Researchers Trace the Origin of Blood Cancer to Early Childhood, Decades before Diagnosis – PRNewswire

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Genetic mutations linked with cancer can occur during childhood or even before birth and proliferate in the body for many years before causing cancer symptoms, according to a new study. The study, which traced the genetic origins of a blood cancer in 10 individuals, suggests there may be untapped opportunities to detect cancer warning signs much earlier and potentially intervene to prevent or slow cancer development.

"Our preliminary findings show these cancer driver mutations were often acquired in childhood, many decades before the cancer diagnosis," said senior study authorJyoti Nangalia, MD,of the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Cambridge. "Our results finally answer the common question posed by patients, 'How long has this cancer been growing?' as we were able to study how these particular cancers developed over the entire lifetime of individual patients."

The researchers analyzed bone marrow and blood samples from 10 people with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms, a type of cancer that causes stem cells in the bone marrow to produce too many blood cells. In the majority of patients, this cancer is driven by a genetic mutation called JAK2V617F. By assessing JAK2V617F, other cancer-linked mutations and hundreds of thousands of other mutations that a person naturally acquires throughout life, the researchers were able to trace the ancestry of different blood cells and estimate the time at which each patient acquired JAK2V617F and other important mutations.

They determined that, in these 10 patients, the first cancer-linked mutations emerged as early as a few weeks after the start of life and up to the first decade of childhood despite clinical disease presenting many decades later in life.

"We were not expecting this," said Dr. Nangalia. "In fact, in one patient, the JAK2 mutation was acquired more than 50 years before their diagnosis."

While it is often assumed that most cancers are diagnosed within a few years of their emergence, the findings point to a more gradual, lifelong process in which a single cell acquires a cancer-linked mutation early in life and then slowly grows over decades, ultimately leading to cancer.

"Some of these cancer-linked mutations are found in healthy individuals as we get older, suggesting that aging causes them," said Dr. Nangalia. "However, aging per se doesn't drive such growth it simply takes a long time for the clones to grow." Sometimes, the growing clones pick up additional cancer-linked mutations along the way, accelerating their growth, researchers found.

"For these patients, we calculated how many of these cancer clones would have been present in the past, and our results suggest that these clones may have been detectable up to 10 to 40 years before diagnosis," said Dr. Nangalia. "In addition to detecting the mutations, the rate at which the mutated clones grew was also very important in determining whether, and when, cancer develops." The findings suggest that genetic testing could help identify people at risk for cancer much earlier than current methods allow, according to researchers.

The next steps would be to understand the factors that influence the different rates of cancer growth and determine whether there could be ways to intervene and slow the growth of cells with cancer-linked mutations. The researchers say their method for pinpointing the origin of this blood cancer could also be applied to other mutations and other blood cancers. "Understanding the timelines of development of different cancers is critical for efforts aimed at early cancer detection and prevention," said Dr. Nangalia.

Jyoti Nangalia, MBBChir,Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Cambridge, will present this study during the Late-Breaking Abstracts session on Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 a.m. Pacific time on the ASH annual meeting virtual platform.

For the complete annual meeting program and abstracts, visit http://www.hematology.org/annual-meeting. Follow ASH and #ASH20 on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook for the most up-to-date information about the 2020 ASH Annual Meeting.

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) (www.hematology.org) is the world's largest professional society of hematologists dedicated to furthering the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood. For more than 60 years, the Society has led the development of hematology as a discipline by promoting research, patient care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. ASH publishes Blood (www.bloodjournal.org), the most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field, and Blood Advances (www.bloodadvances.org), an online, peer-reviewed open-access journal.

SOURCE American Society of Hematology

http://www.hematology.org

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Stem cells: past, present, and future | Stem Cell Research …

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Jasper Therapeutics Announces Data from First Transplant-naive Patient in Phase 1 Clinical Trial of JSP191 as Conditioning Agent in Patients with SCID…

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jasper Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on hematopoietic cell transplant therapies, today announced clinical data from its ongoing multicenter Phase 1 clinical trial of JSP191, a first-in-class anti-CD117 monoclonal antibody, in patients with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID). The trial is evaluating JSP191 as a conditioning agent to enable stem cell transplantation in patients with SCID who are either transplant-naive or who received a prior stem cell transplant with a poor outcome.

Data from the first transplant-nave SCID patient in the Phase 1 trial, a 6-month-old infant, showed that a single dose of JSP191 administered prior to stem cell transplant was effective in establishing sustained donor chimerism followed by development of B, T and NK immune cells. No treatment-related adverse events were reported. The data were presented by primary investigator Rajni Agrawal-Hashmi, M.D., of Stanford University, at the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition.

We have previously shown that JSP191 can be successfully used as a single conditioning agent in SCID patients who had failed a previous transplant, said Kevin N. Heller, M.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development, of Jasper Therapeutics. This new data presented at ASH 2020 showing success in an infant with SCID undergoing a first transplant provides proof of concept of the safety and efficacy of the use of JSP191 as an alternative to genotoxic chemotherapies currently used to deplete stem cells prior to transplant.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation offers the only curative therapy for SCID, a severe genetic immune disorder that leaves patients without a functioning immune system. With this approach, standard-of-care chemotherapeutic conditioning regimens are given prior to transplant to reduce the number of blood stem cells in the bone marrow to make space for donor blood stem cells to engraft and cure the patient. JSP191 is designed to replace the need for chemotherapeutic conditioning agents, which are DNA-damaging and highly toxic.

Dr. Heller added, With our Phase 1 trials in SCID and hematologic disorders underway, we are planning to expand the development of JSP191 into additional indications, such as gene therapies, autoimmune diseases, Fanconis anemia and other rare disorders that can be cured by stem cell transplant.

