Arcus Biosciences Inc., in a presentation on the opening day of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI), reported a 41% objective response rate across the first four cohorts in its phase I dose-escalation study of AB-680, a small-molecule CD73 inhibitor for treating metastatic pancreatic cancer. The data also showed 88% of patients experienced at least some shrinkage of their lesions.
Citing a lack of efficacy from adding its complement inhibitor Ultomiris (ravulizumab) to best supportive care for patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19, Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. paused further enrollment in a global phase III study of the drug. The move, recommended by the trial's independent data monitoring committee, suggested Ultomiris may soon join the list of other therapeutics once tested against COVID-19 but now no longer.
Nantkwest Inc. and privately held Immunitybio Inc. trotted out positive early interim results from their advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer studies showing median survival rates more than double the historic rates: eight month’s survival compared to only three. “Anything beyond three months has an impact,” Patrick Soon-Shiong, Immunitybio’s CEO and Nantkwest’s executive chairman, told BioWorld, with understatement about one of the toughest to manage indications in medicine.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Alexion, Ampio, Atyr, Bicycle, Knopp, Kyorin, Mirum, Nantkwest, Organogenesis, United, Verona.
CAJICA, Colombia – Authorities in Brazil released new efficacy data for Sinovac Biotech Ltd.'s COVID-19 vaccine Coronavac that surprised on the downside, suggesting the vaccine could be much less effective than initially indicated for preventing symptomatic infections.
Shares of Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) leapt 11.7% to $185.94, their second biggest gain since 2010, after a phase II trial showed its beta-amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibody, donanemab, appeared to slow by 32% decline in a composite measure of cognition and daily function in patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease vs. placebo.
CAJICA, Colombia – A phase III trial for an HIV vaccine developed Janssen Vaccines & Prevention BV is finally moving forward in Latin America and elsewhere in the world after a delay of more than a year caused by slow regulatory progress and worsened by a string of COVID-19 lockdowns.
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