Researchers from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia presented data from a study that aimed to identify novel biologically relevant cell surface immunotherapeutic targets for neuroblastoma.
Invenra Inc.’s bispecific antibody, INV-724, developed for the treatment of neuroblastoma, has been awarded orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations by the FDA.
The interaction between the transcriptional co-repressor runt-related transcription factor 1 translocation partner 1 (Runx1t1) and MYCN, a member of the MYC proto-oncogene family, plays a crucial role in the development of neuroblastoma, according to a study led by the Children's Cancer Institute at Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney.
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. is adding one more income stream to its portfolio, with the $100 million acquisition of Apeiron Biologics AG, owner of royalty rights to Qarziba, a treatment for high risk neuroblastoma that is currently marketed in 35 countries and is en route to approval in the U.S.
Day One Biopharmaceuticals Inc. has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Mabcare Therapeutics for MTX-13, a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting protein-tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7). Under the agreement, Day One has exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize MTX-13 (now DAY-301), worldwide, excluding Greater China.
Merck KGaA has announced it is advancing M-3554, a potential first-in-class anti-GD2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), toward the clinic. M-3554 links an exatecan payload with an anti-GD2 antibody.
Shandong Ruzhi Biomedical Technology Co. Ltd. has synthesized compounds reported to be useful for the treatment of neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disorders and cerebrovascular disorders.
DXC-006 (Hangzhou DAC Biotechnology Co. Ltd.) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets CD56, a molecule involved in cell-cell adhesion and cell-matrix adhesion that is overexpressed in neuroblastoma, small-cell lung cancer and multiple myeloma, but less frequently expressed in normal tissues. DXC-006 consists of an anti-CD56 antibody (DXA-006) linked to the topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) inhibitor CPT-116 through a linker.
Essential Pharma Ltd. is paying up to £70 million (US$88.7 million) to acquire Renaissance Pharma Ltd., taking ownership of Hu14.18, a treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma. The antibody has completed a 64-patient phase II trial conducted by St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, in which it showed an improvement in overall survival of around 50% compared to currently available therapies.
