Aaron Ring

<!-- Content start --> South San Francisco, CA — July 3, 2024 — Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced today that the Phase II/III SKYSCRAPER-06 study, evaluating tiragolumab plus Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) and chemotherapy versus pembrolizumab and chemotherapy as an initial (first-line) treatment for people with previously untreated, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nSq NSCLC), did not meet its primary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) at its primary analysis with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.27 [95% CI: 1.02,1.57] and overall survival (OS) at its first interim analysis with a HR of 1.33 [95% CI: 1.02, 1.73], which was immature. The combination of tiragolumab plus Tecentriq and chemotherapy showed reduced efficacy in both PFS and OS compared to the comparator arm in the intent-to-treat population, which includes Phase II and Phase III cohorts. The overall safety profile remains consistent with the safety profile previously observed for the combination of tiragolumab plus Tecentriq and chemotherapy, and no new or unexpected findings were identified. Based on these results, patients and investigators will be unblinded and we intend to halt the study. A communication will be sent to the investigators and results will be shared with health authorities and subsequently presented at an upcoming medical meeting. “These results are disappointing as it was our hope that this combination might yield improved outcomes for people living with metastatic non-squamous lung cancer,” said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. “We are thankful to all of the patients and healthcare professionals involved in the study, and we will leverage the learnings to inform our scientific understanding of the anti-TIGIT pathway and new avenues in cancer research.” Ongoing Phase III studies are investigating treatment settings and indications distinct from SKYSCRAPER-06. Based on today’s results, we will evaluate any relevant changes needed to the ongoing tiragolumab program. About SKYSCRAPER-06 study SKYSCRAPER-06 is a global Phase II/III, randomized, placebo-controlled and double-blinded study evaluating tiragolumab plus Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) and chemotherapy as an initial (first-line) treatment versus pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in 542 people with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Primary endpoints are overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). About tiragolumab Tiragolumab is an investigational novel immune checkpoint inhibitor with an intact Fc region. Tiragolumab selectively binds to TIGIT, a novel inhibitory immune checkpoint which suppresses the immune response to cancer. Based on preclinical research, tiragolumab is thought to work as an immune amplifier with other cancer immunotherapies such as Tecentriq® (atezolizumab). The TIGIT pathway is distinct but

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Christian Ramirez Amarilla now at #BITS2024 about how inhibiting METTL3, an important RNA methyltransferase, affects RNA structure, adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing, and the immune response in leukemia models, providing new insights into potential therapeutic approaches for leukemia. #Bioinformatics #LeukemiaResearch #BITS2024

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💡 Feature Article 💡 In our latest #BioTuesdays feature, Adi Zuloff-Shani, Ph.D., CEO of Clearmind Medicine (NASDAQ: CMND; FSE: CWY0), discusses how their novel molecule, MEAI, is disrupting binge behaviors by targeting key neural pathways to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). With FDA-approved clinical trials underway and innovative products like an MEAI-based beverage, Clearmind is poised to revolutionize treatments for AUD and beyond. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gi4SfYKb Kilmer Lucas Inc.

