Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies

STOCKHOLM, March 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, a study on Improved physical function using a power-enhancing glove in persons with Inclusion Body Myositis was presented at the Global Conference on Myositis in Pittsburgh, USA. The preliminary results show increased hand function and improved physical function for people with impaired hand function during use of Carbonhand. Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects skeletal muscles with reduced muscle strength and endurance as characteristic symptoms. People with IBM experience challenges in many areas of their lives. Gripping and holding objects as well as fine-motor activities are major parts of the challenges they face. Individuals with advanced IBM have difficulties holding utensils, gripping a glass to drink, holding a toothbrush, dressing, and undressing as well as many other activities of daily living requiring grip. The study aimed to investigate if a power-enhancing glove is feasible to use in persons with IBM. Data was collected during The Myositis Association's (TMA) patient conference in September 2023. The study was open to people with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies who perceived hand weakness. The analysis carried out is based on people with IBM. To assess the degree of impairment, Physical function (IBM-Patient Reported Outcome Upper Extremity Function Scale (IBM-PRO), IBM-Functional Rating Scale (IBM-FRS)), pain (numeric rating scale), and grip strength (Jamar) were measured. The study included 40 persons with IBM that had reduced grip strength (kg) (md;range) (3.75;1.3-10.7) and physical function (IBM-FRS 20;2-38, IBM-PRO 23;1-44). The participants selected three activities that they perceived as difficult. The participants performed the activities and rated their ability to perform the chosen activities on a 5-point scale (0 = "unable to do", 4= "without any difficulty"), first without the glove and then upon using the glove. After testing the glove, the participants answered a series of open-ended questions regarding their perception of the glove. The result All activities were perceived as easier to perform with the glove. The conclusion is that people with IBM can perform activities in daily living more independently when using Carbonhand as an assistive device. The three most selected activities, with pre-and post-glove ratings, are shown in Table 1. In the open-ended questions, participants documented that the glove would be beneficial for use in everyday tasks, lifting objects, grocery shopping, stabilizing the hand, and would increase independence. Table 1. Measures on difficulty in chosen activities without and with the glove (0="unable to do", 4="without any difficulty"). About the study The study is initiated by Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, in collaboration with Louisiana State University and Tulane University Schools of Medicine, New Orleans, United States, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Columbus, United States, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Muskelkranke e.V.", DGM, Taunusstein, Germany, Spierziekten Nederland (Dutch patient association for NMD), Rotterdam, The Netherlands, The Swedish Rheumatism Association, Stockholm, Sweden, and Bioservo AB, Stockholm, Sweden. About Carbonhand Carbonhand is a medical device in the form of a grip-enhancing glove that enables people with impaired hand function, like IBM, to regain the ability to use their hands. Sensors in the glove send signals to a sophisticated control system that activates motors that pull on artificial tendons sewn into the glove, creating a natural and dynamic grip. Several studies with more than 300 participants show that people with impaired hand function get a sustained and strong grip with Carbonhand, improving the user's ability to perform activities of daily living. For more information, please contact Annika Rydgård, Head of Clinical Projects and Market Access at Bioservo AB Phone: +46 70 440 41 71 Email: [email protected] Mikael Wester, Marketing Director at Bioservo AB Phone: +4670 721 12 80 Email: [email protected] About Bioservo Bioservo AB is a world-leading company in wearable muscle-strengthening systems for people who need extra strength and endurance. Our innovative products and systems are designed to improve the quality of life for our users and make them feel safe and independent. The company has a unique global position in soft active exoskeletons for the hand, which give people back the ability to manage their everyday lives and become independent and able to perform their tasks while maintaining health. Bioservo AB is a Swedish limited company headquartered in Kista, north of Stockholm.For more information, please visit This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: SOURCE Bioservo AB

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IGM Biosciences, Inc., (Nasdaq: IGMS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company creating and developing engineered IgM antibodies, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023 and provided an update on recent developments. “We made significant progress during 2023 in the clinical development of our two lead product candidates in therapeutic areas that we believe have the greatest potential to produce significant near-term value,” said Fred Schwarzer, Chief Executive Officer of IGM Biosciences. “Enrollment in our randomized clinical trial of aplitabart plus FOLFIRI and bevacizumab in second-line metastatic colorectal cancer continues to be encouraging, and we expect to expeditiously complete our target enrollment of 110 patients. If the control arm of this randomized study demonstrates the expected median progression free survival of approximately six months, we will be able to begin evaluating the benefit of aplitabart in enhancing progression free survival by the end of this year." Mr. Schwarzer continued, “We also initiated two Phase 1b clinical trials of imvotamab in severe systemic lupus erythematosus and in severe rheumatoid arthritis. We are encouraged by the initial level of investigator and patient interest that we have seen in these clinical trials, and we are optimistic that we will be able to generate meaningful initial clinical data by the end of 2024.” Pipeline Updates Aplitabart (DR5 agonist) Clinical development of aplitabart advances. Enrollment ongoing in