Scientists from Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co. Ltd. and Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have disclosed antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) comprising antibodies targeting HER2 bound to an eribulin derivative through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.

Baylor College of Medicine has synthesized activin receptor type-1 (ACVR1; ALK2; ACTR-I) and/or serine/threonine-protein kinase receptor R3 (ACVRL1; ALK1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), atherosclerosis and iron deficiency anemia.

Researchers have developed and tested a taurultam-derived oxathiazine compound, GP-2250, for the potential treatment of ovarian cancer. Taurolidine, a substance derived from the amino acid taurine, has been shown to have antiproliferative and antineoplastic activity in vitro and in vivo against various cancer types. GP-2250 was tested in vitro in several ovarian cancer cell lines, as well as in vivo as a monotherapy and in combination with standard-of-care drugs and PARP inhibitors.

Preliminary results from a phase II study of Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s oncolytic peptide for basal cell carcinoma showed half of the participants had lesions reach complete histologic clearance with no tumor cells left behind. Those who still had tumors saw them shrink 71%. Every participant that received the treatment had a tumor-size reduction of 86%.

Hainan Simcere Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has patented E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase CBL-B (CBLB) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Yarrow Therapeutics Inc. has divulged antibody-drug conjugates comprising antibody or antigen binding fragments covalently linked to ecteinascidin derivatives through linkers reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.

Chengdu Chipscreen Pharmaceutical Ltd. has discovered Werner syndrome ATP-dependent helicase (WRN; RECQ3; RECQL2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.