Promising Results: TGR-63 Enhances Memory in Alzheimer’s Mouse Model

IGC Pharma today announced the results of preclinical studies investigating its drug candidate TGR-63 as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The data demonstrated enhanced memory function in an Alzheimer’s mouse model, including improved memory acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval.

TGR-63 is a therapeutic candidate designed to disrupt the structure of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide, mitigating symptoms such as memory loss and disrupted learning ability, signs of cognitive impairment. TGR-63 targets a critical neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s Disease by addressing the misfolding and aggregation of Aβ peptides, specifically the toxic Aβ42 aggregation species associated with neuronal toxicity and cognitive decline. The cognitive impact of TGR-63 was assessed using two renowned behavioral tests, the Novel Object Recognition (“NOR”) Test and the Morris Water Maze (“MWM”), conducted on APP/PS1 genetically modified Alzheimer’s mice.

Ram Mukunda, CEO, commented, “These results underscore the efficacy of TGR-63 in enhancing spatial memory function in an Alzheimer’s disease model, offering promising implications for potential therapeutic interventions in Alzheimer’s and related neurodegenerative conditions. The improvements in memory acquisition, consolidation, spatial memory formation, and retrieval highlight its potential in addressing cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s Disease. We are optimistic about TGR-63’s potential and anticipate advancing it towards a Phase 1 trial, enriching our clinical portfolio.”

The NOR Test, a cornerstone of preclinical research, evaluates recognition memory, a component of declarative memory responsible for recognizing previously encountered stimuli. Widely applicable across neuropharmacology and neurobiology, this test provides crucial insights into memory function and potential interventions for memory-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s. During the NOR Test, Alzheimer’s mice displayed a significantly diminished Discrimination Index (“DI”) compared to normal mice, indicating impaired long-term memory. TGR-63-treated Alzheimer’s mice showed a 51% improvement in DI, signifying promising therapeutic efficacy. After 48 hours, while untreated Alzheimer’s mice experienced a 100% decline in memory, those treated with TGR-63 demonstrated an 86% increase in DI, suggesting robust long-term potentiation (“LTP”) formation and successful memory retrieval.

The Morris Water Maze (“MWM”) is a pivotal tool in cognitive research, offering deep insights into spatial learning and memory processes. In this test, mice are trained to find a hidden platform in a pool over four days. Particularly crucial in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, the MWM allows researchers to explore spatial navigation and memory formation mechanisms. Over four days of training, TGR-63-treated mice exhibited a statistically significant reduction in the time required to locate the hidden platform, reflecting improved spatial memory acquisition. Additionally, when the platform was removed, the untreated AD mice spent 87% of their time away from the target area, while TGR-63-treated mice spent only 66% of their time away. TGR-63-treated mice also spent more time in the target area, showing improved spatial memory retrieval.

IGC Pharma is currently underway with a Phase 2b trial in the United States and Canada evaluating IGC-AD1 for agitation in Alzheimer’s. The trial encompasses 146 patients, with half assigned to the treated group receiving IGC-AD1, while the other half, the control group, receiving a placebo.

About IGC Pharma Inc. (dba IGC):

IGC Pharma is pursuing innovative solutions to fight Alzheimer’s disease and related challenges. IGC Pharma’s portfolio comprises five assets, all with a singular mission – to transform the landscape of Alzheimer’s treatment. IGC-AD1 and LMP target neuroinflammation, Aβ plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. IGC-AD1 is currently in a Phase 2b clinical trial for agitation in dementia due to Alzheimer’s (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05543681). TGR-63 targets Aβ plaque to disrupt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. IGC-M3 targets the inhibition of Aβ plaque aggregation with the potential to create a profound impact on early-stage Alzheimer’s. IGC-1C targets tau and neurofibrillary tangles in a forward-thinking approach to Alzheimer’s therapy. In parallel, IGC Pharma is at the forefront of Generative AI development, with projects including clinical trials, early detection of Alzheimer’s, and drug interactions with cannabinoids.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based largely on IGC Pharma’s expectations and are subject to several risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond IGC Pharma’s control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, the Company’s failure or inability to commercialize one or more of the Company’s products or technologies, including the products or formulations described in this release, or failure to obtain regulatory approval for the products or formulations, where required, or government regulations affecting AI or the AI algorithms not working as intended or producing accurate predictions; general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected; the FDA’s general position regarding cannabis- and hemp-based products; and other factors, many of which are discussed in IGC Pharma’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings. IGC Pharma incorporates by reference the human trial disclosures and Risk Factors identified in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on July 7, 2023, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024, as if fully incorporated and restated herein. Considering these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this release will occur.

Contacts

Investors
IMS Investor Relations

Rosalyn Christian

igc@imsinvestorrelations.com
(203) 972-9200

Media
JVPRNY

Janet Vasquez

jvasquez@jvprny.com
(212) 645-5498

Ocedurenone: A Novel Therapy for Uncontrolled Hypertension in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

EMJ Nephrology interviewed two World-renowned experts in nephrology and cardiology, George Bakris and Faiez Zannad, regarding the challenges of treating uncontrolled hypertension (uHTN) in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), a large unmet need for safe, effective therapies, and the potential of one therapy, Ocedurenone, to address this need.

Original article: EMJ-8.1-2023-1.pdf (emg-health.com)

Large Unmet Need

Patients with advanced CKD have a high burden of disease, compounded by serious comorbidities, most commonly hypertension. Controlling hypertension is vital in these patients to reduce the associated risks of morbidity and mortality, as well as reducing cardiorenal risk, but treatment options are limited due to safety concerns with the use of existing agents.

Current Options

Bakris:”The PATHWAY-2 trial showed that in people with resistant hypertension without advanced CKD, spironolactone produced a greater reduction in blood pressure than a β-blocker and an α-blocker. However, it presents safety risks to patients when administered.”

