Enhanced quantity and functionality of natural killer (NK) cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been associated with improved prognosis and survival. Therefore, NK cell-based immunotherapy has been proposed for treating HCC, relying on the activation of NK cell receptors like natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), which recognize specific ligands on HCC cells. However, the effectiveness of this approach remains low due to tumor immune evasion.
LTZ Therapeutics Inc. has gained IND approval from the FDA for LTZ-301, a first-in-class myeloid engager immunotherapy intended to treat relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r NHL).
Ilab Co. Ltd. has disclosed programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1; PD-1; CD279)/PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1; CD274) interaction inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Adcentrx Therapeutics Inc. and Adcentrx Therapeutics Shanghai Co. Ltd. have disclosed antibody-drug conjugates comprising a monoclonal antibody covalently bound to a cytotoxic drug through a linker.
Io Biotech Aps has presented preclinical data regarding their Arg1-derived peptide cancer vaccine IO-112 as a potential immunotherapeutic that would allow controlling the tumor microenvironment.
Researchers from Tianjin University have published data regarding development and preclinical characterization of a new anti-PD-L1/CD40 bispecific antibody (BsAb), BA-4415, designed to activate CD40 signaling specifically in the context of PD-L1 while simultaneously blocking PD-1/PD-L1 signaling.
Epitopea Ltd. has signed a license and research collaboration agreement with MSD (Merck & Co. Inc.) to identify Cryptigen tumor-specific antigens in an undisclosed solid tumor. Cryptigen TSAs are shared, nonmutated, aberrantly expressed antigens that are derived from what were thought to be noncoding regions of the genome.
Ona Therapeutics SL is accelerating development of its first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutics, targeting novel tumor-specific markers to eliminate hard-to-treat, resistant cancer cells for multiple large solid tumor types.
In a recently published study, researchers from Cima Universidad de Navarra and collaborators presented a novel SdAb-based CAR T-cell discovery platform that allows the generation, characterization and selection of SdAbs by several properties.
Bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) antibodies have shown efficacy in hematological malignancies and are being tested in a variety of solid tumors. Other strategies including bispecific antibodies in combination with monoclonal antibodies or targeting two different immune checkpoints on T cells are also undergoing clinical development.