The FDA granted approval of axicabtagene ciloleucel (YESCARTA) on October 25, 2017, two months following the approval of tisagenlecleucel (KYMRIAH) – both are anti-CD19-directed CAR T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) therapies that employ re-programmed autologous T-cells to fight cancer: Continue reading
Tag Archives: CD3
Peripheral white blood cell profiles may predict response to checkpoint blockade
While some patients enjoy excellent and durable responses to treatment with checkpoint inhibits, most do not, and some even hyper-progress. Selecting patients who will benefit most has been challenging. Continue reading
BMS and PsoOxus collaborate on transgenic oncolytic virus plus nivolumab
BMS paid PsiOxus $50MM upfront for exclusive rights to develop PsiOxus’ NG-348 enadenotucirev, a systemically administered oncolytic adenovirus therapeutic, in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Immuno-Oncology checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) to treat a range of solid tumor types in late-stage cancer patients. This is a “big deal” – PsiOxus could receive up to $886 million in development, regulatory, and sales-based milestones, plus sales royalties. Continue reading
Immunocor’s Anti-Cancer Platform Garners $320MM Private Financing
Immunocor raised $320MM in a private financing round to support its anti-cancer platform. That’s a lot of money for a single financing – in fact, it is the largest private fundraising by a European biotechnology company. What’s the attraction? Continue reading
Bi-specific antibodies – matchmaking cancer and T-cells
Amgen reported encouraging data from a 189 patient phase 2 trial at this year’s ASCO meeting on blinatumomab in patients with Philadelphia Chromosome (9,22 translocation) negative relapsed/refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) – see http://ecancer.org/conference/514-asco-2014/video/2913/blinatumomab-shown-to-be-beneficial-in-relapsed-refractory-b-precursor-acute-lymphoblastic-leukaemia.php. Continue reading