Transcenta Holding Ltd. has received IND clearance from the FDA for TST-003, its first-in-class, high-affinity, humanized monoclonal antibody targeting gremlin-1.

Rubius Therapeutics Inc. is taking a giant step back so that it can attempt taking a few steps forward. The company said it’s restructuring to focus on taking its Rubius Erythrocyte Design (RED) cell therapeutics platform from what it considers a good thing and turn it into a better one. Rubius engineers red blood cells to become cancer fighters but a lack of progress and the lure of similar but new technology could lead to bigger and better results.

Genexine Co. Ltd.’s DNA vaccine, GX-188E, showed potential in extending overall survival in patients with advanced cervical cancer in a phase II study when given in combination with Merck & Co. Inc.’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab). The Seoul, Korea-based company analyzed 60 patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 or HPV-18-positive advanced cervical cancer who had progressed after standard-of-care therapy.

Volastra Therapeutics Inc. has announced new data from its lead program, a KIF18A inhibitor, validating its therapeutic approach of synthetic lethality to induce tumor cell death.