Immunology and Biotherapies

(2015). Generation and characterization of ABT-981, a dual variable domain immunoglobulin (DVD-IgTM) molecule that specifically and potently neutralizes both IL-1α and IL-1β. mAbs: Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 605-619. doi: 10.1080/19420862.2015.1026501

Via Krishan Maggon

Affimed develops TandAbs and Trispecific Abs for substantially increasing the efficacy and extend the therapeutic window by three proprietary platforms

Via Krishan Maggon

Abstract

The concept of using immunotherapy to treat melanoma has existed for decades. The rationale comes from the knowledge that many patients with melanoma have endogenous immune responses against their tumor cells and clinically meaningful tumor regression can be achieved in a minority of patients using cytokines such as interleukin-2 and adoptive cellular therapy. In the last 5 years there has been a revolution in the clinical management of melanoma in large measure based on the development of antibodies that influence T cell regulatory pathways by overcoming checkpoint inhibition and providing co-stimulation, either of which results in significantly more effective immune-mediated tumor destruction. This review will describe the pre-clinical and clinical application of antagonistic antibodies targeting the T-cell checkpoints cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death 1 (PD-1), and agonistic antibodies targeting the costimulatory pathways OX40 and 4-1BB. Recent progress and opportunities for future investigation of combination antibody therapy will be described.

Via Krishan Maggon

Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) has filed a Biologics License Application with the FDA for a new class of cholesterol-fighting drugs. It is competing with Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY) to be the first to tap into the $10 billion market.

Via Krishan Maggon