Atyr Pharma Inc. has advanced ATYR-0101 into IND-enabling studies for pulmonary fibrosis, and is targeting an IND application in the second half of next year.
Immunostimulant therapy using agonistic cytokines or activating antibodies has been associated with off-target side effects, failure to preferentially activate cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) over regulatory T cells (Treg), and the development of T-cell exhaustion. With the aim of overcoming these issues, researchers from Recourse Biologics Inc. designed a potentially first-in-class immunostimulatory fusion protein.
The tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in the resistance of solid tumors to immunotherapy. In particular, fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts have been shown to contribute to immune evasion.
Researchers from Anaveon AG and affiliated organizations presented the discovery and preclinical characterization of ANV-700, a novel proximity-activated cytokine (PAC) compound designed to selectively deliver IL-21 to PD-1-expressing cells for the treatment of cancer.
Researchers from Caedo Oncology AS presented the discovery and preclinical characterization of CO-005, a novel anti-CD47 fusion protein being developed for the treatment of lymphoma.
Researchers from Elpiscience Biopharmaceuticals Inc. discussed the discovery and preclinical characterization of a novel NKG2A antibody-IL-2 mutant fusion protein – ES-015.129 – being developed as cancer immunotherapy.
At the recent SITC meeting in Houston, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. reported preclinical data for the fusion protein TEV-56278, which is in phase I development.
Researchers from Mustbio Co. Ltd. and Chung-Ang University have presented the discovery and preclinical characterization of MB-2033, a novel bispecific fusion protein being developed for the treatment of cancer.
CLN-617 is a single-chain fusion protein comprising human IL-2, human IL-12, leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor 2 (LAIR2) and human serum albumin (HSA). It was designed for intratumoral injection to co-deliver IL-2 and IL-12 on a single molecule, with HSA and LAIR2 being used to retain CLN-617 in the tumor by binding collagen and increasing molecular weight.
Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. inked deals with Shattuck Labs Inc. and Numab Therapeutics AG aimed at bolstering its pipeline in oncology and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Ono struck a drug discovery collaboration and option agreement with Shattuck Labs to generate bifunctional fusion proteins for pathways involved in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It also signed a global research, development and commercialization deal with Numab for its NM-49, a multispecific antibody designed to activate tumor-associated macrophage phagocytosis for treating cancers.
