Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. terminated development of CTX-177 (ONO-7018), its ex-oncology candidate in-licensed from Chordia Therapeutics Inc. in December 2020 for up to ¥52.9 billion (US$370.37 million).
Richter transformation (RT) refers to the occurrence of an aggressive and treatment-resistant lymphoma that arises from the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and is associated with a poor prognosis. Disruptive mutations in the BCL6 co-repressor (Bcor) gene are found in up to 2% of CLL cases and often occur alongside Notch1 mutations, a common molecular alteration linked to RT. This co-occurrence points to a possible cooperative role in driving disease progression.
Several Asia biotechs this week – including Innocare Pharma Ltd., Akeso Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sanbio Co. Ltd. and Ascletis Pharma Inc. – unveiled the start of new late-stage clinical trials or interim findings from early stage studies.
Several Asia biotechs this week – including Innocare Pharma Ltd., Akeso Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sanbio Co. Ltd. and Ascletis Pharma Inc. – unveiled the start of new late-stage clinical trials or interim findings from early stage studies.
Venetoclax, a selective Bcl-2 inhibitor, has proven effective in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but genetic mutations or adaptive changes over time can result in resistance to treatment and disease relapse. Researchers from Newave Pharmaceutical Inc. and collaborators described the preclinical efficacy of LP-118, a Bcl-2 inhibitor, in venetoclax-resistant models of CLL.
At the 66th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, a plethora of companies presented clinical trial data highlighting their drugs targeting Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) in patients with blood cancers.
China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted Ascentage Pharma Group Corp. Ltd.’s NDA for its in-house-developed Bcl-2 selective inhibitor, lisaftoclax (APG-2575), which could be the first domestically approved Bcl-2 inhibitor in China and the second global approval.
Extending its cash runway into 2026, Sana Biotechnology Inc. is prioritizing certain autoimmune assets and punting an oncology program and a central nervous system diseases program to a potential licensing partner or spinout company.
Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors are commonly used in the treatment of hematological cancers. However, approximately 67% of patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) develop resistance to acalabrutinib and ibrutinib due to mutations in BTK, initially most often C481S.
Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) enzyme inhibitors used to treat B-cell cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, also produce resistance by causing mutations in the protein. Now, a study on the BTK degrader NX-2127 showed the compound could be effective in eliminating BTK regardless of its mutations.
