Although advances in chemotherapy have dramatically improved outcomes for children with leukemia, patients with high-risk and aggressive cancers require intense drug regimens that push safety limits. Researchers have formulated an antibody guidance system in mice that could empower chemotherapy against childhood leukemias while minimizing drug toxicity.
Quest Diagnostics Inc. evidently found what it was looking for, as it agreed to acquire Haystack Oncology Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at up to $450 million with $300 million at closing and $150 million contingent on meeting specific milestones. Haystack focuses on minimal residual disease (MRD) testing, which can detect residual or recurring cancer in its early stages and help guide therapy decisions using blood samples rather than biopsied tissue. The companies expect the transaction to close before the end of June.
The data are early and from only seven evaluable patients, but results from In8bio Inc.’s phase I study of gamma-delta T-cell therapy INB-100 in leukemia patients who have undergone haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplant, presented at the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation meeting, were compelling enough to drive the company’s shares (NASDAQ:INAB) up 183% April 24.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a powerful approach for patients with hematologic malignancies, such as leukemia. Its broad use may be associated with life-threatening toxicities such as neurotoxicity and cytokine release syndrome (CRS).
Hunan Warrant Pharmaceutical Technology Development Co. Ltd. has disclosed data on the identification of a novel small-molecule inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK), HND-01, which was identified by modifying metabolite 20 of dasatinib and is being developed for the potential treatment of cancer.
Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University has described thiazolecarboxamidine compounds acting as NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
In the March 2023 issue of Science Immunology, researchers working at the City of Hope National Medical Center reported on the discovery the mechanisms by which the spliced X-box–binding protein 1 (XBP1s) served essential functions in the IL-15-dependent survival of natural killer (NK) cells. Since XBP1s is known to play critical roles in MHCII expression, the unfolded protein stress response, and ultimately tumorigenesis, the study provided deep insights into the understanding of NK cell biology with translational potential.
Research at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz has led to the development of quinazoline-thiohydantoin fused heterocycles reported to be useful for the treatment of leukemia.
