Oncology
German biotech CatalYm raises €50 million for GDF-15 inhibitor immunotherapy
CatalYm has closed a €50 million ($59m) series B financing round to fund clinical studies of its immunotherapy targeting Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15). The […]
Five Prime eyes financing after positive results with stomach cancer drug
Shares in US biotech Five Prime Therapeutics more than tripled after it reported promising trial results with stomach cancer drug candidate bemarituzumab, returning the stock […]
Merck & Co/Eisai eye kidney cancer use for immunotherapy combination
Merck & Co and Eisai are to file results from a phase 3 trial testing a combination of the former’s immunotherapy Keytruda, combined with the […]
M&A: RxVantage Acquires onPoint Oncology to Expand Offering to Oncology Practices
What You Should Know: – RxVantage has acquired onPoint Oncology to provide cancer care teams with on-demand access to educational resources, reimbursement data, and analytics. – The acquisition of […]
What the U.S. needs to do to assist cancer patients and their physicians in developing countries
Tumor boards can help physicians in developing countries get access to U.S. expertise and represent one way to democratize state-of-the-art care for cancer patients throughout […]
Merck & Co buys cancer biotech VelosBio for $2.75bn
Merck & Co has agreed to buy California biotech VelosBio and its experimental cancer drug for $2.75 billion in cash. Known as MSD outside North […]
Welcome to the CAR-TCR Summit Europe 2021
Accelerate the Bench to Bedside Development of Novel CAR Immunotherapies for Safe, Effective & Affordable Advanced Therapies With CAR-TCR therapies on the cusp of achieving […]
Merck paying $2.75B for cancer therapeutics firm VelosBio
The deal will broaden Merck’s oncology portfolio as it picks up an antibody-drug conjugate, a class of biological drugs that target tumor cells even as […]
Be in the room: Turning patient engagement to patient centricity
After three brushes with cancer, Robert Weker understands the patient journey more than many – and he is determined to put that experience to good […]
Genprex cancer gene therapy paired with AZ, Merck lung cancer drugs
An experimental gene therapy developed by Texas biotech Genprex will be paired with AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso and Merck & Co’s Keytruda – both leading their respective […]
FDA Extends RCA With COTA to Explore COVID’s Effect on Cancer
What You Should Know: – The FDA just extended its research collaboration agreement (RCA) with COTA, specifically looking at how COVID-19 is affecting cancer. – […]
Europe approves Roche’s Tecentriq liver cancer combination
The European Commission has approved Roche’s Tecentriq immunotherapy, in combination with its established cancer drug Avastin, for patients with the most common form of liver […]
Jounce shares crash after it abandons immunotherapy combination trial
Shares in Jounce Therapeutics are down sharply after it emerged that its immunotherapy combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Yervoy will likely fail to produce results in […]
Sanofi to acquire Kiadis and NK cell tech for $353 million
Sanofi is to acquire Kiadis, a biotech specialising in therapies based around ‘off the shelf’ natural killer (NK) cells, for 308 million euros ($353 million). […]
ANGLE raises £20m, eyes opportunity in immunotherapy trials
Liquid biopsy company ANGLE has raised £20m through a conditional placing on the London Stock Exchange which will be used to expand commercial opportunities. ANGLE’s […]
FDA sets Feb decision date for Libtayo lung cancer challenge to Keytruda
The FDA has started a priority review of Regeneron and Sanofi’s checkpoint inhibitor Libtayo in first-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), based on data they […]
Northwestern to Deploy FDA-Cleared Deploy AI-Guided Cardiac Ultrasounds
What You Should Know: – Northwestern Memorial Hospital is the first in the nation to deploy FDA-cleared AI-guided ultrasound by Caption Health, including measurement of […]
Exact Sciences buys cancer detection company Thrive for $2.15 billion
Stocks for Exact Sciences leaped 33% after it announced the acquisition of liquid biopsy rival Thrive and UK start-up Base Genomics. Exact Sciences said it […]
Daiichi Sankyo Initiates P-I Study of DS-1055 for Relapsed/Refractory Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors
Shots: The P-I dose-escalation study will assess the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of DS-1055 in adult patients with r/r advanced or metastatic head and […]
NICE changes stance on Keytruda for first-line head and neck cancer
