Has the Field of Cancer Treatment Unveiled Promising Breakthroughs in the New Year?

As we step into the new year, let's explore the latest developments in the field of cancer treatment. Although the search for new targets in tumor immunity remains challenging, there have been notable advancements in various areas.

Roche's TIGIT has transitioned to triple therapy for liver cancer, embarking on phase III clinical trials. Additionally, positive OS data from phase III clinical trials for NSCLC were announced, showcasing a reduction in the risk of death by less than 20% with an HR of 0.81. However, Gilead has temporarily halted phase III clinical trials, and ALXoncology terminated its hematological study.

Exciting progress has been made in the realm of mRNA vaccines. Merck/Moderna successfully obtained mrNA-4157 in phase 2b clinical trials and initiated phase III clinical trials for melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer adjuvant treatment. BioNtech, another leader in mRNA technology, is actively developing new antigen mRNA vaccines and focusing on scanning anti-tumor new drugs in China.

The field of cancer treatment has witnessed significant advancements in CD3 double antibodies. Several CD3/CD20 double antibodies have received marketing approval, with Amg DLL3/CD3 double antibody recently declared for marketing, marking a breakthrough in the solid tumor domain.

Astellas Claudin18.2 antibody has obtained marketing approval, while Chuangsheng Group and Mingji Biological have commenced phase III clinical trials with distinct strategies. On the other hand, Amgen's KRASG12C full approval request was denied by the FDA, necessitating additional clinical validation. Mirati was acquired by BMS for a substantial sum of $4.8 billion, and BMS further acquired TurningPoint, strengthening its small-molecule antineoplastic portfolio.

In the field of self-immunization, the TL1A antibody has emerged as a significant breakthrough. Merck Sharp & Dohme acquired Prometheus for a staggering $10.8 billion, and Roche acquired Telavant, a Roivant subsidiary, for $7.1 billion. Sanofi secured Teva's TL1A antibody for $1.5 billion. FcRn has also garnered industry attention. While the Argenx subcutaneous version of Efgartigimod faced setbacks in ITP and pemphigus phase III clinical trials, its prospects remain promising. Novartis is exploring the success of its phase III clinical trial for CSU, a BTK inhibitor, in collaboration with Sanofi.

Exciting developments have unfolded in the CNS field. Biogen/Eisai's Lecanemab received approval, and Eli Lilly's Donanemab is nearing commercialization. Sage's core pipeline, Zuranolone, obtained approval for postpartum depression but faced rejection for major depression. Abbvie's acquisition of Ceverel for $8.7 billion and Bristol-Myers Squibb's acquisition of Karuna Therapeutics for $14 billion reflect the industry's fervor in this domain.

In the field of metabolism, GLP-1 has emerged as a significant bright spot, with semaglutide and telpotide sales skyrocketing. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have become the most valuable pharmaceutical companies by focusing on combination therapy, multi-target therapy, and small molecules. Roche's acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics for $3.1 billion further underscores the importance of this domain. Although Eli Lilly has launched eight phase III trials for small molecule GLP-1, phase 2 data from Pfizer and Shuo Di failed to meet market expectations. Chengyi Biological is the only Chinese company to complete overseas cooperation authorization for GLP-1, with a staggering $2 billion authorized to Astrazeneca. Novo Nordisk's success with once-weekly insulin and ongoing efforts to explore new mechanisms for weight loss drugs further exemplify their commitment to this field.

The field of vaccines witnessed a breakthrough with the long-awaited approval of RSV vaccines. GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer's RSV vaccines garnered substantial sales in the third quarter. Merck Sharp & Dohme's 15-valent pneumonia conjugate vaccine has entered the market, and the phase III clinical success of the 21-valent pneumonia conjugate vaccine was achieved this year. Sanofi's RSV neutralizing antibody also received approval. Pfizer's influenza/SARS-CoV-2 dual vaccine is undergoing phase III clinical trials, while respiratory combined vaccines are being extensively deployed. Affinivax's 24-valent pneumonia vaccine, previously acquired by GSK, and Vaxcyte's 24-valent pneumonia tuberculosis vaccine have initiated phase III clinical trials. Moderna's new wave of mRNA vaccines has swiftly entered the clinical stage.

In China, Clover's RSV vaccine has been clinically launched in Australia, and Darmian Biological, a subsidiary of Sannopharma, has received FDA IND approval for RSV mRNA vaccine.Please note that the information provided above is based on the knowledge available up until September 2021. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on the latest breakthroughs in cancer treatment, I recommend consulting reputable sources such as scientific journals, medical websites, and news outlets specialized in healthcare and oncology.