Rasagiline

Weight Loss Injections Show Promising Anti-Cancer Effects Beyond Weight Reduction

11 days ago

• Research presented at the European Congress on Obesity suggests weight loss injections may reduce obesity-related cancer risk by nearly 50%, potentially through anti-inflammatory mechanisms beyond simple weight reduction. • Scientists from the University of Manchester are designing a large-scale clinical trial involving tens of thousands of patients to further investigate GLP-1 agonists as cancer prevention tools. • Experts believe these findings could herald a "new dawn" in preventative cancer medicine, potentially benefiting even non-obese individuals with high cancer risk factors.

SiVEC's BactPac Platform: Engineered Bacteria Redefining Targeted Drug Delivery for Cancer and Beyond

12 days ago

• SiVEC Biotechnologies has developed BactPac, an innovative platform using engineered non-pathogenic bacteria to both produce and deliver therapeutic biologics with precise cellular targeting capabilities. • The company's lead asset, SVC-KRAb, delivers circular mRNA to produce nanobodies targeting mutant RAS proteins, reducing tumor volume by over 80% in preclinical studies with clinical trials expected in Q3 2026. • BactPac offers significant advantages over conventional delivery systems, including targeted delivery to difficult-to-reach tissues, immune evasion enabling repeat dosing, and simplified manufacturing through bacterial fermentation processes.

Panitumumab Plus FOLFOX Significantly Improves Survival in RAS/BRAF Wild-Type Locally Advanced Colon Cancer

15 days ago

• Exploratory findings from the FOxTROT trial reveal that adding panitumumab to neoadjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy significantly reduced recurrence and improved survival in patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type locally advanced colon cancer. • The combination therapy demonstrated impressive results with a 49% reduction in disease-free survival risk (HR, 0.51), 77% reduction in colon cancer death risk (HR, 0.23), and 64% improvement in overall survival (HR, 0.36) compared to FOLFOX alone. • These results provide the first evidence that anti-EGFR therapy can improve long-term cancer control in locally advanced colon cancer, validating molecular selection for targeted therapy in non-metastatic disease.

Dana-Farber Researchers Present Breakthrough Cancer Studies at AACR 2025 Annual Meeting

a month ago

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers are presenting multiple groundbreaking studies on head and neck, breast, and lung cancers at the 2025 AACR Annual Meeting in Chicago from April 25-30. • Key presentations include Phase 3 results of pembrolizumab in head and neck cancer, promising combination therapies for metastatic breast cancer, and novel RAS inhibitors showing efficacy in lung cancer patients. • The research spans innovative approaches including personalized cancer vaccines, targeted therapies for rare tumors, and digital health coaching interventions that demonstrate improved physical function in cancer survivors.

Pasithea's PAS-004 Shows Strong Target Engagement with 91% pERK Inhibition in Phase 1 Cancer Trial

a month ago

• Pasithea Therapeutics' Phase 1 trial of PAS-004 demonstrated up to 91% inhibition of pERK, confirming substantial target engagement in advanced cancer patients at doses as low as 8mg. • The MEK inhibitor has shown a favorable safety profile with no dose-limiting toxicities or rash observed in the first 19 patients, a significant advantage over competitor drugs that typically cause rash in over 80% of patients. • A stage 4 pancreatic cancer patient with KRAS G12R mutation achieved tumor volume reduction of 9.8% and maintained stable disease for over 5 months, suggesting promising clinical activity.

Adlai Nortye to Showcase Novel Cancer Immunotherapy and RAS Inhibitor at AACR 2025

a month ago

• Adlai Nortye will present findings on two innovative cancer therapies at the AACR Annual Meeting in Chicago this April, highlighting their expanding oncology pipeline. • The company's tri-specific antibody fusion protein AN8025 demonstrates enhanced APC function and T cell activation, with IND submission planned for mid-2025. • Their oral pan-RAS(ON) inhibitor AN9025 shows potent efficacy against multiple RAS-mutant cancers including pancreatic, lung, and colorectal adenocarcinomas, with IND filing expected in late 2025.