“Then there is eplerenone, given twice a day, while safe, has a much weaker effect on blood pressure reduction than spironolactone. That’s all we’ve got, so that’s what people use.”

Dr Bakris also mentioned two existing nonsteroidal MRAs, esaxerenone which is “approved exclusively in Japan, for which there are no placebo-controlled comparisons”, and Finerenone which “reduces blood pressure (placebo subtracted) variously from 3 mmHg (ARTS-DN, FIGARO-DKD, and FIDELIO-DKD studies) to approximately 8 mmHg (subset analysis from ARTS-DN study, eGFR of approximately 68, though office blood pressure from the same study showed around 3 mmHg reduction)”.

Future Option – Ocedurenone

Bakris:”Now, Ocedurenone, a non-steroidal MRA, shows clear promise in patients whose standard of care includes two, three, or more drugs. Ocedurenone is the only drug that has consistently steadied resistant hypertension in people with advanced CKD.”

In the first dedicated study of patients with uncontrolled hypertension and advanced CKD (BLOCK-CKD), Ocedurenone demonstrated efficacy in lowering blood pressure, together with a favorable safety profile. The experts were optimistic that it could provide a much-needed treatment option for these patients, with the added potential for reduction in the risk of cardiorenal outcomes.

“This study showed that Ocedurenone reduces SBP by 11 mmHg (placebo-subtracted), a reduction that could lead to potential approval. No other agent to date has steadied blood pressure as well in this group of patients. And the point is that these are the patients who need the most help.”

Zannad reinforced the importance of the hyperkalemia data for the clinical safety of Ocedurenone:”With Ocedurenone, we may for the first time have an MRA that is both safe and efficacious.”

Bakris added:”A Phase 3 study (CLARION-CKD) of Ocedurenone in a similar patient population is ongoing. I remain optimistic that the signal seen in the BLOCK-CKD study will be seen in this larger study.”

“I remain excited about Ocedurenone. Its tolerability and efficacy in lowering blood pressure in a very high-risk group will have a significant impact on morbidity.”

“Mineralocorticoid receptors are so ubiquitous which may allow for indications beyond CKD and cardiovascular conditions. This is likely just the beginning for Ocedurenone.”

About Ocedurenone (KBP-5074)

KBP Biosciences is a global, clinical-stage biotechnology company, headquartered in Princeton, NJ, focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of serious cardiorenal and infectious diseases with large unmet medical needs.

Ocedurenone (KBP-5074) is a non-steroidal MRA discovered and developed by KBP Biosciences. At present, the Phase 3 clinical trial of the first indication for Ocedurenone, advanced CKD and uncontrolled hypertension, is underway.

About KBP Biosciences, please visit https://www.kbpbiosciences.com/.

Epic Sciences Raises $24M in Series G Financing to Continue Funding Commercialization of DefineMBC

Epic Sciences Raises $24M in Series G Financing to Continue Funding Commercialization of DefineMBC




Epic Sciences Raises $24M in Series G Financing to Continue Funding Commercialization of DefineMBC

Funding will accelerate commercial launch of DefineMBC™

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Epic Sciences, Inc. (“Epic” or “Epic Sciences”), a privately held diagnostics company, has completed a $24 million Series G which together with its $43 million Series F financing, totals $67 million raised in the last twelve months. The company will use the capital from this additional round of private investment to fund the commercial infrastructure required to commercialize the three component tests of DefineMBC, which together provide a comprehensive blood-based biopsy result for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

The investment was co-led by Deerfield Management and Arsenal Capital Partners, and included broad participation from the company’s shareholders including Blue Ox Healthcare Partners, Domain Ventures, and Labcorp.

“I’m excited to announce that Epic’s pre-launch activities related to DefineMBC have exceeded our expectations. We have delivered comprehensive test results to 700 patients and their oncologists in our Clinical Experience Program,” said Lloyd Sanders, President and CEO, Epic Sciences. “We have surveyed the physicians participating in the Clinical Experience Program and their responses indicate that oncologists see the value in DefineMBC’s ability to provide actionable information that allows them to better care for their patients.”

DefineMBC™ provides the most comprehensive blood-based biopsy results available to patients with metastatic breast cancer by delivering a report which includes:

  • detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs)
  • assessment of HER-2 cellular protein expression coupled with

    • single-cell sequencing of identified cells to assess amplification of the ERBB2 gene locus
  • assessment of ER cellular protein expression
  • a plasma-based, 56-gene panel of cell-free DNA including

    • ERBB2 and PIK3CA
    • tumor mutational burden (TMB)

The new investment will enable the company’s efforts related to the commercialization of the DefineMBC tests, including the continued expansion of the company’s new market-facing departments: sales, product marketing, customer service, medical affairs, payer markets, and billing. The investment also continues to fund the development of additional concordance and outcomes data for the DefineMBC tests.

Andrew El Bardissi, a member of the company’s board of directors and Partner at Deerfield Management, said, “Deerfield is pleased to support Epic Sciences at this critical stage of commercialization. We believe DefineMBC is poised to change the management of metastatic breast cancer.”

About Epic Sciences

Epic Sciences, Inc. is developing and marketing novel diagnostics to guide therapy selection and monitor disease progression, personalizing and advancing the treatment and management of prostate and breast cancers. The company’s liquid biopsy platform leverages proven, proprietary cell analysis capabilities as well as cell-free analysis to provide more complete, efficient analysis and clearer insights – Comprehensive Cancer Profiling. Using its full-service CAP/CLIA-accredited laboratory and research support services, Epic Sciences partners with leading pharmaceutical companies and major cancer centers around the world to improve patient outcomes.

