On November 13, 2018 Novocure (NASDAQ: NVCR) reported more than 70 presentations on Tumor Treating Fields, including five oral presentations, reported that it will be featured at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) on Nov. 15 through Nov. 19 in New Orleans. External authors prepared more than 50 of the presentations, pointing to a growing interest in Novocure’s proprietary Tumor Treating Fields platform. Presentations span 21 research areas with more than 5 percent of all conference abstracts at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology discussing Tumor Treating Fields.

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Novocure announces more than 70 presentations on Tumor Treating Fields at 23rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology

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"We are pleased to have a record number of presentations on Novocure’s proprietary platform featured this year at SNO’s Annual Meeting," said Dr. Eilon Kirson, Novocure’s Chief Science Officer and Head of Research and Development. "Presentations cover a broad range of topics from cell biology, radiation therapy and immunology to clinical trials and patient care, which we believe point to a growing and diversifying interest in Tumor Treating Fields from clinicians and researchers around the world. We are excited to engage the oncology community at SNO and to continue collaborating to realize the full potential of Tumor Treating Fields."

New clinical data from investigator sponsored pilot trials will be shared studying Tumor Treating Fields in progressive pediatric gliomas, Tumor Treating Fields prior to and with radiation for newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM),Tumor Treating Fields in combination with a personalized mutation-derived tumor vaccine for newly diagnosed GBM, and targeted skull remodeling surgery to maximize Tumor Treating Fields intensity for recurrent GBM.

Post-hoc analyses of Novocure’s EF-14 phase 3 pivotal trial in newly diagnosed GBM will highlight improved patient outcomes associated with higher delivered doses of Tumor Treating Fields, the potential combination of Tumor Treating Fields with lomustine and the absence of a negative impact on health-related quality of life in the EORTC QLQ-C30 and BN20 scales when Tumor Treating Fields was added to temozolomide.

Preclinical data will highlight the potential role of Tumor Treating Fields as an activator of the immune system, supporting further investigation into the combination of Tumor Treating Fields and immunotherapy. Other abstracts will include insights on the relative response to Tumor Treating Fields across certain cell lines, the potential for novel array layouts to improve efficacy of Tumor Treating Fields, the potential effect of Tumor Treating Fields on blood brain barrier permeability and the potential synergistic effect of Tumor Treating Fields in combination with PARP inhibitors.

Health economics and outcomes research data will discuss the cost effectiveness of Tumor Treating Fields across multiple populations and assessment frameworks.

Abstracts on Tumor Treating Fields can be viewed online and include the following:

Oral presentations

(HOUT-16) The cost effectiveness of Tumor Treating Fields treatment for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma based on the EF-14 trial. G. Guzauskas. 5:00 to 5:04 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17. (E-talks group 3: Health outcomes / neurological complications of cancer and cancer therapy / quality of life / radiotherapy / surgical therapy / CNS metastases)

(ACTR-46) Higher doses of TTFields in the tumor are associated with improved patient outcome. M. Ballo. 5:32 to 5:36 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17. (E-talks group 1: Adult therapeutics / immunology)

(ACTR-43) Open-label phase 1 clinical trial testing personalized and targeted skull remodeling surgery to maximize TTFields intensity for recurrent glioblastoma – Interim analysis and safety assessment. A. Korshoej. 9:40 to 9:45 a.m. CST Sunday, Nov. 18. (Concurrent session 7A: Adult clinical trials II)

(HOUT-18) Cost effectiveness of treating glioblastoma patients age 65 years or older with Tumor Treating Fields plus temozolomide versus temozolomide alone. G. Guzauskas. 10:30 to 10:40 a.m. CST Sunday, Nov. 18. (Concurrent session 8B: Practical & applied neuro-oncology II)

(IMMU-71) Evaluating the compatibility of tumor treating electric fields with key anti-tumoral T cell functions. G. Diamant. 11:50 to 11:55 a.m. CST Sunday, Nov. 18. (Concurrent session 8C: Immunology – Preclinical and clinical II)