randomized colorectal cancer clinical trial. The Company continues to enroll patients in a randomized clinical trial of aplitabart, a death receptor 5 agonist, plus FOLFIRI and bevacizumab in second-line metastatic colorectal cancer. In addition to clinical trial sites in the United States, this study includes multiple clinical trial sites in Asia and Europe. This randomized trial is designed to assess the additional benefit of 3 mg/kg of aplitabart when administered in combination with the current standard of care treatment arm of FOLFIRI and bevacizumab, with a primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). Evaluating 10 mg/kg dose in single arm colorectal cancer clinical trial. The Company also continues to evaluate a dose of 10 mg/kg of aplitabart in combination with FOLFIRI and bevacizumab in the treatment of later line colorectal cancer patients in its single arm combination clinical trial. The Company expects to complete enrollment of patients in this 10 mg/kg single arm combination dose cohort in the first half of 2024. Imvotamab (CD20 x CD3) Clinical development of imvotamab in autoimmune diseases advances. The Company currently has two Phase 1b clinical trials underway for imvotamab, an IgM-based CD20 x CD3 bispecific T cell engaging antibody: one in severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and one in severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These clinical trials are being expanded to include multiple U.S. and international clinical trial sites. The Company also received clearance in late 2023 from the FDA of its IND application for the use of imvotamab in treating idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (myositis), and the Company is currently making preparations to initiate this clinical trial. IGM-2644 (CD38 x CD3) Clinical development of IGM-2644 in autoimmune diseases to be initiated. The Company is currently making plans to begin clinical development of IGM-2644, a CD38 x CD3 T cell engager antibody, in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results Cash and Investments: Cash and investments as of December 31, 2023 were $337.7 million, compared to $427.2 million as of December 31, 2022. Collaboration Revenue: For the fourth quarter and year ended 2023, collaboration revenues were $0.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively, compared to $0.4 million and $1.1 million for the fourth quarter and year ended 2022, respectively. Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: For the fourth quarter and year ended 2023, R&D expenses were $54.2 million and $215.5 million, respectively, compared to $45.0 million and $179.3 million for the fourth quarter and year ended 2022, respectively. General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: For the fourth quarter and year ended 2023, G&A expenses were $11.6 million and $50.1 million, respectively, compared to $11.6 million and $49.7 million for the fourth quarter and year ended 2022, respectively. Net Loss: For the fourth quarter of 2023, net loss was $60.7 million, or a loss of $1.01 per share, compared to a net loss of $52.6 million, or a loss of $1.19 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2022. For the year ended 2023, net loss was $246.4 million, or a loss of $4.71 per share, compared to a net loss of $221.1 million, or a loss of $5.32 per share, for the year ended 2022. 2024 Financial Guidance The Company expects full year 2024 GAAP operating expenses of $210 million to $220 million, including estimated non-cash stock-based compensation expense of approximately $40 million, and full year collaboration revenue of approximately $3 million related to the Sanofi agreement. The Company expects to end 2024 with a balance of approximately $180 million in cash and investments, and for the balance to enable it to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second quarter of 2026. About IGM Biosciences, Inc. IGM Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing and delivering a new class of medicines to treat patients with cancer and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. IGM’s pipeline of clinical and preclinical assets is based on the IgM antibody, which has 10 binding sites compared to conventional IgG antibodies with only 2 binding sites. IGM also has an exclusive worldwide collaboration agreement with Sanofi to create, develop, manufacture, and commercialize IgM antibody agonists against oncology and immunology and inflammation targets. For more information, please visit . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not based on historical fact and include, but are not limited to: the potential of, and expectations regarding, IGM’s technology platform and its IgM antibodies and product candidates, including aplitabart, imvotamab, and IGM-2644; IGM’s plans and expectations regarding its clinical development efforts and activities; statements regarding the clinical development of aplitabart, imvotamab, and IGM-2644, including the timing of clinical trial initiation and patient enrollment; IGM’s expectations regarding its financial position and guidance, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense, collaboration revenue, ending 2024 cash and investments and projected cash runway; and statements by IGM’s Chief Executive Officer. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially, including but not limited to: IGM’s early stages of clinical drug development; risks related to the use of engineered IgM antibodies, which is a novel and unproven therapeutic approach; IGM’s ability to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its product candidates; IGM’s ability to successfully and timely advance its product candidates through clinical trials; IGM’s ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials; the potential for the results of clinical trials to differ from preclinical, preliminary, initial or expected results; the risk of significant adverse events, toxicities or other undesirable side effects; the risk of the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of collaborations with third parties; IGM’s ability to successfully manufacture and supply its product candidates for clinical trials; the potential impact of continuing or worsening supply chain constraints; the risk that all necessary regulatory approvals cannot be obtained; the potential market for IGM’s product candidates, and the progress and success of alternative therapeutics currently available or in development; IGM’s ability to obtain additional capital to finance its operations; uncertainties related to the projections of the size of patient populations suffering from the diseases IGM is targeting; IGM’s ability to obtain, maintain and protect its intellectual property rights; developments relating to IGM’s competitors and its industry, including competing product candidates and therapies; any potential delays or disruptions resulting from catastrophic events, including epidemics or other outbreaks of infectious disease; general economic and market conditions, including inflation; and other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in IGM’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including IGM’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 7, 2024 and in IGM’s future reports to be filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and IGM specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. Contact Argot Partners David Pitts 212-600-1902 igmbio@argotpartners.com IGM Biosciences, Inc. Selected Statement of Operations Data (in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Collaboration revenue $ 651 $ 372 $ 2,130 $ 1,069 Operating expenses: Research and development (1) 54,190 45,018 215,519 179,289 General and administrative (1) 11,580 11,618 50,072 49,736 Total operating expenses 65,770 56,636 265,591 229,025 Loss from operations (65,119 ) (56,264 ) (263,461 ) (227,956 ) Other income (expense) Interest income 4,666 3,746 17,743 7,035 Other expense — (58 ) (20 ) (181 ) Total other income (expense) 4,666 3,688 17,723 6,854 Loss before income tax expense (60,453 ) (52,576 ) (245,738 ) (221,102 ) Income tax expense (242 ) — (678 ) — Net Loss $ (60,695 ) $ (52,576 ) $ (246,416 ) $ (221,102 ) Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (1.01 ) $ (1.19 ) $ (4.71 ) $ (5.32 ) Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted 59,829,077 44,241,491 52,311,958 41,543,954 (!)Amounts include stock-based compensation expense as follows: Research and development $ 5,421 $ 6,582 $ 27,499 $ 25,620 General and administrative 3,816 4,527 19,048 19,090 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 9,237 $ 11,109 $ 46,547 $ 44,710 IGM Biosciences, Inc. Selected Balance Sheet Data (in thousands) December 31, 2023 2022 Cash and investments $ 337,677 $ 427,162 Total assets 423,411 513,499 Accounts payable 1,326 2,512 Accrued liabilities 31,544 33,621 Deferred revenue 146,801 148,931 Total liabilities 220,177 226,236 Accumulated deficit (821,242 ) (574,826 ) Total stockholders' equity 203,234 287,263

The paper reports on a series of 15 patients with severe rheumatological autoimmune diseases that were treated with a single infusion of CD19 CAR T-cell therapy by the European team with up to 29 months post-treatment follow up The Authors report the treatment appears to be feasible, safe, and efficacious in the conditions treated, paving the way for further controlled trials EMERYVILLE, Calif., Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. (Kyverna), a patient-centered, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing cell therapies for patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, congratulates Prof. Georg Schett, a member of Kyverna's Scientific Advisory Board, and his team of European collaborators on the publication in the New England Journal of Medicine1 of a landmark paper reporting on a median 15-month follow up of a series of 15 patients suffering from severe systemic lupus erythematosus, idiopathic inflammatory myositis, or systemic sclerosis who received a single infusion of autologous CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. After treatment, immunosuppressive therapy was discontinued in all patients. The treatment was well tolerated with the patients experiencing primarily mild CAR T cell therapy associated side effects. The investigational medicinal product consisted of an autologous CD19 CAR T-cell therapy that was locally manufactured in the certified GMP laboratory of the Universitätsklinikum Erlangen (Department of Medicine 5, Hematology and Oncology) in Erlangen, Germany. "The work of Prof. Schett and his collaborators is instrumental in delivering renewed hope for patients living with severe rheumatological autoimmune diseases and paves the way for multi-center clinical studies to ultimately define the safety and efficacy of CAR T-cell therapies in B cell-driven autoimmune diseases," said Peter Maag, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Kyverna. CAR T-cell therapy involves modifying a patient's T cells to recognize and remove B cells in the patient's body. CD19 CAR T-cell therapy specifically targets CD19, a protein expressed on the surface of B cells, which are involved in various types of autoimmune diseases. About Kyverna Therapeutics Kyverna is a patient-centered, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing cell therapies for patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. Our lead CAR T-cell therapy candidate, KYV-101 is advancing through clinical development with sponsored clinical trials across two broad areas of autoimmune disease: rheumatology and neurology, including Phase 2 trials for multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis, a Phase 1/2 trial for systemic sclerosis, and two ongoing multi-center, open-label Phase 1 trials in the United States and Germany for patients with lupus nephritis. Kyverna's pipeline includes next-generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies in both autologous and allogeneic formats with properties intended to be well suited for use in B cell-driven autoimmune diseases. By advancing more than one mechanism for taming autoimmunity, Kyverna is positioned to act on its mission of transforming how autoimmune diseases are treated. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements." The words, without limitation, "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these or similar identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the final prospectus. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the current expectations of Kyverna's management team and speak only as of the date hereof, and Kyverna specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For more information, please visit . Kyverna Media Contact: Consort Partners for Kyverna [email protected] 1. Müller et al., N Engl J Med 2024;390:687-700. SOURCE Kyverna Therapeutics