Immatics Updates on Ongoing ACTengine(R) Cell Therapy Programs

  Company to host conference call on Wednesday, March 17 at 8:30 am EST

 
   --First anti-tumor activity observed in heavily pre-treated solid cancer 
patients during early phases of dose escalation 
 
   --Tumor shrinkage observed in 8 out of 10 patients including one partial 
response consistent with robust biological activity of infused T cell 
products 
 
   --Treatment-emergent adverse events were transient and manageable 

To discuss the data from the dose-escalation cohort of the IMA200 series, 
Immatics will host a conference call on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 
8:30 am EST / 13:30 CET. The webcast and presentation can be accessed 
directly through this 
https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=uJB65U6B2TCSluwF0fu0vmMK_nRY4S3ke56lGt545Rgvc1GasLly2GkZmNyhYAgP9EQvgsg_Pkz65Mnnf-1cpDE91vfiE_8m60N-yp0pV3AwKSBpBCkj4_3EmlvzlqJZvASOXeUGoM2djUlx1tvV_NiivU8iJVRrG5u-nQHpm68= 
link. Participants may also access the slides and the webcast on the 
Immatics website in the Investors section under "Presentations" at 
https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=GT2O7OIYvyhcMVI3WW12w9RtehHHzCLRMxDPAW-47gqBfK6605LrV17oALlfkB6gt4T8XCHzpQ3nID3L1mheKHb5PcTLe6fhFXTKDVs0W3heGwKKpNqrwK8C30RnTk47GVSB7wfc7aYGadaeKhQPCnOEGqGRAcJg21tVDCTnX1s= 
https://investors.immatics.com/events-presentations. A replay of the 
webcast will be made available shortly after the conclusion of the call 
and archived on the Company's website for at least 90 days. 
https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/IMMATICS-N-V-109287208/news/Press-Release-nbsp-Immatics-Presents-Data-Update-on-Dose-Escalation-from-Ongoing-ACTengine-R-Cell-32714967/

Ultimovacs (ULTI): Initiation - Cancer vaccine with virtually universal potential

 Edison Investment Research Limited

Ultimovacs (ULTI): Initiation - Cancer vaccine with virtually universal potential 
17-March-2021 / 09:07 GMT/BST 
=---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
London, UK, 17 March 2021 
 
 Ultimovacs (ULTI): Initiation - Cancer vaccine with virtually universal potential 
Ultimovacs is a biotechnology company focused on developing a next generation cancer vaccine with virtually universal 
potential. Lead asset, UV1, activates the immune system to recognise cancer cells that express human telomerase reverse 
transcriptase (hTERT, or telomerase), which is present in over 85% of all cancer types. For this reason, UV1 has broad 
potential in a variety of cancers and in combination with other treatments. Ultimovacs' R&D strategy is to combine UV1 
with checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) due to an expected treatment synergy. The broad R&D programme includes four Phase II 
trials in different solid tumours, which will enrol more than 500 patients in total. Readouts are expected over 2022/ 
2023, all within cash reach. Our Ultimovacs valuation is NOK3.18bn or NOK99.4 per share. 
 
We value Ultimovacs at NOK3.18bn or NOK99.4 per share (rNPV analysis using a 12.5% discount rate, net cash of NOK441m 
at end-2020). Our model includes UV1 in all four indications being evaluated in the Phase II trials, with a probability 
of reaching the market of 20%. We use a bottom-up approach to calculate the market sizes and industry average data for 
the basis of our other assumptions (Exhibits 6 and 7). We assume a full out-licensing deal for UV1 with the partner 
taking over the Phase III development and commercialisation. 
Click here to view the full report or here to sign up to receive research as it is published. 
 
All reports published by Edison are available to download free of charge from its website 
www.edisongroup.com 

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/ULTIMOVACS-ASA-59297686/news/Ultimovacs-ULTI-nbsp-Initiation-Cancer-vaccine-with-virtually-universal-potential-32711034/

Merck Gets EU Approval for Keytruda in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

 Merck & Co. on Wednesday said the European Commission approved the expanded use of its cancer drug Keytruda in adults and children with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

The Kenilworth, N.J., drugmaker said the approval covers Keytruda as a monotherapy for patients ages 3 and older who have failed autologous stem cell transplant or following at least two prior therapies when transplant isn't a treatment option.

