Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype affecting 15%-20% of breast cancer patients. TNBC patients harboring breast cancer susceptibility gene 1/2 (BRCA1/2) mutations have shown improved therapeutic response to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi).

T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies (TCEs) are engineered molecules designed to bring cytotoxic T cells into proximity with tumor cells, triggering a targeted, antigen-dependent immune attack. However, TCE may activate T cells in healthy tissues, leading to off-tumor toxicity.

G1 to S phase transition 1 (GSPT1) is a protein involved in cell cycle progression, translation termination, and protein homeostasis, and its overexpression has been implicated in various cancers. Although GSPT1 is considered a promising therapeutic target, the lack of conventional ligand-binding pockets has historically rendered it undruggable.

IL-2 is clinically validated as an immunotherapeutic, but its use is limited by toxicity issues. AZD-6750 is an approach from Astrazeneca plc that applies cis-guiding to deliver a modified IL-2 mutein to CD8+ T cells.

Treatment in glioblastoma usually fails due to tumor heterogeneity and persistence of glioblastoma multiforme stem-like cells (GSCs) within the tumor margin. Researchers from Trogenix Ltd. engineered TGX-007, an AAV1-mediated therapeutic that delivers both cytotoxic and immunomodulatory genetic payloads to the tumor.

Nuage Therapeutics SL has secured €2.7 million (US$3.1 million) in funding from the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities that will support a research project focused on developing a new drug against the most common subtype of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC-A), in collaboration with the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), and the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO).

HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have significantly improved cancer therapy in recent decades. However, ADCs can cause toxicity and resistance, while T-cell engagers (TCEs) show promising antitumor activity in solid tumors but are limited by substantial adverse effects.

Allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy offers several advantages over an individualized autologous CAR T approach, thanks to the use of readily available, higher quality and quantity of starting donor T cells and the potential to generate multiple doses from a single manufacturing process.