Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd

Ascentage Pharma announced that APG-2449, a FAK/ALK/ROS1 TKI, has been cleared by China's NMPA to enter two Phase III studies for NSCLC patients resistant to second-generation ALK TKIs and treatment-naïve ALK-positive NSCLC patients.

Ascentage Pharma announced that APG-2449, a FAK/ALK/ROS1 TKI, has been cleared by China's NMPA to enter two Phase III studies for NSCLC patients resistant to or naïve to ALK TKIs. APG-2449 showed preliminary efficacy and safety, with potential to inhibit brain metastases, addressing unmet needs in NSCLC treatment.

Global cancer cases surge, with a 79% rise in new cases among patients under 50. The highest death tolls are linked to breast, windpipe, lung, bowel, and stomach cancers. Cancer rates are projected to increase by 77% by 2050. In response, biotech firms like Oncolytics, AbbVie, BeiGene, HUTCHMED, and Enliven Therapeutics are accelerating treatment innovations, with the FDA approving 16 new oncology treatments in 2024. Oncolytics plans to submit a clinical trial for breast cancer treatment to the FDA in early 2025.

Myricx Bio announces Paolo Paoletti joining its Board as an independent Non Executive Director, following a £90m series A financing. Paoletti, with extensive oncology experience, previously led GSK Oncology and GammaDelta Therapeutics, and is currently involved in several life science boards and committees.

Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly collaborating with academic centers for early-stage drug discovery to mitigate rising R&D costs and risk exposure, as blockbuster drugs face generic competition and drug development becomes more complex.

No one can predict pharma R&D winners; success involves luck, overcoming skepticism, and intensive effort to realize potential. R&D leaders must balance conviction with uncertainty, avoiding false precision and recognizing the role of chance.

Real-world outcomes of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients treated with cilta-cel showed 89% overall response rate and 70% complete response, despite many being ineligible for the trial leading to its approval. Median 12-month progression-free survival was 68% and overall survival 82%, with similar serious side effects reported.

Cancer rates are surging globally, especially among patients under 50, with a 79% rise in new cases. The United Nations predicts a 77% increase by 2050. In response, the FDA has approved 16 new oncology treatments between July and September 2024. Oncolytics Biotech Inc. is making significant progress with its immunotherapeutic agent, pelareorep, in breast and pancreatic cancer treatments, aiming for FDA accelerated approval. The global oncology drug market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% to reach $564.50 billion by 2033, while the AI in oncology market is growing at a 35% CAGR.

Island Pharmaceuticals has completed dosing in Phase IIa of its PROTECT trial, investigating ISLA-101 as both a preventative and therapeutic for dengue fever. The trial is the first to explore a potential countermeasure against dengue in both capacities. Topline data from Phase IIa is expected by end of 2024, with Phase IIb set to begin in January 2025.