Biotech Strategy Blog

Commentary on Science, Innovation & New Products with a focus on Oncology, Hematology & Immunotherapy

About MaverickNY

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Posts by MaverickNY

How Tec kinases could make a difference in PTCL at iCML23

Lugano is such a glorious place to hold a meeting!

For quite a few years I used to ask a CTCL/PTCL expert in the poster halls whether there was anything new to report at ASH annual meetings, only to be met with a woeful hang dog look.

Despite many failed trials in this niche there are some encouraging signs beginning to emerge at last.

One story we have been following for a while has a new update worthy of discussion in terms of future directions…

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Stacking up the clinical evidence at ASCO23

Stacking up the evidence

Beyond all the ballyhoo, breathless hype, and boisterous claims for ‘a positive trial!’ or even ”practice changing data!’ we saw in Chicago recently, does the clinical evidence really stand up under scrutiny in support?

In some cases yes, but in quite a few cases the answers were a clear no.

So what trials fall into which category, and which yardsticks should we judge them by?

In our latest review we highlight ten clinical studies presented at ASCO and explain some alternative angles to watch out for, with some perspectives from thought leaders included for good measure…

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An under-rated gem at ASCO23

Reflections from Chicago

While many observers are intently focused on the plenary and oral tumour type sessions at ASCO, in the next couple of posts we will be offering some reflections on some of the hidden gems in the poster halls.

These presentations can afford glimpses into what to expect in future clinical trial readouts in the not too distant future.

Of late many companies have been struggling to raise funding in a tough economic climate, especially if they are powered by a novel target or approach, while others are well funded and settled.

In this example, we discuss a well funded biotech with a novel approach to targeting difficult to treat advanced cancers.  What’s not to like?

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Making sense of all the TIGIT data at ASCO23

Graffiti in Adams Morgan, Chicago

Continuing our coverage of the annual meeting of ASCO in Chicago I felt compelled to review the actual data presented at the meeting.

Regardless of whether you are bullish or bearish about the target – or even specific agents in the niche – there are some important subtleties and nuances to be aware of and take into consideration.

Here we offer a detailed look at key issues to think about in the broader context of new product development and early stage clinical trials…

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A look at early stage trials debuting at ASCO23

Chicago River Bridge

Early stage clinical trials can often turn out to be a bridge to future success or an unexpected dunk in the water, depending on how the outcomes go.

The path to success in Developmental Therapeutics is often paved with many unexpected trials and tribulations.

The important factor though is not whether or not companies experience them – because they will – but how well they handle the issues which present along the way.

In our latest report from ASCO23 we take a look at three phase 1 trials and one phase 2 study to explore the opportunities and challenges involved for four very different companies…

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Divvying it up at ASCO23

There’s more than one way to look at data despite the same top line results

Beyond the obvious, what else was coming out at ASCO this year?

It’s time to divvy up the spoils and explore some intriguing trial results not in the mainstream consciousness.

Well there is one major trial we critique in this latest review, although perhaps with a rather different take on the data as it could be considered in a more controversial light when you look at the details.

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Are the lions roaring in Chicago?

Are the lions roaring in Chicago?

In our latest coverage from the annual meeting at ASCO we explore and discuss some of the highlights from Day 1 of the meeting.

It used to be Friday was reserved for the educational events and Saturday was the start of various oral sessions.

Increasingly, the meeting has now become so jam packed we now see a number of tumour type oral sessions on Friday and a wave of posters on Saturday.

We asked ourselves what were the controversies and findings that stood out from pack and why do they matter?

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Battle lines drawn in adjuvant breast cancer

There’s no ASCO meeting without the Bean

After a long wait and much anticipation, the NATALEE late breaker results are finally in!

In this adjuvant breast cancer study involving Stage II/III disease, ribociclib was added to standard endocrine therapy (ET).

We have already seen the equivalent readouts from Pfizer and Lilly, with very different outcomes.

The Novartis trial followed same the positive trend as the Lilly study, but what about the subtleties and nuances involved?

Here we put the NATALEE trial through its paces and discuss the ins and outs relative to the niche…

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Intriguing progress on the KRAS front

Tackling intractable targets and tumour escape/evasion

Understanding clonal evolution ought to be an essential part of figuring out how to tackle intractable or tricky targets such as KRAS.

Inevitably chronic treatment with monotherapy will exert selective pressure on a given tumour so it reacts by escaping and signalling elsewhere in order to ensure its continued survival.

If we add in another agent, it may work for a while and then the same thing happens again.

What if we could break out of this cycle and try some novel approaches, find more potent agents, or even rational combinations to try and box in the resistance?

In our third ASCO Preview we take a look at some of the progress being made and where things might be headed in the near to medium term future…

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On TIGIT, ADCs, and other stories

Some ASCO23 abstracts to grab your attention!

As we head into the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), it’s time to review some key abstracts which may grab your attention.

Of course not all of these will be positive in nature, yet some are already planned for phase 3 investigation on the basis of some rather skimpy early data…

While at the other end of the extreme are some important data largely under many people’s radar.

Here we highlight a dozen examples of what’s coming this weekend, explain what to watch out for and offer some important caveats or questions to think about.

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