Astrazeneca has identified anthracycline compounds and antibody-drug conjugates consisting of an antibody covalently bound to anthracycline derivatives reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Merck KGaA has patented substituted bicyclic transcriptional coactivator YAP1/transcriptional enhancer factor (TEAD) and/or TAZ/TED interaction inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Previous research revealed that nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFAT1) is a novel regulator of the mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) oncogene, which acts by directly binding to the MDM2 P2 promoter and as such, enhancing MDM2 transcription independent of p53. Researchers from the University of Houston and Baylor College of Medicine presented preclinical data for MA-242, a dual inhibitor of MDM2 and NFAT1, being developed for the treatment of cancer.
Researchers from Captor Therapeutics Inc. presented the preclinical characterization of CT-01, a first-in-class GSPT-1 targeted degrader under investigation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Silexion Therapeutics Corp. has completed its initial study evaluating SIL-204 in orthotopic pancreatic cancer models. SIL-204 is a next-generation siRNA candidate designed to target a broad range of KRAS mutations.
Patients with metastatic or unresectable gastric cancer are usually given 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and platinum-based chemotherapy, but patients with advance disease usually have a poor prognosis. The use of chemotherapy increased the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 in tumor cells, which in turn increase the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the tumor microenvironment. When PGE2 binds to their receptors EP1 to EP4 on immune cells, it triggers an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The use of the EP2 and EP4 dual antagonist OCT-598 was tested in the preclinical setting for gastric cancer.
In general, tumor cells embody the idea of “the survival of the fittest” gone out of control. Tumor cells outcompete their normal brethren with their uncontrolled growth; and the inside of a tumor is a fiercely competitive environment where over time, the most aggressive clones take over. But research published online in Nature on Feb. 19, 2025, has discovered that cancer cells cooperate as well as compete.
Several Asia biotechs this week – including Innocare Pharma Ltd., Akeso Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sanbio Co. Ltd. and Ascletis Pharma Inc. – unveiled the start of new late-stage clinical trials or interim findings from early stage studies.
Radiance Biopharma Inc. bought its way into the ROR1 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) space through a potential $1 billion-plus licensing deal, including a $15 million up-front payment, with CSPC Megalith Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. for rights to RB-164 (SYS-6005) in the U.S. and select countries.
Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown noticeable clinical benefits, tumor evasion of single-agent immunotherapy occurs in some patients due to the compensatory role of alternative immune checkpoints. A viable strategy could be the use of combination immunotherapies targeting multiple immunosuppressive pathways to fully activate T cells and enhance response rates.
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