Latest news with #BacillusCalmette-Guérin
Business Wire
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
UK MHRA Approves ImmunityBio's ANKTIVA ® Plus BCG for BCG-Unresponsive Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Carcinoma In Situ
CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX) today announced that the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted marketing authorization for ANKTIVA ® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln) in combination with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for the treatment of certain bladder cancer patients. This is the first marketing approval outside the U.S. for this novel lymphocyte-stimulating agent. 'With the MHRA's authorization of ANKTIVA plus BCG, we can now offer our immunotherapy outside the U.S. to help patients with a disease that, if not effectively treated, can lead to bladder removal,' said Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Founder, Executive Chairman and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of ImmunityBio. 'This immune-boosting, lymphocyte-stimulating agent, the first of its kind, is central to our Cancer BioShield platform, which is designed to restore immune function and support long-term disease control.' 'ImmunityBio is honored to have received this important authorization from the UK MHRA. In light of the United States Most-Favored-Nation Prescription Drug Pricing policy implemented on May 12, 2025, we are actively evaluating our go-to-market strategy for the UK,' said Richard Adcock, CEO and President of ImmunityBio. ANKTIVA is a first-in-class IL-15 agonist that activates and proliferates natural killer (NK) cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. It is designed to restore immune competence by reversing lymphopenia—a condition in which cancer and conventional therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiation and checkpoint inhibitors, reduce the number and function of immune cells. Restoring immune function is essential for immunosurveillance, immunogenic cell death, and sustained tumor control. The BioShield platform's effectiveness can be monitored using a routine complete blood count (CBC). ANKTIVA was designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the FDA and received approval from both the FDA and MHRA based on its safety and efficacy outcomes of complete response (CR) and duration of response (DOR). In a single-arm, multicenter trial, 77 evaluable patients received ANKTIVA with BCG for up to 37 months. As of the November 2023 data cutoff, the duration of complete response for some patients exceeded 47 months and remains ongoing. These extended duration of complete responses beyond 24 months with ANKTIVA and BCG surpasses the benchmark for meaningful clinical results set by experts from the International Bladder Cancer Group. ImmunityBio has also submitted regulatory applications to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to expand availability of ANKTIVA across the 27 European Union (EU) member states, as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. About NMIBC CIS Bladder cancer is the 10th most commonly-diagnosed cancer globally, 2 and in the UK, the Action Bladder Cancer UK estimates approximately 23,000 patients are diagnosed annually. 1 At the time of diagnosis, about 80% of cases are non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), wherein the cancer is found only on the inner layer of the bladder wall. 3 The standard therapy for NMIBC is intravesical instillation (delivery to the bladder via a catheter) of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). 4,5 BCG is a benign bacteria that induces an immune response in the bladder in proximity to the cancer cells, leading to clearance of the cancer in many patients. In ~30-40% of patients, however, BCG will fail, and in ~50% that initially respond, cancer will recur. 6 About ANKTIVA The cytokine interleukin-15 (IL-15) plays a crucial role in the immune system by affecting the development, maintenance, and function of key immune cells—NK and CD8+ killer T cells—that are involved in killing cancer cells. By activating NK cells, ANKTIVA overcomes the tumor escape phase of clones resistant to T cells and restores memory T cell activity with resultant prolonged duration of complete response. ANKTIVA is a first-in-class IL-15 agonist IgG1 fusion complex, consisting of an IL-15 mutant (IL-15N72D) fused with an IL-15 receptor alpha, which binds with high affinity to IL-15 receptors on NK, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. This fusion complex of ANKTIVA mimics the natural biological properties of the membrane-bound IL-15 receptor alpha, delivering IL-15 by dendritic cells and drives the activation and proliferation of NK cells with the generation of memory killer T cells that have retained immune memory against these tumor clones. The proliferation of the trifecta of these immune killing cells and the activation of trained immune memory results in immunogenic cell death, inducing a state of equilibrium with durable complete responses. ANKTIVA has improved pharmacokinetic properties, longer persistence in lymphoid tissues, and enhanced anti-tumor activity compared to native, non-complexed IL-15 in-vivo. ANKTIVA was approved by the FDA in 2024 for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer CIS with or without papillary tumors. For more information, visit INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FROM THE FDA LABEL INDICATION AND USAGE: ANKTIVA is an interleukin-15 (IL-15) receptor agonist indicated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for the treatment of adult patients with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS: Risk of Metastatic Bladder Cancer with Delayed Cystectomy. Delaying cystectomy can lead to the development of muscle invasive or metastatic bladder cancer, which can be lethal. If patient with CIS do not have a complete response to treatment after a second induction course of ANKTIVA with BCG, reconsider cystectomy. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: For lntravesical Use Only. Do not administer by subcutaneous or intravenous routes. Instill intravesically only after dilution. Total time from vial puncture to the completion of the intravesical instillation should not exceed 2 hours. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS: Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception. ADVERSE REACTIONS: The most common (≥15%) adverse reactions, including laboratory test abnormalities, are increased creatinine, dysuria, hematuria, urinary frequency, micturition urgency, urinary tract infection, increased potassium, musculoskeletal pain, chills and pyrexia. For more information about ANKTIVA, please see the Full Prescribing Information at You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to FDA. Visit or call 1-800-332-1088. You may also contact lmmunityBio at 1-877-ANKTIVA (1-877-265-8482) About ImmunityBio ImmunityBio is a vertically-integrated biotechnology company developing next-generation therapies and vaccines that bolster the natural immune system to defeat cancers and infectious diseases. The Company's range of immunotherapy and cell therapy platforms, alone and together, act to drive and sustain an immune response with the goal of creating durable and safe protection against disease. Designated an FDA Breakthrough Therapy, ANKTIVA is the first FDA-approved immunotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer CIS that activates natural killer cells, T cells, and memory T cells for a long-duration response. The Company is applying its science and platforms to treating cancers, including the development of potential cancer vaccines, as well as developing immunotherapies and cell therapies that we believe sharply reduce or eliminate the need for standard high-dose chemotherapy. These platforms and their associated product candidates are designed to be more effective, accessible, and easily administered than current standards of care in oncology and infectious diseases. For more information, visit (Founder's Vision) and connect with us on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. References: Action Bladder UK. Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. May 2021. Available at: World Cancer Research Fund. Bladder Cancer Statistics. 2022. Available at: Aldousari S, Kassouf W. Update on the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 4(1), 56–64. Holzbeierlein J, Bixler BR, Buckley DI, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: AUA/SUO guideline: 2024 amendment. J Urol. 2024;10.1097/JU.0000000000003846. Grabe-Heyne, et al. Intermediate and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: an overview of epidemiology, burden, and unmet needs. Front Oncol. 2023 Jun 2;13:1170124. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1170124. Kodera A, Mohammed M, Lim P, Abdalla O, Elhadi M. The Management of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Failure in High-Risk Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Review Article. Cureus. 2023 Jun 26;15(6):e40962. doi: 10.7759/cureus.40962. PMID: 37503461; PMCID: PMC10369196. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements regarding clinical trial data and potential results and implications to be drawn therefrom, the belief that the MHRA authorization leads to increased revenue, the expectation that the EAP as previously reported will enable access to ANKTIVA for patients across all solid tumor types who have exhausted first-line therapy including chemo, radiation or immunotherapy, the RMAT designation as previously reported and potential results therefrom and regulatory submissions in connection therewith, the belief that ALC levels and NLR levels obtained from a CBC are predictors of clinical benefit and outcomes relating to overall survival, the belief that improving ALC levels and NLR levels correlates with enhanced overall survival and clinical benefit, the belief that reversal of lymphopenia correlates with improved survival, clinical trial and expanded access program enrollment, data and potential results to be drawn therefrom, anticipated components of ImmunityBio's Cancer BioShield platform, the development of therapeutics for cancer and infectious diseases, potential benefits to patients, potential treatment outcomes for patients, the described mechanism of action and results and contributions therefrom, potential future uses and applications of ANKTIVA alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents for the prevention or reversal of lymphopenia, potential future uses and applications of ANKTIVA alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents across multiple tumor types and indications and for potential applications beyond oncology, potential regulatory pathways and the regulatory review process and timing thereof, the application of the Company's science and platforms to treat cancers or develop cancer vaccines, immunotherapies and cell therapies that has the potential to change the paradigm in cancer care, and ImmunityBio's approved product and investigational agents as compared to existing treatment options, and the impact of the MHRA on the Company's ex-United States go to market strategy, including in light of the recently implemented United States Most Favored Nation pricing policy on the Company's go-to-market strategy in the United Kingdom, among others. Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are considered forward-looking statements, which are usually identified by the use of words such as 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'continues,' 'goal,' 'could,' 'estimates,' 'scheduled,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'may,' 'plans,' 'potential,' 'predicts,' 'indicate,' 'projects,' 'is,' 'seeks,' 'should,' 'will,' 'strategy,' and variations of such words or similar expressions. Statements of past performance, efforts, or results of our preclinical and clinical trials, about which inferences or assumptions may be made, can also be forward-looking statements and are not indicative of future performance or results. Forward-looking statements are neither forecasts, promises nor guarantees, and are based on the current beliefs of ImmunityBio's management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to ImmunityBio. Such information may be limited or incomplete, and ImmunityBio's statements should not be read to indicate that it has conducted a thorough inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. Such statements reflect the current views of ImmunityBio with respect to future events and are subject to known and unknown risks, including business, regulatory, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties, contingencies and assumptions about ImmunityBio, including, without limitation, (i) risks and uncertainties regarding the FDA regulatory submission, filing and review process and the timing thereof, (ii) risks and uncertainties regarding regulatory submissions in foreign jurisdictions, filing and review process and the timing thereof, (iii) whether the RMAT designation will lead to an accelerated review or approval, of which there can be no assurance, (iv) risks and uncertainties regarding commercial launch execution, success and timing, (v) risks and uncertainties regarding participation and enrollment and potential results from the expanded access clinical investigation program described herein, (vi) whether clinical trials will result in registrational pathways and the risks, (vii) whether clinical trial data will be accepted by regulatory agencies, (viii) the ability of ImmunityBio to continue its planned preclinical and clinical development of its development programs through itself and/or its investigators, and the timing and success of any such continued preclinical and clinical development, patient enrollment and planned regulatory submissions, (iv) potential delays in product availability and regulatory approvals, (x) ImmunityBio's ability to retain and hire key personnel, (xi) ImmunityBio's ability to obtain additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its various product candidates, (xii) potential product shortages or manufacturing disruptions that may impact the availability and timing of product, (xiii) ImmunityBio's ability to successfully commercialize its approved product and product candidates, (xiv) ImmunityBio's ability to scale its manufacturing and commercial supply operations for its approved product and future approved products, and (xv) ImmunityBio's ability to obtain, maintain, protect, and enforce patent protection and other proprietary rights for its product candidates and technologies. More details about these and other risks that may impact ImmunityBio's business are described under the heading 'Risk Factors' in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 3, 2025, and the Company's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 12, 2025, and in subsequent filings made by ImmunityBio with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at ImmunityBio cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
Business Wire
12-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
enGene Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Update
BOSTON & MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--enGene Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ENGN, or 'enGene' or the 'Company'), a clinical-stage, non-viral genetic medicines company, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended April 30, 2025, and provided a business update. 'We have seen strong enrollment in the pivotal cohort of our LEGEND study,' said Ron Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of enGene. 'This positions us to stay on track for our planned trial updates across all cohorts in the second half of 2025 and a potential BLA filing in mid-2026, advancing our goal to introduce a novel, non-viral therapy that could redefine treatment for patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.' Recent Corporate Updates Key executive hires and management appointments: In May 2025, the Company announced the appointment of Amy Pott as Chief Global Commercialization Officer. Ms. Pott joined enGene from Astellas Pharma, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Brand Marketing, Ophthalmics and Rare Diseases, and previously as Head of Commercial, Gene Therapies. She will serve as the Company's first dedicated executive for commercialization planning and execution. LEGEND study enrollment update: Over the course of the first and second quarters of 2025, the Company expanded its clinical footprint for the LEGEND study with the addition of trial sites in Europe and Asia. The pivotal cohort evaluating detalimogene voraplasmid (also known as detalimogene, and previously EG-70) in high-risk, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) remains on track for our planned BLA in mid-2026. The Company expects to provide an update from LEGEND's pivotal cohort in the second half of 2025. European Medicines Agency (EMA) Scientific Advice: The Company shared detalimogene preclinical and clinical data through the EMA Scientific Advice process. During the dialogue, EMA indicated that it broadly agrees that these data could be suitable for a Conditional Marketing Authorization Application (CMA) submission for detalimogene in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS assuming a positive benefit-risk ratio. BIOTECanada Gold Leaf Biotech Company of the Year Award Winner: The Biotech Company of the Year Award recognizes a company that is transforming the future of healthcare through groundbreaking advancements. The Company is proud and honored to be recognized with this distinction. Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results As of April 30, 2025, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $251.5 million. The Company expects that its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will fund operating expenses, debt obligations and capital expenditures into 2027. Three Months ended April 30, 2025 Total operating expenses were $27.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2025, compared to $17.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2024. Research and development expenses increased by $10.4 million, mainly due to increasing manufacturing and clinical costs related to our pivotal LEGEND study and personnel-related costs. General and administrative expenses decreased by $0.5 million, primarily driven by decreased reliance on professional services to support the Company's operation as a publicly traded company. For the three months ended April 30, 2025, net loss attributable to common shareholders was approximately $25.8 million, or $0.51 per share, compared to approximately $15.0 million, or $0.38 per share, for the same period for the three months ended April 30, 2024. The increase in net loss is mainly attributed to the increase in operating expenses, partially offset by net interest income earned during the period. About Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is a disease that poses a significant burden on both patients and clinics and has a massive economic impact on our healthcare system. NMIBC occurs when cancer cells grow in the tissues that line the interior of the bladder, but the cancer has not yet penetrated the muscle of the bladder wall. NMIBC can take the form of papillary outgrowths from the bladder wall, which are typically resected, or carcinoma in situ (CIS), flat, multifocal lesions that are unable to be resected, and the two can co-occur. About 75-80% of new bladder cancer diagnoses are NMIBC. Patients suffering from high-risk NMIBC who are unresponsive to the standard of care, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), face high rates of disease recurrence (50-70%) and are subject to full removal of the bladder (cystectomy) as a curative but life-altering next step. About Detalimogene Detalimogene is a novel, investigational, non-viral genetic medicine for patients with high-risk, NMIBC, including BCG-unresponsive disease. It is designed to be instilled in the bladder and elicit a powerful yet localized anti-tumor immune response. Detalimogene was developed using the Company's Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan® (DDX) platform, a technology designed to transform how gene therapies are accessed by patients and utilized by clinicians. Medicines developed with the DDX platform can potentially overcome the limitations of viral-based gene therapies, simplify safe handling and cold storage complexities, and streamline both manufacturing processes and administration paradigms. Detalimogene has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on its potential to address the high unmet medical need for patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS NMIBC, with or without resected papillary tumors, who are unable to undergo cystectomy. Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. About the Pivotal LEGEND Trial Detalimogene is being evaluated in the ongoing, open-label, multi-cohort, Phase 2 LEGEND trial to establish its safety and efficacy in high-risk, NMIBC. LEGEND's pivotal cohort (Cohort 1) consists of approximately 100 patients with high-risk, BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS (with or without papillary disease) and is designed to serve as the basis of the Company's planned Biologics License Application (BLA) filing. In addition to this pivotal cohort, LEGEND includes three additional cohorts, including NMIBC patients with CIS who are naïve to treatment with BCG (Cohort 2a); NMIBC patients with CIS who have been exposed to BCG but have not received adequate BCG treatment (Cohort 2b); and BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC patients with papillary-only disease (Cohort 3). The LEGEND trial is actively enrolling patients with sites participating in the USA, Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. About enGene enGene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company mainstreaming genetic medicines through the delivery of therapeutics to mucosal tissues and other organs, with the goal of creating new ways to address diseases with high clinical needs. enGene's lead program is detalimogene for patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) – a disease with a high clinical burden. Detalimogene is being evaluated in the ongoing multi-cohort LEGEND Phase 2 study, which includes a pivotal cohort studying detalimogene in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Detalimogene was developed using enGene's proprietary Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan (DDX) platform, which enables penetration of mucosal tissues and delivery of a wide range of sizes and types of cargo, including DNA and various