Dana–Farber Cancer Institute

Merck’s KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Reduced the Risk of Death by 38% Versus Placebo as Adjuvant Therapy for Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) at an Increased Risk of Recurrence Following Nephrectomy

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Research, FDA, Clinical Trials, Biotechnology, General Health, Pharmaceutical, Health, Science, Oncology, Other Science, MSD, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Renal cell carcinoma, Death, VEGF, Patient, M1, OS, RCC, Harvard Medical School, ASCO, Survival, DFS, Medicine, Society, NED, Cancer, Nephrectomy, Kidney, Risk, Recurrence, Disease, Safety, Eisai, Merck & Co., CPS, Rated R, MRK, Pharmaceutical industry

At 48 months, the estimated OS rate was 91.2% for patients who received KEYTRUDA compared to 86.0% for patients who received placebo.

Key Points: 
  • At 48 months, the estimated OS rate was 91.2% for patients who received KEYTRUDA compared to 86.0% for patients who received placebo.
  • Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 79.1% of patients (n=386) in the KEYTRUDA arm and 53.0% of patients (n=263) in the placebo arm.
  • Grade 3-4 TRAEs occurred in 18.6% of patients in the KEYTRUDA arm and 1.2% of patients in the placebo arm.
  • Treatment-related adverse events resulting in discontinuation of any treatment occurred in 18.2% of patients in the KEYTRUDA arm and 0.8% of patients in the placebo arm.

Empress Announces Formation of World Leading Scientific Advisory Board

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Software, Research, General Health, Pharmaceutical, Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Genetics, Health Technology, Science, Biotechnology, Other Science, Health, Probability, Microbiome, Emperor, Harvard Medical School, National academy, Computational biology, Genetic engineering, Inflammatory bowel disease, University, Infection, Biological engineering, Therapy, Synthetic biology, DNA, Harvard University, Biostatistics, Biomedical engineering, MIT, Disease, NIH, Science Publishing Group, MacArthur Fellows Program, Metabolism, Wyss Institute, Entrepreneurship, Artificial intelligence, Cell growth, Distinguishing, Immunology, SAB, Dysbiosis, Microbiota, Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Mass spectrometry, Princeton University, Genomics, Public health, Protein, Diabetes, Pharmaceutical industry

Empress Therapeutics , a company accelerating small molecule drug generation through novel insights linking genes to chemistry, today announced the formation of the Empress Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with leading experts in synthetic biology, computational biology, genetics, chemistry, and metabolism and disease.

Key Points: 
  • Empress Therapeutics , a company accelerating small molecule drug generation through novel insights linking genes to chemistry, today announced the formation of the Empress Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with leading experts in synthetic biology, computational biology, genetics, chemistry, and metabolism and disease.
  • The SAB will work closely with the leadership at Empress Therapeutics to advance the company’s Chemilogics™ platform and pipeline of drug leads.
  • “We are honored to have these extraordinary scientific leaders join Empress in its mission to generate safe, effective medicines faster and more predictably,” said Jason Park, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Empress Therapeutics.
  • “Our Scientific Advisory Board provides invaluable expertise across multiple aspects of our Chemilogics™ platform, which uses AI to discover therapeutic chemistry encoded in genetic data.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - Merrimack Valley Nurses Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify First MNA Contract Following Strike Advocating for Investment in Local Nurses and Quality Patient Care

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
DFCI, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, AOCNP, Commonwealth, Patient, Nursing, Holiday, Life, Multimedia, ATB, Cancer, Workplace, National Nurses United, Practitioner, National Labor Relations Board, Negotiation, Legislature, MNA

METHUEN, Mass., Jan. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Registered nurses and nurse practitioners at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute – Merrimack Valley (DFCI – MV), represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), voted on Wednesday, January 24 to ratify a first MNA contract that will help nurses continue to provide the high-quality cancer care that patients in Merrimack Valley need and deserve.

Key Points: 
  • Those two contract areas were critical going into the nurses' one-day strike on September 27 , which was followed by a two-day lockout imposed by DFCI.
  • "Winning this strong MNA contract shows what nurses are capable of when we work together on behalf of our patients and professional practice," said Kate Mitchell, FNP-BC, AOCNP at DFCI – MV.
  • "We are excited to use our contract to help keep nurses at Dana-Farber Merrimack Valley so we can continue to provide high-quality cancer care to local patients."
  • The MNA also represents approximately 600 nurses at the DFCI main campus in Boston under a separate contract.

