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AI gains the capability of suggesting treatment doses in aggressive cancer
Using one of the most aggressive tumor type, head and neck cancer (which happens to be the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths), researchers at Case Western University used Artificial intelligence tools to fine-tune the intensity of treatment in patients, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The team suspected that even the patients requiring an aggressive dose of treatment (HPV led Head and Neck cancer) were receiving too much radiation doses and sought to find out if this is necessary to achieve a positive outcome, and therefore, make a difference in the quality of life of the patients. Anant Madabhushi, the professor and director at Center for Computational Imaging and Personal Diagnostics (CCIPD) admits: “We have been overtreating many patients with chemotherapy and radiation that they do not need because we didn’t have a way to find out which patients would benefit from de-escalation.” The study utilized the information gathered from a decade-long effort at CCPID to develop a digital tool for deep learning multinucleation index (MuNI), that aided in risk stratification and outcome prediction in Head and Neck cancer. The AI tool analyzed tissue samples taken from 438 patients with a type of head and neck cancer, known as HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPCSCC) from six hospital systems, and identified a sub-population who could have responded to a lower dose of radiation therapy. The next step for the researchers is to explore the realm of clinical trials for more data points and accuracy.
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DNA damage studies get a boost through machine learning
Massachusetts General Hospital and the National Cancer Research Centre have devised a tool to repair genetic damage to prevent DNA mutations. According to the statement of Bárbara Martínez, a team member in the research group, “Until now, one limiting factor in tracking DNA repair kinetics was the inability to process and analyze the amount of data generated from images taken by the microscope”. In this project, the authors visually monitored an array of 300 proteins after generating genetic damage by adopting a classic DNA micro-irradiation technique. “We saw that many proteins adhered to damaged DNA, and others did just the opposite: they moved away from the DNA lesions. The fact that they either bind to or remove themselves from damaged DNA, to allow the recruitment of repair proteins to the lesion, is a common feature of DNA repair proteins. Both phenomena are relevant,” according to Martínez. One such protein to be moved away from repair site, being essential for irradiation-mediated damage repair was identified to be PHF20. Utilizing high-throughput microscopy allowing for the acquisition of thousands of pictures of cells after genetic damage, and analyzing them through the machine learning tools have made this discovery possible, paving way to future ways of studying DNA damage.
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Takeda to Acquire Adaptate Biotherapeutics to Develop Novel Gamma Delta (γδ) T Cell Engager Therapies Targeting Solid Tumors
“Partnering with early-stage innovators to access cutting-edge platforms in the fight against cancer is at the center of our R&D strategy,” said Christopher Arendt, Ph.D., Head of Oncology Cell Therapy and Therapeutic Area Unit of Takeda. “Adaptate’s γδ T cell engager platform and the team’s deep understanding of γδ T cell biology gives us an opportunity to develop a new class of therapeutics that tap into powerful innate immune mechanisms. The planned acquisition will strengthen our immuno-oncology R&D efforts as part of our ongoing pursuit of life-transforming medicines for patients with cancer.”
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BridgeBio and Amgen to Study BBP-398 in Combination with LUMAKRAS® (sotorasib) in Advanced Solid Tumors with the KRAS G12C Mutation
“Overactivity of the MAPK pathway is a significant cause of many types of difficult-to-treat cancers and by combining these two agents, we aim to reduce the oncogenic potential of tumor cells,” said Frank McCormick, Ph.D., chairman of oncology at BridgeBio. “Building on our collaborations with Bristol Myers Squibb and LianBio, we are excited to be working with Amgen on this new collaboration. By harnessing the power of BBP-398 as a potentially best-in-class SHP2 inhibitor with LUMAKRAS, we are hopeful that we will be able able to provide substantial relief for cancer patients in need. We will continue to pursue additional collaborations that we believe hold promise for patients.”
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AstraZeneca and BenevolentAI boost up their AI-drive drug discovery collaboration, now expanding to heart failure and Lupus
Following a successful collaboration of 3 years since 2019 to identify multiple novel targets in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the two companies have decided to expand further to other disorders. The Chief Science Officer at BenevolentAI, Anne Phelan, said, “Our collaboration with AstraZeneca represents the future of drug discovery. It brings together traditional biology with innovative AI-driven technologies to integrate and analyze vast amounts of scientific data from diverse sources.” BenevolentAI will receive an upfront payment, research funding to start off the three-year expansion followed by milestone payments and future royalties.
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Acadia Pharmaceuticals and Stoke Therapeutics reach a research pact to develop drugs for rare neurodevelopmental disorders
The two companies announced at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference that they have entered a research collaboration to develop RNA-based medicines for SYNGAP1 syndrome, Rett syndrome (MECP2), and an undisclosed neurodevelopmental target of mutual interest. Stoke will receive $60 million upfront to lead the research and pre-clinical activities whereas Acadia will focus on the clinical development and commercialization of the drugs. According to Steve Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Acadia Pharmaceuticals, “Combining Stoke’s capabilities with Acadia’s extensive expertise in neuroscience drug development and commercialization enables us to push harder and faster in exploring some of the new frontiers in rare central nervous system disorders.”
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