On November 15, 2017 Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) reported that it will webcast a management presentation at the 29th Annual Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference at 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 (Press release, Regeneron, NOV 15, 2017, View Source [SID1234522097]).

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The session may be accessed through the Company’s web site, www.regeneron.com, on the ‘Events and Presentations’ page. An archived version of the presentation will be available for 30 days.

On November 15, 2017 Pharma reported the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial for its novel immune-modulator, PIN-2 (Press release, PIN Pharma, NOV 15, 2017, View Source [SID1234522102]).

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This first-in-human, proof-of-concept study is being conducted in oncology patients with solid tumors by PIN Pharma’s wholly owned Australian subsidiary, PIN Pharma Pty Ltd. The study is designed to show changes in the human immune system utilizing specific biomarkers that will both demonstrate and support PIN-2’s ability to link the innate and adaptive immune systems via antigen presenting cell activation (monocyte-derived dendritic cells) resulting in the generation of endogenous killer T cell immunity (CD8 cells).

"This study is supported by physiological and immunological data generated in our preclinical studies as well as in silico. We are confident that the study will confirm PIN-2’s mechanism of action and validate our preclinical models," said Colin Bier, President and CEO. "We anticipate having interim data by the upcoming JP Morgan conference this January, and are already seeing interest from pharma and venture funds to discuss the potential of this next generation immune-oncology therapy."

With the recent issues arising out of the current generation of immune-oncology compounds both in the clinic and on the market, PIN-2 has the potential to improve response rates that will allow better safety and tolerability either alone or in combination with existing treatments by enhancing innate immunity.

On November 15, 2017 Arvinas LLC, a private biotechnology company creating a new class of drugs based on protein degradation, reported it has expanded its ongoing license agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, for the development of new therapeutics using Arvinas’ novel PROTAC technology (Press release, Arvinas, NOV 15, 2017, View Source [SID1234558785]). The multi-year strategic license agreement, initiated in October 2015, will encompass additional disease targets and expand the collaboration.

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Under the revised terms of the agreement, Arvinas is eligible to receive development and commercialization milestone payments in excess of $650 million based on achievement of certain predetermined milestones. In addition, Arvinas is eligible to receive tiered-royalties on sales of products resulting from the license agreement. Full financial terms have not been disclosed.

"Genentech’s decision to expand our original agreement to include additional disease targets shows the promise seen in our first two years together and further supports our targeted protein degradation platform as a novel drug modality to treat a broad array of diseases," said John Houston, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Arvinas. "This expansion also supports our initial decision to work with Genentech in 2015 and we look forward to this growing collaboration."

The PROTAC Platform offers potential improvements over traditional small molecule inhibitors using the ubiquitin and proteasome system within a cell to degrade disease causing proteins. By removing target proteins directly rather than inhibiting them, PROTACs can provide multiple advantages over small molecule inhibitors, which can require high systemic exposure to achieve sufficient inhibition, often resulting in toxic side effects and eventual drug resistance.

On November 15, 2017 Prima BioMed Ltd (ASX: PRR; NASDAQ: PBMD) ("Prima") reported that it held a Pre-Investigational New Drug Application (pre-IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November to discuss the regulatory pathway for the development of Eftilagimod Alpha (LAG-3Ig or IMP 321) in the United States (Press release, Prima Biomed, NOV 15, 2017, View Source [SID1234522106]).

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The FDA addressed Prima’s questions related to preclinical, nonclinical, and clinical data and design of clinical trials of Eftilagimod Alpha in a chemo-immunotherapy setting and in an immuno-oncology combination trial. Prima intends to file an investigational new drug application (IND) in the first half of calendar year 2018. After having successfully started clinical development of Eftilagimod Alpha in Australia and Europe, an IND would provide Prima with the opportunity to commence clinical studies and regulatory interactions in the United States.
"The U.S. is the largest pharmaceutical market in the world, so the pre-IND meeting regarding Eftilagimod Alpha was an important milestone. Our meeting with the FDA was very productive and their guidance will be most valuable in assessing the appropriate U.S. clinical and regulatory strategies for Eftilagimod Alpha," said Marc Voigt, Prima’s Chief Executive Officer.

On November 15, 2017 LabCorp (NYSE: LH) a leading global life sciences company, reported the U.S. availability of the PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx assay as a complementary diagnostic for two newly approved indications in connection with the use of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s OPDIVO (nivolumab) to treat patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma, also referred to as bladder cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (Press release, LabCorp, NOV 15, 2017, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2317135 [SID1234522109]). The PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx assay was developed by Agilent’s Dako pathology division. While OPDIVO is approved for these indications without use of the test, the test provides physicians with important information about those patients who are most likely to respond positively to OPDIVO. LabCorp’s Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology laboratory performed testing for the clinical studies that supported approval of the new indications for the assay.

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The PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx assay was previously approved for use as a complementary diagnostic with OPDIVO to treat certain patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma. LabCorp’s central clinical trials laboratory was the sole provider of testing to support the clinical trial for the 2015 approval of the non-squamous NSCLC treatment indication, reflecting how the combined capabilities of LabCorp’s clinical laboratory infrastructure and Covance’s central clinical trials laboratory provide integrated support for clinical trials.

"The expanded use of this PD-L1 test as a complementary diagnostic for two new cancer indications, as well as our collaboration in the studies that supported regulatory approval, demonstrate the unique solutions that only LabCorp can provide for the development and commercialization of new tests and therapies, particularly complementary and companion diagnostics," said David P. King, chairman and chief executive officer of LabCorp. "The combined expertise of LabCorp Diagnostics and Covance Drug Development makes us the industry leader in precision medicine, including the exciting area of immuno-oncology. With our extensive experience performing this test, physicians can have high confidence that the results we deliver will help them identify the most appropriate treatment for their patients and will improve the delivery of care."

The PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx assay is approved for use with patients diagnosed with advanced or metastatic bladder cancer, or recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, whose cancers have returned or progressed after prior treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. OPDIVO is an immunotherapy that helps the immune systems of certain individuals detect and kill cancer cells. The PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx assay identifies a tumor’s expression of the PD-L1 protein, which may be associated with an increased likelihood of positive immune system response to treatment with OPDIVO; however, OPDIVO is approved for use regardless of PD-L1 status.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is the most common form of head and neck cancer, and urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer, accounting for approximately 90 percent of diagnoses. These cancers are often difficult to treat using traditional therapies, and immunotherapies like OPDIVO offer the hope of enhanced survival for appropriate patients.

The PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx assay is available from LabCorp and its Integrated Oncology specialty laboratory.

OPDIVO is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.