Press release MODEX OPK

Here it is...


ModeX Therapeutics Secures BARDA Contract to Develop Novel Multispecific
Antibodies Against Viral Infectious Disease Threats

Provides Initial $59 Million and up to $168 Million Contingent on Milestones

NATICK, Mass., Sept. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ModeX Therapeutics Inc., an
OPKO Health, Inc. company (NASDAQ: OPK), has been awarded a contract from the
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS), to advance a platform and specific
candidates designed to address a range of public health threats in viral
infectious diseases.

Modex.png

The awarded funding will enable research, development and clinical evaluation
of potent multispecific antibodies, based on ModeX proprietary MSTAR
technology. MSTAR is a flexible plug-and-play platform able to incorporate
four to six independent antibody binding sites into a single molecule,
dramatically expanding their therapeutic potential while enabling rapid
responses to emerging infections and their viral variants, including COVID-19,
influenza, and other pathogens.

The SARS-CoV-2 program is supported by HHS’ Project NextGen, which is
dedicated to advancing a pipeline of innovative vaccines and therapeutics
against COVID-19. The BARDA contract includes an initial $59 million for the
development, manufacturing, and execution of a Phase 1 clinical trial for a
next-generation MSTAR multispecific antibody with broad neutralizing activity
against known variants of SARS-CoV-2. Such antibodies have the potential for
both treatment and prevention of COVID-19.

This initiative builds on a collaboration between ModeX and the Vaccine
Research Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the discovery
and characterization of novel therapeutic antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
Additional funding of up to $109 million may be available from BARDA upon
achieving particular milestones to develop multispecific antibodies targeting
other viral pathogens such as influenza. As part of the research program,
gene-based delivery methods for the multispecific antibodies will be developed
using mRNA or DNA vectors to leverage the body’s natural protein production
processes.

“We are excited to partner with BARDA to advance the potential of our MSTAR
multispecific antibody platform as a versatile solution to major viral
threats,” said Drs. Gary Nabel and Elias Zerhouni, Co-Founders of ModeX and,
respectively, President, Chief Executive Officer of ModeX and President of
OPKO. “This support allows ModeX to evaluate promising candidates in clinical
trials to treat or prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and explore the utility of the
platform against diverse viruses. We eagerly anticipate working closely with
BARDA to explore and further advance this innovative platform.”

“This BARDA award represents the second major collaboration this year built on
the strength of ModeX’s research and development programs,” added Dr. Phillip
Frost, Chief Executive Officer of OPKO. “In March 2023, ModeX entered into an
exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Merck to develop
MDX2201, its nanoparticle vaccine candidate for Epstein-Barr virus. With
BARDA’s support, ModeX is poised to advance another exciting new technology
with high potential to benefit patients.”

This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the
Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic
Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development
Authority, under contract number 75A50123C00056.

Good nose for news, Clouseau. It sure took it's sweet time to prove out, but "Here it is."

Now, if you'll pardon me, some of your cut&paste stuff suffers from fractured formatting. I know not why that is, but it's not the easiest stuff to digest for that reason. On the chance I'm not the only one who finds it so, I am reposting the article in a more readable format. If not for any other reason than we get so few of these things, and this is a good one.

ModeX Therapeutics Secures BARDA Contract to Develop Novel Multispecific Antibodies Against Viral Infectious Disease Threats

Provides Initial $59 Million and up to $168 Million Contingent on Milestones

NATICK, Mass., Sept. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ModeX Therapeutics Inc., an OPKO Health, Inc. company (NASDAQ: OPK), has been awarded a contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to advance a platform and specific candidates designed to address a range of public health threats in viral infectious diseases.

The awarded funding will enable research, development and clinical evaluation of potent multispecific antibodies, based on ModeX proprietary MSTAR technology. MSTAR is a flexible plug-and-play platform able to incorporate four to six independent antibody binding sites into a single molecule, dramatically expanding their therapeutic potential while enabling rapid responses to emerging infections and their viral variants, including COVID-19, influenza, and other pathogens.

The SARS-CoV-2 program is supported by HHS’ Project NextGen , which is dedicated to advancing a pipeline of innovative vaccines and therapeutics against COVID-19. The BARDA contract includes an initial $59 million for the development, manufacturing, and execution of a Phase 1 clinical trial for a next-generation MSTAR multispecific antibody with broad neutralizing activity against known variants of SARS-CoV-2. Such antibodies have the potential for both treatment and prevention of COVID-19.

This initiative builds on a collaboration between ModeX and the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the discovery and characterization of novel therapeutic antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Additional funding of up to $109 million may be available from BARDA upon achieving particular milestones to develop multispecific antibodies targeting other viral pathogens such as influenza. As part of the research program, gene-based delivery methods for the multispecific antibodies will be developed using mRNA or DNA vectors to leverage the body’s natural protein production processes.

“We are excited to partner with BARDA to advance the potential of our MSTAR multispecific antibody platform as a versatile solution to major viral threats,” said Drs. Gary Nabel and Elias Zerhouni, Co-Founders of ModeX and, respectively, President, Chief Executive Officer of ModeX and President of OPKO. “This support allows ModeX to evaluate promising candidates in clinical trials to treat or prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and explore the utility of the platform against diverse viruses. We eagerly anticipate working closely with BARDA to explore and further advance this innovative platform.”

“This BARDA award represents the second major collaboration this year built on the strength of ModeX’s research and development programs,” added Dr. Phillip Frost, Chief Executive Officer of OPKO. “In March 2023, ModeX entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Merck to develop MDX2201, its nanoparticle vaccine candidate for Epstein-Barr virus. With BARDA’s support, ModeX is poised to advance another exciting new technology with high potential to benefit patients.”

This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under contract number 75A50123C00056.

About ModeX Therapeutics
ModeX Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative multispecific biologics for cancer and infectious disease. Its platforms unite the power of multiple biologics in a single molecule to create multispecific antibodies and vaccines with unprecedented versatility and potency in fighting complex disease. The ModeX pipeline includes candidates against both solid and hematologic tumors, as well as several of the world’s most pressing viral threats. Its founding team includes globally recognized medical innovators with proven track records of delivering breakthroughs for patients. ModeX is an OPKO Health company based in Natick, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.modextx.com .

About OPKO Health, Inc.
OPKO is a multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company that seeks to establish industry-leading positions in large, rapidly growing markets by leveraging its discovery, development, and commercialization expertise and novel and proprietary technologies. For more information, visit www.opko.com .

For PR's like this one, here's my posting recipe:

1. Check Bloomberg news feed for OPK
2. If story title or thumbnail looks de minimus -> ignore
3. If news looks interesting or, dare I say, even somewhat impactful -> a) take anti-apoplexy meds, b) email the story to personal email (my Bloomberg is a laptop application that is not 'connected' to my Safari browser. Therefore I cannot copy and paste to opkodd directly from that source.
4. Retrieve home email. Scan body of story quickly.
5. Pop another apoplexy med if there is actual meat on the bone, i.e., not the Beyond Meat kind of meat.
6. Highlight text -> Edit -> Copy
7. Click on always open opkodd.com tab in Safari
8. Create thread in (usually) appropriate section. Forego pithy title if apoplexy meds haven't yet taken effect.

That's a lot of work; I'm exhausted just reading it. Okay, so I figured it was something like incompatible formats beyond your control.

It depends on whether you are short or long.

If you are short, you would consider him a genius because he has created millions of dollars in value for your group in the last 12 years.

If you are long, you would consider him a genius if you have been a full time patient for the last12 years at the Loco Loco Psychiatric Hospital. 

In any case, even if Frost steps down as CEO, nothing will change.

Firstly, few institutional investors are willing to invest in pharma. In addition, for an effective change in the company's management to occur, it is necessary that Frost present to financial market participants how this will happen.

Otherwise, it will look like a jumping ship for Wall Street. I believe that Dr. Frost must complete his mission. Even if he sells the company for $6-$8, it will be great in the current macroeconomic environment.

Thank you.

hopefully he found the gem in Modex