Summit Therapeutics earn $1M milestone on advancement of ridinilazole

Triggered by achieving the initial enrollment target in trial sites in Latin America, Summit Therapeutics (SMMT -5.2%) has earned a $1M milestone payment from licensee Eurofarma Laboratórios SA related to lead candidate ridinilazole for the treatment of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection.

The studies are comparing the small molecule antibiotic to standard-of-care vancomycin.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3539283-summit-therapeutics-earn-1m-milestone-on-advancement-of-ridinilazole

China Builds Makeshift Hospitals to Treat Coronavirus Patients

The central Chinese city of Wuhan has set up 11 new makeshift hospitals as of Feb. 5 in order to accommodate the large numbers of coronavirus patients.
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province. According to the provincial government-run media Hubei Daily, the 11 new facilities have a total capacity of 10,100 beds.

They are mostly set up within stadiums, exhibition centers, and school gyms within the city.
The city’s Wuhan Coronavirus Command Center released regulations on Feb. 5, explaining that coronavirus patients with mild or moderate symptoms would be sent to the makeshift hospitals.
Patients in severe condition or who are older than 65 would stay at the 14 hospitals and two newly-built hospitals designated for treating the coronavirus. Patients suspected of having coronavirus and some confirmed patients with mild symptoms will be isolated in community quarantine centers, most of which are hotels converted in response to the outbreak.
State-run media Xinhua reported that there are plans to build 12 more of such makeshift hospitals in Wuhan.
Commonly known in China as battlefield hospitals, these facilities are often used during wartime or natural disasters to efficiently care for the wounded and sick. Beds are arranged row by row in an open space.
State media revealed photos and videos of the facilities, which showed that the beds did not have any physical barriers separating them, save for several boards to wall off a group of about a dozen beds.
Chinese netizens expressed concerns that cross-contamination could take place.
On Feb. 4, Chinese state-run media dismissed those claims, saying doctors would ensure it would not happen.
But Sean Lin, a U.S.-based expert in microbiology and former virology researcher for the U.S. Army, explained that such makeshift facilities should have been set up earlier in the response to the outbreak.
Lin said that in a situation where thousands are infected and many residents cannot get treatment due to overfilled hospitals, such venues could allow medical staff to take care of more patients efficiently.
For example, a nurse can distribute medicine more easily using a cart, delivering to dozens of patients within several minutes.
“But the Wuhan government is too late. It should have set up these hospitals before locking down the city”—a measure that indicates the disease had already spread widely and could not be contained, Lin said.
Upon observing the facilities’ photos and videos, Lin noted that the distance between the beds was too close, risking cross-infection. “The distance between two beds should be at least three feet.”

Workers set up beds at a Fangcang hospital in Wuhan, China on Feb. 4, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

He added that medical staff should be alert about patients whose conditions are worsening, as they are likely to be more contagious due to active viruses in his body, which could potentially spread through bodily fluids, airborne particles, or stool.
“Once a patient’s condition turns to severe, medical staff must remove this patient to a designated hospital as soon as possible,” Lin said.
The Wuhan government first reported the outbreak on Dec. 31, 2019, though official data shows that authorities knew of a human-to-human transmission prior to that date. The virus has since spread all around China and to more than 20 other countries.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/china-builds-makeshift-hospitals-to-treat-coronavirus-patients-but-expert-expresses-concern-about-sanitary-conditions_3228818.html

Celsion reports favorable safety profile of higher dose of GEN-1 in ovarian cancer

Celsion (CLSN -1.7%) reports that the Independent Data Safety Monitoring Board has completed its initial safety review of data from the first 15 ovarian cancer patients who received the first four neoadjuvant doses of DNA-based immunotherapy GEN-1 at 100 mg/m² in the ongoing Phase 1/2 OVATION 2 study, the highest dose yet assessed.

In six evaluable patients, no dose-limiting toxicities were observed. GEN-1, administered intraperitoneally, was well-tolerated when given with neoadjuvant chemo (NACT). After the six have completed interval debulking surgery, the company will report surgical results and overall tumor response rates for all 15 Phase 1 subjects later this quarter.

The safety of up to 17 weekly doses of GEN-1 will be evaluated before the Phase 2 portion will be initiated. Unless something unexpected happens, enrollment should commence next quarter, expected to be completed in Q1 2021.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3539296-celsion-reports-favorable-safety-profile-of-higher-dose-of-genminus-1-in-ovarian-cancer

Karuna updates on R&D efforts in CNS

Aimed at facilitating its drug discovery efforts, Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX -1.4%) has opened an office in Indianapolis, IN and inked a multiyear collaboration agreement with Charles River Laboratories (CRL +0.8%). Financial terms are not disclosed.
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3539287-karuna-updates-on-r-and-d-efforts-in-cns

Thailand encourages homemade sanitizers, masks amid scarce supplies

Thailand’s health authorities on Thursday encouraged people to make hand sanitizers and masks at home to guard against the spread of the new coronavirus.
Thailand, which has reported a total of 25 cases, put surgical masks and sanitizers under its list of controlled goods earlier this week, as the spread of the flu-like virus led to shortages in stores.
Due to lack of supply, health authorities demonstrated how to make sanitising liquids during a televised news conference.
“If you can’t find hand sanitizers in stores, make it yourself. Mix clean water with alcohol and carry it wherever you go,” said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at the conference.
“We have to protect ourselves against the virus. Eat hot food, use serving spoons, wear masks, wash your hands.”
On Thursday, Thailand started enforcing price control measures on surgical masks and hand sanitizers, amid scarce supplies in drug stores.
As a result, anyone selling overpriced masks and sanitizers faces punishment of up to seven years in jail or up to 140,000 baht ($4,507.41) in fines.
People are allowed to buy up to 10 masks with each purchase, and anyone exporting more than 500 masks per shipment must also obtain permission from trade authorities first.
Early on Thursday, Thais lined up outside a government pharmacy to stock up before sales started in the afternoon.
Many said they wanted to buy as much as they could due to fears of the virus outbreak, but could only buy 10.
“This isn’t really enough, but it’s good to have just in case,” said Chalida Potpanitpong, 65.
To ease the shortages, the Thai government started handing out 45,000 surgical masks for free from Thursday to Saturday at different “risky” locations, mostly tourist areas, in Bangkok.
It will also start selling millions of masks from Saturday onwards through government-sponsored stores across the country.
The 25 cases of the new coronavirus reported in Thailand include 16 Chinese and nine Thais. Nine have recovered enough to go home, while the rest remain in the hospital.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-thailand/thailand-encourages-homemade-sanitizers-masks-amid-scarce-supplies-idUSKBN2001NQ

Qiagen takeover likely, just further away – Evercore

In a note, Evercore ISI’s Luke Sergott says QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE:QGEN) is still an attractive acquisition target for science tool consolidators, but it will take longer than expected.

He published his report after a roadshow with management. The company is rebooting its message with a focus on execution and away from M&A.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3539222-qiagen-takeover-likely-just-away-evercore

Protalix advancing study plan of PRX-102 in pediatric Fabry patients

Protalix BioTherapeutics (PLX +2%) and development partner Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. announce that the FDA has signed off on the initial study plan for pegunigalsidase alpha (PRX-102) in pediatric patients with Fabry disease, an inherited disorder caused by the buildup of a certain type of fat in cells due to mutations in an essential enzyme.

The companies intend to request accelerated approval in the U.S. when they file a marketing application in April.

PRX-102 is chemically modified version of a recombinant therapeutic enzyme called alpha-galactosidase A.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3539276-protalix-advancing-study-plan-of-prxminus-102-in-pediatric-fabry-patients