An investigational cocktail was tied to a 0% overall response rate in patients with gastroesophageal cancer, but developers Agenus and MiNK Therapeutics aren’t giving up on the program just yet.​ ​Read More

Novo Nordisk’s etavopivat elicited a 27% drop in vaso-occlusive crises and 48.7% hemoglobin response after 24 weeks, creating “separation amongst PK class candidates,” Truist analysts said on Monday. Novo plans to seek FDA approval in the back half of 2026.

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Hiya. Today, we see a proliferation of KRAS, as new data validate a once-undruggable space. Also, a double-edged push for PBM transparency, and the Breakthrough Prize was awarded to researchers for advances in gene therapy and ALS genetics.

The need-to-know this morning

• Novo Nordisk said its experimental oral drug, called etavopivat, reduced the risk of pain crises and improved hemoglobin response in patients with sickle cell disease, achieving the goals of a Phase 3 clinical trial. 
• Eli Lilly is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire Kelonia Therapeutics for more than $2 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. Kelonia is a privately held developer of so-called in-vivo CAR-T therapies that make engineered cancer-killing cells inside the body. Its lead therapy is being investigated in an early stage study in multiple myeloma.
• Helus Pharma, developer of psychedelics-based therapies for depression, said CEO Michael Cola has resigned “at the request of the board of directors.” Chairman Eric So was appointed interim CEO.

Finally cracking KRAS as a druggable target

When Revolution Medicines released results for its drug daraxonrasib in pancreatic cancer patients last week, it finally seemed like there was hope in a condition that has long proven intractable for researchers. But as STAT’s Angus Chen reports, it was the product of years of effort — and could be just the start of a wave of new RAS inhibitors. 

Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…

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