For more information, visit www.epicsciences.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

About Arsenal Capital Partners

Arsenal is a leading private equity firm that specializes in investments in healthcare and industrial growth companies. Since its inception in 2000, Arsenal has raised institutional equity investment funds of more than $10 billion, has completed more than 250 platform and add-on investments, and achieved more than 30 realizations. Arsenal invests in industry sectors in which the firm has significant prior knowledge and experience. The firm works with management teams to build strategically important companies with leading market positions, high growth, and high value-add. Visit www.arsenalcapital.com for more information.

Contacts

Brian.Strike@EpicSciences.com

Rallybio Announces Clinical Proof-of-Concept Results for RLYB211, an Anti-HPA-1a Polyclonal Antibody for the Prevention of Fetal and Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), Published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Rallybio Announces Clinical Proof-of-Concept Results for RLYB211, an Anti-HPA-1a Polyclonal Antibody for the Prevention of Fetal and Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), Published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis




Rallybio Announces Clinical Proof-of-Concept Results for RLYB211, an Anti-HPA-1a Polyclonal Antibody for the Prevention of Fetal and Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), Published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Data Support Potential Use of an Anti-HPA-1a Antibody as Prophylaxis for FNAIT —

— In March 2023, Rallybio Announced Clinical Proof-of-Concept Achieved for its Lead Product Candidate, RLYB212, a Monoclonal Anti-HPA-1a Antibody, in the First Quarter of 2023 —

NEW HAVEN, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rallybio Corporation (Nasdaq: RLYB) today announced publication of Phase 1 / 2 proof-of-concept results for RLYB211, a polyclonal anti-HPA-1a antibody derived from human plasma for the prevention of FNAIT. FNAIT is a rare and life-threatening bleeding disorder in which maternal alloantibodies directed against fetal platelets can lead to devastating outcomes for the fetus/neonate. There are currently no approved therapies for the prevention or treatment of FNAIT. The findings were published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, the official journal of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Rallybio’s randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, study investigated the ability of a single dose of intravenous RLYB211 to eliminate HPA-1a-positive platelets transfused into HPA-1a-negative healthy subjects. The platelet transfusion in this study was selected based on the precedent of historical clinical trial designs to assess the efficacy of anti-D prophylaxis, in which the transfusion of antigen positive cells is designed to mimic a catastrophic fetal maternal hemorrhage. As has been shown with anti-D prophylactic agents, the ability of RLYB211 to drive the rapid and complete elimination of antigen positive cells is a surrogate indicator of its potential to prevent maternal alloimmunization, and therefore FNAIT. In Cohort 1, subjects received RLYB211 or placebo one hour after transfusion of HPA-1a positive platelets and in Cohort 1B subjects received RLYB211 or placebo followed by platelet transfusion one week later. Proof-of-concept was defined as ≥90% reduction in platelet elimination half-life compared to placebo.

The publication stated:

  • RLYB211 accelerated the elimination of HPA-1a positive platelets versus placebo, with all subjects meeting proof-of-concept criteria for greater than 90% reduction in platelet elimination half-life compared to placebo.
  • Rapid elimination of transfused platelets was evident 7 days after RLYB211 administration, simulating prophylactic administration of an anti-HPA-1a antibody prior to a fetal-maternal bleed.
  • RLYB211 was well tolerated and no serious adverse events were reported.

“We are pleased that these clinical results were published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, indicating that RLYB211 markedly accelerated the elimination of HPA-1a-positive platelets. We believe that these data demonstrate the prophylactic potential of anti-HPA-1a antibodies to prevent HPA-1a alloimmunization and occurrence of FNAIT,” said Róisín Armstrong, Ph.D., Rallybio’s FNAIT Program Lead. “Our FNAIT program continues to advance and as previously announced, we are pleased that an abstract reporting results from the Phase 1b proof-of-concept study for RLYB212, our monoclonal candidate, has been accepted for presentation at the upcoming 31st Congress of International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis in June.”

Dr. Christof Geisen, Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Immunohaematology, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, and a key collaborator in the RLYB211 study, stated, “In addition to the rapid elimination of transfused platelets in all subjects, the effect of RLYB211 was also demonstrated when it was administered one week prior to platelet transfusion, suggesting a durable potential treatment effect for HPA-1a-specific antibodies and that FNAIT might safely be prevented by rapidly eliminating platelet antigen from maternal circulation before alloimmunization can occur.”

The RLYB211 Phase 1 / 2 results were published in the April issue (Volume 21, Issue 4, Pages 838-849) of the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtha.2022.11.041.

Given the advantages of small volume subcutaneous dosing of RLYB212 as compared to RLYB211 and the expected manufacturing and supply efficiencies for RLYB212, Rallybio announced in March 2023 that the Company will not continue development of RLYB211.

About FNAIT

Fetal and Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is a potentially life-threatening rare disease that can cause uncontrolled bleeding in fetuses and newborns. FNAIT can arise during pregnancy due to an immune incompatibility between an expectant mother and her fetus in a specific platelet antigen called human platelet antigen 1, or HPA-1. There are two predominant forms of HPA-1, known as HPA-1a and HPA-1b, which are expressed on the surface of platelets. Individuals who are homozygous for HPA-1b, meaning that they have two copies of the HPA-1b allele and no copies of the HPA-1a allele, are also known as HPA-1a negative. Upon exposure to the HPA-1a antigen, these individuals can develop antibodies to that antigen in a process known as alloimmunization. In expectant mothers, alloimmunization can occur upon mixing of fetal blood with maternal blood. When alloimmunization occurs in an expectant mother, the anti-HPA-1a antibodies that develop in the mother can cross the placenta and destroy platelets in the fetus. The destruction of platelets in the fetus can result in severely low platelet counts, or thrombocytopenia, and potentially lead to devastating consequences including miscarriage, stillbirth, death of the newborn, or severe lifelong neurological disability in those babies who survive. There is currently no approved therapy for the prevention or treatment of FNAIT.

