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Clinical Trial News

Antennova's ATN-037 Shows Promise in Checkpoint Inhibitor-Resistant Cancers

  • Antennova presented Phase I/Ib data for ATN-037, a CD73 inhibitor, at ESMO 2024, demonstrating its potential to overcome resistance to checkpoint inhibitors.
  • In NSCLC and melanoma patients resistant to CPIs, ATN-037 combined with pembrolizumab showed an overall response rate of 21.1% and a disease control rate of 89.5%.
  • The Phase I dose escalation study suggests ATN-037 can reverse resistance to anti-PD-1 therapies, warranting further investigation in Phase II trials.
  • Antennova has initiated the dose optimization and expansion phase of the Phase II STAMINA trial in Australia and plans to expand to China in late October 2024.

Regeneron's Fianlimab and Libtayo Combo Shows Sustained Melanoma Response

• Regeneron's combination therapy of fianlimab and Libtayo demonstrates continued benefit in advanced melanoma patients after two years, according to Phase I trial data. • The combination achieved a 25% complete response rate and a 57% objective response rate across three cohorts of advanced melanoma patients. • The median progression-free survival was 24 months, with the median duration of response not yet reached, indicating a durable treatment effect. • A Phase III trial comparing the combination to Keytruda is underway, with results anticipated in 2025, potentially expanding treatment options.

Zynyz Plus Chemotherapy Shows Promise in Advanced Anal Cancer

  • Incyte's Zynyz (retifanlimab) combined with chemotherapy significantly improved progression-free survival in previously untreated patients with advanced anal cancer.
  • The Phase III POD1UM-303 trial is the first and largest study evaluating a first-line checkpoint inhibitor for advanced anal cancer, addressing a high unmet medical need.
  • Zynyz plus platinum-based chemotherapy may represent a new standard of care for patients with advanced squamous cell anal cancer, according to study presenter Sheela Rao.
  • Incyte plans to seek FDA approval for Zynyz in anal cancer based on these findings, potentially offering a new treatment option.

Epitomee Medical Receives FDA Approval for Weight Management Pill

  • Epitomee Medical's weight management pill has received FDA approval for sale in the US, causing a significant surge in the company's share price.
  • The pill works by expanding in the stomach to create a feeling of fullness, targeting individuals with mild to moderate obesity.
  • Clinical trial data showed that 27% of patients lost at least 10% of their body weight using Epitomee's pill.
  • Epitomee plans to partner with distributors in the US and Europe, with a product launch anticipated in the third quarter of 2025.

Durvalumab Plus Chemotherapy Improves Outcomes in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

  • The NIAGARA phase 3 trial demonstrated that perioperative durvalumab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved event-free survival in cisplatin-eligible MIBC patients.
  • Overall survival was also significantly improved with the addition of durvalumab, showing a 25% reduction in the risk of death compared to chemotherapy alone.
  • The combination of durvalumab and chemotherapy did not result in a significant increase in grade 3 or 4 adverse events compared to chemotherapy alone, suggesting a manageable safety profile.
  • These findings support perioperative durvalumab with neoadjuvant chemotherapy as a potential new standard of care for cisplatin-eligible muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

FDA Approves First Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Software for Apple AirPods

  • The FDA has approved the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software, designed for use with widely available consumer audio products like Apple's AirPods.
  • This authorization aims to increase the accessibility and affordability of hearing support for adults experiencing perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
  • Apple's AirPods Pro will feature Hearing Test and Hearing Aid capabilities, potentially benefiting over a billion people affected by hearing loss worldwide.
  • The FDA also issued warning letters to two Chinese nonclinical testing laboratories, citing concerns over data quality, integrity, and animal care violations.

In Vivo CAR T-Cell Therapies Advance to Clinical Trials, Promising Faster, Cheaper Cancer Treatment

  • In vivo CAR T-cell generation uses off-the-shelf reprogramming cassettes, potentially reducing manufacturing time and costs compared to ex vivo CAR Ts.
  • Clinical trials are underway to assess the safety and efficacy of in vivo CAR T-cell therapies in treating blood cancers and autoimmune diseases.
  • Lentiviral vectors and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are being explored as delivery vehicles for CAR payloads, each with unique advantages and challenges.
  • Researchers are expanding the application of in vivo CAR T-cell therapies beyond T cells to target myeloid cells for solid tumor treatment.

PatientSeek Identifies Genetic Signature for Vedolizumab Response in Ulcerative Colitis

  • C4X Discovery's PatientSeek platform has identified a genetic signature that distinguishes responders from non-responders to vedolizumab in ulcerative colitis patients.
  • The genetic signature is based on variations in non-coding regions of DNA and offers a stable, time-independent biomarker for patient selection.
  • This precision medicine approach could lead to smaller, more efficient clinical trials by targeting the right patients for a4b7 integrin therapies.
  • The discovery marks a significant advancement in immuno-inflammation precision medicine, potentially guiding clinical practice for IBD treatment.

Certa Therapeutics' GPR68 Inhibitor FT011 Receives International Non-Proprietary Name: Asengeprast

  • Certa Therapeutics' lead drug candidate FT011 has been granted the International Non-Proprietary Name (INN) 'asengeprast' by the World Health Organization.
  • Asengeprast is a first-in-class oral GPR68 antagonist being developed for treating chronic fibrosis in multiple organs, demonstrating efficacy in preclinical models.
  • Clinical studies have shown favorable efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of asengeprast in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, with plans for a Phase IIb trial.
  • Certa Therapeutics is also developing biomarkers and gene signatures to identify patients most likely to respond to asengeprast treatment.

AstraZeneca's Imfinzi Shows Promise in Extending Lives of Bladder Cancer Patients

  • AstraZeneca's Imfinzi, combined with standard care, significantly reduced the risk of disease recurrence by 32% in muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients.
  • The late-stage trial involving 1,063 patients demonstrated that Imfinzi also lowered the risk of death by 25% when used with treatments like chemotherapy.
  • Positive data from the Imfinzi trial has boosted AstraZeneca's shares, potentially increasing annual revenue by $500 million if approved for this new patient group.
  • The study's findings, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress, mark the first instance of an immunotherapy drug improving survival in this cancer type.

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