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Health Canada Approves First-of-Its-Kind Antibody-Drug Conjugate for Multiple Myeloma Treatment

Drug ApprovalOncologyTargeted Therapy
  • Health Canada has approved Blenrep, a first-of-its-kind antibody-drug conjugate for multiple myeloma treatment, representing a significant advancement for patients with this incurable blood cancer.
  • The drug features a unique dual mechanism that combines targeted antibody binding with attached cytotoxic payload to specifically kill myeloma cells in the bone marrow.
  • Blenrep is administered to patients who have undergone stem cell transplant and one prior line of therapy, offering an "off-the-shelf" treatment option that requires no special preparation.
  • The approval adds another therapeutic option to the treatment chain for multiple myeloma patients, potentially extending disease control for years and offering hope for significantly longer survival.

Cellectar Biosciences Raises $2.5 Million Through Warrant Exercise to Advance Cancer Drug Development

Targeted TherapyOrphan DrugOncology
  • Cellectar Biosciences secured $2.5 million in funding through the exercise of existing warrants at a reduced price of $0.3041 per share, with proceeds designated for general corporate purposes and operating expenses.
  • The company's lead candidate iopofosine I 131 has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation and is being studied in Phase 2b trials for multiple myeloma and CNS lymphoma.
  • Cellectar's proprietary Phospholipid Drug Conjugate platform aims to deliver next-generation cancer treatments with improved efficacy and safety through targeted delivery mechanisms.

CancerVax Achieves Breakthrough in Targeted Nanoparticle Development for Universal Cancer Treatment

Targeted Therapy
  • CancerVax successfully created cell-targeting nanoparticles that can latch onto cancer cell surface proteins with high efficiency, completing a critical component of their two-step cancer detection platform.
  • The company's innovative approach uses Smart mRNA technology to disguise cancer cells as viruses like measles, tricking the immune system into attacking malignant cells while leaving healthy tissue unharmed.
  • Recent laboratory confirmation demonstrated strong conjugation efficiency, indicating the nanoparticles can be manufactured at scale for potential clinical-grade production.
  • The next phase involves combining the targeting nanoparticles with Smart mRNA payloads for in-vitro optimization and in-vivo animal testing to evaluate efficacy and toxicity.

Servier India Launches First-in-Class IDH1-Targeted Therapy Ivosidenib for Rare Blood and Bile Duct Cancers

Targeted TherapyDrug ApprovalOncologyRare DiseasePrecision Medicine
  • Servier India received CDSCO approval on May 14, 2025, to launch Ivosidenib (Tibsovo®), the first oral targeted therapy for IDH1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia and cholangiocarcinoma in India.
  • The therapy addresses a critical unmet medical need, as only 30-40% of AML patients in India receive adequate treatment and IDH1 mutations occur in approximately 7-14% of Indian AML patients.
  • Ivosidenib has already gained regulatory approval in over 42 countries, including FDA approval in 2019 and EMA approval in 2023 for specific patient populations.
  • The company is prioritizing accessibility and affordability through collaborations with healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups, and policymakers to ensure broader patient access across India.

UNF Researchers Advance Cancer-Fighting Compound to Animal Trials After Breakthrough Discovery

Targeted Therapy
  • University of North Florida researchers have developed a targeted cancer-fighting peptoid compound that causes specific cancer cells to explode while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
  • The team has received a U.S. patent for their compound targeting protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT) in breast, colon, and lung cancers, with animal trials beginning this fall.
  • Unlike conventional chemotherapy and radiation, this approach could potentially eliminate harsh side effects by selectively targeting only cancer cells.
  • The compound shows additional promise beyond cancer treatment, with potential applications for conditions such as dementia.

