Category Archives: Immunology

Immunology

Driven by immunology and neuroscience drugs, AbbVie posts strong first-quarter 2022 – PharmaLive

Published: Apr 29, 2022

By Alex Keown

BioSpace

AbbVie is off to a strong start for 2022, driven by success from Skyrizi and Rinvoq, as well as the companys neuroscience platform that includes its depression treatments and its three-pronged approach to migraine.

This morning, AbbVie CEO Richard Gonzales touted the momentum the company has seen across these products and portfolios during the first quarter. During the Q1 conference call, Gonzales said Skyrizi and Rinvoq will become important revenue drives for the company, particularly as its cash cow Humira loses market share in Europe and the United States due to increasing competition from novel treatments and biosimilars.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

He also noted the companys three migraine drugs have become key revenue drivers. With the migraine market expected to double in size, Gonzales said theres significant headroom for growth.

This is a really exciting time for AbbVie, Gonzales said. Our momentum combined with ramping contributions from new products and new indications will drive accelerating revenue and EPS growth through the rest of the year.

With ongoing clinical studies of Rinvoq and Skyrizi, Gonzales said the revenue stream for the two drugs is anticipated to increase. Earlier this year, Rinvoq picked up a new designation when it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults and juveniles 12 years of age and older who have not responded to previous treatment options or when other options are not advised. Then, last month, the FDA greenlit Rinvoq as a treatment for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more tumor necrosis factors (TNF) blockers.

Rinvoq could receive additional approval following data from the Phase III U-EXCEL study on Crohns disease. The study showed Rinvoq hit the mark with both primary endpoints of clinical remission and endoscopic response, as well as most key secondary endpoints.

During the first quarter, the FDA extended the review period for Skyrizi (risankizumab) for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohns disease by three months. The decision was made so the regulatory agency could review additional data submitted by AbbVie, including information about the on-body injector.

In neuroscience, the company is hoping to secure an additional indication for Vraylar (cariprazine). The company submitted a supplemental New Drug Application for the adjunctive treatment of the major depressive disorder (MDD). Vraylar has previously been approved for the treatment of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The latest submission to the FDA was based on trial results that showed clinically and statistically significant improvement in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale in patients with MDD treated with Vraylar and an antidepressant.

In migraine, the company anticipates potential approval of a new indication for Qulipta (atogepant), an oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist. Data from the Phase III Progress study showed Qulipta met its primary endpoint of statistically significant reduction from baseline in mean monthly migraine days compared to placebo. AbbVie hopes the data will expand the use of Qulipta to include preventive treatment of chronic migraine.

For the first quarter, worldwide revenues were $13.5 billion, a 5.4% increase on an operational basis. Immunology, a key area for AbbVie, generated $6.141 billion in revenue, an 8.1% on an operational basis. Humira, which has been a powerhouse delivering $20 billion in revenue for several years, lost some ground, but still managed to bring in $4.7 billion during the first quarter. Humira sales were down 2.7%. Humiras biggest slide was overseas, where biosimilar competition is increasing. Net revenue internationally was $743 million, a decrease of 22.6%.

Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which are seen as successors to Humira, posted strong gains. Net revenues for Skyrizi were $940 million, an increase of 63.7% on a reported basis. Rinvoq sales across the globe were $465 million, an increase of 53.6% on a reported basis.

Global revenue for the neuroscience division was $1.4 billion, a 21.1% increase on an operational basis. Vraylar generated $427 million during the quarter and Ubrelvy, another migraine drug, posted $138 million in sales. Revenue for therapeutic Botox was $614 million, a 16.6% increase on an operational basis, the company said.

AbbVie did see a decrease in global net revenue from its hematologic oncology portfolio. Revenue was 1.6 billion, a decrease of 1.6% on a reported basis. Sales of Imbruvica slid 7.4% to $1.17 billion. Venclexta saw a 16.9% jump to $473 million.

BioSpace source:

https://www.biospace.com/article/driven-by-immunology-and-neuroscience-drugs-abbvie-posts-strong-first-quarter/

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Driven by immunology and neuroscience drugs, AbbVie posts strong first-quarter 2022 - PharmaLive

Immunology

UAB’s Casey Weaver elected to prestigious National Academy of Sciences – University of Alabama at Birmingham

For just the third time in history, a University of Alabama at Birmingham faculty member has been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.

