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LTZ Therapeutics Partners with Eli Lilly to Advance First-in-Class Myeloid Engager Platform

Oncology
  • LTZ Therapeutics announced a strategic research collaboration with Eli Lilly to develop novel myeloid engager therapeutics against selected targets for diseases with high unmet need.
  • The agreement includes a double-digit million USD upfront payment and equity investment for LTZ, plus eligibility for preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payments.
  • The collaboration combines LTZ's first-in-class Myeloid Engager Platform with Lilly's expertise in research, development and commercialization to accelerate therapeutic development.
  • LTZ's platform targets myeloid biology to improve clinical outcomes in patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases through novel immunotherapy approaches.

Biotech Investment Downturn Creates New Opportunities as Select VC Firms Raise Major Funds

Oncology
  • Omega Funds closed a $647 million life sciences fund in early 2025, contrasting sharply with the industry downturn that saw only four biotech VC funds close in Q1 2025 compared to 309 funds in 2021.
  • Industry leaders view the current market correction as a healthy post-bubble rightsizing that offers better investment opportunities with lower valuations and reduced competition for assets.
  • The previous biotech bubble period of 2019-2020 led to inflated valuations and premature public offerings, with technologies like CRISPR experiencing significant overhype before the market correction.
  • Omega Funds and Deerfield Management are focusing investments on oncology, immunology, and rare diseases, taking advantage of improved market conditions for disciplined investing.

Artbio Raises $132 Million Series B to Advance Lead-212 Radiopharmaceutical for Prostate Cancer

Targeted TherapyOncology
  • Artbio secured $132 million in Series B funding to advance AB001, a lead-212 based radiopharmaceutical targeting metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
  • The company's AB001 drug uses Pb-212 isotope technology designed to deliver radiation more quickly to tumors compared to existing treatments like Novartis' Pluvicto.
  • Funding will support mid-stage clinical trials and manufacturing network expansion, with a Phase 1 trial beginning imminently this year.
  • The Cambridge and Oslo-based startup, led by former Novartis executive Emanuele Ostuni, aims to compete in the rapidly growing radiopharmaceutical oncology market.

Phase 0/1 Study of 212Pb-NG001 in mCRPC

NCT05725070CompletedEarly Phase 1
ARTBIO Inc.
Posted 3/6/2023

ViroCell Biologics Partners with AvenCell Therapeutics to Advance Dual-Targeted Allogeneic CAR-T Therapy

CAR-TOncology
  • ViroCell Biologics has delivered a novel retroviral vector to AvenCell Therapeutics for their investigational CD19/CD20 dual-targeted CAR-T therapy AVC-203, designed for B cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases.
  • AVC-203 is an allogeneic "off-the-shelf" CAR-T cell therapy engineered to mitigate graft-versus-host disease and graft rejection, incorporating AvenCell's RevCAR receptor for additional antigen targeting with in vivo "off/on" capability.
  • The therapy is expected to enter a phase I clinical trial for relapsed/refractory B cell lymphoma in the second half of 2025, with potential advantages of improved efficacy, immediate treatment availability, and reduced cost compared to existing CAR-T therapies.

Fertility Preservation Gains Momentum in Cancer Care as Awareness and Access Improve

Oncology
  • Cancer treatments including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery can severely impact fertility in reproductive-age patients, making early fertility preservation counseling essential.
  • Fertility specialists can now see patients within 24 hours of referral and complete preservation procedures within 2 weeks without delaying cancer treatment.
  • Advanced techniques like ovarian tissue cryopreservation offer options for patients who cannot undergo conventional egg freezing, including prepubertal girls.
  • ASCO guidelines now recommend that all reproductive-age cancer patients receive counseling on fertility preservation options as part of their standard care.

