Entries by Thomas Gabrielczyk

Curevac reports another failed cancer vaccine

For thirty years, industry has worked hard to establish vaccines that can cure cancer. At the 35th JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, German Curevac reported another failure. It remains open whether cancer vaccines or co-administration of other drug classes to immune checkpoint modulators can break solid tumour’s immune tolerance tactics.

Roche gets FDA priority review for atezolizumab

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.

Bayer antibiotics spin-out Aicuris bags IMI grant

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.