The open-label, multicenter Phase 1 study is evaluating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of JSP191 as a conditioning agent in patients with SCID undergoing first or repeat hematopoietic cell transplantation. Up to three different doses of JSP191 are being assessed for dose-limiting toxicities. The trial is currently open for enrollment at Stanford University, the University of California, San Francisco, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the University of California, Los Angeles, and Cincinnati Childrens Hospital. Additional clinical trial sites in the United States will initiate enrollment in the coming weeks.

About SCID

Severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) is a group of rare disorders caused by mutations in genes involved in the development and function of infection-fighting immune cells. Infants with SCID appear healthy at birth but are highly susceptible to severe infections. The condition is fatal, usually within the first year or two of life, unless infants receive immune-restoring treatments, such as transplants of blood-forming stem cells, gene therapy or enzyme therapy.

About JSP191

JSP191 (formerly AMG 191) is a first-in-class humanized monoclonal antibody in clinical development as a conditioning agent that clears hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow. JSP191 binds to human CD117, a receptor for stem cell factor (SCF) that is expressed on the surface of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The interaction of SCF and CD117 is required for stem cells to survive. JSP191 blocks SCF from binding to CD117 and disrupts critical survival signals, causing the stem cells to undergo cell death and creating an empty space in the bone marrow for donor or gene-corrected transplanted stem cells to engraft.

Preclinical studies have shown that JSP191 as a single agent safely depletes normal and diseased hematopoietic stem cells, including in animal models of SCID, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and sickle cell disease (SCD). Treatment with JSP191 creates the space needed for transplanted normal donor or gene-corrected hematopoietic stem cells to successfully engraft in the host bone marrow. To date, JSP191 has been evaluated in more than 90 healthy volunteers and patients.

JSP191 is currently being evaluated as a sole conditioning agent in a Phase 1/2 dose-escalation and expansion trial to achieve donor stem cell engraftment in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), which is potentially curable only by this type of treatment. JSP191 is also being evaluated in a Phase 1 study in patients with MDS or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are receiving hematopoietic cell transplant. For more information about the design of these clinical trials, visit http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02963064 and NCT04429191). Additional studies are planned to advance JSP191 as a conditioning agent for patients with other rare and ultra-rare monogenic disorders and autoimmune diseases.

About Jasper Therapeutics

Jasper Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel curative therapies based on the biology of the hematopoietic stem cell. The companys lead compound, JSP191, is in clinical development as a conditioning antibody that clears hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow in patients undergoing a hematopoietic cell transplant. This first-in-class conditioning antibody is designed to enable safer and more effective curative hematopoietic cell transplants and gene therapies. For more information, please visit us at jaspertherapeutics.com.

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Jasper Therapeutics Announces Data from First Transplant-naive Patient in Phase 1 Clinical Trial of JSP191 as Conditioning Agent in Patients with SCID...

After boosting gene therapy focus, Bayer signs up to new cell therapy pact with Atara – FierceBiotech

German pharma Bayer is moving into cell therapy R&D with its latest pact focusing on tough-to-treat lung cancers with Atara Biotherapeutics.

Bayer has been moving deeply into gene therapies over the past few years, but it's now entering the CAR-T research space in its Atara deal. CAR-T has been focused heavily on blood cancers, where there have been some amazing successes (but also serious safety worries), but this pact is focusing on a tougher area for cell therapy, namely solid tumors.

The deal focuses on off-the-shelf T-cell immunotherapy ATA3271 for high mesothelin-expressing tumors, with a focus on more rare and tough-to-treat high mesothelin-expressing tumors such as malignant pleural mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer.

At Parexel, we get the right people to you, so you can get the right treatment to your patients. Our functional service provider (FSP) outsourcing has evolved with biopharmas changing needs, so sponsors can efficiently manage operations through access to experts, resource flexibility, and reduced labor costs. Our latest whitepaper discusses the current FSP models and provides expert tips for choosing the right one.

The financials break down like this: Atara gets $60 million upfront, with up to $610 million on the table in biobucks. The biotech will lead IND-enabling studies and process development for ATA3271, while Bayer will be responsible for submitting the IND and then will take over R&D and sales work.

Atara will continue to be responsible for the ongoing ATA2271 phase 1 study, for which an IND filing has been accepted and a test already started.

RELATED: Bayer creates cell and gene therapy platform to support partners

For a limited time, Bayer also has a nonexclusive right to negotiate a license for additional Atara CAR-T product candidates.

This transaction is a fundamental element of Bayers new Cell & Gene Therapy strategy. It strengthens our development portfolio through allogeneic cell therapies and consolidates our emerging leadership in the field, said Wolfram Carius, head of Bayers Cell & Gene Therapy Unit.

We look forward to collaborating with Atara to develop off-the-shelf CAR T-cell therapies for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.

Germanys Bayer has moved into cell and gene therapies on multiple fronts in recent years, buying up induced pluripotent stem cell specialist BlueRock Therapeutics and adeno-associated virus gene therapy player Asklepios BioPharmaceutical while investing in a clutch of other biotechs. The deals have given Bayer a pipeline of five advanced assets and more than 15 preclinical prospects.

It has backed other CAR-T players over the years, including CAR alternative player Triumvira and Century Therapeutics, but the Atara deal takes it further into directly working on a cell therapy.

This exciting collaboration between Atara and Bayer will accelerate the development of mesothelin-targeted CAR T-cell therapies for multiple solid tumors and helps us advance the power of our allogeneic cell therapy platform to patients as quickly as possible, added Pascal Touchon, president and CEO of Atara.

Bayers proven track record in oncology global development and commercialization, and growing presence in cell and gene therapy, enhances Ataras capabilities and complements our leading allogeneic T-cell platform.

