French biotech Pep-Therapy SAS is in the midst of raising a €20 million (US$21.62 million) round and, at the same time, prospecting for potential partners after winning FDA orphan drug designation for its bifunctional peptide Pep-010 in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Pep-010 currently is moving to the conclusion of a phase Ib trial and the new money will fund phase II development.
Silexion Therapeutics Corp. has announced an expanded development plan for its next-generation siRNA candidate SIL-204. The new dual-route strategy will integrate intratumoral and systemic administration to target both primary tumors and metastases, respectively, to treat KRAS-driven pancreatic cancer.
It was a mixed day for Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., which disclosed separately on March 28 both the termination of a $336 million licensing deal with CS Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and upbeat plans to unveil three new oncology assets at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research in April.
Elevation Oncology Inc. has nixed its lead pipeline product, a claudin 18.2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) called EO-3021, on disappointing phase I data, sending shares tumbling by 42% and placing its preclinical HER3 ADC to the forefront of development.
Axcynsis Therapeutics Pte Ltd. has described antibody-drug conjugates comprising an antibody or antigen-binding fragment targeting alkaline phosphatase placental type (ALPP) and/or alkaline phosphatase, germ cell type (ALPPL2) covalently linked to a cytotoxic agent through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Shenzhen Zhongge Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has synthesized serine/threonine-protein kinase ULK1 inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, lymphangioleiomyomatosis and tuberous sclerosis.
Pancreatic cancer is still among the most lethal cancers, with >45% of patients presenting distant metastasis at diagnosis, and with a 5-year survival rate of 13%. Known for its role in appetite and energy homeostasis, neuropeptide Y (NPY) is the most common neuropeptide in the central and peripheral nervous system, acting through its receptor NPY1R, among others.
Mindrank Therapeutics (Suzhou) New Drug Research & Development Co. Ltd. has disclosed cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53) (Y220C mutant) stabilizers reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Silexion Therapeutics Corp. has completed its initial study evaluating SIL-204 in orthotopic pancreatic cancer models. SIL-204 is a next-generation siRNA candidate designed to target a broad range of KRAS mutations.
The lung and thrombosis may play a key role in cancer and metastasis progression, according to a collaborative study led by Cornell University scientists.
