Seven deaths and five respiratory-related, treatment-emergent adverse events in a group of 40 aged and very unwell cancer patients rang alarm bells for ADC Therapeutics SA. The company has voluntarily paused enrollment in its phase II Lotis-9 study of Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) and rituximab (Lonca-R) for treating previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in those who are considered frail or unfit.
Interleukin-13 (IL-13) receptor subunit α2 (IL13RA2), one of the two major receptors for IL-13 is overexpressed in glioblastoma multiforme and other solid tumors and is correlated with poor prognosis.
In a new licensing deal cut with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi), ADC Therapeutics SA is getting a $55 million up-front payment and could receive $50 million more upon regulatory approval of Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) in third-line diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by the European Commission.
Switzerland’s biotechnology sector maintained its strong investment performance in 2021. The final tally for the year came to CHF3.33 billion (US$3.4 billion), which is almost equivalent to its record-breaking total of CHF3.4 billion for 2020.
Cancer Research UK took a significant hit when its U.K.-wide charity shop chain had to close last year because of the pandemic. But, according to latest figures, its commercial arm could help it to bounce back after seeing its income more than double in the recent biotech boom. The organization reported record levels of investment in its spinout companies, which more than doubled in 2020-2021 compared with the previous year, jumping from £400 million (US$555 million) to £822 million (US$1.14 billion)
LONDON – Iksuda Therapeutics Ltd. sealed its transition from technology licensing company to antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development specialist, closing a $47 million series A financing to move the lead program, IKS-03, into the clinic.
LONDON – In what is claimed as the largest series A for a Danish biotech, Adcendo ApS has raised €51 million (US$61.3 million) to take forward antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) drugs aimed at proprietary targets that are involved in cellular recycling processes.
Nearly a full month ahead of the PDUFA date, ADC Therapeutics SA said Friday the FDA has granted accelerated approval for Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine), a CD19-targeted antibody-drug conjugate for the single-agent treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The approved indication includes the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified and those with DLBCL arising from low grade lymphoma and high grade B-cell lymphoma, which ADC's CEO Chris Martin said would be an important point of differentiation for the product.
Sutro Biopharma Inc.’s stock-perking news in early December with STRO-002, a folate receptor alpha-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) to treat ovarian cancer, reminded investors of potential in the class, which has been more than realized in recent years and could yield more upside in the near term. As of the Oct. 30 cutoff date, STRO-002 tallied one complete response and nine partial responses in the challenging indication, which works out to an overall response rate of 32% (10 out of 31) in evaluable patients.
HONG KONG – Overland Pharmaceuticals Inc., a company created to bring innovative medicines to China, this week revealed the formation of two joint ventures intended to deliver on that mission, one with ADC Therapeutics SA and another with Allogene Therapeutics Inc.