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🆕New in #JEV 🆕 A novel multiplexed immunoassay for surface-exposed proteins in plasma extracellular vesicles Emma Tordoff, Jillian Allen, Katya Elgart, Ahmed Elsherbini, Vrinda Kalia, Haotian Wu, Erden Eren, Dimitrios Kapogiannis, Olesia Gololobova, Kenneth Witwer, Olga Volpert, Erez Eitan Small membranous extracellular vesicles (EV) incorporate proteins and nucleic acids from the parent cell. Proteins exposed on EV surface are dictated by cellular origin and biogenesis pathway. To better understand the EV origin and function, it is important to develop methods that reveal surface protein composition of heterogeneous EV populations in culture supernatants and in biofluids. Tetraspanins CD9, CD63, and CD81 are common and abundant EV markers. However, their relative enrichment (profile) on EVs of specific cellular origins is not fully elucidated. We introduce LuminEV, a novel version of the Luminex assay for the multiplexed analysis of EV surface proteins. Optimized LuminEV reagents enable direct, specific, and sensitive measurements of EV markers in biofluids and in culture supernatants, bypassing EV isolation step. LuminEV assay for CD9, CD63, and CD81 was validated by comparing simplex and multiplex measurements, establishing linearity, spike-in recovery, inter- and intra-assay precision, and reproducibility between operators. LuminEV measurements of CD9, CD63, and CD81 in conditioned media from 15 cell lines revealed strong variations between cell types and showed high sensitivity, which enabled EV detection without prior concentration. Using tetraspanin levels as a readout, we noted suppression and induction of EV release from the cultured cells by GW6869 and monensin. Measurement of EV CD9, CD63, and CD81 in blood plasma from 70 disease-free donors showed respective abundance of 72, 16, and 12%. CD63 displayed weak, albeit significant, negative correlation with age and was slightly lower in female samples. The assay was then used to detect cell type-specific EV surface markers, including CD235a (erythrocytes), GAP43 (neurons), and CD68 (macrophages), and to detect differences in tetraspanin profiles between healthy and diseased donors. In summary, LuminEV offers robust and sensitive approach for multiplexed assessment of EV surface proteins, to facilitate the research into EV biology, biomarker, and therapeutic applications. https://lnkd.in/eUsJWDZQ

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Could Digestive Enzymes Contribute to Aging? UCSD researchers have hypothesized a mechanism of aging called “autodigestion”- where digestive enzymes like trypsin, normally confined to the small intestine, leak into peripheral organs as we age. This leakage causes significant tissue damage, resulting in higher levels of collagen damage within organs linking this autodigestion to aging. Using Collagen Hybridizing Peptides (CHPs) to detect damaged collagen, the study revealed how this enzyme leakage accelerates aging and harms vital tissues. Here are their key findings:  Older rats showed higher collagen damage across multiple organs, including the liver, lungs, heart, brain, skin, and kidneys. This damage was closely linked to the presence of leaked digestive enzymes. When older rats were treated with a serine protease inhibitor for just two weeks, enzyme leakage and collagen damage were significantly reduced, offering a potential therapeutic approach. Implications: These findings imply that dietary habits, such as meal frequency and caloric intake, could influence the rate of enzymatic leakage and associated tissue damage, shedding a light on new avenues for therapeutic and lifestyle interventions to preserve tissue integrity and metabolic health. Learn more by reading our full blog and the paper itself here: https://lnkd.in/eHKegbDU

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New research from Stefani Spranger, published in Science Immunology, has identified the spleen as an important site for generating a tumor-specific T cell response after immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Spranger and her team analyzed gene expression in individual CD8+ killer T cells from tumors, draining lymph nodes, and the spleens of mice treated with immune ICB therapy. They discovered a subpopulation of T cells in the spleen whose descendants play a crucial role in anti-tumor responses after ICB. These T cells exist in a state they call “intermediate exhaustion” and depend on low levels of cancer antigens presented by dendritic cells in the spleen to produce descendants that infiltrate tumors and effectively attack cancer cells after ICB therapy. Read more: https://mit-ki.org/4d7dW3Y

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A new #CRISPR-based clinical trial for #SickleCell disease is enrolling at UCSF. This is the first therapy in the U.S. to apply non-viral CRISPR gene editing to directly correct the genetic mutation that causes the disease. Read more: https://ow.ly/Smry50UfZi1

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Eliah Shamir and Hannah Bender from Genentech and Si Wu from AbbVie will share how #pathology as a discipline is making an impact in #tissuebased research and the #discovery and #development of new drugs to address unmet medical needs! Check out the full #Pathobiology2025 program https://bit.ly/3yOeuxu

