-cells. PI3K signaling may lead to the proliferation of malignant B- and T-cells and is thought to play a role in the formation and maintenance of the supportive tumor microenvironment.1,2,3 Duvelisib was evaluated in late- and mid-stage extension trials, including DUO, a randomized, Phase 3 monotherapy study in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL),4 and DYNAMO, a single-arm, Phase 2 monotherapy study in patients with refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL).5 Both DUO and DYNAMO achieved their primary endpoints. Verastem Oncology’s New Drug Application (NDA) requesting the full approval of duvelisib for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL, and accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) was accepted for filing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), granted Priority Review and assigned a target action date of October 5, 2018. Duvelisib is also being developed by Verastem Oncology for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), and is being investigated in combination with other agents through investigator-sponsored studies.6 Information about duvelisib clinical trials can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov.