Category Archives: Biotech Companies

Italfarmaco Receives FDA Approval for Duvyzat™ (givinostat) in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

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Orally administered treatment for DMD approved in patients 6 years and older

EPIDYS trial met primary endpoint demonstrating statistically and clinically meaningful treatment benefit in one of the largest DMD phase 3 trials to date

Median follow-up of over 3 additional years in open label long-term safety and tolerability study

Italfarmaco also announces establishment of new U.S.-based subsidiary ITF Therapeutics to expand company focus on rare diseases and lead commercial launch for Duvyzat™

MILAN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Italfarmaco S.p.A. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Duvyzat™ (givinostat), a novel histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, for the treatment of patients 6 years or older with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare X-linked progressive and life-limiting neuromuscular condition with symptoms from early childhood.

“The FDA’s approval of Duvyzat for DMD, based on our robust and successful clinical development program, reflects Italfarmaco’s commitment to providing a safe and proven-effective therapy that can have a meaningful impact for people living with DMD,” said Paolo Bettica, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer at Italfarmaco Group. “We are grateful for the support of those living with DMD and their dedicated caregivers, which played a central role in helping us reach this landmark FDA approval. Our focus now is to make Duvyzat available as a treatment for DMD management in the U.S. as quickly as possible.”

Dr Francesco De Santis, President of Italfarmaco Holding and Chairman of Italfarmaco Group added, “Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a disease with significant unmet medical need and Duvyzat has the potential to benefit a broad DMD patient population independent of the underlying gene mutation that causes the disease. The FDA approval highlights the dedication of Italfarmaco’s research and clinical teams to achieve this milestone for the company.”

The approval is based on the results of the pivotal multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 EPIDYS trial (NCT02851797). In the EPIDYS study, a total of 179 ambulant boys six years of age or older received either Duvyzat twice daily or placebo, in addition to glucocorticosteroid treatment. The EPIDYS study met its primary endpoint demonstrating that patients on Duvyzat showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful difference in time to complete the four-stair climb assessment. Duvyzat also showed favourable results on key secondary endpoints including North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA), and fat infiltration evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging. The majority of adverse effects observed with Duvyzat were mild to moderate in severity. Results from this study were published in The Lancet Neurology in March 2024.

“There is a tremendous unmet need for novel therapies in DMD that can achieve meaningful benefits for a broad range of patients. Duvyzat’s unique mechanism of action has shown a positive risk/benefit profile and the ability to delay disease progression, supporting its potential to become a key component of the standard of care for people living with DMD,” added Craig M. McDonald, MD, Professor at the Department of Pediatrics and Physical Medicine Rehabilitation at the University of California Davis Health and investigator for the EPIDYS trial. “I would like to thank all patients and their families for participating in the clinical trials and for making this approval possible.”

“We are thrilled with the FDA’s approval of Duvyzat, a new therapy for DMD. It is an oral medication that will be available to every person 6 years and older with DMD. This brings great hope for the Duchenne community, and we believe this will be a key therapy to prevent disease progression in Duchenne,” said Pat Furlong, Founding President & CEO at Parent Project Muscular Dystropy (PPMD).

Italfarmaco has significantly expanded its U.S. presence through the formation of a new fully owned subsidiary, ITF Therapeutics LLC. ITF Therapeutics will be responsible for the commercialisation of Duvyzat in the U.S. and the company is working closely with healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups and payors to make Duvyzat available to patients.

Duvyzat received priority review, orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations from the FDA. A Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for givinostat as a potential treatment for DMD has been submitted to the European Medicine Agency (EMA) and is currently under review. Italfarmaco has a global presence and is also working with other regulatory agencies.

About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe neuromuscular genetic disease characterised by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration and is the most common type of muscular dystrophy globally. DMD is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene that result in the absence of a functional dystrophin protein. Without dystrophin, muscle fibres are highly susceptible to injury and this continuous muscle injury leads to chronic inflammation, impairment of muscle regeneration and muscle replacement by fibrotic and fat tissue. The disease primarily affects boys, with symptoms usually first seen between two and five years of age. Symptoms worsen over time affecting the ability to walk. Eventually, heart and respiratory muscles are affected, which are the two main causes of premature death. DMD incidence is approximately one in every 3500 – 6000 male births worldwide.

About Duvyzat™

Duvyzat is an investigational drug discovered through Italfarmaco’s research and development efforts in collaboration with Telethon and Duchenne Parent Project (Italy). Duvyzat is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that modulates the deregulated activity of HDACs in the dystrophic muscle, which is a major consequence of the lack of dystrophin associated with DMD. Duvyzat’s mechanism of action has the potential to inhibit HDAC pathological overactivity in an effort to address the cascade of events leading to muscle damage, thereby counteracting the disease pathology and slowing down muscle deterioration.

