This week in drug discovery (20-24 March)

News round-up for 20-24 March by DDW Digital Content Editor Diana Spencer. 

This week we have seen a number of developments in the treatment of solid tumours hitting the headlines. Pennsylvania researchers may have found a way to boost CAR-T therapy in these tumours, previously only successful in blood cancers, which could have huge implications for cancer treatment. There have also been positive trial results announced in prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer. 

The top stories: 

Positive Phase III results for prostate cancer drug 

Pfizer and Astellas have announcesd positive top-line results from the Phase III EMBARK trial evaluating XTANDI (enzalutamide) in men with non-metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (nmHSPC) with high-risk biochemical recurrence (BCR). 

Double knockout strategy could boost CAR-T in solid tumours 

A new approach that delivers a ‘one-two punch’ to help T cells attack solid tumours is the focus of a preclinical study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. 

‘Encouraging’ data for monoclonal antibody in advanced cancers 

Purple Biotech has revealed positive new results from exploratory analyses conducted as part of a Phase I dose escalation study into CM24 plus nivolumab for advanced cancer. 

Research reveals the unique biological features of roginolisib 

iOnctura, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing cancer therapies, has published non-clinical research on roginolisib in the AACR journal Cancer Research Communications. 

Phase II/III trial to assess LAG-3 immunotherapy in breast cancer 

Immutep has initiated AIPAC-003 (Active Immunotherapy, Eftilagimod Alpha, and Paclitaxel), an integrated Phase II/III trial to evaluate eftilagimod alpha (efti) in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of metastatic HER2-neg/low breast cancer (MBC).   

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