As recently as June, NICE was minded not to back routine NHS of MSD’s Keytruda as a first-line treatment for advanced head and neck cancer, […]
Toxic positivity and grief: The reality of living through cancer
Cancer doesn’t end when treatment stops – it’s a lifelong journey and people need support throughout, says patient advocate Megan-Claire Chase. No one gets through […]
David Hung’s Nuvation Bio seals merger with blank cheque firm Panacea
Two years after quietly forming cancer start-up Nuvation Bio, ex-Axovant and Medivation CEO David Hung has agreed a big merger that will take it public […]
FDA grants fast review for AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso in early-stage lung cancer
The FDA has granted a fast review for AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso oncology drug in certain patients with early-stage lung cancer. Results from the phase 3 ADAURA […]
FDA kicks off review of second kidney cancer combo based on BMS’ Opdivo
Bristol-Myers Squibb could be mere months away from claiming a second US approval for an Opdivo-based combination immunotherapy that will help defend its first-line kidney […]
Impact of COVID-19: 2020 State of Healthcare Performance Improvement Report
What You Should Know: – Nearly three-quarters of hospital leaders are either moderately (52%) or extremely (22%) concerned about the financial viability of their organizations […]
Kite cues up first EMA okay for mantle cell lymphoma CAR-T
Gilead Sciences’ Kite Pharma unit is closing on approval of its second European approval for a CAR-T for cancer, after the CHMP backed its Tecartus […]
Thriving in a Value-Based Care Environment: Impacting Outcome-to-Cost Ratio
Jerry Carlson, Product Support Manager, BG DI BU IC Sales, Dunlee As the COVID-19 pandemic creates surges in acute care, many imaging departments are experiencing […]
Seattle Genetics rebrands as Seagen as it expands business globally
The company has received FDA approvals for two cancer drugs in less than 12 months and announced partnerships with Merck last month for a Phase […]
J+D FORECASTING LAUNCHES INTELLIGENT DATA
J+D Forecasting, known as the experts in pharmaceutical forecasting, has today announced the launch of EpiCube; the latest addition to its comprehensive suite of pharmaceutical […]
Founders’ Story: Cancer Insights
Cancer Insights co-founders, President and CEO Tarun Kumar and CIO Dr. Sharon Hensley Alford, discuss their company’s goals to transform the oncology care continuum.
Shock as FDA rejects Mesoblast’s Ryoncil in paediatric graft versus host disease
The FDA has rejected Mesoblast’s Ryoncil cell therapy for children with graft versus host disease, despite a recommendation to approve from a panel of expert […]
MD Anderson researchers find mechanisms behind CAR-T cells’ efficacy, toxicity
The findings may make it possible to identify a subset of patients who experience poorer outcomes or more serious side effects, especially neurotoxicity.
FDA approves BMS’ Opdivo and Yervoy combination in first-line mesothelioma
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s immunotherapy combination of Opdivo and Yervoy has been approved in the US in a new indication for untreated mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive […]
Roche pays $200m for Vaccibody’s cancer vaccine drug
Roche’s Genentech unit has paid $200 million to develop an individualised cancer vaccine with Norwegian biotech Vaccibody, which focuses on targets known as neoantigens that […]
Triumvira Immunologics raises $55M in Series A funding round for new form of cancer cell therapy
The company hopes to use the money to bring its T-cell antigen coupler cell therapy technology – currently in preclinical development – into human clinical […]
TIGIT Therapies Digital Summit
The TIGIT checkpoint has gained much attention in recent years due to the number of roles it plays in several malignancies. TIGIT’s diverse function in multiple cell […]
GSK moves further ahead in BCMA with EU okay for Blenrep
GlaxoSmithKline has approval on both sides of the Atlantic for its multiple myeloma drug Blenrep, after getting the nod from the European Commission. Blenrep (belantamab […]
FDA starts quick review of Merck’s MET-targeting lung cancer drug
Merck KGaA could be looking at an early 2021 approval for its MET inhibitor tepotinib in lung cancer from the FDA after the US regulator […]
Novartis eyes filings for leukaemia drug asciminib after phase 3 win
A first-in-class STAMP inhibitor developed by Novartis – asciminib – has outperformed a current drug for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in a head-to-head trial, setting […]
