Crescent Biopharma Inc. has announced regulatory clearances of IND applications for CR-001 (SKB-118), a PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody, and CR-003 (SKB-105), an integrin β-6 (ITGB6)-targeted antibody drug-conjugate (ADC), both being developed for the treatment of advanced solid tumors.

The receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan 1 (ROR1) is a transmembrane protein expressed during embryonic development. Moreover, it is highly expressed on the surface of several cancer cell types, including B-cell malignancies and solid tumors such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Researchers from The University of Queensland and collaborating institutions recently reported the development of a single-chain fragment variable (scFvs) specifically targeting the membrane proximal region of ROR1 rather than the Ig-like domain, aiming to reduce cross-reactivity with other surface proteins expressed in normal tissues.

Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. has announced acceptance of IND applications by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for three differentiated candidates for the treatment of solid tumors.

Over the course of the year, and continuing into the latest scientific meetings, an extraordinary breadth of new antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) designs was reported, with innovations spanning targets, linkers, payloads, conjugation chemistries and overall architectures. Once defined by a simple “one target, one payload” model, the field is lately expanding into a more versatile and diverse therapeutic space.

Shenzhen Grit Biotechnology Co. Ltd. and Shanghai Vitalgen Biopharma Co. Ltd. recently presented their work to develop and evaluate a novel anti-CD19 in vivo CAR T candidate, named GT-801.