forms of RNA. For more information, visit Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, 'forward-looking statements'). enGene's forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding enGene's management teams' expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, goals, or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words 'anticipate', 'appear', 'approximate', 'believe', 'continue', 'could', 'estimate', 'expect', 'foresee', 'intends', 'may', 'might', 'plan', 'possible', 'potential', 'predict', 'project', 'seek', 'should', 'would', and similar expressions (or the negative version of such words or expressions) may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about: our plans regarding the timing of our planned BLA submission to the Food and Drug Administration, our expectations as to the timing and anticipated results of the LEGEND study, including the timing of preliminary data or other updates, our expectations regarding a potential CMA submission to the EMA, our expectations regarding completion of enrollment in the LEGEND study, including the timing, the potential benefits of detalimogene, including its potential impact on the treatment landscape and attractiveness to patients and physicians, the potential benefits of medicines developed with the DDX platform and the expected period over which we estimate our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our current operating plan. Many factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the Company's ability to recruit and retain qualified scientific and management personnel, establish clinical trial sites and enroll patients in its clinical trials, execute on the Company's clinical development plans and ability to secure regulatory approval on anticipated timelines, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') on EDGAR, including those described in the 'Risk Factors' section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024 (copies of which may be obtained at or You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. enGene anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause enGene's assessments to change. While enGene may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, enGene specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, unless required by applicable law. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. enGene Holdings Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Information (unaudited) (Amounts in thousands of USD)
Associated Press
12-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
enGene Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Update
BOSTON & MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 12, 2025-- enGene Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ENGN, or 'enGene' or the 'Company'), a clinical-stage, non-viral genetic medicines company, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended April 30, 2025, and provided a business update. 'We have seen strong enrollment in the pivotal cohort of our LEGEND study,' said Ron Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of enGene. 'This positions us to stay on track for our planned trial updates across all cohorts in the second half of 2025 and a potential BLA filing in mid-2026, advancing our goal to introduce a novel, non-viral therapy that could redefine treatment for patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.' Recent Corporate Updates Key executive hires and management appointments: In May 2025, the Company announced the appointment of Amy Pott as Chief Global Commercialization Officer. Ms. Pott joined enGene from Astellas Pharma, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Brand Marketing, Ophthalmics and Rare Diseases, and previously as Head of Commercial, Gene Therapies. She will serve as the Company's first dedicated executive for commercialization planning and execution. LEGEND study enrollment update: Over the course of the first and second quarters of 2025, the Company expanded its clinical footprint for the LEGEND study with the addition of trial sites in Europe and Asia. The pivotal cohort evaluating detalimogene voraplasmid (also known as detalimogene, and previously EG-70) in high-risk, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) remains on track for our planned BLA in mid-2026. The Company expects to provide an update from LEGEND's pivotal cohort in the second half of 2025. European Medicines Agency (EMA) Scientific Advice: The Company shared detalimogene preclinical and clinical data through the EMA Scientific Advice process. During the dialogue, EMA indicated that it broadly agrees that these data could be suitable for a Conditional Marketing Authorization Application (CMA) submission for detalimogene in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS assuming a positive benefit-risk ratio. BIOTECanada Gold Leaf Biotech Company of the Year Award Winner: The Biotech Company of the Year Award recognizes a company that is transforming the future of healthcare through groundbreaking advancements. The Company is proud and honored to be recognized with this distinction. Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results As of April 30, 2025, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $251.5 million. The Company expects that its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will fund operating expenses, debt obligations and capital expenditures into 2027. Three Months ended April 30, 2025 Total operating expenses were $27.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2025, compared to $17.