Poster presentations: Adult clinical trials – Non-immunologic

(ACTR-01) Safety Analyses of Tumor Treating Fields in Combination with Lomustine in the EF14 Phase 3 Clinical Study. A. Kinzel. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(ACTR-49) Pricottf: A Phase I/II Trial of Tumor Treating Fields Prior and Concomitant to Radiotherapy in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma. M. Glas. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentation: Angiogenesis

(ANGI-11) Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Inhibit Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion by Inducing Reorganization of the Actin Cytoskeleton and Formation of Cell Adhesions. M. Giladi. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentations: Adult clinical trials – Immunologic

(ATIM-02) Tumor Treating Fields in Combination with Bevacizumab in Recurrent or Progressive Meningioma in a Phase 2 Study. P. Kumthekar. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(ATIM-03) TTFields and Pulsed Bevacizumab in Patients with Bevacizumab-refractory Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Phase 2 Study. D. Tran. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(ATIM-31) Phase I Study of Tumor Treatment Fields and a Personalized Mutation-derived Tumor Vaccine in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma. A. Hormigo. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentations: Cell biology and metabolism

(CBMT-03) A Novel Metabolic PET Tracer Strategy to Determine Early Effects of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields). C. Patel. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(CBMT-29) Induction of Autophagy Following TTFields Application Serves as a Survival Mechanism Mediated by AMPK Activation. M. Giladi. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentations: Computational omics

(COMP-15) Meta-analysis of Cancer Cell Lines Based on Their Response to Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields). M. Giladi. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(COMP-19) Water-content Based Electric Property Tomography (wEPT) for Modelling Delivery of Tumor Treating Fields to the Brain. Z. Bomzon. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentation: Drug resistance

(DRES-11) A Systems Approach for Determining the Mechanism of Resistance to Tumor Treating Fields in Glioblastoma. D. Chen. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentations: Experimental therapies

(EXTH-01) Modeling the Safety of Topical Agents for Skin Toxicity Associated with Tumor Treating Fields Therapy in Glioblastoma. M. Lacouture. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(EXTH-24) Exposure to Tumor Treating Fields Inhibits DNA Repair, Induces Replication Stress and Renders Tumor Cells Sensitive to Agents That Impinge upon These Pathways. M. Story. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(EXTH-38) A New Computational Method for Comprehensive Estimation of Anti Tumor Efficacy of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields). A. Korshoej. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(EXTH-40) Optimizing Array Layouts for Glioblastoma Therapy with Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields). A. Korshoej. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(EXTH-41) Effects of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) on Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) Permeability. A. Kessler. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(EXTH-62) The Dielectric Properties of Malignant Glioma Tissue. M. Proescholdt. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(EXTH-74) Molecular Mechanisms of Anti-tumor Action of TTFields Determined by Measurements and Modeling of Electro-conductive Properties of Microtubules. J. Tuszynki. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

Poster presentations: Health outcome measures

(HOUT-06) Pattern of low field intensity recurrence in high-grade gliomas following Tumor Treatment Field therapy. R. Briggs. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(HOUT-09) Using the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) and ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Frameworks to Assess the Clinical Value of Tumor Treating Fields for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme. C. Proescholdt. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(HOUT-17) Elderly Patients >65 years of Age with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme Gain Life Time from Treatment with Tumor Treating Fields and Temozolomide. G. Guzauskas. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(HOUT-25) Adherence to Tumor Treating Fields in Patients with High-grade Glioma – A Single Center Experience. A. Kessler. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(HOUT-26) Survival Outcomes in Glioblastoma Patients Using TTFields: The Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Central Texas Experience. A. Padhye. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(HOUT-27) The Challenge of Health Utility Values for Glioblastoma Patients with Long-term Survival. C. Proescholdt. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(HOUT-28) Clinical Experience with Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields, Optune) in Israel – Patient Acceptance and Safety. T. Siegal. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(HOUT-30) Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in Combination with Lomustine (CCNU) and Temozolomide (TMZ) in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma (GBM). M. Glas. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(HOUT-31) Care patterns and treatment efficacy: A clinical series of primary glioblastoma with an emphasis on older adults. M. Hultman. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(HOUT-36) Institutional Compliance with Tumor Treating Fields for Glioblastoma. R. Bonomi. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

Poster presentations: Immunology

(IMMU-42) TTFields Induces Immunogenic Cell Death and STING Pathway Activation Through Cytoplasmic Double-stranded DNA in GBM. D. Chen. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(IMMU-52) Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Induce Immunogenic Cell Death Resulting in Enhanced Antitumor Efficacy When Combined with anti-pd-1 Therapy. T. Voloshin. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(IMMU-53) Impact of Tumor-treating Fields (TTFields) on the Immunogenicity of Glioma Cells. M. Silginer. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentations: Innovations in patient care

(INNV-01) PROTECT Study: PRO Phylactic Skin Toxicity Therapy with Clindamycin and Clobetasol or Skin Barrier in Glioblastoma Patients Treated with Tumor Treating Fields. M. Lacouture. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(INNV-03) Safety and Adverse Event Profile of Tumor Treating Fields Use in the EMEA Region – a Real-world Data Analysis. M. Glas. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(INNV-04) Safety and Adverse Event Profile of Tumor Treating Fields in Glioblastoma – a Global Post-market Surveillance Analysis. U. Weinberg. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(INNV-17) Tumour Treating Fields: Acceptable to a UK Population? M. Jenkinson. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(INNV-23) Safety and Adverse Event Profile of Tumor Treating Fields in Elderly Patients – a Post-market Surveillance Analysis. W. Shi. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(INNV-24) Safety of Tumor Treating Fields in Glioblastoma Patients with Implanted Non-programmable and Programmable Shunts, and Pacemakers/defibrillators. Y. Kew. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(INNV-29) Experience with TTFields (Optune) in Pediatric High Grade Glioma Patients in Israel. M. Yalon. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(INNV-30) Tumor Treating Fields and Radiotherapy for Newly Diagnosed glioblastoma: Safety and Efficacy Results from a Pilot Study. R. Grossman. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(INNV-31) User Experience with New, Aesthetically Improved Transducer Arrays for Delivery of Tumor Treating Fields for Glioblastoma. A. Kinzel. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(INNV-48) Tumor Treating Fields Utilization in a Glioblastoma Patient with a Preexisting Cardiac Pacemaker: The First Reported Case. S. McClelland. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

Poster presentation: Neurological complications of cancer and cancer therapy

(NCMP-21) Real-world Surveillance Data for Tumor Treating Fields Affirm the Tolerability of Tumor Treating Fields for the Treatment of Glioblastoma in the United States. D. Tran. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentation: Neuro-cognitive outcomes

(NCOG-06) Predicting Tumor Treating Field Compliance Using Neurocognitive Testing. K. Qualls. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

Poster presentations: Neuro-imaging

(NIMG-04) Diffusion Restriction on MR Imaging in the T2 Hyperintense, but Otherwise Normal-appearing White Matter of Glioblastoma Patients Treated with TTFields Correlates with Survival. J. Vymazal. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(NIMG-34) The Impact of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) on Brain Anatomy Using Computational Anatomy Analysis. A. Hottinger. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(NIMG-48) Volumetric Response to TTFields in Newly Diagnosed GBM. C. Freyschlag. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(NIMG-49) Electric Field Intensities Delivered by Tumor-treating Fields (TTFields) to Glioblastoma Regions: Effect on Treatment Response Assessed by Amino Acid PET. C. Juhasz. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(NIMG-72) A Novel Array Layout for Delivering TTFields to the Whole Brain. Z. Bomzon. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

Poster presentation: Molecular pathology and classification – Adult and pediatric

(PATH-27) Identifying the Genetic Signature of Response in a Phase II Study of Tumor Treating Fields in Recurrent Glioblastoma. D. Tran. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentations: Pediatric clinical trials

(PDCT-07) Feasibility Trial of Optune for Children with Recurrent or Progressive Supratentorial High-grade Glioma and Ependymoma: A Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium Study. E. Hwang. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(PDCT-11) Surveillance Data Demonstrates the Tolerability of Tumor Treating Fields in Pediatric Glioma Patients. D. Hanson. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(PDCT-12) A Phase I Trial of Tumor Treating Fields with and Without Concomitant Temozolomide and Bevacizumab in Pediatric Patients with High-grade Glioma and Ependymoma. D. Hanzon. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

Poster presentation: Pediatric tumors

(PDTM-19) Tumour Treating Fields (TTFields) Exhibit Efficacy on High-grade Paediatric Brain Tumour Cell Lines. J. Branter. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentations: Quality of life and palliative care

