Convergent Therapeutics, Inc.

SEATTLE, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Umoja Biopharma, Inc. (Umoja), the clinical-stage leader of in vivo and off-the-shelf therapies that aim to realize the full reach and promise of CAR T-cells, today announced that Scott Myers has been appointed as Chairman of its Board of Directors, succeeding Dieter Weinand who will remain as an advisor. “As Umoja evolves to clinical stage with significant upcoming milestones, I look forward to working with Scott as our Board Chairman,” said Andrew Scharenberg, M.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Umoja. “Scott’s history as both a CEO and chairperson of multiple biotechnology companies in the Pacific Northwest, through significant periods of growth and clinical milestones, will be invaluable as Umoja looks to 2025 and beyond. I would also like to acknowledge and personally thank Dieter for his important contributions to Umoja’s progress over the past two years and am pleased that Dieter has agreed to stay on as strategic advisor for Scott and myself as we continue to build Umoja”. Scott Myers added, “Umoja is uniquely positioned as the leader for in vivo CAR-T cell therapies, with clinical trials recently initiating in multiple geographies and the industry’s first US IND. I am both humbled and excited at the significant opportunity in front of us: to truly transform the way CAR-T cell therapies are delivered so that they may reach their full potential impact on patients.” Mr. Myers currently chairs the boards of directors for Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Convergent Therapeutics, and Dynavax Technologies. He previously chaired the boards of directors for Ironshore until its acquisition by Collegium Pharmaceuticals and Harpoon Therapeutics until its acquisition by Merck, both in 2024. He was also President and CEO of Viridian Therapeutics, AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Rainier Therapeutics, and Cascadian Therapeutics, and has held additional board and executive leadership roles at other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Myers holds an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business (Booth) and a B.A. in Biology from Northwestern University. About Umoja Biopharma Umoja Biopharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company aiming to develop off-the-shelf therapeutics that improve the reach, effectiveness, and access of CAR-T cell therapies in both oncology and autoimmunity. Umoja’s VivoVec™ in vivo gene delivery technology empowers a patient’s own immune system to fight disease. Enabling its core technology is the Company’s state-of-the-art lentiviral vector development and manufacturing facility in Louisville, Colorado. Umoja believes its approach can provide broader access and improved effectiveness of the most advanced immunotherapies, enabling more patients to live better, fuller lives. To learn more, connect with Umoja on LinkedIn and visit http://umoja-biopharma.com/. Investors Grace KimHead of Investor Relationsgrace.kim@umoja-biopharma.com Media Matt Wright Real Chemistrymwright@realchemistry.com

Welcome to Endpoints News’ manufacturing briefs, where we bring you essential news on new builds, collaborations, recalls and more. Samsung Biologics has secured a number of manufacturing deals worth a total of $668 million with an unnamed European pharma client, the CDMO said Tuesday. The deals expire in 2031. Sanofi is investing €40 million ($42.1 million) to expand its bioproduction facility in Lyon, France, the company said Friday. In particular, €25 million ($26.3 million) will be used to make the antibody for Thymoglobulin and €15 million ($15.7 million) to make monoclonal antibodies for type 1 diabetes clinical-stage therapies. The UK regulatory agency MHRA has appointed University of Oxford professor Anthony Harnden as its new chair, according to a Tuesday release. Harnden replaces Stephen Lightfoot, who stepped down in April 2023. LIfT BioSciences has launched a new subsidiary called Eolaíocht Bhitheach LIfT Teoranta, which will operate from Galway, Ireland, the company said Monday. The subsidiary will collaborate with the University of Galway and medical tech manufacturer HookeBio to provide manufacturing and clinical services. Lonza has manufactured its first batch of drug products at its mammalian manufacturing facility in Portsmouth, NH, the company said Wednesday. Convergent Therapeutics has received its first shipment of the radioisotope actinium-225 from Cardinal Health to make its Phase 1/2 prostate cancer radiopharmaceutical, according to a Monday release. Meiji Seika Pharma is investing in the CDMO and mRNA vaccines company Arcalis to improve its supply of mRNA vaccines in Japan, according to a Thursday release. Arcalis will make the API for Meiji’s Covid-19 vaccine. No financial details were disclosed. India-based Unexo Life Sciences was handed an FDA warning letter published Tuesday. It outlined two key issues: failure to produce certain batch record data and dirty air conditioner vents above drug production areas. The White House published a report , dubbed Building a Vibrant Domestic Biomanufacturing Ecosystem, on Friday. It states that the US needs more infrastructure and technology to produce drugs domestically and outlines 11 actions that policymakers should consider to improve manufacturing.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Convergent Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing next generation radiopharmaceutical therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer and other cancers, today announced the receipt of the first shipments of non-carrier added (n.c.a.) Actinium 225 (Ac-225) from Cardinal Health. "This generated Ac-225 supply represents a major shift in the supply chain for this critical radioisotope for the treatment of patients with cancer," said Convergent's Co-founder and CEO, Philip Kantoff, MD. "This shipment will support Convergent's lead asset, CONV01-α, a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted monoclonal antibody linked to Ac-225. CONV01-α is currently being investigated as a potentially groundbreaking treatment for prostate cancer." "We are pleased to work with Convergent in supplying access to Ac-225 in support of its clinical stage targeted alpha therapies for prostate cancer treatment," stated Mike Pintek, President, Cardinal Health Nuclear & Precision Health Solutions. "We look forward to increasing Ac-225 access to help advance the next generation of cancer treatment for patients." Ac-225 is a high-energy, alpha-emitting radioisotope of great interest for the treatment of cancer, as it is thought to carry sufficient radiation to cause cancer cell death when bound to a targeting antibody. Convergent is investigating its use in targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies, which combine select molecules with therapeutic radioisotopes to directly target and deliver therapeutic doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells in patients. "The manufacturing of the Ac-225 isotope has been historically constrained by limited production capacity managed by a handful of government laboratories. Commercial suppliers are now stepping into the supply chain to ramp up Ac-225 manufacturing capacity quickly and significantly in support of patients with cancer," said Alexander Brown, Chief Operating Officer of Convergent Therapeutics. The supply of Ac-225 supports Convergent's pipeline of next-generation radiotherapies including its lead asset, CONV01-α, a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted monoclonal antibody linked to Ac-225. About CONV01-α CONV01-α, Convergent's alpha-emitting radioantibody, combines the precision and pharmacokinetics of antibodies with the tumor-killing potential of alpha-emitting radionuclides. Specifically, CONV01-α uses a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted at prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is highly overexpressed in prostate cancer cells. Since PSMA is a validated target, several therapeutics are directed at this antigen, and CONV01-α is differentiated by its use of both an antibody and alpha emitter. CONV01-α is linked to a powerful radionuclide called Ac-225, which releases alpha particles that kill cancer cells through DNA double-strand breaks. Unlike other radioactive sources, alpha particles deliver high-energy radiation over very short distances, thereby minimizing radiation exposure to healthy neighboring cells and tissues. Pairing highly selective antibodies with such a powerful, yet precise, payload offers the ideal combination to treat many types of cancers. About Convergent Therapeutics, Inc. Convergent Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing tumor-selective alpha radioantibodies to target cancer. The company was founded by world-renowned experts in clinical care and research, drug development, and cancer biology and its proprietary platform is licensed from Cornell University. In harnessing the selectivity of antibodies and tumor-destructive potential of alpha radioisotopes, Convergent's radioantibodies precisely target cancer cells with potent, localized radiation. For more information, please visit and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Relations: Bryan Blatstein Spectrum Science 917-714-2609 [email protected] SOURCE Convergent Therapeutics WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED