Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 1 (HPK1) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that is expressed in the hematopoietic compartment, exerting regulatory functions in myeloid and innate immune cells. It has been associated with decreased T-cell activation and proliferation.
Although physiological immune responses require increased tissue vasculature, many solid tumors simultaneously activate angiogenesis to meet the increasing demand for oxygen and nutrients while excluding immune cells. The exact molecular mechanisms by which cancer cells control this immune-refractory angiogenic process remain widely unclear.
Pricing the third and largest biopharma IPO of 2026, Eikon Therapeutics Inc. raised $381 million in an upsized offering of 21.18 million shares of common stock at $18 each, the high point of its price range.
Onchilles Pharma Inc. has obtained IND approval from the FDA for N-17350, enabling initiation of first-in-human studies in patients with advanced solid tumors. The study will enroll patients in the U.S. and Australia with advanced solid tumors.
Kazia Therapeutics Ltd. has announced promising preclinical and translational data supporting the development of NDL-2, a protein degrader targeting a newly identified mechanism of immunotherapy resistance and metastatic progression.
Oncology-focused Eikon Therapeutics Inc. set the terms of its IPO Jan. 28, selling 17.648 million shares at a price range between $16 to $18 per share. At the top of the range, the Millbrae, Calif.-based biopharma company would raise about $317.7 million.
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a crucial immune checkpoint ligand that inhibits antitumor immunity by engaging PD-1 on T cells, and checkpoint blockade has become a pillar of anticancer therapy. However, many patients show limited treatment responses.
A trio of European cancer vaccine specialists have filed progress reports, with advances in technology and targeting, fresh infusions of cash, and off-the-shelf products moving into the clinic. Six years on from its formation, Ervimmune closed a series A at €17 million (US$19.9 million) to drive forward clinical development of lead program Ervac-01. Accession Therapeutics Ltd. raised a further £30.5 million (US$40.4 million) from its existing investors, following dosing of four patients with Trocept-01. And Infinitopes Ltd. added $15.4 million to its seed round, as it finalizes preparations for a phase I/IIa trial of the lead product ITOP-1.
Previous work showed that histone ‘readers’, which bind to post-translational modifications on histones, may be upregulated in melanoma and thereby upregulate oncogenes. Given that the histone reader ATAD2 is known to be overexpressed in several types of cancer, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham asked whether the same is true in melanoma.
CIS Biopharma AG recently presented an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting the L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM/CD171) as a potential candidate for the treatment of advanced tumors.
