Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. and Merck & Co. Inc. have voluntarily pulled the BLA for accelerated approval tied to their HER3-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) in treating EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer. The partnership in the expanding ADC space began nearly two years ago in a $22 billion deal.
Nibec Co. Ltd. announced May 28 the signing of a potential $435 million license deal for NP-201, its phase II-ready peptide-based pulmonary fibrosis therapy candidate, with an undisclosed U.S.-based biotech company.
Researchers in the U.K. have overthrown the orthodox view that childhood cancers have a low mutation burden, opening up new drug targets and opportunities for repurposing existing therapies. In particular, a high mutation rate is associated with a response to cancer immunotherapy. But although PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors are approved for treating pediatric cancers with a high level of microsatellite instability mutations, in general it is thought childhood tumors are not amenable to immunotherapy.
Kumquat Biosciences Inc. has disclosed son of sevenless homolog 1 (SOS1)/GTPase KRAS (G12C mutant) interaction inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Archeus Technologies Inc. and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) have entered into a strategic collaboration to advance ART-101, a next-generation prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting small molecule, into clinical development for prostate cancer.
Proteinqure Inc. has closed an $11 million series A financing round to support the initiation of the company’s first clinical trial for PQ-203, a first-in-class peptide-drug conjugate for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The funds will also be used to advance additional pipeline programs in neurology and nephrology.
Epimab Biotherapeutics Inc. licensed out a development-ready KLK2/CD3 bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) for advanced prostate cancer to Juri Biosciences Inc. through a potential $210 million deal.
Monte Rosa Therapeutics Inc. has divulged molecular glues as cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) degradation inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and amyloidosis.
University of Michigan has disclosed prodrugs of stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING; TMEM173) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammatory disorder and infections.
Cell division cycle 20 homolog (CDC20) is a key regulatory protein involved in mitotic progression. Aberrant overexpression of CDC20 has been implicated in tumorigenesis and is associated with poor prognosis in several cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer.