On January 4, 2018 MacroGenics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGNX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing innovative monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, as well as various autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases, reported that it had entered into a research collaboration and license agreement with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. to jointly discover and develop novel bispecific molecules to undisclosed targets (Press release, MacroGenics, JAN 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234522890]). During the research term, both companies will leverage their respective platforms, including MacroGenics’ DART platform and Roche’s CrossMAb and DutaFab technologies to select a bispecific format and lead product candidate. Roche would then further develop and commercialize any such product candidate.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"MacroGenics and Roche are both leaders in the field of bispecifics and have each advanced numerous molecules into clinical testing. By combining our two companies’ respective scientific talent, technology platforms and experience, we hope to generate a compelling product candidate to address unmet patient needs," said Scott Koenig, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MacroGenics.

Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will pay MacroGenics an upfront payment of $10 million. MacroGenics will also be eligible to receive up to $370 million in potential milestone payments and royalties on future sales. Further details about the transaction are not disclosed.

On January 4, 2018 Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLRB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of cancer, reported that company management will be participating in Biotech Showcase 2018 taking place January 8-10, 2018 at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square (Press release, Cellectar Biosciences, JAN 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234522906]). James Caruso, president and chief executive officer of Cellectar Biosciences, will present a company overview and update on January 10, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Mr. Caruso’s presentation will be webcast live at View Source;tp_key=5c62464b98 and on the Events section of the company’s website where it will also be archived.

About Phospholipid Drug Conjugates (PDCs)

Cellectar’s product candidates are built upon its patented cancer cell-targeting delivery and retention platform of optimized phospholipid ether-drug conjugates (PDCs). The company deliberately designed its phospholipid ether (PLE) carrier platform to be coupled with a variety of payloads to facilitate both therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The basis for selective tumor targeting of our PDC compounds lies in the differences between the plasma membranes of cancer cells compared to those of normal cells. Cancer cell membranes are highly enriched in lipid rafts, which are glycolipoprotein microdomains of the plasma membrane of cells that contain high concentrations of cholesterol and sphingolipids, and serve to organize cell surface and intracellular signaling molecules. PDCs have been tested in more than 80 different xenograft models of cancer.

On January 4, 2018 Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ONTX), a Phase 3 stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule drug candidates to treat cancer, with a primary focus on Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), reported that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (Press release, Onconova, JAN 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234522892]). Under the terms of the CRADA, the NCI will conduct research, including preclinical laboratory studies and a clinical trial, on rigosertib in pediatric cancer associated RASopathies.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The RASopathies are a group of rare diseases which share a well-defined molecular basis in expression or defects involving Ras Effector Pathways. They are usually caused by germline mutations in genes that alter the RAS subfamily and mitogen-activated protein kinases that control signal transduction, and are among the most common genetic syndromes. Together, this group of diseases can impact more than 1 in 1000 individuals, according to RASopathiesNet.

Dr. Steve Fruchtman, Chief Medical Officer of Onconova, noted: "We are excited about the potential of our collaboration with the Pediatric Oncology Branch at NCI’s Center for Cancer Research in the study of rigosertib in children with both hematological and solid tumors that are driven by the Ras pathway. This collaboration could lead to important advances in the treatment of these refractory tumors. This novel approach directed at a specific mechanism driving the underlying neoplasm is the basis of personalized medicine for these indications".

As part of the CRADA, Onconova will provide rigosertib supplies and initial funding towards non-clinical studies. The NCI will fund the majority of the research, including the cost of the clinical trial, which is expected to start in 2018. A clinical trial protocol has been developed and will be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board.

Onconova is also collaborating with academic researchers and patient advocacy groups interested in developing novel therapeutics to address the needs of these patients. In October 2017, Onconova held a Key Opinion Leader Breakfast Symposium in New York City to bring attention to this unmet medical need and the potential for rigosertib in RASopathies. The meeting featured presentations by Bruce D. Gelb, M.D. (Mount Sinai, New York) and Elliot Stieglitz, M.D. (University of California, San Francisco), alongside Dr. Fruchtman. In July 2017, Onconova also presented a summary of its targeted approach at a symposium organized by RASopathiesNet.org.

While the NCI will conduct a trial for RASopathy related cancers in pediatric patients, Onconova will focus on Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML), a well-described RASopathy affecting children which is incurable without an allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Additional information highlighting Onconova’s approach to studying rigosertib in RAS mediated diseases can be found in the presentation, "Strategies to RASopathies and JMML," located in the "Scientific Presentations" section of Onconova’s website.

For Patients

Patients interested in enrolling please contact NCI’s toll-free number 1-800-4-Cancer (1-800-422-6237) (TTY: 1-800-332-8615).