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Data published in Cancer Research show Secarna Pharmaceuticals’ LNAplus(TM) ASOs targeting metadherin significantly slow progression and metastasis of…

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during the forecast period. The growth of this market is majorly driven by the growing awareness about the benefits of cell culture-based vaccines, increasing demand for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), funding for cell-based research, growing preference for single-use technologies, and the launch of advanced cell culture products.New York, Dec. 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cell Culture Market by Product, Application, End User - Global Forecast to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p03665912/?utm_source=GNW On the other hand, the high cost of cell biology research and the lack of proper infrastructure for cell-based research activities are the major factors restraining this markets growth.Based on product, the consumables segment holds the largest market share during the forecast period.Based on product, the cell culture market is segmented into equipment and consumables.The consumables segment accounted for the largest market share in 2019 and is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.The dominant share and high growth of the consumables segment can be attributed to the repeated purchase of consumables and increased funding for cell-based research.Based onapplication, thebiopharmaceutical productionsegment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.Based on application, the cell culture market is categorized into biopharmaceutical production, stem cell research, diagnostics, drug screening & development, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and other applications. The biopharmaceutical production application segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.The high growth of this segment is attributed to the commercial expansion of major pharmaceutical companies, growing regulatory approvals for the production of cell culture-based vaccines, and the increasing demand for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).Pharmaceutical &Biotechnology companies end user segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the cell culture market during the forecast periodBased on end users, the cell culture market is segmented into pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, academic & research institutes, hospitals and diagnostic centers, and cell banks. The pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. The growing use of single-use technologies, the increasing number of regulatory approvals for cell culture-based vaccines, and the presence of a large number of pharmaceutical players in this market are some of the factors driving the cell culture market for this end user segmentNorth America is expected to account for the largest share of the cell culture market in 2019In 2019, North America accounted for the largest share of the cell culture market, followed by Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The large share of this market segment can be attributed to thegrowing regulatory approvals for cell culture-based vaccines, technological advancements, and growth in the biotechnology & pharmaceutical industries in the region are the key factors driving the growth of the cell culture market in North AmericaBreak of primary participants was as mentioned below: By Company Type Tier 136%, Tier 245%, and Tier 319% By Designation C-level33%, Director-level40%, Others27% By Region North America36%, Europe28%, AsiaPacific19%, Latin America-9%, Middle East and Africa8%Key players in the cell culturemarketThe key players operating in the cell culturemarketincludeThermo Fisher Scientific (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), GE Healthcare (US), Danaher Corporation (US), Lonza Group AG (Switzerland), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Corning Incorporated (US), Eppendorf (Germany), HiMedia Laboratories (India), Sartorius AG (Germany), PromoCell GmbH (Germany), FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific (US), InvivoGen (US), CellGenix GmbH (Germany), SeraCare Life Sciences Incorporation (US), Miltenyi Biotec (Germany), STEMCELL Technologies, Inc. (Canada), Solida Biotech GmBH (Germany), Caisson Labs Inc. (US), Cellexus Ltd, (UK), PIERRE GURIN (France), Applikon Biotechnology BV (Netherlands), WISENT Inc. (Canada), Koh Jin-Bio Co., Ltd. (Japan), PAN-Biotech GmbH (Germany), and Infors AG (Switzerland).Research Coverage:The report analyzes the cell culturemarketand aims at estimating the market size and future growth potential of this market based on various segments such as product, application, end user, andregion.The report also includes aproduct portfolio matrix of various cell cultureproductsavailable in the market.The report also providesa competitive analysis of the key players in this market, along with their company profiles, product offerings, and key market strategies.Reasons to Buy the ReportThe report will enrich established firms as well as new entrants/smaller firms to gauge the pulse of the market, which in turn would helpthem, garner a more significant share of the market. Firms purchasing the report could use one or any combination of the below-mentioned strategies tostrengthen their position in the market.This report provides insights into the following pointers: Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on product portfolios offered by the top players in the global cell culturemarket. The report analyzes this marketby product, application, and end user Product Enhancement/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming trends and productlaunches in the global cell culturemarket Market Development: Comprehensive information on the lucrative emerging markets by product, application, and end user Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products or product enhancements, growing geographies, recent developments, and investments in theglobal cell culturemarket Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, product offerings, competitive leadership mapping, and capabilities of leading players in theglobal cell culturemarket.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03665912/?utm_source=GNWAbout ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.__________________________ CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001

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Data published in Cancer Research show Secarna Pharmaceuticals' LNAplus(TM) ASOs targeting metadherin significantly slow progression and metastasis of...

Europe Tissue Engineering Market Forecast to 2027 – COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis by Material Type, Applications, and Country -…

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Europe Tissue Engineering Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis by Material Type, Applications, and Country" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Europe tissue engineering market is expected to reach US$ 7,368.93 million by 2027 from US$ 2,798.86 million in 2019; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% during 2020-2027.

The market growth is primarily attributed to the increasing incidences of chronic diseases, road accidents, and trauma injuries, and technological advancements in 3D tissue engineering techniques. High cost associated to the tissue engineering process is one of the major factors restraining the growth of the market. Additionally, increasing financial contributions by government and private sector are likely to fuel the growth of the Europe tissue engineering market during the forecast period.

Tissue engineering is a blend of material methods and cellular activities. This approach involves the use of physicochemical and biochemical attributes of humans to replace the biological tissues and strengthen them. It is an innovative technology that works either separately or in conjunction with scaffolds, stem cells, regenerative medicine, and growth factors or negotiators. The process utilizes molecular and cellular processes in combination with the principles of material engineering to surgically repair and restore tissue.

The tissue engineering market in Europe is estimated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period, and the growth is driven by the increase in research activities, growing demand for organ transplants, escalating number of initiatives by market players for expanding their presence in the region, and higher adoption of stem cell research in several European countries.

