Amid a flurry of dealmaking activity to start 2024, Allorion Therapeutics Inc., a 2020 startup based in Natick, Mass., and Guangzhou, China, has been extra busy. Two days after disclosing a potential $540 million deal with Astrazeneca plc, Allorion inked a licensing agreement with Avenzo Therapeutics Inc. that could total more than $1 billion.
Amid a flurry of dealmaking activity to start 2024, Allorion Therapeutics Inc., a 2020 startup based in Natick, Mass., and Guangzhou, China, has been extra busy. Two days after disclosing a potential $540 million deal with Astrazeneca plc, Allorion inked a licensing agreement with Avenzo Therapeutics Inc. that could total more than $1 billion.
Researchers from Blueprint Medicines Corp. presented data from a study that aimed to assess the effects of combining cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibitor BLU-222 with CDK4/6 inhibitors, such as palbociclib or ribociclib, to overcome CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance in HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer.
Beigene Ltd. and Ensem Therapeutics Inc. have announced an agreement for Beigene to acquire an exclusive global license to an IND application-ready oral cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibitor.
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) are serine/threonine kinases that act as regulatory enzymes involved in cell proliferation. The dysregulation of CDK activity occurs through overexpression of cyclin E1, a binding partner of CDK2, which is observed in several cancers such as high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), bladder cancer, gastric cancer and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, among others. Selective inhibition of CDK2 may thus be considered a therapeutic approach to regaining cell cycle control.
More than a decade ago, three scientists were part of a team at G1 Therapeutics Inc. that led to the now-approved CDK4/6 inhibitor Cosela (trilaciclib). The same work also led to findings showing CDK2 as a promising target for cancers that developed resistance to CDK4/6 inhibition.
Incyclix Bio LLC has received FDA approval of an IND application for INX-315, a novel, potent and selective cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibitor for advanced or metastatic cancers. The first-in-human phase I/II study will be conducted in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer who have progressed on a CDK4/6 inhibitor regimen and CCNE1-amplified solid tumors that have progressed on standard-of-care treatment.
Tuojie Biotech (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. has divulged cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2)/cyclin E inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and immunological disorders.
