Researchers from Uppsala University published data from a study that aimed to reveal and validate cancer vulnerabilities to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). A human Tumor-Immune co-Culture System (TICS), which consisted of primary human lymphocytes from healthy blood donors co-cultured with human cancer cells, was optimized to perform mechanistic investigation of clinically approved ICB drugs.
As South Korea’s Curocell Inc. looks to develop the country’s first homegrown CAR T-cell therapy, CEO Gunsoo Kim highlighted rising and falling trends in the global CAR T development space at Bio Korea 2024.
The radiopharmaceutical revolution rolls on as Eli Lilly and Co. builds on its prowess in the space with a deal that could bring Aktis Oncology Inc. $1.1 billion. The two plan to develop radiopharmaceuticals targeting cancer. Privately held Aktis also is getting $60 million in cash up front along with an equity investment. The big money would come from preclinical, clinical, regulatory, commercial milestones and tiered royalties. Lilly will select the targets.
Zai Lab Ltd., of Shanghai and Cambridge, Mass., has been on a regulatory roll in China, gaining approval of Bristol Myers Squibb Co.’s Augtyro (repotrectinib) for lung cancer on May 12 and NMPA acceptance of subcutaneous Vyvgart‘s (efgartigimod alfa SC) supplemental BLA with priority review on May 14.
South Korea’s HLB Co. Ltd. saw its stock (KOSDAQ:028300) drop nearly 30% on May 17 as CEO Jin Yang-gon announced the U.S. FDA’s complete response letter (CRL) to its NDA seeking approval of its rivoceranib and camrelizumab (Airtuika, Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.) combo for liver cancer.
To strengthen its cancer pipeline, South Korea’s Dong-A ST Co. Ltd. made a strategic investment of ₩25 billion (US$18.45 million) in Seocho-gu, Seoul-based Idience Co. Ltd., a cancer-focused subsidiary of Ildong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. on May 20.
Shaking up corporate and pipeline structure, San Diego-based cancer developer Erasca Inc. in-licensed two assets from China-based biopharmas in all-cash deals, while laying off 18% of its workforce, primarily in drug discovery. The flurry of announcements made on May 16, which included $160 million raised in private placement, showed that Erasca would scrap three existing pipeline assets – ERAS-007, ERAS-801 and ERAS-4 – and reshape development to a RAS-targeting franchise.
Liquid biopsy typically means blood testing, but several companies presenting at Biomed Israel May 21-23 have developed diagnostics that look to other, even less invasive options, and ever broader applications. Nevia Bio Ltd. is using vaginal secretions to detect ovarian cancer, while Early OM Ltd. and Nucleix Ltd. analyze urine for cancer biomarkers.
Shanghai Leadingtac Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has divulged proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin ligase binding moiety covalently linked to a GTPase KRAS (G12D mutant) targeting moiety reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
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