Zap Surgical Systems Inc. reported closing a $78 million series E funding round led by Qingdao Baheal Medical Inc., with participation from other strategic investors. The new funds will be used to commercialize the company’s Zap-X gyroscopic radiosurgery platform for the non-invasive treatment of brain tumors.

Early-stage breast cancer patients in the U.S. may soon be able to access another treatment regime based on the result of a Nov. 7 FDA advisory committee for the Prosense cryoablation system by Icecure Medical Ltd. The advisory committee voted 9-5 that the benefits of Prosense outweigh the risks, although the FDA has yet to decide on the application.

Researchers from Zymeworks Inc. recently reported preclinical data for ZW-220, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) consisting of humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein 2B (SLC34A2, NaPi2b) conjugated to a topoisomerase I inhibitor, being developed for the treatment of cancer.

KAT6 is a histone lysine acetyl transferase involved in the epigenetic regulation of oncogenes and it is often dysregulated in cancer, including breast cancer. Inhibiting KAT6 blocks the transcription of genes such as ESR1 and CCND1 and the use of KAT6 inhibitors together with endocrine therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy may enhance the effectiveness in cancer.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine monoclonal antibody-targeting capabilities with the cytotoxic effect of conjugated drug payloads. However, there is a need for enhanced strategies to overcome restricted therapeutic window or unacceptable off-target effects.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has launched its Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation, which seeks to build upon MD Anderson clinical and research expertise to advance impactful cell therapies.