Procaspase-3 is an executioner protein catalyzes the hydrolysis of more than 100 protein targets. These cleavage events ultimately lead to cell suicide, or apoptosis. Caspase-3 is triggered by the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis cascades. Continue reading
Baxalta, the biopharmaceutical spinoff of Baxter, entered into a $1.7 B deal with Precision BioSceinces for 6 CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) projects, and Saronic Biotechnology announced positive data in preclinical studies of its autologous dendritic cell vaccine for hepatocellular carcinoma. Continue reading
Bristol-Myers Squibb recruited French biotech Oncodesign to help it find new ways of attacking tumors, signing an early-stage agreement in hopes of spotlighting some promising projects. Continue reading
Halaven (eribulin mesylate) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with unresectable or advanced liposarcoma. The treatment is approved for patients who previously had undergone chemotherapy with an anthracycline drug. It was previously approved for patients with breast cancer who had undergone at least two prior chemotherapeutic regimens, including an anthracycline and a taxane. Continue reading
The National Cancer Institute launched the MATCH trial in August 2015 as part of the Precision Medicine Initiative announced by President Obama. Continue reading
Researchers working with the zebrafish melanoma model have determined that oncogene activation and crippling of tumor suppressors genes is not sufficient to transform melanocytes into melanoma cells. It is essential that the cells re-acquire primordial characteristics, as well. Continue reading
BET bromodomain inhibitors are epigenetic regulators that act by repressing expression of oncogenes, including MYC and BCL-2, that are aberrantly highly expressed in many cancer cells, resulting in inhibited cell proliferation and induction of apoptotic cell death. Continue reading
Venetoclax is a novel cancer therapy being developed by Roche and AbbVie. The U.S. FDA has accepted the New Drug Application and granted Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy Designation for venetoclax for the treatment of people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have received at least one prior therapy, including those with 17p deletion. Continue reading
An independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) has recommended the continuation of Argos’ pivotal phase 3 ADAPT clinical trial of AGS-003 for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) based on results of the committee’s second planned interim data analysis. The next planned interim analysis will be in 6 months. Continue reading
OncoMed is developing several compounds that target Wnt and Notch pathways, which are important in cancer and cancer stem cell maintenance, survival, and proliferation. Biomarkers for response of Her-2-negative breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following treatment with Vantictumab, anti-Wnt monoclonal antibody, have been developed. Continue reading