Colitis, Ulcerative

WALTHAM, Mass., March 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Morphic Therapeutic (Nasdaq: MORF), a biopharmaceutical company developing a new generation of oral integrin therapies for the treatment of serious chronic diseases, today announced that Simon Cooper, M.B.B.S., has joined the Company as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Cooper is an accomplished leader in drug development with appreciable success and a proven history across all phases of clinical development and in a wide variety of therapeutic areas, particularly autoimmune, inflammatory, cardiovascular, and pulmonary diseases. Dr. Cooper most recently served as Chief Medical Officer of Keros Therapeutics. “Simon brings clinical development expertise stemming from leadership roles across the entire spectrum of clinical development from first-in-human studies through FDA submissions and approvals of highly successful therapeutics. Of particular relevance to Morphic as we advance MORF-057, is Simon’s experience in the development and approvals for therapeutically effective and commercially successful autoimmune and inflammatory agents in the GI space,” commented Praveen Tipirneni, Chief Executive Officer of Morphic. “On behalf of the entire Morphic Team and our Board of Directors, I welcome Simon and look forward to collaboration on our exciting work.” “In MORF-057, Morphic holds the possibility of creating a new treatment for inflammatory bowel disease with an ideal product profile: an orally administered, well tolerated and clinically meaningful therapeutic. I am also excited about the prospects for Morphic research programs for small molecules against non-integrin immunology targets and am looking forward to working with the Morphic Team,” commented Dr. Cooper. About Simon Cooper Dr. Simon Cooper was most recently Chief Medical Officer of Keros Therapeutics. Prior to Keros, Dr. Cooper served as Chief Medical Officer of each of Kadmon Holdings and Anokion, where he drove significant advances in program development and building key functional areas to support clinical development for assets in the autoimmune, inflammatory, and immuno-oncology areas. Dr. Cooper was previously Asset Strategy Leader at AbbVie where he played a key role in the development of risankizumab in a variety of indications including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Dr. Cooper has also held the role of Vice President, Global Project Head for the sarilumab program at Sanofi and Group Program Medical Director at Novartis, leading the submission of the secukinumab program in psoriasis. Earlier in this career, Dr. Cooper held roles of increasing responsibility at research and development organizations including Wyeth Research, Napp Pharmaceutical Research, Roche, Human Genome Sciences and MedImmune. Dr Cooper holds a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne Medical School. Grant of Inducement Award In connection with Dr. Cooper’s appointment as Chief Medical Officer, Morphic’s Board of Directors granted Dr. Cooper, pursuant to the Company’s 2024 Equity Inducement Plan and in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4): (i) stock options to purchase up to 170,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $33.46 per share, the closing price of our common stock on the grant date (the “Option Grant”), (ii) restricted stock units (“RSUs”) with respect to 14,000 shares of our common stock (the “New-Hire RSU Grant”) and (iii) RSUs with respect to 7,000 shares of our common stock (the “Sign-On RSU Grant” and together with the Option Grant and the New-Hire RSU Grant, the “Grants”). The Grants are subject to the terms and conditions of the 2024 Equity Inducement Plan, and the terms and conditions of the stock option and RSU agreements covering the Grants. About Morphic Therapeutic Morphic Therapeutic is a biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of oral integrin therapies for the treatment of serious chronic diseases, including autoimmune, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases, fibrosis, and cancer. Morphic is also advancing its pipeline and discovery activities in collaboration with Schrödinger using its proprietary MInT technology platform which leverages the Company’s unique understanding of integrin structure and biology. For more information, visit . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to: our plans to develop and commercialize oral small-molecule integrin therapeutics and any proposed timing thereof; the initiation, execution and completion of clinical trials of MORF-057; and the ability of MORF-057 to treat inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and other indications. Statements including words such as “believe,” “plan,” “continue,” “expect,” “will be,” “develop,” “signal,” “potential,” “anticipate” or “ongoing” and statements in the future tense are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual activities or results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including risks and uncertainties in this press release and other risks set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, among others, our or a partner’s ability to complete a current or future clinical trial of any of our current or future product candidates, our ability to develop or obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize any product candidate, our ability to protect our intellectual property, and the sufficiency of our cash, cash equivalents and investments to fund our operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and we specifically disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or reasons why actual results might differ, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Contact Morphic Therapeutic Chris Erdman chris.erdman@morphictx.com 617.686.1718