About Rallybio

Rallybio (NASDAQ: RLYB) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a mission to develop and commercialize life-transforming therapies for patients with severe and rare diseases. Rallybio has built a broad pipeline of promising product candidates aimed at addressing diseases with unmet medical need in areas of maternal fetal health, complement dysregulation, hematology, and metabolic disorders. The company has two clinical stage programs: RLYB212, an anti-HPA-1a antibody for the prevention of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) and RLYB116, a C5 complement inhibitor with the potential to treat several diseases of complement dysregulation, as well as additional programs in preclinical development.

Rallybio is headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut with an additional facility at the University of Connecticut’s Technology Incubation Program in Farmington, Connecticut. For more information, please visit www.rallybio.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the ability of RLYB212 and RLYB211, and the prophylactic administration of HPA-1a-specific antibodies, to clear platelets and prevent alloimmunization in pregnant women, and the anticipated threshold effect for rapid and complete elimination of HPA-1a positive platelets, the expected progress, results, and plans for RLYB212 and RLYB211, the initiation, substance, design and timing of our planned or ongoing studies for RLYB212, the timing of the availability of data from such studies, our expectations regarding reporting of data from such studies, and our expectations regarding the usefulness of data from such studies. The forward-looking statements in this press release are only predictions and are based largely on management’s current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that management believes may affect Rallybio’s business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, our ability to successfully initiate and conduct our planned clinical trials, including the ongoing and future clinical trials for RLYB212 for the prevention of FNAIT, and complete such clinical trials and obtain results on our expected timelines, or at all, whether our cash resources will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and whether we will be successful raising additional capital, competition from other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and those risks and uncertainties described in Rallybio’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Rallybio’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022, and subsequent filings with the SEC. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risks and uncertainties. Except as required by applicable law, we are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

Contacts

Investors
Ami Bavishi

Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

475-47-RALLY (Ext. 282)

abavishi@rallybio.com

Hannah Deresiewicz

Stern Investor Relations, Inc.

212-362-1200

hannah.deresiewicz@sternir.com

Media
Tara DiMilia

908-369-7168

Tara.dimilia@tmstrat.com

Morphogenesis Inc. Acquires TυHURA Biopharma’s First-in-Class Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) Technology Designed to Overcome Acquired Resistance to Cancer Immunotherapy

Morphogenesis Inc. Acquires TυHURA Biopharma’s First-in-Class Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) Technology Designed to Overcome Acquired Resistance to Cancer Immunotherapy




Morphogenesis Inc. Acquires TυHURA Biopharma’s First-in-Class Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) Technology Designed to Overcome Acquired Resistance to Cancer Immunotherapy

Proprietary bi-functional ADCs target and inhibit unique Delta receptor on tumorassociated Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs); increasing tumor’s susceptibility to checkpoint inhibitors and cellular therapies

TAMPA, Fla., March 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Morphogenesis Inc., a Phase 3 clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel personalized cancer vaccines, announced today that it has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement, in a stock for stock transaction, to acquire TυHURA’s novel ADCs targeting MDSCs to modulate tumor microenvironment immunosuppression. The technologies were developed by researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center, West Virginia Research Corporation and TυHURA. Through this acquisition, Morphogenesis now has exclusive worldwide license rights to TυHURA’s patents and patented technologies related to the ADC platform.

“Tumor-associated MDSCs are a major obstacle to immunotherapy, being responsible for acquired resistance to checkpoint inhibitors, and contribute to T cell and NK cell exhaustion, preventing cellular therapies from being more effective in attacking cancer. TυHURA’s technology represents a new paradigm. Unlike conventional ADCs where an antibody is used as a targeting agent and a cellular toxin is the payload, TuHURA’s ADCs are bi-functional, where a small molecule inhibitor of MDSC function is the targeting agent, and an immune effector like a checkpoint inhibitor is the payload. These bi-functional ADCs block MDSC’s immune suppressing effects, while localizing an immune effector in the tumor microenvironment. Through this technology represents a promising new approach to overcoming resistance to cancer immunotherapy,” commented James A. Bianco, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Morphogenesis. “We believe through this strategic acquisition, TυHURA’s novel technology will be complementary to our IFx personalized cancer vaccine technology in addressing obstacles to overcoming resistance to immunotherapies.”

“TυHURA and Moffitt researchers are the first to identify a novel Delta receptor on MDSCs that controls many of MDSC immune suppressing functions, representing a major advance in the ability to increase a tumor’s susceptibility to immune attack, with the promise of increasing the effectiveness and safety profile of immunotherapy,” added Alan F. List, M.D., former President and CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center, a noted expert on the central role of MDSCs contribution to tumorigenesis and resistance to immunotherapy, and member of the independent committee of the Morphogenesis Board of Director’s who evaluated and negotiated the TυHURA asset purchase.

“Modulating the tumor microenvironment is an area of intense research and development among large pharmaceutical companies given its importance in preventing the effective use of immunotherapies like checkpoint inhibitors. This acquisition not only provides Morphogenesis a truly novel approach to block MDSC induced immunosuppression, but also significantly de-risks and bolsters our development pipeline. We look forward to further elucidating the unique characteristics of the Delta receptor and advancing a new generation of bi-functional ADCs toward first-in-human clinical trials,” concluded Dr. Bianco.

About TυHURA Biopharma

TυHURA is a Delaware Company founded by James Bianco, M.D. in 2019 in partnership with Moffitt Cancer Center, where researchers, in collaboration with Dr. Bianco, identified a unique Delta receptor highly expressed on tumor-associated MDSCs linked to MDSC’s migration and their potent immune suppressing functions. The Company has several worldwide exclusive licenses from Moffitt Cancer Center to these and related technologies. Moffitt is a shareholder of TυHURA.

The Company also licensed a complementary novel technology from West Virginia University, conjugating small molecule Delta receptor inhibitors to immune effectors, like checkpoint inhibitors. The current generation of ADC’s utilize an antibody as the targeting agent and a cellular toxin as the payload. In contrast, TυHURA’s first in class bi-functional ADCs utilize a highly selective small molecule inhibitor to target the Delta receptor on MDSCs with an immune effector as the payload. These novel ADCs are bi-functional shutting off MDSC immune suppression of the tumor microenvironment, while localizing an immune effector like a checkpoint inhibitor on MDSCs in the microenvironment, increasing their effectiveness, while limiting indiscriminate toxicity to normal tissues from checkpoint released cytotoxic T cells.

About Morphogenesis

Morphogenesis is a Phase 2/3 clinical stage biotechnology company developing IFx-Hu2.0, a novel intratumoral pDNA, and Ifx-Hu3.0, an intravenous or autologous whole cell mRNA, as personalized cancer vaccines. Clinical studies have demonstrated IFx-Hu2.0’s ability to overcome primary resistance to checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab. Following IFx-Hu2.0 therapy among patients progressing on checkpoint inhibitor therapy, rechallenge with checkpoint inhibitors resulted in durable systemic partial or complete anti-tumor responses in patients with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma. Similar rates of anti-tumor responses were observed in advanced refractory melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Based on these data and discussions with the FDA, the Company expects to initiate a single Phase 3 registration trial in first line therapy of patients with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma in sequence with pembrolizumab in late 2023.

The Company’s IFx technology uses a proprietary gene technology to allow tumor cells to express an immune activating bacterial protein on the surface of the tumor cell. In doing so it “tricks” the body’s immune system to attack the tumor by making tumor cells look like bacteria. Recognizing the bacterial protein molecular patterns as being foreign, the patient’s immune system is activated “ingesting” the tumor cell, educating the patient’s immune system to all of the patient’s tumor’s neoantigens regardless of their number or uniqueness. In doing so the Company’s technology provides a more potent and multivalent response against the entire complement of neoantigens in a patient’s tumor.

Contact:
JTC Team, LLC
Jenene Thomas
(833) 475-8247
morphogenesis@jtcir.com

Tvardi Therapeutics Announces First Patients Dosed in Phase 2 Trial of TTI-101 in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Tvardi Therapeutics Announces First Patients Dosed in Phase 2 Trial of TTI-101 in Metastatic Breast Cancer




Tvardi Therapeutics Announces First Patients Dosed in Phase 2 Trial of TTI-101 in Metastatic Breast Cancer

The REVERT Trial is Evaluating STAT3 Inhibitor, TTI-101, Added to Palbociclib and an Aromatase Inhibitor to Overcome Resistance and Improve Clinical Outcomes for Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#IPF–Tvardi Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of STAT3 inhibitors, announced that the first breast cancer patients have been dosed in the Phase 1b/2 REVERT trial of TTI-101 added to palbociclib and aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy in adult patients with HR+/HER2 palbociclib-resistant metastatic breast cancer. The first patients were dosed at the Washington University School of Medicine Siteman Cancer Center by Cynthia Ma, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Clinical Director of the Breast Cancer Program, Section of Medical Oncology.

In the US, approximately 74,000 patients per year are diagnosed with HR+/HER2 metastatic breast cancer. These patients are generally treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors (such as palbociclib) and an AI. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these patients acquire resistance to palbociclib and AI therapy and their tumors continue to metastasize. Recent research has demonstrated that this resistance is driven by the activation of a protein in tumors known as STAT3. Tvardi has developed a STAT3 inhibitor, TTI-101, that has been well tolerated and has clinical activity across a broad range of tumors. The REVERT trial has been designed to add TTI-101 to palbociclib and AI therapy when breast cancer patients acquire resistance to standard therapy.

“I am excited the Washington University School of Medicine Siteman Cancer Center was the first to enroll patients to this important trial. The addition of TTI-101 to palbociclib and AI directly addresses the mechanism which leads to patients becoming resistant to the standard of care. TTI-101 has the potential to improve clinical outcomes for HR+/HER2 metastatic breast cancer patients,” said Cynthia Ma, MD, PhD.

“STAT3 is a well-known driver of tumor resistance. Based on Phase 1 trial data, TTI-101 specifically targets STAT3, and is well-positioned to reverse the resistance pathway for metastatic breast cancer,” said Imran Alibhai, PhD, CEO of Tvardi. “This is the first of three Phase 2 trials in metastatic breast cancer, advanced liver cancer, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that Tvardi has initiated to address diseases driven by STAT3.”

For more information about the REVERT breast cancer trial that is enrolling at sites throughout the US, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05384119).

About Tvardi Therapeutics

Tvardi is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing small molecule inhibitors of STAT3, a key regulatory protein positioned at the intersection of many signaling pathways integral to the survival and immune evasion of cancer cells. STAT3 also plays a central role in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. The company’s lead product, TTI-101, completed enrollment in its first-in-man Phase 1 trial of relapsed/refractory patients with advanced solid tumors. To date, TTI-101 monotherapy has been well-tolerated and has clinical activity across a broad range of tumors including multiple durable radiographic objective responses. The company has now initiated three Phase 2 clinical programs in hepatocellular carcinoma (NCT05440708), metastatic breast cancer (NCT05384119), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (NCT05671835). To learn more, please visit https://tvarditherapeutics.com/.

