The BioWorld Cancer Index (BCI) took a hit in September, ending the month down 11.52%, a notable slide from its 3.94% decline at the end of July and 9.63% drop by the end of August. The BCI’s performance starkly contrasts with the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index, which jumped 9.09%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s 12.31% gain over the same nine-month period. This marks a stark reversal for the BCI, which had a standout year in 2023, closing with a 76.26% gain.
Evolveimmune Therapeutics Inc. has secured its fourth big pharma investor and its first pharma development partnership in a deal with Abbvie Inc. The multitarget development deal with North Chicago-based Abbvie includes $65 million now, combined between an up-front payment and an equity investment. Branford, Conn.-based Evolveimmune is also eligible for up to $1.4 million in aggregate option fees and milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on sales of products that are optioned by Abbvie.
Biosplice Therapeutics Inc. has discovered dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers from Mariana Oncology Inc. reported preclinical data on MC-339, a DLL3-targeting macrocyclic peptide in several tumor models. Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) is overexpressed on the cell surface of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) and metastatic melanoma.
Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors are commonly used in the treatment of hematological cancers. However, approximately 67% of patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) develop resistance to acalabrutinib and ibrutinib due to mutations in BTK, initially most often C481S.
Hepatoblastoma is the most common pediatric liver cancer and has limited therapeutic options, with platin-based therapy showing severe side effects. WNTinib is a kinase inhibitor with specificity for β-catenin (CTNNB1)-mutated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is a therapeutic approach that shows promise for treating hepatoblastoma.
Methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A), the rate-limiting enzyme in the methionine cycle, catalyzes the formation of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) from methionine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Backed by AI technology, Aigen Sciences Inc. raised ₩12 billion (US$8.8 million) in a series A financing round to further advance its cancer and rare disease drug pipelines. Aigen said Oct. 16 that the series A round was joined by existing investors Partners Investment, Quad Investment Management and Medytox Venture Investment, as well new investors Premier Partners, K2 Investment Partners and Scale Up Partners.
Shanghai Huilun Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has synthesized proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase binding moiety coupled to an interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK-4) targeting moiety through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, neurodegeneration, infections, autoimmune disorders, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular disorders, genetic diseases and inflammatory disorders, among others.
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