TerThera Launches World's First GMP-Compliant Terbium-161 for Enhanced Cancer Radiotherapy

Targeted Therapy
  • TerThera B.V. has officially launched the world's first GMP-compliant Terbium-161 NCA, setting a new benchmark in commercial scale production of this promising radionuclide.
  • The GMP-compliant Terbium-161 meets the highest quality and safety standards required for clinical trials and patient care across Europe and beyond, lowering regulatory barriers.
  • Terbium-161 demonstrates high potential to decimate both primary tumors and micrometastases through abundant Auger electron emission and high Linear Energy Transfer.
  • The company is actively constructing a large-scale production facility to meet growing global demand and expand access to this radionuclide for optimized cancer treatments.

RET Inhibitor Rechallenge Shows Promise in Pre-Treated NSCLC Patients After Toxicity-Related Discontinuation

Targeted TherapyOncology
  • Rechallenge with a different first-generation RET inhibitor after toxicity-related discontinuation achieved a 50% objective response rate and 9.89-month median progression-free survival in RET-rearranged NSCLC patients.
  • The retrospective multicenter study from the RET MAP registry demonstrated that switching to a different RET inhibitor of the same class remains effective after initial treatment discontinuation due to side effects.
  • RET inhibitor rechallenge after disease progression showed limited efficacy as monotherapy with only 18% response rate, though combination therapies targeting bypass resistance showed some promise.
  • The findings provide new evidence for treatment sequencing in RET-rearranged NSCLC, a rare subset affecting 1-2% of advanced lung cancer patients with limited therapeutic options.

Continuity Biosciences Acquires Focal Medical to Advance Iontophoresis-Based Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

Targeted Therapy
  • Continuity Biosciences has acquired Focal Medical, a North Carolina-based company developing site-specific chemotherapy using iontophoresis technology for pancreatic cancer treatment.
  • Focal Medical's lead product candidate uses an iontophoresis device to deliver gemcitabine directly to pancreatic tumors, which has received FDA IND clearance with Phase 1b trials expected to begin later this year.
  • The acquisition includes Focal Medical's patent estate, technology platform, and a dedicated R&D facility in Cary, NC, positioning Continuity as a leader in device-targeted therapeutics for solid tumors.
  • The iontophoresis approach enhances local drug concentration while minimizing systemic toxicity, addressing key limitations of traditional gemcitabine administration in pancreatic cancer.

Phase 3 Trial Shows Promise for Adjuvant BRAF/MEK Inhibitor Combination in High-Risk Melanoma

Targeted TherapyOncology
  • The phase 3 EORTC-2139-MG/Columbus-AD trial demonstrated that adjuvant encorafenib plus binimetinib improved 12-month recurrence-free survival to 86% versus 70% with placebo in patients with stage IIB/C BRAF V600-mutant melanoma.
  • The combination therapy was generally well tolerated with a manageable safety profile, though 33% of patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events.
  • This represents the first randomized adjuvant trial of BRAF-directed therapy in stage IIB/IIC melanoma, potentially offering patients an alternative to immunotherapy in the adjuvant setting.

Adjuvant Encorafenib and Binimetinib in High-risk Stage II Melanoma With a BRAF Mutation.

NCT05270044Active, Not RecruitingPhase 3
Pierre Fabre Medicament
Posted 5/2/2022

Study Comparing Combination of LGX818 Plus MEK162 Versus Vemurafenib and LGX818 Monotherapy in BRAF Mutant Melanoma

NCT01909453CompletedPhase 3
Pfizer
Posted 9/12/2013

Terbium-161 Radioimmunotherapy Shows Superior Efficacy Against Lymphoma in Preclinical Studies

Targeted TherapyMonoclonal AntibodyOncology
  • Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute have developed a novel radioimmunotherapy using terbium-161 attached to CD30-targeting antibodies for lymphoma treatment.
  • The terbium-161 therapy demonstrated 2 to 43 times greater cancer cell killing efficacy compared to lutetium-177 in laboratory studies.
  • Preclinical mouse studies showed treated animals survived twice as long as controls, with some achieving complete cancer remission.
  • The therapy targets CD30 receptors present in approximately one-third of lymphoma patients and could address previously difficult-to-treat T-cell lymphomas.

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