Tag Archives: tumor microenvironment

Anti-GARP: Combatting Treg Cells and TGF-β in the Tumor Microenvironment

AbbVie has recently licensed rights to a monoclonal antibody discovered by Argenx, ARGX-115, paying $20MM up-front and up to $625MM in milestones based on development, approval, and commercial performance. This monoclonal antibody targets a central player in the complex tumor microenvironment – the regulatory T-cell (Treg). Continue reading

Sitravatinib plus nivolumab in NSCLC

Sitravatinib (MGCD516) is an oral multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor being developed by Mirati Therapeutics. Last week, the company announced that three of eleven patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with genetic alterations in MET, AXL, RET, TRK, DDR2, KDR, PDGFRA, KIT or CBL who were resistant to checkpoint [anti PD-(L)1 therapy] had confirmed partial responses; because of this, dosing in the 34-patient expansion cohort will proceed. Continue reading

NLRP3 and STING enhance immune attack on cancer

Bristol Myers (BMS) acquired IFM Therapeutics for $300 MM up-front and up to $1.01 billion in contingent payments on the first two products from the NLRP and STING (STimulator of INterferon Genes) pre-clinical programs. IFM focuses on the innate immune system, which is the first line of immunological defense, whereas, BMS’ immune-oncology program (most notably featuring Yervoy and Opdivo, checkpoint inhibitors of CTLA4 and PD-1) has largely centered on the adaptive immune system. IFM is developing small molecule agonists that target the innate immune response within the tumor microenvironment. Continue reading

Pancreatic cancer drug that mimics heparin halted in Phase 2 for lack of efficacy

A Phase 2 study of necuparanib (from Momenta Pharmaceuticals) was halted following an interim futility analysis. The data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) ran the analysis once 57 patients in the 120-person trial had died, leading to the conclusion that necuparanib was showing insufficient efficacy to justify continuing the study. Continue reading

Bristol Myers Acquire Cormorant for Anti-IL-8 Cancer Drug

BMS (Bristol Myers Squibb) acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Cormorant, the private, Stockholm-based biotech company developing HuMax-IL8, for $520MM. HuMax-IL8, which is currently in Phase I/II trials, is a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-8 (IL-8), a protein is expressed by many solid tumors. IL-8 also suppresses the immune system and increases the ability of tumors to metastasize. Continue reading

The Warburg Effect: Multiple Proposed Roles in Cancer – Conor McAuliffe, Contributor

In the 1920’s Otto Warburg first discovered that tumor cells bypass normal cellular respiration i.e. glucose converted to pyruvate through glycolysis, and the sequential oxidation of pyruvate through the Krebs Cycle in the mitochondria. Instead tumor cells divert pyruvate to lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which reduces pyruvate into lactate. This type of metabolism, referred to as The Warburg Effect, is normally observed in cells in hypoxic or anaerobic environments, in cells that are proliferating, or in cells in which the accumulation of pyruvate exceeds the capacity of the mitochondria.  Continue reading

Exploiting the Tumor Microenvironment – Threshold, Bioatla, Pfizer

Two companies announced news last week regarding their efforts to treat cancer by administering treatments that become activated by physiological conditions specific to the tumor microenvironment. Threshold Pharmaceuticals announced data from Phase III clinical trials of evophosphamide (TH-302), and BioAtla announced an antibody development deal with Pfizer. Continue reading