Merck said the approval marks the first pediatric indication in the European Union for Keytruda, which harnesses a patient's immune system to fight tumors.

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for more than 90% of cases of Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system.

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MERCK-CO-INC-13611/news/Merck-nbsp-Gets-EU-Approval-for-Keytruda-in-Classical-Hodgkin-Lymphoma-32715566/

Startup Behind AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine Raises $168M in Step Toward IPO

 The Oxford startup behind AstraZeneca PLC's Covid-19 vaccine has raised $168 million in new funding, which it plans to use to adopt its vaccine technology for the treatment of other diseases.

The move is a step in Vaccitech Ltd.'s preparations for going public as soon as this year, according to people familiar with the plans. The moves were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The biotechnology company is raising funds at a time its vaccine work is in the spotlight. It played an early role developing a Covid-19 vaccine alongside scientists at the University of Oxford. AstraZeneca then teamed up with the university, promising to produce and distribute the shot globally. Vaccitech's co-founders are Oxford scientists leading the vaccine program.

Vaccitech said Wednesday the financing would help it advance clinical trials for treatments targeting prostate cancer, hepatitis B and human papillomavirus, using technology underlying the vaccine.

Backers say a Vaccitech listing could be the biggest market debut of an Oxford spinoff in years. But investors have had concerns about the Covid-19 vaccine's rocky rollout, The Journal has previously reported. Vaccitech's own relationship with Oxford has been marred by tensions over the company's role in the vaccine and the terms of Oxford's AstraZeneca deal.

The financing valued the company at around $425 million, according to investors. Backers are aiming for an IPO valuation of around $700 million, with expectations that Vaccitech could be a $1 billion company by year-end, the Journal has reported, citing people close to the plans and marketing documents.

Vaccitech's market-debut plans are shaping up as a test case for Oxford's spinout process. The university has backed more than 200 startups since the late 1980s, including Vaccitech, but its record of fostering big moneymakers trails leading U.S. universities.

New Vaccitech investors include pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences Inc. The financing was led by London-based asset manager M&G PLC. The funding also included Oxford Sciences Innovation PLC, a venture firm started by the university in 2015 and a Vaccitech investor since the company was launched in 2016.

London-based Future Planet Capital invested in Vaccitech last year before the Covid-19 vaccine trials were completed. The vaccine's success has boosted Future Planet's confidence in Vaccitech's immunotherapy platform, Future Planet's executive chairman, Douglas Hansen-Luke, said.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine proved safe and effective in clinical trials late last year but was beset by early confusion over its effectiveness relative to other vaccines, and more recently by big supply shortfalls.

The latest setback came in the past week, with pauses in the vaccine's use in European countries including Germany, Italy and France while regulators investigate reports of serious blood-clotting in people who have received the shot.

European and U.K. drug regulators have recommended continuing use of the vaccine. They say post-vaccination blood clots have occurred in lower numbers than in the general population and haven't shown links to the vaccine. They say the vaccine's benefits in preventing deaths and severe Covid-19 outweigh its risks. European regulators say they'll conclude their evaluation of clotting issues this week.

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/ASTRAZENECA-PLC-4000930/news/AstraZeneca-nbsp-Startup-Behind-AstraZeneca-Covid-19-Vaccine-Raises-168-Million-in-Step-Toward-IP-32715755/

EU 'should probably help Russia' with Sputnik V vaccine: Commissioner

 Sputnik V is “probably a good vaccine” for COVID-19 and the European Union should probably help Russia with production of the jab, a member of the bloc’s executive Commission said on Wednesday.

“Sputnik is of course probably a good vaccine because the Russians are pretty good scientists and ... I would not have any reason to doubt,” Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton told a news conference.

“Almost all our facilities are used today to manufacture the vaccines that have been agreed, but one way or the other I think we should probably help Russia.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-eu-sputnik/eu-should-probably-help-russia-with-sputnik-v-vaccine-commissioner-says-idUSKBN2B91PP

India backs AstraZeneca shot as COVID-19 cases hit three-month high

  India said on Wednesday its coronavirus immunisation campaign would continue with “full rigour” despite some concerns in Europe about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine it relies heavily upon as infections hit a three month high.

