IL-18 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that triggers IFN-γ production and increases T- and NK-cell activity. IL-18’s effects are blocked by IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), an endogenous protein that binds to IL-18 with high affinity and that is highly present in the tumor microenvironment (TME).
Notching another deal in its efforts to extend the global reach of toripalimab, Junshi Biosciences Co. Ltd. granted Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. rights to develop and commercialize the PD-1 inhibitor in a regional licensing agreement that could be worth as much as $728.3 million.
The use of therapies based on immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in melanoma patients has greatly improved survival rates; however, many individuals either develop resistances or are nonresponsive to treatment.
China’s NMPA gave the nod to Roche Diagnostics (Shanghai) Ltd.’s anti-preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) (EPR 20330) that could help to speed up melanoma diagnosis and improve survival rates.
China’s NMPA gave the nod to Roche Diagnostics (Shanghai) Ltd.’s anti-preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) (EPR 20330) that could help to speed up melanoma diagnosis and improve survival rates.
Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) is an inhibitory factor on natural killer (NK) and T cells and is expressed in several cancer types and immune cells such as macrophages and neutrophils. Researchers from Suzhou Neologics Bioscience Co. Ltd. have investigated CEACAM1 as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.
PHI-501 is a novel pan-RAF inhibitor being developed for acute myeloid leukemia. Big data, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based drug discovery platform and cell-based investigation identified PHI-501 as potentially useful against melanoma, and researchers from Pharos Ibio Co. Ltd. presented preclinical evaluation of the drug for this new indication.
Kinnate Biopharma Inc. has added two new internally developed next-generation development candidates to its targeted oncology pipeline, a brain-penetrant mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor and a highly selective hepatocyte growth factor receptor gene (c-Met) inhibitor.
Thetis Pharmaceuticals LLC and Harvard Medical School have presented data on the stable salt chelate of Resolvin E1, TP-317, for the potential treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-resistant and sensitive tumors. TP-315 is an activator of ChemR23, a receptor expressed on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. In vivo murine models of lung, melanoma (B16F10) and pancreatic (Panc2-H7) tumors were used to investigate TP-317 monotherapy and in combination with ICI.
It is known that in melanoma, transformed melanocytic cells acquire stem cell-like features; these cells have multilineage differentiation potential, thus allowing them to morph into cell states with neural crest cell (NCC)-like, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-like features, promoting its metastatic potential.
