Clarivate plc has unveiled the 2025 Citation Laureates. Widely considered a predictor of the Nobel Prizes, this recognition has highlighted the discovery of biomolecular condensates in chemistry and the innate immunity signaling pathway in physiology or medicine, as well as the identification of leukemia stem cells and ghrelin, the so-called hunger hormone.
Antengene Corp. Ltd. and Antengene Discovery Ltd. have divulged phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, mitochondrial (PHGPx; GPX4) inhibitors acting as ferroptosis inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Jiangsu Synthgene Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has synthesized platinum complexes acting as radiosensitizers reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Voronoi Inc. has disclosed heteroaryl compounds acting as Myt1 kinase (PKMYT1) and/or Wee1-like protein kinase (Wee1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Biolinerx Ltd. and Hemispherian AS have established a joint venture (JV) to develop GLIX-1, Hemispherian’s lead drug candidate being developed as a potential treatment for newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma.
Two independent studies applied CRISPR-based genetic editing – one to treat leukemia and the other to target myeloma – to overcome the challenges faced by CAR T cells, such as exhaustion, impaired activation and fratricide, a phenomenon in which they attack each other.
Genmab A/S is paying $8 billion to acquire Merus NV, gaining rights to the latter’s phase III-stage petosemtamab, a bispecific antibody initially in development for head and neck cancer, and continuing the firm’s strategy to transition from a royalty-based operation to a fully integrated biopharma.
In cancer, Cdc37 is phosphorylated by casein kinase 2 (CK2) and then the phosphoprotein binds to various kinase ‘clients’ and to the chaperone Hsp90. Hsp90 facilitates the folding of the clients into fully active forms to drive the cell cycle. The plant-derived quinine methid triterpenoid celastrol can inhibit the interaction between Hsp90 and Cdc37 and thereby slow cancer growth by arresting the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis. However, researchers at China Pharmaceutical University China wanted to inhibit the ‘Hsp90-Cdc37-kinase’ cycle at multiple points simultaneously for greater therapeutic effect.
Checkpoint inhibitors have transformed cancer therapy by enhancing immune responses against tumors. However, their effectiveness is limited, as many patients do not respond due to the absence of a pre-existing immunity against the cancer cells. Addressing this gap requires new immunotherapies that can promote cancer-cell antigen recognition and engage multiple immune pathways to effectively reprogram the tumor microenvironment and stimulate a robust antitumor response.
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