After a shaky start to the year, Autolus Therapeutics plc has revived its fortunes, with Blackstone Life Sciences investing up to $250 million to fund its CAR T-cell technology and lead product targeting acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Marengo Therapeutics Inc. is opening up a new front in the war on cancer by selectively deploying a tumor-infiltrating subpopulation of T cells, which can be activated by a newly identified, antibody-based mechanism. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company is taking forward a scientific concept that has been germinating for several years at founding investor and company creator ATP, which has now launched the firm with an $80 million series A round. Marengo is gearing up for a first clinical trial in 2022. “It’s a new chapter in T-cell biology,” CEO Zhen Su told BioWorld.

An international study led by U.S. oncologists at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has successfully used a new antibody discovery platform developed by Myrio Therapeutics of Melbourne, Australia, to help identify and target key drivers of neuroblastoma in mouse models, the authors reported in the November 3, 2021, issue of Nature.

PERTH, Australia – Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.’s lead prostate cancer imaging agent, Illuccix. Illuccix (TLX591-CDx) is a Gallium-based PSMA imaging agent and cold kit for developing radiopharmaceutical products and diagnostic agents. Telix’s prostate cancer program consists of a companion diagnostic imaging agent (TLX591-CDx) and a therapeutic (TLX-591) to improve the detection and treatment of prostate cancer.

Calithera Biosciences Inc.’s stock took a severe beating Nov. 5 as shares closed 54.5% downward due to the company’s phase II stumble of telaglenastat in treating non-small-cell lung cancer. It was the therapy’s second clinical failure in the past 12 months.