Roche’s Phase 2 data; Celgene and Bluebird’s CAR-T therapy; Regeneron/Sanofi gets results; Allergan on women’s health

Positive Phase 2 data for Roche’s lymphoma ADC

Roche’s antibody-drug conjugate for non-Hodgkin lymphoma polatuzumab has already received breakthrough designation from the USFDA and priority medicine status in the EU, and the expectations for the same are running pretty high. Phase 2 data presented by the company at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting suggests that the drug is worth waiting for. Study results have shown that adding the CD79b-targeting ADC to a regimen based on Roche’s bendamustine and Rituxan (rituximab) improved the overall response rates from 15% to 40% in patients suffering from relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Celgene and Bluebird’s CAR-T therapy hits the mark in advanced multiple myeloma

Bluebird Bio and Celgene’s CAR-T therapy bb2121 has shown spectacular results in Patients with highly advanced multiple myeloma. The study was done on 21-patient and the results have shown 86% overall response rate to the therapy, mobilizing the immune system to attack cancer cells expressing the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA).

Regeneron/Sanofi gets positive results for ‘breakthrough’ PD-1 in skin cancer

It might be late in the race of market share but Sanofi and Regeneron’s new data for their mid-stage checkpoint inhibitor in a certain form of skin cancer has shown positive results. The study was focused on 82 patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), a form of skin cancer but one not as deadly as melanoma. These results have fueled the pipeline development activities of the following drug candidate.

Allergan has bulked up women’s health pipeline with Repros buyout

Allergan has finalized a deal to acquire the Repros Therapeutics. It has given Allergan the rights to a uterine fibroid drug that is on the edge of phase 3, and also the responsibility for compiling the large safety database that FDA wants to see before signing off on further development.