Critically shortened telomeres are known to be a key limiting factor in successful CAR T-cell immunotherapy, with cells from older patients tending to have shorter telomeres with reduced dividing capacity. As such, these cells are unable to fully eliminate malignancies and provide durable and persistent protection against cancer. So, what if you could lengthen these DNA-protein structures found at the end of chromosomes during the ex-vivo manufacturing of CAR T cells, i.e., before they are put back into the body, so increasing their potency against disease? Newly-launched firm Telos Biotech – a subsidiary company of Cambrian Bio – believes you can, with its patent-protected recombinant protein, Telovance, promising to shake up the cell therapy field. Read More
The June dip in biopharma deal value was short-lived, with July seeing 106 deals worth $17.57 billion, up 72.03% from $10.22 billion in July 2022. In the first seven months of 2023, 778 deals were completed worth $105.39 billion, compared to 995 deals worth $105.9 billion in the same period last year, a decrease of 0.48% by value and a decrease of 21.8% by volume. The same timeframe in 2021 saw 1,240 deals valued at $107 billion, 1,228 deals worth $112.23 billion in 2020, and 963 deals totaling $93.39 billion in 2019. Read More
Biocity Biopharmaceutics Co. Ltd. is advancing its pipeline of differentiated, modality-independent therapeutics for oncology that include small molecules, monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, as well as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The Wuxi, China-headquartered company is focused on first-in-class molecules for different modalities that can be combined with other treatments, Biocity Co-founder and Executive Vice President Ivy Wang told BioWorld.Read More
“Show us your work” is basically the message the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit sent to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) when it vacated a decision by the board in an ex parte review of rejected patent claims submitted by Theripion Inc. While the Aug. 10 Federal Circuit opinion that remanded the case is nonprecedential, the appellate court made it clear that the PTAB must explain its reasoning for whatever conclusions it reaches. Read More
Oricell Therapeutics Co. Ltd. has become the latest Chinese biotech to advance an independently developed CAR T therapy, announcing Aug. 10 that China’s regulatory body gave IND approval for Oricar-017. Oricar-017 is the Shanghai-based biotech’s GPRC5D-directed CAR T therapy developed to treat patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Acelink, Biofrontera, Clarity, Cymabay, Geovax, Immatics, Indaptus, Palatin, Psychecuetical, Regeneron, Soligenix, Sosei, Vaxxinity, X4. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Antengene, Atreca, Hansoh, Hebecell, Logomix, Rising. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Astellas, Galera, Genprex, Janssen, Oricell. Read More