BMS swoops on Forbius, snaring another immuno-oncology player
With the ink barely dry on a deal to develop Dragonfly’s lead cancer immunotherapy, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s business development team has agreed to buy Canadian biotech […]
Sharing oncology trial PROs to build the treatment of the future
Could collecting, understanding, and disseminating patient-reported outcomes during trials be the key to advancing oncology treatments and improving cancer outcomes? With our understanding of cancer […]
Blow for Novartis as PD-1 drug spartalizumab flunks trial
Novartis’ hopes of catching up with other companies in immuno-oncology have been dented after PD-1 inhibitor spartalizumab failed a phase 3 trial in skin cancer. […]
UK cancer mutation testing firm Biofidelity raises $12m
Cambridge, UK-based Biofidelity has raised $12 million in first-round funding for its cancer diagnosis platform, which can detect mutations quicker than current approaches like gene […]
2nd Macrophage-directed Therapies Summit
Harnessing the Potential of Macrophage Therapies Using Small Molecule, Antibody & Cell Therapy based Approaches for Oncology and Beyond The $4.9 billion acquisition of Forty […]
Latecomer Lilly throws cash at Innovent PD-1 partnership
Eli Lilly has doubled down on its partnership with Chia’s Innovent with a licensing deal for ex-China rights to Tyvyt, their PD-1 inhibitor, which some […]
Gilead invests another $145M into expanded oncology pact with Tango Therapeutics
The update to the partnership includes opt-in rights for Gilead on 15 drug targets, up from five under the original 2018 deal. Gilead will pay […]
AZ aims to cut cancer clinic visits with new Imfinzi regimen
The FDA is to review data supporting AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab) cancer immunotherapy in a new four-week regimen that will halve the number of required clinic […]
BMS signs $475m cancer immunotherapy deal with Dragonfly
Bristol-Myers Squibb has signed an agreement worth $475 million to develop a new form of cancer immunotherapy drug with US biotech Dragonfly Therapeutics. BMS is […]
CancerIQ Raises $5M to Expand Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment Platform
What You Should Know: – CancerIQ raises $5M in Series A funding led by HealthXVentures to accelerate the growth of its genetic cancer risk assessment […]
UK medical journals spar over breast cancer screening study
Screening women for breast cancer in their 40s rather than their 50s could save lives, say the authors of a new Lancet Oncology study, although […]
FDA to decide on TG Therapeutics’ lymphoma drug early next year
The FDA has accepted TG Therapeutics’ filing for its lymphoma drug umbralisib, which if approved could compete against a combination therapy from Bristol-Myers Squibb and […]
CancerIQ raises $4.8M Series A funding round for cancer precision health technology
The Chicago-based startup company plans to use the funding to further growth of its product offering and integration with EHRs and genetic testing partners.
J+D Forecasting strike the balance for the liquid tumour market
J+D Forecasting strike the balance between simplicity and complexity when modelling for the liquid tumour market The Challenge Identify a clear, transparent, and logical way […]
FDA, Syapse Expand Research to Generate Real-World Data Related to COVID-19 and Cancer
What You Should Know: The FDA and Syapse announce research collaboration expansion to address urgent public health challenges including supporting FDA’s goal of rapid understanding […]
Pieris begins gastric cancer combination trial with Lilly’s Cyramza
US biotech Pieris Pharmaceuticals has begun a collaboration and supply agreement with Eli Lilly, trialling its cancer drug PRS-343 in combination with the big pharma’s […]
BMS’ Opdivo aces trial in asbestos-linked lung cancer
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo has improved survival in a trial involving patients with mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer, getting one up over rival checkpoint inhibitor […]
M&A Analysis: 3 Benefits of Siemens Healthineers’ $16.4B Acquisition of Varian Medical
What You Should Know: – Siemens Healthineers and Varian Medical announce a $16.4B deal in an all-cash transaction on 2nd August 2020. – Deal expected […]
Roche’s Tecentriq flunks triple-negative breast cancer trial
Roche’s hopes of extending the use of its PD-L1 inhibitor Tecentriq in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have been dashed by a late-stage trial failure looking […]
Will new data make Pfizer’s Lorbrena a ‘no-brainer’ in early lung cancer?