Harvey J. Berger, M.D. Joins Kojin Therapeutics as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Oncology, Health, Genetics, General Health, Clinical Trials, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Ferroptosis, Immunology, Cameron Boyce, Broad Institute, Drug discovery, Autoimmune disease, Science, Virology, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Research, Chemical biology, MIT, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Apoptosis, Conditional sentence, Yale School of Medicine, Bayer, Yang, Therapy, Cancer, Investment, Polaris Partners, ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Medicine, Harvard University, Yale New Haven Hospital, Scripps Research, Patient, Cardiovascular disease, Colgate University, Harvard Medical School, Organization, Yale school, Wolf Prize, Pharmaceutical industry

Kojin Therapeutics, Inc., a pioneer in cell-state and ferroptosis biology and cutting-edge drug discovery, today announced the appointment of Harvey J. Berger, M.D.

Key Points: 
  • Kojin Therapeutics, Inc., a pioneer in cell-state and ferroptosis biology and cutting-edge drug discovery, today announced the appointment of Harvey J. Berger, M.D.
  • as its new chairman, president, and chief executive officer.
  • He founded ARIAD Pharmaceuticals and led the company from a start-up to a fully integrated global oncology company.
  • Kojin co-founder Professor Stuart Schreiber stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Berger, a long-time colleague and collaborator, as Kojin’s new chief executive.

Aspira Women’s Health to Host R&D Day With Updates on the Development of the Company's Ovarian Cancer and Endometriosis Tests on January 4, 2024

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Hospital, Woman, Ovarian cancer, Endometrioma, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, MicroRNA, Brigham and Women's Hospital, MD, Doctor of Philosophy, Endometriosis, Assistant, Harvard Medical School, Gynaecology, Reproductive biology, Birth control

After a brief overview of the current treatment pathway for ovarian cancer and endometriosis, our panelists will provide an update on each of the company’s in-development products, including how each can close clinical gaps and improve health outcomes for women.

Key Points: 
  • After a brief overview of the current treatment pathway for ovarian cancer and endometriosis, our panelists will provide an update on each of the company’s in-development products, including how each can close clinical gaps and improve health outcomes for women.
  • Product updates will include upcoming milestones, pending publications, and future revenue potential for:
    The only commercially available ovarian cancer blood test for women diagnosed with an adnexal mass considered indeterminate or benign by initial clinical assessment.
  • A promising new blood test that combines Aspira’s proprietary protein biomarker technology with miRNAs licensed from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
  • The first protein biomarker test for the identification of ovarian endometriosis, including endometrioma.

Kronos Bio Announces Pipeline Update and p300 KAT Inhibitor Development Candidate

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 18, 2023
Patient, Map, Downregulation and upregulation, KAT, Kronos, Research, SYK, CDK9, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, CRH, Disease, Multiple myeloma, SAN, KRON, White noise, Infection, Cancer, IRF4, TRN, AML, Pharmaceutical industry

SAN MATEO, Calif. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kronos Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: KRON), a company dedicated to transforming the lives of those affected by cancer, today announced an update on its pipeline. After a review of data from the phase 1b portion of its phase 1b/2 trial of lanraplenib in combination with gilteritinib in FLT3-mutated relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the Company has decided not to proceed to phase 2. The Company is open to further development of lanraplenib, a SYK inhibitor, with a partner.

Key Points: 
  • The Company is open to further development of lanraplenib, a SYK inhibitor, with a partner.
  • Kronos Bio also announced the designation of a new development candidate, KB-9558, which targets the lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) domain of p300, a critical node of the IRF4 transcription regulatory network (TRN).
  • “Kronos Bio was founded with a clear vision: to tackle the challenge of deregulated transcription, a hallmark of cancer,” said Norbert Bischofberger, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Kronos Bio.
  • We look forward to continuing to work with the Kronos Bio team to bring KB-9558 to patients.”
    “We believe that KB-9558 is positively differentiated from compounds targeting other p300 domains,” said Christopher Dinsmore, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Kronos Bio.

Black Diamond Therapeutics Announces Topline Results from Phase 1 Dose Escalation Trial of BDTX-1535 in Patients with Recurrent GBM

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Diamond, Patient, Conference, Lung cancer, AACR, Temozolomide, PR, Neoplasm, Diarrhea, EGFR, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Neuro-Oncology (journal), Brain, Therapy, Clinical trial, PD, Bevacizumab, CNS, Cancer, GBM, Diagnosis, Safety, PFS, NSCLC, Rash, Pharmaceutical industry

BDTX-1535, a fourth-generation, brain-penetrant, covalent EGFR inhibitor, is under investigation in a Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or GBM.

