Oncoprotein Myc is known to be dysregulated in about 70% of cancers, and it is highly expressed in leukemias and lymphomas. Targeting Myc has not been successful and is still an unmet clinical need for cancer patients.
Researchers from Salarius Pharmaceuticals Inc. have presented preclinical data on SP-3164, a novel cereblon (CRBN)-binding protein degrader intended for the treatment of lymphoma. SP-3164 bound to cereblon and consequently induced the degradation of hematological transcription factors Ikaros and Aiolos. The aim of their studies was to investigate the drug’s antitumor efficacy in preclinical models of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Treatment with anti-CD19 bispecific T-cell engager and CAR T therapies can lead to T-cell exhaustion and treatment failure. Novartis AG’s first-in-class anti-CD19, anti-CD3 and anti-CD2 IgG-like trispecific antibody PIT-565, which engages CD19+ on tumor cells, and CD3 (TCR signaling component) and CD2 (a costimulatory receptor) on T cells simultaneously to redirect T-cell cytotoxicity toward CD19-positive malignant B cells, has been designed to avoid T-cell exhaustion.
Biogen Inc. and C4 Therapeutics Inc. have disclosed proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising a degradation signaling moiety such as E3 ubiquitin ligase-binding moiety covalently linked to a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK)-targeting moiety through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Shares in Affimed AG gained as much as 28% during trading on Nov. 3 as the company unveiled continued good news from a phase I/II combination trial in CD30-positive lymphoma of its CD30-directed innate cell engager, AFM-13, and allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapy, as well as a clinical development partnership with Artiva Biotherapeutics Inc., which will provide it with access to a commercially scalable source of NK cells as the program matures.
China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has cleared an IND application for a clinical trial of Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc.'s HLX-60 for the treatment of solid tumors and lymphomas.
Researchers from Lantern Pharma Inc. presented preclinical data for the small-molecule DNA-damaging agent LP-284, being developed for the treatment of hematological cancers.
After an eight-year odyssey, the first cytidine triphosphate synthase 1 (CTPS1) inhibitor has entered the clinic, with Step Pharma SAS announcing it has simultaneously begun studies in the U.S. and the U.K. The phase I/II trial is assessing Step’s lead program, STP-938, in relapsed/refractory B- and T-cell lymphomas, with the first U.S. site opening for enrollment this week.
Genmab A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, said it intends to file a BLA with the U.S. FDA for its subcutaneous bispecific antibody epcoritamab, for patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma in the second half of 2022.
LONDON – “I really believe we can start using the word cure,” said the pioneer of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy Carl June, as he revealed two leukemia patients he treated in a phase I trial have now been in remission for 10 years. Both patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia achieved complete remission shortly after treatment in 2010. The genetic modification has remained detectable in their CAR T cells for more than 10 years of follow-up, June said, describing details of the case studies published in Nature Feb. 2.
