Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.(NASDAQ:VRCA) released preliminary results from Part 2 of its Phase 2 trial of VP-315 forbasal cell carcinoma.
The Phase 2 trial is a 2-part, open-label, multicenter, dose-escalation, proof-of-concept study with a safety run-in designed to assess the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of VP-315 when administered intratumorally to adults with biopsy-proven basal cell carcinoma.
The study enrolled 92 adult subjects. The Part 2 preliminary results are based on 93 confirmed basal cell carcinoma lesions treated during the Phase 2 trial’s Part 2.
However, for histologic reduction in tumor size and overall reduction in tumor size, data from three of the 93 lesions are pending.
The key preliminary Part 2 results were:
No dose-limiting toxicities or treatment-related serious adverse events were reported.
Most treatment-related adverse events were expected mild to moderate cutaneous reactions (n=93).
51% of lesions treated resulted in complete histologic clearance, with no residual tumor cells (n=93).
Histological tumor size reduction in those subjects with remaining tumors was 71% (n=90).
All patients treated with VP-315 had a reduction in tumor size with an overall reduction of tumor size in all subjects (those with no residual tumor and those with residual tumor) of 86% (n=90).
The company expects genomic and T-cell (immune response) data in the first quarter of 2025 and plans to request an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA in the first half of 2025 to determine the next steps for developing VP-315 for treating basal cell carcinoma.
As of June 30, 2024, Verrica had cash and cash equivalents of $31.9 million, expected to support planned operations into the first quarter of 2025.
AnaptysBio(ANAB) stock zoomed higher Wednesday after announcing a $100 million offering that includes participation from pharma giantSanofi(SNY).
The biotech company, which is working on treatments for immunological diseases, said it plans to offer more than 2.75 million shares of its common stock at a price of $36.50 a share. This represents a 10% premium to AnaptysBio's closing price on Aug. 13.
Current investor EcoR1 Capital led the offering, AnaptysBio said in a news release. Sanofi is a new investor. Notably, Sanofi's corporate arm — rather than its venture capital business — reached out to invest in AnaptysBio, Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger said in a report.
"This type of strategic investment is uncommon," he said.
AnaptysBio expects to reap $100 million in proceeds before deductions. The company plans to use the cash to fund general corporate purposes.
That could include funding Phase 3 efforts behind eczema drug ANB032 and rosnilimab, which is being tested in rheumatoid arthritis patients, Risinger said.
The company expects midstage study results for those drugs in December and the first quarter, respectively.
On August 9, 2024,Vivek Garipalli, Director and 10% Owner of Clover Health Investments Corp (NASDAQ:CLOV), purchased 531,700 shares of the company. This transaction was documented in a recentSEC Filing. Following this acquisition, the insider now owns a total of 1,409,267 shares of Clover Health Investments Corp.
Clover Health Investments Corp operates in the healthcare sector, focusing on improving health outcomes and lowering costs through data-driven decision-making and technology. The company's innovative approach aims to benefit both patients and healthcare providers.
Over the past year, the insider has purchased a cumulative total of 1,409,267 shares and has not sold any shares. This recent acquisition aligns with a broader trend of insider buying at Clover Health Investments Corp, with a total of 5 insider buys recorded over the past year and no insider sales.
A California sheriff blasted Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign on Tuesday for using his likeness in a new ad without his permission, adding that he doesn’t endorse the Democratic presidential nominee because she “did nothing to stop people from illegally crossing the border.”
“In light of a recent political ad put out by Kamala Harris featuring Sheriff Boudreaux, as well as other local law enforcement, the Sheriff wants to make it abundantly clear that his image is being used without his permission, and he does NOT endorse Harris for President or any other political office,” Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux told Fox News in a statement.
“The truth is, Harris never cared about the cartels and did nothing to stop people from illegally crossing the border,” Boudreaux fired back.
Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said the Harris campaign used his image “without his permission, and he does NOT endorse Harris for President or any other political office.”AP
The Tulare County sheriff appears briefly in the TV ad as a narrator reads, “Kamala Harris has spent decades fighting violent crime as a border-state prosecutor. She took on drug cartels and jailed gang members for smuggling weapons and drugs across the border.”
A spokeswoman for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the statement to The Post, before adding, “Sheriff Boudreaux vehemently opposes the use of his image in a political ad promoting Kamala Harris.”
Boudreaux, who served in the county’s law enforcement office for nearly 40 years, said that claim was “misleading” and that Harris’ appearance alongside him and other law enforcement officials when she was serving as California attorney general was “smoke and mirrors.”
The Tulare County sheriff appears briefly in the TV ad as a narrator reads, “Kamala Harris has spent decades fighting violent crime as a border-state prosecutor.”Harris for President
The ad shows her brief trip “to the [Central] Valley in 2014 touting a years-long investigation into a multi-national drug operation, with ties to Mexican drug cartels and prison gangs,” he noted.
Later, the narrator also promises Harris will “hire thousands more border agents and crack down on fentanyl and human trafficking,” which Boudreaux said “completely made us mad.”
“How can you go in and promote that you were this tight border person when all the troops are coming across the border, and you literally are eliminating all these task forces?” he asked.
Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, who is included in the footage too, also slammed Harris and told Fox News her “hypocrisy knows no bounds.”
Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, who is included in the footage too, also slammed Harris and told Fox News her “hypocrisy knows no bounds.”AP
Boudreaux further recalled that Harris didn’t even say “hello to any of us” as she smiled for the cameras and took credit for the drug bust.
“We were in the green room. She never came in and said hello to any of us. She walked up front, gave her presser, literally walked out, never said hi to any of us,” he said. “I’m disgusted because, you know, she didn’t shake hands. She didn’t say hello. And she’s taken credit for all this work that the locals did.”
ABC 30 in Dinuba reported at the time that 11 people were arrested — including “suspected kingpin” Jose Magana — and authorities seized nearly 950 marijuana plants, 4 kilograms of cocaine and 56 pounds of meth.
Boudreaux further recalled that Harris didn’t even say “hello to any of us” as she smiled for the cameras and took credit for the drug bust.AP
Harris used the occasion to demand from then-California Gov. Jerry Brown an increase of $7.5 million in funding to her law enforcement budget for cracking down on drug trafficking statewide.
Harris used the occasion to demand from then-California Gov. Jerry Brown an increase of $7.5 million in funding to her law enforcement budget for cracking down on drug trafficking statewide.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“We have pardoned all people for federal convictions for simple marijuana possession,” Harris boasted at the event.
None of those pardons were for people still behind bars, though, and a congressional estimate recently showed that roughly 2,700 are still federally incarcerated for pot-related offenses.
The Harris TV spot launched on Aug. 9. Reps for her campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Boudreaux ran as a Republican in the May special election to replace retiring Rep. Kevin McCarthy in California’s 20th Congressional District, just seven months after McCarthy had been ousted as House speaker.
