Affimed NV said the latest data with its lead innate cell engager (ICE) known as AFM-13, disclosed at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting, have caused the focus to shift from monotherapy to combination regimens.

Arcellx Inc. signed a deal that could be worth almost $4 billion with Gilead Sciences Inc.’s unit Kite Pharma Inc. to push forward Arcellx's lead late-stage candidate CART-ddBCMA for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The arrangement brings $225 million up front plus an equity investment of $100 million, along with as much as $3.9 billion in milestone payments. Arcellx CEO Rami Elghandour said the firm sorted through a number of suitors interested in the program. Data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting “catalyzed a number of discussions and a broad set of interests. We felt of the possibilities out there, [Kite/Gilead is] the partner of choice in this space.”

At the ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2022, Compugen Inc. shared phase I data for COM-701 in dual and triple combination with Bristol Meyers Squibb Co.’s Opdivo (nivolumab) and with or without BMS-986207. Compugen’s candidate demonstrated preliminary durable antitumor activity and immune activation in patients with platinum resistant ovarian cancer with a favorable safety and toxicity profile.

Vega Therapeutics Inc. emerged from stealth in advance of a podium presentation at this year’s American Society of Hematology meeting in New Orleans. The company, a spin-out from Star Therapeutics Inc., will disclose preclinical data on its lead drug candidate VGA-039, a first-in-class antibody in development for von Willebrand disease.