On August 23, 2018 MEI Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: MEIP) a pharmaceutical company focused on leveraging its extensive development and oncology expertise to identify and advance new therapies for cancer, reported that the Company will release its 2018 fiscal year end financial results after the close of the U.S. financial markets on August 30, 2018 (Press release, MEI Pharma, AUG 23, 2018, View Source [SID1234529047]). The Company will host a conference call and live webcast with the investment community to provide a corporate update the same day at 5:00 p.m. ET.

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Conference Call & Webcast Information
When: August 30, 2018, 5:00 p.m. ET
Dial-in: (866) 939-3921 (United States) or (678) 302-3550 (International)
Conference ID: 47469059

Please join the conference call at least 10 minutes early to register. You can access the live webcast under the investor relations section of MEI’s website at: www.meipharma.com. A replay of the conference call will be archived under events and webcasts for at least 30 days after the call.

On August 23, 2018 Rakuten Aspyrian, a biotechnology company developing precision-targeted cancer therapies based on its proprietary Photoimmunotherapy platform, reported that it has raised $150 million in a Series C financing (Press release, Aspyrian Therapeutics, AUG 23, 2018, View Source [SID1234529072]). This round, as with previous rounds, was led by Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten Inc., a leading global innovation company in e-commerce, communications and fintech, and chairman of Rakuten Aspyrian. The Series C brings the company’s total fundraising to approximately $238 million in equity.

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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

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"Developing treatments for cancer patients is a mission I began to pursue years ago and is the motivation behind my investment in Rakuten Aspyrian," said Mr. Mikitani, chairman of Rakuten Aspyrian. "Rakuten Aspyrian’s approach of combining a biologic with laser-activation to target tumors holds the potential to offer an alternative treatment option to help cancer patients fight their disease. Our company has advanced rapidly in developing this technology and is now poised to start Phase 3 studies. My vision is to develop and commercialize a strong pipeline of treatments based on Photoimmunotherapy to create a new platform for cancer treatments."

"With this financing we will advance our lead compound ASP-1929, a treatment that received Fast Track designation by the FDA, into a global, pivotal Phase 3 trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety to treat recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinomas," said Miguel Garcia-Guzman, Ph.D., president and CEO of Rakuten Aspyrian. "I congratulate the Rakuten Aspyrian team for their excellence and commitment to rapidly advancing ASP-1929 into a Phase 3 study by the end of this year."

The financing will also support manufacturing scale-up for the commercialization of ASP-1929 and corporate growth including the initial buildup of commercial operations to support the launch of ASP-1929 in the United States, Japan and Europe.

In addition, this funding will support the expansion of R&D efforts to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ASP-1929 and other therapies in a range of cancer types, including the initiation of two additional Phase 2 proof of concept studies of ASP-1929 in other cancer types before the end of 2018.

"We are honored to be working with Hiroshi Mikitani, a visionary leader who supports our long-term corporate mission of conquering cancer," said Dr. Garcia-Guzman. "With this influx of capital, we are well positioned to advance our company to the next phase towards developing a fully integrated R&D and commercial biopharmaceutical corporation advancing first-in-class precision tumor-targeted therapies."

About ASP-1929

ASP-1929, a conjugate of cetuximab and IRDye 700DX, targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a cancer antigen expressed in multiple types of solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, esophagus, lung, colon, pancreas and other cancers. This first-in-class therapy targets cancer cells, after which it is locally activated with red light using a proprietary investigational laser and fiber optics. The local activation of the tumor-selective conjugate targets the tumor but not surrounding normal tissues and structures.

Interim results of the Phase 1/2 trial in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma showed a clinically meaningful improvement in the overall response rate, and potential improvements in progression free survival and overall survival when compared to historical data for the standard of care treatments currently available to this patient population. Top line results of the Phase 1/2 trial are expected later this year.

ASP-1929 is an investigational compound that is not approved for any use in any country.

On August 23, 2018 Rakuten Aspyrian, a biotechnology company developing precision-targeted cancer therapies based on its proprietary Photoimmunotherapy platform, reported that it has raised $150 million in a Series C financing (Press release, Aspyrian Therapeutics, AUG 23, 2018, View Source [SID1234529073]). This round, as with previous rounds, was led by Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten Inc., a leading global innovation company in e-commerce, communications and fintech, and chairman of Rakuten Aspyrian. The Series C brings the company’s total fundraising to approximately $238 million in equity.

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!

"Developing treatments for cancer patients is a mission I began to pursue years ago and is the motivation behind my investment in Rakuten Aspyrian," said Mr. Mikitani, chairman of Rakuten Aspyrian. "Rakuten Aspyrian’s approach of combining a biologic with laser-activation to target tumors holds the potential to offer an alternative treatment option to help cancer patients fight their disease. Our company has advanced rapidly in developing this technology and is now poised to start Phase 3 studies. My vision is to develop and commercialize a strong pipeline of treatments based on Photoimmunotherapy to create a new platform for cancer treatments."

"With this financing we will advance our lead compound ASP-1929, a treatment that received Fast Track designation by the FDA, into a global, pivotal Phase 3 trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety to treat recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinomas," said Miguel Garcia-Guzman, Ph.D., president and CEO of Rakuten Aspyrian. "I congratulate the Rakuten Aspyrian team for their excellence and commitment to rapidly advancing ASP-1929 into a Phase 3 study by the end of this year."

The financing will also support manufacturing scale-up for the commercialization of ASP-1929 and corporate growth including the initial buildup of commercial operations to support the launch of ASP-1929 in the United States, Japan and Europe.

