Celldex’s vaccine against the mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRvIII), reduced the risk of death from the disease by 47% in a 73-patient randomized Phase 2 study called ReACT. In addition, the survival rate at two years was 25% for patients given the vaccine versus none in the control group. It marks the first time an immunotherapy treatment has improved survival in a randomized trial of glioblastoma patients, researchers said. It is also among the first cancer vaccines to show a survival benefit. Continue reading
Tag Archives: checkpoint inhibitors
ImaginAB’s Minibodies for CD8+ T Cell Targeting – Select Optimal Immunotherapy Approaches
ImaginAB and Eli Lilly announced a pre-clinical collaboration to use ImaginAb’s immune imaging agent IAB22M2C to study new T-cell therapies cancer. Continue reading
Cancer Immunotherapy – Combining Anti-CCR4 & Anti-PD-1; and CEACAM1 (TIM-3)
A collaboration between Bristol-Myers Squibb and Kyowa Hakko Kirin to test a combination of Kyowa’s Poteligeo (mogamulizumab), an anti-CCR4 antibody, and BMS’ Opdivo (nivolumab) in a Phase I/II trial in advanced or metastatic solid tumors was announced. Also, Merck announced the acquisition of cCAM Biotherapeutics for $605MM for its CM-24 monoclonal antibody that target CEACAM1. Continue reading
Aduro – STING Pathway in Cancer Immunology
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
Innate Pharma – Two NK Cell Checkpoint Inhibitors in Development
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 – Novel Checkpoint Inhibitor in Phase 3
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
Immunotherapy of Cancer: Roche & NewLink $1 Billion Deal for IDO Inhibition
Roche (Genentech) entered into a $1 billion deal with NewLink Genetics, a company with an IDO (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) inhibitor. Continue reading