In the Europe, due to an increasing number of COVID-19 patients, healthcare professionals and leading organizations are rechanneling the flow of healthcare resources from R&D to primary care, which is slowing down the process of innovation. Further, the pandemic is also hindering the conduct of clinical trials and drug development, and the operations of diagnostic industry in Europe.

For instance, Stryker Corporation, a well-known player in the tissue engineering industry, has diverted operations to manufacture COVID-19 diagnostics and PPE kits. Moreover, according to a recent survey published by Medscape in July 2020, substantial disruption has been witnessed in routine research activities that include tissue engineering and regenerative medicines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid increase in the number of the infected patients in the Italy and Spain is likely to result in the slowdown of the market growth in the near future.

In 2019, the biologically derived material segment accounted for the largest share of the Europe tissue engineering market. The growth of the market for this segment is attributed to the rising adoption of biomaterials due to their natural regenerative potential to restore tissue functioning and ability to facilitate the on demand release of chemokines with the procedure. Further, the synthetic material segment is likely to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

1.1 Scope of the Study

1.2 Report Guidance

1.3 Market Segmentation

2. Europe Tissue engineering Market - Key Takeaways

3. Research Methodology

4. Europe Tissue engineering Market - Market Landscape

4.1 Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.3 Expert Opinion

5. Europe Tissue engineering Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Key Market Drivers

5.1.1 Increasing Number of Road Accidents and Trauma Injuries, and Elevating Incidence of Chronic Diseases

5.1.2 Technological Advancements in the Field of 3D Tissue engineering

5.1.3 Government and Private sector funding

5.2 Key Market Restraints

5.2.1 High Cost associated with tissue engineering

5.3 Impact Analysis

6. Tissue engineering Market - Europe Analysis

6.1 Europe Tissue engineering Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis

7. Europe Tissue engineering Market Analysis - By Material Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Europe Tissue engineering Market, By Material Type 2019-2027 (%)

7.2.1 Europe Tissue engineering Market Material Type Segment Revenue and Forecasts to 2027, By Material Type (US$ Mn)

7.3 Biologically Derived Material

7.4 Synthetic Material

7.5 Other

8. Europe Tissue engineering Market Analysis - By Application

8.1 Overview

8.2 Europe Tissue engineering Market, By Application 2019-2027 (%)

8.2.1 Europe Tissue engineering Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2027, By Application (US$ Mn)

8.3 Orthopedic, Musculoskeletal and Spine

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 Europe Orthopedic, Musculoskeletal and Spine Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2027 (US$ Mn)

8.4 Skin

8.5 Cardiology and Vascular

8.6 Neurology

8.7 Others

9. Europe Tissue engineering Market Revenue and Forecasts To 2027 - Regional Analysis

10. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Europe Tissue Engineering Market

10.1 Europe: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11. Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ppygkp

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Allogene Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data on ALLO-316 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the 62nd Meeting of the American Society of Hematology -…

December 06, 2020 10:00 ET | Source: Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allogene Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALLO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of allogeneic CAR T (AlloCAR T) therapies for cancer, today announced preclinical findings of ALLO-316, an AlloCAR T therapy targeting CD70, in models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Data were presented in a poster session today at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

The Company also announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a Phase 1 trial of ALLO-316 for patients with advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The Companys first solid tumor trial is expected to begin enrolling patients in 2021.

We are very excited about the potential of ALLO-316, our fourth AlloCAR T investigational therapy, to treat patients with CD70 expressing malignancies across both hematologic and solid tumor indications, said Rafael Amado, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer of Allogene. These preclinical results in AML, coupled with previous findings of ALLO-316 in RCC presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in 2019, reinforce our belief that CD70 may become one of the more important targets across a broad spectrum of cancers.

CD70 is expressed in a number of malignancies ranging from solid tumors such as RCC, lung cancer and glioblastoma to hematologic cancers including AML, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

In the preclinical studies presented at ASH, CD70 expression was detected on AML cell lines and primary AML samples from patients. No expression of CD70 was identified in hematopoietic stem cells. ALLO-316 demonstrated the ability to mediate efficient killing of leukemic cells in multiple models. This killing activity was specific to CD70 expression on the target cells as ALLO-316 did not kill AML cell lines in which CD70 was knocked out. The preclinical studies also showed that ALLO-316 can mask CD70 on the surface of CAR T cells thereby preventing fratercide and allowing scaled manufacturing of AlloCAR T cells.

AboutAllogene Therapeutics Allogene Therapeutics, with headquarters in South San Francisco, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (AlloCAR T) therapies for cancer. Led by a management team with significant experience in cell therapy, Allogene is developing a pipeline of off-the-shelf CAR T cell therapy candidates with the goal of delivering readily available cell therapy on-demand, more reliably, and at greater scale to more patients. For more information, please visit http://www.allogene.com, and follow @AllogeneTx on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The press release may, in some cases, use terms such as "predicts," "believes," "potential," "proposed," "continue," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: timing and ability to progress a clinical trial of ALLO-316 in RCC; ability to manufacture ALLO-316; and the potential benefits of ALLO-316 and AlloCAR T therapy. Various factors may cause differences between Allogenes expectations and actual results as discussed in greater detail in Allogenes filings with the SEC, including without limitation in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. Any forward-looking statements that are made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Allogene assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

AlloCAR T is a trademark ofAllogene Therapeutics, Inc.

ALLO-316 utilizes TALEN gene-editing technology pioneered and owned by Cellectis. Allogene has an exclusive license to the Cellectis technology for allogeneic products directed at CD70 and holds all global development and commercial rights for this investigational candidate.

