Researchers at Monash University in Melbourne have discovered that transcription factors Ikaros and Aiolos work by binding to AP-1 transcriptional complexes and driving their transcription, which regulates thousands of genes in the human body.
Zymeworks Inc. has announced that its current R&D priority is to progress its differentiated portfolio of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) into clinical studies this year and next.
Abbvie Inc. and Umoja Biopharma Inc. have announced two exclusive option and license agreements to develop multiple in situ generated chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy candidates in oncology using Umoja's proprietary Vivovec platform.
Iaso Biotherapeutics Co. Ltd. has established new collaborations with Umoja Biopharma Inc. for the development and commercialization of novel ex vivo and in vivo cell and gene therapies. These collaborations seek to advance off-the-shelf cell and gene therapies with applications in oncology and immunology.
Medilink Therapeutics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. has entered into a worldwide collaboration and license agreement with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. for the development of YL-211, a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate candidate targeting proto-oncogene c-Met for solid tumors.
Obi Pharma Inc. has received FDA clearance for its IND application to conduct a phase I/II study of OBI-992, a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) cancer therapy targeting TROP2. The trial will open shortly and aims to enroll patients with advanced solid tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer, small-cell lung cancer and gastric cancer, although several other cancers are also potential targets.
Bispecific antibodies acting through CEACAM5/CD3 targeting have limited efficacy due to dose-limiting toxicities, insufficient T-cell activation and formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs). Researchers from Novimmune SA and Lampkap Bio Alpha AG have published data on a CEACM5/CD3 bispecific antibody, NILK-2301, which is formed by a heavy chain plus two different light chains (kappa and lambda body) as a potential immunotherapeutic with better efficacy and lower potential for ADA formation.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapies targeted against CD19 have been widely used for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. However, the down-regulation of CD19 can lead to relapse, and autologous CAR T therapies have limitations that need to be addressed.
Researchers from Mbrace Therapeutics Inc. presented the discovery and preclinical evaluation of MBRC-101, a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting the membrane-associated tyrosine kinase receptor EphA5, being developed for the treatment of cancer.
Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and Ctm Biotech Co. Ltd. have reported progress in the development of a trispecific T-cell engager for an intracellular target.