CCR8 is highly expressed on immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) in various solid tumors, making it a potential target to enhance antitumor immunity and the efficacy of cancer therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors. However, the impact of CCR8 expression on the Treg phenotype and its role in cancer progression remain unclear.
A recent study explored the therapeutic potential of hu128.1, a humanized antibody targeting transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), in treating erythroleukemia using xenograft mouse models. The results demonstrate that hu128.1 exerts strong antitumor activity against human erythroleukemic (ERY-1) cells, highlighting its promise as a candidate for managing this aggressive cancer.
Abnormal fusion of the FGFR2 gene, encoding the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2, occurs in several types of cancer, including in up to 15% of cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a complex disease with poor prognosis and its clinical management still remains a challenge in the field. Since both BCMA and GPRC5D are overexpressed in MM cells, a therapeutic approach targeting both would be of interest. Qilu Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is hence developing a dual BCMA- and GPRC5D-targeting antibody – QLS-4131 – for the treatment of MM.
Granite Bio AG has emerged from stealth with $100 million in series A and B funding and a focus on developing first-in-class antibodies that target the root causes of a variety of inflammatory, autoimmune and fibrotic conditions.
Avidicure BV has launched with a $50 million seed financing round and a focus on developing dual agonistic, multifunctional and avidity engineered antibodies, or AVC-Boosters, to deliver targeted and potent cancer monotherapy.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in many diseases, yet raising therapeutic antibodies against them is notoriously difficult because the transmembrane receptors contain only short extracellular regions that can function as antigens. As a result, only two therapeutic antibodies against GPCRs have ever been licensed for the clinic.