(QOLP-01) Effects of Tumor Treating Fields on Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: An Exploratory Analysis of the EF-14 Randomized Phase III Trial. T. Walbert. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(QOLP-15) Safety and Adverse Event Profile of Tumor Treating Fields in Anaplastic Glioma – a Post-marketing Surveillance Analysis. D. Bota. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentation: Randomized brain tumor trials in development

(RBTT-05) Tumor Treating Fields and Radiosurgery for Supra- and/or Infratentorial Brain Metastases (1-10) from NSCLC in the Phase 3 METIS Study. M. Mehta. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentations: Radiation biology and DNA repair

(RDNA-02) Tumor Treating Fields Differentially Alter Homologous Recombination in Patient Derived Glioma Cells versus Established Lines. L. Bronk. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(RDNA-07) idh1-mutant Glioblastoma (GBM) Cells from a Patient Post-tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Therapy Are Sensitive to TTFields in vitro. S. Mittal. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(RDNA-10) Histopathological and Genomic Characterization of Glioblastoma (GBM) Resected After Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Therapy. S. Michelhaugh. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(RDNA-17) Power Density Loss Can Be Used to Defined Tumor Treating Fields Dose. Z. Bomzon. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

Poster presentations: Radiation therapy

(RTHP-12) Comparative Analysis of Tumor Treating Fields Using Conventional versus Alternative Array Placement for Posterior Fossa Glioblastoma. E. Wong. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(RTHP-13) Tumor-treating Fields Therapy Is Compatible with Standard Chemoradiotherapy for Glioblastoma. L. Kleinberg. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. CST Friday, Nov. 16.

(RTHP-14) Tumor-treating Fields for Glioblastoma: Numerical Simulation Explores Sub-cellular Mechanisms. K. Carlson. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

Poster presentations: Tumor microenvironment

(TMIC-10) Autopsy Study on the Effects of Tumor Treatment Fields in Recurrent Glioblastoma: Preliminary Results. A. Barrington. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

(TMIC-38) Enhanced Efficacy of Tumor Treating Fields and Aurora B Kinase Inhibitor Combination in Glioma Cell Lines. M. Giladi. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST Saturday, Nov. 17.

On November 13, 2018 Sophiris Bio Inc. (NASDAQ: SPHS) (the "Company" or "Sophiris"), a biopharmaceutical company studying topsalysin (PRX302), a first-in-class, pore-forming protein, in late-stage clinical trials for the treatment of patients with urological diseases, reported financial results for the third quarter 2018 and recent corporate highlights (Press release, Sophiris Bio, NOV 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234531295]).

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"During the third quarter, we reported top-line six-month biopsy data from two additional patients following a single administration of topsalysin in our ongoing Phase 2b clinical trial in low to intermediate risk localized prostate cancer," said Randall E. Woods, president and CEO of Sophiris. "Both patients were considered partial responders, bringing the total number of patients with a partial response to 15 out of the 37. We continue to believe that the data obtained to date from the single administration of topsalysin supports advancing topsalysin into a single Phase 3 trial for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. We remain on track to report data by the end of next month from patients who received a second administration of topsalysin as part of our Phase 2b trial. Finally, we are preparing for Phase 3 guidance meetings with regulatory agencies. We expect these meetings to take place in the first half of 2019, after which we will provide an update on our Phase 3 trial design."

Third Quarter Corporate Highlights:

Updates from Phase 2b trial in localized prostate cancer. In the third quarter, Sophiris reported top-line six-month follow-up biopsy data from the final two patients enrolled in the trial with pre-identified, clinically-significant localized prostate cancer that were treated with a single administration of topsalysin.

Based on the six-month follow-up biopsy results, 27% of patients (10/37) demonstrated a clinical response. Of the 10 clinical responders in the Phase 2b trial, six patients experienced a complete ablation with no histological evidence of the targeted tumor remaining. In addition, 41% of patients (15/37) were considered partial responders, meaning that while an effect was seen, some clinically-significant lesion remained as identified by targeted biopsy. 68% of patients (25/37) demonstrated a partial or clinical response to the single administration of topsalysin.

