Category Archives: active immunotherapy

Opdivo combined with novel IL-2 prodrug immune stimulant

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Nektar Therapeutics announced a collaboration in which BMS’ PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor (Opdivo, nivolumab) will be combined with Nektar;s CD-122 agonist NKTR-214. Continue reading →

How PD-1 abrogates the anti-tumor immune response

PD-1 inhibition (Figure 1) has quickly become a front-line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma. Moreover, PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors are being tested in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapies, cancer vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and other modalities. But, how does PD-1 blunt the anti-tumor immune response? Continue reading →

Photo-immunotherapy approaches for cancer

The NCI (National Cancer Institute) highlighted two photo-immunotherapy (PIT) approaches that employ antibodies conjugated to phthalocyanine dye IRDye 700DX (IR700). Continue reading →

Leap’s Two Early-Stage Immuno-Oncology Antibodies

Leap Therapeutics, an immuno-oncology company, recently reversed merge with Macrocure to become a publicly traded company, and received an investment of $10MM from current investors in order to advance two antibodies –  DKN-01, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) protein on cancer cells, and TRX518, a humanized GITR agonist that augments T-cell responses against tumors. Continue reading →

Blocking CD47 Innate Checkpoint Control for Cancer Treatment

Several companies, including Trillium, Celgene, Tioma, and Forty Seven are developing products that block CD47 for the treatment of cancer. Researchers have also shown that attacking CD47 may be a better approach to bone marrow conditioning prior bone marrow transplant. Continue reading →

Surprising Efficacy of Darzalex is not Solely Due to Anti-CD38 Activity on Myeloma Cells

We have previously reviewed anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody Darzalex (daratumumab) in multiple myeloma. Daratumumab targets CD38-expressing myeloma cells through a variety of immune-mediated mechanisms (complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis) and direct apoptosis with cross-linking of receptors. Continue reading →

Celgene Collaborates with Jounce Therapeutics on ICOS T-cell Stimulator

Checkpoint inhibitors, alone, are effective in 25% of patients when administered as a single agent. The goal of the collaboration between Celgene and Jounce is to address the other 75% of patients. The lead program is focused on ICOS, the Inducible T cell CO-Stimulator, a protein on the surface of T cells that can spur an immune response against a patient’s cancer. Continue reading →

Mechanisms of Melanoma Resistance to PD-1 Checkpoint Inhibition

It is estimated that about 40 percent of patients with advanced melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, will initially respond to an immunotherapy, but about a quarter of those 40 percent will relapse within three years of treatment. In order to identify the mechanisms by which resistance to PD-1 inhibition is mediated, UCLA researchers studied biopsies of melanoma tumors taken before and after treatment with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients whose cancer had returned. Continue reading →