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Oncology Hero

Pinworm Drug Active in Merkel Cell Carcinoma, HER2 ADC Extends OS in Bladder Cancer, Ratio to Build Radiopharma Facility

Published about 1 month ago • 1 min read

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Repurposed Pinworm Drug Shows Activity in Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Context: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive skin cancer with limited treatment options outside of immunotherapy.

What's New? A new case series reports that pyrvinium pamoate, a decades-old anti-parasitic agent, led to tumor regression in patients with MCC. The drug is thought to act through mitochondrial inhibition and cancer metabolism pathways.

Why it Matters? Repurposing well-characterized agents offers a cost-effective route to treatment innovation, especially in rare cancers with unmet need.

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Pfizer, RemeGen HER2 ADC Improves Survival in Bladder Cancer Trial

Context: HER2 targeting is emerging as a viable strategy beyond breast and gastric cancers, including in bladder cancer where options remain limited.

What's New? In a Phase 3 trial conducted in China, RemeGen’s HER2 antibody-drug conjugate RC48 extended overall survival in newly diagnosed HER2-positive bladder cancer. Pfizer is a global partner for development and commercialization.

Why it Matters? These results bolster HER2’s role as a pan-tumor target and could support global expansion of RC48 as a new standard in bladder cancer therapy.

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Gastric Cancer Increasingly Diagnosed at Early, More Treatable Stages

Context: Gastric cancer has traditionally been diagnosed at late stages in Western countries, contributing to poor survival rates.

What's New? A new analysis shows that gastric cancers are now increasingly detected at stage I, largely due to endoscopic advances and growing awareness among clinicians in high-risk populations.

Why it Matters? Earlier diagnosis significantly improves prognosis and enables curative surgery, underscoring the importance of surveillance and screening in high-risk individuals.

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Ratio to Build Radiopharma R&D and Manufacturing Hub in Utah

Context: Radiopharmaceuticals are gaining traction in oncology for delivering targeted radiation to tumor cells.

What's New? Ratio Therapeutics has signed a deal to build a new integrated R&D and manufacturing site in Utah, positioning the company to accelerate development of next-generation radiopharmaceuticals.

Why it Matters? The facility will support scale-up of targeted alpha and beta therapies and strengthen U.S.-based supply chain capacity in this fast-growing modality.

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Oncology Hero

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Regeneron Acquires 23andMe Research Division for $256M in Bankruptcy Auction Context: As 23andMe navigates Chapter 11 proceedings, key assets tied to its vast genomic database and pharma partnerships have drawn industry attention. What's New? Regeneron has secured a $256 million deal to acquire 23andMe’s therapeutics subsidiary, aiming to leverage the platform’s extensive genotypic and phenotypic data to fuel its precision medicine pipeline. Why it Matters? This acquisition gives Regeneron a...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Cullinan and Taiho Reveal Positive NSCLC Data Ahead of FDA Filing Context: Cullinan Oncology and Taiho are developing CLN-081, an EGFR exon 20 insertion–targeting therapy for NSCLC—a mutation subtype with limited approved options. What's New? At ASCO, the companies presented data showing a response rate of 41% and a 12.7-month median duration of response for CLN-081. The results are expected to support an FDA submission in the second half of 2024. Why it Matters? These findings position...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Roche’s Itovebi Cuts Risk of Death by 33% in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Context: HER2-positive breast cancer remains an aggressive subtype despite advances in targeted therapies. What's New? In updated data presented at ASCO, Roche’s anti-HER2 therapy Itovebi (trastuzumab duocarmazine) reduced the risk of death by 33% in pretreated HER2-positive breast cancer, significantly improving overall survival compared to standard therapies. Why it Matters? This reinforces Itovebi’s growing role in...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read