Antibody specialist Jounce Therapeutics Inc. and Redx Pharma plc are to merge in an all-share transaction with a value of $425 million, in a deal that will see Redx’s small-molecule cancer and fibrosis drugs absorbing the lion’s share of the combined cash and its shareholders owning 63% of the combined company.
Pancreatic cancer still remains a highly lethal disease, with a 5-year survival rate of <10%. It is characterized by strong stromal activation leading to pro-tumorigenic extracellular matrix deposition. Recent findings in preclinical models have unveiled that targeting desmoplasia may improve chemotherapy efficacy and impede metastasis in pancreatic cancer.
Lift Biosciences Ltd. and Minaris Regenerative Medicine GmbH have entered into a development and manufacturing partnership for N-Lift, Lift's first-in-class neutrophil progenitor-based leukocyte infusion therapy for the treatment of various cancer indications, including pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and other solid tumors.
Shanghai Qilu Pharmaceutical Research and Development Centre Ltd. has presented protein arginine N-methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Hookipa Pharma Inc. has achieved a US$10 million milestone payment under its collaboration agreement with Roche (F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.) to develop HB-700, a novel arenaviral immunotherapy for KRAS-mutated cancers.
Legochem Biosciences Inc. has entered into a license agreement with Elthera AG to develop and commercialize a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy using a monoclonal antibody developed by Elthera.
Wigen Biomedicine Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. has disclosed fused ring compounds acting as Wee1-like protein kinase (Wee1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has disclosed proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin ligase binding moiety covalently linked to a GTPase KRAS (G12D mutant) targeting moiety reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Lung and pancreatic cancer cells usually become chemotherapy resistant; the alternative to target nonapoptotic pathways was hypothesized as an approach for treating these cancers. Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University and their collaborators focused on the activation of pyroptosis as a therapeutic alternative to treat these resistant tumor types.
