Lift Biosciences Ltd. has reported a substantially marked increase in cancer killing with the attachment of HER2 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to its immunomodulatory alpha neutrophil (IMAN) cell therapy, using the company’s second-generation N-Lift (neutrophil only leukocyte infusion therapy) platform. Positive data support the potential of the In-Lift platform to produce a variety of genetically engineered CAR-IMANs to enhance killing and more targeted immunomodulation for different tumor targets.
To identify candidate therapeutic targets for cancers with SF3B1 hotspot mutations, drug-sensitivity screening of an in-house library of 80 small-molecule inhibitors resulted in the identification of a series of candidate SF3B1 mutant (SF3B1[MUT]) synthetic lethal drugs that led to significant reduction of survival in SF3B1(K700E) cells.
One of the main causes of cervical cancer is persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, with E6 and E7 being the main oncogenic genes of HPV3. For this reason, targeting HPV proteins E6 and E7 is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this disease.
Aravive Inc.’s sole asset missed a phase III primary endpoint in ovarian cancer but the company still has studies planned for treating renal cell carcinoma and pancreatic cancer. Aravive’s stock (NASDAQ:ARAV) dwindled dramatically on Aug. 3, with shares closing 77.2% lower at 28 cents each. That’s a massive drop from heights seen in the past 12 months, as shares hit $2.46 each in March 2023 and $2.09 each in November 2022. The company plans to study the data and make a decision about whether to proceed with the other studies.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc. and Theras Inc. have jointly patented GTPase KRAS (G12C mutant) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Beijing Scitech-MQ Pharmaceuticals Ltd. described receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
China Pharmaceutical University and Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have patented benzimidazole compounds acting as ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 1 (ENPP1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, infections, autoimmune disease and inflammatory disorders.
Researchers from Interius Biotherapeutics Inc. presented the development and preclinical evaluation of a novel gene therapy candidate, INT-2104, as potential candidate for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.
“From such a stick, such a splinter,” is a popular Spanish saying to explain how a son resembles his father. Like father, like son. The first Spotlight on Immuno-Oncology conference of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) is the splinter of the ASGCT annual meeting, which brought together a group of experts in this field. It took place on Aug. 1 and 2, 2023, starting with a series of talks on “B Cell Malignancies and Beyond.”
Precision medicine startup Solu Therapeutics has raised $31 million in an oversubscribed seed round to advance a therapeutic candidate based on technology that identifies cell surface, tumor-associated targets that antibodies alone fail to latch onto. The company was founded by venture capital firm Longwood Fund and has high hopes for its cytotoxicity targeting chimera platform. “[It] has the potential to unlock new tumor-associated antigens and develop molecules that deplete pathogenic immune cells and extend the half-life of small-molecule antagonists and agonists,” CEO and co-founder of Solu, David Donabedian, told BioWorld.