checkpoint inhibitor

GSK immunotherapy shows promise as alternative to surgery in certain rectal cancers

A small Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center study found that all rectal cancer patients treated with GSK drug Jemperli showed a complete response at six months—there were no detectable signs of the cancer. These early data presented at ASCO suggest that rectal cancer with a particular genetic signature might be treatable with this immunotherapy in lieu of the standard regimen of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

By Frank Vinluan

BioPharma

Roche’s Tecentriq approved as first immunotherapy drug for breast cancer

The drug received accelerated approval for combination with Celgene's Abraxane based on Phase III data. According to a study, PD-L1-positive patients account for 26 percent of TNBC patients overall.

By Alaric DeArment

BioPharma

J&J puts the brakes on immunotherapy combination studies

Janssen halts lung cancer and myeloma trials, citing lack of clinical benefit and greater number of patient deaths in combo arm.

By Alaric DeArment

Startups, BioPharma

Former Pharmacyclics CEO raises $75M Series B for new immunotherapy startup Corvus

Corvus Pharma, the brainchild of former Pharmacyclics CEO Richard Miller, just raised a $75 million Series B for its line of checkpoint inhibitor drugs.

By Meghana Keshavan