DUBLIN – The latest update from Merus NV’s phase I/II trial of zenocutuzumab (MCLA-128) – and its early access program – in patients with solid tumors harboring an NRG1-fusion offered a slight improvement on the data disclosed in an abstract released last month, in the run-up to the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.
Only four years after its foundation, Acepodia Inc. raised $47 million in a series B financing round. The funds will help the oncology company move its first cell therapy candidate to phase II trials, while expanding its research and development activities with other products from its tech platform.
LONDON – Astrazeneca plc is broadening its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) relationship with Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. in a potential $6 billion development and commercialization deal. The two companies are to work together on DS-1062, Daiichi’s trophoblast antigen2 (TROP2) ADC, which is in phase I development in multiple tumors that express the cell surface glycoprotein. These include breast cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), areas of strategic focus for Astrazeneca. The agreement builds on the March 2019 $6.9 billion pact between the two for Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan), the HER2-targeted ADC now on course for blockbuster status, following FDA approval in December 2019 and U.S. launch at the start of the year.
The juggernaut that is Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd.’s Enhertu continued to roll into this weekend’s American Society of Clinical Oncology virtual meeting, bringing momentum from its December FDA approval for HER2-positive breast cancer, along with fresh data from three new studies in other indications.
The juggernaut that is Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd.’s Enhertu continued to roll into this weekend’s American Society of Clinical Oncology virtual meeting, bringing momentum from its December FDA approval for HER2-positive breast cancer, along with fresh data from three new studies in other indications.
As expected – and well ahead of the Aug. 20 PDUFA date – Bothell, Wash-based Seattle Genetics Inc. (Seagen) won FDA clearance for the oral small-molecule breast cancer therapy tucatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor branded Tukysa.
Boston-based Pieris Pharmaceuticals Inc., during its March 12 earnings call, talked up gastric cancer prospect PRS-343, a 4-1BB/HER2 bispecific for HER2-positive solid tumors, which has turned up single-agent and checkpoint-combination antitumor activity.
