Protein degradation, cell therapy, synergistic combinations and changes in personalized cancer therapies will drive the next generation of therapeutics, but not necessarily in the ways people might expect.
Personalized cancer therapy, for example, seems to be losing ground to other therapies simply because of logistics and finances. Speed of manufacturing and the cost of getting the therapy to the patient are the challenges, William Ho, CEO ofIn8bio, said during a live panel at Biotech Showcase during J.P. Morgan Week.
At this point, personalized cancer therapies are used to treat fourth- and fifth-line refractory patients, but by the time a therapy is manufactured, many of those patients will have died. That may not be the case with earlier-stage patients. As an added hurdle, Its difficult to control quality with point-of-care manufacturing.
The financial resources arent there for every patient to have personalized cancer therapy, Kanya Rajangam, M.D., Ph.D., CMO of Nkarta Therapeutics, emphasized. Thats why Nkarta and others are focusing upon therapeutics for broader populations.
That realization is driving precision medicine, in which companies like Nkarta and I-Mab Biopharma identify genetic common denominators that can benefit broader populations and lower treatment costs.
Thoughts around combination therapies are changing, too. Part of the challenge with this approach lies in defining the term effectiveness, Weimin Tang, chief business officer at I-Mab Biopharma said. Is it defined as generating a signal (against a target) or improving outcome?
Initially, researchers identified compounds with some degree of action against the target and combined them to create synergies. Now, in a stunning rethinking of the challenge, scientists are investigating compounds that have little or no effect as monotherapies but, when combined, generate promising signals.
Looking at a drugs isolated effects and whether those activities are statistically significant is an inefficient and unethical way to treat patients, particularly during a pandemic, Spiro Rombotis,president & CEO of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, said. He advised determining whether it makes biological and medical sense to combine particular therapies, with the understanding that some therapeutics that do not work well alone will work in combination.
Treatments for big bulk tumors are an example. As single monotherapies, few agents do much against big bulk solid tumors, he said. Building upon their synergies, however, one plus one can equal five. There are ways to combine therapeutics to enhance synergy.
Cell therapies also are emerging as potentially effective treatments, amidst the challenges of references that are framed in terms of complete response rates and durability of the therapeutic cell. Yet, complete response rates are irrelevant if the cancer cells werent completely obliterated, and durability doesnt matter since treatments have evolved from autologous to allogeneic and are administered over time.
Therefore, Ho said his major benchmark is when those who should be dead are still walking. Investors continue looking in terms of complete responses, but in cell therapy, I have a target and I either killed it or I didnt. If I didnt, its still growing. The patient may still die without any prolongation of life. We dont want to win the battle but lose the war.
In8bio is looking at gamma delta T cells to help solve that dilemma. Theyre unique and can be delivered allogeneically, and can distinguish between healthy cells and tumor cells, Ho said. We are seeing long-term responses beyond 17 and 20 months, depending on the program, and plan to announce data on our solid tumor program throughout the year.
The challenge, Ho explained, is not to go head-to-head with chemotherapy or any other treatment, but to drive a deeper response. If I eradicate the tumor, I dont need persistence of the cell. Our goal is to add to the standard of care to eliminate the cancer stem cells that remain and that ultimately grow back. Consequently, benchmarks for cell therapy should vary based upon the type of cancer, the trial population, the disease and patients prior treatments.
IO therapies also are looking at new targets. Theres a whole field of proteins associated with the progression of cancer, Rombotis pointed out, so protein degradation is garnering interest. Cyclacel, for example, is working to overcome cancers defenses by suppressing certain proteins, such as MCL,1 MYCN, MYC, MYB, BCL2A1 and MDM2. It expects to announce Phase I data from its oral, protein degradation program this year.
There very likely will be dozens of companies this year announcing Phase I data from protein degradation programs, he predicted. The field of overcoming resistance is very hot.
Despite these and other advancements, the overall pace of innovation has slowed and many me-too solutions are in development, panelists said. For example, more than 1,700 trials involving checkpoint inhibitors are active, enrolling by invitation, recruiting or not-yet recruiting, according to ClinicalTrials.gov.
From an investment perspective, The world is simple, moderator Kevin DeGeeter, managing director of healthcare research, at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., concluded. In a bull market, investors embrace long-term value. In dreadful markets like we have currently, investors have a hard time looking beyond their noses.
