Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) is implicated in both transcription and cellular response to environmental stress signals. Due to its association with the complex that sustains cell proliferation and viability, and its role in cancer cell stress response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, CDK8 is considered a target to watch in cancer therapy.
Research at Iteos Belgium SA has led to the discovery of macrocyclic compounds acting as equilibrative nucleoside transporter ENT1 inhibitors and reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
GSK plc and Ideaya Biosciences Inc. have jointly developed cyclic vinyl sulfone compounds acting as Werner syndrome ATP-dependent helicase (WRN; RECQ3; RECQL2) inhibitors that are reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Generate Biomedicines Inc. and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have established a strategic collaboration to jointly discover and codevelop protein therapeutics for up to five oncology targets in advanced cancers, including small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancer.
Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4 and CDK6) are validated targets for the treatment of ER+/HER2- breast cancer, but resistance to therapy is still a problem in these patients, with >20% of them developing intrinsic resistance and up to 70% developing acquired resistance within 3 years.
The U.S. FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee meets April 28 to discuss the future of Astrazeneca plc and Merck & Co. Inc.’s supplemental NDA for Lynparza (olaparib) for an expanded label to treat prostate cancer. It has a few bones to pick. The FDA said it is concerned that the efficacy and safety have not been demonstrated outside of the small population of patients with tumor BRCA mutations and that the addition of olaparib to abiraterone may cause harm in patients who are definitively negative for tumor BRCA mutations.
Research at Incyte Corp. has led to the development of pyrazoloquinoline derivatives acting as GTPase KRAS (G12C mutant) inhibitors and reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, inflammatory and immunological disorders.
Interleukin-13 (IL-13) receptor subunit α2 (IL13RA2), one of the two major receptors for IL-13 is overexpressed in glioblastoma multiforme and other solid tumors and is correlated with poor prognosis.