The adverse effects of PD-1 blockers on the CNS observed in cancer patients could occur through their effects on an enzyme that activates microglia. Pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme in mice reduced microglial activation and cognitive deficit without altering the antitumor capacity of the immunotherapy.
As competition rises in the Keytruda (pembrolizumab) biosimilar space, Celltrion Inc. is the latest to announce that it filed an IND application to the U.S. FDA to start a global phase III trial for its own Keytruda biosimilar, dubbed CT-P51. Incheon, South Korea-based Celltrion, which previously said it would differentiate from the pack by developing an easier-to-administer subcutaneous biosimilar of pembrolizumab, announced June 17 plans to start a global comparative phase III study of CT-P51 and Keytruda.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has signed an option agreement to in-license Ascentage Pharma Group Inc.’s olverembatinib, an oral third-generation BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). If exercised, the option would allow Takeda to license exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize olverembatinib in all territories outside of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Russia.
Researchers at Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen University and University of Arizona have synthesized proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin ligase binding moiety covalently linked to a DYRK1A and/or DYRK1B and/or DYRK2 and/or DYRK3 and/or CLK1 and/or CLK2 and/or CLK3 and/or CLK4 and/or HASPIN targeting moiety through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, viral infection, diabetes, inflammatory disorders, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and autoimmune diseases, among others.
The overexpression of choline-kinase alpha (CKα) promotes aberrant choline metabolism in epithelial ovarian cancer, thus increasing phosphocholine- and total choline-containing compounds. Previous findings had shown that silencing CKα impacted cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and CKα was hypothesized to be a potential new therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.
Zymeworks Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for ZW-171, a novel T-cell targeting bispecific antibody for mesothelin (MSLN)-expressing cancers. Clinical development will begin this year, and additional applications will be filed in the second half of the year seeking trial clearances in other territories.
Researchers from Lund University presented data from a study that aimed to identify novel targets for immunotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To identify differentially expressed cell surface proteins in the primitive CD34+CD38- cell populations, an arrayed antibody screen was performed on primary bone marrow samples from patients with AML as well as healthy donors.
The first oral session in the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) translational research track of June 15, was given by Eliza Yankova, from the University of Cambridge, who presented collaborative studies done together with Storm Therapeutics Ltd. outlining pharmacological inhibition of METTL1 as a therapeutic strategy in AML treatment.
High weight is associated with a greater risk of developing many cancers, and with an increased risk of metastasis. But in some cancers such as renal cell carcinoma, it is also associated with better survival and a better response to immunotherapies in particular.
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