The world’s biggest cancer-focused conference began June 3 as more than 40,000 attendees are expected at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) annual gathering. The conference is being held in live in Chicago and is also available virtually. Among the more than 2,500 abstract presentations in about 120 subject subcategories are potential breakthroughs in treating non-small-cell lung cancer from Immutep Ltd., Cullinan Oncology Inc. and Surface Oncology Inc. Each company has seen upticks in their stock value, some as much as 10%, during the week as the conference approached and their data are presented.
In one of the year’s biggest deals, Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (BMS) is buying Turning Point Therapeutics Inc. for about $4.1 billion to get at a potential cancer blockbuster, repotrectinib. The oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Turning Point’s lead asset, targets ROS1 and TRK in treating ROS1-positive metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. Once the deal closes, BMS’ acquisition of Turning Point would be the second largest of the year. The biggest remains Pfizer Inc.’s purchase of San Diego’s Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. for $6.7 billion in March.
New and updated preclinical and clinical data to be presented by biopharma firms at American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, including: Epizyme, Intensity, Mereo, Transcenta.
A new $1.33 billion oncology deal between Roche Holding AG and Repare Therapeutics Inc. is poised to give the Swiss multinational access to what it hopes will be a best-in-class program targeting DNA damage repair for the treatment of solid tumors. The global licensing agreement, for Repare's midstage camonsertib, gives Roche entrée to a developing race to lead the class alongside other big players, such as Merck KGaA, Bayer AG and Astrazeneca plc.
Suzhou, China-based Cstone Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has begun trading again on the Hong Kong exchange (HKEX:02616) after trading was halted on April 1 following investigations over questionable investments during the company’s year-end audit for 2021.
New and updated preclinical and clinical data to be presented by biopharma firms at American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, including: Alkermes, Antengene, AVM, Harbour, Iterion, Jubilant, Lava, Lindis, Polypid, Seres, Sorrento.
I-Mab Biopharma Co. Ltd. chief medical officer John Hayslip said the firm is “moving forward at our best speed” in tandem with partner Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co. Ltd. to produce a diagnostic test that could be used in further clinical work with anti-CD73 antibody uliledlimab, for which results from an ongoing phase II trial were disclosed May 26.
When he first stepped into the field of glycoproteomics, particularly the potential of truncated O-glycans as cancer targets, Constantine Theodoropulos, CEO of Go Therapeutics Inc., said the reaction from peers was less than encouraging. “They said, ‘You’re nuts, it’s too complicated.’” Now, however, the company he co-founded has landed a deal with Astellas Pharma Inc.’s immuno-oncology-focused subsidiary, Xyphos Biosciences Inc., that brings $20.5 million up front, with the potential for up to $763 million in milestone and contingency payments down the road.
New and updated preclinical and clinical data to be presented by biopharma firms at American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, including: Cullinan, Enlivex, Gritstone, Inxmed.
China has granted a green light for Glaxosmithkline plc’s human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Cervarix, for girls ages 9 to 14. The HPV bivalent vaccine is used against types 16 and 18 in a two-dose course to prevent cervical cancer. It’s the first imported two-dose HPV vaccine for the age group to be approved in China, the company said. A three-dose schedule of Cervarix won Chinese approval in July 2016 for girls and women ages 9 to 25. To date, the two-dose regimen has been approved in about 100 global markets.
RSS