For just the third time in history, a University of Alabama at Birmingham faculty member has been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.

Casey Weaver, M.D., professor in the UAB Department of Pathology, learned of his election this week one of the highest and rarest honors offered to scientists in the United States.

The National Academy of Sciences sometimes called the science hall of fame has 2,512 U.S. and 517 international members. The membership includes about 190 Nobel laureates.

Dr. Casey Weavers election to the National Academy of Sciences is a huge accomplishment, not only for him but for our academic medical center and for UAB as an institution, said Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., dean of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, CEO of UAB Health System and CEO of the UAB/Ascension St. Vincents Alliance. This is one of the highest honors a scientist can receive, and we are very proud of his continued work and success.

Weaver was among 120 new members and 30 international members invited to the National Academy this year. The nonprofit National Academy of Sciences members provide independent, objective counsel to the nation on matters related to science and technology.

For 30 years, Weaver has studied T cells, one of the important white blood cells of the immune system in their role to protect the body from infection and cancer. He has published more than 180 peer-reviewed papers in outstanding high-impact and prestigious journals, including Science, Nature, Cell, Nature Immunology, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Science Immunology, Nature Medicine and eLife, and he is an author of Janeways Immunobiology, one of the leading immunology textbooks.

This is a proud moment for our university and academic medical center and the state of Alabama as Dr. Weaver becomes the third UAB scientist elected to this elite academy, said UAB President Ray Watts. We celebrate all that this tremendous honor represents in terms of the caliber of Dr. Weavers own work, as well as the national and international reputation of UAB.

Weaver deflected his honor toward the many UAB colleagues, past and present, he has collaborated with over time particularly young researchers.

Science is a team sport, and this honor is a tribute to the incredible people Ive had the good fortune to work with at UAB especially the trainees, Weaver said. Im also pleased that the work this acknowledges was done at UAB over the last 30 years. Its truly homegrown.

Weaver and other new members will be inducted to into the National Academy at its 159th annual meeting next year. Members are nominated by their peers in recognition of distinguished, outstanding and ongoing achievements in original research, as well as contributions to scientific and technological progress.

UABs two previous faculty elected to the National Academy are Max Cooper, M.D., a physician and immunologist, who was elected in 1988 but later left UAB, and Louise Chow, Ph.D., a virologist, elected in 2012.

T cells, which include T-helper cells and T-killer cells, develop from stem cells in the bone marrow. Weaver probes the mechanisms by which CD4+ T cells control adaptive immunity, the kind of immunity that develops after vaccination or infection. Weaver has studied the mechanisms by which CD4+ T cells control adaptive and innate immunity, including but not limited to mechanisms controlling the development of different T-cell subsets and the role of T cells in maintaining immune homeostasis in the face of a large, diverse intestinal microbiota. His laboratory led in the discovery of the TH17 pathway that resulted in extension of the original TH1TH2 hypothesis and stimulated a new appreciation of the role of this pathway in host protection against infection and its contribution to immune pathogenesis.

Dr. Weaver has been an integral contributor to the research landscape at UAB and internationally, and this recognition by the National Academy of Sciences comes as little surprise to those who know him and his work, said George Netto, M.D., the Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair of Pathology. He is a scientist of distinction whose research has broadened our base of knowledge in immunology. This award is a fitting acknowledgment of his outstanding work over the last 30 years at UAB.

At UAB, Weaver holds the Wyatt and Susan Haskell Endowed Chair for Medical Excellence in the Department of Pathology, and he is a senior scientist in the ONeal Comprehensive Cancer Center. Weaver earned his medical degree at the University of Florida, and he trained in pathology during his residency at Barnes and Jewish hospitals at Washington University in St. Louis, where he also did postdoctoral training in immunology.

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UAB's Casey Weaver elected to prestigious National Academy of Sciences - University of Alabama at Birmingham

Immunology

Kymera Therapeutics to Share Novel Preclinical Findings Reinforcing the Advantage of IRAK4 Degraders over Kinase Inhibitors as well as First STAT3…

-Data to be shared at the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Annual Meeting

-Results highlight potential for IRAK4 degraders to broadly impact TLR/IL-1R-driven inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in a manner superior to kinase inhibitors

-Findings support further exploration of STAT3 degraders in Th17-driven autoimmune indications

WATERTOWN, Mass., May 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kymera Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: KYMR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing targeted protein degradation to deliver novel small molecule protein degrader medicines, today presented new preclinical results demonstrating that STAT3 degradation alleviates Th17 inflammation and is active in a preclinical animal model of CNS inflammation, and that IRAK4 degradation blocks multiple innate immune signaling pathways across different immune cell types in a manner superior to kinase inhibitors. Data will be shared in two separate posters at the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Annual Meeting 2022, taking place from May 6 - 10, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.

Collectively, the findings demonstrate the advantage of using degraders to effectively drug signaling nodes driving inflammation as well as the translation of in vitro activity to in vivo proof of concept in animal models of autoimmune disease, said Anthony Slavin, Vice President, Immunology. The impact of STAT3 degradation on immune and stromal cell activation and Th17 inflammation leading to potent effects in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, as well as the broad effect of IRAK4 degradation on TLR-mediated signaling and cytokine induction and its superiority to kinase inhibition, underscore the clinical potential of these degraders in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

STAT3 is a transcriptional regulator that has been linked to numerous cancers as well as multiple autoimmune and fibrotic diseases. Heterobifunctional degraders have emerged as a novel therapeutic modality with great potential to drug historically undruggable protein targets like STAT3. Kymera has previously shown its selective STAT3 degraders can suppress the growth of tumors in preclinical models of lymphoma and solid tumors. Findings presented at AAI reveal for the first time the activity of Kymeras STAT3 degraders against Th17 inflammation, including in vivo proof of concept in a clinically relevant mouse experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) model of multiple sclerosis. Degradation of STAT3 inhibited Th17 development and cytokine release, which in turn blocked disease induction and also mitigated ongoing disease in the EAE model.

IRAK4 is known to play a significant role in inflammation mediated by the activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and IL-1 receptors (IL-1Rs). While TLR and IL-1R signaling via IRAK4 is involved in immune surveillance, abnormal activation of these pathways is the underlying cause of multiple inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD), hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The function of IRAK4 is dependent both on its kinase and scaffolding activity; therefore, targeting both functions with a degrader has the greatest potential to inhibit IL-1R/TLR pathway activation. Data to be shared in a second poster showed that potent and selective IRAK4 degraders effectively block TLR-mediated NF-kB and MAP kinase signaling and cytokine induction across multiple different immune cell subsets, including monocytes and B cells, with activity that was superior to IRAK4 kinase inhibitors.

We are excited to expand the study of our STAT3 degraders from oncology into inflammation and autoimmune indications, where our findings with respect to impact on Th17 development and activation and Th17-mediated diseases open up multiple development opportunities for this novel approach to drugging the JAK-STAT pathway said Nello Mainolfi, PhD, Co-Founder, President and CEO, Kymera Therapeutics. The data showing both the mechanistic as well as functional differentiation of IRAK4 degraders compared to small molecule kinase inhibitors further demonstrate the degrader advantage not only for undruggable targets like STAT3, but also for targets like IRAK4 where the full impact of targeting can only be realized by addressing both the scaffolding and catalytic functions of the protein.

Posters at AAI Annual Meeting:

Kymera is collaborating with Sanofi on the development of degrader candidates targeting IRAK4, including KT-474 (SAR444656), outside of the oncology and immuno-oncology fields.

About Kymera TherapeuticsKymera Therapeutics (Nasdaq: KYMR) is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the field of targeted protein degradation, a transformative approach to address disease targets and pathways inaccessible with conventional therapeutics. Kymeras Pegasus platform is a powerful drug discovery engine, advancing novel small molecule therapies that harness the bodys innate protein recycling machinery to degrade dysregulated, disease-causing proteins. With a focus on undrugged nodes in validated pathways, Kymera is advancing a pipeline of novel therapeutics designed to address the most intractable pathways and provide new treatments for patients. Kymeras initial programs target IRAK4, IRAKIMiD, and STAT3 within the IL-1R/TLR or JAK/STAT pathways, providing the opportunity to treat patients with a broad range of immune-inflammatory diseases, hematologic malignancies, and solid tumors. For more information, visit http://www.kymeratx.com.

