In the Phase III ELOQUENT-2 study, patients receiving elotuzumab plus standard therapy compared with patients receiving standard therapy alone, lived a median time of 19.4 months until their disease progressed or until they died, compared with 14.9 months in those who received standard therapy alone. In addition, at a median follow-up period of two years, elotuzumab reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 30 percent. Continue reading
Colony Stimulating Factor (CSF-1) is an essential growth factor for cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage, including osteoclasts.
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On April 29, the FDA Oncology Drug Advisory Committee voted 22-1 to recommend approval of Amgen’s talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) for the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma. Continue reading
Entinostat is currently in a Phase III trial in combination with Aromasin (exemestane – aromatase inhibitor that blocks the synthesis of estrogen) in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have recurred following treatment with an aromatase inhibitor. Continue reading
This example of personalized medicine involves exploiting the highly selective proteins that are expressed by patients’ B-cells. Bullet Biotechnology isolates the specific idiotypic (Id) protein from patients with B-cell lymphomas (CLL – chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and NHL – non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) and expresses it on the surface of a virus-like particle to provoke a highly specific anti-Id response against B-cell clones expressing the specific Id protein. Continue reading
Aduro Biotech just signed a $750MM ($200MM of which was up-front) deal with Novartis for the development of modulators of the STING pathway to enhance the immunogenicity of cancer cells. Continue reading
Bexion Pharmaceuticals received Orphan Drug Designation for its novel drug, BXQ-350 for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme. The drug has shown activity in over 60 different cancer cell lines, and is toxic to cancer cells, only.The nanovesicals bypass the blood brain barrier. Continue reading
Natural Killer cells and macrophages are essential in the innate immune response to bacterial pathogens. They also provide the essential link to the adaptive immune response by presenting antigens to dendritic cells and by directly stimulating CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells.
Bavituximab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to phosphatidyl serine (PS), a molecule this is expressed in the inner side of the cell membrane. The drug is being developed by Peregrine Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and is in a late stage trial called SUNRISE – A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Multicenter Trial of Bavituximab Plus Docetaxel Versus Docetaxel Alone in Patients With Previously Treated Stage IIIb/IV Non-Squamous Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Continue reading
Multikine is a new product being developed by CEL-SCi for front-line use in patients with head and neck cancer. I observed a presentation at the 2015 Biotech Showcase on January 12, 2015. A late stage clinical trial is currently enrolling – Phase III Study of LI [Multikine®] Plus SOC (Surgery + Radiotherapy or Surgery + Concurrent Radiochemotherapy) in Subjects With Advanced Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity/Soft Palate vs. SOC Only. Continue reading
