Guangdong Fapon Biopharma Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for FP-008, its first-in-class immunocytokine for patients with solid tumors refractory to anti-PD-1 therapy.
Medigene AG and Epimab Biotherapeutics Inc. have entered a strategic codevelopment agreement to research and develop off-the-shelf T-cell receptor (TCR)-guided T-cell engagers (TCR-TCEs) for the treatment of immune-related disorders, such as solid tumors.
Epitopea Ltd. has signed a license and research collaboration agreement with MSD (Merck & Co. Inc.) to identify Cryptigen tumor-specific antigens in an undisclosed solid tumor. Cryptigen TSAs are shared, nonmutated, aberrantly expressed antigens that are derived from what were thought to be noncoding regions of the genome.
Ona Therapeutics SL is accelerating development of its first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutics, targeting novel tumor-specific markers to eliminate hard-to-treat, resistant cancer cells for multiple large solid tumor types.
Solid tumors are difficult to treat due to their heterogeneity and limited blood supply, which restrict the effective delivery of anticancer drugs. Macrophages are abundant in solid tumor tissues and are the only cell type actively infiltrating hypoxic tumor regions, making them a promising option for delivering therapeutic agents directly to tumors.
Within the immune system, interleukin-15 (IL-15) plays a relevant role by boosting the number of cytotoxic T cells and NK cells, the major drivers of anticancer immune response. Researchers from Sotio Biotech AS, MD Anderson and collaborators reported preclinical data on nanrilkefusp alfa (nanril; SOT-101), an IL-15 receptor βγ superagonist that stimulates both CD8+ T and NK cells in the tumor microenvironment.
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have demonstrated their effectiveness in a variety of solid tumors such as breast, lung, ovarian or bladder cancer and in hematological cancers too. However, in some cancer types, like pancreatic cancer, treatment with ADCs needs enhancement through more appropriate targets and payloads.
Bioray Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has announced clinical trial clearance in China by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for BR-111 for injection for the treatment of ROR1-positive hematological malignancies and solid tumors.
Ypsilon Therapeutics has been awarded $2.7 million in seed funding from Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The award will allow Ypsilon to advance its lead therapeutic program, a next-generation T-cell receptor mimic (TCRm) antibody, to drug candidate nomination, with the aim of developing treatments for patients with solid tumors, such as triple-negative breast cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer and gastric cancer.
It’s one step backward in order to take two steps forward at Zentalis Pharmaceuticals Inc. In a restructuring to help fund the second part of its potentially registration-enabling Denali study, Zentalis has laid off 40% of its workforce. The clinical trial of azenosertib, Zentalis’ lead candidate and a WEE1 kinase inhibitor, is for treating advanced solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. The therapy is designed to make cancer cells self-destruct.
