Delta-like protein 3 (DLL3) is a transmembrane protein overexpressed in the majority of neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung such as small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The first DLL3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T), led to serious adverse events in clinical testing and its development was discontinued.
Two weeks after reporting positive top-line results in first-line head and neck cancer with its lead candidate, eftilagimod alfa, in combination with Merck & Co. Inc.’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Immutep Ltd. presented updated data indicating the treatment could offer a non-chemotherapy option for patients with negative PD-L1 expression. Data from cohort B of the Tacti-003 (Keynote-PNC-34) phase IIb trial, which included 31 evaluable patients with PD-L1 expression of less than 1, as measured by Combined Proportion Score, showed a 35.5% objective response rate per RECIST 1.1 assessment.
New company Pan Cancer T BV is preparing for a clinical trial of a next-generation T-cell receptor-engineered T cell it has designed to remove the current barriers and make T-cell therapies effective in treating solid tumors. Its products have two distinguishing features: They are targeted at antigens the company has shown are exclusively and robustly expressed by multiple solid cancers, and have a minor genetic modification that enhances the durability of autologous TCR-Ts in the tumor microenvironment after they are administered back into a patient.
Airs Medical Inc., of Seoul, South Korea, raised $20 million in a series C financing round to expand its artificial intelligence-based health care technology, including for better and faster magnetic resonance imaging scans for radiologists and patients.
Shenzhen Yangli Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. has patented poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1; ARTD1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, ischemia and neurodegeneration.
Adlai Nortye Biopharma Co. Ltd. has divulged molecular glue degraders acting as cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12)/cyclin K degradation inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, viral infections, autoimmune disease and inflammatory disorders.
Onquality Pharmaceuticals China Ltd. has described cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and/or cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer therapy-associated disorders.
Jiangsu Vcare Pharmatech Co. Ltd. has disclosed tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 11 (PTPN11; PTP-2C; SHP-2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
The lively antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) space chalked another collaboration as Taipei, Taiwan-based Foreseen Biotechnology Co. Ltd. scored a global licensing agreement worth as much as $1.03 billion with Ipsen SA, of Paris, for antibody-drug conjugate FS-001, which is said to bear first-in-class potential. The drug takes aim at a novel tumor-associated antigen that is overexpressed in many solid tumors and plays a critical role in tumor proliferation and metastasis, the companies said.
Kazia Therapeutics Ltd.'s stock shot up 248% on July 10 after the Sydney-based company reported that paxalisib showed a 3.8-month improvement in overall survival, a 33% improvement, for newly diagnosed unmethylated patients with glioblastoma (GBM) compared to the concurrent standard-of-care arm in the pivotal GBM-Agile phase II/III study.