Japan’s investor community is ramping up both inbound and outbound investment to create a cross-border fertile hub of innovation in Japan, investors said during a panel discussion at Bio Japan 2025 held in Yokohama Oct. 8 to 10.

Astellas Pharma Inc. reported Oct. 14 that its CLDN18.2-targeting monoclonal antibody, zolbetuximab (Vyloy), did not meet the primary endpoint of overall survival in the phase II Gleam trial of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

The importance of scalability, combination therapies, immunotherapies and speed in developing cancer drugs are paramount in creating a revolution in treating patients who often don’t have much hope, according to a panel of developers who spoke at the BioFuture conference in New York.

Tubulin inhibitors by themselves can limit tumor growth, and they can be particularly effective when conjugated to monoclonal antibodies that target them to tumors. Two such conjugates, trastuzumab emtansine and brentuximab vedotin, have been approved by the FDA. However, many cancers can develop resistance to such inhibitors, highlighting the need for next-generation compounds.

Recent evidence suggests the gastrin/cholecystokinin-2 receptor (CCK2R) is a potential target for radiolabeled theranostics in cancer, but the stability of minigastrin analogues remains unresolved. Researchers from the National University of Singapore aimed to develop a peptide with improved tumor uptake and prolonged retention in CCK2R+ cancers.