AML blasts © ONKODIN Image Bank

German researchers have found a biomarker that reliably predicts outcomes of blood cancer treatment with the chemotherapeutic cytarabine. Targeting the biomarker restored cytarabine sensitivity.

After the record-breaking year of 2015, biotech stock markets exercised more caution in 2016. However, according to a new report, this represents a healthy reset rather than a new crisis. 

PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1), which is expressed on tumour cells and tumour-infiltrating immune cells, interacts with PD-1 and B7.1, both found on the surface of T cells, causing inhibition of T cells. By blocking this interaction, atezolizumab can trigger activation of T cells, restoring their ability to effectively detect and attack tumour cells. © Genentech

Roche is expanding its indications in cancer immunotherapy. Following FDA approvals of its PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab in NSCLC and bladder cancer patients refractive to platinum-based chemotherapy, the Swiss pharma major is awaiting a FDA decision on whether the antibody is suitable as first-line treatment in a further subpopulation of bladder cancer patients.

Image section of 384 individual knock-down experiments in cancer cells. Each square represents one experiment, in which a single gene was knocked down in about 20,000 single cells. The blue is DNA, the green is YAP, the yellow and red are matrix proteins, so individual cells and their shape are represented. © The Institute of Cancer Research, London

Constitutive activation of the mechano-sensor and transcription factor Yes-associated protein (YAP) is key to metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of triple-negative breast cancer, researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research, London, report.

Malte Peters; @Morphosys AG

Malte Peters will leave Sandoz to take over as Chief Development Officer of Morphosys AG. Peters succeeds Arndt Schottelius, who held the position for eight yeara.

Neuronal hypersensitivity specialist NeRRe Therapeutics has closed an oversubscribed Series B financing round led by Fountain Healthcare Partners.

Giles Campion; © Albumedix

Novozymes company Albumedix A/S has appointed Giles Campion new Chief Medical Officer. Campion will be in charge of leading the development efforts of the Danish leader in albumin-based drug delivery. 

Dennis Dionne; © Newron Pharmaceuticals

Milan-based Newron Pharmaceuticals has named Dennis Dionne Vice President Commercial Affairs. Previously, Dionne was Executive Director for Commercial Operations. He replaces Anders Haegerstrand.

Muliti drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, © CDC

The Innovative Medicines Initiative is pushing clinical development of a novel compound against Gram-negative bugs that cause urinary tract and intra-abdominal infections. Backed by IMI, Aicuris is launching a clinical programme for an antibiotic.

The London-based immunotherapy specialist Tiziana Life Sciences bagged the license for the human anti-interleukin 6 receptor antagonist NI-1201 from Swiss Novimmune.