Biontech SE is extending its relationship with Biotheus Inc. from a licensing deal to a full-scale acquisition, agreeing to pay $800 million cash and up to $150 million in milestone payments for the Chinese oncology specialist.
The next-generation farnesyl transferase inhibitor KO-2806 is currently in phase I clinical development at Kura Oncology Inc. for the treatment of patients with solid tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC).
Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. and Astrazeneca plc have submitted a new BLA to the U.S. FDA for accelerated approval for datopotamab deruxtecan for treating locally advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer patients who have received prior systemic therapies.
Novocure GmbH secured U.S. FDA approval for Optune Lua, a wearable device that delivers alternating electric fields or tumor treating fields that kill cancer cells. Indicated for use with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors or docetaxel in the second or subsequent line for the treatment of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer following the failure of platinum-based regimens, the approval was driven by the significant improvement in overall survival rates seen in the LUNAR pivotal study for Optune Lua.
Dark genome miner Enara Bio Ltd. has closed a $32.5 million series B that will see the lead program targeting the first of a novel class of cancer antigens it has discovered through to the clinic. Enara calls these cancer antigens “dark antigens” (the name is trademarked). It says they can be found in solid tumors irrespective of the immune phenotype, and are often expressed at high prevalence across multiple different tumors.
Dark genome miner Enara Bio Ltd. has closed a $32.5 million series B that will see the lead program targeting the first of a novel class of cancer antigens it has discovered through to the clinic. Enara calls these cancer antigens “dark antigens” (the name is trademarked). It says they can be found in solid tumors irrespective of the immune phenotype, and are often expressed at high prevalence across multiple different tumors.
Alentis Therapeutics AG has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for ALE.P02, an anti-Claudin-1 (CLDN1) antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) with a tubulin inhibitor payload.
Ribometrix Inc. recently discussed the discovery and preclinical evaluation of a novel potent and selective eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eiF4E) inhibitor, RBX-6610, being developed for the treatment of KRAS-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Innate Pharma SA has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for IPH-4502, its novel and differentiated topoisomerase I inhibitor antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) conjugated to exatecan targeting Nectin-4 in solid tumors. In nonclinical models, IPH-45 was well tolerated and showed antitumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo.
Wall Street apparently wanted more from Prelude Therapeutics Inc.’s phase I data with SMARCA2 enzyme degrader PRT-3789 in cancer, which rolled out Sept. 13 during the recent European Society of Medical Oncology Congress in Barcelona, but hopes are still high for other prospects in the class pushed forward by various developers.
