Avacta Group plc has expanded its pipeline of Precision-enabled drug conjugates with the addition of two novel preclinical oncology assets, AVA-6103 and AVA-7100. The company’s peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) comprise a payload linked to the Precision peptide, which is cleaved only within the tumor by the action of fibroblast activation protein (FAP).
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) recurs in most patients despite the aggressive therapies they receive. Novel advances allow the development of targeted therapies to treat tumors of the brain. Researchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have applied bioinformatics plus forward thinking on microRNA biology to advance targeted therapies for GBM.
When Andrew Wilks invented the JAK inhibitor momelotinib in the late 1980s for myelofibrosis, he never would have imagined it would take more than 20 years to develop and eventually be acquired for $1.9 billion. Today he’s on a mission to ensure Australian inventors have more options than he did, telling BioWorld that he had to sell the molecule for around $10 million because he couldn’t get funding.
Backed by AI technology, Aigen Sciences Inc. raised ₩12 billion (US$8.8 million) in a series A financing round to further advance its cancer and rare disease drug pipelines.
Novocure GmbH secured U.S. FDA approval for Optune Lua, a wearable device that delivers alternating electric fields or tumor treating fields that kill cancer cells. Indicated for use with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors or docetaxel in the second or subsequent line for the treatment of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer following the failure of platinum-based regimens, the approval was driven by the significant improvement in overall survival rates seen in the LUNAR pivotal study for Optune Lua.
Genetic Intelligence Inc. has described compounds acting as IL-2 expression or activity modulators reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, infections, autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders.
Ventus Therapeutics US Inc. has divulged NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, and liver, renal, respiratory, cardiovascular and inflammatory disorders, among others.
Incyte Corp. has identified tyrosine-protein kinase JAK2 (V617F mutant) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, hypereosinophilic syndrome, systemic mastocytosis and essential thrombocythemia, among others.
Insilico Medicine Inc. has synthesized fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) and/or FGFR3 inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has disclosed compounds acting as Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.