Naya Therapeutics Inc. is expanding its hepatocellular carcinoma pipeline with the addition of NY-700, a first-in-class GPC3-targeted Astatine-211 (211At) α radioimmunotherapy aiming to address residual disease, micro-metastasis and post-immunotherapy failures.
Sunrock Biopharma SL and Shanghai Escugen Biotechnology Co. Ltd. have joined forces in a strategic partnership to codevelop SRB-123, a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting C-C motif chemokine receptor 9 (CCR9), a tumor-associated antigen overexpressed in multiple solid tumors, including pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancer.
Among the presentations included in the Top Abstracts category at the recently inaugurated Annual Congress of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) in Lisbon, it is worth highlighting two that respectively addressed the role of cytokines and lipid-sensing receptors as key modulators of the tumor microenvironment, a central theme in current cancer research.
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. announced June 13 that it struck a potential $5.33 billion deal with Astrazeneca plc to develop novel preclinical small-molecule candidates using CSPC’s AI-driven drug development platform.
Cullinan Therapeutics Inc. swept up ex-China rights to a multiple myeloma (MM)-targeting BCMAxCD3 bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) velinotamig from Chongqing Genrix Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. via a potential $712 million deal June 4. The plan is to repurpose the cancer drug to autoimmune disease.
3Sbio Inc. reported interim phase II study results of its PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, SSGJ-707 – a “fabulous” asset, according to Pfizer Inc. CEO Albert Bourla, that landed in Pfizer’s cancer arsenal via a potential $6 billion deal in May, of which $1.2 billion was paid up front.
Four biotech companies from South Korea announced new or planned financings mid-June, including GC Genome Corp. Rznomics Inc., G2Gbio Inc. and Mezzion Pharma Co. Ltd. Six major mid-June deals included R&D pacts between Y-Biologics Inc. and Crosspoint Therapeutics, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Salipro Biotech AB, Next & Bio Inc. and GC Cell Corp., Galux Inc. and Hanall Biopharma Co. Ltd., Celltrion Inc. and Onconic Therapeutics Inc., and SK Plasma Co. Ltd. and Aimedbio Inc.
Shares of Nextcure Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTC) dropped 26.27% on news of a potential $745 million partnership with Simcere Zaiming for Simcere’s cadherin-6 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate. Shares ended at 50 cents apiece June 16.
Ariel Scientific Innovations Ltd. has identified dolastatin 10 analogues and its conjugates comprising another functional moiety and a linking moiety reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.