On October 1, 2018 Exicure, Inc. (OTCQB:XCUR), the pioneer in gene regulatory and immunotherapeutic drugs utilizing three-dimensional, spherical nucleic acid (SNA) constructs, repoted its presented data in a poster session on Sunday, September 30 at the 4th CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival in New York, New York (Press release, Exicure, OCT 1, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2369523 [SID1234529700]).

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The poster titled "AST-008, a novel TLR9 agonist SNA, induces abscopal antitumor effects in mouse tumor models" supports the ongoing clinical development of the Company’s proprietary SNA technology and highlights new data showing the effects of Exicure’s technology on mouse tumor models through a systemic immune response.

These data presented in the poster session show that both subcutaneous and intra-tumoral administration of AST-008 into one tumor lesion in the mouse model leads to systemic antitumor activity at a distant, un-injected tumor.

"These new data, along with data from other pre-clinical tumor model studies in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody, and our recently completed Phase 1 trial support the continued advancement of Exicure’s drug candidate AST-008," said Dr. David Giljohann, Chief Executive Officer of Exicure. "We intend to launch our Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor in Q4 of 2018."

On October 1, 2018 TESARO, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSRO), an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company, reported that data from a total of five abstracts will be presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting from November 7-11, 2018 in Washington, D.C (Press release, TESARO, OCT 1, 2018, View Source [SID1234529719]).

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"At this year’s SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, we are excited that several abstracts will be presented highlighting data from our rapidly advancing immuno-oncology portfolio, including an oral presentation of the first clinical data of TSR-022, our anti-TIM-3 antibody, in combination with TSR-042, our anti-PD-1 antibody," said Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., President and COO of TESARO. "In addition, data from the GARNET trial of TSR-042 in recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients will be featured in a poster presentation. TSR-042 is the foundation of our lung cancer strategy and provides a strategic advantage for TESARO in further developing niraparib, TSR-022, and TSR-033, our anti-LAG-3 antibody."

Please plan to visit TESARO at Booth #333 for information about our pipeline.

Details of TESARO’s oral and poster presentations are as follows (all times local):

TSR-022 (anti-TIM-3)
A phase 1 study of TSR-022, an anti-TIM-3 monoclonal antibody, in combination with TSR-042 (anti-PD-1) in patients with colorectal cancer and post-PD-1 NSCLC and melanoma (AMBER)
Oral presentation; Abstract: 10877; Session: Friday, November 9, 2018, 2:15 PM – 4:50 PM
Poster Number: O21; Location: Hall E, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Triple checkpoint blockade targeting PD-1, TIM-3, and LAG-3 improves T cell reinvigoration and antitumor efficacy over single and double combinations
Poster Number: P365; Abstract: 10823; Location: Hall E, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

The antitumor efficacy of TIM-3 blockade in a murine model of sarcoma
Poster Number: P677; Abstract: 10720; Location: Hall E, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

TSR-042 (anti-PD-1)
GARNET: Preliminary safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetic, and biomarker characterization from a Phase 1 clinical trial of TSR-042 (anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody) in patients with recurrent/advanced NSCLC
Poster Number: P326; Abstract: 10853; Location: Hall E, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

TSR-033 (anti-LAG-3)
A phase 1 dose escalation study of TSR-033, an anti-LAG-3 monoclonal antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors (CITRINO)
Poster Number: P325; Abstract: 10332; Location: Hall E, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

About TSR-042, TSR-022, and TSR-033

TSR-042 is an investigational humanized anti-programmed death (PD)-1 monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to the PD-1 receptor and effectively blocks its interaction with the ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2. TSR-042 is the only anti-PD-1 therapy being studied as monotherapy every 3 weeks for 4 doses then every 6 weeks thereafter. TSR-042 was developed as part of the collaboration between TESARO and AnaptysBio, Inc. This collaboration was initiated in March of 2014, and is focused on the development of monospecific antibody drugs targeting PD-1, TIM-3 (TSR-022), and LAG-3 (TSR-033), in addition to a bi-specific antibody drug candidate targeting PD-1/LAG-3 (TSR-075).

On October 1, 2018 Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:KERX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing innovative medicines to people with kidney disease, reported that it will participate in the Ladenburg Thalmann 2018 Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 in New York (Press release, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, OCT 1, 2018, View Source/news-releases/news-release-details/keryx-biopharmaceuticals-announces-participation-upcoming-2" target="_blank" title="View Source/news-releases/news-release-details/keryx-biopharmaceuticals-announces-participation-upcoming-2" rel="nofollow">View Source [SID1234529682]).

