Xilio Therapeutics Inc. retreated with its lead oncology IL-2 drug, XTX-202, after phase II data indicated stable disease was the best response, prompting the company to reprioritize its pipeline and cut its workforce by 21% – but investors focused more on a $647.5 million IL-12 program deal the company signed with Gilead Sciences Inc., as well as an $11.3 million private placement financing.
Although preclinical studies of genetically engineered interleukin-18 (IL-18) historically indicated its potential in cancer treatment, interest in the cytokine languished after GSK plc shelved its IL-18 therapeutic on lack of responses in a phase II melanoma trial. But in 2020, Yale University-based professor of immunobiology Aaron Ring set about reviving IL-18 as a cancer therapeutic. He went on to engineer a decoy-resistant form of IL-18 and then founded Simcha Therapeutics Inc. to develop the drug – named ST-067.
While investors focused on the top-line miss from Avalo Therapeutics Inc.’s phase II study of AVTX-002 (quisovalimab) in non-eosinophilic asthma, sending company shares (NASDAQ:AVTX) falling 89% to close at 50 cents June 26, the company pointed to promising trends seen in an exploratory analysis affirming the potential of targeting LIGHT.
For privately held Good Therapeutics Inc., founded in 2016 with a platform technology for developing context-dependent therapeutics, the plan had always been to seek a buyer for the first asset to emerge. One came along a little earlier than expected, as Roche Holding AG entered a merger agreement for Good, picking up preclinical-stage PD-1-regulated IL-2 program, in exchange for an up-front cash payment of $250 million.
Researchers at Hannover Medical School have gained new insights into the cytokine meteorin-like (METRNL) and its role in promoting heart repair after myocardial infarction.
Askgene Pharma Inc., which less than two weeks ago reported positive initial data from an ongoing phase I/II trial testing its claudin 18.2-targeting candidate, ASKB-589, added $20 million in a series A round, intended to advance the company’s clinical pipeline and support further development of its Smartkine cytokine drug platform.
Askgene Pharma Inc., which less than two weeks ago reported positive initial data from an ongoing phase I/II trial testing its claudin 18.2-targeting candidate, ASKB-589, added $20 million in a series A round, intended to advance the company’s clinical pipeline and support further development of its Smartkine cytokine drug platform.
Ankyra Therapeutics Inc., a company developing new cytokine immunotherapies to boost localized antitumor immune responses, closed a $45 million series B financing. Proceeds from the round will be used to advance the Boston-based company's lead molecule, ANK-101, through IND-enabling studies and into phase I trials starting at the beginning of 2023, as well as to advance additional cytokine programs, it said.
Merck & Co. Inc. has signed a potential $1 billion research tie-up with Synthekine Inc. to develop engineered cytokines to fight autoimmune diseases, as its $11.5 billion merger with Acceleron Pharma Inc. hit a regulatory speed bump.
A multidisciplinary team of researchers has identified Upd3, a cytokine, as an important modulator of tumor growth and host wasting via activation of JAK/STAT signaling.