Founded in 2016, Kymera is headquartered in Watertown, Mass. Kymera has been named a Fierce 15 biotechnology company by Fierce Biotech and has been recognized by the Boston Business Journal as one of Bostons Best Places to Work. For more information about our people, science, and pipeline, please visit http://www.kymeratx.com or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, implied and express statements regarding its: strategy, business plans and objectives for the IRAK4 and STAT3 degrader programs; and plans and timelines for the clinical development of Kymera Therapeutics' product candidates, including the therapeutic potential and clinical benefits thereof. The words "may," might, "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," expect, "estimate," seek, "predict," future, "project," "potential," "continue," "target" and similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, risks associated with: the impact of COVID-19 on countries or regions in which we have operations or do business, as well as on the timing and anticipated results of our current preclinical studies and future clinical trials, strategy and future operations; the delay of any current preclinical studies or future clinical trials or the development ofKymera Therapeutics'drug candidates;the risk that the results of current preclinical studies may not be predictive of future results in connection with future clinical trials;Kymera Therapeutics' ability to successfully demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its drug candidates; the timing and outcome of the Companys planned interactions with regulatory authorities; and obtaining, maintaining and protecting its intellectual property.These and other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2022, filed on May 3, 2022, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Kymera Therapeutics' subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Kymera Therapeutics' views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Kymera Therapeutics explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements.

Investor Contact:Bruce JacobsChief Financial Officerinvestors@kymeratx.com857-285-5300

Chris BrinzeyManaging Director, Westwickechris.brinzey@westwicke.com339-970-2843

Media Contact:Todd CooperSenior Vice President, Corporate Affairsmedia@kymeratx.com857-285-5300

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Kymera Therapeutics to Share Novel Preclinical Findings Reinforcing the Advantage of IRAK4 Degraders over Kinase Inhibitors as well as First STAT3...

Immunology

A fun and winding path to becoming a community college teacher – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

By Whitney Baxter

Savanna Judson will graduate this spring semester with a masters degree in agricultural education. She has taken a bit of a winding pathway to becoming a community college instructor, but she has enjoyed the journey.

After earning her bachelors degree in environmental science from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, Judson spent a couple years working for SOAR (Saving Our Avian Resources) in western Iowa doing public programming and public speaking. During this time, she realized she enjoyed teaching and wanted to pursue a career in education.

Judson decided teaching at the community college level, rather than at a university, would be best since community colleges do not require faculty to conduct research as part of their appointment. She knew she wanted to teach microbiology or biology, but a graduate degree in those areas of study would not necessarily provide the teaching experience she needed. So, she looked into Iowa State Universitys agricultural education graduate program and found it would be a good fit.

The master of science program in agricultural education allows for flexibility with a student being able to take elective courses to tailor to their interest area and needs, said Scott Smalley, associate professor of agricultural education and studies and one of Judsons mentor. Savanna has been able to take classes on microbiology and immunology with a focus on teaching at a community college.

Nick Peters, assistant professor of plant pathology and microbiology, was another of Judsons mentors during her masters program. Judson spent this past academic year assisting in his Microbiology 201 class, first helping him incorporate active learning into the curriculum, then leading an immunology unit.

He has been great and very accepting of what I want to do, Judson said. Hes gone above-and-beyond to help me gain teaching experience.

Peters said he has appreciated Judsons go getter attitude and the new ideas she has brought to the class.

It was inspiring to me after teaching the class for so many semesters to see her enthusiasm for getting others excited about microbiology, Peters said. It makes me happy to see other people just as interested in microbiology as I am.

Peters also helped Judson set up two seminars she taught for undergraduate Honors Program students one last fall about vaccines and another this spring on infectious diseases. He walked her through backwards design the process of determining the learning objectives of a course first, then developing the core content for each of the learning modules. A practice she will implement in her career as an educator.

