In recent years, the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors to the oncolytic pipeline has been a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment, but unfortunately some tumors respond only minimally. Besides CTLA-4, and since the approval of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, only the anti-LAG3 strategy (relatlimab, Bristol Myers Squibb Co.) has been good enough to reach the market. In a session dealing with emerging checkpoints beyond PD-1, CTLA-4 and LAG3, Drew Rasco from the START Center for Cancer Care depicted a new player on the ground of immunotherapeutic options.
Sookmyung Women’s University has described histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and fibrosis.
Beigene Ltd. has divulged 4-(aminomethyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) isoquinolin-1 (2H)-one derivatives acting as protein arginine N-methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Insilico Medicine IP Ltd. has identified heteroaromatic compounds acting as membrane-associated tyrosine- and threonine-specific Cdc2-inhibitory kinase (PKMYT1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Duality Biologics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. has synthesized antibody-drug conjugates comprising anti-GPC3 antibodies covalently linked to exatecan derivatives through a linker. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Biotheryx Inc. has disclosed PROTAC compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase binding moiety covalently linked to a SOS1 targeting moiety via linker.
M-43 is a recombinant analogue of fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) that has been previously shown to bind the insulin receptor (InsR), activate insulin-like cellular signaling and reduce insulin resistance. Researchers from Celon Pharma SP have recently presented results on the efficacy of the candidate as assessed in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats.
Sotio Biotech AS, a company owned by PPF Group, has entered into a license and option agreement with Synaffix BV, a Lonza company, to develop next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of solid tumors.
Due to the continual emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutants, there is an unmet clinical need for broad-spectrum treatments for COVID-19. A potential target for novel treatments is the S2 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, which has been highly conserved across the different variants of the virus.