The Phase 2b study was designed to include an option for qualified patients to receive a second administration of topsalysin six-months after the first administration, provided: (1) the patient did not have any clinically-significant adverse events to either topsalysin or the dosing procedure and (2) some response to the first administration was observed following a targeted biopsy. The objective of re-administering topsalysin is to assess the safety of giving a second administration of topsalysin and to determine if additional clinical benefit is observed six-months after the second administration.

The Company expects to have six-month follow-up safety and biopsy data from patients who received a second administration of topsalysin in its ongoing Phase 2b trial in localized prostate cancer patients next month.

Preparations for Phase 3 trial in localized prostate cancer. The Company believes that the data generated in the single-administration portion of the Phase 2b prostate cancer study supports the advancement of the program into a single Phase 3 pivotal trial. Currently, the Company is in the process of preparing information for regulatory guidance meetings with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency which are expected to take place in the first half of 2019, after which the Company will provide an update on the Phase 3 trial design. The Company will evaluate whether future clinical development will include an option to administer a second dose of topsalysin once the Company receives more information from the 10 patients who have received a second dose.

Interest only period extended under loan and security agreement. In September the Company announced that it had met the requirements within its existing loan and security agreement with Silicon Valley Bank to extend the interest only period to March 31, 2019. The Company will begin making interest and principal payments starting on April 1, 2019 and ending on the final payment date of September 1, 2021.

Financial Results:

At September 30, 2018, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale of $14.5 million and working capital of $11.7 million. The Company expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its operations through June 2019, assuming no new clinical trials are initiated. The Company will require significant additional funding to advance topsalysin in clinical development. As of September 30, 2018, the outstanding principal balance of the Company’s term loan was $7 million on which the Company is currently making monthly interest only payments.

For the three months ended September 30, 2018

The Company reported a net loss of $2.9 million or ($0.10) per share for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to net loss of $2.7 million or ($0.09) per share for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses were $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The increase in research and development costs is primarily attributable to increases in the costs associated with manufacturing activities for topsalysin offset in part by a decrease in clinical costs associated with its Phase 2b clinical trial of topsalysin for the treatment of localized prostate cancer.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses were $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The decrease in general and administrative expense is primarily due to decreases in marketing research activities and to a lesser extent a decrease in personnel related expenses.

Gain on revaluation of the warrant liability

Gain on revaluation of the warrant liability was $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to a gain of $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. As these warrants may require the Company to pay the warrant holder cash under certain provisions of the warrant, the Company accounts for these warrants as a liability, and the Company is required to calculate the fair value of these warrants each reporting date. The non-cash gain reported for the three months ended September 30, 2018, is associated with a decrease in the fair value of the Company’s warrant liability from June 30, 2018, to September 30, 2018, which is calculated using a Black-Scholes pricing model. Certain inputs utilized in the Company’s Black-Scholes fair value calculation may fluctuate in future periods based upon factors which are outside of the Company’s control. A significant change in one or more of these inputs used in the calculation of the fair value may cause a significant change to the fair value of the Company’s warrant liability, which could also result in a material non-cash gain or loss being reported in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018

The Company reported a net loss of $12.3 million or ($0.41) per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to a net loss of $4.7 million or ($0.15) per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses were $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $4.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increase in research and development costs is primarily attributable to increases in the costs associated with manufacturing activities for topsalysin.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses were $3.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The decrease in general and administrative expense is primarily due to decreases in non-cash stock-based compensation expense and marketing research activities and to lesser extent a decrease in its personnel related costs.

Gain on revaluation of the warrant liability

Gain on revaluation of the warrant liability was $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to a gain of $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The non-cash gain reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, is associated with a decrease in the fair value of the Company’s warrant liability from December 31, 2017, to September 30, 2018.

On November 12, 2018 Coherus BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS), reported that senior management will be presenting at the 27th Annual Credit Suisse Healthcare Conference being held in Scottsdale, Arizona on Thursday, November 15 at 9:45 am MST (Press release, Coherus Biosciences, NOV 12, 2018, View Source [SID1234531698]).

