MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

VERAXA Biotech Appoints Oncology Veteran Rick Austin as Chief Scientific Officer to Advance Novel Cancer Therapies

2 days ago

• Dr. Rick Austin, with over 25 years of oncology drug development experience, joins VERAXA Biotech as Chief Scientific Officer to advance the company's BiTAC platform and clinical-stage pipeline. • Austin brings extensive expertise from leadership roles at Harpoon Therapeutics, Amgen, and Tularik, where he led tumor immunology projects and enabled numerous IND filings and first-in-human studies. • VERAXA, an emerging leader in novel cancer therapies and proposed acquisition target of Voyager Acquisition Corp., aims to leverage Austin's expertise to expand therapeutic windows for antibody drug conjugates and T-cell engagers.

AACR Annual Meeting 2025 to Bridge Gap Between Cancer Science and Clinical Practice

a month ago

• The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago will focus on "Unifying Cancer Science and Medicine" with presentations spanning from basic research to practice-changing clinical trials. • Program chairs Dr. Lillian Siu and Dr. Matthew Vander Heiden emphasize cross-disciplinary collaboration, encouraging attendees to explore topics outside their expertise to foster innovation in cancer research. • Key clinical trials to be presented include promising data on zongertinib for HER2-mutant lung cancer, dostarlimab for rectal cancer, and an off-the-shelf CAR NK cell therapy for hematologic malignancies.

MIT Develops Revolutionary Injectable Drug Depot System for Long-Term Medication Delivery

2 months ago

• MIT engineers have created an innovative injectable crystal suspension system that forms a drug "depot" under the skin, capable of releasing medication continuously for months to years through a small needle. • The technology uses levonorgestrel crystals suspended in biocompatible benzyl benzoate solvent, forming a compact implant after injection that could significantly reduce the frequency of painful injections for contraceptives and chronic disease treatments. • Preclinical studies in rats showed stable drug release over three months with 85% of medication remaining, suggesting potential for year-long delivery, with applications extending to HIV, tuberculosis, and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Elicio Therapeutics Gains FDA Support for ELI-002 Registrational Strategy in KRAS-Mutated Cancers

4 months ago

• Elicio Therapeutics received supportive feedback from the FDA regarding the registrational strategy for ELI-002, an investigational cancer vaccine. • The FDA's feedback included key elements of the Phase 3 study design, such as dose, schedule, patient population, and primary endpoint analysis. • Elicio's Phase 2 AMPLIFY-7P study of ELI-002 is fully enrolled, with an interim analysis of disease-free survival expected in H1 2025. • Positive results from the Phase 2 study could support rapid advancement into Phase 3 development and a potential Biologics License Application (BLA).

Home OCT Device Scanly Receives FDA Approval for Remote Monitoring of Retinal Diseases

5 months ago

• Notal Vision's Scanly, a patient self-operated home OCT device, has received FDA De Novo authorization for monitoring retinal diseases like nAMD. • Scanly allows for frequent at-home monitoring of retinal fluid, potentially providing eye care professionals with real-time insights into treatment effectiveness. • Clinical trials demonstrated high patient adherence and agreement between at-home Scanly images and in-office OCT scans, suggesting ease of use and reliability. • Experts believe home OCT could reduce treatment burden and enable more personalized care in ophthalmology, especially with the advent of longer-acting medications.

Accent Therapeutics Doses First Patient in Phase 1/2 Trial of DHX9 Inhibitor ATX-559

5 months ago

• Accent Therapeutics initiated a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for ATX-559, a first-in-class DHX9 inhibitor, focusing on BRCA1/2-deficient breast cancer and MSI-H/dMMR solid tumors. • The trial aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of ATX-559 in solid tumor patients. • Accent Therapeutics anticipates its second program targeting KIF18A to enter clinical trials in the first half of 2025, aimed at treating patients with chromosomally instable tumors. • Serena Silver, Ph.D., has been promoted to Chief Scientific Officer, succeeding Robert A. Copeland, Ph.D., who will retire effective December 31, 2024.

Eisbach Bio Relocates to Houston with $4.75M CPRIT Grant to Advance EIS-12656 Trial in HRD Tumors

6 months ago

• Eisbach Bio is relocating to Houston, supported by a $4.75 million grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). • The funding will support Phase 2 clinical trials of EIS-12656, a therapy targeting homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) tumors. • EIS-12656 functions by suppressing cancer-related genome reorganization caused by DNA damage, offering a novel approach to cancer treatment. • CPRIT's investment aims to establish Texas as a hub for innovative cancer treatments and expand clinical options for HRD patients.

Elicio Therapeutics Advances mKRAS-Targeting Cancer Vaccine, Anticipates Phase 2 Results in H1 2025

6 months ago

• Elicio Therapeutics anticipates completing enrollment for the AMPLIFY-7P Phase 2 trial of ELI-002 in Q4 2024, with interim disease-free survival (DFS) analysis expected in H1 2025. • Data presented at SITC 2024 highlighted durable T cell responses and antigen spreading in KRAS mutant tumors following ELI-002 Phase 1a trial. • Updated relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) data from the AMPLIFY-201 study will be presented at the ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress in December 2024. • Elicio's strengthened cash position is expected to support operations beyond the AMPLIFY-7P Phase 2 interim analysis.

Elicio Therapeutics' ELI-002 Shows Promise in KRAS-Mutated Solid Tumors

6 months ago

• Elicio Therapeutics' ELI-002 demonstrates durable T cell responses and potential DFS benefit in mKRAS-driven solid tumors, as presented at the SITC Annual Meeting. • The AMPLIFY-7P Phase 2 trial of ELI-002 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is enrolling faster than expected, with interim analysis anticipated in H1 2025. • Preclinical data highlights AMP-DNA adjuvants' ability to stimulate strong immune responses, potentially advancing ELI-007 (mBRAF) and ELI-008 (mTP53) programs. • Elicio's cash position is expected to support operations into Q2 2025, beyond the AMPLIFY-7P interim analysis, after securing additional funding.

Lumicell's LumiSystem Approved by FDA for Real-Time Breast Cancer Margin Assessment

7 months ago

• The FDA has approved Lumicell's Direct Visualization System (LumiSystem) for intraoperative detection of cancerous tissue during lumpectomy surgery. • LumiSystem utilizes LUMIGHT, a novel fluorescent imaging agent, to identify residual tumor tissue in real-time, improving cancer resection. • Clinical trials showed LumiSystem removed tumor that would have been missed by standard surgery with 84% diagnostic accuracy, potentially reducing the need for second surgeries. • The technology offers a significant advancement over traditional pathology assessments, providing immediate feedback to surgeons during lumpectomy procedures.