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At the conference, Keryx will be participating in a 25 minute panel discussion titled Renal Anemia on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time at the Sofitel New York in New York City.

A live audio webcast of both the panel discussion will be accessible from Keryx’s website at View Source within the Investor Relations section under "events and presentations." An archived version of the webcast will be available for at least 15 days following the conclusion of the panel discussion.

On October 1, 2018 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, reported that it will release its financial results for the third quarter before the market opens on Wednesday, October 24, 2018, and will hold a conference call on the same day at 8:30 a.m. EDT (Press release, Thermo Fisher Scientific, OCT 1, 2018, View Source [SID1234529720]).

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During the call, the company will discuss its third quarter financial performance, as well as future expectations. To listen, call (844) 579-6824 within the U.S. or (763) 488-9145 outside the U.S. You may also listen to the call live on the "Investors" section of our website, www.thermofisher.com. The earnings press release and related information can be found in that section of our website under "Financial Results." The webcast will be available under "Webcasts and Presentations" through Friday, November 9, 2018.

On September 30, 2018 Tocagen Inc. (Nasdaq: TOCA), a clinical-stage, cancer-selective gene therapy company, today is presenting data describing the tumor microenvironment and immunogenicity of Toca 511 (vocimagene amiretrorepvec) & Toca FC (flucytosine, extended-release) in patients with solid tumor malignancies at the International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference (CIMT) (Free CIMT Whitepaper) hosted by The Cancer Research Institute (CRI), the Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT) (Free CIMT Whitepaper), the European Academy of Tumor Immunology (EATI), and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) in New York City (Press release, Tocagen, SEP 30, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2369481 [SID1234529699]). The lead author is Jaime Merchan, M.D., director, Phase 1 clinical trials program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center; associate professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

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The poster describes data available as of August 31st for 20 patients with advanced solid tumors, including colorectal, sarcoma, pancreas and non-small cell lung cancer, treated with intravenous Toca 511 followed by oral Toca FC in the Phase 1b Toca 6 clinical trial. Among these patients, 15 also received Toca 511 via intratumoral administration.

In this preliminary analysis of immune activation in patients with advanced solid tumors, analysis of peripheral blood shows immune cell modulation that is consistent with what has been observed in preclinical studies and in patients with recurrent high grade glioma treated with Toca 511 & Toca FC in previous clinical trials. In addition, available tumor samples from three patients show Toca 511 infected both "hot" (T cells present) and "cold" (T cells low or absent) areas of metastatic tumor, suggesting Toca 511 can penetrate multiple tumor microenvironments. Toca 511 & Toca FC treatment was well tolerated.

"The encouraging preliminary immune activity data from the Toca 6 trial continue to support the proposed mechanism of action for Toca 511 & Toca FC and its potentbiial in the treatment of multiple cancers," said Asha Das, M.D., chief medical officer of Tocagen. "We look forward to advancing expansion opportunities for our lead product in patients with solid tumors."

CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR Abstract/Poster Number: A018
Abstract Title: Effects of Toca 511 & Toca FC on tumor microenvironment and peripheral blood populations in patients with advanced malignancies
Date: Sunday, September 30, 2018
Time: 11:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. ET
The poster is available on Tocagen’s website.

About Toca 6
Toca 6 is a multi-center, open-label Phase 1b study evaluating Toca 511 & Toca FC in patients with advanced solid tumors. The study will evaluate the safety and presence of Toca 511 genes in tumors of patients with widely disseminated disease, immunologic activity in blood and tumor, and clinical activity such as tumor response and clinical benefit. More information can be found at www.tocagen.com/toca6 or by searching clinicaltrials.gov using the clinical trial identifier NCT02576665.

About Toca 511 & Toca FC
Tocagen’s lead product candidate is a two-part cancer-selective immunotherapy comprising an investigational biologic, Toca 511, and an investigational small molecule, Toca FC. Toca 511 is a retroviral replicating vector (RRV) that selectively infects cancer cells and delivers a gene for the enzyme, cytosine deaminase (CD). Through this targeted delivery, only infected cancer cells carry the CD gene and produce CD. Toca FC is an orally administered prodrug, 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), which is converted into an anti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), when it encounters CD. 5-FU kills cancer cells and immune-suppressive myeloid cells resulting in anti-cancer immune activation and subsequent tumor killing.