SUNLIGHT Trial Highlights Importance of Sequential Therapies in Refractory Colorectal Cancer

a month ago

• The SUNLIGHT trial demonstrated significant survival benefits when adding bevacizumab to trifluridine/tipiracil in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer, showing a 39% improvement in overall survival. • Despite having three FDA-approved regimens for refractory colorectal cancer (trifluridine/tipiracil plus bevacizumab, fruquintinib, and regorafenib), many patients don't receive all available treatment options. • Dr. John Marshall of Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center emphasizes the need for personalized sequencing strategies and warns against non-medical factors influencing treatment decisions.

Vividion Therapeutics Initiates Phase I Trial of Novel RAS-PI3Kα Inhibitor for Advanced Solid Tumors

2 months ago

• Vividion Therapeutics has dosed the first patient in a Phase I trial of VVD-159642, an oral inhibitor targeting the RAS-PI3Kα pathway implicated in approximately 20% of all cancers. • The study will evaluate VVD-159642 as both monotherapy and in combination with sotorasib or trametinib in patients with advanced solid tumors, potentially offering a new treatment approach for RAS-driven cancers. • VVD-159642 represents Vividion's fourth clinical-stage program from its chemoproteomics platform, designed to selectively inhibit oncogenic signaling while avoiding toxicities that have limited previous attempts to target this pathway.

FDA Approves EGRIFTA WR™: New Weekly Reconstitution Formulation for HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy

2 months ago

• Theratechnologies has received FDA approval for EGRIFTA WR™ (tesamorelin F8), a new formulation that requires weekly rather than daily reconstitution for treating excess visceral abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy. • The improved formulation requires less than half the administration volume of the current EGRIFTA SV® version, offering a more convenient patient experience while maintaining bioequivalence to the original tesamorelin formulation. • Recent data presented at CROI 2025 highlights that BMI alone is insufficient for assessing cardiovascular risk in HIV patients, emphasizing the importance of measuring visceral adipose tissue in this population.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists vs SGLT2 Inhibitors: Comparative Cardiovascular Benefits in Diabetes Management

2 months ago

• GLP-1 receptor agonists demonstrate superior benefits for stroke prevention, weight loss, and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, with clinical trials showing a 14% overall reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events. • SGLT2 inhibitors excel in heart failure management, cardiovascular death reduction, and renal protection, with studies showing significant reductions in hospitalization for heart failure and slowed progression of chronic kidney disease. • A Danish cohort study of over 35,000 elderly patients found both drug classes significantly reduced cardiovascular events compared to DPP-4 inhibitors, with SGLT2 inhibitors showing particular advantage in heart failure outcomes.

Expanding GLP-1 Access: A Collaborative Framework to Address Cost and Accessibility Challenges

3 months ago

• The FDA has declared an end to tirzepatide and semaglutide shortages, but high costs remain a significant barrier with GLP-1 medications averaging $1,000 per month. • Two-thirds of employers currently decline coverage for weight loss applications of GLP-1s, citing budget constraints and the potential impact on healthcare costs. • A proposed solution framework suggests collaboration between pharmaceutical companies, employers, and PBMs to create tiered access based on clinical criteria and affordability.

Novo Nordisk Launches Home Delivery Service for Wegovy at $499 Monthly for Cash-Paying Patients

3 months ago

• Novo Nordisk introduces NovoCare Pharmacy, a direct-to-patient delivery service offering all Wegovy dose strengths at $499 per month for cash-paying and eligible commercially insured patients without coverage. • The launch comes as Wegovy supply stabilizes, with FDA confirming Novo Nordisk can now meet market demand following previous shortages that limited new prescriptions since 2022. • Currently, over 55 million Americans have coverage for weight management medicines, with 90% of insured Wegovy patients paying $0-$25 monthly for their prescriptions.

GLP-1 Diabetes Drugs Show Promising Potential for Mental Health Treatment

3 months ago

• Oxford University researchers have conducted a comprehensive review examining the potential benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide in treating various mental health conditions. • The study reveals promising preliminary evidence that GLP-1RAs could improve cognition, reduce addictive behavior, and alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms. • While clinical recommendations cannot yet be made, the findings open new research pathways for investigating GLP-1RAs as potential treatments for cognitive and psychiatric disorders.

