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UConn Researchers Explore Precision Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer with Encapsulate Inc.

UConn Researchers Explore Precision Medicine for Pancreatic Cancer with Encapsulate Inc.

A collaborative research study at UConn School of Medicine is exploring precision medicine for pancreatic cancer in partnership with Encapsulate Inc., a startup company in the UConn Technology Incubation Program (TIP). The study aims to rapidly identify the most effective chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or combination for individual pancreatic cancer patients. Researchers are testing Encapsulate's pioneering Biochip System, which can examine a patient's tumor tissue sample, replicate its cellular growth in the lab, and predict which agents will be most effective at stopping its progression. Currently, chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer is effective only 60% of the time, often requiring multiple drug trials to find an effective treatment, which can prolong the process. The Biochip system has previously shown success in predicting cancer clinical outcomes in a microgravity environment aboard the International Space Station, and UConn researchers are now working to confirm these predictive results on Earth.
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Advancements in Oncogenomics Lead to Improved Prostate Cancer Models

Advancements in Oncogenomics Lead to Improved Prostate Cancer Models

Recent advancements in oncogenomics have significantly enhanced the development of patient-derived models for prostate cancer. These models are designed to accurately reflect the complexity of human tumors, from their initial stages to metastasis. Researchers are utilizing a variety of preclinical models, including primary cultures of prostate epithelial cells (PrECs), co-cultures, patient-derived explants (PDEs), patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). The goal is to improve the fidelity of these models to human tumors by integrating diverse cell types from the tumor microenvironment and mimicking biomechanical features. This involves refining culture methods with matrix components that resemble the tumor microenvironment and developing new media formulations that imitate human plasma, as detailed in a recent review. These sophisticated models allow for detailed experimental readouts, including single-cell and spatial analyses, and intravital imaging for dynamic visualizat...
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Merck and Moderna's Personalized Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise in Slowing Melanoma Recurrence

Merck and Moderna's Personalized Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise in Slowing Melanoma Recurrence

A personalized cancer therapy trial conducted by Merck and Moderna has met its primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival in patients with completely resected high-risk melanoma. The Phase III INTerpath-001 trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of intismeran autogene (V940 or mRNA-4157) in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda; Merck) compared to pembrolizumab alone. The trial enrolled 1,137 patients with high-risk (stage IIB-IV) resected cutaneous melanoma, who were randomized to receive either the combination therapy or pembrolizumab alone for approximately one year. The topline results, which have not yet been peer-reviewed or published, indicate that the combination therapy significantly improved recurrence-free survival and a key secondary endpoint of distant metastasis-free survival. This marks the first positive Phase III readout for an individualized neoantigen therapy and an mRNA-based cancer therapy, as well as the first Phase III study to show a clinically meaningful improvement over Keyt...
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Akeso and CStone Secure China Clearances for Next-Generation Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Akeso and CStone Secure China Clearances for Next-Generation Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Hong Kong-based biopharma company Akeso has received clinical trial clearance in China for its next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), AK157D1, which targets B7-H3. This clearance paves the way for a Phase I study in patients with advanced solid tumors. AK157D1 is the third of Akeso’s next-generation ADC candidates to enter clinical development, following TROP2/Nectin-4-targeting AK146D1 and HER3-directed AK138D1. Akeso plans to test AK157D1 in combination with its bispecific antibodies, ivonescimab and cadonilimab, as part of its 'IO2.0 + ADC2.0' strategy. B7-H3 is an immune checkpoint protein found in various solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer, prostate, colorectal, and breast cancers, making it a prime target for antibody-based therapies. AK157D1 uses a humanized IgG1 antibody linked to Dxd, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, to deliver the treatment directly to cancer cells. Preclinical testing showed anti-tumor activity and a favorable safety profile, potentially addressing toxicity i...
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University of Miami Research Expands Stem Cell Donor Pool for Cancer Patients

University of Miami Research Expands Stem Cell Donor Pool for Cancer Patients

A Phase II clinical trial conducted by researchers at the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests that patients with blood cancers who lack a fully matched stem cell donor may still have effective transplant options. The study, published in Blood Advances, indicates that transplants from partially mismatched donors can lead to positive outcomes, potentially broadening the eligibility criteria for stem cell transplantation. Traditionally, a close match based on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) markers has been crucial to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), where donor immune cells attack the recipient's tissues. However, the trial utilized post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy), a treatment given shortly after transplantation, which selectively eliminates highly reactive donor immune cells while preserving others necessary for a new immune system. This approach promotes donor cell acceptance and reduces the risk of severe GvHD. The ACCESS trial, a multicenter study, enrolled...
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Nuvation Bio Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for Safusidenib in IDH1-Mutant Glioma Treatment

Nuvation Bio Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for Safusidenib in IDH1-Mutant Glioma Treatment

