• Aduro BioTech Inc., of Berkeley, Calif., reported Phase I data showing intravenous administration of ANZ-100 and CRS-207 was well tolerated in subjects with advanced treatment-refractory cancers. Data also showed evidence of immune activation, induction of tumor-specific immunity and that 37 percent of end-stage cancer subjects treated with CRS-207 lived 15 months or longer. Those results were published in Clinical Cancer Research. ANZ-100 is the first candidate based on Aduro's live-attenuated, double-deleted Listeria monocytogenes vaccine platform, while CRS-207 is further engineered to express mesothelin.

• Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., said it plans to focus on developing AN2728 for atopic dermatitis in 2012 and will defer the start of a planned Phase III trial in psoriasis, which was being designed under a special protocol assessment. The decision was based on the higher unmet need in atopic dermatitis and recent positive data from a Phase IIa atopic dermatitis trial. Anacor also released positive preliminary data from two safety studies of AN2728, showing it is well tolerated when applied to large body surface areas and sensitive skin.

• Bio-Path Holdings Inc., of Houston, said it completed treatment of the second dosage cohort in its Phase I trial of lead candidate BP-100-1.01 (liposomal Grb-2), in development as a systemic treatment for blood cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. Data from the six-patient cohort showed the drug was well tolerated, with no treatment-related serious adverse events reported, and results continue to suggest some possible anti-leukemia activity.

• Omeros Corp., of Seattle, said recent positive clinical developments allowed it to revise the planned analysis for its ongoing Phase III study of OMS302, a drug that combines an anti-inflammatory agent with one that causes mydriasis and is in development for use during cataract surgery and other lens replacement procedures to maintain intraoperative mydriasis and to reduce postoperative pain. Based on data from earlier studies, Omeros is revising its planned analysis to identify maintenance of mydriasis as the single primary endpoint rather than as a co-primary endpoint with pain reduction. A second Phase III study is expected to start following Omeros' meeting with European regulators.