Tag Archives: NSCLC

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

New Epidermal Growth Factor Strategies in the Clinic for Glioblastoma & Lung Cancer

Two companies, Celldex and Clovis, reported positive developments with their strategies to target the mutated Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor for patients with glioblastoma and lung cancer. Continue reading

EGFRm+ non-small cell lung cancer – new treatments in development

For patients with activating mutations to the EGFR receptor kinase, small molecule specific inhibitors Iressa (gefintinib) or Tarceva (erlotinib) are administered as front-line treatments.  But, non-small cell lung cancers develop resistance after about one year of treatment via a single recurrent missense mutation (T790M) to the tyrosine kinase.  This is similar to resistance observed in patients with CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) following treatment Gleevec (imatinib), which is mediated by a mutation to the Bcr-Abl transgene. Continue reading