Avencell Therapeutics Inc. has received clinical trial clearances from the FDA and EMA to conduct a phase I/II trial (Quadvance) of AVC-203 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has been a game changer in the treatment of B-cell malignancies, although their manufacturing process is complex and needs lymphodepletion, thus limiting their use. Researchers from Capstan Therapeutics Inc. have recently published data regarding an in vivo engineering approach to generate CAR T cells using targeted lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for mRNA delivery to specific T-cell populations for the treatment of cancer and B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.
CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell malignancies has still to be improved regarding durability, manufacturing complexity or toxicity, among others. Precigen Inc. has presented data regarding the preclinical development and efficacy of PRGN-3008, a PD-1-expression inhibitor cell therapy targeting CD19 that was built in a next-generation ultra CAR T platform.
City of Hope conducted RNAseq analysis of patient samples with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), which revealed that among the m6A machinery genes, YTHDF2, which encodes YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein F2, was the most significantly overexpressed gene.
The protease mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation 1 (MALT1) is a signaling protein with both molecular scaffolding and protease activity involved in lymphocyte activation. MALT1 is considered a therapeutic target for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in patients who develop resistance to Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors.
In a presentation at the recent American Society of Hematology meeting in San Diego, Kite Pharma Inc. reported preclinical data for KITE-753, an autologous rapid manufactured anti-CD19/CD20 CAR T-cell therapy being developed for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.
Researchers from Janssen Research & Development LLC presented preclinical data for JNJ-87801493, a first-in-class CD20 targeted CD28 costimulatory bispecific antibody (Ab), currently in early clinical development for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.
Poseida Therapeutics Inc. is being bought out for $1.5 billion by partner Roche Holdings Inc. to develop allogeneic CAR T therapies to treat hematologic malignancies. The two companies began their collaboration in August 2022, a deal that brought Poseida $110 million up front and another $110 million in near-term milestone payments. With the acquisition, Roche plans to develop CAR T programs for solid tumors and autoimmune diseases with Poseida's genetic engineering platform and preclinical programs.
China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted Ascentage Pharma Group Corp. Ltd.’s NDA for its in-house-developed Bcl-2 selective inhibitor, lisaftoclax (APG-2575), which could be the first domestically approved Bcl-2 inhibitor in China and the second global approval.
Researchers from Immunome Inc. and Zentalis Pharmaceuticals Inc. presented preclinical data for IM-1021, a novel tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate with a new topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) linker payload, being developed for the treatment of solid tumors and B-cell malignancies.