Contacts

Tvardi Investor Relations

Sara Manning

ir@tvardi.com

U.S. FDA Approves Trodelvy® in Pre-treated HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer

U.S. FDA Approves Trodelvy® in Pre-treated HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer




U.S. FDA Approves Trodelvy® in Pre-treated HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer

— First Trop-2 Directed ADC to Demonstrate Overall Survival Benefit in HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients who had Received Prior Endocrine-based Therapy and at Least Two Chemotherapies —

— Trodelvy has Now Improved Survival in both Pre-Treated HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer and in Second-Line Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

FOSTER CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH–) breast cancer who have received endocrine-based therapy and at least two additional systemic therapies in the metastatic setting. The approval is based on statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival and overall survival data from the Phase 3 TROPiCS-02 study. Trodelvy is now also recommended as a Category 1, preferred treatment for metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) as defined in the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®)i.


Despite decades of advances, people living with pre-treated HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer need new treatment options. Nearly all people with this type of breast cancer will eventually develop resistance to endocrine-based therapies and progress on available chemotherapies,” said Hope S. Rugo, MD, Professor of Medicine and Director, Breast Oncology and Clinical Trials Education at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, U.S. and principal investigator of the TROPiCS-02 study. “This approval is significant for the breast cancer community. We have had limited options to offer patients after endocrine-based therapy and chemotherapy, and to see a clinically meaningful survival benefit of more than three months with a quality of life benefit for these women is exceptional.”

In the TROPiCS-02 study, Trodelvy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival (OS) benefit of 3.2 months versus comparator single-agent chemotherapy (treatment of physician’s choice; TPC) (median OS: 14.4 months vs. 11.2 months; hazard ratio [HR]=0.79; 95% CI: 0.65-0.96; p=0.02). Trodelvy also demonstrated a 34% reduction in risk of disease progression or death (median PFS: 5.5 versus 4.0 months; HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.53-0.83; p=0.0003). Three times as many people treated with Trodelvy were progression free at one year versus those treated with chemotherapy (21% versus 7%). In a post-hoc analysis, data demonstrated Trodelvy’s efficacy across HER2-low and IHC0 status in pre-treated metastatic breast cancer patients in the TROPiCS-02 trial.

Trodelvy also significantly improved additional secondary endpoint measures, including objective response rate and time to deterioration (TTD) assessed by the Global Health Status/Quality of Life and Fatigue scale per EORTC-QLQ-C30. No statistically significant difference in TTD in Pain Scale was observed.

The FDA approval is an important step forward for both women and men living with metastatic breast cancer, especially for those individuals whose tumor is no longer responding to endocrine-based therapies and who are facing a poor prognosis,” said Laura Carfang, Executive Director, SurvivingBreastCancer.org. “We need to combat this terrible disease, and all options that potentially slow its progress and extend life for those living with metastatic breast cancer are welcomed.”

We are pleased that Trodelvy could now provide new hope for people living with pre-treated HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, building on the transformative role that Trodelvy is already playing for people with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer,” said Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. “We thank the physicians, patients and their families who put their trust in the TROPiCS-02 study and helped make this milestone possible.”

The safety profile for Trodelvy was consistent with prior studies, with no new safety signals identified in this patient population. In TROPiCS-02 the most frequent serious adverse reactions (>1%) were diarrhea (5%), febrile neutropenia (4%), neutropenia (3%), abdominal pain, colitis, neutropenic colitis, pneumonia, and vomiting (each 2%). The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) in the TROPiCS-02 study were reduced neutrophils and leukocytes. No patients treated with Trodelvy experienced interstitial lung disease.

This review by the FDA was conducted under Project Orbis and granted Priority Review.

The European Medicines Agency has also validated a Type II Variation Marketing Authorization Application for Trodelvy in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.

Trodelvy has a Boxed Warning for severe or life-threatening neutropenia and severe diarrhea; please see below for additional Important Safety Information.

About HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer

Hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer is the most common type of breast cancer and accounts for approximately 70% of all new cases. Almost one in three cases of early-stage breast cancer eventually become metastatic, and among patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic disease, the five-year relative survival rate is 30%. As patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer become resistant to endocrine-based therapy, their primary treatment option is limited to single-agent chemotherapy. In this setting, it is common to receive multiple lines of chemotherapy regimens over the course of treatment, and the prognosis remains poor.

About the TROPiCS-02 Study

The TROPiCS-02 study is a global, multicenter, open-label, Phase 3 study, randomized 1:1 to evaluate Trodelvy versus physicians’ choice of chemotherapy (eribulin, capecitabine, gemcitabine, or vinorelbine) in 543 patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer who were previously treated with endocrine therapy, CDK4/6 inhibitor and two to four lines of chemotherapy for metastatic disease. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1) as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) for participants treated with Trodelvy compared to those treated with chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, overall response rate, clinical benefit rate and duration of response, as well as assessment of safety and tolerability and quality of life measures. In the study, HER2 negativity was defined per American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) criteria as immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 0, IHC 1+ or IHC 2+ with a negative in-situ hybridization (ISH) test. More information about TROPiCS-02 is available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03901339.

About Trodelvy

Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a first-in-class Trop-2 directed antibody-drug conjugate. Trop-2 is a cell surface antigen highly expressed in multiple tumor types, including in more than 90% of breast and bladder cancers. Trodelvy is intentionally designed with a proprietary hydrolyzable linker attached to SN-38, a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload. This unique combination delivers potent activity to both Trop-2 expressing cells and the microenvironment.

Trodelvy is approved in more than 40 countries, with multiple additional regulatory reviews underway worldwide, for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease.

Trodelvy is also approved in the U.S. to treat certain patients with pre-treated HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer and has an accelerated approval for treatment of certain patients with second-line metastatic urothelial cancer; see below for full indication statements.

