Zai Lab Ltd. has shared positive top-line data from its phase III study for PARP inhibitor Zejula (niraparib) in the treatment of newly diagnosed ovarian cancer following a response to platinum-based chemotherapy. The study, called Prime, involved 384 advanced ovarian cancer patients in China and met its primary endpoint.
Jiangsu Atom Bioscience and Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., a company developing an oral a urate anion exchanger 1 inhibitor for the potential treatment of chronic gout, said results of a phase IIa trial show that its lead candidate, ABP-671, reduced serum uric acid levels to less than 6 mg/dL, below the clinically defined threshold of 7 mg/dL for hyperuricemia, or excess of uric acid in the blood, which leads to gout.
SK Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.'s three-pronged plan for tackling epilepsy is going strong, with lead drug cenobamate for drug-resistant focal-onset seizures nearing the finish line, and earlier-stage programs for a mRNA-based approach and a digital therapeutic in the works.
Though conceptually understood for decades, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) haven’t begun to come into their own until recently, but oncology drug developers continue to wrestle with challenges, large among them the problem of antigen selection. Lately, companies including names such as Adagene Inc., Bioatla Inc. and Cytomx Therapeutics Inc., have taken particular interest in exploiting features of the cancer growth itself to add more oomph, with focus on special features of the tumor microenvironment (TME).
Medtronic plc reported its tibial neuromodulation device was implanted in the first patient with overactive bladder as part of its Titan 2 pivotal study. The device stimulates the posterior tibial nerve near the ankle to assist in regulation of bladder function. Medtronic expects to enroll 130 patients in the study.
Following another failure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Biogen Inc. will discontinue its development of antisense oligonucleotide BIIB-078 with partner Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. The stumble is part of a mega-collaboration the two companies began 10 years ago that has also yielded a lot of success, including the blockbuster Spinraza (nusinersen).
Pavmed Inc. implanted its Portio system in three patients in a first-in-human (FIH) study of its intraosseous infusion system and successfully infused fluids in all patients without complications. The Portio system allows long-term direct access to bone marrow for delivery of fluids, medications and other substances in individuals with poor venous access, kidney dialysis or adverse reactions to anticoagulants.
Top-line interim phase I/II data from Icosavax Inc.’s virus-like particle COVID-19 vaccine fell short of company and market expectations. IVX-411, which displays the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain, was found to be immunogenic and well-tolerated, but the level of immune response was lower than anticipated and inconsistent with data on Icosavax’s platform and its preclinical results.
The beleaguered PI3K-delta inhibitor space took another blow after MEI Pharma Inc. and partner Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. said the U.S. FDA won’t greenlight zandelisib without data from a randomized study. The firms had hoped to win accelerated approval in relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma based on a single-arm phase II study called Tidal.
Jiangsu Atom Bioscience and Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., a company developing an oral a urate anion exchanger 1 inhibitor for the potential treatment of chronic gout, said results of a phase IIa trial show that its lead candidate, ABP-671, reduced serum uric acid levels to less than 6 mg/dL, below the clinically defined threshold of 7 mg/dL for hyperuricemia, or excess of uric acid in the blood, which leads to gout.