SAN DIEGO and TAICANG, China, March 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Connect Biopharma Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: CNTB) (“Connect Biopharma” or the “Company”), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases through the development of therapies derived from T cell-driven research, today announced that Zheng Wei, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO, and Raúl Collazo, Ph.D., Global Head of Medical Affairs will participate in H.C. Wainwright 2nd Annual Autoimmune & Inflammatory Disease Virtual Conference in a fireside chat on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Please see below for additional details about the event and how to request a one-on-one meeting with management. H.C. Wainwright Autoimmune & Inflammatory Disease Virtual Conference Location: Virtual Format: Fireside chat Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024, 4:00 p.m. EDT Registration and 1x1 Meeting Requests: Click Here About Connect Biopharma Holdings Limited Connect Biopharma is a global, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company applying its expertise in T cell biology and deep knowledge of the drug discovery industry to develop innovative therapies to treat chronic inflammatory diseases with the goal of improving the lives of millions of those affected around the world. The Company is building a rich pipeline of proprietary small molecules and antibodies, using functional T cell assays, to screen and discover potent product candidates against validated immune targets. The Company’s lead product candidate, rademikibart (formerly known as CBP-201), is an antibody designed to target interleukin-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα) in development for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma. The Company’s second product candidate, icanbelimod (formerly known as CBP-307), is a modulator of S1P1 T cell receptors and is in development for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). For more information, please visit: Forward-Looking Statements Connect Biopharma cautions that statements included in this release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,” “seek,” “contemplate,” “look forward,” “potential,” “continue” or “project” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include the Company’s plans to advance the development of its product candidates, the timing of achieving any development, regulatory or commercial milestones or reporting data or whether such milestones or data will be achieved or generated, including whether any new drug application will be submitted or accepted and the timing thereof, and the potential of such product candidates, including to achieve any benefit, improvement, differentiation, trend or pro any product approval or be effective. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Connect Biopharma that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual data may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business and other risks described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 11, 2023, and its other reports. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Connect Biopharma undertakes no obligation to revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Connect Biopharma’s filings with the SEC which are available from the SEC’s website ( ) and on Connect Biopharma’s website ( ) under the heading “Investors.” All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. INVESTOR CONTACT: Tim McCarthy LifeSci Advisors tim@lifesciadvisors.com

March 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Qu Biologics Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs), a novel platform of immunotherapies designed to restore innate immune function, is pleased to announce, in partnership with TransBIOTech (Quebec), being awarded an Applied Research and Development (ARD) grant via the College and Community Innovation (CCI) program administered through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada in collaboration with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. This funding, which spans 3 years and totals $450,000 of funding from CCI’s ARD program, will support Qu Biologics’ preclinical and translational research activities aimed at expanding the portfolio of disease indications for which Qu’s first-in-class SSI immunotherapy platform can be applied to improve health outcomes through SSI-mediated enhancement of innate immune competency and resiliency. TransBIOTech, a dedicated Applied Research and Technology Center in Quebec that is focused on supporting biotechnology companies and deepening expertise in this sector in Canada, will partner on this work. Dr. Shirin Kalyan, Immunologist and Qu’s Vice President of Scientific Innovation, stated, “In partnership with TransBIOTech, we are very pleased to have been awarded this Applied Research and Development grant to support the expansion of our preclinical and translational programs while we [Qu Biologics] focus on completing enrollment of our two important Phase 2 clinical trials currently underway. This support will further enable us to fully test different SSI dosing strategies for different indications, which is of significant importance in the successful clinical translation and testing of Qu’s SSI therapy for new indications.” Dr. Frédéric Couture, Researcher and Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences at TransBIOTech and PI on the grant application, added, “This collaboration exemplifies the potent synergy that collaborative research can engender. We at TransBIOTech aim to nurture the Canadian biotech ecosystem and to help generate value for innovative Canadian biotechnology companies, such as Qu Biologics. This initiative perfectly aligns with TransBIOTech's proficiency in preclinical pharmacology and translational research capabilities. Together with Dr. Carole-Ann Huppé and Dr. Sarah Paris-Robidas, co-PIs on this grant, we are delighted to forge a partnership with Qu Biologics to help advance their scientific endeavors and are rewarded to be working to support the broad clinical potential of Qu’s first-in-class immunotherapy platform.” Qu Biologics is currently enrolling in two randomized, placebo-controlled trials that are addressing critical unmet health care needs. The first trial is evaluating the use of Qu’s lung-directed SSI to improve innate immune function in those 65 years of age and older to reverse the decline in innate immune function that occurs with aging. The second trial is assessing the use of Qu’s gastrointestinal targeted SSI to prevent post-surgical immune paralysis in stage 4 colon cancer patients undergoing resection of liver metastases. Qu Biologics is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSI), a novel class of immunotherapies designed to restore innate immune function in targeted organs to reverse the immune dysregulation underlying many important diseases including cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, and infection. Qu Biologics has completed four Phase 2 studies in lung cancer, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Two additional Phase 2 randomized placebo-controlled studies, in late-stage colon cancer and immunosenescence, are enrolling. Backed by a prestigious group of scientific advisors and board members, Qu Biologics is led by a management team that includes co-founder and CEO Dr. Hal Gunn, a physician and expert on the body’s immune response to chronic disease; Chief Medical Officer - Oncology Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, former CEO of the BC Cancer Agency and a distinguished clinician, scientist and leader in cancer control in Canada and internationally; and Chief Medical Officer – Infectious Disease Dr. Ted Steiner, a clinician-scientist specializing in immune responses to infections and Head of the UBC Division of Infectious Diseases. For more information, please visit www.qubiologics.com. Qu Biologics Inc. cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Qu Biologics’ forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Qu Biologics’ business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Qu Biologics does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.