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The audio portion of the presentation will be available on the investors page of the Coherus BioSciences website at View Source

On November 12, 2018 Ziopharm Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIOP), reported that it has entered into definitive securities purchase agreements for the sale of its common stock and warrants to purchase common stock in a private placement that is expected to result in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $50 million, before deducting placement agent and other offering expenses (Press release, Ziopharm, NOV 12, 2018, View Source [SID1234531224]). The private placement is being led by existing stockholder, MSD Partners, L.P. Other participants include Miller Value Partners, White Rock Capital Management and Level One Partners, LLC.

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Pursuant to the terms of the securities purchase agreement, at the closing of the private placement, Ziopharm will issue and sell 18,939,394 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to 18,939,394 additional shares of common stock at a per unit purchase price of $2.64. The warrants will become exercisable on the date that is six months following the date of issuance, have a per share exercise price of $3.01 and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The private placement is expected to close on or about November 13, 2018, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Additional details regarding the private placement will be included in a Form 8-K filed by Ziopharm with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

Neither the shares of Ziopharm common stock nor the warrants to be issued in the private placement have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Accordingly, these securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Ziopharm has agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC to register the resale of Ziopharm common stock to be issued in the private placement as well as the Ziopharm common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants.

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

On November 12, 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 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an exemption to the Import Alert placed on the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization (CPDC), the sole supplier of the CLR 131 (Press release, Cellectar Biosciences, NOV 12, 2018, View Source [SID1234531227]). The exemption for CLR 131 is effective immediately for all hematology studies and, in response, Cellectar is preparing to dose patients in the second fractionated dose cohort of the Phase 1 relapsed refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma study and the Phase 2 study for R/R hematologic malignancies. The company awaits authorization from the FDA for any future shipments in connection with its Phase 1 study of pediatric patients with neuroblastoma, sarcomas, lymphomas (including Hodgkin’s lymphoma) and malignant brain tumors.

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"We thank the FDA for their diligence and for providing this exemption for CLR 131 hematology studies. Our ability to advance our clinical trials and achieve stated business objectives remains our top priority," said James Caruso, president and CEO of Cellectar Biosciences. "I also want to recognize our team for their outstanding execution in support of a rapid resolution."

In its efforts to obtain an exemption for CLR 131 from the Import Alert in hematology and pediatrics, Cellectar has collaborated with the various divisions within the FDA that oversee the company’s investigational new drug applications evaluating CLR 131 in multiple indications. Cellectar executed a series of actions requested by the FDA to obtain an exemption to the Import Alert for its hematology programs. Similarly, the company continues to work with the appropriate division of the FDA to secure an exemption for the pediatric program.

As background, on August 10, 2018, Cellectar announced that CPDC was informed of an FDA Import Alert that prohibited CPDC from supplying CLR 131. While the Import Alert disrupted CLR 131 supply, the basis of the Import Alert was not related to CLR 131 specifically, or to CPDC’s production facility associated with CLR 131. The company actively supported CPDC’s efforts to have the Import Alert lifted as quickly as possible. The FDA subsequently initiated direct talks with Cellectar concerning a possible exemption for CLR 131 from the Import Alert. Those discussions and subsequent actions resulted in the exemption Cellectar is announcing today.

About CLR 131

CLR 131 is Cellectar’s investigational radioiodinated PDC therapy that exploits the tumor-targeting properties of the company’s proprietary phospholipid ether (PLE) and PLE analogs to selectively deliver radiation to malignant tumor cells, thus minimizing radiation exposure to normal tissues. CLR 131 is in a Phase 2 clinical study in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) and a range of B-cell malignancies, and a Phase 1b clinical study in patients with R/R MM exploring fractionated dosing. The objective of the multicenter, open-label, Phase 1b dose-escalation study is the characterization of safety and tolerability of CLR 131 in patients with R/R MM. Patients in Cohorts 1-4 received single doses of CLR 131 ranging from 12.5 mCi/m2 to 31.25 mCi/m2 as well as a fractionated dose of 15.625 mCi/m2 given twice over seven days in Cohort 5. All study doses and regimens have been deemed safe and well tolerated by an independent Data Monitoring Committee. The company plans to initiate a Phase 1 study with CLR 131 in pediatric solid tumors and lymphoma as well as a second Phase 1 study in combination with external beam radiation for head and neck cancer.