In addition, this funding will support the expansion of R&D efforts to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ASP-1929 and other therapies in a range of cancer types, including the initiation of two additional Phase 2 proof of concept studies of ASP-1929 in other cancer types before the end of 2018.

"We are honored to be working with Hiroshi Mikitani, a visionary leader who supports our long-term corporate mission of conquering cancer," said Dr. Garcia-Guzman. "With this influx of capital, we are well positioned to advance our company to the next phase towards developing a fully integrated R&D and commercial biopharmaceutical corporation advancing first-in-class precision tumor-targeted therapies."

About ASP-1929

ASP-1929, a conjugate of cetuximab and IRDye 700DX, targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a cancer antigen expressed in multiple types of solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, esophagus, lung, colon, pancreas and other cancers. This first-in-class therapy targets cancer cells, after which it is locally activated with red light using a proprietary investigational laser and fiber optics. The local activation of the tumor-selective conjugate targets the tumor but not surrounding normal tissues and structures.

Interim results of the Phase 1/2 trial in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma showed a clinically meaningful improvement in the overall response rate, and potential improvements in progression free survival and overall survival when compared to historical data for the standard of care treatments currently available to this patient population. Top line results of the Phase 1/2 trial are expected later this year.

ASP-1929 is an investigational compound that is not approved for any use in any country.

On August 23, 2018 Novartis reported the global Phase III SOLAR-1 trial evaluating the investigational alpha-specific PI3K inhibitor BYL719 (alpelisib) has met the primary endpoint showing an improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) (Press release, Novartis, AUG 23, 2018, View Source [SID1234529033]). SOLAR-1 is evaluating BYL719 in combination with fulvestrant compared to fulvestrant alone in postmenopausal women and men with hormone-receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative (HR+/HER2-) PIK3CA-mutant advanced or metastatic breast cancer that progressed on or following aromatase inhibitor treatment with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor[1].

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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

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"BYL719 is the only alpha-specific PI3K inhibitor and the first one to show potential increased benefit and acceptable tolerability for patients," said Samit Hirawat, MD, Head, Novartis Oncology Global Drug Development. "We are encouraged by the results observed in the SOLAR-1 study and look forward to submitting the data to an upcoming medical congress and starting discussions with health authorities worldwide."

Currently, there are no approved PI3K inhibitors for HR+ advanced breast cancer. The PI3K pathway plays an important role in regulating cell processes and is the most frequently altered pathway promoting tumor growth, disease progression and treatment resistance in HR+ advanced breast cancer[4],[5].

Adverse events observed with investigational BYL719 in combination with fulvestrant in SOLAR-1 were generally consistent with those observed in previous BYL719 and fulvestrant studies[1]. The SOLAR-1 trial will continue to assess data for secondary endpoints. Novartis will begin discussions with global health authorities based on these results.

About PI3K inhibition in advanced breast cancer
Studies have established the role of PI3K signaling in several processes critical for cancer progression, including cell metabolism, growth, survival and motility[9]. Activation of the PI3K pathway in breast cancer is associated with resistance to endocrine therapy, disease progression and poorer prognosis[4],[6].

Proteins in the PI3K pathway consist of four smaller parts called isoforms[7]. Approximately 40% of HR+ advanced breast cancer patients have genetic mutations that activate the alpha isoform, called PIK3CA mutations[2]. Mutations in the three other isoforms are typically not associated with advanced breast cancer[7].

About SOLAR-1
SOLAR-1 is a global, Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studying investigational BYL719 in combination with fulvestrant for postmenopausal women and men with PIK3CA-mutated HR+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer that progressed on or following prior aromatase inhibitor treatment with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor[10].

The trial randomized 572 patients in a 1:1 ratio to receive continuous oral treatment with BYL719 300mg or placebo once daily in combination with fulvestrant 500mg intramuscular injections on days 1 and 15 on the first cycle and day 1 of each subsequent 28-day cycle as per fulvestrant prescribing information. Patients were allocated based on tumor tissue assessment to either a PIK3CA-mutant cohort or a PIK3CA non-mutant cohort. Stratification was based on visceral metastases and prior CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment[10].

The primary endpoint is PFS for patients with the PIK3CA mutation. Secondary endpoints include but are not limited to: overall survival, overall response rate, clinical benefit rate, health-related quality of life, efficacy in PIK3CA non-mutant cohort, safety and tolerability[10].

About BYL719 (alpelisib)
BYL719 is an investigational, orally bioavailable, alpha-specific PI3K inhibitor. In breast cancer cell lines harboring PIK3CA mutations, BYL719 has been shown to potentially inhibit the PI3K pathway and have antiproliferative effects. In addition, cancer cell lines with PIK3CA mutations were more sensitive to BYL719 than those without the mutation across a broad range of different cancers[11].

On August 23, 2018 GlobeNewswire /Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American:PLX, TASE:PLX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx, reported that the Company will present at the 20th Annual Rodman & Renshaw Global Investment Conference, sponsored by H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (Press release, Protalix, AUG 23, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2364579 [SID1234529053]). The conference is being held on September 4-6, 2018 at the St. Regis New York Hotel in New York City.

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. Moshe Manor, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, will provide a corporate overview on Wednesday, September 5 at 2:10 pm ET and will be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with investors who are registered to attend the conference.

If you are an institutional investor, and would like to attend the Company’s presentation, please click on the following link (www.rodmanevents.com) to register for the conference. Once your registration is confirmed, you will be prompted to log into the conference website to request a one-on-one meeting with the Company.

A live and archived webcast of the presentation will be available at www.protalix.com, on the event calendar page.