Currently, Investors are focused on narrow silos, Ho added, but the biology is so complex that many of the elements are interlinked. The way to drive efficacy is to drive synergy through therapeutic combinations and new modalities to drive a broader response than existing therapeutics can deliver.
The challenge for biotech companies, DeGeeter stressed, isnt which therapy to develop, but whether they can generate results in a timeframe that investors can understand. Asking them to wait three years for data is a tough ask.
See original here:
Outsmarting Cancer: Next Generation Therapies - BioSpace
- 100 plus years of stem cell research20 years of ISSCR - PMC - March 26th, 2024
- Stem Cell Science and Human Research Studies Ahead of Cargo Arrival - NASA Blogs - February 18th, 2024
- Stem cell research project to launch into space - Fox Weather - January 24th, 2024
- Breakthrough in cancer research opening up stem cell therapy to more people. How you can get involved - 69News WFMZ-TV - January 20th, 2024
- Stem Cell Research Heading to the ISS on Axiom Mission 3 - ISS National Lab - January 18th, 2024
- No, Rep. Steve Scalise Didn't Vote Against Stem Cell Research From Which He Is Now Benefiting - The Dispatch - January 12th, 2024
- Applications are open for the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund - Technical.ly - January 4th, 2024
- Global Stem Cell Therapy Market to Reach USD 928.6 Million by 2031: Says Allied Market Research - Yahoo Finance - November 19th, 2023
- Current state of stem cell-based therapies: an overview - PMC - November 3rd, 2023
- Dynamic Stem Cell Therapy Uncovers Research in Advance Regenrative Medicine - Yahoo Finance - November 3rd, 2023
- Research Fellow (Aging and Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory ... - Times Higher Education - October 15th, 2023
- Qkine Collaborates with the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute to Facilitate Same-Day Access to Key Research Products for Researchers at the Cambridge... - September 27th, 2023
- Stem cells: a comprehensive review of origins and emerging clinical ... - September 25th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research and Communicating Science | GBH - GBH News - September 20th, 2023
- Stem cell research reveals the earliest stages of a human life - SBS News - September 10th, 2023
- Stem Cell Therapy Market Size 2023 | Innovative Research Methodologies with Emerging Trends and Opportuni - Benzinga - September 10th, 2023
- Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Research, Current Trends, Key Industry Play - Benzinga - September 8th, 2023
- Stem Cell Therapy Market 2023 Business Statistics and Research ... - The Knox Student - August 28th, 2023
- Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Analysis, Research ... - Chatfield News-Record - July 19th, 2023
- Global Stem Cell Market Projected to Reach $14 Bn by 2028: Ken Research - Yahoo Finance - July 11th, 2023
- Theradaptive Awarded Manufacturing Assistance Grant by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund - Benzinga - July 10th, 2023
- Bionano Announces Presentation of OGM Utility Across Stem Cell Therapy Applications at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual... - June 19th, 2023
- Sana Biotechnology Highlights Preclinical Data from Hypoimmune and Fusogen Platforms at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2023... - June 17th, 2023
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Global Market Report 2023: Effective Research Programs Hold Key in Roll Out of Advanced iPSC Treatments - Yahoo... - June 17th, 2023
- Lung and heart stem cell research paves way for new COVID-19 treatments - Medical Xpress - June 14th, 2023
- Toxicology PhD student cultivating giant leaps in stem cell research ... - June 4th, 2023
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) - May 26th, 2023
- Findings may lead to improved insulin-secreting cells derived from stem ... - May 26th, 2023
- Cell Press: Stem Cell Reports - May 26th, 2023
- Stem cell research could enable blood to be made in other parts of the body - Medical Xpress - May 26th, 2023
- Construction of myocardial patch with mesenchymal stem cells and poly ... - May 22nd, 2023
- Cedars-Sinai to Send Stem Cells to the Space Station to Aid in the ... - May 22nd, 2023
- researchers expand human blood stem cells | Institute for Stem Cell ... - May 22nd, 2023
- A Look Inside Stem Cells Helps Create Personalized Regenerative ... - May 17th, 2023
- Exclusive Research Report on Msenchymal Stem Cell and Exosome Diagnostics and Therapies Market to Witness Comp - openPR - May 17th, 2023
