Cathepsin G (CTSG) is overexpressed and aberrantly localized for antigen presentation on acute myeloid leukemia blasts and stem cells compared to normal hematopoietic progenitors. Earlier this year, Crossbow Therapeutics Inc. announced the nomination of its first development candidate, CBX-250, a TCR-mimetic (TCRm) bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) antibody targeting a CTSG peptide-human leukocyte antigen (pHLA) complex and CD3.
The lack of acute myeloid leukemia-specific antigens is one of the challenges for targeted immunotherapy together with on-target off-tumor toxicities due to the expression of the target in normal myeloid cells. A subset of T cells – Vδ2 T-cells – which represent ~5% of the T-cell population in healthy donors, are seen as part of emerging immunotherapeutic strategies.
Researchers from Janssen Research & Development LLC presented preclinical data for JNJ-87801493, a first-in-class CD20 targeted CD28 costimulatory bispecific antibody (Ab), currently in early clinical development for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.
The collaboration will combine Rondo’s proprietary CD28 co-stimulatory platform with Lilly’s drug development and commercialization expertise to develop co-stimulatory bispecific antibodies to treat solid tumors.
Ipsen SA and Biomunex Pharmaceuticals SAS have signed an exclusive global licensing agreement for BMX-502, a preclinical novel T-cell engager with potential for solid tumors. BMX-502 is a bispecific antibody that engages and activates mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and targets the GPC3 tumor antigen, to kill cancer cells.
Nectin-4 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and checkpoint inhibitor combinations have represented a great advancement in the treatment of bladder cancer, but relapse and treatment-related toxicities underscore the need for new therapeutic strategies.
AGEN-1721 was designed as an Fc-enhanced bifunctional antibody to selectively target FAP and neutralize TGF-β via an optimized TGF-βR2 TRAP moiety fused to an engineered Fc region, with the aim of maximizing effector functions.
A team from Nanjing Leads Biolabs Co. Ltd. presented the discovery and preclinical characterization of LBL-042, a novel bispecific antibody designed to simultaneously target PD-1 and LILRB1/2, with the aim of improving immune evasion of tumor microenvironment and potentially overcoming resistance to immuno-oncology therapy.