Qualigen Therapeutics Secures $4.5 Million in Series A-3 Preferred Stock Financing to Advance Cancer Therapeutics Pipeline

OncologyOrphan Drug
  • Qualigen Therapeutics completed a $4.5 million private placement of Series A-3 Preferred Stock on July 28, 2025, with institutional and accredited investors.
  • The financing will support working capital needs for the clinical-stage biotechnology company's cancer therapeutics development programs.
  • Qualigen's pipeline includes QN-302 for pancreatic cancer, QN-247 for hematologic malignancies, and RAS oncogene inhibitors, all targeting high unmet medical needs.
  • The preferred stock is convertible into 1,607,143 common shares at $2.80 per share, with Univest LLC serving as exclusive placement agent.

Avacta Completes Transition to Pure-Play Therapeutics with £2.2M Coris Sale

Precision MedicineOncology
  • Avacta Group has agreed to sell Coris Bioconcept SRL to 3B BlackBio Dx Ltd for £2.15 million upfront plus potential earn-outs of up to £615,000, completing its transformation into a pure-play therapeutics company.
  • The sale represents the final step in Avacta's strategic pivot away from diagnostics, following the earlier divestment of Launch Diagnostics in March 2025.
  • Proceeds will fund advancement of Avacta's preCISION platform for peptide drug conjugates targeting precision oncology treatments.
  • The transaction extends Avacta's cash runway into Q1 2026 and allows full focus on its tumor-targeting therapeutic pipeline powered by fibroblast activation protein technology.

IsoBio Secures $5 Million Series Seed Funding to Advance Antibody-Isotope Conjugates for Cancer Treatment

Monoclonal AntibodyOncologyTargeted Therapy
  • IsoBio, Inc. has closed a $5 million Series Seed financing round led by ASP Isotopes Inc. to develop antibody-isotope conjugates (AICs) targeting both validated and novel tumor antigens for cancer treatment.
  • The strategic partnership with ASP Isotopes and its subsidiary PET Labs aims to address critical isotope supply chain challenges that have historically constrained radiotherapy development and commercialization.
  • IsoBio is developing radiotherapeutics containing Lutetium-177, Actinium-225, Terbium-161, and other novel radioisotopes using proprietary linker and conjugation technology.
  • The company is led by radiation oncologist Bruce Turner, M.D., Ph.D., who previously co-led the merger creating Immunome and has extensive experience in targeted oncology therapeutics.

AIM ImmunoTech Reports Promising Mid-Year Results from Phase 2 Pancreatic Cancer Combination Therapy Study

OncologyOrphan Drug
  • AIM ImmunoTech's Phase 2 DURIPANC study evaluating Ampligen combined with AstraZeneca's Imfinzi shows encouraging safety and efficacy signals in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients post-FOLFIRINOX treatment.
  • The combination therapy demonstrated no significant toxicity with 21% of patients achieving progression-free survival greater than 6 months and 64% of patients surviving beyond 6 months.
  • The study builds on previous monotherapy data from over 50 patients treated under compassionate use, representing a potential breakthrough in a disease with historically limited immunotherapy responsiveness.
  • Results suggest superior outcomes compared to historical data for maintenance or second-line immunotherapies in pancreatic cancer, a disease that kills over 500,000 people worldwide annually.

Combining Anti-PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Durvalumab With TLR-3 Agonist Rintatolimod in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma for Therapy Efficacy

NCT05927142RecruitingPhase 1
Joachim Aerts, MD PhD
Posted 1/9/2024

RenovoRx Launches Multi-Center PanTheR Registry Study to Evaluate Real-World Safety of RenovoCath Device

Targeted TherapyOncology
  • RenovoRx has launched the PanTheR Post-Marketing Registry Study, a multi-center observational study designed to evaluate the long-term safety and real-world effectiveness of the FDA-cleared RenovoCath drug-delivery device in patients with solid tumors.
  • The University of Vermont Cancer Center will be the first site to initiate patient enrollment, with additional cancer centers expected to commence enrollment before the end of September 2025.
  • The registry study will capture real-world data across diverse cancer types and clinical environments, potentially informing future clinical trial designs and evidence-based treatment strategies.
  • Participating cancer centers will purchase RenovoCath devices from RenovoRx for use in the study, representing a revenue-generating opportunity for the company.

PanTheR Registry Trial

NCT06805461Recruiting
RenovoRx
Posted 8/1/2025

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