Trodelvy is also being developed for potential investigational use in other TNBC, HR+/HER2- and metastatic UC populations, as well as a range of tumor types where Trop-2 is highly expressed, including metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC), head and neck cancer, and endometrial cancer.

U.S. Indications for Trodelvy

In the United States, Trodelvy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with:

  • Unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease.
  • Unresectable locally advanced or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH–) breast cancer who have received endocrine-based therapy and at least two additional systemic therapies in the metastatic setting.
  • Locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) who have previously received a platinum-containing chemotherapy and either programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

U.S. Important Safety Information for Trodelvy

BOXED WARNING: NEUTROPENIA AND DIARRHEA

  • Severe or life-threatening neutropenia may occur. Withhold Trodelvy for absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm3 or neutropenic fever. Monitor blood cell counts periodically during treatment. Consider G-CSF for secondary prophylaxis. Initiate anti-infective treatment in patients with febrile neutropenia without delay.
  • Severe diarrhea may occur. Monitor patients with diarrhea and give fluid and electrolytes as needed. At the onset of diarrhea, evaluate for infectious causes and, if negative, promptly initiate loperamide. If severe diarrhea occurs, withhold Trodelvy until resolved to ≤Grade 1 and reduce subsequent doses.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • Severe hypersensitivity reaction to Trodelvy.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Neutropenia: Severe, life-threatening, or fatal neutropenia can occur and may require dose modification. Neutropenia occurred in 64% of patients treated with Trodelvy. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 49% of patients. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 6%. Neutropenic colitis occurred in 1.4%. Withhold Trodelvy for absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm3 on Day 1 of any cycle or neutrophil count below 1000/mm3 on Day 8 of any cycle. Withhold Trodelvy for neutropenic fever. Administer G-CSF as clinically indicated or indicated in Table 1 of USPI.

Diarrhea: Diarrhea occurred in 64% of all patients treated with Trodelvy. Grade 3-4 diarrhea occurred in 11% of patients. One patient had intestinal perforation following diarrhea. Diarrhea that led to dehydration and subsequent acute kidney injury occurred in 0.7% of all patients. Withhold Trodelvy for Grade 3-4 diarrhea and resume when resolved to ≤Grade 1. At onset, evaluate for infectious causes and if negative, promptly initiate loperamide, 4 mg initially followed by 2 mg with every episode of diarrhea for a maximum of 16 mg daily. Discontinue loperamide 12 hours after diarrhea resolves. Additional supportive measures (e.g., fluid and electrolyte substitution) may also be employed as clinically indicated. Patients who exhibit an excessive cholinergic response to treatment can receive appropriate premedication (e.g., atropine) for subsequent treatments.

Hypersensitivity and Infusion-Related Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions including life-threatening anaphylactic reactions have occurred with Trodelvy. Severe signs and symptoms included cardiac arrest, hypotension, wheezing, angioedema, swelling, pneumonitis, and skin reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions within 24 hours of dosing occurred in 35% of patients. Grade 3-4 hypersensitivity occurred in 2% of patients. The incidence of hypersensitivity reactions leading to permanent discontinuation of Trodelvy was 0.2%. The incidence of anaphylactic reactions was 0.2%. Pre-infusion medication is recommended. Have medications and emergency equipment to treat such reactions available for immediate use. Observe patients closely for hypersensitivity and infusion-related reactions during each infusion and for at least 30 minutes after completion of each infusion. Permanently discontinue Trodelvy for Grade 4 infusion-related reactions.

Nausea and Vomiting: Nausea occurred in 64% of all patients treated with Trodelvy and Grade 3-4 nausea occurred in 3% of these patients. Vomiting occurred in 35% of patients and Grade 3-4 vomiting occurred in 2% of these patients. Premedicate with a two or three drug combination regimen (e.g., dexamethasone with either a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist or an NK1 receptor antagonist as well as other drugs as indicated) for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Withhold Trodelvy doses for Grade 3 nausea or Grade 3-4 vomiting and resume with additional supportive measures when resolved to Grade ≤1. Additional antiemetics and other supportive measures may also be employed as clinically indicated. All patients should be given take-home medications with clear instructions for prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting.

Increased Risk of Adverse Reactions in Patients with Reduced UGT1A1 Activity: Patients homozygous for the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1)*28 allele are at increased risk for neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and anemia and may be at increased risk for other adverse reactions with Trodelvy. The incidence of Grade 3-4 neutropenia was 58% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28, 49% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, and 43% in patients homozygous for the wild-type allele. The incidence of Grade 3-4 anemia was 21% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, 10% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, and 9% in patients homozygous for the wild-type allele. Closely monitor patients with known reduced UGT1A1 activity for adverse reactions. Withhold or permanently discontinue Trodelvy based on clinical assessment of the onset, duration and severity of the observed adverse reactions in patients with evidence of acute early-onset or unusually severe adverse reactions, which may indicate reduced UGT1A1 function.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action, Trodelvy can cause teratogenicity and/or embryo-fetal lethality when administered to a pregnant woman. Trodelvy contains a genotoxic component, SN-38, and targets rapidly dividing cells. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Trodelvy and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Trodelvy and for 3 months after the last dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In the pooled safety population, the most common (≥ 25%) adverse reactions including laboratory abnormalities were decreased leukocyte count (84%), decreased neutrophil count (75%), decreased hemoglobin (69%), diarrhea (64%), nausea (64%), decreased lymphocyte count (63%), fatigue (51%), alopecia (45%), constipation (37%), increased glucose (37%), decreased albumin (35%), vomiting (35%), decreased appetite (30%), decreased creatinine clearance (28%), increased alkaline phosphatase (28%), decreased magnesium (27%), decreased potassium (26%), and decreased sodium (26%).