About ITALFARMACO

Founded in 1938 in Milan, Italy, Italfarmaco is a private global pharmaceutical company that has led the successful development and approval of many pharmaceutical products around the world. The Italfarmaco group has operations in more than 60 countries through directly controlled or affiliated companies. The company is a leader in pharmaceutical research, product development, production and commercialisation with proven success in many therapeutic areas including immuno-oncology, gynaecology, neurology, cardiovascular disease and rare diseases. Italfarmaco’s rare disease unit includes programmes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and polycythaemia vera.

Indication and Important Safety Information

What is DUVYZAT?

DUVYZAT is a prescription medicine that is used for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in people 6 years of age and older.

It is not known if DUVYZAT is safe and effective in children under 6 years of age.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about DUVYZAT?

  • Low platelet counts in your blood (thrombocytopenia). Platelets are important for blood clotting, and a decrease in their numbers can lead to an increased risk of bleeding or bruising. Your healthcare provider will check your blood count before you start DUVYZAT and regularly during treatment for any signs of thrombocytopenia. Call your healthcare provider right away if you notice any unusual bleeding or small red or purple spots on the skin called petechiae. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of DUVYZAT if your blood platelet counts continue to be low or may stop your treatment with DUVYZAT.
  • Increased levels of fat (triglycerides) in your blood. You may not have any symptoms, so your healthcare provider will do blood tests before you start DUVYZAT and regularly during treatment to check your triglyceride levels. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of DUVYZAT if your triglyceride levels continue to be high or may stop your treatment with DUVYZAT.
  • Frequent watery loose stools (diarrhea) and vomiting. DUVYZAT can cause vomiting and moderate to severe diarrhea. If diarrhea occurs, you should keep track of the frequency and severity of your diarrhea symptoms, drink plenty of fluids, and contact your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of DUVYZAT if the diarrhea cannot be managed or does not go away. Your healthcare provider may also stop your treatment with DUVYZAT.

Before taking DUVYZAT, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have any heart problems or if you take any medicines that could increase your chance for irregular heart rhythms.
  • have any bleeding problems.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Taking DUVYZAT with certain other medicines may affect each other. Taking DUVYZAT with other medicines can cause serious side effects. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

DUVYZAT can cause serious side effects, including:

  • See “What is the most important information I should know about DUVYZAT?”
  • changes in the electrical activity of your heart called QT Prolongation. QT Prolongation can increase the risk of developing a type of irregular heart rhythm known as Torsades de Pointes. Call your healthcare provider right away if you feel faint, have an irregular heartbeat, feel dizzy, or lose consciousness.

The most common side effects of DUVYZAT included diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, low platelet counts in the blood, increased fat level in the blood and fever.

These are not all of the possible side effects of DUVYZAT. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

Contacts

Media enquiries U.S.A:
Brian Connor |+1 212 253 8881| bconnor@berrypr.com

Media enquiries Global:
Charlotte Spitz or Jacob Verghese |+49 (0)151 7441 6179 | italfarmaco@trophic.eu

Other enquiries U.S.A:
Patient Advocacy and Communications Lead U.S.A.| c.allen@itftherapeutics.com

Other enquiries Global:
Patient Advocacy and Communications Lead| s.parker@italfarmacogroup.com

Flosonics Medical Secures $20 Million USD in Series C Funding Led by New Leaf Venture Partners to Accelerate Growth

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SUDBURY, Ontario–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#flopatch–Flosonics Medical, a leader in wearable medical ultrasound, today announced its Series C financing, raising $20 million USD. The round was led by New Leaf Venture Partners, with participation from previous investors Arboretum Ventures, Genesys Capital, and iGan Partners. This new funding will support Flosonics as the company continues to innovate and drive market adoption of FloPatch, a first-in-class wearable Doppler ultrasound for hemodynamic assessments.

Vijay Lathi, an experienced MedTech investor with a focus on data convergence and guiding growth-stage companies, will join Flosonics Medical’s board of directors. “We are thrilled to have New Leaf Venture Partners lead our Series C round and welcome Vijay Lathi to our board,” said Joe Eibl, CEO of Flosonics Medical. “This investment not only validates our past successes but also enables us to accelerate our plans for expansion and innovation. We are committed to leveraging this funding to further enhance the standard of care for critically ill patients with FloPatch and expand our reach into new markets.”

On behalf of New Leaf Venture Partners, Vijay Lathi expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “Our investment into Flosonics is driven by the clear and significant impact their technology will have on patients in critical situations, and the quality of the team behind it. Flosonics Medical stands at the forefront of wearable ultrasound, and we look forward to contributing to their continued success.”

Flosonics Medical plans to use the Series C investment to accelerate commercial growth, expand indications for use, and continue evidence generation. The company aims to address the growing demand for wearable AI-assisted sensors to improve patient management inside and outside the hospital.

About: Flosonics Medical is a Canadian medical device company engaged in the research and development of innovative ultrasound technology. Founded in 2015, the company’s mission is to improve patient care and the practice of medicine through technology-enabled solutions and ground-breaking clinical research.

About New Leaf Venture Partners: New Leaf Venture Partners is a leader in healthcare technology venture investing. Our investment professionals bring a unique blend of technical, operational, and clinical experience to our investments, working closely with our entrepreneurs and management teams to help build successful companies. New Leaf Ventures invests in both healthcare-related information technology companies as well as public and private biopharmaceutical companies as well as. New Leaf currently manages over $500 million in assets through several funds. New Leaf was formed in 2005 as the healthcare spinoff from the Sprout Group, one of the oldest U.S. venture capital funds. For more information please visit www.nlvpartners.com.

Contacts

For media inquiries: rgibson@flosonicsmedical.com.

InnoCare Announces Approval of Clinical Trial of BCL2 Inhibitor ICP-248 in Combination with Orelabrutinib as First-Line Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma in China

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BEIJING–(BUSINESS WIRE)–InnoCare Pharma (HKEX: 09969; SSE: 688428), a leading biopharmaceutical company focusing on the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, announced today the approval of the Investigational New Drug (IND) to conduct the clinical trial of B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) inhibitor ICP-248 in combination with Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor orelabrutinib as first-line therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in China.

This multicenter, randomized-controlled, open-label clinical study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ICP-248 combined with orelabrutinib versus immunochemotherapy in treatment-naive patients with CLL/SLL.

ICP-248 is a novel, orally bioavailable BCL2-selective inhibitor, which aims to treat hematologic malignancies as a monotherapy or in combination with other therapies. BCL2 is an important regulatory protein of apoptosis pathway, and its abnormal expression is related to the development of various hematologic malignancies. ICP-248 has an anti-tumor effect by selectively inhibiting BCL2 and restoring the mechanism of programmed cell death. The preliminary result has demonstrated a good efficacy and safety profile.

Orelabrutinib has been approved for marketing in China and Singapore, and all three approved indications related to lymphoma have been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) in China. In the treatment of relapsed/refractor CLL/SLL patients with orelabrutinib, the overall response rate and complete response rate reached 93.8% and 30% respectively, demonstrating an outstanding efficacy and safety profile.

Dr. Jasmine Cui, the co-founder, chairwoman and CEO of InnoCare, said, “InnoCare has developed strong pipeline in hemato-oncology that covers a variety of important hemato-oncology targets, including BTK, BLC2, CD19, CD20xCD3, E-3 ligase, etc. ICP-248 and orelabrutinib are important global assets of our company in the field of hematology, with multiple clinical studies conducted in China and the United States. We will accelerate clinical development and look forward to providing CLL/SLL patients with more efficient and safe treatment options.”

CLL/SLL, one of the most common types of leukemia, is an indolent malignancy of B lymphocytes. There are 191,000 newly diagnosed CLL cases and 61,000 deaths every year globally1. The incidence rate of CLL/SLL is on the rise in China2.

About InnoCare

InnoCare is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class and/or best-in-class drugs for the treatment of cancers and autoimmune diseases with unmet medical needs in China and worldwide. InnoCare has branches in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and the United States.

InnoCare Forward-looking Statements

This report contains the disclosure of some forward-looking statements. Except for statements of facts, all other statements can be regarded as forward-looking statements, that is, about our or our management’s intentions, plans, beliefs, or expectations that will or may occur in the future. Such statements are assumptions and estimates made by our management based on its experience and knowledge of historical trends, current conditions, expected future development and other related factors. This forward-looking statement does not guarantee future performance, and actual results, development and business decisions may not match the expectations of the forward-looking statement. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to a large number of risks and uncertainties, which may affect our short-term and long-term performance.

_________________________

1 American Journal of Hematology
2 Ybanlv

Contacts

Media
Chunhua Lu

86-10-66609879

chunhua.lu@innocarepharma.com

Investors
86-10-66609999

ir@innocarepharma.com

Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals Announces FDA Clearance of its Investigational New Drug Application for AST-004

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Green Light for Phase 2 Trial of AST-004 in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients

GROTON, Conn., March 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing cerebroprotective therapies for individuals suffering from stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and concussion, has announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its lead program, AST-004, for acute ischemic stroke. The company is preparing to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial. The IND application clearance also paves the way for additional studies further exploring AST-004 in stroke, as well as TBI, and concussion.

Currently, only ~5% of stroke patients receive pharmaceutical therapy, largely due to the short treatment windows of available thrombolytic medicines, as well as their need for imaging before those treatments can be initiated. AST-004 was developed with the potential to treat all stroke patients. Unlike existing therapies, treatment with AST-004 is designed for use without the need for imaging in the emergency room and for use at any point after diagnosis. And it has the potential to treat stroke occurring in any sized blood vessel in the brain.

The upcoming Phase 2 trial in acute ischemic stroke patients builds upon the recent successful stroke clinical trial designs used by medical device companies, heralding a new era in patient care. “The past decade has witnessed a transformative shift in stroke trials, thanks to sophisticated imaging techniques that enable high-quality real-time characterization of stroke and ensure selection of homogeneous study groups,” said Dr. Kevin Sheth, Co-Director of the Center for Brain & Mind Health at the Yale School of Medicine and Chief Medical Advisor to Astrocyte. “The new study of AST-004 will first focus on treating those stroke patients with large vessel occlusions, offering hope to significantly diminish brain damage.”

AST-004 is an innovative small molecule therapy that has demonstrated exceptional promise in preclinical studies. In a critical non-human primate stroke model, a significant reduction in brain lesion growth by 64% and an overall lesion size decrease by 45% were observed with a high dose (as reported in ‘The Journal Stroke’ in 2022). Astrocyte previously completed two Phase 1 safety trials in Europe, involving 80 participants in total, and saw no significant adverse effects or safety concerns.

Dr. William Korinek, CEO of Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals, commented, “Since our founding in 2014, we have been focused on demonstrating the potential of cerebroprotective benefits of AST-004. Our robust preclinical program and Phase 1 studies have laid the foundation for our ongoing development efforts, and we are eager to move forward with the planned Phase 2 study. Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally, and the need for advances in treatment is enormous. We believe AST-004 can be part of that solution.”

About Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a privately held, clinical-stage drug discovery and development company dedicated to accelerating the recovery and well-being of brain injury patients. The company is committed to proving the cerebroprotective benefits of enhancing astrocyte function and advancing breakthrough therapeutic agents for treating brain injury resulting from stroke, traumatic brain injury, concussion, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. For more information on Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the AST-004 program, please visit us at Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals Inc.  

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, statements relating to goals, plans, and projections regarding the company’s financial position, results of operations, market position, product development, and business strategy. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert, or change any of them and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statements can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from such statements. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Media contact:
Kimberly Macleod – kim@kmacconnect.com
info@astrocytepharma.com 

Seismic Therapeutic – Preclinical Data for Novel Immunoglobulin Sculpting Enzyme

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WATERTOWN, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Seismic Therapeutic, Inc., the machine learning immunology company, today announced that the company will present preclinical data for its pan-immunoglobulin G (IgG) sculpting enzyme candidate, S-1117, at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting taking place on April 13-18 in Denver.

S-1117 is a novel engineered pan-IgG protease for the potential treatment of a range of chronic and acute autoantibody mediated diseases, including the chronic neuromuscular autoimmune disorder, myasthenia gravis. The presentation at the AAN annual meeting will outline key preclinical in vitro and in vivo results supporting the differentiated profile of S-1117 compared to therapeutic benchmarks in chronic autoantibody mediated diseases. S-1117 addresses multiple mechanisms of autoimmunity by lowering IgG and immune complex levels, reducing IgG effector functions and cleaving the antigen receptor (BCR) on memory B cells. Moreover, in a mouse pharmacokinetic model, S-1117 was able to achieve deep, sustained and rapid reduction in human IgG.

Presentation details:

Title: Preclinical Pharmacology of S-1117, a Novel Engineered Fc-fused IgG Cleaving Enzyme, for Chronic Treatment of Autoantibody-mediated Diseases

Session: P4 – Autoimmune Neurology: Peripheral Autoimmunity

Date: Monday, April 15, 2024

Time: 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. MT

Area: 14

Poster number: 018

Abstract number: 6869

About Seismic Therapeutic

Seismic Therapeutic™ is a biotechnology company making a major shift in how immunology therapies are discovered and developed, enabled by machine learning. The company has a growing preclinical stage best-in-class and first-in-class biologics pipeline, derived from its integrated IMPACT platform, to control dysregulated adaptive immunity and address multiple autoimmune diseases. The company is backed by a strong syndicate of life sciences investors and is located in the Boston biotechnology hub. For more information, please visit www.seismictx.com and follow us on LinkedIn and on X @Seismic_Tx.