Pfizer has taken a big step towards positioning Lorbrena as a worthy heir to its big-selling Xalkori drug in lung cancer, after beating its parent […]
GSK nabs FDA approval for first-in-class multiple myeloma drug
Blenrep, an antibody-drug conjugate, is the first drug approved for multiple myeloma that targets the antigen BCMA. Several other companies are also developing BCMA-targeting therapies […]
FDA approves GSK’s Blenrep for advanced multiple myeloma
The FDA has approved GlaxoSmithKline’s multiple myeloma drug Blenrep, a first-in-class potential blockbuster that will be used in advanced disease. Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) has been […]
Novartis plans to seek approval for CAR-T in slow-growing lymphoma after Phase II success
The company said the study of Kymriah in follicular lymphoma met its primary endpoint, though it did not disclose the trial data. It plans to […]
INVEST Pitch Perfect winner spotlight: Amplified Sciences targets early pancreatic cancer detection
Amplified Sciences emerged as the winner of the diagnostics track for the MedCity INVEST conference’s Pitch Perfect contest with PanCystPro, the test it is developing […]
FDA approves MorphoSys, Incyte’s drug for vulnerable lymphoma population
The FDA approved Monjuvi for second-line diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Though the drug has the same antigen target as approved CAR-T cell therapies, it is […]
Incyte/Morphosys take on CAR-Ts as lymphoma antibody Monjuvi approved in US
Incyte and Morphosys’ Monjuvi antibody therapy has been approved for certain patients with lymphoma, as the companies hope to provide a more convenient alternative to […]
Roche’s NTRK tumour-agnostic therapy Rozlytrek approved in Europe
Roche’s tumour-agnostic therapy Rozlytrek has been approved in the European Union for people with tumours with the NTRK mutation, meaning Bayer’s class rival faces competition […]
Regeneron pairs with BioNTech on melanoma immunotherapy
Regeneron and Sanofi’s PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo will be tested in tandem with a cancer vaccine developed by BioNTech in melanoma in people who have failed […]
NICE backs kidney cancer combination from Merck KGaA and Pfizer
NICE has said a combination of Merck KGaA’s Bavencio and Pfizer’s Inlyta should be available as a first line option for kidney cancer patients for […]
Roche’s Tecentriq claims melanoma OK, but don’t expect a sales surge
Roche’s checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq has been cleared for another new use in the US – in melanoma – but could struggle to displace rival drugs […]
BMS ‘bet’ with Celgene shareholders in balance after CAR-T refile
Bristol-Myers Squibb and bluebird bio have refiled their CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma, leaving the outcome of a three drug “bet” with former Celgene shareholders […]
AstraZeneca beats expectations in Q2, while GSK struggles during pandemic
AstraZeneca has beaten analysts’ expectations in its second quarter results, outshining its UK counterpart GlaxoSmithKline, which has been hit by disruption caused by the COVID-19 […]
Thrive raises $257M Series B round for registration study of blood test for early cancer detection
The study design is still being finalized, and the company is thus not yet divulging too many details. However, CEO David Daly said it would […]
Zebra Medical Receives the US FDA’s Approval for its HealthMammo Mammography Tool
Shots: The US FDA has granted 510 (k) clearance to HealthMammo for boosting early detection of breast cancer in mammograms The tool utilizes the AI […]
Gilead’s Kite gains some height after second CAR-T approval in US
Gilead’s $11.9 billion purchase of Kite Pharma in 2017 didn’t follow the script, with two big write-downs in the value of the asset since then, […]
AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo sign $6B deal for antibody-drug conjugate
The companies will share development and commercialization of DS-1062 in solid tumors. They already have a similar deal in place, the $6.9 billion agreement signed […]
CHMP gives nod to GSK’s BCMA drug Blenrep for myeloma
GlaxoSmithKline is closing in on EU approval for its first-in-class BCMA-targeting drug Blenrep, after getting a green light from the EMA’s human medicines committee. Blenrep, […]
