Small molecules that induce iron-dependent oxidative cell death known as ferroptosis can be effective against tumors that are resistant to other therapies. Several such molecules, such as RSL3, work by inhibiting glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), an enzyme that mitigates oxidative stress and on which metastatic cancer cells depend in order to undergo the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
Focused on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), Neok Bio Inc. made a moderate splash by emerging from stealth mode in November with a $75 million series A financing led by Abl Bio Inc. – and one aspect of its drug development is gaining momentum in various other quarters, including big pharma.
Daiichi Sankyo Inc. told BioWorld it voluntarily placed a partial hold in recruitment and enrollment in the phase III IDeate-Lung02 study of antibody-drug conjugate ifinatamab deruxtecan because of a higher than anticipated incidence of grade 5 interstitial lung disease events. The company did not say how many deaths there had been.
Ehrlich Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has described antibody-drug conjugates comprising an antibody targeting EGFR (HER1; erbB1) covalently linked to a camptothecin derivative through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has disclosed RAC-α serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1; PKB α) (Glu17Lys mutant) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of leukemia.
Amira Therapeutics SL has announced new preclinical findings for its lead compound AMI-463, which is being developed primarily for rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. AMI-463 is a first-in-class inhibitor that blocks the cell adhesion molecule (CAM)-related down-regulated by oncogenes (CDON).
Cartography Biosciences Inc. has received IND approval from the FDA for CBI-1214, a T-cell engager being developed for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Researchers from Chimerix, now part of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, presented preclinical data on ONC-206, a compound that functions as both an agonist of the mitochondrial protease Caseinolytic peptidase P (CLPP) and an antagonist of the G protein-coupled receptor DRD2, in models of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Werewolf Therapeutics Inc. has announced that its priorities for the coming year include a focus on the company’s Inducer T-cell engager platform, where preclinical studies have demonstrated robust silencing and reduction of off-tumor toxicity.