Contacts

Media Contact
Kathryn Morris, The Yates Network

914-204-6412

kathryn@theyatesnetwork.com

Seismic Therapeutic to Present Preclinical Data for Novel Immunoglobulin Sculpting Enzyme at AAN Annual Meeting

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 1/2a Study of ARO-DM1 for Treatment of Type 1 Myotonic Dystrophy

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– Preclinical data show ARO-DM1 reduces muscular DMPK expression and corrects spliceopathies, which could lead to improved muscle strength and function

PASADENA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$arwr–Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARWR) announced today that it has dosed the first subjects in a Phase 1/2a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating study (NCT06138743) to evaluate single and multiple ascending doses of ARO-DM1, the company’s investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic, in up to 48 subjects with type 1 myotonic dystrophy (DM1). DM1 is the most common adult-onset muscular dystrophy.

Patients with DM1 have muscle weakness and wasting, myotonia, cataracts, and often develop cardiac conduction abnormalities. Additionally, patients may become physically disabled and have a shortened life span. There is currently no approved disease-modifying therapy for DM1. Treatments have focused on symptomatic management, including physical therapy, exercise, ankle-foot orthoses, and assistive devices, such as wheelchairs.

ARO-DM1 is designed to reduce expression of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene in the muscle. Pathogenesis of DM1 is driven by an expanded CUG trinucleotide repeat in the 3’-untranslated region of DMPK transcripts. These abnormal transcripts cause mis-regulated splicing, known as spliceopathy, for certain messenger RNAs which are directly linked to the clinical manifestations of DM1.

Preclinical data recently presented at the 2024 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinical & Scientific Conference showed that in nonhuman primates, ARO-DM1 achieved greater than 80% silencing of DMPK in skeletal muscle, which was maintained for longer than 85 days. In a mouse model of DM1 harboring a pathogenic DMPK transgene, a modified species-specific version of ARO-DM1 (S-ARO-DM1) decreased the DMPK-CUG expression and corrected the spliceopathies.

Presentation materials may be accessed on the Events and Presentations page under the Investors section of the Arrowhead website.

About Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.

For more information, please visit www.arrowheadpharma.com, or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @ArrowheadPharma or on LinkedIn. To be added to the Company’s email list and receive news directly, please visit http://ir.arrowheadpharma.com/email-alerts.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act:

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements contained in this release except for historical information may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “hope,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “could,” “estimate,” “continue,” “target,” “forecast” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, trends in our business, expectations for our product pipeline or product candidates, including anticipated regulatory submissions and clinical program results, prospects or benefits of our collaborations with other companies, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies and clinical trials, and our research and development programs; our expectations regarding the potential benefits of the partnership, licensing and/or collaboration arrangements and other strategic arrangements and transactions we have entered into or may enter into in the future; our beliefs and expectations regarding milestone, royalty or other payments that could be due to or from third parties under existing agreements; and our estimates regarding future revenues, research and development expenses, capital requirements and payments to third parties. These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors and uncertainties, including the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our business, the safety and efficacy of our product candidates, decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof, the duration and impact of regulatory delays in our clinical programs, our ability to finance our operations, the likelihood and timing of the receipt of future milestone and licensing fees, the future success of our scientific studies, our ability to successfully develop and commercialize drug candidates, the timing for starting and completing clinical trials, rapid technological change in our markets, the enforcement of our intellectual property rights, and the other risks and uncertainties described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. We assume no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances.

Source: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Contacts

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Vince Anzalone, CFA

626-304-3400

ir@arrowheadpharma.com

Investors:
LifeSci Advisors, LLC

Brian Ritchie

212-915-2578

britchie@lifesciadvisors.com
www.lifesciadvisors.com

Media:
LifeSci Communications, LLC

Jason Braco, Ph.D.

646-751-4361

jbraco@lifescicomms.com
www.lifescicomms.com

NurExone Presenting Novel Regulatory Pathways for Exosomes Therapies at Global Summit

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TORONTO and HAIFA, Israel, March 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NurExone Biologic Inc. (TSXV: NRX) (Germany: J90) (the “Company” or “NurExone”), a pioneering biopharmaceutical company, is pleased to announce that Dr. Ina Sarel, the Head of CMC, Quality and Regulatory Affairs at NurExone, will be leading a workshop at the upcoming Exosome Characterization & Analytical Development Summit. Dr. Sarel will be sharing with her expert colleagues insight and information on the topic of “Regulatory Challenges in the Development of an Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) – Based Clinical Product.”