Allogene Media/Investor Contact: Christine Cassiano Chief Communications Officer (714) 552-0326 Christine.Cassiano@allogene.com

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Allogene Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data on ALLO-316 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the 62nd Meeting of the American Society of Hematology -...

Data Evaluating Tafasitamab with and without Lenalidomide in Combination with R-CHOP in Patients with DLBCL Presented at ASH 2020 – Business Wire

WILMINGTON, Del. & PLANEGG/MUNICH, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Incyte (Nasdaq:INCY) and MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment; MDAX & TecDAX; NASDAQ:MOR) announce that preliminary data from firstMIND, the ongoing Phase 1b, open-label, randomized study on the safety and efficacy of tafasitamab or tafasitamab plus lenalidomide in addition to R-CHOP for patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were presented today during the 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition (ASH). Additionally, a long-term subgroup analysis of the L-MIND study investigating tafasitamab combined with lenalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL was also presented at ASH.

The preliminary results of firstMIND indicate that tafasitamab plus lenalidomide in addition to R-CHOP shows an acceptable tolerability profile. Toxicities appear to be similar to what is expected with R-CHOP alone or in combination with lenalidomide. Serious or severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia events (grade 3 or higher) were more frequent in the tafasitamab plus lenalidomide arm. The incidence of febrile neutropenia was comparable between both arms and the average relative dose intensity of R-CHOP was maintained in both arms. Interim response assessments after three cycles were available for 45 patients. In both arms combined, 41/45 (91.1%) of patients had an objective response as per Lugano 20141.

The preliminary data from this ongoing study in first-line DLBCL warrant further investigation. To that end, MorphoSys and Incyte plan to initiate frontMIND, a Phase 3 trial evaluating tafasitamab plus lenalidomide in combination with R-CHOP compared to R-CHOP alone as first-line treatment for patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL.

The initial results of the firstMIND study, shared today at ASH, as well as the long-term analyses from L-MIND, underscore the potential of tafasitamab as a combination therapeutic for patients with DLBCL, where there remains a significant unmet need. Along with our partners at MorphoSys, we are pleased to be moving forward with the initiation of a Phase 3 study in 2021, said Steven Stein, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Incyte.

The preliminary firstMIND study results mark another important step as we explore the potential of tafasitamab as a backbone therapy, said Dr. Malte Peters, Chief Research and Development Officer at MorphoSys. Given the data available to date, including data from the L-MIND study, we believe that the mechanism of action, efficacy and safety profile of tafasitamab have the potential to make it a preferred combination partner as we seek to transform the standard of care in DLBCL. We are committed to developing innovative therapies to battle this aggressive disease for the benefit of patients with DLBCL, and look forward to beginning the planned frontMIND in the first half of 2021.

In addition to the firstMIND data presented today, the long-term L-MIND analyses showed that treatment with tafasitamab plus lenalidomide resulted in durable responses after 2 years of follow-up. At the time of analysis, patients with complete responses (CR) continued to experience durable treatment responses, including long duration of response (DoR) and overall survival (OS). The data also showed that tafasitamab plus lenalidomide taken for 12 cycles, followed by tafasitamab until progression, did not result in any unexpected safety signals2.

In July 2020, the FDA approved Monjuvi (tafasitamab-cxix), a humanized Fc-modified cytolytic CD19-targeting monoclonal antibody, in combination with lenalidomide for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from low grade lymphoma, and who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s)3.

The FDA decision represented the first approval of a second-line treatment for adult patients with DLBCL who progressed during or after first-line therapy.

About Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)

DLBCL is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults worldwide4, characterized by rapidly growing masses of malignant B-cells in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow or other organs. It is an aggressive disease with about one in three patients not responding to initial therapy or relapsing thereafter5. In the United States each year, approximately 10,000 patients are diagnosed with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT)6,7,8.

About firstMIND

The firstMIND (NCT04134936) trial is a Phase 1b, randomized study of tafasitamab + R-CHOP (Arm A) or tafasitamab + lenalidomide + R-CHOP (Arm B) in patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The study includes a safety run-in phase and a main phase. In the safety run-in phase, 24 patients were enrolled. The primary objective is to assess safety; secondary objectives include objective response rate, PET negative complete response (PET-CR) rate at end of treatment, progression-free survival, event-free survival, long-term safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of tafasitamab.

About Tafasitamab

Tafasitamab is a humanized Fc-modified cytolytic CD19 targeting monoclonal antibody. In 2010, MorphoSys licensed exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize tafasitamab from Xencor, Inc. Tafasitamab incorporates an XmAb engineered Fc domain, which mediates B-cell lysis through apoptosis and immune effector mechanism including antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP).

Monjuvi (tafasitamab-cxix) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in combination with lenalidomide for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from low grade lymphoma, and who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s).

In January 2020, MorphoSys and Incyte entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement to further develop and commercialize tafasitamab globally. Monjuvi is being co-commercialized by Incyte and MorphoSys in the United States. Incyte has exclusive commercialization rights outside the United States.

A marketing authorization application (MAA) seeking the approval of tafasitamab in combination with lenalidomide in the EU has been validated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and is currently under review for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, including DLBCL arising from low grade lymphoma, who are not candidates for ASCT.

Tafasitamab is being clinically investigated as a therapeutic option in B-cell malignancies in a number of ongoing combination trials.

Monjuvi is a registered trademark of MorphoSys AG.

XmAb is a registered trademark of Xencor, Inc.

Important Safety Information

What are the possible side effects of MONJUVI?

MONJUVI may cause serious side effects, including:

The most common side effects of MONJUVI include:

These are not all the possible side effects of MONJUVI.

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

Before you receive MONJUVI, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

You should also read the lenalidomide Medication Guide for important information about pregnancy, contraception, and blood and sperm donation.

