Ocean Biomedical Inc. has demonstrated the effectiveness of its anti-chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) antibody in suppressing and reversing tumor growth in studies of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.
Genprex Inc. announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation to the company's lead drug candidate, Reqorsa immunogene therapy (quaratusugene ozeplasmid, GPX-001), for the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Reqorsa contains a plasmid that expresses the tumor suppressor gene TUSC2, the expression of which is reduced or not present in SCLC.
Most lung adenocarcinoma tumors with EGFR mutations respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs, e.g., osimertinib). Accordingly, there are now >50 different FDA-approved TKIs. Still, acquired resistance remains as the major limitation preventing long-term efficacy.
Aethon Therapeutics Inc. closed a $30 million series A round to develop a novel antibody-based therapeutic strategy for cancer, which relies on the concomitant use of small-molecule covalent inhibitors that form peptide-drug conjugates or beacons.
Hutchmed Ltd. has received a $15 million milestone payment from Astrazeneca plc for initiating a phase III trial testing the Hutchmed c-Met inhibitor Orpathys (savolitinib) in combination with Astrazeneca’s Tagrisso (osimertinib) in EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer.
Hutchmed Ltd. has received a $15 million milestone payment from Astrazeneca plc for initiating a phase III trial testing the Hutchmed c-Met inhibitor Orpathys (savolitinib) in combination with Astrazeneca’s Tagrisso (osimertinib) in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for patients with mesenchymal epithelial transition receptor (MET) driven tumors.
Astrazeneca plc’s Tagrisso (osimertinib) seems poised to become standard of care in the adjuvant setting for early stage (IB, II and IIIA) EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), thanks to phase III data from the study called Adaura, made public at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting.