Member Info for HotblackDesiato

Hi C79 - This article from latest New Scientist suggests lupus may have links to a gene mutation.

"The DNA of a girl with a severe form of lupus may have helped uncover a genetic cause for the autoimmune condition.

Lupus causes inflammation that can lead to joint pain, skin plaques (pictured) and fatigue. The cause is a bit of a mystery, making it difficult to develop treatments. Most therapies dampen the immune system, leaving people more vulnerable to infections.

To hunt for possible genetic causes, Grant Brown at the Australian National University in Canberra and his team sequenced the genome of a girl called Gabriela, who was diagnosed aged 7. Her age meant a genetic factor was more likely to be involved.

The work revealed that she has a mutation in a gene called TLR7, which encodes a protein called toll-like receptor 7. This normally helps the immune system spot foreign agents so it can mount suitable attacks against infections.

Mice given this mutation ended up with lupus-like symptoms. The mutation probably makes it harder for the immune system to tell foreign agents and healthy tissue apart (Nature, doi.org/hrwp).

However, such mutations have only been identified in two other people with lupus so far, suggesting the faulty gene isn’t the only cause of the condition. Brown’s team is now exploring whether drugs that target TLR7 could treat lupus."

Hi NDR - page 10 onwards might be of interest to you https://ir.ventyxbio.com/static-files/8f10691e-c8c9-48aa-b24c-1ebef90f230b

Looking at their pipeline it does make you think of where potential SAR deals could lead.

https://ventyxbio.com/pipeline/

Their VTX958 is in P1 trials - "VTX958 is an oral, selective allosteric inhibitor of tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) with the potential to address a broad range of immune-mediated diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and lupus.

TYK2 inhibits type I interferon and the Th1/Th17 axis for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases
TYK2 regulates both innate and adaptive immunity by mediating type I interferon, IL-12 and IL-23 signaling. Selectively targeting inhibition of TYK2 without inhibition of other JAK family enzymes provides an optimal balance between reducing inflammation and preserving immune protection."

Hi Basser - I think it'll be 3mths+ until we know what the P2/3 trials will target.

From the 1801 toxicology report RNS - This Phase 1a trial will investigate the safety of ascending doses of SDC-1801 in healthy subjects prior to the selection of an initial indication for further clinical study in patients in any subsequent trials. The Phase 1a trial will also investigate the effect of SDC-1801 on certain biomarkers of autoimmune disease that could be predictive of efficacy when tested in patients.

It looks like the P1 CTA doesn't need to mention specific diseases so we'll just have to sit tight and wait for results.

In the meantime I'd hope they were getting on with putting 1802 through toxicology.

Regards.

A curious line in that link, '...and he didn’t want just one product: he wanted the full store.'

The article doesn't mention 737 but it infers GSK knew exactly what was available.

I wonder if SRA737 was positioned much like those impulse buy bars of chocolate next to the checkouts in supermarkets. You only went in for milk but came out with a CHK1 inhibitor.

Hi Aber,

When you ask, 'at what offer price should the BOD engage with the shareholders rather than rejecting the offer ?', I would guess when the prospective buyer makes the offer formally.

It's easy enough to rebuff a lowball offer received whilst giving interested parties an update but once they send our BoD an offer via their legal representative then I'd imagine they'd have to announce it.

Our time is coming.

Regarding the T/O price, with such little mention of 737 you do wonder if either Sierra has grossly underestimated its potential or GSK's boffins have deliberately encouraged their negotiators to play it down. Perhaps both!

Hi NDR - it might be a case of an institution wanting either too large a slice of our pie or they want to see what P1 trials say.

We've seen reports of high value drug failures so it would be understandable if big investors need the reassurance provided by at least a successful P1 trial before they cough up.

'Course, the other reason might be they're just not interested (inconceivable!).

Afternoon all,

https://www.gsk.com/media/7639/q1-2022-announcement.pdf

Page 33 of the report notes that the Sierra deal should be concluded in the third quarter of 2022 or before. My conservative guess is that it could therefore be Q4 before we learn what their plans are for 737.

For those of you wanting to see the various oncology/immunology pipelines, scroll to page 34 onwards. I'd be interested if any of our regulars can identify and report on any Sareum-shaped holes in their pipeline.

It looks like once their spin-off company, Haleon, is up and running they'll be going on a shopping spree.

Regards.

A small piece in the Metro today - GSK reported a turnover of £9.8bn in the first quarter.

Finding the cash to advance 737 shouldn't be too difficult for them.

Looks like the fees aren't too bad, especially to a small bio firm with millions in the bank ;-)

https://obn.glueup.com/event/44492/register/

Onwards!

Hi Aber/Num4 - There must be lots going on behind the scenes what with the imminent CTA and the Sierra deal etc. so perhaps they hadn't intended going but PH (or A N Other) strongly recommended at the last minute that they show face there.

Surely it can't be long until we get our rightful place in the sun.

Just in case there are any new/potential investors looking in, the following might be helpful with regard to the CTA & proposed trial of SDC-1801.

(Taken from the last Q&A session)

Is the clinical trial design being made with a view to making the SDC-1801 programme more attractive to potential licensees?

"Yes, the trial design is to position the SDC-1801 molecule favourably for licensing. We are looking for two results from the trial - one is to clear the path for future clinical trials – i.e. demonstrate initial safety in healthy volunteers and identify a recommended dose for future trials; and the other is to populate a data package with the information that a potential pharma partner would look for as part of its due diligence ahead of any licensing deal."

also

"...our toxicology studies were successful and we are confident that SDC-1801 has a large enough therapeutic window to warrant investigation in clinical trials, by which we mean that the concentrations of SDC-1801 that gave rise to toxic effects are much greater that the concentrations we would expect to administer in first clinical studies.

We have consistently stated that we would consider how we might make use of the UK government’s AGILE clinical trial platform, or other equivalent programmes, to providing funding and support for Phase 1 trials with SDC-1801 for Covid-19 applications and potentially fast-track its development.

We have also clearly stated that the initial Phase 1a clinical trial with SDC-1801 is needed before we can enter any further trials in Covid-19 symptoms or any other indication. This is because this first trial is intended to provide data on the safety, tolerability and potential dosing of SDC-1801 in healthy subjects, which is essential before advancing SDC-1801 into subsequent trials in patients."

If all goes well then Ahfam's £7 doesn't seem too outlandish.

Sorry, meant CPF but you probably guessed that.

Oracle - I like your thinking but if they offered CRUK £500m for 737 today, I wonder if they'd take it. As others have previously noted, CRUK don't really care about the money, it's the cure they're after.

Evening all,

It's reasonable to assume we won't learn about GSK's intentions for 737 until after the takeover is complete.

So until then, what do people think the chances are of them wanting to buy it outright rather than continue with the license agreement?

Hi Doolinator - dreams do come true.

https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/pandion-s-secret-to-moving-a-65m-merck-offer-to-a-1-9b-done-deal-a-year-just-keep-saying-no

Sounds like it's a bit more than a vitamin B deficiency. I hope you've not been exploring the MTD for Wotsits again.

Best wishes and rock out 'til you clock out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbHGS_bVkXY

Sounds like you're just looking for any excuse to sell up and move on.

Hi LW - no worries! Much like our consolidation vote, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion but still had to be voted on.

Regards.