Skyhawk Therapeutics Inc. has cut a deal with Sanofi SA to discover and develop small molecules to treat targets in oncology and immunology, adding to its lengthy list of partnerships.
So near and yet so far for Nordic Nanovector ASA, which has ditched the phase IIb trial of its lead product, Betalutin, just short of completing recruitment, after an independent review cast doubts on the level of efficacy previously reported for the targeted radiopharmaceutical.
Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is progressing three of its targeted copper theranostics through the clinic that are based on its sarcophagine technology that securely holds copper isotopes inside a cage-like structure, called a chelator. The SAR technology allows a unique pairing of copper isotopes, copper-64 and copper-67, for both cancer diagnosis and therapy.
The Hail Mary pass by Syros Pharmaceuticals Inc. – shares of which have dwindled severely since Jan. 3 – foreseen by some on Wall Street, came in the form of a $130 million financing and the merger with Tyme Technologies Inc., bringing in-house pipeline assets as well as net cash in a deal that, after accounting for wind-down and transaction expenses, is worth about $60 million.
To build on its hematology pipeline in treating blood cancers, Astrazeneca plc is acquiring Teneotwo Inc. in a deal that could reach $1.27 billion. Teneotwo is part of Ancora Biotech LLC, which has some other affiliate Tens in the stable, including Teneofour Inc. That company is developing TNB-738, an anti-CD38 enzyme inhibitor. Teneoten Inc. is developing an anti-HBV/CD3 therapy. Both are available for partnering or sale, Ben Buelow, Ancora co-founder, told BioWorld. He co-founded the company with this father, Roland.
Akeso Inc. has been given the green light by China’s NMPA for its PD-1/CTLA-4 antibody Kaitanni (cadonilimab), which was approved for the treatment of patients with relapsed or metastatic cervical cancer whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.
As an ever-increasing share of companies seek signs of efficacy for investigational drugs in early stage studies, single-arm trials to confirm those effects and support marketing applications are also becoming more common. Now, China’s Center for Drug Evaluation has released draft guidelines on how single-arm trials can be regulated, used to support the new drug application for cancer drugs, and accelerate oncology drug development.
Genmab A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, said it intends to file a BLA with the U.S. FDA for its subcutaneous bispecific antibody epcoritamab, for patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma in the second half of 2022.
Researchers at the Institute for Cancer Research have demonstrated that in pancreatic tumors, the balance between a more aggressive mesenchymal and a less aggressive epithelial state is constantly in flux, depending on an interplay of different regulatory proteins.
Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. has inked a deal to acquire greater China rights for two cancer-focused bifunctional sialidase programs from Palleon Pharmaceuticals Inc. In return, Palleon will receive an unspecified up-front payment and is eligible for up to $196.5 million in milestone payments.