- Distinguished global experts appointed to strengthen bemcentinib development in STK11m NSCLC -BERGEN, Norway ,February 2, 2023 -BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors for severe unmet medical needs, today announced the formation of a scientific advisory board consisting of four world-renowned non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) experts from top oncology centers around the globe to enhance the development of bemcentinib for the treatment of NSCLC patients with STK11 mutations (STK11m). "We are very proud and honored to have assembled a group of leading international NSCLC experts to guide us as we investigate bemcentinib in 1st line NSCLC STK11m in combination with today's standard of care," saidCristina Oliva , M.D., Chief Medical Officer ofBerGenBio . "Their expertise will play an integral role in our evaluation of bemcentinib and its potential to provide significant benefits to patients who today face a particularly poor prognosis." Despite significant advances in immuno-oncology treatments, NSCLC is still one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Patients harboring STK11m, which represent approximately ~20% of non-squamous NSCLC cases, almost universally demonstrate high levels of AXL activation and show lower response rates to current standard of care therapy of anti-PD-1/L1 combined with chemotherapy.BerGenBio's lead compound, bemcentinib, is designed to selectively inhibit AXL, which may potentially sensitize STK11m NSCLC patients to checkpoint inhibitors and improve the effects of chemotherapy. The Company has initiated a global Phase 1a/2b trial to assess bemcentinib with standard of care in 1st line NSCLC patients with STK11m. Members of theBerGenBio NSCLC Scientific Advisory Board :Enriqueta Felip , M.D., Ph.D. Dr.Enriqueta Felip is the Head of the Thoracic Cancer Unit at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital,Spain , where she is responsible for thoracic malignancy management and all lung cancer trials. She is President of theSpanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) 2021-23, a member of theSpanish Lung Cancer Group (SLCG) and a Professor of Medicine at the Universitat de Vic. Previously,Dr. Felip was on the Board of Directors of theInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). She received her M.D. and Ph.D. fromAutonomous University ofBarcelona .John Heymach , M.D., Ph.D. Dr.John Heymach is the Chair of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at the MD Anderson CancerCenter, Texas , and holds the David Bruton Endowed Chair inCancer Research .Dr. Heymach is a co-leader of the MDAnderson Lung Cancer Moon Shot, in addition to serving as a Principal Investigator of lung cancer programs funded by theNational Cancer Institute (NCI),LUNGevity andAmerican Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and earning several prestigious awards for excellence in basic science, translational research and mentoring. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. fromStanford University .Tony Mok , M.D., BMSc Dr.Tony Mok is a Professor and Chairman of theDepartment of Clinical Oncology at theChinese University of Hong Kong .Dr. Mok's research was instrumental in establishing the use of precision medicine in advanced lung cancer. He co -founded theLung Cancer Research Group and served as the associate editor for thoracic oncology for theJournal of Clinical Oncology .Dr. Mok is a Fellow of theAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), former President of IASLC and received the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award. He received his M.D. and BMSc from the University ofAlberta, Canada .Solange Peters , M.D., Ph.D. Dr.Solange Peters is a Professor and Head of Medical Oncology and Thoracic Malignancies at theDepartment of Oncology atLausanne University ,Switzerland , where she is also building a translational program in collaboration with molecular oncology laboratories.Dr. Peters was recently the President of theEuropean Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2020-22, and was formerly an IASLC Board member and co-chair of theSwiss Lung Cancer Research Group . She is Associate Editor of the Annals of Oncology and Deputy Editor of Lung Cancer. She received her M.D. and Ph.D. from theUniversity of Lausanne . -End- ContactsMartin Olin CEO,BerGenBio ASA ir@bergenbio.comRune Skeie , CFO,BerGenBio ASA rune.skeie@bergenbio.com Investor Relations / Media RelationsGraham Morrell graham.morrell@bergenbio.com Media Relations NorwayJan Lilleby jl@lillebyfrisch.no +47 90 55 16 98 AboutBerGenBio ASA BerGenBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing transformative drugs targeting AXL as a potential cornerstone of therapy for aggressive diseases, including cancer and severe respiratory infections. The Company is focused on its proprietary lead candidate bemcentinib a potentially first-in-class selective AXL inhibitor in development for STK11 mutated NSCLC and COVID-19.BerGenBio is based inBergen, Norway with a subsidiary inOxford, UK . The company is listed on theOslo Stock Exchange (ticker: BGBIO). For more information, visit?www.bergenbio.com Forward looking statements This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which as such are not historical facts, but are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. These assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this announcement by such forward-looking statements. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
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