At the recently concluded Digestive Disease Week, researchers from Kymera Therapeutics Inc. presented preclinical efficacy data on KT-579, a selective oral IRF5 degrader, in models of IBD.
Tumors with strong immunosuppressive microenvironments such as microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) remain unresponsive to immune checkpoint blockade therapy, with <20% of gastrointestinal tumors responding to therapy.
Researchers from Flare Therapeutics Inc. presented the preclinical profile of FX-111, a selective active androgen receptor (ARON) degrader, in models of prostate cancer.
Hypersialylation in tumor cells is a potent mechanism of tumor immune evasion, pushing cancer progression by suppressing both innate and adaptive antitumor immunity. Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. has developed an engineered human sialidase enzyme fused to an anti-B7-H3 nanobody, named E-688 or HLX-316, that improves tumor desialylation, durability and efficacy both in vitro and in vivo, while maintaining a safe profile.
Ly6E is a cell‑surface protein involved in tumor growth and immune evasion that is overexpressed across multiple solid tumor types, with limited expression in normal tissues. At AACR, researchers from Merck KGaA presented the preclinical characterization of M-7437, an anti-Ly6E ADC with a topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) inhibitor payload.
Shanghai Ailux Biotechnology Co. Ltd. and Ailux Inc. have presented preclinical data regarding the characterization of ALX-006, a 2+2 symmetric IgG1 PD‑1×VEGF bispecific antibody developed and designed for dual PD‑L1 and VEGF blockade as a cancer immunotherapeutic.
Activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in immune cells enhances anti-inflammatory pathways and limits pathogenic immune responses. Equillium Inc. has recently presented data for their AhR agonist EQ-504 for the potential treatment of immune-related diseases.
The combination of impaired epithelial barrier function, mucosal inflammation and elevated oxidative stress is determinant for the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is an important transcription factor for modulating antioxidant defenses, inhibiting inflammatory pathways and regenerating the epithelial barrier. Montai Therapeutics Inc. has developed a potent and selective NRF2 agonist compound, MTAI-1025, for the management of UC using its proprietary CONECTA platform.
T-cell engagers (TCEs) drive synthetic antitumor immunity by bypassing endogenous T-cell priming and directly inducing tumor cell killing. In prostate cancer, targeting prostate-restricted antigens such as STEAP2, combined with CD8-guided TCE formats that favor cytotoxic T-cell engagement, offers a strategy to reduce cytokine release while maintaining antitumor activity.