Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is overexpressed in the hypoxic tumor environment and is thought to help drive tumor progression and metastasis by generating protons that acidify the area. Therefore, inhibiting the enzyme may be effective as an anticancer treatment.

The U.S. FDA named the first nine recipients of the recently unveiled commissioner’s national priority voucher (CNPV) program aimed at addressing unmet public health needs by shortening regulatory review times to as little as one to two months. For one of those firms, Disc Medicine Inc., which submitted an NDA for bitopertin for rare genetic disorder erythropoietic protoporphyria in September, that could mean a potential approval before the end of 2025.

A year and half from its inception, Adcytherix SAS has raised a €105 million (US$122 million) series A, enabling it to take the lead antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) program into clinical development next year.

Endometrial cancer is the most prevalent gynecological malignancy in high-income countries, and the discovery of new biomarkers may aid in earlier detection and improve the prognosis of patients.

Writing in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, researchers from Shenzhen University Medical School and collaborating institutions report the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of quinoline-based hydroxamic acid derivatives as dual DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors.

Two enzymes from the protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) family enable prostate cancer cells to grow, survive, and resist treatment. This discovery, however, could be taken as an advantage to improve therapy for this type of tumor. Blocking the function of PDIA1 and PDIA5 leads to cancer cell death and a reduction in tumor size.

Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) specialist Aimedbio Inc. announced Oct. 16 the signing of a potential $991 million deal with Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH to license out its novel preclinical ADC asset targeting solid tumors, including KRAS mutations, which is set to enter phase I study next year.