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2024. Research and development expenses increased by $10.4 million, mainly due to increasing manufacturing and clinical costs related to our pivotal LEGEND study and personnel-related costs. General and administrative expenses decreased by $0.5 million, primarily driven by decreased reliance on professional services to support the Company's operation as a publicly traded company. For the three months ended April 30, 2025, net loss attributable to common shareholders was approximately $25.8 million, or $0.51 per share, compared to approximately $15.0 million, or $0.38 per share, for the same period for the three months ended April 30, 2024. The increase in net loss is mainly attributed to the increase in operating expenses, partially offset by net interest income earned during the period. About Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is a disease that poses a significant burden on both patients and clinics and has a massive economic impact on our healthcare system. NMIBC occurs when cancer cells grow in the tissues that line the interior of the bladder, but the cancer has not yet penetrated the muscle of the bladder wall. NMIBC can take the form of papillary outgrowths from the bladder wall, which are typically resected, or carcinoma in situ (CIS), flat, multifocal lesions that are unable to be resected, and the two can co-occur. About 75-80% of new bladder cancer diagnoses are NMIBC. Patients suffering from high-risk NMIBC who are unresponsive to the standard of care, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), face high rates of disease recurrence (50-70%) and are subject to full removal of the bladder (cystectomy) as a curative but life-altering next step. About Detalimogene Detalimogene is a novel, investigational, non-viral genetic medicine for patients with high-risk, NMIBC, including BCG-unresponsive disease. It is designed to be instilled in the bladder and elicit a powerful yet localized anti-tumor immune response. Detalimogene was developed using the Company's Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan® (DDX) platform, a technology designed to transform how gene therapies are accessed by patients and utilized by clinicians. Medicines developed with the DDX platform can potentially overcome the limitations of viral-based gene therapies, simplify safe handling and cold storage complexities, and streamline both manufacturing processes and administration paradigms. Detalimogene has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on its potential to address the high unmet medical need for patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS NMIBC, with or without resected papillary tumors, who are unable to undergo cystectomy. Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. About the Pivotal LEGEND Trial Detalimogene is being evaluated in the ongoing, open-label, multi-cohort, Phase 2 LEGEND trial to establish its safety and efficacy in high-risk, NMIBC. LEGEND's pivotal cohort (Cohort 1) consists of approximately 100 patients with high-risk, BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS (with or without papillary disease) and is designed to serve as the basis of the Company's planned Biologics License Application (BLA) filing. In addition to this pivotal cohort, LEGEND includes three additional cohorts, including NMIBC patients with CIS who are naïve to treatment with BCG (Cohort 2a); NMIBC patients with CIS who have been exposed to BCG but have not received adequate BCG treatment (Cohort 2b); and BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC patients with papillary-only disease (Cohort 3). The LEGEND trial is actively enrolling patients with sites participating in the USA, Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. About enGene enGene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company mainstreaming genetic medicines through the delivery of therapeutics to mucosal tissues and other organs, with the goal of creating new ways to address diseases with high clinical needs. enGene's lead program is detalimogene for patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) – a disease with a high clinical burden. Detalimogene is being evaluated in the ongoing multi-cohort LEGEND Phase 2 study, which includes a pivotal cohort studying detalimogene in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Detalimogene was developed using enGene's proprietary Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan (DDX) platform, which enables penetration of mucosal tissues and delivery of a wide range of sizes and types of cargo, including DNA and various forms of RNA. For more information, visit Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, 'forward-looking statements'). enGene's forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding enGene's management teams' expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, goals, or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words 'anticipate', 'appear', 'approximate', 'believe', 'continue', 'could', 'estimate', 'expect', 'foresee', 'intends', 'may', 'might', 'plan', 'possible', 'potential', 'predict', 'project', 'seek', 'should', 'would', and similar expressions (or the negative version of such words or expressions) may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about: our plans regarding the timing of our planned BLA submission to the Food and Drug Administration, our expectations as to the timing and anticipated results of the LEGEND study, including the timing of preliminary data or other updates, our expectations regarding a potential CMA submission to the EMA, our expectations regarding completion of enrollment in the LEGEND study, including the timing, the potential benefits of detalimogene, including its potential impact on the treatment landscape and attractiveness to