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

Please see the full Prescribing Information for Monjuvi, including Patient Information, for additional Important Safety Information.

About Incyte

Incyte is a Wilmington, Delaware-based, global biopharmaceutical company focused on finding solutions for serious unmet medical needs through the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information on Incyte, please visit Incyte.com and follow @Incyte.

About MorphoSys

MorphoSys (FSE & NASDAQ: MOR) is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of exceptional, innovative therapies for patients suffering from serious diseases. The focus is on cancer. Based on its leading expertise in antibody, protein and peptide technologies, MorphoSys, together with its partners, has developed and contributed to the development of more than 100 product candidates, of which 27 are currently in clinical development. In 2017, Tremfya, developed by Janssen Research & Development, LLC and marketed by Janssen Biotech, Inc., for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, became the first drug based on MorphoSys antibody technology to receive regulatory approval. In July 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval of MorphoSys proprietary product Monjuvi (tafasitamab-cxix) in combination with lenalidomide in patients with a certain type of lymphoma.

Headquartered near Munich, Germany, the MorphoSys group, including the fully owned U.S. subsidiary MorphoSys US Inc., has ~500 employees. More information at http://www.morphosys.com or http://www.morphosys-us.com.

Monjuvi is a registered trademark of MorphoSys AG.

Tremfya is a registered trademark of Janssen Biotech, Inc.

Incyte Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information set forth herein, the matters set forth in this press release - including statements about: plans to initiate frontMIND, a Phase 3 trial evaluating tafasitamab plus lenalidomide in combination with R-CHOP compared to R-CHOP alone as first-line treatment for patients with newly diagnosed DLBC; whether the mechanism of action, efficacy and safety profile of tafasitamab have the potential to make it a preferred or ideal combination partner in the treatment of DLBCL and, whether it will change or become the standard of care for the treatment of DLBCL; whether and when, if ever, confirmatory trials of tafasitamab will result in the conditional FDA approval of tafasitamab in the conditionally approved indication described above becoming a final approval; whether and when, if ever, the EMA will approve the filed MAA for tafasitamab; and additional development of tafasitamab, including in B-cell malignancies - contain predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on the Incytes current expectations and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including unanticipated developments in and risks related to: unanticipated delays; further research and development and the results of clinical trials possibly being unsuccessful or insufficient to meet applicable regulatory standards or warrant continued development; the ability to enroll sufficient numbers of subjects in clinical trials; determinations made by the FDA or the EMA; clinical and commercial supply of products in development or being commercialized; Incytes dependence on its relationships with its collaboration partners; the efficacy or safety of Incytes products and the products of its collaboration partners; the acceptance of Incytes products and the products of its collaboration partners in the marketplace; market competition; sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution requirements; greater than expected expenses; expenses relating to litigation or strategic activities; and other risks detailed from time to time in Incytes reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. Incyte disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

MorphoSys Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies, including the expectations regarding Monjuvis ability to treat patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the further clinical development of tafasitamab-cxix, including ongoing confirmatory trials, additional interactions with regulatory authorities and expectations regarding future regulatory filings and possible additional approvals for tafasitamab-cxix as well as the commercial performance of Monjuvi. The words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, predict, project, would, could, potential, possible, hope and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which might cause the actual results, financial condition and liquidity, performance or achievements of MorphoSys, or industry results, to be materially different from any historic or future results, financial conditions and liquidity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, even if MorphoSys' results, performance, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with such forward-looking statements, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods. Among the factors that may result in differences are MorphoSys' expectations regarding risks and uncertainties related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to MorphoSys business, operations, strategy, goals and anticipated milestones, including its ongoing and planned research activities, ability to conduct ongoing and planned clinical trials, clinical supply of current or future drug candidates, commercial supply of current or future approved products, and launching, marketing and selling current or future approved products, the global collaboration and license agreement for tafasitamab, the further clinical development of tafasitamab, including ongoing confirmatory trials, and MorphoSys ability to obtain and maintain requisite regulatory approvals and to enroll patients in its planned clinical trials, additional interactions with regulatory authorities and expectations regarding future regulatory filings and possible additional approvals for tafasitamab-cxix as well as the commercial performance of Monjuvi, MorphoSys' reliance on collaborations with third parties, estimating the commercial potential of its development programs and other risks indicated in the risk factors included in MorphoSys Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. MorphoSys expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, unless specifically required by law or regulation.

1 Belada D, M.D., Ph.D., et al. A Phase 1b, Open-label, Randomized Study to Assess Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of Tafasitamab (MOR208) or Tafasitamab + Lenalidomide in Addition to R-CHOP in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Analysis of the Safety Run-In Phase. 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition (ASH). Abstract #3028.

2 Maddocks KJ, M.D., et al. Long-Term Subgroup Analyses from L-MIND, a Phase 2 Study of Tafasitamab (MOR208) Combined with Lenalidomide in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition (ASH). Abstract #3021.

3 Monjuvi (tafasitamab-cxix) Prescribing Information. Boston, MA, MorphoSys.

4 Sarkozy C, et al. Management of relapsed/refractory DLBCL. Best Practice Research & Clinical Haematology. 2018 31:20916. doi.org/10.1016/j.beha.2018.07.014.

5 Skrabek P, et al. Emerging therapies for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Current Oncology. 2019 26(4): 253265. doi.org/10.3747/co.26.5421.

6 DRG Epidemiology data.

7 Kantar Market Research (TPP testing 2018).

8 Friedberg, Jonathan W. Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2011; 2011:498-505. doi: 10.1182/asheducation-2011.1.498.

