Researchers from Biontech SE and Genmab BV presented the discovery and preclinical evaluation of a novel Duobody-EpCAMx4-1BB (BNT314/GEN1059), a novel Fc-inert immunomodulatory bispecific antibody (bsAb) designed to boost antitumor immune responses through EpCAM-dependent 4-1BB agonistic activity.
Researchers from Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. presented the discovery and preclinical characterization of HLX-42, a next-generation EGFR-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) being developed for the treatment of cancer.
Researchers from Exscientia plc presented preclinical data for the novel reversible LSD1 inhibitor EXS-74539, being developed as a monotherapy or in combination with standard of care for the treatment of oncology and hematology indications including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and small-cell lung cancer.
The Congress of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) held in Madrid from Oct. 20 to 24, 2023, could well add the letter W to its acronym after the four sessions on gynecological cancer that could represent a milestone in the lives of all women who suffer from cervical, ovarian, or endometrial cancer.
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) is a key regulator of immune signaling that supports proliferation and promotes metastasis while maintaining the tumor microenvironment under immunosuppression. Researchers from Exscientia plc and Evotec SE reported on the characterization of EXS-73565.
Glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like protein (QPCTL) is a modulator of CD47-SIRPα binding and can be targeted to achieve antitumor responses through myeloid checkpoint blockade. At the recent ESMO meeting in Madrid, researchers from Insilico Medicine Inc. reported the preclinical characterization of ISM-8207, a QPCTL inhibitor with activity against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Novartis AG’s radioligand therapy, Pluvicto, a bestseller for the company that has been restructuring itself, continues to show strong growth in the third quarter of 2023, according to its most recent financial results. Sales were up 217% from the same quarter in 2022 at $256 million. Analysts are predicting blockbuster sales. Adding to the momentum were new data from the phase III PSMAfore study of Pluvicto (lutetium [177Lu] vipivotide tetraxetan), in second-line cancer, hitting its primary endpoint of radiographic progression-free survival in treating prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after treatment with androgen receptor pathway inhibitor therapy.
Immutep Ltd.’s lead candidate, eftilagimod (IMP-321, efti), a lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) fusion protein and major histocompatibility complex class II agonist, delivered an overall survival benefit of 35.5 months in the TACTI-002 trial that combined efti with Merck & Co. Inc.’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as first-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at two years follow-up.