Biotech Strategy Blog

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

Posts tagged ‘ESMO 2017 Madrid’

Can this novel combination overcome resistance to checkpoint blockade?

As we demonstrated in the recent Novel Targets podcast that opened Season 3, one topic that is a key focus for many in the IO space is addressing mechanisms of immune escape and acquired resistance to single agent treatment with immunotherapy.

We’ve seen several oncogenic escape mechanisms reported, included activation of the JAK/STAT pathways in some patients and loss of existing immunity when the tumour suddenly becomes cold or an immune dessert.

The good news is that there are a number of ideas that can be pursued, including activating the innate immune system in various combinations.

As we see more companies invest in the innate immunity space in order to have a rational partner with which to combine with their checkpoint inhibitor, it will be important to maintain focus on trial designs and synergistic mechanism of actions to improve efficacy while reducing the potential for overlapping or severe toxicities.

Here’s one intriguing and promising new approach that caught our eye this month that is worthy of researching and following over time…

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ESMO17 Day 4 Highlights and Lowlights

Greetings from continental Europe!

ESMO Madrid Conference Center

We have a LOT of data to discuss today from ESMO and have also included an interview with one expert that was conducted under embargo on an important topic.

Of course, the usual in-depth analyses on new targets and early compounds in development will duly follow in the post-meeting output, but there’s plenty of practice changing data to consider and also some results that may trigger alternative thinking from where we are now.

We also received questions from BSB readers on certain trials and some of these are answered in today’s update on the road…

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ESMO Day 3 Highlights and Lowlights

Sunday is usually a good day at ESMO congresses and 2017 was no different in that respect.

It does feel weird, however, to be seeing tweets about data from some studies hours before they are presented in that day’s Presidential Symposium, something oncologists attending have started to notice too:

Yesterday we had encouraging readouts from PACIFIC and FLAURA trials to discuss, so what’s in store for today? Are they mostly highights or lowlights?

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ESMO17 Day 1 Highlights and Lowlights

It really doesn’t feel like a year since we were at ESMO in Copenhagen, in what was probably the most exciting meeting of the year in many ways.

Packed audience!

With the ASCO abstract deadline being in Jan/Feb, ESMO offers a great opportunity for companies to have another major slot in the calendar to present ground breaking data. In some ways, having positive data at a European meeting can actually amplify positive studies that might otherwise get lost in the noise at ASCO, which is almost becoming too big.

So what’s in store now that the meeting is upon us?

There are some large and small trials with important data on the first two days that bear thinking about and further discussion.

Here’s our take on the first batch of readouts, including some surprises…

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ESMO17 Preview 2 – The 5 on Targeted Therapy

While there continues to be an almost obsessive and fervant attention and focus on cancer immunotherapy, let’s not forget that chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy combinations are still the standard of care in many cases.

Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid

There are also numerous pipeline trials still ongoing and especially in the case of diseases with a low number of somatic mutations, other approaches may continue to have more utility and clinical benefit than say, monotherapy with checkpoint blockade.

So what’s in store in our second ESMO17 Preview series?

Following on from the Top 5 IO abstracts earlier this week, next up in the spotlight is the Targeted Therapy Top 5 Selections…

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ESMO17 Preview 1 – The IO 5

It’s that time of the year again – time to highlight key events and talks at the upcoming European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting held in Madrid next month.

Over the next two days, we’re going to take a look at five key IO trials (today) and five targeted therapy studies (tomorrow) that are being presented at ESMO.

In short, what should readers know about these oral presentations for greater context, why are they important, and what should you be looking for?

We will cover the hidden gems from the poster halls to watch out for in a separate future post.

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