Tumors with strong immunosuppressive microenvironments such as microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) remain unresponsive to immune checkpoint blockade therapy, with <20% of gastrointestinal tumors responding to therapy.
In a recent study published in the Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer, researchers from the University of Chicago and Pyxis Oncology Inc. investigated the role of KLRG1 in limiting antitumor immunity and evaluated its potential as a therapeutic target in patients refractory to first-generation checkpoint inhibitors. KLRG1 is an immunoreceptor tyrosine inhibitory motif domain-containing receptor identified as a marker of senescent/terminally differentiated T and natural killer (NK) cells.
Next-generation T-cell engager (TCE) specialist Cytospire Therapeutics Ltd. has raised £61 million (US$82.7 million) in a series A round, equipping it to advance the lead program CYT-X300 to the clinic in the treatment of EGFR-positive solid tumors. The company’s pan gamma delta (γδ) TCEs are designed to overcome problems with cytokine release syndrome, on-target effects on healthy cells, and the excessive activation of CD3 that have occurred with earlier bispecific antibodies that bind to the CD3 receptor on T cells.
Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has prepared and tested new antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprising an antibody or antigen-binding fragment targeting tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TACSTD2; TROP2) covalently linked to a cytotoxic agent through linker reported to be useful for the treatment of lung and stomach cancer.
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprising an antibody targeting folate receptor α (FOLR1; FR-α) covalently linked to a cytotoxic drug have been described in a Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd. patent and are reported to be potentially useful for the treatment of cancer.
Hypersialylation in tumor cells is a potent mechanism of tumor immune evasion, pushing cancer progression by suppressing both innate and adaptive antitumor immunity. Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. has developed an engineered human sialidase enzyme fused to an anti-B7-H3 nanobody, named E-688 or HLX-316, that improves tumor desialylation, durability and efficacy both in vitro and in vivo, while maintaining a safe profile.
Shanghai Ailux Biotechnology Co. Ltd. and Ailux Inc. have presented preclinical data regarding the characterization of ALX-006, a 2+2 symmetric IgG1 PD‑1×VEGF bispecific antibody developed and designed for dual PD‑L1 and VEGF blockade as a cancer immunotherapeutic.
Laguna Biotherapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for its cancer immunotherapeutic LGNA-100 (QUAIL-100). The planned first-in-human phase I study will evaluate LGNA-100 in pediatric and young adult participants with high-risk acute leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes following αβ-depleted hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to prevent leukemic relapse.
Tacalyx GmbH has selected its first clinical candidate, TCX-201, and secured €11 million (US$12.8 million) in a first closing of its seed extension round to support the program’s progression through preclinical development. TCX-201 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) against an undisclosed tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen (TACA).
Astrazeneca AB has reported new antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprising an antibody or antigen-binding fragment covalently linked to cytotoxic drug potentially useful for the treatment of cancer.
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