It has been a huge experience working with students, putting together content and designing a syllabus, all for a fun, supplemental course, Judson said. It will be a nice transition to teaching a full class.

Following graduation, Judsons immediate plans are to participate in the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon, winding her way through the streets of Green Bay, Wisconsin, as well as a lap through Lambeau Field, on May 15. Then shell finalize lesson plans for a summer semester course shell be teaching at Des Moines Area Community Colleges Carroll, Iowa, campus.

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A fun and winding path to becoming a community college teacher - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Immunology

Ting, Baric Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences | Newsroom – UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine

Jenny Ting, PhD, the William Kenan Distinguished Professor of Genetics, and Ralph Baric, PhD, the William Kenan Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology and Microbiology & Immunology, were elected as members of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

UNC-Chapel Hill faculty members Ralph Baric, Virginia Gray, and Jenny Ting were elected as members of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences this spring.

Jenny Ting is the William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor in the UNC Department of Genetics at the UNC School of Medicine. Her research focuses on using cutting edge ideas and technology to understand disease-relevant issues such as innate immunity, gene regulation, and inflammation among others.

Ralph Baric is the William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the UNC School of Medicine. His research specializes in coronaviruses and infectious diseases using molecular, genetic and biochemical approaches.

Ting and Baric are both members of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Virginia Gray is professor emerita in the College of Arts & Sciences political science department. Her teaching experience includes a variety of American politics courses, such as interest groups, state politics, fieldwork in the legislature and public policy. Her research spans a variety of topics, including state interest groups and public policy.

The three join the 39 UNC-Chapel Hill faculty previously elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is both an honorary society and an independent research center. Members are elected from across disciplines, professions and perspectives to examine new ideas, address issues and advance the public good. Membership is an honor, and also an opportunity to shape ideas and influence policy in areas as diverse as the arts, democracy, education, global affairs, and science. said Chair of the Academys Board of Directors Nancy C. Andrews. Over 13,500 members have been elected since its founding.

The new members join a distinguished group of individuals elected to the Academy before them. Notable members include Benjamin Franklin in 1781, Charles Darwin in 1874, Albert Einstein in 1924, Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1966, Stephen Jay Hawking in 1984, and Condoleezza Rice in 1997.

The complete list of individuals elected in 2022, including 37 International Honorary Members from 16 countries, is availablehere.

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Ting, Baric Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences | Newsroom - UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine

Immunology

What to do if you are stung by an insect – Parkview Health

This post was written by Heather Willison, MSN, FNP-C, PPG Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

As the saying goes, April showers will bring May flowers, which often attract bees and other insects. While stinging insects do not pose a problem for everyone, an estimated 2 million Americans are allergic to the venom produced by stinging insects. As we head further into spring, its important to know how to handle a sting and the best ways to decrease the chance of being stung in the first place.

Most stings will likely result in pain, redness, itching and swelling around the sting site. This is a normal response and should not typically be cause for concern. If it is a bee sting, they likely left behind a stinger full of venom. To properly remove a stinger, youll want to follow these steps:

Generally, there can be significant swelling from an insect sting, which can be alarming at first glance. But its important to note that this response is considered a large local reaction, and the swelling usually peaks around 48 hours and completely goes away within a week.

As stated earlier, it is possible to be allergic to the venom from a stinging insect, resulting in a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. If this happens, you or the individual who was stung should go to the Emergency Department if they experience any of the following symptoms:

For anyone with an allergy to stinging insects, it is crucial to keep injectable epinephrine on hand and to wear a medical alert bracelet so that others know of the life-threatening allergy. A medical provider must prescribe injectable epinephrine.

While not foolproof, there are measures and safety precautions you can take to decrease your risk of getting stung by a bee, wasp or hornet. A few tried and true tips to keep you safe this summer include:

Furthermore, knowing where the different types of stinging insects like to dwell can be helpful. Honeybees live in and around a honeycomb structure or hive. Yellowjackets reside in nests they build in the ground or old logs and walls. Hornets and wasps make their homes in bushes, trees, and sometimes on buildings.