The European Medicines Agency is investigating reports of 30 cases of unusual blood disorders out of 5 million recipients of the vaccine in the region.

Since starting the drive in mid-January, India has administered 36 million vaccine doses, which are mostly the AstraZeneca shots developed with Oxford University and locally known as Covishield.

“We have no signal of concern in this regard,” Vinod Kumar Paul, who heads a government committee on vaccines, told a news conference, adding that experts in India had looked into the issue.

“Covishield vaccination in the country will go on with full rigour.”

The World Health Organization has said it is assessing whether medical events such as blood clots are related to the vaccination and urged anyone offered a vaccine to take one. AstraZeneca has said a review of safety data has shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots.

Paul said as infections had risen in the country since early February, hitting a three-month high on Wednesday, the government was looking at accelerating the vaccination drive that also uses a homegrown shot created by Bharat Biotech and the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research.

The federal health ministry has so far distributed to states 75.4 million vaccine doses, less than half of which have been given to frontline workers, the elderly and people above 45 with health conditions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said quick action was needed to contain the surge, as the country’s infections tally hit 11.44 million, the third behind the United States and Brazil.

“We need to soon stop the emerging second peak of corona,” he said in a virtual meeting with state leaders, urging them to increase testing and strictly monitor mask-wearing. “We need to take quick, decisive steps.”

India’s cases jumped by 28,903 on Wednesday, the highest increase since Dec. 13. Deaths increased by 188, the highest in two months, to stand at 159,044.

Modi said states needed to proactively ensure infections did not increase in the countryside, where healthcare facilities would fall short. Rural India is home to two-thirds of the country’s 1.35 billion people.

The federal government has blamed crowding and a reluctance to wear masks for the spike, ruling out the virus mutations that have been a factor in Western countries.

he recent increase has been led by the western state of Maharashtra, home to India’s commercial capital of Mumbai.

Nearly 62% of infections in the past 24 hours and 46% of the deaths were reported by Maharashtra, which has ordered a lockdown in some districts and put curbs on cinemas, hotels and restaurants until end of the month.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-cases/india-backs-astrazeneca-shot-as-covid-19-cases-hit-three-month-high-idUSKBN2B90GS

EU threatens ban on COVID vaccine exports to UK

 The European Union on Wednesday threatened to ban exports of COVID-19 vaccines to Britain to safeguard scarce doses for its own citizens facing a third wave of the pandemic that would jeopardise plans to restart travel this summer.

With the number of COVID-related deaths in the EU topping 550,000 and less than a tenth of the bloc’s population inoculated, European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said the epidemiological situation was worsening.

“We are in the crisis of the century,” she told reporters.

“We see the crest of a third wave forming in member states, and we know that we need to accelerate the vaccination rates.”

Von der Leyen said the flow of vaccine products was smooth with the United States but aired frustration over lack of deliveries from AstraZeneca in Britain. She said 10 million doses had gone from EU plants to the former member state.

“We are still waiting for doses to come from the UK,” von der Leyen said in the latest sign of souring ties between Britain and the 27-nation bloc since Brexit.

“If this situation does not change, we will have to reflect on how to make exports to vaccine-producing countries dependent on their level of openness. We will reflect on whether exports to countries with higher vaccination rates than us are still proportionate.”

SUMMER TRAVEL?

She spoke as six EU countries complained to Brussels about reduced deliveries that are hampering the bloc’s already troubled inoculation campaign struggling amid reduced deliveries by AstraZeneca.

Further complicating the panorama, various EU nations including its largest members Germany, France and Italy have this week suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine pending safety checks.

The situation threatens plans announced by the Commission to launch “green digital certificate” that would collate information on vaccinations, tests and COVID recovery to let travellers cross borders freely again.

Southern EU countries reliant on tourism and other proponents of the new COVID-19 certificate hope it would win final approvals in June and go online in time for the peak season. But countries including France, Belgium and Germany have voiced scepticism.

EU countries will be under pressure to agree a common position swiftly for their 450 million people. The task is further complicated by uncertainty over whether those inoculated can transmit the virus, and public scepticism about vaccines.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pass-eu/facing-crisis-of-century-eu-threatens-ban-on-covid-vaccine-exports-to-uk-idUSKBN2B91FU