Key Points: 
  • BDTX-1535, a fourth-generation, brain-penetrant, covalent EGFR inhibitor, is under investigation in a Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or GBM.
  • Clinical data as of November 2023 reflect 27 patients with recurrent GBM who received a range of doses spanning 15mg to 400mg once daily (QD) in the dose escalation cohort.
  • Of the 27 patients with recurrent GBM, 22 were started at or escalated to a dose of 100mg QD or greater and reached at least one post baseline tumor assessment.
  • Black Diamond plans to submit results from the dose escalation GBM cohort for presentation at a medical meeting in the second quarter of 2024.

Data Presented at SABCS Demonstrate the Significant Promise of Precede Biosciences’ Novel Liquid Biopsy Platform to Define HER2 and ER Status in Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
DNA methylation, Neoplasm, HER2, Plasma, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, DNA, Immunohistochemistry, Poster, Breast cancer, MPH, Patient, AUC, News, Medical imaging

The data demonstrate the ability of the platform to reveal disease-defining transcriptional biology of metastatic breast cancer and to accurately classify patients as HER2 3+ vs. HER2 0 and ER+ vs. ER- from just 1mL of plasma.

Key Points: 
  • The data demonstrate the ability of the platform to reveal disease-defining transcriptional biology of metastatic breast cancer and to accurately classify patients as HER2 3+ vs. HER2 0 and ER+ vs. ER- from just 1mL of plasma.
  • “Determination of HER2 and ER status is foundational to therapeutic decision-making in patients with advanced breast cancer,” said Heather A. Parsons, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, lead author.
  • All patients had plasma drawn within six weeks of a tissue biopsy that was assessed for HER2 and ER by immunohistochemistry.
  • Breast cancer cell lines were profiled to enable initial feature selection for the HER2 and ER classifiers.

CARGO Therapeutics Announces Scientific Advisory Board

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Associate, Baylor University, Baylor College of Medicine, Hospital, Division, Research, Investment company, Massachusetts General Hospital, MD, Doctor of Philosophy, SAB, SAN, Therapy, Cancer, CD2, Health, Section, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, University, Hematology, Faculty, MBBS, Royal North Shore Hospital, Patient, Boston, Harvard Medical School, MGH, Medical school, CD22, Nursing

SAN MATEO, Calif., Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. (CRGX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company uniquely positioned to advance next generation, potentially curative cell therapies for cancer patients, today announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) comprised of distinguished experts in cancer research, immunology, and CAR T-cell therapy.

Key Points: 
  • SAN MATEO, Calif., Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CARGO Therapeutics, Inc. (CRGX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company uniquely positioned to advance next generation, potentially curative cell therapies for cancer patients, today announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) comprised of distinguished experts in cancer research, immunology, and CAR T-cell therapy.
  • The SAB will provide strategic counsel and critical expertise as CARGO advances its mission to develop the next generation of transformational CAR T-cell therapies.
  • “The SAB stands out by bringing together several highly accomplished translational investigators each with CAR T-cell experience that bridges both the laboratory and the clinic,” said Robbie Majzner, MD, co-founder of CARGO and Scientific Advisory Board Chair.
  • “They are uniquely suited to advise CARGO on their scientific goals and directions that will lead to better outcomes for patients.”
    Members of the CARGO Scientific Advisory Board are listed below; full bios are available on the CARGO website .

Enterome’s OncoMimics™ Immunotherapy EO2401 Significantly Improves Survival Rate in Recurrent Glioblastoma

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 20, 2023
Brain, FOXM1, Survival, SNO, Hope, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Progression-free survival, Service provider, Inflammation, Nivolumab, Society, Bevacizumab, Glioblastoma, Cancer, Patient, Harvard Medical School, PFS, Vaccine

PARIS, Nov. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enterome, a clinical-stage company developing first-in-class immunomodulatory drugs for solid and liquid malignancies and inflammatory diseases based on its unique Mimicry platform, today announced updated efficacy data from its Phase 1/2 clinical trial of EO2401, in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (nivolumab) +/- an anti-VEGF therapy (bevacizumab), for the treatment of patients with first progression/recurrence of glioblastoma (ROSALIE trial). The data were featured in an oral presentation at the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Annual Meeting, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on November 17th.

Key Points: 
  • The presentation entitled “EO2401 peptide immunotherapy + nivolumab +/- bevacizumab in first recurrent glioblastoma: the Phase 1/2 EOGBM1-18/ROSALIE study” was delivered by David Reardon, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Clinical Director of the Center for Neuro-Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
  • “We are very pleased to present extensive data from the Phase 1/2 ROSALIE study of EO2401, our lead OncoMimics™ peptide-based immunotherapy, in glioblastoma,” said Pierre Belichard, Chief Executive Officer of Enterome.
  • The combination demonstrated encouraging results including a median survival of 14.5 months, median duration of response of 13.1 months, and median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.5 months.
  • The survival rate of 57.4% and 43.1% was observed at 12 months and 18 months respectively.