REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:OMED), presented new biomarker research associated with its clinical programs for anti-RSPO3 (OMP-131R10) and vantictumab (anti-FZD7, OMP-18R5), as well as new preclinical mechanism-of-action data for demcizumab (anti-DLL4, OMP-18M21), at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Meeting.  All three presentations support ongoing clinical trials:  anti-RSPO3  in a Phase1a/b trial in advanced solid tumor and colorectal cancer; vantictumab  in a Phase 1b trial in pancreatic cancer; and demcizumab  in a Phase 2 randomized study in first-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Read More: http://investor.shareholder.com/oncomed/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=965947

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:OMED), presented new data related to its GITRL-Fc immuno-oncology therapeutic candidate at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Meeting.  OncoMed plans to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its GITRL-Fc candidate in late 2016/early 2017.

In two poster presentations, OncoMed researchers highlighted the differentiating characteristics and preclinical efficacy of this therapeutic candidate.  OncoMed's GITRL-Fc is engineered using a novel single-gene linkerless GITR ligand trimer that binds to glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor.  GITRL-Fc appears to act by increasing effector T-cell activation and proliferation and reducing regulatory T-cell mediated immune suppression, resulting in a potent Th1 immune response.  Single-agent GITRL-Fc demonstrated profound anti-tumor activity in multiple syngeneic mouse tumor models and achieved statistically significantly greater anti-tumor activity compared with GITR agonist antibody. Notably, GITRL-Fc did not induce the broad release of cytokines in the plasma and spleen observed with the GITR agonist antibody, suggesting the potential for an improved safety profile relative to agonist antibodies. 
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"We believe our approach to GITR activation, using the human ligand trimer that binds to the GITR receptor, will result in more effective activation and a more specific and potent immune response compared to other approaches.  In a series of preclinical studies presented at the AACR Annual Meeting, OncoMed's GITRL-Fc demonstrated superior anti-tumor activity to an agonist antibody and induced complete tumor regressions as a single agent.  Further, the broad cytokine release observed with GITR agonist antibodies was not observed using the GITR ligand approach," said Austin Gurney, PhD, co-Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President, Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Read More: http://investor.shareholder.com/oncomed/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=965731

System Designed Specifically for Novel TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) Procedure to be Immediately Launched in the United States
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SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Silk Road Medical, Inc., a company dedicated to preventing the devastating burden of stroke through surgical innovation, announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance for its next generation ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection System (NPS).  The ENROUTE NPS remains the only device specifically designed and indicated for TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR), a clinically proven procedure combining surgical principles of neuroprotection with minimally invasive endovascular techniques to treat blockages in the carotid artery at risk of causing a stroke. 

The ENROUTE NPS allows the physician to directly access the common carotid artery in the neck and initiate high rate temporary blood flow reversal to protect the brain from stroke while delivering and implanting Silk Road's ENROUTE® Transcarotid Stent.  In partnership with treating physicians and based on design feedback from over 700 TCAR procedures, the ENROUTE NPS was enhanced and upgraded to provide physicians with an even more dependable and easy-to-use system to treat patients in the safest manner possible. The first TCAR procedures with the new device were recently performed in leading hospitals including the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, MA), Heart Hospital of Austin (Austin, TX), Iowa Methodist Medical Center (Des Moines, IA), Sentara Norfolk General Hospital (Norfolk, VA), and University Hospitals Case Medical Center (Cleveland, OH).     

Read More: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/silk-road-medical-announces-fda-170000087.html

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Remedy Pharmaceuticals, a privately-held pharmaceutical company focused on bringing lifesaving hospital-based treatment to people affected by central nervous system (CNS) related edema, today announced the appointment of Dr. Thomas R. Zimmerman Jr. as its Vice President, Medical Affairs.

“Dr. Zimmerman’s deep passion for leveraging breakthroughs in science to save and improve patients’ lives – which is completely in line with Remedy’s stated mission and core values – makes him an ideal addition to the senior management team,” states Sven Jacobson, CEO of Remedy Pharmaceuticals. “His extensive experience in clinical drug development and deep knowledge of the regulatory environment are certain to prove invaluable as we prepare to enter a Phase 3 clinical trial for CIRARA, and beyond.”

Read More: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160405005264/en/Remedy-Pharmaceuticals-Appoints-Dr.-Thomas-R.-Zimmerman