Verastem Oncology to Present New LGSOC Treatment Data at SGO 2025 Annual Meeting

3 months ago

• Verastem Oncology will present additional analyses from the Phase 2 RAMP 201 trial evaluating avutometinib plus defactinib in recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer at SGO 2025, building on their FDA Priority Review submission. • The presentations include new subgroup analyses by KRAS mutational status, supporting the company's ongoing efforts to advance treatment options for RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers. • The company's NDA for the avutometinib-defactinib combination therapy has received Priority Review from the FDA with a PDUFA date of June 30, 2025, for KRAS mutant LGSOC patients.

Foresee Pharmaceuticals to Present Phase 3 KATANA Studies of Novel Prostate Cancer Treatment at ASCO-GU 2025

3 months ago

• Foresee Pharmaceuticals will present data from their Phase 3 KATANA studies evaluating FP-014, a novel triptorelin mesylate injection for advanced prostate cancer, at the 2025 ASCO-GU Symposium. • The studies investigate two formulations: an 11.25 mg quarterly injection and a 22.5 mg semi-annual injection, aiming to become the first ready-to-use triptorelin long-acting injectable. • The presentation highlights Foresee's SIF-LAI technology platform and its potential to develop best-in-class long-acting injectables for cancer treatment.

Daraxonrasib (RMC-6236) Shows Promise in RAS-Mutant Pancreatic Cancer with ctDNA Correlation

4 months ago

• Phase 1 trial of daraxonrasib (RMC-6236) in RAS-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) demonstrates encouraging early results. • Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis reveals that most patients experienced a decrease, with approximately 50% achieving complete eradication. • Patients with KRAS G12X mutations showed improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to those with other RAS mutations. • Further follow-up is needed to determine how ctDNA changes correlate with clinical outcomes, particularly in patients with stable disease.

GLP-1 Agonists Linked to Reduced Risk of 42 Health Conditions in Large Study

4 months ago

• A large observational study of nearly 2 million patients found that GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are associated with a reduced risk of 42 health conditions. • The study, which included 215,000 GLP-1RA users, showed benefits beyond glucose control and weight loss, including neurological and respiratory conditions. • While GLP-1RAs demonstrated broad benefits, the study also identified increased risks for certain conditions like kidney stones and low blood pressure. • Researchers emphasize the need for further studies to confirm these findings and understand the long-term effects of GLP-1RA therapy.

FDA Approves Lumakras and Vectibix Combination for KRAS G12C-Mutated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

4 months ago

• The FDA has approved Lumakras (sotorasib) combined with Vectibix (panitumumab) for treating KRAS G12C-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer in adults after prior chemotherapy. • CodeBreaK 300 trial data showed the combination significantly improved progression-free survival compared to standard of care in chemorefractory patients. • Patients on Lumakras and Vectibix had a median progression-free survival of 5.6 months, compared to 2 months on standard of care, with a 26% overall response rate. • This approval provides a new targeted treatment option for a subset of colorectal cancer patients with limited alternatives, emphasizing the importance of biomarker testing.

Novel KRAS-Targeting Agents Show Promise in Clinical Trials for Advanced Cancers

4 months ago

• Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is conducting clinical trials for new KRAS-targeting agents that offer alternative approaches to treating KRAS-mutated cancers. • One trial involves an agent that directly breaks down the KRAS molecule, effectively cutting off the signal for cell growth in cancers with the G12D mutation. • Another trial combines a novel agent, ezurpimtrostat, with trametinib to target any KRAS mutation in bile duct cancer, aiming to block cancer cell survival mechanisms. • These trials mark a significant step forward, providing targeted options for patients with KRAS mutations, which were previously considered 'undruggable'.

Arvinas Advances Vepdegestrant into Phase 3 Trials for Breast Cancer and Updates Pipeline Milestones

4 months ago

• Arvinas plans to initiate two Phase 3 trials in 2025 for vepdegestrant in ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, one in the first-line setting with atirmociclib and another in the second-line setting with a CDK4/6 inhibitor. • Topline data from the Phase 3 VERITAC-2 monotherapy trial of vepdegestrant in second-line-plus ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer is anticipated in the first quarter of 2025. • Arvinas is set to present initial data from the Phase 1 trial of ARV-393 in B-cell lymphomas and file an IND application for a novel PROTAC KRAS G12D degrader in 2025. • Phase 1 trial with PROTAC LRRK2 degrader ARV-102 in patients with Parkinson’s disease has been initiated, with data expected to be presented in the first half of 2025.

Drug Development Updates