Scientists at the University of Washington have engineered human plasma B cells modified to express long-lasting bispecific antibodies that could be used to treat leukemia without requiring continuous dosing.
“We are trying to engineer plasma cells to make as a stable source for biologic drugs. One thing that is really unique about plasma cells is that they can live for a really long time … up to 10 years or even 100 years depending on the type of plasma cell that that you make,” Richard James, senior author of the study, principal investigator at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, and associate professor at the University of Washington, told BioWorld.
Bluesphere Bio Inc. has received FDA clearance of its IND application for BSB-1001 for patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, in conjunction with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT).
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG has identified stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING; TMEM173) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, allergy, autoimmune disease, inflammatory disorders and infections.
India’s first indigenous CAR T therapy is expected to cost around $50,000, nearly one-tenth of the price of top-selling CAR Ts in the U.S. India President Droupadi Murmu officially launched Immunoadoptive Cell Therapy’s (Immunoact) NexCAR19 (actalycabtagene autoleucel), a CD19-targeted CAR T, and dedicated it to the nation in April 2024.
India’s first indigenous CAR T therapy is expected to cost around $50,000, nearly one-tenth of the price of top-selling CAR Ts in the U.S. India President Droupadi Murmu officially launched Immunoadoptive Cell Therapy’s (Immunoact) NexCAR19 (actalycabtagene autoleucel), a CD19-targeted CAR T, and dedicated it to the nation in April 2024.
Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in cancer immunosurveillance. Circulating NK cells can kill target cells without prior sensitization. There are some receptors known to impact the activity of NK cells, such as the inhibitory NK cell receptor TIM3, among others, which recognizes phosphatidylserine on the surface of cells. More research has been performed using targeted or genome-wide CRISPR screening to identify cancer cell genes that impact NK cell-killing ability.
Two sNDAs, one from Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (BMS) and the other from Mirum Pharmaceuticals Inc., have received U.S. FDA approval to further expand their treatment indications.
TET2 is a master epigenetic enzyme that converts 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), reprograming tumor cells and causing them to enter a dormant state.
Cellular senescence is a state of terminal cell cycle arrest that is being increasingly explored for its role in cancer therapeutics. Researchers from Ocean University of China reported on AS-1041, an anthraquinone compound derived from the marine compound Aspergiolide A, designed to be used against leukemia due to its pro-senescence effect.
It’s not every day you see a small drug company’s presentations get picked for both the plenary session and the late-breaker session at a conference, but Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc. managed to do just that at the 65th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting 2023 – with a little help from a friend.