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What to do if you are stung by an insect - Parkview Health

Immunology

RAPT Therapeutics Expands Leadership Team with Multiple Key Hires – Yahoo Finance

RAPT Therapeutics, Inc.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RAPT), a clinical-stage, immunology-based biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing oral small molecule therapies for patients with significant unmet needs in inflammatory diseases and oncology, today announced the appointments of Gwen Carscadden as Chief Human Resources Officer, Jim Farmer as Vice President of Clinical Operations and Shari Geffon as Vice President of Program and Alliance Management.

We are pleased to attract such high caliber talent as we continue to grow our organization and make advances in our inflammatory disease and cancer programs. Gwen is a strategic business leader with a wealth of experience in building dynamic teams and we are very excited to welcome her to the RAPT leadership team, said Brian Wong, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of RAPT. In addition to Gwen, we are excited to welcome Jim and Shari to key leadership roles in clinical operations and program management. The addition of these talented leaders will be invaluable as we continue to advance RPT193 and FLX475 through clinical development and enter our next phase of growth.

Ms. Carscadden added, Im very excited to join RAPT given its exciting programs in inflammatory diseases and oncology. I look forward to supporting RAPTs plans to grow and build an innovative and diverse biopharmaceutical company.

Gwen CarscaddenGwen brings over 30 years of extensive experience building and leading high-quality human resource teams. Most recently, she served as chief people officer at Intersect ENT, a commercial stage medical technology company where she was responsible for setting strategic direction for the human resources function. Previously, Gwen was senior vice president of human resources and facilities at Cardiodx, a private cardiovascular genomic diagnostic company. Before Cardiodx, she was vice president of human resources at Facet Biotech, later acquired by Abbott Labs. Earlier in her career, she held various human resource roles at PDL Biopharma, Fujitsu Computer Systems and AMDAHL corporation. Gwen holds an M.A. in Organizational Communication and a B.A. in Behavioral Science from San Jose State University.

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Jim Farmer Jim brings over 25 years of clinical operations experience in multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology and immunology. Most recently, he served as senior director of clinical development strategy and operations at Travere Therapeutics. Previously, Jim served as head of clinical operations at NantKwest, Inc. and senior director of clinical operations at Coherus Biosciences. Earlier in his career, he held various clinical leadership roles at several pharmaceutical and biotech companies, including Portola Pharmaceuticals, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck. Jim holds a B.S. in Natural Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Shari L. Geffon Shari brings over 25 years of leadership experience in program and alliance management, shaping clinical candidates and product portfolios to maximize value in both biotech and pharmaceutical settings. Most recently, she served as chief operating officer at Renegade.bio, where she was responsible for all operational aspects of the business. Prior to that, Shari served as head of product and portfolio management at Aimmune Therapeutics. Before Aimmune, she was executive director of project and portfolio management at Fibrogen, Inc. Earlier in her career, Shari held various project management roles at Pfizer, Connectics and Abgenix. Shari holds an MBA in International Business Management from the University of Phoenix and a B.S. in Biological Science from California State University, Chico.

About RAPT Therapeutics, Inc.RAPT Therapeutics is a clinical stage immunology-based biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing oral small molecule therapies for patients with significant unmet needs in inflammatory diseases and oncology. Utilizing its proprietary discovery and development engine, the company is developing highly selective small molecules designed to modulate the critical immune drivers underlying these diseases. RAPT has discovered and advanced two unique drug candidates, RPT193 and FLX475, each targeting C-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), for the treatment of inflammation and cancer, respectively. The company is also pursuing a range of targets that are in the discovery stage of development.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as anticipate, could, expect, look forward, target, will, and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Each of these statements is based only on current information, assumptions and expectations that are inherently subject to change and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Detailed information regarding risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by statements in this press release may be found in RAPTs Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2022, and subsequent filings made by RAPT with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. RAPT disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Investor Contact:Sylvia Wheelerswheeler@wheelhouselsa.com

Media Contact:Aljanae Reynoldsareynolds@wheelhouselsa.com

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RAPT Therapeutics Expands Leadership Team with Multiple Key Hires - Yahoo Finance

Immunology

Outstanding Seniors in the College of Science: Kiah Sleiman – University of Arizona News

This spring, each department in the University of Arizona's College of Science nominated an outstanding senior who went above and beyond during their time as a Wildcat. We are pleased to share their stories as they reflect on their time at UArizona. Next up in the senior spotlight series is Kiah Sleiman.