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The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has awarded $14M to four cell biology research collaboratives to develop technology for better understanding cells. The multi-year grants will bring together regional labs in California, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Research Triangle in North Carolina to explore the frontiers of genomics, cell biology, and synthetic biology by developing new measurement technologies. These projects will focus on developing technologies to engineer cell and tissue models, exploring cellular responses to genetic and environmental stressors, understanding the role of #RNA in metabolism, and more. More on each project below: Exploratory cell networks to decode and program cellular behavior: Caltech, UCLA, and the University of Southern California will engineer, manipulate, and analyze complex multicellular systems, starting with muscle and immune cells. Findings from the project could help unlock a variety of cell and gene therapies to treat diseases such as #cancer, #musculardystrophy, and #autoimmune conditions. Innovative approaches for charting state-dependent RNA metabolic networks: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Scripps Research, and UC San Diego will create a set of technologies to research RNA and cellular metabolism. These methods will clarify how cells respond and adapt to genetic and environmental stresses, including aging and diseases linked to RNA dysregulation, such as #Alzheimer’s disease. Revealing the hidden topologies of the human kinome: Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will develop a suite of new tools capable of monitoring and manipulating protein kinases, which are not only key biological regulators but also a frequent target for therapeutic intervention. This work will help researchers better understand cellular organization, nervous system function, and neurological diseases. Technologies for mapping RNA/protein flux, assembly, and aging through condensates: Princeton University, The Rockefeller University, and the University of Pennsylvania will develop technologies to clarify how RNA and proteins move and are metabolized within cells, with a specific focus on membrane-less compartments in cells. These new tools will fill a gap in foundational biology and may be helpful for understanding a core process impacting disease diagnosis and aging. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gBngZ2_R

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Excited for Professor Melissa Fullwood's lab's presentation at the EMBO Chromatin Biology in Cancer Workshop! If you're attending, come listen to Dr. Seng Chuan Tang's talk in Session 6, April 26th. Dr. Tang will discuss epigenetic therapies and drug resistance, providing insight into the disruption of super-silencers by EZH2 and REST inhibition, altering chromatin interactions, and impeding cancer growth. #CancerResearch

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Lake N. Paul, PhD. is in San Diego at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization #BIO2024 conference meeting with colleagues & future clients. Connect with him in person to learn about how, as a Collaborative Research Organization, we are best positioned to support your analytical program. #aav #genetherapy #rarediseases #biophysics #STEM #STEMPhilly #biochemistry #celltherapy #bioanalysisllc #PhillyBusiness #phillyscience

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SFBN Feed: Veravas Completes Analytical Verification Study of the VeraBIND Tau Assay, a Groundbreaking Test to Measure Alzheimer's Tau Pathology in Blood https://lnkd.in/gxepiFCc AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Veravas, a leading innovator in clinical diagnostics, today announced the results of an analytical verification study of its VeraBIND™ Tau assay, a next-generation test being co-developed with Phanes Biotech, an early-stage biotech company [...] #BayArea #SanFrancisco #Biotech #Lifescience #News

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I am honored to share that our review paper, co-authored with Dr. Adam Gehring, is now available online! 📄"Current and Future Use of Antibody-Based Passive Immunity to Prevent or Control HBV/HDV Infections". With the revived emphasis on the development of mAbs targeting HBsAg for treating chronic hepatitis B and D, this paper discusses the challenges, potentials, and provides a comprehensive overview of past and ongoing clinical trials. This aligns with two projects in our lab, collaborating with Bluejay Therapeutics (BJT-778) and Vir Biotechnology (Vir-3434, Tobevibart), assessing mAbs in clinical trials. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gmfEjEUH #HepatitisB #HepatitisD #MonoclonalAntibodies #PassiveImmunity #MedicalResearch #ClinicalTrials #BluejayTherapeutics #VirBiotechnology

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SDBN Feed: Candid Therapeutics unwraps three new collaborations to discover and develop T-cell engager antibodies https://lnkd.in/g4rKJTSk Candid Therapeutics, a new San Diego biotech bent on becoming a leader in the emerging T-cell engager space, has unwrapped three new research collaborations focusing on autoimmune diseases. Candid will partner with EpimAb Biotherapeutics, Nona [...]

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