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Akari Therapeutics Appoints Globally Recognized Expert in RNA Biology and Cancer Research, Olga Anczukow, Ph.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board
Globenewswire· 2026-02-23 13:50
Core Viewpoint - Akari Therapeutics has appointed Dr. Olga Anczukow to its Scientific Advisory Board, enhancing its expertise in RNA biology and cancer research, which is crucial for the development of next-generation therapeutics [1][2][4] Company Overview - Akari Therapeutics is an oncology biotechnology company focused on developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with a unique payload, PH1, that targets RNA splicing in cancer cells [9] - The lead candidate, AKTX-101, targets the Trop2 receptor on cancer cells and utilizes a proprietary linker to deliver the PH1 payload directly into tumors, minimizing off-target effects [9] - AKTX-101 has shown significant activity in preclinical studies, demonstrating prolonged survival compared to traditional ADCs and potential synergy with checkpoint inhibitors [9] Dr. Olga Anczukow's Background - Dr. Anczukow is a recognized leader in RNA biology and cancer research, currently serving as an Associate Professor at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine and a Co-Program Leader at the NCI-designated Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center [4][6] - Her research focuses on alternative RNA splicing and its misregulation in cancer, contributing to tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance [4][6] - Dr. Anczukow's previous work includes significant contributions to understanding breast cancer genetics and the role of RNA splicing in cancer biology [5][6] Research and Development Focus - The company aims to leverage Dr. Anczukow's expertise to shape research strategy and evaluate emerging scientific opportunities, particularly in RNA-targeted treatments [2][4] - Akari's innovative ADC discovery platform allows for the generation and optimization of ADC candidates tailored to specific antigen targets [9] - The ongoing research at The Jackson Laboratory integrates various methodologies to investigate how cancer cells adapt their splicing programs to survive and evade therapy [6]
PTC Therapeutics(PTCT) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-19 22:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, total net product and royalty revenue was $263 million, with full-year 2025 total net product and royalty revenue reaching $831 million, exceeding guidance of $750 million-$800 million [5][17] - Non-GAAP R&D and SG&A operating expenses for 2025 were $728 million, below the guidance of $730 million-$760 million [6] - Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled $1.95 billion as of December 31, 2025, compared to $1.14 billion as of December 31, 2024 [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sephience generated $92 million in revenue in Q4 2025 and $111 million since its launch in 2025 [5][12] - The DMD franchise revenue for Q4 2025 was $66 million, with Translarna contributing $39 million and Emflaza $27 million [17] - Evrysdi royalty revenue for full-year 2025 was $244 million [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sephience has seen broad uptake across all patient segments, with 946 patients on commercial therapy worldwide by the end of 2025 [13] - In the U.S., 80% of PKU Centers of Excellence have written prescriptions for Sephience [13] - The company expects to have patients on commercial drug in 20-30 countries by the end of 2026, with Japan's launch anticipated soon [8][15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The main focus for 2026 will be to continue the momentum of the Sephience launch, with expectations for revenue growth through increased market penetration and geographic expansion [7][8] - The company aims to reach cash flow break-even in 2026, a significant milestone [7][20] - The R&D pipeline includes advancing programs from RNA splicing and ferroptosis inflammation platforms, with several early-stage programs expected to progress [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in Sephience's potential, citing a multi-billion dollar global revenue opportunity due to its differentiated profile and unmet need in the PKU market [8][15] - The management highlighted the importance of social media in driving awareness and engagement among patients, particularly those previously lost to follow-up [30][31] - The company remains optimistic about the future, with a robust commercial engine and innovative R&D programs [10] Other Important Information - The company sold the remainder of its Evrysdi royalty for $240 million in December 2025, which will not generate cash proceeds for PTC but maintains the right to receive a $150 million milestone from Roche [19][20] - The company is preparing for pricing and reimbursement negotiations in key markets, including Japan and Brazil, with expectations for meaningful revenue contributions from these regions [15][70] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is included in the guidance for Sephience sales this year? - The revenue guidance of $700 million-$800 million is primarily from Sephience, with contributions expected from mature products as well [22][23] Question: How are lost to follow-up patients becoming aware of Sephience? - Engagement through social media has played a significant role in raising awareness among patients who were previously lost to follow-up [30][31] Question: Can you provide details on the additional study requested by the FDA for vatiquinone? - The FDA suggested an open-label or single-arm study with a natural history comparator group, and the company plans to meet with the FDA to finalize the protocol [39][40] Question: What are the expectations for Sephience's discontinuation rate? - The company is seeing very low discontinuation rates, with high prescription renewal rates, which is encouraging for future growth [46][47] Question: How will pricing and reimbursement dynamics evolve in Europe? - The company is in the process of negotiating pricing and reimbursement in Germany, with expectations for a favorable outcome based on strong clinical data [52][53]
PTC Therapeutics (NasdaqGS:PTCT) 2025 R&D Day Transcript
2025-12-02 15:32
Summary of PTC Therapeutics R&D Day Company Overview - **Company**: PTC Therapeutics (NasdaqGS:PTCT) - **Focus**: Development of small molecule therapies targeting RNA splicing and ferroptosis for diseases with high unmet medical needs Key Points Industry and Company Focus - PTC has shifted focus towards small molecule therapies and splicing platforms, emphasizing transformative therapies for patients with high unmet needs [2][4][60] - The company operates two laboratory facilities located in New Jersey and Northern California, focusing on splicing and inflammation programs [2] Splicing Platform - PTC has pioneered the field of oral small molecule splicing, with notable programs including Evrisdi for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Branaplam for Huntington's disease [8][9][28] - The splicing process involves the removal of introns from pre-mRNA to produce mature mRNA, which is crucial for protein synthesis [5][20] - PTC's strategy involves targeting weak U1 splice site interactions to enhance exon inclusion in mRNA, thereby modulating protein levels [10][11][32] Clinical Programs - **Evrisdi**: A first-in-class small molecule that enhances SMN protein production in SMA by promoting the inclusion of exon 7 in the SMN2 gene [28][12] - **Branaplam**: Targets Huntington's disease by promoting the inclusion of a pseudoexon that leads to a stop codon, reducing the production of the toxic Huntington protein [15][31] New Programs and Targets - PTC is developing new splicing modulators targeting various conditions, including: - **Nucleotide Repeat Disorders (NRDs)**: Focusing on Huntington's disease and myotonic dystrophy by modulating MSH3 protein levels to slow somatic expansion [43][44] - **Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3 (SCAT3)**: Aiming to lower ataxin-3 levels by excluding exon 4 in the ataxin-3 pre-mRNA [50][51] - **Brain Tumors**: Targeting a dual-role protein that promotes cancer cell growth and suppresses T cell activation [52][53] - **Sickle Cell Disease and Beta Thalassemia**: Inducing fetal hemoglobin levels by targeting key inhibitors through splicing modulation [55][56] Research and Development Insights - PTC has developed a platform called **PTC Seek**, which utilizes transcriptome-wide interrogation to discover novel splicing modulators [37][39] - The company has identified a universe of targetable I exons, which are sequences that can be modulated to regulate gene expression [34][36] - The splicing modulators developed show high specificity and potential for therapeutic applications across various diseases [38][60] Future Directions - PTC plans to select clinical candidates for several programs by early 2026, with a focus on advancing splicing modulators into clinical trials [49][52][56] - The company aims to leverage its expertise in splicing to expand its pipeline and explore strategic partnerships for non-core therapeutic areas [60] Financial and Market Position - PTC's innovative approach positions it as a leader in the emerging field of RNA-targeted therapies, with significant potential for growth in various therapeutic areas [60] Conclusion PTC Therapeutics is at the forefront of developing novel therapies through its pioneering work in RNA splicing, with a robust pipeline targeting multiple high-need conditions. The company's strategic focus on small molecule therapies and innovative platforms like PTC Seek positions it well for future growth and success in the biotech industry.