Dr. Sarel joins a prestigious lineup of speakers including representatives from leading exosome companies, e.g. AbbVie, RION Therapeutics, Aegle Therapeutics and universities, e.g. Harvard Medical school. With her experience in regulatory affairs and her deep understanding of the exosome field, Dr. Sarel is well-positioned to provide perspective on how to navigate the complex regulatory landscape and ensure the successful development of exosome-based therapeutics.

Dr. Sarel who led the activities that resulted in the grant of Orphan Drug Designation for ExoPTEN, an exosome-therapy being developed by the Company, stated “NurExone is developing a platform for using exosomes to create wide range of nanodrugs including our first drug – ExoPTEN, for treating patients with acute spinal cord injury. We are proud to share our development outcomes together with our regulatory expertise and are committed to advancing the field of exosome therapeutics for clinical use.”

The Exosome Characterization & Analytical Development Summit is a premier event that brings together experts from academia and industry to discuss the latest advancements in exosome characterization and analytical development. The summit will take place on April 23-25, 2024 in Boston, MA. To learn more about the summit and to register, please visit the Conference Website.

About NurExone Biologic Inc.

NurExone Biologic Inc. is a TSXV listed pharmaceutical company that is developing a platform for biologically-guided exosome-based therapies to be delivered, non-invasively, to patients who have suffered Central Nervous System injuries. The company’s first product, ExoPTEN for acute spinal cord injury, was proven to recover motor function in 75% of laboratory rats when administered intranasally. ExoPTEN has been granted Orphan Drug Designation bythe FDA. The NurExone platform technology is expected to offer novel solutions to drug companies interested in noninvasive targeted drug delivery for other indications.

For additional information, please visit www.nurexone.com or follow NurExone on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Lior Shaltiel
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Phone: +972-52-4803034
Email: info@nurexone.com

Thesis Capital Inc.
Investment Relation – Canada
Phone: +1 905-347-5569
Email: IR@nurexone.com

Dr. Eva Reuter
Investment Relation – Germany
Phone: +49-69-1532-5857
Email: e.reuter@dr-reuter.eu

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company’s future plans and intellectual property, the scientific and development and commercial activities to be carried out by the company, the efficient loading of exosomes, future potential manufacturing, clinical, licensing and marketing activities and the treatment of certain conditions. Wherever possible, words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict” or “potential” or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Certain assumptions include the ability of the Company to commercialize its intellectual property internally and through licensing and that the Company has the appropriate team in order to realize commercialization. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to the Company’s early stage of development, lack of revenues to date, government regulation, market acceptance for its products, rapid technological change, dependence on key personnel, protection of the Company’s intellectual property and dependence on the Company’s strategic partners. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FogPharma Announces $145 Million Financing to Support Ongoing Clinical Development of FOG-001 and Accelerate Helicon Peptide Portfolio

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Financing led by Nextech Invest and joined by new investors RA Capital Management, Rock Springs Capital, General Catalyst, Marshall Wace, Samsara Biocapital, Foresite Capital, Symbiosis, Catalio Capital Management, Sixty Degree Capital and Alex Gorsky

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–FogPharma®, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to delivering a new class of therapies that go beyond the limits of currently available medicines using its Helicon™ peptide platform, today announced the successful closing of a $145 million Series E financing round. The financing was led by Nextech Invest with participation from other new investors including RA Capital Management, Rock Springs Capital, General Catalyst, Marshall Wace, Samsara Biocapital, Foresite Capital, Symbiosis, Catalio Capital Management, Sixty Degree Capital and former chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson, Alex Gorsky.

There was strong support by existing investors, including ARCH Venture Partners, Fidelity Management & Research Company, GV, Cormorant Asset Management, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., Farallon Capital Management, venBio Partners, Invus and Milky Way Investments. Alexis Borisy, an accomplished investor and entrepreneur, also joined the company’s board of directors in the position designated to Nextech.

The financing will fund the ongoing clinical development of FOG-001, the company’s first-in-class intracellular TCF-blocking β-catenin inhibitor currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 study in solid tumors. The round will also accelerate the development of its robust portfolio of unique discovery programs, deepen its data science capabilities and strengthen its core Helicon therapeutics platform.

