Speed and innovation from Asia Pacific’s (APAC) biotechnology sector had big pharma scouring the region for the next oncology heir to Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Merck & Co. Inc.’s reigning blockbuster cancer drug.
After being unanimously passed by the U.S. House Dec. 1, the bipartisan Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act seemed to be headed for sure passage in the Senate before it adjourned late last week.
Abbisko Therapeutics Co. Ltd. and its partner Merck KGaA got an early Christmas present from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) with the approval of pimicotinib (ABSK-021), the first domestically developed systemic therapy for tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT).
Laekna Pharmaceutical Ningbo Co. Ltd. has identified Werner syndrome ATP-dependent helicase (WRN; RECQ3; RECQL2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Shanghai Xianxiang Medical Technology Co. Ltd. has synthesized proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising a cereblon (CRBN)-binding moiety coupled to an EGFR (HER1; erbB1) mutant-targeting moiety through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Eilean Therapeutics LLC has presented data for ZE74-0282, a novel small molecule that targets the JAK2 JH2 domain harboring the V617F mutation with no impact on wild-type JAK2.
Despite therapeutic advances, multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable, with most patients relapsing and developing resistance, especially those refractory to proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs and anti-CD38 antibodies. Limited options and poor prognosis highlight the need for new agents with distinct mechanisms and better safety.
Crossbow Therapeutics Inc. has provided details on the preclinical characterization for the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-targeting T-cell engager CBX-663.