A metabolic vulnerability of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) could be used to address this type of cancer that often resists treatments. Scientists at the University of Michigan have discovered that inhibiting the PIKfyve enzyme prevented tumor development and reduced tumor growth by altering the lipid synthesis these cells rely on. The KRAS-MAPK pathway is involved in this process, leading the researchers to suggest that dual inhibitors of PIKfyve and KRAS-MAPK could be an effective therapeutic strategy. Read More
Synthetic Design Lab Inc., which emerged from stealth with a $20 million seed round and a platform technology aimed at advancing the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) space, began with its founders identifying a single clear goal: how to deliver more payload to a target cancer cell. Read More
Avidicure BV has launched with a $50 million seed financing round and a focus on developing dual agonistic, multifunctional and avidity engineered antibodies, or AVC-Boosters, to deliver targeted and potent cancer monotherapy. Read More
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox and shingles, while herpes simplex virus (HSV) is responsible for oral and genital herpes. Although current treatments mainly focus on inhibiting viral replication, there is a critical need for new therapies to address the limitations and side effects associated with existing treatments. Read More
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) remains the primary treatment for patients with high-risk bladder cancer, but resistance develops in 30% to 40% of cases. The use of oncolytic viruses has emerged as a promising alternative therapeutic strategy. Read More
Granite Bio AG has emerged from stealth with $100 million in series A and B funding and a focus on developing first-in-class antibodies that target the root causes of a variety of inflammatory, autoimmune and fibrotic conditions. Read More
Tagworks Pharmaceuticals BV has received IND clearance from the FDA for a phase I trial evaluating its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) TGW-101 in patients with advanced solid tumors. The company has initiated the first-in-human trial. Read More
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are a diverse group of tumors that account for about 80% of mesenchymal neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) against KIT and PDGFR-A have proven useful in patients with GIST, but resistance to therapy frequently occurs. Read More
Onward Therapeutics SA’s subsidiary Emercell SAS has received investigational medicinal product dossier (IMPD) approval from the EMA to initiate a phase I trial of OT-C001, an allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapy, in combination with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab. Read More
Duality Biologics (Suzhou) Co, Ltd. has synthesized proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin ligase binding moiety covalently linked to a eukaryotic peptide chain release factor GTP-binding subunit ERF3A (GSPT1)-targeting moiety through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
CSPC Zhongqi Pharmaceutical Technology (Shijiazhuang) Co. Ltd. has identified proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) comprising an E3 ubiquitin ligase cereblon binding moiety coupled to an EGFR-targeting moiety via a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. Read More
Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has been granted IND clearance by the FDA for its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) drug SKB-518. Read More
Rona Therapeutics Co. Ltd. has obtained IND clearance from China′s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for RN-1871, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) drug targeting angiotensinogen (AGT) for hypertension. Read More
Pliant Therapeutics Inc. has described integrin αvβ1, integrin αvβ6 and/or integrin αvβ8 antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and fibrosis. Read More
