The prognosis for Glioblastoma continues to be weak, as the brain tumour initiating cells (BTICs), which are stem cell-like progenitor cells in the tumors, are resistant to chemoradiotherapy treatments such as commonly used temozolomide (TMZ).
iTeos scores USD 125 Million to drive I-O prospects
iTeos Therapeutics, a next-generation immuno-oncology company developing innovative anti-cancer agents. It has come to pick up USD 125 million in a Series B2 round that will drive its lead assets through phase 1/2 trials and, will also go for two preclinical programs into phase 1 in 2021 if all goes well.
iTeos’ programs target immunosuppression, with its lead therapies targeting two mechanisms that guide PD-1 resistance: the adenosine pathway and the suppression of regulatory T cells. The company is investigating EOS-850, an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, in a phase 1/2 study on its own and also in combination with other cancer drugs, covering Keytruda and the chemotherapy combo of paclitaxel and carboplatin. iTeos plans to start dosing for the combination groups in the second quarter this year.
Pandion Therapeutics reels in USD 80 Million
Pandion Therapeutics has partnered up with Astellas on bispecific drugs for Type 1 diabetes, and it has shoved its lead program into the clinic. Currently, it is reeling in another USD 80 million to examine that treatment in patients with ulcerative colitis and move a second program into phase 1.
Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Pandion established to create better treatments for autoimmune conditions. It focuses on substituting the old-style of systemic immunosuppression that can lead to side effects like an increased risk of infection or cancer as well as newer anti-cytokine antibodies, which have improved care for some patients but do not work for all autoimmune diseases.
Brii, Chinese partners look for COVID-19 antibody trial
Brii Biosciences has collaborated with a Chinese hospital and university to produce antibodies against COVID-19. The partners utilized their proximity to the initial outbreak and experience with SARS and MERS to build up a library of potent neutralizing antibodies, keeping them on the way to initiate testing candidates in humans in the third quarter.
Beijing-based Tsinghua University and Shenzhen No.3 People’s Hospital answered to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan and other parts of China by isolating and characterizing monoclonal antibodies specific to the viral spike protein receptor-binding domain that resulted in a pool of 206 prospects taken from eight individuals infected with the virus.
FDA to accelerate the novel coronavirus therapies
The FDA has made an emergency program to quicken the development of treatments for the novel coronavirus. The FDA contemplates that it can answer COVID-19-related requests and review protocols within 24 hours of receipt as political pressure increases to speed along new therapies and vaccines.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified, an increasing number of drug developers have put their resources. The FDA totals ten drugs inactive trials, with another 15 back at the planning stage. The FDA has made the processes by creating the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) for trying to decrease the regulatory barriers to the progress of those assets.
