Guardant Health Inc. tripled the number of cancers that can be monitored for minimal residual disease (MRD) or risk of recurrence using its Reveal liquid biopsy, adding breast and lung cancers. The test is currently used to detect circulating tumor DNA in blood for patients treated for stage II or III colorectal cancer (CRC).

Novartis AG’s attempt to repurpose its immunology drug canakinumab as an oncology therapy was always considered a long shot. Now, the chances of success have receded further after another phase III failure in lung cancer. The phase III Canopy-A study, which tested the drug as adjuvant treatment in adults with stages II-IIIA and IIIB completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer failed to meet its primary endpoint of disease-free survival vs. placebo.

The U.S. FDA has granted 510(k) clearance to a blood-based biomarker assay for disease monitoring of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The Divitum Tka assay, developed by Uppsala, Sweden-based Biovica International AB, measures the activity of the enzyme thymidine kinase-1 (TK1) which is highly associated with cell proliferation and a predictive marker of tumor aggressiveness. It is the first liquid cancer cell proliferation biomarker assay to be approved by the FDA for use in monitoring metastatic breast cancer.

Thales SA signed a major partnership with the Curie Institute to use very high-intensity electron FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) in cancer therapy. Based on its experience in the field of particle accelerators, “we have all the manufacturing facilities and human know-how necessary to ramp research and development for this new technology,” Charles-Antoine Goffin, vice president, microwave & imaging subsystems at Thales, told BioWorld. 

Nanostics Inc. launched a new trial of its Claritydx Bladder with support from Alberta Innovates to the tune of C$600,000 (US$465,690). The test uses extracellular vesicle detection technology and artificial intelligence to identify bladder cancer and could provide a valuable alternative to cystoscopy for detection of bladder cancer at earlier stages.

Pillar Biosciences LLC hopes to build a stronger foundation for its multi-cancer in vitro diagnostic, Oncoreveal Dx. The company filed a supplemental application for U.S. FDA premarket approval of eight additional types of cancer, which the agency accepted for review. The assay received FDA premarket approval for use in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colon cancer in August 2021.

Merck & Co. Inc. has snagged a $290 million development and marketing deal for Orion Corp.’s potential oral prostate cancer drug, ODM-208, which aims to suppress production of hormones that drive this form of cancer.