patients and physicians, the potential benefits of medicines developed with the DDX platform and the expected period over which we estimate our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our current operating plan. Many factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the Company's ability to recruit and retain qualified scientific and management personnel, establish clinical trial sites and enroll patients in its clinical trials, execute on the Company's clinical development plans and ability to secure regulatory approval on anticipated timelines, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') on EDGAR, including those described in the 'Risk Factors' section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024 (copies of which may be obtained at or ). You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. enGene anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause enGene's assessments to change. While enGene may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, enGene specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, unless required by applicable law. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. View source version on CONTACT: For media:[email protected] For investors:[email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CANADA MASSACHUSETTS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HEALTH GENETICS RESEARCH PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY SOURCE: enGene Holdings Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/12/2025 08:00 AM/DISC: 06/12/2025 07:58 AM
West Australian
10-06-2025
- Health
- West Australian
WA-led study offers alternative treatment for bladder cancer patients amid immunotherapy shortage
When Jack Taylor was diagnosed with high-risk bladder cancer at only 20 years old, being told there was a shortage of the potentially life-saving drug he needed was an extra blow. Bladder cancer immune therapy drug Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), has been subject to shortages across the world since 2013 due to manufacturing issues, meaning patients are missing out on what doctors consider the gold standard treatment for the disease. However, a West Australian-led trial could solve the issue, with the results revealing using the chemotherapy drug mitomycin on top of BCG — meaning not as much of the drug was needed — was a safe and effective alternative treatment. The groundbreaking findings mean doctors from across the country will be able to treat patients with this cancer therapy from now on. The trial, called ANZUP 1301, recruited 501 patients across 17 sites in Australia, including at Perth's Fiona Stanley Hospital, and the UK between 2013 and 2023. The addition of the drug mitomycin meant patients required 40 per cent fewer doses of BCG. Patients also completed their treatment more frequently, suggesting a combination treatment was better tolerated then just the BCG. Bladder cancer is the 11th most common cancer in the country with the survival rate five years after diagnosis only being 57 per cent. Mr Taylor had no signs he was unwell until he noticed blood in his urine — a month later he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. 'It's the last thing you expect as a 20-year-old really. I was a bit in shock and quite uncertain about the future,' he said. 'When I got diagnosed, you're already stressed enough and then when you get told there's this potentially life-saving, disease altering treatment but you might not be able to get it — it's pretty soul crushing.' Mr Taylor was referred to FSH for the trial after undergoing surgery. He still has three months left of BCG treatment to try and beat his cancer but he said being a part of the trial meant he experienced less side effects and was feeling well. 'I think having local access to high quality research is so important, because if this trial wasn't being run here, I wouldn't have been able to participate in it,' he said. 'It's really great to hear that the trials had such fantastic results and will hopefully go on to help so many other people. I think I'm just grateful that I was able to participate. 'For patients, it's always great to have more choice in terms of the treatments.' FSH head of urology and UWA urological research and education professor Dickon Hayne said in a time of global BCG shortages, adopting this treatment could dramatically expand access to life-saving bladder cancer treatment. 'We did look at a subgroup of patients who had the nastiest sort of cancer in that group, and those patients did seem to do better in terms of the cancer being treated when we added the mitomycin,' he said. 'We're still experiencing a serious BCG shortage and that's affecting Western Australia as much as it's affecting the whole globe. 'This treatment will mean that we can treat more patients with a safe and effective treatment than we could before.' The trial was developed through Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group in collaboration with the National Health and Medical Research Council clinical trials centre.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
enGene Names Amy Pott as Chief Global Commercialization Officer
BOSTON & MONTREAL, May 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--enGene Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ENGN or "enGene" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage, non-viral genetic medicines company, today announced the appointment of Amy Pott as Chief Global Commercialization Officer. In this role, Ms. Pott will serve as the Company's first dedicated executive for commercialization planning and execution, reporting to enGene's Chief Executive Officer, Ron Cooper. This appointment marks a significant milestone, as the Company expects to file a Biologics License Application (BLA) with the FDA in mid-2026 for detalimogene voraplasmid, its lead investigational agent in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), following the completion of the pivotal cohort of the LEGEND trial. "Amy brings a unique combination of P&L, full commercialization, gene therapy, deep analytics, and global experience to enGene," said enGene CEO, Ron Cooper. "We are thrilled to welcome Amy as our Chief Global Commercialization Officer and believe her leadership and track record of success will be a tremendous asset in preparing and executing the planned launch of detalimogene." Ms. Pott joins enGene from Astellas Pharma, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President (SVP), Strategic Brand Marketing, Ophthalmics and Rare Diseases, and previously as Head of Commercial, Gene Therapies. Prior to Astellas, she was President, North America for Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, and Global Vice President (GVP) U.S. Franchise Head for Internal Medicine and Oncology, as well as GVP, U.S. Commercial Operations at Shire. Before joining Shire, Ms. Pott was Vice President, Strategy, Planning and Analytics at Baxalta, Inc. Ms. Pott holds a Master of Science in European Studies from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Bristol. "I am excited to join enGene at such a pivotal moment in its journey," said Ms. Pott. "I look forward to working with this talented team to advance the mission to help transform the treatment landscape for bladder cancer patients with our innovative genetic medicine." About Detalimogene Detalimogene is a novel, investigational, non-viral genetic medicine for patients with high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), including Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive disease. It is designed to be instilled in the bladder and elicit a powerful yet localized anti-tumor immune response. Detalimogene was developed using the Company's Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan® (DDX) platform, a technology designed to transform how gene therapies are accessed by patients and utilized by clinicians. Medicines developed with the DDX platform can potentially overcome the limitations of viral-based gene therapies, simplify safe handling and cold storage complexities, and streamline both manufacturing processes and administration paradigms. Detalimogene has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on its potential to address the high unmet medical need for patients with BCG-unresponsive carcinoma in situ (CIS) NMIBC with or without resected papillary tumors who are unable to undergo cystectomy. Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. About enGene enGene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company mainstreaming genetic medicines through the delivery of therapeutics to mucosal tissues and other organs, with the goal of creating new ways to address diseases with high clinical needs. enGene's lead program is detalimogene voraplasmid (also known as detalimogene, and previously EG-70) for patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC), a disease with a high clinical burden. Detalimogene is being evaluated in the ongoing multi-cohort LEGEND Phase 2 study, which includes a pivotal cohort studying detalimogene in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Detalimogene was developed using enGene's proprietary Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan (DDX) platform, which enables penetration of mucosal tissues and delivery of a wide range of sizes and types of cargo, including DNA and various forms of RNA. To learn more, please visit and follow us on LinkedIn, X and BlueSky. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). enGene's forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding enGene's management teams' expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, goals, or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "appear", "approximate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "foresee", "intends", "may", "might", "plan", "possible", "potential", "predict", "project", "seek", "should", "would", and similar expressions (or the negative version of such words or expressions) may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about: our plans regarding the timing of our planned BLA submission to the Food and Drug Administration and our expectations as to the timing and anticipated results of the LEGEND study, the future growth of enGene, the potential benefits of detalimogene, and the potential benefits of medicines developed with the DDX platform. Many factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the Company's ability to recruit and retain qualified scientific and management personnel, establish clinical trial sites and enroll patients in its clinical trials, execute on the Company's clinical development plans and ability to secure regulatory approval on anticipated timelines, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on EDGAR, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024 (copies of which may be obtained at or You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. enGene anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause enGene's assessments to change. While enGene may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, enGene specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, unless required by applicable law. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. View source version on Contacts For media contact: media@ For investor contact: investors@ Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
