DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE

AstraZeneca's AZD1390 joins GBM AGILE, a Phase 2/3 adaptive platform trial for glioblastoma, with patient recruitment starting Q2 2025. GBM AGILE aims to rapidly identify effective therapies through adaptive randomization and a seamless phase 2/3 design, potentially supporting new drug applications. AZD1390, an ATM kinase inhibitor, showed preliminary efficacy and a manageable safety profile in a Phase I trial.

IVBM's Boston event in 2024 focused on 'Elevating Value in Cancer Care,' discussing immunotherapy challenges in NSCLC, HER2 targeting in breast cancer, predictive biomarkers for sarcomas, and pharmacy decision-making. Panelists highlighted the need for optimized dosing, comprehensive biomarker testing, and equitable access to immunotherapy, emphasizing a more thoughtful approach to advancing cancer care.

Pfizer appoints Chris Boshoff, M.D., PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer and President, Research & Development effective January 1, 2025, succeeding Dr. Mikael Dolsten. Boshoff will oversee all R&D functions and maintain Oncology R&D's integrated structure with Roger Dansey, M.D. as Interim Chief Oncology Officer. Johanna Bendell, M.D. will join Pfizer from Roche in 2025 as Chief Development Officer, Oncology.

Immunotherapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab shows 30% response rate in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, a deadly subset with no effective treatments, according to a study in JAMA Oncology.

The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), founded by Billy Starr in 1980, has raised over $1 billion for Dana-Farber, with a record $75 million in 2024. The PMC, a bike-a-thon, involves 6,800 riders and 3,500 volunteers, supporting Dana-Farber's research and patient care, including immunotherapy advancements and clinical trials. PMC funding also aids in expanding Dana-Farber's reach and facilities, contributing to a significant increase in cancer survival rates.

HACE, a tool combining helicase enzymes with CRISPR, introduces precise genetic mutations in specific genes, identifying drug resistance mutations in cancer genes and splicing defects in blood cancers, potentially revolutionizing therapeutic discovery.

Ascentage Pharma's NDA for lisaftoclax, a Bcl-2 inhibitor for r/r CLL/SLL, was accepted by China's NMPA with Priority Review, potentially making it the first domestically developed Bcl-2 inhibitor in China and the second globally. This follows a Phase II study showing efficacy and safety in Chinese patients with r/r CLL/SLL, addressing a significant unmet need in China where CLL/SLL incidence is rising.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute opens a clinical trial to assess safety, tolerability, and antitumor activity of 'memory-like' NK cells in recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Developed by Rizwan Romee, MD, these NK cells are engineered to have memory function, proliferate longer, and show strong anti-tumor responses in preclinical studies. Rebecca Porter, MD, PhD, leads the study, aiming to provide insights into a novel immune response activation for patients with progressing ovarian cancer.