| BioWorld

Australia’s Kazia Therapeutics reports positive interim results in phase II glioblastoma trial

PERTH, Australia – Sydney-based Kazia Therapeutics Ltd.’s shares soared nearly 82% this week on positive interim results for lead molecule GDC-0084 in a phase II glioblastoma trial. Data from the first nine patients in the study show that GDC-0084 treatment resulted in a median progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 8.4 months compared to the standard of care, temozolomide, which has a PFS of around 5.3 months. Read More

Australian researchers create kidney tissue from iPS cells

MELBOURNE, Australia – Researchers at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne are pushing the boundaries on creating kidney tissue from stem cells. Read More

Panelists urge better designs, more global focus for phase I trials

SINGAPORE – While a lot of focus is placed on phase III trials and the subsequent approvals, panelists during the ESMO Asia Congress pointed to the importance of designing the right kind of phase I trials, from reaching global populations to using appropriate endpoints. Read More

Population-based cancer registries needed for treatment, prevention efforts

SINGAPORE – Population-based cancer registries were a frequent focus of discussion at the ESMO Asia Congress. Read More

Quality of life and quality of studies take stage as Takeda reports solid NSCLC findings

SINGAPORE – Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. presented new findings from its phase III ALTA-1L trial evaluating its Alunbrig (brigatinib) vs. crizotinib in adults with advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had not received a prior ALK inhibitor, showing Alunbrig reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 76% after more than two years of follow-up. Read More

FDA green-lights SK’s Xcopri in epileptic seizures; gate for Arvelle with EMA

On its PDUFA date Thursday, the FDA cleared Xcopri (cenobamate) tablets from South Korea’s SK Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. to treat partial-onset seizures in adults. The drug’s mechanism of action is not fully understood, but it's believed to work through two separate mechanisms: enhancing inhibitory currents through positive modulation of GABA-A receptors and decreasing excitatory currents by inhibiting the persistent sodium current. Read More

Moving West to East: Panelists focus on Asia-prevalent cancers, NGS tests and precision oncology

SINGAPORE – As the ESMO Asia Congress 2019 brought 3,679 participants from all over the Asia-Pacific region and beyond to Singapore’s Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre, the focus, unsurprisingly, was on developments and challenges relevant to the oncology community. Read More