Human interleukin-2

Aulos Bioscience announced the first patients dosed in a Phase I/II trial investigating avelumab, in combination with imneskibart and low-dose, subcutaneous aldesleukin, for non-small cell lung cancer. The trial follows a collaboration and supply agreement with Merck, evaluating the combination therapy for second-line treatment. Pre-clinical results showed strong anti-cancer activity, including complete tumour eradication.

Aulos Bioscience announced dosing of the first patient with AU-007, avelumab, and low-dose aldesleukin in a Phase 2 cohort for PD-L1+ NSCLC. This trial is a collaboration with Ares Trading S.A., a Merck KGaA subsidiary, and part of Aulos’ Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AU-007. Preliminary data from the Phase 2 cohort is expected in the first half of 2025.

Trump's deregulatory economic policy and favorable seasonal period for the economy have analysts optimistic about market growth. Raymond James highlights Mural Oncology (MURA) and Disc Medicine (IRON) as stocks with significant upside potential, with MURA potentially gaining nearly 440% and IRON around 70%.

Ascendis Pharma reports Q3 2024 financials: YORVIPATH U.S. launch in mid-January 2025, Q3 revenue €8.5 million ex-U.S.; TransCon CNP NDA submission planned for Q1 2025, MAA for Q3 2025; SKYTROFA Q3 revenue €47.2 million; full-year 2024 SKYTROFA revenue expected €200-€220 million; operating expenses ~€600 million; Novo Nordisk collaboration for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases; Q3 total revenue €57.8 million; R&D costs €73.5 million; SG&A expenses €69.8 million; net loss €99.2 million.

Early serum IL-2 levels on days 1 and 3 post-CAR T-cell therapy infusion predict rapid and robust CAR T-cell expansion in leukemia/lymphoma patients, outperforming IFN-γ and GM-CSF. IL-2 remains strongly linked to expansion at day 7, suggesting its potential as an early biomarker for CAR T-cell activity.

Indapta Therapeutics presented clinical data on IDP-023, an allogeneic g-NK cell therapy, showing objective responses in 5/9 patients with advanced multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, at the lowest cell dose and without targeting antibodies. Preclinical data indicated enhanced migration and immune synapse formation by IDP-023, and superior cytotoxicity against solid tumor cell lines compared to conventional NK cells.