European Hematology Association

Rgenta’s RGT-61159 shows promise for MYB-expressing cancers

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

MYB is an oncogenic transcription factor that is often aberrantly expressed in hematologic malignancies, mostly in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Rgenta Therapeutics Inc. recently presented data for RGT-61159, a potent and selective MYB inhibitor compound that demonstrated cell killing across a panel of MYB-overexpressing leukemic cell lines.

APG-5918 shows potent activity against T-cell lymphoma

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Therapies against aggressive T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) are limited and treatment resistance to histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors often occurs. Polycomb protein EED is a key member of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) complex and is an attractive therapeutic target for TCLs. APG-5918 is an EED inhibitor from Ascentage Pharma Group International Co. Ltd. that has been proven to disrupt the PRC2 functioning and has been tested in preclinical TCL models as a promising approach.

COG5 unveiled as a therapeutic target in multiple myeloma

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Multiple myeloma bone disease (MBD) lacks effective biomarkers; recent evidence involves exosomal circRNAs in the progression of cancer, but their roles in the field have not been deeply explored. The aim of this study was to explore the role of component of oligomeric golgi complex 5 (COG5) and shed light on its osteolytic mechanism.

BAL-0891 induces potent antileukemic effect in preclinical AML

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Sillajen Inc. has recently presented data regarding their threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) and Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) dual inhibitor BAL-0891 as a therapeutic approach for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment. The compound was tested both in vitro and in vivo in the preclinical setting.

HPK1 inhibitor BGB-15025 exerts antileukemic activity in mice

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Despite an initial complete remission of 60%-80% in patients receiving anthracycline/cytarabine induction, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) shows a suboptimal long-term outcome rate. Serine/threonine kinase HPK1 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target, demonstrating pan-cancer prognostic significance.

At EHA 2025, ways to bring immune therapy to AML

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

“The lack of therapeutic precision in treatment of myeloid malignancies is in sharp contrast with the fact that myeloid cancers represent the perhaps best characterized cancers of all at the cellular, molecular, and genetic levels,” Johanna Olweus told her audience at the Friday plenary session of the European Hematology Association 2025 Annual Congress.

At EHA 2025, ways to bring immune therapy to AML

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0400

PA2G4-MYC signaling axis involved in pathogenesis of 3q26 AML, study shows

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

The treatment of subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterized by aberrantly activated transcription factors is still challenging.

Blimp-1 ablation enhances antitumoral efficacy of ARI-0002-h CAR T cells

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

CAR T-cell therapy that targets BCMA is an effective option for treating relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, but there is a lack of persistence due to the inability to develop a memory phenotype.

REGN-7999 reverses liver iron overload, improves bone health in mouse model of beta-thalassemia

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Transmembrane serine protease 6 (TMPRSS6) is a negative regulator of hepcidin, which is the main iron homeostasis-regulating hormone. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. has recently presented preclinical data for the monoclonal antibody targeting TMPRSS6, REGN-7999, which is being developed for the treatment of iron overload.

Six months out, new EU rules still raising feasibility concerns

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0400

The industry is again raising concerns that new EU health technology assessment rules coming into force on Jan. 12, 2025, will have the opposite of the desired effect and slow down access to innovative therapies.

Kinase inhibitor AD-80 shows antileukemic effects in FLT3-ITD AML

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by the accumulation of immature blasts in the bone marrow or in the peripheral blood.

Potential first-in-class agent for JAK2 V617F mutant myeloproliferative neoplasms

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Researchers from Incyte Corp. and collaborators presented the preclinical profile of INCB-160058, an ATP-competitive small-molecule inhibitor of the JAK2 V617F mutant sparing its wild-type (WT) form, designed for the treatment of JAC2 V617F mutation-positive myeloproliferative neoplasms with potential as a first-in-class JAK2 V617-inhibiting drug.

Astrazeneca’s first-in-class T-cell engager circumvents associated toxicities

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Bispecific CD20×CD3 T-cell engagers have shown efficacy in hematological malignancies; however, associated toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome and immune effector-associated neurotoxicity syndrome limit their use.

New anti-TIM-3 antibody-drug conjugate displays efficacy in AML models

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Residual leukemic stem cells (LSCs) are leukemia relapse-initiating cells that mediate treatment resistance in response to therapy stress. Different from normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), both blasts and LSCs express T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3) on the surface.

