UK scientists have reported new findings on the role of heat shock proteins in the development of prostate cancer which suggest that the p23 protein may act independently to activate the androgen hormones that fuel the cancer’s growth.
Novartis has announced plans to invest in a new Center for Advanced Cellular Therapies at the University of Pennsylvania in the US to research immunotherapies for patients with cancer using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technologies.
Some 300 clinical trials are underway in Europe testing prospective cell, gene and tissue-engineered therapies. Known as advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), these medicines are being investigated for a broad range of diseases- from macular degeneration to Parkinson’s disease.
Thrombogenics NV and BioInvent International AB have decided to stop development of an early-stage anticoagulant after safety issues were identified. They have also regained a cancer asset from Roche, which has left the programme.
New data from a Phase 2 study of the prostate cancer drug, tasquinimod, show longer median overall survival times than previously reported for this patient population, according to the sponsors, Active Biotech AB and Ipsen SA. The data were reported at Asco.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc said that a Phase 3 trial of its tyrosine kinase inhibitor, afatinib, in patients with non-small lung cancer reached its primary endpoint of progression free survival. Data are being presented at Asco on 4 June.
A Phase 3 trial of the Bayer compound, regorafenib, in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) has met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival, according to the sponsors. Data are being presented at Asco on 4 June.
Roche said that its antibody-drug conjugate, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), has met its co-primary endpoint of a significant improvement in progression-free survival in a Phase 3 study of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
4SC AG said that its cancer therapy, resminostat, in combination with sorafenib, achieved a progression-free survival of 4.7 months after 12 weeks in patients with advanced liver cancer. Data will be presented at ASCO on 4 June.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is mobilising researchers at 10 different institutes in the US and Europe to investigate the role of immunotherapies in treating cancer. The project has been launched under the name ‘immuno-oncology network’.