> BerGenBio posted data from a Phase I trial of its selective Axl kinase inhibitor in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. The first-in-human trial suggests the drug, BGB324, can be given safely for prolonged periods at doses that BerGenBio thinks will inhibit Axl activation and deliver antileukemic activity. This outcome has encouraged BerGenBio to plan to move the drug into Phase II. Release
> Basilea Pharmaceutica (SWX:BSLN) reported data from a pair of oncology programs at ASCO. The more advanced of the two assets, checkpoint inhibitor BAL101553, was associated with a long-lasting partial response and one case of prolonged stable disease when given intravenously to 39 patients with advanced solid tumors. Basilea is also set to trial an oral formulation of the drug. Another oral formulation, small-molecule panRAF/SRC kinase inhibitor BAL3833, delivered some early clinical data at ASCO, too. Statement
> ThromboGenics (EBR:THR) won FDA approval for an already-diluted formulation of Jetrea. The new formulation eliminates the need to perform dilution steps prior to administration, a simplification to the process that ThromboGenics hopes will improve sales of a product that has fallen well short of expectations. ThromboGenics plans to begin selling the already-diluted formulation in the first half of next year. Release
> InflaRx dosed the first patient in a Phase II trial of its monoclonal anticomplement C5a antibody. The drug is being developed as a way to prevent severe systemic inflammation--and the organ dysfunction it can trigger--in patients who are undergoing complex cardiac surgery. "Complement activation is known to be one of the major factors responsible for systemic inflammation, therefore, the preventive blockade of C5a should strongly reduce inflammation and aid patient recovery," Othmar Zenker, head of clinical research and development at InflaRx, said in a statement. Release
> NuCana posted interim data from a Phase Ib trial of Acelarin in combination with carboplatin. The trial gave the combination to patients with late-stage recurrent ovarian cancer. In data from the first 22 patients, 20 of whom were evaluable, NuCana achieved one complete response, 5 partial responses and 13 cases of stable disease. “The fact that the Acelarin combination with carboplatin is working in these platinum resistant/refractory patients is a clear indication that it is a very active agent," Dr. Sarah Blagden, an associate professor at the University of Oxford and chief investigator on the Phase Ib study, said in a statement. Release
> Aprea shared data from the Phase Ib component of an ongoing trial of APR-246, a drug it thinks can improve outcomes in cancer patients by reactivating mutant p53 protein. The trial showed the drug can be combined with chemotherapy, a finding that cleared Aprea to move into the next stage of the study. A randomized Phase II trial is due to get underway in the third quarter of this year. Release