Volume 11 Issue 4, September 2017

YUMAB, a global provider of fully human monoclonal antibodies, offers ultra-fast discovery and efficient lead development. The company is looking to expand its network of collaborators and clients through flexible licensing options for diagnostics and therapeutics development, as well as the provision of customized fee-for-service solutions.

Providing ultra-high-throughput screening of single cell assays and antibody-producing cells as well as the ability to sort them, Cyto-Mine is ready for use.

BIOCAD, the leading Russian biotechnology company, owns a robust portfolio of globally marketed products and is focusing its efforts on research and development of novel compounds and biologics, primarily for oncology. Building on its national leadership position, the company is seeking to expand its international presence through joint clinical development partnerships.

Checkpoint inhibitors continue to achieve clinical and commercial success, which has led to further deals and combination trials as developers look to maximize their reach. In this feature, we update our chart of the development progress and major deals for the leading checkpoint inhibitors.

Attracting the interest of large biopharma companies, the crescendo Biologics Humabody platform and product candidates are targeting immuno-oncology and beyond.

A new platform built around recombinant overlapping peptides (ROPs) promises quicker and cheaper production of more effective therapeutic vaccines and diagnostics for cancer and viral infections.

ImmuneOncia Therapeutics is developing antibodies that target novel immune checkpoints, which could enhance drug efficacy when used in combination with agents that block PD-1 or PD-L1.

Applying its TIL-based therapy, Iovance Biotherapeutics is expanding TIL numbers in patients to target solid tumors.

By leveraging its unique and versatile production-platform technology, Glycostem has developed highly pure and active cancer-fighting cell therapy products that are safe and effective for allogeneic transplantation in patients with hematological cancers and solid tumors.

Working with two complementary technologies, biotech company MicroQuin is developing next-generation targeted therapies that kill all breast cancers with no toxicity.

Synlogic is manufacturing synthetic biotic medicines engineered to deliver multimodal therapeutic activities locally.

BioEclipse (formerly ConcentRx) is preparing to start clinical trials of its novel approach to immuno-oncology, which combines two monotherapies with a synergistic effect.

BerGenBio, a Norwegian biotech, is developing an oral, once-a-day Axl inhibitor that shows promise in treating aggressive cancers and in boosting the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors.

Isoplexis helps researchers target the right therapies early to the highest-urgency cancer patients.

BrightPath, formerly known as GreenPeptide, is moving beyond peptides to push the boundaries of cancer immunotherapy toward more personalized treatments.

STORM Therapeutics is looking to harness the power of RNA epigenetics by honing in on the modulation of RNA-modifying enzymes.

The National Cancer Institute’s Technology Transfer Center (TTC) facilitates partnerships between NIH research laboratories and external partners—companies, academia, non-profits, and other government agencies. The TTC is the guardian of NCI’s intellectual property from the point of discovery to invention development, patenting, and licensing.

While breast cancer and ovarian cancer continue to be a major focus of R&D investment and dealmaking, other indications related to women’s health, such as hot flushes and endometriosis, are also attracting interest.

A new opportunity for your molecules

By using a tissue-specific hormone inhibitor to rebalance local estrogen metabolism, Forendo Pharma could provide long-term treatment to millions of women suffering from endometriosis.

Emotional Brain is developing personalized medicines and a companion diagnostic for female sexual dysfunction, with a focus on sexual desire.