DDW Deputy Editor Reece Armstrong takes a look at some of the biggest developments that took place within oncology this week (4 April – 8 April).
Scientists win award for transforming breast cancer treatment
A team of scientists from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust has won a prestigious award for work that has led to improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
The team’s work focused on the discovery on new therapeutic approaches to change how patients with specific breast cancers are tested and treatments. This led to improvements in how the disease is treated, with international guidelines recognising the research to change the recommended number of radiotherapy doses for certain patients.
London research centre aims to target “undruggable” cancers
A new research centre has opened in London to focus on a specific approach targeting a group of hard-to-treat cancers.
The Centre for Protein Degradation will be based in The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London and will focus on targeted protein degradation to help researchers discover new research tools and treatments for cancers such as lung, liver, brain, oesophageal, pancreatic and stomach cancers.
The centre will launch a four-year research programme which will aim to increase scientists’ understanding of how previous undruggable cancer proteins can be targeted.
Noxopharm granted ODD for lead oncology drug
Australian biotech Noxopharm has received an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help advance its lead oncology candidate in the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma.
The ODD will help Noxopharm’s Veyonda continue along the drug development process and will offer the company a financial advantage for its work.
Only four of approximately 360 approved ODDs last year went to Australian companies, which demonstrates the high bar that is being set by the FDA,” said Noxopharm CEO and Managing Director Gisela Mautner. “It is pleasing that the Noxopharm application for Orphan Drug Designation was approved so quickly.”
Redx collaborates with Garvan Institute of Medical Research on cancer project
Biotechnology company RedX is collaborating with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research on a project investigating novel therapeutic targets in cancer-associated fibrosis.
The collaboration aims to better understand treatments that could lead to increased patient survival in currently very poorly treated highly fibrotic cancers, such as pancreatic cancer.
