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Hovione and Firstgene Partner to Develop Novel Gene Therapy for Liver Cancer

Oncology
  • Hovione and Firstgene Life Sciences have established a strategic collaboration to develop a tissue-specific gene therapy targeting hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
  • The partnership leverages Hovione's proprietary virus-like particle platform technology, which enables highly specific delivery of genetic material to target tissues while minimizing off-target effects common in conventional gene therapies.
  • This collaboration represents Xlife Sciences AG's strategic entry into the gene therapy market, expanding its portfolio into high-potential therapeutic areas while addressing a significant unmet medical need for the approximately 900,000 new HCC cases diagnosed annually.

RenovoRx Secures New U.S. Patent for TAMP Therapy Platform, Strengthening IP Portfolio for Targeted Cancer Treatment

OncologyTargeted Therapy
  • RenovoRx received U.S. patent NO. 12,290,564 for "Methods for Treating Tumors," expanding protection of its Trans-Arterial Micro-Perfusion (TAMP) therapy platform through November 2037.
  • The patent covers novel methods for local drug delivery near tumors using the company's FDA-cleared RenovoCath device, marking the ninth U.S. patent in RenovoRx's growing intellectual property portfolio.
  • This patent strengthens commercial protection for RenovoCath as the company scales commercialization efforts and advances its Phase III TIGeR-PaC trial evaluating intra-arterial gemcitabine for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
  • RenovoRx now holds 19 issued patents and 12 pending patents, providing robust IP protection as the company began generating revenue from RenovoCath device sales in December 2024.

JNJ-1900 Shows Promise in Phase 1 Trial for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Oncology
  • JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) demonstrated favorable safety and feasibility in a Phase 1 trial involving 22 patients with locally advanced or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.
  • The trial showed encouraging efficacy with a median overall survival of 23 months from diagnosis, compared to 19.2 months with standard care in a historical review.
  • Exploratory biomarker analyses revealed CA19-9 normalization in 59% of patients, associated with improved survival, and increased circulating tumor mutational burden in 40% of patients.

Theralase's Light-Activated Ruvidar Shows Promising Results in BCG-Unresponsive Bladder Cancer Clinical Trial

Oncology
  • Theralase's Phase II clinical trial for BCG-Unresponsive Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) shows 62.5% complete response rate with its light-activated small molecule Ruvidar.
  • The therapy demonstrates impressive durability with 45% of complete responders maintaining cancer-free status for at least 12 months, and some patients showing responses lasting over 7 years.
  • Theralase plans to complete trial enrollment by mid-2025, submit regulatory applications to Health Canada and FDA in late 2026, with potential market approval by early 2027.

Evolving Treatment Landscape for EGFR-Mutant NSCLC: Managing Resistance and Optimizing Therapy Sequence

Targeted TherapyOncology
  • Repeat biopsies at disease progression are crucial for identifying resistance mechanisms in EGFR-mutant NSCLC, with MET alterations present in approximately 25-30% of patients and histologic transformation remaining a significant challenge.
  • The MARIPOSA-2 regimen (amivantamab plus chemotherapy), VEGF inhibitors, and emerging antibody-drug conjugates represent key treatment options for patients who progress after initial EGFR-targeted therapy.
  • Despite significant advances in first-line treatment with 25% improvement in overall survival, managing resistance remains the primary challenge, driving ongoing clinical trials like SAVANNAH and ORCHARD to explore novel combinations.

Immuneoncia Therapeutics Raises $24M in Successful Kosdaq IPO for Cancer Drug Development

Oncology
  • Immuneoncia Therapeutics successfully raised ₩33.9 billion (US$24 million) in its Kosdaq IPO on May 19, with shares closing 108% higher than the offering price.
  • The company, a joint venture between South Korea's Yuhan Corp. and San Diego-based Sorrento Therapeutics, plans to use the funds to support R&D operations through 2026.
  • Immuneoncia joins two other Korean biotechs preparing for May IPOs: Organoid Sciences, focused on regenerative cell therapy, and Intocell, specializing in antibody-drug conjugates.

Study Confirms Clinical Trial Results Accurately Predict Real-World Benefits of Prostate Cancer Therapies

Real World EvidenceOncology
  • New research comparing randomized controlled trials and real-world outcomes for prostate cancer treatments shows clinical trials may slightly underestimate therapeutic benefits in actual practice.
  • The study examined multiple drug classes including androgen-targeted therapies, radiopharmaceuticals, and immunotherapy approved between 2010-2019, finding consistent or better real-world effectiveness.
  • These findings provide reassurance that clinical trial results can reliably predict treatment outcomes across diverse patient populations despite the typically more selective trial enrollment criteria.

Real-World Data Emerges as Key Solution to Oncology Treatment Challenges

Real World EvidenceOncology
  • Oncologists face significant challenges with treatment costs and financial toxicity, as novel cancer therapies often come with prohibitively high price tags passed on to patients.
  • The rapid proliferation of new cancer treatments has created uncertainty about optimal sequencing, as clinical trials typically evaluate therapies in specific settings that may not reflect real-world practice.
  • Real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) are becoming increasingly important tools to address these challenges and improve oncology reporting and treatment decisions.

Novel Bispecific Antibody Tarlatamab Shows Promise in Relapsed Small Cell Lung Cancer

Oncology
  • The DeLLphi-301 trial demonstrated promising response rates for tarlatamab, a DLL3-targeting bispecific antibody, in patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer.
  • First-line treatment combining PD-L1 inhibitors with platinum-based chemotherapy has become the standard of care, with atezolizumab and durvalumab showing overall survival benefits of 12.3 and 13.0 months respectively.
  • Limited treatment options exist for patients after disease progression, highlighting the critical need for novel therapeutic approaches in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.
  • Emerging bispecific antibodies and immune modulators are being tested in combination with PD-L1 inhibitors, potentially altering the future treatment landscape.

CML Treatment Market Poised for Significant Growth Through 2032 Amid Wave of Recent FDA Approvals

OncologyDrug ApprovalFDA Approval
  • The chronic myelogenous leukemia treatment market is expected to experience significant growth through 2032, driven by increasing disease prevalence and multiple recent FDA approvals.
  • Recent regulatory milestones include FDA approvals for Cipla's nilotinib capsules, Marks Shorla's oral liquid imatinib formulation, and Novartis's accelerated approval for Scemblix in newly diagnosed patients.
  • The market features a robust pipeline of emerging therapies from companies including Enliven Therapeutics, Terns Pharmaceuticals, and Ascentage Pharma targeting unmet needs in resistant cases.
  • Current epidemiological data shows approximately 9,280 new CML diagnoses expected in the US in 2024, with 85-90% of patients diagnosed during the chronic phase.

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