AstraZeneca Signs an Agreement with Daichii Sankyo to Develop and Commercialize DS-1062 Worth Up to $6B
Shots: Daichii Sankyo to receive $1B as upfront of which $350M is due upon execution, $325M after 12mos. and $325M after 24 mos., ~$5B as […]
AstraZeneca inks $6bn cancer drug deal with Daiichi Sankyo
AstraZeneca has begun a new agreement with Daiichi Sankyo to develop and market an antibody to treat cancer, worth up to $6 billion. The deal […]
Sorrento to Acquire SmartPharm and Develop Pipeline of Gene-Encoded Therapeutic Antibodies Targeting COVID-19 and Cancer
Shots: Sorrento enters into letter of intent to acquire SmartPharm and develops pipeline of gene-encoded therapeutic Ab, initiating with Sorrento’s STI-1499 or COVI-GUARD, currently preclinical […]
European regulators back Blueprint’s Ayvakyt for stomach tumours
European regulators have recommended a licence for Blueprint Medicines’ Ayvakyt (avapritinib), for adults with stomach tumours with certain mutations. Blueprint specialises in drugs that tackle […]
GSK’s John Fleming on rethinking oncology from the ground up
What if we could look at cancer treatment from a completely fresh perspective? This is the philosophy GSK’s UK country medical head for oncology, John […]
Pandemic and currency headwinds hurt Roche in first half
Roche has announced half-year results showing the COVID-19 pandemic affected sales of its key products, with currency headwinds also weighing on revenues. The Swiss pharma’s […]
Commercialising innovative new medicines
As pharmaceutical ingenuity hits new heights, ensuring that patients gain access to innovative medicines requires a unique combination of evidence generation and communication Working with […]
Gilead eyes takeover of cancer biotech Tizona, despite its ties to AbbVie
Gilead Sciences’ run of oncology-focused deals has continued with an option to buy cancer immunotherapy specialist Tizona – even though the biotech’s lead drug candidate […]
How to increase haematologists’ and oncologists’ confidence with new treatments
A new whitepaper from Medscape highlights the difficulties haematologists and oncologists face in keeping up with rapid developments in treatment. We speak to the company’s […]
Merck KGaA takes second option from cancer immunotherapy pact with F-Star
Germany’s Merck KGaA has taken an option on a second cancer immunotherapy drug from its development deal with Anglo-American biotech F-star Therapeutics. The companies signed a deal to develop cancer immunotherapies […]
Clinical decision support tools will help oncologists manage complexity
Making treatment decisions is a tough choice for oncologists: a therapy might save or significantly extend one patient’s life but not deliver the desired outcome […]
NCCN Collaborates with Pfizer to Explore Adoption of Biosimilars in Oncology
Shots: NCCN and Pfizer have issued an open RFP that develop and validate enduring approaches to improve the safe, effective, and efficient adoption of biosimilars […]
NICE backs NHS use for Astellas’ Xospata after rethink
NICE has recommended regular NHS funding for Astellas’ Xospata (gilteritinib) monotherapy for certain adult patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. In final draft guidance NICE said that the drug is recommended […]
Roche pays Blueprint $675M upfront for ex-U.S. development, commercialization rights to cancer drug
Under the deal, Blueprint will additionally be eligible for more than $900M in milestone payments plus royalties for the RET inhibitor pralsetinib. The deal includes […]
COVID-19 Has Permanently Shifted Patient Behavior Towards Virtual Care
What You Should Know: – The COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted the patient care paradigm, and the ripple effects have altered patient behaviors and expectations, […]
VelosBio raises $137M Series B round to support suite of ROR1-targeting cancer drugs
The company is currently running a Phase I study of its lead candidate, the antibody-drug conjugate VLS-101, in patients with lymphomas and leukemias. It has […]
“When Blood Breaks Down”: It Can Break Your Heart
By CHADI NABHAN, MD, MBA, FACP “The goal for me and for my clinical and research colleagues is to put ourselves out of a job […]
