University of Helsinki

Valo Therapeutics Secures €19M Funding to Advance Novel Cancer Immunotherapy Platform

2 months ago

• Valo Therapeutics has secured €19 million in funding from European and Australian investors to advance its PeptiCRAd cancer immunotherapy platform through Phase 1B clinical trials in Italy, Australia, and Germany. • The company will establish a new Italian subsidiary in Naples to conduct clinical trials, scale up virus manufacturing, and support research activities in Southern Italy. • PeptiCRAd technology uses tumor antigen-coated oncolytic viruses to enhance anti-tumor immune responses in solid tumors, potentially offering new treatment options for currently undruggable cancers.

Automated Insulin Delivery Systems Enhance Glycaemic Control in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes

5 months ago

Recent research from the University of Helsinki shows that automated insulin delivery (AID) systems significantly improve glycaemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, especially those not achieving optimal control with traditional treatments.

TILT Biotherapeutics Advances TILT-123 Immunotherapy with Positive Clinical Trial Data

6 months ago

• TILT Biotherapeutics presented data at ESMO-IO 2024 supporting personalized strategies to improve clinical trial outcomes with TILT-123. • Single-cell sequencing identified immunological markers in peripheral blood linked to better outcomes with Igrelimogene litadenorepvec. • TILT is progressing plans for Phase II trials of intravenously administered TILT-123 in ovarian cancer, with Phase Ib results expected in H2 2025. • Over 60 patients have been treated across five international trials, showing promising initial efficacy responses in some patients.

Medistim Launches PATENT Study to Improve Outcomes in Critical Limb Ischemia Bypass Surgery

6 months ago

• Medistim initiates the PATENT study, a multicenter trial, to assess the clinical benefits of intraoperative completion control using TTFM and HFUS in patients undergoing bypass surgery for Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia (CLTI). • The study aims to enroll 450 patients across 15 sites in the USA, Europe, and Asia, with recruitment starting by the end of 2024, to evaluate both immediate and one-year clinical outcomes. • The PATENT study seeks to determine the prognostic value of TTFM and HFUS in predicting one-year clinical outcomes, distinguishing patients at high risk of graft failure from those at low risk. • Medistim anticipates that the study's findings will drive the adoption of their MiraQ devices, enhancing competitiveness against traditional methods like Doppler ultrasound and angiography.

Drug Sensitivity Testing Personalizes AML Treatment and Improves Outcomes

7 months ago

• A Finnish study demonstrates that drug sensitivity testing can identify acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients likely to benefit from venetoclax and azacitidine, improving treatment outcomes. • The study showed that leukemia cells' sensitivity to venetoclax in lab tests correlated with improved patient response and longer survival rates in AML patients. • This personalized approach, involving 104 AML patients, has accelerated access to venetoclax in Finland, reducing adverse effects and the costs of ineffective treatments. • The rapid turnaround of sensitivity data, within three days, enabled more personalized treatment decisions, with potential for testing other drugs in the future.

Faron Pharmaceuticals' Bexmarilimab Shows Promise in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Treatment

7 months ago

• Faron Pharmaceuticals' BEXMAB trial shows a 79% overall response rate in relapsed/refractory myelodysplastic syndrome (r/r MDS) patients treated with bexmarilimab and azacitidine. • The median overall survival (mOS) in r/r MDS patients remains at 13.4 months, significantly longer than the 5-6 months typically expected with standard care. • Faron is in partnering discussions to fund Phase III development and commercialization of bexmarilimab, with potential financial strengthening under consideration. • Faron has renewed its Scientific Advisory Board with experts in hematological neoplasms and solid tumors to guide drug development.

TILT Biotherapeutics Presents Promising Clinical Data on Intravenous TILT-123 at ESMO 2024

8 months ago

• TILT Biotherapeutics presented Phase I clinical data at ESMO 2024, showcasing the potential of fully intravenous TILT-123 monotherapy in advanced solid cancers. • The study demonstrated that the intravenous regimen of TILT-123 is safe, resulting in tumor transduction and immunological effects in metastases across various cancer types. • Disease control was observed in 33% of patients per RECIST1.1 and 66% based on PET criteria, indicating encouraging initial efficacy in a difficult-to-treat population. • TILT-123, an oncolytic adenovirus armed with TNFα and IL-2, aims to enhance T-cell therapies by selectively targeting and lysing cancer cells while stimulating immune responses.