Roche (Genentech) entered into a $1 billion deal with NewLink Genetics, a company with an IDO (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) inhibitor. Continue reading
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Lentiviral Vectors for Gene Transfection in CAR T-cell Therapy
Novartis entered into a $90 MM deal with Oxford Biomedica for use of its lentiviral vectors with its CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) modified T-cell product, CTL019, being developed with researchers at UPENN. Continue reading
IND for Clinical Studies of dCellVax Breast Cancer Immune Therapy Filed – Intelligent and Rational Gene Silencing Approach for Cancer
Regen Biopharma recently filed an IND (Investigational New Drug Application) with the FDA to permit the initiation of Phase 1 clinical trials of its dCellVax treatment for advanced breast cancer. Continue reading
Stealth Nanoparticles To Reach Macrophages in Lymph Nodes
Antigen Presenting Cells (APc’s – dendritic cells, monocytes, and macrophages) are the key to provoking a robust adaptive immune response. But are all APC’s created equally in this regard? Not exactly. Continue reading
Chop Protein Suppresses the Immune Response in Cancer
The Chop protein, not to be confused with the CHOP chemotherapy regimen for lymphoma (Cyclophosphamide, Hydro doxorubicin – Adriamycin, Oncovin – vincristine, and Prednisone), is a multifunctional transcription factor. This 29 kda protein that is produced following unfolded protein stress in the endoplasmic reticulum, which then triggers apoptosis. Continue reading
Attacking Brain Cancer in its Hypoxic Environment
As tumors grow and become unresponsive to external cellular signals, the level of oxygen in the masses decreases; mutated cells, those with malfunctioning p53, grow and thrive greater than 0.2 mm from the blood supply. Continue reading
Obesity soon to replace tobacco as the number one preventable / treatable cause of cancer
“Obesity is on its way to replacing tobacco as the number one preventable / modifiable cause of cancer,” says Clifford Hudis, MD, the 2013-2014 President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Indeed, obese post-menopausal women have up to twice the risk of developing breast cancer as do their normal weight counterparts. Continue reading
Why more males develop brain tumors than females
It is widely known that brain tumors, in particular glioblastomas and medulloblastomas, affect males more than females. Moreover, given the age of onset and analysis of incidence by age, sex hormones have been ruled-out as the cause. Continue reading
JAK-inhibitors for myelofibrosis
Last week, pacritinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug-candidate with dual activity against JAK2 and FLT, has been granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Continue reading
IDO inhibition in cancer immunology
IDO ( indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) is a molecule that oxidizes tryptophan, which is needed by cytotoxic T-cells. When cancer cells and T-reg cells secrete IDO in the vicinity of cytotoxic T cells, antitumor activity is abrogated. Continue reading