Nuvation Bio Inc., a global oncology company, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track Designation for safusidenib. Safusidenib is an investigational, oral, brain-penetrant selective inhibitor of mutant IDH1, intended for the treatment of IDH1-mutant glioma. This designation aims to accelerate the development and review process for drugs addressing serious conditions with unmet medical needs. The decision was based on favorable data from the safusidenib clinical program, including updated Phase 2 J201 study results. These results demonstrated durable responses and a positive risk-benefit profile over a median follow-up of 38.8 months, with a confirmed objective response rate (cORR) of 51.9% and a 36-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 79.1%. The company's pivotal Phase 3 SIGMA study is currently enrolling patients to further evaluate safusidenib.
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Columbia University Researchers Develop Multi-Organ Chip to Track Cancer Metastasis

Columbia University Researchers Develop Multi-Organ Chip to Track Cancer Metastasis

Researchers at Columbia University, led by Professor Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, have developed a novel multi-organ chip designed to mimic and track the spread of cancer cells, known as metastasis. This innovative platform includes compartments with engineered human bone and lung tissues, connected by vascular flow containing circulating breast cancer cells. The chip allows for dynamic crosstalk among these tissues, providing a more accurate model for studying how cancer spreads compared to traditional animal models. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, focuses on understanding the critical phase of organ colonization, where cancer cells break away from the primary tumor, travel through the bloodstream, and establish new tumors in distant organs. This model enables scientists to investigate the complex interactions between cancer cells and organ-specific microenvironments using actual patient cells and tissues.
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Moderna and Merck Announce Breakthrough in Personalized Cancer Vaccine for Melanoma

Moderna and Merck Announce Breakthrough in Personalized Cancer Vaccine for Melanoma

Merck and Moderna have reported significant success with a personalized cancer vaccine designed to prevent the recurrence and spread of melanoma. This vaccine, known as intismeran autogene, combines Merck’s immunotherapy drug Keytruda with a customized mRNA vaccine. The mRNA vaccine instructs the immune system to specifically target mutations found only on a patient's tumor, a different approach from traditional chemotherapy or general immunotherapy. A large trial involving over 1,000 melanoma patients, who had surgically removed localized tumors but faced a high risk of recurrence, demonstrated the vaccine's effectiveness. Five-year data from a previous mid-stage trial, presented in June, indicated that the vaccine cut the risk of cancer returning by half and reduced the risk of it spreading to new locations by 59% when compared to Keytruda alone. The companies noted no new side effects with the addition of the vaccine, with reactions similar to those experienced with flu or COVID shots. This development ...
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BGI Genomics Expands Oncology Strategy with Multi-Omics and AI Integration for Personalized Cancer Therapies

BGI Genomics Expands Oncology Strategy with Multi-Omics and AI Integration for Personalized Cancer Therapies

BGI Genomics is broadening its oncology strategy to encompass prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of cancer, moving beyond individual genomic assays. This expansion emphasizes the integration of multi-omics technologies, including ctDNA-based minimal residual disease (MRD) testing and multiplex immunofluorescence pathology. The company recently announced a strategic collaboration with GORTEC China, focusing on these advanced molecular and multi-omics approaches in precision oncology. This partnership aims to combine established clinical research capabilities with technological innovation, particularly in head and neck cancer. BGI Genomics will contribute its independently developed personalized ctDNA-MRD testing technology, bioinformatics analysis, and research translation capabilities to this collaboration. The initiative seeks to improve patient stratification and treatment-response assessment by exploring the use of ctDNA-MRD testing at various treatment stages and assessing the ...
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Merck and Moderna Announce Promising Melanoma Vaccine Results

Merck and Moderna Announce Promising Melanoma Vaccine Results

Merck and Moderna have reported positive results for a new mRNA vaccine designed to prevent the recurrence of melanoma. According to the two pharmaceutical companies, the vaccine has enabled individuals with high-risk melanoma to experience longer periods without cancer recurrence. This development is being recognized by oncology experts as a significant step forward in cancer treatment. The vaccine leverages mRNA technology, a platform that gained prominence with COVID-19 vaccines, to target and potentially eliminate residual cancer cells, thereby reducing the likelihood of the disease returning. This approach represents a personalized medicine strategy, where the vaccine is tailored to the specific genetic mutations of a patient's tumor.
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Bank of America Upgrades Moderna Following Significant Rally Driven by Cancer Vaccine Breakthrough

Bank of America Upgrades Moderna Following Significant Rally Driven by Cancer Vaccine Breakthrough

Bank of America Upgrades Moderna Following Significant Rally Driven by Cancer Vaccine Breakthrough
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Moderna and Merck Announce Positive Trial Results for Melanoma mRNA Vaccine

Moderna and Merck Announce Positive Trial Results for Melanoma mRNA Vaccine

Merck and Moderna have reported promising results from a new trial for a personalized mRNA vaccine designed to prevent the recurrence of melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of cancer. The personalized mRNA therapies successfully completed an FDA-approved melanoma trial, demonstrating their effectiveness in blocking the return of the disease. Researchers involved in the study are optimistic that these positive results could pave the way for similar treatments to be effective against other types of cancer. This development marks a significant step forward in cancer treatment, leveraging mRNA technology, which gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, for oncological applications. The success of this trial suggests a potential new frontier in personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to an individual's specific cancer, offering a more targeted and potentially more effective approach to combating the disease.