Bayer, Novartis Lead Industry Advances in Cancer and Immune Therapies

Pharmaceutical giants Bayer and Novartis are making significant strides in cancer and immune therapies, while other industry players report mixed results in clinical trials. These developments highlight the ongoing push for innovative treatments in challenging disease areas.

Bayer Secures Rights to Promising KRAS Cancer Drug

Bayer has entered into a licensing agreement with Kumquat Biosciences for an experimental cancer therapy targeting the KRAS G12D mutation. The deal, potentially worth over $1 billion, gives Bayer access to a drug that could fill a significant gap in the treatment of pancreatic, colon, and lung tumors.

Unlike existing therapies that target the KRAS G12C mutation, such as those from Amgen and Bristol Myers Squibb, this new drug focuses on the G12D mutation, for which no treatments are currently available. Kumquat Biosciences will complete the Phase 1a study, which has recently received FDA approval to begin human testing.

Novartis Reports Success in Multiple Phase 3 Trials

Novartis has announced positive results from a Phase 3 trial of ianalumab, a drug acquired from MorphoSys, for the treatment of primary immune thrombocytopenia. This success follows closely on the heels of positive results in Sjögren's syndrome, reported just a day earlier.

The study evaluated ianalumab in combination with a commonly used medication in patients who had previously received steroids. The combination therapy demonstrated superior efficacy in extending the time before platelet counts decreased too low or patients required additional treatment.

A second Phase 3 study investigating ianalumab as a first-line treatment is ongoing, with results expected to support approval applications in 2027.

Mixed Results and Strategic Shifts in Neuroscience

While some companies celebrate successes, others face setbacks. Biohaven reported that its most advanced experimental drug, troriluzole, failed in a late-stage study for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The company has decided to discontinue the OCD program and redirect resources to other projects.

Despite this setback, Biohaven remains optimistic about troriluzole's potential in treating spinocerebellar ataxia, with an FDA decision expected later this year.

In more promising news, Stoke Therapeutics and Biogen have dosed the first patient in a Phase 3 trial of zorevunersen, a potential treatment for Dravet syndrome. This RNA-binding medicine aims to increase the production of a key protein essential for brain cell communication. The companies believe zorevunersen could become the first disease-modifying treatment for this rare neurological disorder.