ePlus, Intel and Surgical Theater partner for VR surgical imaging

ePlus (PLUS) announced a new partnership with Intel (INTC) and Surgical Theater. Together with its partners, ePlus will assist customers to bridge the knowledge gap between doctors and patients with Surgical Theater’s precision VR technology. Accurate information and imagery is important for surgeons. Patients and families also depend on data to make informed decisions about critical procedures. Virtual reality, or VR, is emerging as an important tool for healthcare stakeholders-and Intel, Surgical Theater and ePlus are bringing these capabilities to healthcare professionals and the people who depend on them for life-saving treatment. Powered by Intel Core i7 processors, Precision VR combines F-16 flight simulation technology with 360 degrees VR to bring conventional medical imaging to life. Its Precision VR Engage visualization platform helps doctors educate patients and their families.
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2845439

Moderna expects cash, cash equivalents to be approx. $1.7B as of Dec. 31

The company said, “We expect our cash, cash equivalents, and investments in marketable securities as of December 31, 2018 to be approximately $1.7B as compared to $902M as of December 31, 2017. The year over year increase includes approximately $564M in net proceeds from our initial public offering completed in December 2018, approximately $661M in net proceeds from our preferred stock issuances in 2018, and a $13M premium associated with the 2018 amended and restated personalized cancer vaccines agreement with Merck & Co. (MRK).”
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2845445

Corvus Pharmaceuticals initiates second arm of CPI-006 study

Corvus Pharmaceutical announced that it has initiated patient enrollment in the second arm of its ongoing Phase 1/1b dose-escalation study. This arm is evaluating CPI-006, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against CD73, in combination with CPI-444, a selective and potent inhibitor of the adenosine A2A receptor. The Phase 1/1b study is currently enrolling patients with non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma and other cancers who have failed standard therapies. The first arm of the study is evaluating CPI-006 as a single agent and has dosed patients in several cohorts of escalating doses. A third arm is planned to evaluate CPI-006 in combination with pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody.
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2845491

Voyager Therapeutics price target lowered to $23 from $32 at BTIG

BTIG analyst Thomas Shrader lowered his price target on Voyager Therapeutics to $23 after the company’s announcement yesterday about increasing the size of its RESTORE-1 Phase 2 trial for VY-AADC in Parkinson’s Disease following FDA feedback. The analyst notes that the “final answer” on the trial represents “about a year delay” in the development of VY-ADCC, but keeps his Buy rating on the stock, saying he remains positive on Voyager Therapeutics investment story.
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2845501

Denali Therapeutics, Sanofi initiate dosing in DNL747 trial

Denali Therapeutics (DNLI) announced initiation of dosing in a Phase 1b clinical study of DNL747 in patients with ALS, in collaboration with its partner Sanofi (SNY). RIPK1, receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1, is a signaling protein in the TNF receptor pathway, which regulates inflammation and cell death in tissues throughout the body. Denali, together with its partner Sanofi, is investigating several molecules targeting RIPK1 for multiple indications, including DNL747 for ALS.
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2845507

Dynavax introduces Heplisav-B into Sam’s Club retail pharmacies

Dynavax and Sam’s Club have teamed up to introduce Heplisav-B into Sam’s Club retail pharmacies nation-wide where pharmacists can immunize patients. Heplisav-B is indicated for prevention of infection caused by all known subtypes of hepatitis B virus in adults age 18 years and older. This is the first new hepatitis B vaccine in the United States in more than 25 years, and the only two-dose, one-month hepatitis B vaccine for adults.
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2845513

Prescience Point says MiMedx worth ‘at least $8.09,’ announces long position

Prescience Point announced that it is long MiMedx, which it called “one of the most undervalued companies we have ever identified.” Prescience Point estimates the stock is “worth at least $8.09, almost 4x the current price.” The firm stated in its newly published report: “As frequent publishers of short-biased research, we believe short-selling is vital to the markets and agree with critics that MiMedx has engaged in wrongdoing. But we disagree on the extent of that wrongdoing, and believe that the company will overcome its current challenges and eventually thrive again.”
https://thefly.com/landingPageNews.php?id=2845529