In the ASCENT study (locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, alopecia, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (SAR) (>1%) were neutropenia (7%), diarrhea (4%), and pneumonia (3%). SAR were reported in 27% of patients, and 5% discontinued therapy due to adverse reactions. The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) in the ASCENT study were reduced neutrophils, leukocytes, and lymphocytes.

In the TROPiCS-02 study (locally advanced or metastatic HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, alopecia, and constipation. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (SAR) (>1%) were diarrhea (5%), febrile neutropenia (4%), neutropenia (3%), abdominal pain, colitis, neutropenic colitis, pneumonia, and vomiting (each 2%). SAR were reported in 28% of patients, and 6% discontinued therapy due to adverse reactions. The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) in the TROPiCS-02 study were reduced neutrophils and leukocytes.

In the TROPHY study (locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, any infection, alopecia, decreased appetite, constipation, vomiting, rash, and abdominal pain. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (SAR) (≥5%) were infection (18%), neutropenia (12%, including febrile neutropenia in 10%), acute kidney injury (6%), urinary tract infection (6%), and sepsis or bacteremia (5%). SAR were reported in 44% of patients, and 10% discontinued due to adverse reactions. The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) in the TROPHY study were reduced neutrophils, leukocytes, and lymphocytes.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

UGT1A1 Inhibitors: Concomitant administration of Trodelvy with inhibitors of UGT1A1 may increase the incidence of adverse reactions due to potential increase in systemic exposure to SN-38. Avoid administering UGT1A1 inhibitors with Trodelvy.

UGT1A1 Inducers: Exposure to SN-38 may be reduced in patients concomitantly receiving UGT1A1 enzyme inducers. Avoid administering UGT1A1 inducers with Trodelvy.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING.

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis and cancer. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including Gilead’s ability to initiate, progress or complete clinical trials within currently anticipated timelines or at all, and the possibility of unfavorable results from ongoing or additional clinical trials, including those involving Trodelvy; uncertainties relating to regulatory applications for Trodelvy and related filing and approval timelines, including the risk that the European Commission may not approve the pending marketing authorization application for Trodelvy in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, and pending or potential applications for the treatment of metastatic TNBC, mUC, HR+/HER2- breast cancer, NSCLC, SCLC, head and neck cancer, endometrial cancer and other cancers, in the currently anticipated timelines or at all; Gilead’s ability to receive regulatory approvals for such indications in a timely manner or at all, and the risk that any such approvals may be subject to significant limitations on use; the possibility that Gilead may make a strategic decision to discontinue development of Trodelvy for such indications and as a result, Trodelvy may never be commercialized for these indications; the risk that physicians may not see the benefits of prescribing Trodelvy for treatment of HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These and other risks, uncertainties and other factors are described in detail in Gilead’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Gilead, and Gilead assumes no obligation and disclaims any intent to update any such forward-looking statements.

U.S. Prescribing Information for Trodelvy including BOXED WARNING, is available at www.gilead.com.

Trodelvy, Gilead and the Gilead logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.

For more information about Gilead, please visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com, follow Gilead on Twitter (@GileadSciences) or call Gilead Public Affairs at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or 1-650-574-3000.

UC Disclaimer

The information stated above was prepared by Gilead Sciences, Inc., and reflects solely the opinion of the corporation. Nothing in this statement shall be construed to imply any support or endorsement of Gilead, or any of its products, by The Regents of the University of California, its officers, agents and employees.

i Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Breast Cancer Version 1.2023. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2023. All rights reserved. Accessed January 2023. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.

Contacts

Jacquie Ross, Investors

investor_relations@gilead.com

Meaghan Smith, Media

public_affairs@gilead.com

ARMGO Pharma – developing small molecule Ryanodine Receptor modulators for treating cardiac, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders

ARMGO Pharma is a privately held biopharmaceutical company dedicated to applying original, targeted science to the discovery and development of novel small-molecule therapeutics to treat debilitating cardiac, musculoskeletal, and neurological disorders. The company’s proprietary drugs, known as Rycals®, are a new class of oral agents that repair calcium leaks through the Ryanodine Receptor (RyR).

ARMGO Pharma - developing small molecule Ryanodine Receptor modulators for treating cardiac, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders

ARM210 is a potential disease modifying therapy for genetic diseases, which targets the Ryanodine Receptor calcium channel (RyR), an intracellular calcium-release channel that becomes leaky in these and other diseases. Intracellular calcium leaks via mutant RyR1 channels impair muscle contraction leading to muscle weakness and loss of function, and activate toxic pathways that damage muscle, causing the symptoms in RYR1-RM.

ARM210 is a small molecule that binds to leaky RyR channels and repairs the leak, as demonstrated in vitro in muscle biopsies from RYR1-RM patients. The unique mechanism of action of ARM210 makes it an ideal potential disease modifying therapy for RYR1-RM. Muscle biopsies of the patients in this trial have been previously shown to respond biochemically to ARM210 in vitro. This trial will evaluate the safety and explore the biochemical effect of oral administration of ARM210 in these same patients.

ARMGO Pharma has been awarded an exclusive, worldwide license from Columbia University for its RyR technology based on the research of founding scientist Andrew R. Marks, M.D. In December 2021, ARMGO Pharma raises a $35 million Series B  funding round to progress clinical studies of lead molecule ARM210 in cardiac and skeletal muscle diseases.

ARMGO Pharma – developing small molecule Ryanodine Receptor modulators for treating cardiac, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders

More info : www.armgo.com

Keywords : ARMGO Pharma , small molecule , therapeutics , RyR technology , ARM210 , cardiovascular , musculoskeletal disorders , neurological disorders , CNS , neuroscience , Rycals , Ryanodine Receptor , RyR , Ryanodine Receptor modulators

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