FOG-001 is a Helicon designed to block the key oncogenic step in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, one of the most frequently activated pathways in a variety of cancers. Mutations in the pathway are particularly prevalent in colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of all global cancer deaths, with an estimated two million new cases per year, according to the World Health Organization. Despite significant biological validation of the β-catenin:TCF interaction as a cancer driver, no existing treatment has been able to disrupt it due to its inaccessibility to antibody and traditional small molecule medicines.

“Millions of colorectal cancer patients have been told by their oncologists that no more can be done for them. We believe FOG-001 may represent the long-awaited major technological breakthrough needed to address one of the most common yet unaddressed oncogenic signaling pathways,” said Mathai Mammen, M.D., Ph.D., FogPharma’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “This financing will allow us to execute on our expanded clinical development and commercialization strategy to deliver FOG-001 to patients, while simultaneously strengthening our discovery efforts against other compelling intracellular targets that drive a range of diseases.”

FOG-001 is the first of several wholly-owned programs generated by FogPharma’s Helicon platform being advanced to address biologically validated disease-driving intracellular targets by modulating protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions inside the cell. FogPharma’s Helicon platform combines ultra-diverse and tunable stabilized helical peptides with custom-built computational physics and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to enable the discovery and development of novel programs across a vast array of intracellular targets that have never before been drugged.

“We are excited by the tremendous potential of FOG-001 to meaningfully change the therapeutic landscape through a novel approach, and are equally impressed by FogPharma’s robust pipeline of programs for significant drivers of cancer,” said Nextech Managing Partner Thilo Schroeder, Ph.D. “The company’s rapid progress across its growing pipeline demonstrates FogPharma’s team is enabled to deliver on the vast potential of its Helicon therapeutics platform.”

The financing follows a period of rapid growth for the company as its leadership team has expanded with industry veterans with track records in clinical, commercial and data science execution. This includes the company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Mathai Mammen, M.D., Ph.D.; healthcare data science pioneer and Chief Data Officer Brandon Allgood, Ph.D.; Chief Technical Operations Officer Rohin Mhatre, Ph.D.; and Chief Business Officer Gregory Miller, MPH, MBA.

About FogPharma®

FogPharma is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery and development of Helicon™ therapeutics, which are peptides capable of efficient cell entry and modulation of both protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Through Helicon therapeutics, FogPharma is poised to revolutionize the medical possibilities for patients by precisely drugging intracellular targets long understood to be significant drivers of disease but never before drugged due to the limitations of existing drug modalities to act within the cell. FOG-001, the company’s first-in-class TCF-blocking β-catenin inhibitor, is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 study for patients with advanced solid tumors, including colorectal cancer. FogPharma is fully leveraging the unprecedented potential Helicons present by deploying proprietary, custom-built machine learning and computational methods as part of its discovery and development process. FogPharma has raised more than $500 million to date from leading life sciences investors. FogPharma is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. For more information, please visit: www.fogpharma.com.

Contacts

Media
Ten Bridge Communications

Rebecca Spalding

rebecca@tenbridgecommunications.com

MaaT Pharma Announces Positive Review from the DSMB on the Ongoing Phase 1 Clinical Trial Evaluating MaaT033 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

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  • Independent Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB) recommended that the trial proceeds as planned without modifications.
  • MaaT033 has shown a good safety profile and was generally well tolerated in the first 8 patients with ALS treated with MaaT033 used in a chronic setting.

    • MaaT Pharma (EURONEXT: MAAT – the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and a leader in the development of Microbiome Ecosystem TherapiesTM (MET) dedicated to enhancing survival of patients with cancer, today announced that the DSMB reviewed safety data in the first 8 patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) treated with MaaT033 in the IASO clinical trial. The DSMB recommended that the trial continue without modifications.

    The DSMB, composed of 4 independent experts, including an ALS patient association representative, concluded that safety was good. More precisely, it should be noted that no serious or severe adverse events were observed, and no infectious events could be related to MaaT033. The preliminary results reinforce confidence in the safety of MaaT033, a drug candidate produced by combining the microbiota from multiple donors using a “pooling” process.

    MaaT033 is currently evaluated, in a chronic setting, in a Phase 1b pilot study (NCT05889572) in ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease in the US and Charcot’s disease in French-speaking countries). The Company has developed the clinical trial with the French academic experts FILSLAN/ ACT4ALS-MND and in collaboration with the French patients’ association Tous en Selles contre la SLA. Data readout is now expected in early H2 2024. MaaT033 is also being evaluated in the Phase 2b trial PHOEBUS (NCT05762211), the largest one to date in Europe for a microbiome therapy in oncology, dedicated to improving survival of patients with blood cancers receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

    About MaaT033

    MaaT033, a donor-derived, high-richness, high-diversity oral Microbiome Ecosystem TherapyTM containing anti-inflammatory ButycoreTM species, is currently being developed as an adjunctive therapy to improve overall survival in patients receiving HSCT and other cellular therapies. It aims to ensure optimal microbiota function and to address a larger patient population in a chronic setting. MaaT033 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

    About MaaT Pharma

    MaaT Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company, has established a complete approach to restoring patient-microbiome symbiosis in oncology. Committed to treating cancer and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, MaaT Pharma launched, in March 2022, an open-label, single arm, phase 3 clinical trial in patients with acute GvHD (aGvHD), following the achievement of its proof of concept in a phase 2 trial. Its powerful discovery and analysis platform, gutPrint®, enables the identification of novel disease targets, evaluation of drug candidates, and identification of biomarkers for microbiome-related conditions. The company’s Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies are produced through a standardized cGMP manufacturing and quality control process to safely deliver the full diversity of the microbiome, in liquid and oral formulations. MaaT Pharma benefits from the commitment of world-leading scientists and established relationships with regulators to support the integration of the use of microbiome therapies in clinical practice. MaaT Pharma is listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: MAAT).

    Forward-looking Statements

    All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company’s control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by, or including words such as “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim”, “intend,” “may,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “can have,” “likely,” “should,” “would,” “could” and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company’s control that could cause the Company’s actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

    Contacts

    MaaT Pharma – Investor Relations
    Guilhaume DEBROAS, Ph.D.

    Head of Investor Relations

    +33 6 16 48 92 50

    invest@maat-pharma.com

    MaaT Pharma – Media Relations
    Pauline RICHAUD

    Senior PR & Corporate Communications Manager

    +33 6 14 06 45 92

    media@maat-pharma.com

    Trophic Communications
    Stephanie MAY or

    Priscillia PERRIN

    +49 171 185 56 82

    maat@trophic.eu

    Animal Biosciences Announces New Canine Clinical Research Evaluating Reversal of Age-Related Signs in Dogs

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    After five years of development, positive results are seen in old dogs in a rigorous placebo-controlled trial performed at a leading vet school

    BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Animal Biosciences, Inc., a company aiming to extend the lifespan of pets, today announced new clinical research published to the preprint server BioRxiv that tested the effects of their “LeapYears” supplement designed to extend healthspan in dogs.

    After five years of development and testing in dogs, leveraging discoveries made at Harvard Medical School, the study shows the first clinical evidence that it is possible to reverse age-related decline in dogs.

    The supplement, formulated as a soft chew, is a combination of an “NAD booster” to mimic fasting, and a molecule that kills “zombie” senescent cells that cause aging. The combination was developed because the effects in vivo were better than the single molecules alone.

    The double-blind clinical study conducted at North Carolina State University Veterinary College, in collaboration with Dr. Natasha Olby, a Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, has confirmed the effects of the supplement to significantly improve cognitive function. The formulation may have broader effects on frailty, activity, and happiness, as assessed by owners.

    “The outcomes of the clinical trial, especially the enhancements in cognition, are encouraging and represent a unique achievement,” Dr. Olby noted. “This rigorous study, which acknowledges the difficulties aging pets and their owners encounter, shows dedication to scientific methods aimed at improving the quality of life for our canine companions.”

    Aging has been defined as the chronic dysregulation of gene expression networks over time leading to subsequent deteriorated tissue and organ function causing age-related functional decline. In senior dogs, as in humans, this age-related decline can manifest as cognitive decline, increased frailty and lower engagement. The results of the trial showed positive impacts in all these areas of decline.

    Dr. David A. Sinclair, AO, PhD, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Animal Biosciences stated, “I am very proud of the teams at NCSU and Animal Biosciences, who, after years of collaborative research and a clinical trial, have developed the first supplement proven to reverse aging in dogs.”

    Animal Biosciences Inc. is a Boston-based animal health company focused on delaying aging and extending the healthy lifespan of companion animals. Co-founded in 2017 by well-known longevity pioneer, Professor David A. Sinclair of Harvard Medical School, and his brother, Nick Sinclair, CEO, a dedicated dog-lover with experience in the pharmaceutical and food industries, Animal Biosciences is adapting small molecule-based therapies from human health specifically for companion animals and testing them in rigorous clinical trials. The company has a pipeline of additional small molecules and therapies targeting aging in companion animals.

    Contacts

    arianna@gcw.agency
    Phone: 646-964-4446