Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) develops in the epithelial lining of the oral cavity, hypopharynx, oropharynx or larynx. The standard treatment includes platinum-based and taxane-based chemotherapy that causes both drug resistance and negative side effects.For that reason, there is a need to explore new low-toxicity options for HNSCC treatment.
Precision oncology startup Prana Thoracic Inc. closed a $3 million series A financing round aimed at advancing its minimally invasive lung tissue excision device for early treatment of lung cancer. The series A funds and a prior $3 million award from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas are earmarked for product development and to support first-in-human clinical studies.
Zhejiang Medicine Co. Ltd.’s subsidiary, Novocodex Biopharmaceuticals Inc., reported positive phase III study results for its humanized anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody-drug conjugate, ARX-788, in the treatment of patients with HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in China.
Top-line results of a phase II study of RXC-004, a porcupine inhibitor for treating certain Wnt ligand-dependent cancers, are not good enough to continue development as a monotherapy for biliary tract cancer, according to Redx Pharma plc. Despite the monotherapy arm not hitting progression-free survival at six months, the Porcupine2 study continues with its other treatment arm, this one using Keytruda (pembrolizumab, Merck & Co. Inc.). Data from that arm are set to come in the second half of 2023.
Researchers from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and collaborators recently conducted a study investigating the regulation of immune checkpoint molecules in cancer. Analyzing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas pan-cancer cohort (over 10,000 patients and 11,000 samples across 34 different cancer subtypes), they found that high expression of the immune checkpoint B7-H3 (CD276) and high mTORC1 activity correlate with immunosuppressive phenotypes and worse clinical outcomes.
Oricell Therapeutics Co. Ltd. raised $45 million in a series B1 round to expand in the U.S. market. RTW Investments LP and the Qatar Investment Authority led the financing, which followed the completion of a $125 million series B round in July 2022. Shanghai-based Oricell plans to use the new funds to support the clinical development of its lead candidates, including Oricar-017, in the U.S.
Abbisko Therapeutics Co. Ltd. and Allist Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. signed an exclusive licensing deal that gives Allist rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize Abbisko’s ABK-3376, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor for $188 million plus royalties.
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