A therapy that multiplies the effect of a natural disease-fighting antibody has extended the lives of patients with metastatic melanoma in a large, international clinical trial. The study’s researchers will report their findings simultaneously at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago and in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study will be posted on the Internet in advance of print publication by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Read the full story here

The FDA has approved Arzerra for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that is refractory to fludarabine and alemtuzumab. Arzerra is a monoclonal antibody that causes the body’s immune response to fight against normal and cancerous B-cells. Arzerra attaches to the small and large loop epitopes on a molecule called CD20, which is found on the surface of B-cells, the type of cell which becomes cancerous in CLL.

Researchers from Canada and Australia have found that a new antibody that specifically targets cancer stem cells might be helpful in treating an aggressive type of leukemia. The therapeutic molecule created by these researchers attacks a protein, CD123, on the surface of cancer stem cells, which sustain acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This type of leukemia is difficult to treat because it does not respond well to standard chemotherapy.

 Laureate Pharma, Inc. has entered into a cGMP contract manufacturing agreement with Alopexx Pharmaceuticals, LLC. Alopexx’s mAb F598 antibody will now be manufactured by Laureate under the agreement. The antibody is intended to be used for the treatment and prevention of Staphylococcus aureus infections.