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Data Evaluating Tafasitamab with and without Lenalidomide in Combination with R-CHOP in Patients with DLBCL Presented at ASH 2020 - Business Wire

Incyte Announces Parsaclisib Treatment Results in High Rate of Rapid and Durable Responses in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin…

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Incyte (Nasdaq:INCY) today announced data from three ongoing Phase 2 studies evaluating parsaclisib, a potent, highly selective, next-generation oral inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta (PI3K), for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory follicular (CITADEL-203), marginal zone (CITADEL-204) and mantle cell (CITADEL-205) lymphomas. These data were accepted for presentation at the 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2020), held virtually from December 58, 2020.

The primary endpoint for the CITADEL-203, -204 and -205 studies is objective response rate (ORR); duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety and tolerability are among the secondary endpoints. All radiology-based endpoints are based on independent review committee (IRC) assessment.

Eligible patients received parsaclisib 20 mg once daily for eight weeks followed by either 20 mg once weekly (weekly-dosing group [WG]) or 2.5 mg once daily (daily-dosing group [DG]). Subsequently, daily dosing was selected as the preferred regimen and patients initially enrolled in the WG were allowed to switch to DG. Data are presented for the DG and all patients.

Key results from the CITADEL studies include:

ORR (95% CI), %

mDOR (95% CI),

months

mPFS (95% CI),

months

mOS (95% CI),

months

CITADEL-203: R/R Follicular Lymphoma

DG (N=95)

75 (65-83)

14.7 (12.0-17.5)

15.8 (13.8-19.1)

-

All (N=118)

73 (64-81)

15.9 (12.0-NE)

15.8 (13.2-19.3)

-

CITADEL-204: R/R Marginal Zone Lymphoma

DG (N=72)

56.9 (44.7-68.6)

NR (8.1-NE)

NR (11.0-NE)

-

All (N=100)

57.0 (46.7-66.9)

12.0 (9.3-NE)

19.4 (13.7-NE)

-

CITADEL-205: R/R Mantle Cell Lymphoma (BTK Inhibitor Treatment Naive)

DG (N=77)

71 (60-81)

9.0 (6.7-14.7)

11.1 (8.3-NE)

NR (NE-NE)

All (N=108)

70 (61-79)

14.7 (7.7-NE)

11.1 (8.3-19.2)

NR (NE-NE)

CITADEL-205: R/R Mantle Cell Lymphoma (Previously Treated with Ibrutinib)

DG (N=41)

29 (16-46)

3.7 (1.9-NE)

3.7 (1.8-4.1)

11.2 (7.9-NE)

All (N=53)

25 (14-38)

3.7 (1.9-NE)

3.7 (1.8-3.9)

11.2 (7.9-17.1)

R/R: relapsed or refractory; ORR: objective response rate; mDOR: median duration of response (reported for responders); mPFS: median progression-free survival; mOS: median overall survival; DG: daily dosing group; BTK: Brutons tyrosine kinase.

Parsaclisib was generally well tolerated in all studies with a manageable safety profile.

Data from the CITADEL studies presented at ASH 2020 are very promising and they highlight the potential of parsaclisib to become a meaningful treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory follicular, marginal zone or mantle cell lymphomas, said Peter Langmuir, M.D., Group Vice President, Oncology Targeted Therapies, Incyte. We look forward to continuing our work as we seek to bring this medicine to patients.

Presentations are available on the ASH website at https://www.hematology.org/meetings/annual-meeting; #338 (Oral presentation, CITADEL-204), #2935 (Poster, CITADEL-203), #1121 (Poster, CITADEL-205), #2044 (Poster, CITADEL-205).

About Follicular, Marginal Zone and Mantle Cell Lymphomas

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that starts in the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Follicular lymphoma (FL), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are forms of B-Cell NHLs. FL and MZL are indolent or slow growing lymphomas; MCL is an aggressive or rapidly developing form. There is an unmet medical need for treatment options for patients who are relapsed or refractory to initial therapies.

About CITADEL

The CITADEL (Clinical Investigation of TArgeted PI3K-DELta Inhibition in Lymphomas) clinical trial program is evaluating parsaclisib in several ongoing studies as a treatment for adult patients with lymphomas, including:

Patients eligible for each trial were allocated to receive parsaclisib 20 mg once daily for eight weeks followed by either 20 mg once weekly (weekly-dosing group [WG]) or 2.5 mg once daily (daily-dosing group [DG]). Subsequently, daily dosing was selected as the preferred regimen and the WG patients were allowed to switch to DG. Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) was required.

About Parsaclisib

Parsaclisib is a potent, highly selective, next-generation investigational novel oral inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta (PI3K). It is currently under evaluation as a monotherapy in several ongoing Phase 2 trials as a treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphomas (follicular, marginal zone and mantle cell); and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Pivotal trials of parsaclisib in combination with ruxolitinib for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis are underway; and there are plans to initiate a trial to evaluate parsaclisib in combination with tafasitamab for B-cell malignancies.

In December 2018, Innovent and Incyte entered into a strategic collaboration for three clinical-stage product candidates, including parsaclisib. Under the terms of the agreement, Innovent has received the rights to develop and commercialize parsaclisib and two other assets in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Conference Call Information

Incyte will host an investor conference call and webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) today, December 7, 2020the call and webcast can be accessed via the Events and Presentations tab of the Investor section of Incyte.com and it will be available for replay for 90 days.

To access the conference call, please dial 877-407-3042 for domestic callers or +1 201-389-0864 for international callers. When prompted, provide the conference identification number, 13713399.