Anticancer quinolone yields antileukemia effects and overcomes venetoclax resistance

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Targeting topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) is crucial in AML, and researchers from Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have developed and tested racemic WAC-224, a quinolone TOP2 inhibitor, and (R)-WAC-224 as a potential approach for AML treatment.

Incyte’s anti-CALR displays robust antimyeloproliferative effect

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Among the acquired mutations in the calreticulin (CALR) gene, both 52 bp deletion (del52) and 5 bp insertion (ins5) are among the most frequent and are linked to two different types of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

EHA 2024: Movers and shakers in the AML landscape

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

During the basic science morning track on the last day of this year’s Annual Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA), the attention was focused on oncogenic transcription factors and complexes considered turning points within the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) arena.

lncMALAT1 behind multiple myeloma and its prognosis

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in multiple myeloma and its prognosis, with the success of antiangiogenic therapies being limited. Exosomes mediate cell-to-cell cross talk during the progression of cancer by transporting their molecular cargo, which include long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs); their role in multiple myeloma was investigated.

KF-1601 outperforms ponatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia models

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

The development of resistance and relapse during the blast phase of chronic myeloid leukemia poses a challenge in the management of this pathology, with half of the cases accounting for FLT3 pathway activation that, in turn, contributes to tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance.

Arvina’s BCL6 protein degrader shows high antiproliferative activity

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is up-regulated in several B-cell malignancies where it acts as a transcription factor activity mediator to induce and maintain lymphomagenesis.

SLAMF6-targeting immunotherapy as therapeutic strategy against AML

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Researchers from Lund University presented data from a study that aimed to identify novel targets for immunotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To identify differentially expressed cell surface proteins in the primitive CD34+CD38- cell populations, an arrayed antibody screen was performed on primary bone marrow samples from patients with AML as well as healthy donors.

EHA 2024: Spotlight on first-in-class translational research in blood cancer

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

The first oral session in the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) translational research track of June 15, was given by Eliza Yankova, from the University of Cambridge, who presented collaborative studies done together with Storm Therapeutics Ltd. outlining pharmacological inhibition of METTL1 as a therapeutic strategy in AML treatment.

Remix’s REM-422 eradicates AML cells in preclinical setting

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

The c-MYB oncogene plays an important role in hematopoietic cell differentiation and proliferation. Dysregulation of MYB downstream effector signaling is thought to be behind these abnormalities by modulation of genes such as BCL2, MYC or FLT3, and as such an attractive therapeutic target for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

EHA 2024: Calreticulin is up-and-coming target in myeloproliferative disorders

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) can only be cured, to date, using allogeneic stem cell transplantation which, in turn, only works for up to 20% of patients. As calreticulin (CALR) frameshift mutations are the second most common cause of MPNs, targeting this endoplasmic reticulum resident protein is one of the strategies emerging at the forefront of hematological malignancies research.

Conference data for June 13, 2023: EHA

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0400

New and updated preclinical and clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the European Hematology Association Congress, including: Actinium, Aptose, Cellectis, Disc, Geron, Gracell, Humanigen, Innate, Innovent, Kura, Modus, Nkarta, Salarius, Sumitomo.

EHA 2023: Developer finesse to beat Scenesse? Phase II outlook sunny for Disc’s oral bitopertin in EPP, XLP

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Disc Medicine Inc.’s positive phase II data from an ongoing, open-label trial called Beacon with oral bitopertin in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) whetted investor appetite for the results of the other mid-stage Disc experiment known as Aurora with the compound, due early next year.

Daiichi Sankyo’s quizartinib doubles overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD-positive AML

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd.’s quizartinib met the primary endpoint of overall survival in the pivotal phase III Quantum-First study, which tested the addition of quizartinib to chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone for adults with newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Conference data for June 14, 2022: EHA

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 11:00:00 -0400

New and updated preclinical and clinical data presented by biopharma firms at the European Hematology Association Congress, including: Abbvie, Affimed, Agios, Ascentage, Canbridge, Crispr, Daiichi, Disc, Genmab, Iaso, Innovent, Mustang, Novartis, Vertex, XNK.

EHA 2022 presentations describe sickle cell disease headway and headwinds

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400

At the European Hematology Association's annual meeting in Vienna last week, companies reported impressive progress for the treatment of sickle cell disease.