Aptose Biosciences, Inc.

Hanmi will advance its cancer assets through MEDiC’s MCAT platform in return for upfront payments, along with $5m in funding. Credit: sonnim/ Shutterstock Leading Korean biopharma, Hanmi Pharmaceutical, has entered into a research collaboration and financing agreement with Silicon Valley startup MEDiC Life Sciences to advance cancer biomarker discovery. Under the partnership announced on 14 October, MEDiC will employ its functional genomics platform MCAT to identify biomarkers that will support the clinical development of Hamni’s therapeutic assets. In return, MEDiC has received upfront payments including $5m in strategic funding from Hanmi, along with LG , to facilitate further partnerships. MCAT is a functional genomics platform based on CRISPR, which simulates gene-drug interactions between cancer therapies and all possible genetic mutations. The technology identifies synthetic lethality signature (SLS) biomarkers, mutations that exhibit lethality in conjunction with a particular drug, which can then inform treatment to maximise response rates among cancer patients. The platform is the first to demonstrate that 3D models can improve the accuracy and translatability of functional genomics over standard 2D cultures. Young Choi, head of Hanmi’s R&D, said: “We expect to strengthen the value of Hanmi’s new cancer drugs by improving the possibility of success in clinical trials.” Dr. Kyuho Han, co-founder and CEO of MEDiC, noted the company aims to use the collaborative research to validate the clinical relevance of SLS biomarkers. If successful, the MCAT platform could help companies maximise the efficiency and marketability of cancer assets while negating the high failure rates and rising costs associated with the development of these drugs. See Also: Glaukos eyes FDA approval for ocular therapy after Phase III win The strategic investment precedes anticipated Series A financing later this year and follows $8m in seed capital previously raised by MEDiC. The company has said it intends to direct funds toward future collaboration, having already partnered with Bristol Myers Squibb and other undisclosed US firms. The recent collaboration and investment follows similar agreements made by Hanmi Pharmaceutical, such as a $10m loan to Aptose Biosciences to develop acute myeloid leukaemia treatment tuspetinib. Its parent company, Hanmi Sciences, has also invested heavily in areas outside oncology, being one the leading patent filers for GLP-1 analogues for metabolic disorders. The moves come as Hanmi shore up its position following general setbacks for the Korean biopharma sector. Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s market cap currently stands at ₩4tn ($3bn).

SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptose Biosciences Inc. (“Aptose” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: APTO, TSX: APS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing tuspetinib, a highly differentiated oral kinase inhibitor for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), announced the voting results from its special meeting of shareholders held today, September 5, 2024 (the “Meeting”). A total of 6,052,460 common shares of the Company (the "Shares"), representing 33.42% of the issued and outstanding Shares were voted at the Meeting. The proposals put forward before the Company's shareholders for consideration and approval, as set out in the Company's definitive proxy statement dated July 11, 2024 (the "Proxy Statement"), were approved by the requisite number of votes cast at the Meeting, as further detailed below: Proposal No. 1 – passing a resolution, the full text of which is set forth in the Proxy Statement, approving the issuance of common shares of the Corporation underlying certain warrants pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rules; andProposal No. 2 – passing a resolution, the full text of which is set forth in the Proxy Statement, approving one or more adjournments of the Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, if a quorum is present, to permit further solicitation of proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Meeting to approve Proposal No. 1. Please refer to the Company’s Proxy Statement available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or EDGAR https://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml for more details on the matters covered at the Meeting. Final voting results on all matters voted on at the Meeting will also be filed on SEDAR+ and EDGAR. The detailed results of the vote at the Meeting are set out below: APTOSE BIOSCIENCES INC.ADJOURNED SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2024REPORT ON PROXIES MOTIONSNUMBER OF SHARES PERCENTAGE OF VOTES CASTFOR AGAINSTWITHHELD/ ABSTAINRESTRICTEDNON VOTEFORAGAINSTWITHHELD/ ABSTAINApproval of Nasdaq 20% Issuance Proposal3,969,105*267,01316,3421,800,000093.34%6.28%0.38%Multiple Adjournments5,873,779138,95839,722 197.05%2.30%0.66% * Excluding 1,800,000 shares held by Insiders TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS VOTED BY PROXY: 47 TOTAL SHARES ISSUED & OUTSTANDING: 18,109,393 TOTAL SHARES VOTED: 6,052,460 TOTAL % OF SHARES VOTED: 33.42% About Aptose Aptose Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing precision medicines addressing unmet medical needs in oncology, with an initial focus on hematology. The Company's small molecule cancer therapeutics pipeline includes products designed to provide single agent efficacy and to enhance the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies and regimens without overlapping toxicities. The Company’s lead clinical-stage compound tuspetinib (TUS), is an oral kinase inhibitor that has demonstrated activity as a monotherapy and in combination therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is being developed as a frontline triplet therapy in newly diagnosed AML. For more information, please visit www.aptose.com. For further information, please contact: Aptose Biosciences Inc. Susan Pietropaolo Corporate Communications & Investor Relations 201-923-2049 spietropaolo@aptose.com

Proceeds to be used for development of lead compound tuspetinib in combination therapy as frontline treatment for newly diagnosed AML patients Aug. 30, 2024 -- Aptose Biosciences Inc. (“Aptose” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: APTO, TSX: APS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing tuspetinib, a highly differentiated oral kinase inhibitor for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), today announced that it received a $10 million loan through a Facility Agreement with Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (“Hanmi”). The loan is convertible as prepayment of milestone obligations under the Future Collaboration Agreement (as defined hereinafter) or repayable after the expected completion of a triple drug combination trial with tuspetinib in newly diagnosed AML patients. Aptose will use the proceeds from such loan for the development of tuspetinib. Beyond the $10 million Facility Agreement, Aptose and Hanmi have agreed to negotiate a new tuspetinib co-development collaboration agreement (the “Future Collaboration Agreement’), intended to provide additional funding to accelerate clinical development of tuspetinib. Aptose licensed tuspetinib from Hanmi Pharmaceutical in November 2021. Aptose Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing precision medicines addressing unmet medical needs in oncology, with an initial focus on hematology. The Company's small molecule cancer therapeutics pipeline includes products designed to provide single agent efficacy and to enhance the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies and regimens without overlapping toxicities. The Company’s lead clinical-stage compound tuspetinib (TUS), is an oral kinase inhibitor that has demonstrated activity as a monotherapy and in combination therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is being developed as a frontline triplet therapy in newly diagnosed AML. For more information, please visit www.aptose.com. The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.