- The Future of Stem Cell Research: Master of Science in ... - The Daily | Case Western Reserve University - May 10th, 2023
- Exclusive Research Report on Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes and ... - Digital Journal - May 9th, 2023
- Aging melanocyte stem cells and gray hair | National Institutes of ... - May 5th, 2023
- Mouse hair turns gray when certain stem cells get stuck - May 5th, 2023
- Science-First Skincare Company Michal Morrison Secures Exclusive World-Wide License of Proprietary STEM6 Molecule, Supported by Over 25 Years of... - May 5th, 2023
- BioCentriq and panCELLa execute research agreement to study stem cell-derived Natural Killer cell expansi - Benzinga - May 3rd, 2023
- Hair turning gray? Study finds a stem cell 'glitch' may be the cause - May 1st, 2023
- Elevai Labs Announces Research Grant Award and Partnership to Better Characterize the 'Payload' of ELEVAI's Stem Cell-derived Exosomes - Yahoo Finance - April 27th, 2023
- Why does hair turn gray? A new study says 'stuck' stem cells may ... - NPR - April 27th, 2023
- Study advances understanding of how melanocyte stem cells work to color ... - April 21st, 2023
- Stem cell research and therapy legislation to be replaced, says ... - Bahamas Tribune - April 21st, 2023
- Stem Cell Research (journal) - Wikipedia - April 21st, 2023
- Scientists Are About to Try to Create Stem Cells in Space - April 21st, 2023
- Stem Cell Research & Therapy | Articles - BioMed Central - April 16th, 2023
- Stem Cell Junk Yards Reveal a New Clue About Aging | WIRED - April 16th, 2023
- Global Stem Cells Market Research Report 2023: Implications - April 16th, 2023
- Stem cell research can help people with hard- | EurekAlert! - April 16th, 2023
- University Of Edinburgh's stem cell research gets funding boost - India Education Diary - April 14th, 2023
- Two major stem cell research projects supported with more than ... - University of California, Santa Cruz - April 8th, 2023
- Cancer detection predicts tumors before they form: discovery - March 29th, 2023
- Stem cell therapy: a potential cure for hearing loss? - March 29th, 2023
- Turkey's Only Stem Cell Production Application and Research Center - Expat Guide Turkey - March 24th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research Article, Embryonic Cells Information, Cell Therapy ... - March 24th, 2023
- Scientists create mice with cells from 2 males for 1st time - March 19th, 2023
- QBRI concludes stem cells symposium - Gulf Times - March 17th, 2023
- 2020 California Proposition 14 - Wikipedia - March 17th, 2023
- Stem Cell Reports | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier - March 17th, 2023
- Stem cell therapy MSC-NP found to ease inflammatory activity of brain ... - March 12th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research | Office of Research Compliance | SIU - March 12th, 2023
- Heart disease study shows hope for stem cell treatment - March 4th, 2023
- Stem cells drive antler regeneration | Science - March 4th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research: Argumentative Essay - Free Essay Example - Edubirdie - March 4th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research | Thermo Fisher Scientific - US - March 4th, 2023
- Stem cell controversy - Wikipedia - February 28th, 2023
- National Institutes of Health grant funds interdisciplinary ... - February 27th, 2023
- Research Associate in Cancer Stem Cell Research job with ... - Times Higher Education - February 25th, 2023
- Pioneering Stem Cell Research Conference at The Aga Khan ... - The Aga Khan University - February 25th, 2023
- Scientists grapple with ethics of stem cell research - STAT - February 17th, 2023
- Research Associate in Stem Cell Neurobiology job with KINGS ... - Times Higher Education - January 30th, 2023
- Stem cells: past, present, and future | Stem Cell Research & Therapy ... - January 12th, 2023
- Edu Thesis & Essay: Stem cell research outline top writers online! - January 12th, 2023
- Stem Cell Biology Research Program | Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell ... - January 5th, 2023
- Stem cell population identified is vital for bone regeneration: Research - ThePrint - January 5th, 2023
- Leading scientist 'blown away' by UAE advances in stem cell research - The National - December 15th, 2022
- The Stem Cell Assay Market Is Set To Grow At A 20% Annual Rate, Due To The High Prevalence Of Chronic Diseases As Per The Business Research Company's... - December 13th, 2022
Recent Comments