Orum Therapeutics Inc. struck a potential $945 million (₩1.3 trillion) deal with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. to discover novel degrader antibody conjugates (DAC) as targeted conditioning agents for use with gene editing, including Vertex’s gene therapy, Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel).
Two weeks after reporting positive top-line results in first-line head and neck cancer with its lead candidate, eftilagimod alfa, in combination with Merck & Co. Inc.’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Immutep Ltd. presented updated data indicating the treatment could offer a non-chemotherapy option for patients with negative PD-L1 expression. Data from cohort B of the Tacti-003 (Keynote-PNC-34) phase IIb trial, which included 31 evaluable patients with PD-L1 expression of less than 1, as measured by Combined Proportion Score, showed a 35.5% objective response rate per RECIST 1.1 assessment.
Researchers from the U.K.’s University of Birmingham have filed for protection of an implantable device for targeted drug delivery in patients who have undergone surgery, particularly surgery to remove one or more tumors.
Conncons GmbH filed for patent protection of its networked medical infusion systems. The connecting components of their infusion systems house sensors that can detect data associated with medications in drug reservoirs.
Disappointing preliminary top-line data from Kintara Therapeutics Inc.’s phase II/III study of VAL-083 (dianhydrogalactitol) is causing the company to shift its attention and resources to another cancer program. In the meantime, the results wreaked havoc on the stock and sent the company on a mission to look at its options.
U.S. researchers reported seeking patent protection for methods to neutralize circulating tumor cells (CTCs) during hemodialysis to prevent cancer metastasis and reduce cancer-related deaths.
About two months ahead of the planned PDUFA date, the U.S. FDA has granted expanded approval of PD-1 antibody Jemperli (dostarlimab) from partners Anaptysbio Inc. and GSK plc for use in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy. GSK said the drug would be the only frontline immuno-oncology treatment for endometrial cancer available in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel. The supporting supplemental BLA for the expanded indication previously received priority review.
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is partnering with Targagenix Inc. and Northeastern University to study pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The partnership will receive nearly US$3 million over 5 years through funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
CV6 Therapeutics Ltd. raised $9.2 million in grant and equity funding to move a first-in-class inhibitor of deoxyuridine 5’-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) into a phase Ia trial in cancer. The compound, CV6-168, will from the outset be administered in combination with fluorouracil, a mainstay of chemotherapy for the past 60 years.
Researchers have identified an RNA-binding protein that played a role in colon cancer relapse, offering new insights into how cells persist in the presence of chemotherapy.