Hometown: Tucson, AZ

Department:Chemistry & Biochemistry

College of Science: Why did you choose your area of study?

Kiah: In my life, I have always been encouraged to understand the why whenever I learned something new, which allowed my curiosity to flourish. My job leading into my college years was a lifeguard at a therapeutic facility, where I interacted with elderly people with many different ailments that did not have direct treatments, like rheumatoid arthritis. The treatments for RA target mostly the symptoms rather than the root of the disease, and in my curiosity of why autoimmunity is more severe in some individuals than others, I joined an RA research lab my senior year of high school. Inspired with what I learned working there, I had decided that I wanted to do biomedical research, and biochemistry is the perfect area of study to provide the base knowledge required to branch into many more nuanced fields, like immunology. With biochemistry, I established a foundation for myself that I would be able to build on in whatever specific field of research that I decide to pursue, while not limiting myself when first starting college.

COS: Tell us about a class or research project you really enjoyed.

Kiah:Having worked in an immunology lab throughout college, I finally had a chance to take an immunology class my Fall semester senior year with Dr. Wilbur. Being able to go back to basics and build an understanding of the immune system as a whole, rather than immediately focusing on the narrow portion that I had been studying in lab, gave me a new appreciation for what I had been observing and opened up new avenues and questions to pursue. After that class, it really felt like everything clicked into place in my experiences of the previous years. Dr. Wilburs Art Show elevated the whole class to another level, when, after having delved into a complex topic like immunology all semester, you have to then step back and think creatively about how to simplify the topic enough to become approachable to someone outside the field.

COS: What is one specific memory from your time at UA that you'll cherish forever?

Kiah:Before COVID hit my sophomore year, I had just begun the process of expanding my focuses beyond academics and trying to be social. Post-COVID, developing a strong social life seemed impossible, but the friendships I had formed pre-COVID actually solidified during quarantine. Between FaceTime and Zoom, we were able to have study sessions and still have fun while being socially distanced. Before quarantine, one friend and I would cook together every Saturday, trying new recipes and experimenting with weird fruits. At one point during the lockdown, we decided to try to do that again virtually and find something we both could make with what we had in our kitchens. After a long rabbit hole of bizarre adaptations of recipes from the Great Depression, we eventually landed on making tortillas from scratch. While it wasnt a complex recipe, the return to some level of normalcy along with the chaos of trying to make tortillas over FaceTime together filled me with hope, and I will take that experience with me forever. I had never been so excited to have a tortilla as I was in that moment, and even today we still reference the hilarity of effectively hosting cooking shows for a 3 ingredient, very simple recipe.

COS: What is next for you after graduation?

Kiah:After graduation, I will be continuing my education in pursuit of a PhD in Biology from Baylor University.

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Outstanding Seniors in the College of Science: Kiah Sleiman - University of Arizona News

Immunology

Amphista Therapeutics Enters Strategic Collaboration with Merck for Discovery and Development of Targeted Protein Degradation Therapeutics – BioSpace

CAMBRIDGE, England, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amphista Therapeutics, a global leader in the discovery and development of next generation targeted protein degradation (TPD) therapeutics, today announced a strategic collaboration with Merck Healthcare, a division of Merck. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck and Amphista will work collaboratively to discover and develop small molecule protein degraders for an initial three targets in oncology and immunology indications. Amphista will receive an upfront payment, R&D funding and success-based milestone payments of up to 893.5 million ($1.0 billion*)as well as royalties in the mid-single digit range. Completion of the transaction is subject to the parties obtaining any necessary regulatory clearances or approvals.

Nicola Thompson, CEO of Amphista, said, "We are extremely pleased to enter into this collaboration with Merck. This is a significant validation of the progress we have made in TPD research and the potential of our Eclipsys next-generation TPD platform. We look forward to working with the Merck team, using our combined expertise to develop new TPD therapies to treat cancers and immuno-inflammatory diseases."

TPD therapies are designed to use physiological mechanisms to remove pathogenic protein from the body, offering the potential to access many disease targets previously considered "undruggable." Amphista's technology is specifically designed to develop next generation TPD therapeutics based on mechanistic insights and novel chemistry approaches that enable the company to develop novel protein degrading therapeutics with superior levels of efficacy and broad therapeutic applicability.

About Amphista Therapeutics

Amphista Therapeutics is a global leader in the discovery and development of nextgeneration targeted protein degradation (TPD) medicines, addressing the challenges faced by the field to realise the full potential of this transformational modality.

The company's proprietary Eclipsys Platform supports development of multiple innovative therapeutic candidates able to overcome the limitations associated with traditional TPD approaches with superior levels of efficacy and broad therapeutic applicability. The Amphista team includes pioneers and established leaders in TPD research and all phases of drug discovery and development. The company is supported by leading life science investors including Forbion, Gilde Healthcare, Novartis Venture Fund, Advent Life Sciences, BioMotiv and Eli Lilly and Company.

For more information, please visit:http://www.amphista.com/.

Media Contacts:

Amphista TherapeuticsCEO Nicola Thompson+44 (0) 7436102411nicki@amphista.com

Berry & Company Public RelationsDoug Haslamdhaslam@berrypr.com+1 212 253 8881

* US$ calculated based on Q1 2022 average FX exchange rate

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SOURCE Amphista Therapeutics

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Amphista Therapeutics Enters Strategic Collaboration with Merck for Discovery and Development of Targeted Protein Degradation Therapeutics - BioSpace

Immunology

Nadine Smith shares experience living with a primary immunodeficiency to call for awareness and early diagnosis – Northern Beaches Review

NADINE Smith remembers being so tired and so run-down that she struggled to walk the 600 metres to the bus stop.

She was in her 20s, and fighting a debilitating fatigue that came with constant viruses and infections. But despite multiple sinus surgeries, long stints on strong antibiotics, and allergy treatments, her doctors were stumped.

"Everyone was wondering why I wasn't getting better," she said.

She had to take a lot of unpaid sick leave. On Wednesdays, she would sleep.

"I just remember thinking, this isn't normal," she said.

"I couldn't get off antibiotics. Serious, strong antibiotics. The infection just wouldn't clear. We'd addressed the structural issues with four different surgeries. I'd be on antibiotics. And every time I'd stop them I'd get the infection back immediately. By the time I was 34, someone finally thought to check whether I had a primary immunodeficiency [PID], and I did."

Having that diagnosis was a game-changer. She began monthly intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, which was "incredible", and has since begun weekly subcutaneous immunoglobulin infusions at home.

"It has changed my life," she said. "I don't get as sick as often, and I don't get those same chronic sinus problems. The weekly therapy is a lot more stable. Not as many ups and downs. I used to joke I'd get 20 good days and eight crappy ones. But I've also got more control now. I've gone from having to work part time to full time.

"I'm not 100 per cent, but life is peaches and cream to how I felt before."

Ms Smith, now 44, said she was lucky in that her symptoms didn't kick in until after she was educated and had clocked some years of work experience.

"If I hadn't been in that position I don't think I'd have the career I do now," she said. "It could really impact a young person's life trajectory."

She believes an earlier diagnosis could also help address the impact the condition can have on family and social roles.

"I'm a woman in my 40s and my 70-year-old mum looks after me rather than the other way around," she said.

Ms Smith shared her story as the Australasian Society for Clinical Allergy and Immunology (ASCIA) launched its strategy to educate health professionals to recognise early warning signs of PID, improve access to paediatric and adult clinical immunology/allergy specialists, and campaign for equitable access to testing and treatments.

Primary immunodeficiency disorders are a diverse group of more than 400 potentially serious, chronic illnesses that can lead to frequent or severe infections, swellings and autoimmune problems.

ASCIA said it had been estimated that between 70 and 90 per cent of people are still undiagnosed worldwide with PIDs, which affect adults as well as children.

The society said Victorian data showed that in adults the average delay from symptom onset to diagnosis is eight years, and every year of delay costs life expectancy.

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Nadine Smith shares experience living with a primary immunodeficiency to call for awareness and early diagnosis - Northern Beaches Review