About Incyte

Incyte is a Wilmington, Delaware-based, global biopharmaceutical company focused on finding solutions for serious unmet medical needs through the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information on Incyte, please visit Incyte.com and follow @Incyte.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information set forth herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements about the potential of parsaclisib to provide a meaningful treatment for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphomas, including follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma, the CITADEL clinical program and other development plans for parsaclisib, including in combination with tafasitamab and with ruxolitinib, and the safety and efficacy of parsaclisib in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphomas contain predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current expectations and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including unanticipated developments in and risks related to: unanticipated delays; further research and development and the results of clinical trials possibly being unsuccessful or insufficient to meet applicable regulatory standards or warrant continued development; the ability to enroll sufficient numbers of subjects in clinical trials; determinations made by the FDA; the efficacy or safety of the Companys products; the acceptance of the Companys products and the products of the Companys collaboration partners in the marketplace; market competition; sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution requirements; greater than expected expenses; expenses relating to litigation or strategic activities; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Companys reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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Incyte Announces Parsaclisib Treatment Results in High Rate of Rapid and Durable Responses in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin...

Enthera Pharmaceuticals Appoints Kazumi Shiosaki to Its Board of Directors and Lisa Olson to Its Scientific Advisory Board to Push Forward Company…

MILAN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Enthera Pharmaceuticals (Enthera), a biotech company developing disease-modifying biologics to transform the therapeutic paradigm of specific autoimmune conditions by re-establishing stem cell capabilities in a non-traditional way, announces that it has appointed Kazumi Shiosaki to its Board of Directors, and Lisa Olson to its Scientific Advisory Board.

Kazumi brings experience as both an entrepreneur and an investor within the field of biotechnology. She is currently the CEO of Twentyeight-Seven, a biotech company focused on novel RNA biology that she co-founded alongside prominent Harvard investigators. Kazumi was also a co-founder and CEO of Mitobridge, a start-up company developing mitochondrial drugs for the treatment of muscle and kidney diseases, until its acquisition by Astellas Pharma in 2018. Prior to Mitobridge, she was a co-founder and start-up CEO of Epizyme (NASDAQ:EPZM), a leader in novel epigenetic therapeutics for cancer. She has also been a Managing Director at MPM Capital.

Lisa is a senior pharmaceutical executive with more than 20 years of experience in research and drug discovery. She is currently Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research at Magenta Therapeutics, where she provides strategic direction, oversight and execution for research and discovery efforts. Lisa joined Magenta after 15 years in leadership positions at the AbbVie Bioresearch Center, most recently as Vice President, Immunology Discovery and Site Head, where she was responsible for all immunology discovery scientific and portfolio decisions. Prior to AbbVie, Lisa served as a Research Fellow and Group Leader in Inflammation & Immunology at Pfizer.

Kazumi and Lisa will work closely with the leadership team and other Board and Scientific Advisors to support the growth and development of Enthera.

Giovanni Amabile, CEO of Enthera, commented: The appointment of Kazumi Shiosaki and Lisa Olson will greatly benefit Enthera. Kazumi is a biotech veteran with an outstanding track record in corporate development and fundraising across both European and US markets, while Lisa brings extensive experience in drug discovery and development from roles at Magenta Therapeutics, AbbVie and Pfizer. The support of Kazumi and Lisa will be instrumental as we progress our pipeline and take Enthera to the next level.

Kazumi Shioshaki, newly appointed Board member of Enthera, stated: Enthera Pharmaceuticals is an exciting young biotech, with an innovative and unique approach to treating underserved autoimmune disorders. The recent Series A financing round was a great achievement, and I look forward to working with the Enthera team as we push onwards and use these funds to build a world-class international company with first-in-class therapeutics.

Lisa Olson, newly appointed Scientific Advisory Board member, added: I look forward to supporting Giovanni and the rest of the Enthera team in the progression of their clinical assets. The Companys lead product is a promising biologic candidate for type 1 diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases, with the wider pipeline offering potential treatments for several underserved autoimmune conditions.

Enthera recently closed a EUR 28 million funding, with investment from renowned investors Sofinnova Partners, AbbVie and JDRF T1D Fund. The funds will be used to accelerate the Companys lead program, Ent001, to clinical proof-of-concept.

Kazumi started her career at AbbVie (then Abbott Labs) and from there joined Millennium (now part of Takeda), where she worked in senior functions in both research and corporate development. She is also a Board member of the Sandford Burnham Prebys Institute. Kazumi holds a PhD in Synthetic Chemistry from UC Berkeley.

Lisa began her career as Assistant Professor at Washington University School of Medicine, following a post-doctoral cardiovascular fellowship at the University of Chicago. She holds a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University.

ENDS

High-resolution photos of Kazumi Shiosaki and Lisa Olson are available upon request.

Notes to Editors

About Enthera

Enthera Srl is a biotech company developing first-in-class biologics to transform the treatment paradigm of specific autoimmune conditions by re-establishing stem cell capabilities in a non-traditional way. The Companys primary target indications are type 1 diabetes (T1D) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Enthera's pioneering approach capitalizes on the key discovery of the IGFBP3/TMEM219 pathway, which is involved in beta cell and stem cell apoptosis in pancreas and gut, respectively.

The Company is building a pipeline of inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and fusion proteins targeting the pathway via multiple angles. Its lead program Ent001 is the only drug in development with the potential to restore the endogenous pancreatic stem cell compartment in T1D as well as the original intestine structure in IBD, in order to re-stablish organ function.

Enthera is a private company headquartered in Milan, Italy and founded in 2016 by Prof Paolo Fiorina and Dr Francesca DAddio at BiovelocITA, an Italian biotech accelerator. The Company is backed by Sofinnova Partners and JDRF T1D fund. Entheras discovery engine and assets are protected by a broad portfolio of patents.

For more information, visit https://www.entherapharmaceuticals.com/

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Enthera Pharmaceuticals Appoints Kazumi Shiosaki to Its Board of Directors and Lisa Olson to Its Scientific Advisory Board to Push Forward Company...