The inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and CDK6 is a useful strategy to treat hormone receptor (HR)+/HER2+ breast cancer, but patients may develop resistance through different mechanisms. As reported at the recent San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, researchers from Biotheryx Inc. have synthesized a new CDK4/6 degrader – BTX-9341 – to address the problem of therapeutic resistance in breast cancer.

Researchers from Medical University of South Carolina aimed to evaluate the potential of secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) as a promising novel target for breast cancer using a newly developed humanized monoclonal antibody to SFRP2 (hSFRP2 MAb) in models of this disease.

Injecting a combination of cisplatin and vinblastine – engineered by way of the company’s Dfuserx platform – turned out to be just the ticket for early stage breast cancer in the phase II study called Invincible conducted by Intensity Therapeutics Inc. Shares of the Shelton, Conn.-based firm (NASDAQ:INTS) closed Dec. 8 at $6.88, up $2.68, or 63%, having traded as high as $11.44, thanks to Wall Street’s satisfaction with the data testing INT230-6, which emerged during the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

While early stage and involving a relatively small patient population, the interim phase Ib readout from the combination cohort testing estrogen receptor (ER)-targeting candidate vepdegestrant in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitor Ibrance (palbociclib) in heavily pretreated patients with ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer was impressive enough to prompt partners Arvinas Inc. and Pfizer Inc. to expand development work on the program. The results also struck a chord on the Street, with shares of Arvinas (NASDAQ:ARVN) gaining 31% on the day.

New and updated clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, including: Ambrx, Astrazeneca, Celcuity, Treadwell, Zymeworks.

New and updated clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, including: Astrazeneca, Context, Dantari, Exelixis, G1, Intensity.

Australian biopharma Immutep Ltd. saw its stock price jump 165% Dec. 10, as the company reported that adding its eftilagimod alpha (IMP-321, “efti”) to paclitaxel resulted in what the company called a “promising and improving” trend toward increased overall survival in women with metastatic hormone receptor-driven breast cancer.

New and updated preclinical and clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dec. 8-11, including: Amunix, Astrazeneca, Athenex, Beyondspring, Bold, Briacell, Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly, Evelo, Greenwich, Immutep, Infinity, Medsir, Novartis, Oncolytics, Pharmabcine.