In their ongoing search for effective small-molecule inhibitors of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), researchers at Beijing Normal University and collaborators started from a promising lead compound that they previously described.
Imunon Inc. soared by 179% on the heels of phase II Ovation 2 data showing that its IMNN-001 immunotherapy led to a 13-month increase in overall survival among women with ovarian cancer. Patients in the intent-to-treat population, receiving the drug plus standard-of-care neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy (N/ACT), achieved median overall survival (OS) at 46 months vs. 33 months with N/ACT alone. Increased activity was seen among patients treated with poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, with the median OS not yet reached after more than five years vs. 37 months in the control arm.
Ovarian cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, with high recurrence rates and resistance to chemotherapy. CAR T-cell therapies present limited efficacy in solid tumors due to tumor heterogeneity and immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment.
ADC Therapeutics SA has described antibody-drug conjugates comprising antibody targeting sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein 2B (SLC34A2; NaPi-2b) covalently linked to exatecan through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of ovarian cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Tilt Biotherapeutics Ltd. has raised $25.6 million in a series B round that will fund phase II development of the lead oncolytic virus in the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin, Princeton University and collaborators have discovered that blocking the uptake of lipids by immune cells within the ascites microenvironment could reshape treatment for advanced ovarian cancer.
Neuboron Medtech Research Institute Ltd. has disclosed boron-containing lipoic acid derivatives and vesicle forms acting as boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) agents reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Folate receptor α (FOLR1) is highly expressed in the surface of tumoral cells in several cancer types, while it shows limited expression in normal tissues. CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has developed a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting FOLR1 – SYS-6041 – for the treatment of mid-to-low FOLR1-expressing tumors.
Claudin-6 (CLDN6) is a protein found in the tight junctions of epithelial cells to modulate their permeability and barrier function, among other actions.
UTR Therapeutics Inc. has submitted an IND application to the FDA for UTRxM1-18, a novel therapeutic approach for targeting c-MYC-driven cancers. Pending approval, a first-in-human phase I trial is slated to begin next year.
