Volume 19 Issue 3, March 2020

Bespoke drug development could have regulatory, toxicology and accessibility implications for the entire biopharma sector.

A massive, pioneering trial is underway to assess whether RNA-based modulation of Lp(a) — a form of bad cholesterol that narrows arteries, boosts the risk of blood clots and fans the flames of inflammation — can save lives.

γδT cells display potent cytotoxicity towards a large array of haematological and solid tumours while preserving normal tissues. In this Review, Sebestyen et al. analyse the tumour specificity mechanisms of γδT cells and the challenges and opportunities for the use of such cells and their receptors in cancer immunotherapy.

The use of allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cells from donors has many potential advantages over autologous approaches, such as immediate availability, standardization and the possibility of redosing or combination. This Review analyses the different sources of T cells and technological approaches to produce optimal allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cells with limited potential for graft-versus-host disease and increased persistence.

Natural killer (NK) cells have a primordial role in tumour immunosurveillance. Given their potent antitumour activity, therapeutic manipulation of NK cells provides an attractive strategy for cancer treatment. This Review discusses new approaches to activate NK cells, increase their proliferation in vivo and increase their capacity to recognize tumour cells.