On January 4, 2018 SpringWorks Therapeutics, a mission-driven medicines company dedicated to developing innovative potential new treatments for underserved patient communities, reported that it will present at the 36th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (Press release, SpringWorks Therapeutics, JAN 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234538854]). Lara S. Sullivan, M.D., President and Founder, and Saqib Islam, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer, are scheduled to present at 1:30 p.m. PT on Tuesday, January 9, 2017 at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, CA.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Having launched SpringWorks Therapeutics only four months ago, we are honored to have been selected to present at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference," stated Mr. Islam. "Our collaborative, patient-centric business model is providing innovative ways to advance promising, investigational therapies that may be otherwise trapped on the sidelines in larger pharmaceutical and biotech companies. We look forward to sharing highlights of our novel approach and late-stage pipeline as we enter a catalyst-rich 2018."

On January 4, 2018 PellePharm, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to targeting rare genetic dermatological conditions at the source, reported the appointment of Sanuj K. Ravindran, M.D., to the position of president and chief executive officer (Press release, PellePharm, JAN 4, 2018, View Source [SID1234576282]). In parallel, Dr. Ravindran will join BridgeBio Pharma, PellePharm’s lead investor, as CEO-in-Residence, to advance its broader orphan dermatology portfolio.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Dr. Ravindran’s biopharma industry experience and rare disease expertise will offer enormous strategic benefit to PellePharm as we move into our next stage of development," said Ervin Epstein, M.D., chief medical officer and co-founder of PellePharm. "Having been successful with the management and growth of multiple biopharma companies, Dr. Ravindran brings the right experience to PellePharm so that we may offer topical patidegib to patients as swiftly as possible."

Dr. Ravindran brings more than 15 years of strategic and operational biopharma experience to PellePharm. Most recently, he was chief business officer at aTyr Pharma ("LIFE"), a clinical stage rare disease-focused biotechnology company, where he led corporate and financial strategy, business development, and investor relations. Prior to that, Dr. Ravindran was senior vice president of corporate development for The Medicines Company ("MDCO"), where he worked to execute multiple transactions totaling more than $2 billion in potential aggregate value. Previously a practicing physician, Dr. Ravindran began his industry career as a venture capitalist for 10 years with Burrill & Company, Radius Ventures, and Asian Healthcare Fund. Dr. Ravindran is trained in Internal Medicine and completed his residency training at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Dr. Ravindran received his B.A. from Northwestern University, his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.

"I am thrilled to join PellePharm at such an important juncture, as the Company prepares to advance topical patidegib one step closer to patients with Gorlin Syndrome. With PellePharm’s scientific premise, clinical progress, and recently strengthened leadership team, the company is well on its way to meeting its mission of delivering therapies for rare genetic dermatological conditions," said Dr. Ravindran.

PellePharm today also announced that it has expanded its executive team to enhance regulatory and operational capabilities. Alix Alderman is now vice president of regulatory affairs at PellePharm, and Gerd Kochendoerfer, Ph.D., is vice president of technical operations and program management. Both Ms. Alderman and Dr. Kochendoerfer bring many years of experience in drug development, quality management and global regulatory affairs.

"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ravindran, Dr. Kochendoerfer and Ms. Alderman," said Neil Kumar, CEO and co-founder of BridgeBio Pharma. "At this inflection point, having the right team in place, with the collective experience this group brings, enables PellePharm to more ably achieve its goal of helping patients with serious unmet dermatologic conditions."

About Patidegib

Topical patidegib gel has shown early promise in a Phase 2 clinical study in Gorlin Syndrome by blocking the disease at its source within the hedgehog signaling pathway. Topical patidegib was developed to provide the efficacy previously demonstrated by oral patidegib in Phase 1 trials, but without the adverse systemic side effects of oral hedgehog inhibitors. Patidegib’s gel formulation is stable at room temperature for at least two years, making it a viable potential therapy for ongoing, at-home management of Gorlin Syndrome. Topical patidegib currently is being studied in a United States-based Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of sporadic basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).

About Gorlin Syndrome

Gorlin Syndrome is a rare, genetic disease characterized by mutations in the tumor suppressor gene encoding Patched1 (PTCH1), which acts as the primary inhibitor of the hedgehog signaling pathway. This leads to hundreds of basal cell carcinomas, especially on the face and sun-exposed areas.

With no FDA-approved drugs available for Gorlin Syndrome, also known as Basal Cell Carcinoma Nevus Syndrome (BCCNS), the standard of care is surgery. People with severe Gorlin Syndrome may have as many as 30 surgeries per year, which can be repetitive and scarring. Approximately 10,000 people in the United States, or one in 31,000, are believed to be affected by Gorlin Syndrome. Gorlin Syndrome is known by several names, including BCCNS, Gorlin-Goltz Syndrome, Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome, or Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome.