ImmunityBio announced interim results in its metastatic pancreatic cancer trial showing that the overall survival rate for patients doubled compared to historical survival rate of three months after two prior lines of therapy. The data of the Phase 2 trial studying a combination immunotherapy - Nant Cancer Vaccine - also show treatment-related serious adverse events were uncommon - 8% - and no treatment-related deaths were reported. Based on these findings, ImmunityBio plans to meet with the FDA in 2022 to discuss the path for the approval of combination therapies for pancreatic cancer. The results were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal conference, which is being held virtually. To date, 27% of third-line or greater patients remain on study. The median overall survival in this highly advanced group of patients, who failed two to six prior lines of treatment, is 5.8 months exceeding the approximately three-month historical median overall survival. On the strength of this early data and significant unmet medical need, the company has expanded enrollment in the third-line or greater cohort.

Codexis announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has granted Orphan Drug Designation to its modified version of methionine gamma-lyase enzyme from the bacterium Pseudomonas entomophila in the treatment of homocystinuria. Reference Link

Reports Q4 revenue $175.4M, consensus $178.67M. CEO Lynn Harton stated, "We are very pleased by United's performance this quarter and in 2021. In the quarter, both loan and deposit growth were strong and noninterest income benefited from strong, but seasonally lower, mortgage production and a great SBA quarter. On the strategic front, we completed the acquisition of Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc. and Aquesta Bank on October 1, boosting our Charlotte presence and adding the Wilmington, North Carolina market, both of which are growth markets that fit well with our footprint and culture. We also completed the operational conversion of Aquesta in mid-November, bringing the United brand to these great markets. We are proud that this outstanding team of bankers has joined us and we believe that they are a great fit for United. Finally, while not included in the quarterly results, on January 1 we completed the acquisition of Reliant Bancorp, expanding our Tennessee presence into the fast-growing Nashville MSA with a very high performance organization."