Black Diamond Therapeutics Inc. is getting $70 million up front and could earn up to $710 million in milestone payments in a deal with Servier for phase I-stage BDTX-4933, a small-molecule candidate targeting both RAS mutations and RAF alternations for treating solid tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer.
Biotheryx Inc. has divulged proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin ligase binding moiety covalently linked to a son of sevenless homolog 1 (SOS1) targeting moiety reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
The TNF receptor superfamily member herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM or TNFRSF14), first identified as a receptor for viral infection, acts as a molecular switch, either activating or inhibiting the immune response depending on the interacting ligand. Previous work found that HVEM binding to B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) initiates an inhibitory signal to effector T cells and that targeting the HVEM-BTLA complex with an antibody reduced tumor growth in a humanized mouse model.
Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is involved in DNA repair and cell cycle progression and, due to its control over the ubiquitination of key proteins, may impact oncogenes like MDM2 and c-Myc, as well as tumor suppressors such as p53 and p21.
Work at Exelixis Inc. has led to the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprising antibodies targeting interleukin-13 receptor subunit α2 (IL-13RA2, IL-13R-α2) covalently linked to a payload. They are described as potentially useful for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Suzhou Genhouse Bio Co. Ltd. has disclosed tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 11 (PTPN11; PTP-2C; SHP-2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, Noonan syndrome and Leopard syndrome.
New and positive data for Maia Biotechnology Inc.’s lead candidate for a particularly deadly and advanced lung cancer propelled the stock modestly higher on Feb. 4. The pivotal phase II THIO-101 study of Thio, a telomere-targeting agent sequenced with Regeneron Inc.’s immune checkpoint inhibitor, Libtayo (cemiplimab), as a third-line treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed median overall survival of 16.9 months for the 22 NSCLC patients who received at least one dose of Thio in parts A and B.
Mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) plays a relevant role in growth, survival, migration and tissue repair. Alterations in MET have been found in non-small-cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer, and are associated with aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancer types.
EMA approval of the Alzheimer’s disease therapy Leqembi (lecanemab) has stalled once again, after the European Commission did not as usual nod through the agency’s recommendation, but told it to examine safety data that have recently become available.
Dewpoint Therapeutics Inc. has nominated a second development candidate, DPTX-3496. The oral, small-molecule condensate modulator targets β-catenin to address Wnt-driven colorectal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer. IND-enabling studies have commenced, with an IND filing planned in the second half of this year.
