Stanford University

— Pilot & first-year Platinum Program has provided eight companies pre-seed funding totaling $3.5 million, lab space, and mentorship and is now offering drug discovery and corporate advisory services from new sponsors Alloy Therapeutics, Goodwin, and van den Boom & Associates — CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission BioCapital (MBC) announced today the first eight investments supported by the Platinum Program, a competitive process managed by MBC to accelerate the launch and initial development of high-potential life sciences start-up companies by providing funding, global laboratory space, expert mentorship, and discovery services. The following six investments were made through the 2023 Mission BioCapital Platinum Program: Babylon Biosciences (San Francisco) is focused on discovering and developing small-molecule therapeutics to treat Alzheimer's disease. Bullseye Biosciences (Cambridge, MA) is revolutionizing drug development through robotics and evolution to target challenging drivers of cardiometabolic inflammatory diseases and oncology. Cloverleaf Bio (New Haven) is a Yale spinout developing a new platform of engineered tRNA therapeutics to improve patient outcomes in oncology. Nucyrna Therapeutics (Cambridge, MA) aims to refine RNA-targeting therapeutics based on a novel oligonucleotide platform, with an initial focus on CNS diseases. Umlaut.Bio (Heidelberg, Germany), a spinout of the European Molecule Biology Laboratory (EMBL), is pursuing tRNA targets for treatment of cancer and immunological diseases. Velocity Bio (San Carlos, CA) is a Stanford University spinout developing high-throughput platforms capable of selectivity-first allosteric drug discovery for under-drugged human enzymes implicated in devastating diseases. Mission BioCapital's pilot Platinum Program in 2022 resulted in the following two investments: TippingPoint Biosciences (San Francisco) is a UCSF spinout developing a drug discovery platform to identify treatments for diseases caused by defects in DNA packaging, including several hard-to-treat cancers. Integrated Biosciences (San Carlos, CA) is combining synthetic biology and machine learning to discover small-molecule therapeutics targeting aging and age-related diseases. Winners to date have received a combined $3,500,000 in pre-seed capital, a lab bench in one of Mission BioCapital's affiliated incubators located in 14 markets across in the U.S. and Europe, and strategic scientific and business development mentorship provided by experts from the program's founding sponsors, Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly), Ono Venture Investment (ONO), and MBC. "Now in its third year, we have been so pleased with the number of high-potential, visionary life sciences founders that have applied to the competition from around the globe," said Jennifer Griffin, Ph.D., Partner, Mission BioCapital. "We are proud to support early-stage innovation with critical capital, turnkey infrastructure, and strategic mentoring alongside our partners, Lilly and ONO. We thank them for their shared vision and resources that have enabled the program to scale its impact for biotech founders." Applications for 2023 were submitted from around the world, including 12 countries and 31 U.S. states. A panel of judges comprising the MBC investment team and senior executives from Lilly and ONO reviewed the submissions and identified 15 finalists to pitch to the partnership, which selected six companies developing novel solutions for patients. Mission BioCapital continued to scale the Platinum Program's impact in 2024 by introducing "preferred service" sponsors, welcoming new partners Alloy Therapeutics, Goodwin Procter LLP, and van den Boom & Associates, which have committed to offering complementary drug discovery services, general counsel, and accounting services, respectively, to future winners. "It's extremely gratifying to watch our Platinum Program grow, thanks in large part to our sponsors," said Steve Tregay, Ph.D., Managing General Partner, Mission BioCapital. "Our second annual competition tripled the seed funding amounts while greatly expanding the program's geographic reach to find new talent and innovations outside of the major San Francisco and Boston biotechnology hubs. The addition of the new sponsors further augments the program by facilitating access to services that are critical for early-stage biotech companies." "Accelerating innovation by partnering our drug discovery expertise with the novel ideas of early-stage biotech companies is at the heart of what we do," said Errik Anderson, CEO and Founder of Alloy Therapeutics. "We're thrilled to partner with Mission BioCapital to enable biotech founders through the Platinum Program, providing support for the critical initial work to de-risk a company's lead candidate." About the Mission BioCapital Platinum Program Mission BioCapital (MBC) established the Platinum Program in 2022 to enable entrepreneurs with breakthrough technologies from diverse backgrounds to quickly launch new companies. Platinum Program winners receive guaranteed laboratory space at MBC's partner incubators in the U.S. and Europe, access to world-class experts, lead candidate-enabling drug discovery services, and seed capital to quickly develop scientific data needed to obtain subsequent funding rounds. The program invites innovators from around the world, including academic scientists, to submit breakthrough biomedical innovations that have the potential to advance patient care. In its first two years, the Mission BioCapital Platinum Program has awarded a total of $3.5 million, incubator space, and business mentoring to eight life sciences companies located in two countries and three U.S. states. For more information about the Mission BioCapital Platinum Program, please visit . About Mission BioCapital Mission BioCapital is a venture capital firm focused on making pivotal early-stage investments in life sciences companies. We support our portfolio companies through a unique combination of shared lab space, capital investment, and access to strategic partners. With offices in the nation's leading life sciences clusters in Cambridge, MA and San Francisco, Mission BioCapital is dedicated to helping entrepreneurial scientists build successful companies, from idea to exit. Learn more at missionbiocapital.com. Contact: Mary Moynihan M2Friend Biocommunications +1 (802) 951-9600 [email protected] SOURCE Mission BioCapital WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Ongoing international oncology collaboration works to empower health care workers and save lives across diverse resource environments. Accra, GHANA, Oct. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- International oncology experts are gathering in Accra, Ghana for a series of meetings beginning today, to update cancer treatment recommendations in the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa. This is the latest event from a longstanding collaboration between the African Cancer Coalition (ACC), American Cancer Society (ACS), and National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) that collectively form the group Allied Against Cancer. Together, the organizations are focused on providing context-appropriate, evidence-based cancer care strategies that address the unique challenges faced across the region. Continue Reading NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa available for free at NCCN.org/harmonized. The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa are free resources for optimizing and standardizing cancer care across the region. They are available at NCCN.org/harmonized or via the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelines® App. "The Sub-Saharan Africa region is dealing with a rising rate of cancer incidences. Standardizing care based on the latest evidence-based expert consensus-driven recommendations helps ensure consistency in treatment and enables better planning for how to use available resources," said Dr. Henry Ddungu, Senior Consultant, Hematology/Oncology; African Cancer Coalition. "We can ensure people with cancer receive the most effective treatment by harnessing local expertise combined with global best practices." During the meeting, the updates to the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa will focus on caring for blood malignancies and children's cancers, including: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Acute Myeloid Leukemia B-cell Lymphomas Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Hodgkin Lymphoma Multiple Myeloma Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Pediatric Aggressive B-Cell Lymphomas Pediatric Central Nervous System Cancers Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia/Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma "Since the launch of Allied Against Cancer and publication of the first NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa in 2017, we have grown to include guidelines covering more than 90% of adult cancer incidences, and most pediatric cancers," said Anu Agrawal, MD, Vice President, Global Cancer Support, American Cancer Society (ACS). "We are proud of the work we've accomplished collaboratively and excited to see continued progress in cancer care across the region." "As we strive for health equity across the globe, it is vital that health care providers are equipped with the best tools and resources to deliver optimal care for a variety of different settings," said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. "These guidelines are a critical step for helping cancer care professionals stay current on the latest advancements in treatment. They provide a roadmap for ideal options while also taking into account the challenges that exist when delivering care in resource limited settings." Dr. Denlinger was joined by NCCN's Chief Medical Officer, Wui-Jin Koh, MD, along with the following NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) Panel leadership: Ranjana H. Advani, MD, Stanford Cancer Institute Jessica K. Altman, MD, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University Hiroto Inaba, MD, PhD, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ offer color-coded tiers of treatment recommendations based on resource availability. They cover more than 40 different cancer types, plus screening, supportive care, and specific population concerns. They have been utilized nearly 70,000 times since 2017 and have been endorsed by the Federal Ministries of Health and leading cancer centers in Ethiopia, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Learn more about Allied Against Cancer's collaborative work to improve cancer care in Sub-Saharan Africa at alliedagainstcancer.org. Visit NCCN.org/global for other free international cancer prevention and treatment resources. About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN ®) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care so all patients can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines ®) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients® provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation®. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information. Media Contact: Rachel Darwin 267-622-6624 [email protected] Photo - Logo - WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

BOSTON, Oct. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc., a medical device company focused on preventing reherniation and reoperation following lumbar discectomy to treat herniated discs, announced today that the American Medical Association (AMA) CPT Editorial Panel has accepted the addition of a new Category 1 CPT Code for bone anchored annular closure. This is the first CPT Code to describe closing large annular defects using the Barricaid® device. The procedure is routinely performed by Orthopaedic Spine and Neurosurgeons. Continue Reading New Category 1 CPT Code Effective January 2026 "A new Category 1 CPT code represents a significant milestone for any new technology. Category 1 codes are intended to describe procedures that demonstrate high levels of clinical evidence and efficacy. Most importantly, this distinction demonstrates that Barricaid has met the rigorous criteria the AMA sets forth, including robust clinical data and widespread adoption by physicians, further substantiating the medical necessity of this critical therapeutic alternative," commented Dr. Serena Hu, Chief, Orthopaedic Spine Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford. "For physicians, achievement of a CPT code not only offers a pathway to reimbursement, but also is a strong indicator of clinical acceptance and a new standard of care within the surgical community." This achievement of the Category 1 CPT code follows a succession of several key milestones for Barricaid including: statistical superiority vs a discectomy alone in multiple randomized pivotal trials, FDA Premarket Approval (PMA), issuance by Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of a clinical C-Code for facility payment, and Center for Disease Control (CDC) publication of ICD-10-CM codes to report large annular defects. The addition of this CPT code represents a major reimbursement milestone for the Barricaid procedure that will help to standardize and streamline the reimbursement process. This new CPT code will go into effect on or after January 1, 2026. "Successfully gaining the support and approval of key healthcare organizations like FDA, CMS, CDC and AMA requires irrefutable clinical evidence. We are truly grateful for the tremendous effort put forth by the surgeons and national specialty medical societies who have collaborated with one another and cooperated with Intrinsic to collect this clinical evidence and achieve these incredible milestones," stated Ryan Drant, Chairman of the Board at Intrinsic Therapeutics. About Barricaid Barricaid is a proprietary technology designed to prevent reherniation and reoperation in patients with large annular defects following lumbar discectomy surgery. Barricaid has been implanted in more than eleven thousand patients and is supported by clinical studies in 8 distinct patient populations, including two randomized controlled trials and six single armed trials. A multicenter level I RCT demonstrating superior outcomes to discectomy alone with 5-year results was published in JAMA. For full benefit-risk information, please visit Barricaid is a registered trademark of Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc. SOURCE Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc. WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED