On October 23, 2025 GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) reported the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin-blmf) in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (BVd) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory (IMID) agent.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The Blenrep approval is supported by data from the pivotal DREAMM-7 phase III trial. In patients who had two or more prior lines of therapy (3L+), including a PI and an IMID, Blenrep in combination demonstrated a clinically meaningful 51% reduction in the risk of death [HR 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.32-0.76] and a tripled median progression-free survival (PFS) of 31.3 months [95% CI: 23.5-NR)] versus 10.4 months [95% CI: 7.0-13.4] for a daratumumab-based triplet (DVd) [HR 0.31, 95% CI: 0.21-0.47]. The safety and tolerability profiles of the Blenrep combination were broadly consistent with the known profiles of the individual agents.2

Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK, said: "Today’s FDA approval of Blenrep is another significant milestone, providing potential for superior efficacy, including overall survival, to US patients. There is an urgent need for new and novel therapies, as nearly all patients with multiple myeloma experience relapse and re-treating with the same mechanism of action often leads to suboptimal outcomes. As the only anti-BCMA agent that can be administered across healthcare settings, including in community centres where 70% of patients receive care, Blenrep fulfils a major patient need. We believe Blenrep can redefine treatment for patients with multiple myeloma in all parts of the world, and we are accelerating its development in earlier lines of therapy to support its use across all stages of this difficult-to-treat cancer."

Working closely with the FDA, Blenrep is available through a new, streamlined Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). The new REMS supports appropriate use and patient safety while reducing administrative burden through simplified patient forms, removal of duplicative checklists and efficient communication between HCPs and either optometrists or ophthalmologists monitoring eye care. GSK will also offer Together with GSK, an optional patient support programme available to all US patients prescribed Blenrep.

Data from the DREAMM (DRiving Excellence in Approaches to Multiple Myeloma) clinical trial programme will be submitted to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines this year. Recent results from the DREAMM studies, alongside emerging real-world evidence, provide a growing body of data for Blenrep.5,6

Sagar Lonial, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, Chair of Emory Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, said: "With the approval of Blenrep, we now have a community-accessible BCMA-targeting agent with the potential to improve outcomes for patients following two or more prior lines of treatment, where options are limited. This approval marks an important advance in the US relapsed/refractory treatment landscape."

Michael Andreini, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium, said: "The reality for most patients with multiple myeloma is a relentless cycle of remission and relapse, as their disease becomes refractory to treatments. Patients urgently need more effective treatment options that can offer more quality time with their loved ones. We see the potential for Blenrep in combination to help patients achieve this."

GSK is advancing the DREAMM clinical programme to demonstrate Blenrep’s potential benefit in earlier lines of treatment. Follow-up continues for overall survival (OS) in both DREAMM-7 and DREAMM-8 with data expected in early 2028, including in patients who have received only one prior line of therapy. DREAMM-10, a phase III trial in newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients, which represent over 70% of patients starting therapy, was initiated in Q4-2024.4 Interim efficacy and safety data for Blenrep as a first line treatment are expected in early 2028 with enrolment expanded to US sites to increase US patient representation in the study population. GSK continues to work with the FDA for US patients.

Approvals outside of the US
Blenrep combinations are approved in 2L+ relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in the European Union7, UK8, Japan9, Canada, Switzerland and Brazil. Applications are currently under review in other markets globally, including China10 where the application is based on the results of DREAMM-7 and has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation and Priority Review.

About multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma is the third most common blood cancer globally and is generally considered treatable but not curable.11,12 There are approximately 180,000 new cases of multiple myeloma diagnosed globally each year. Research into new therapies is needed as multiple myeloma commonly becomes refractory to available treatments.13 Many patients with multiple myeloma, including approximately 70% in the US, are treated in a community cancer setting, leaving an urgent need for new, effective therapies with manageable side effects that can be administered outside of an academic centre.3,15,16

About Blenrep
Blenrep is a monoclonal ADC (antibody-drug conjugate) comprising a humanised BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) conjugated to the cytotoxic agent auristatin F via a non-cleavable linker. The drug linker technology is licensed from Seagen Inc.; the monoclonal antibody is produced using POTELLIGENT Technology licensed from BioWa Inc., a member of the Kyowa Kirin Group.

Indication
In the US, Blenrep is indicated in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (BVd) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent.

Please see accompanying US Prescribing Information which will soon be available here17.

About DREAMM-7
DREAMM-7 is a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of belantamab mafodotin combined with bortezomib plus dexamethasone (BVd) compared to daratumumab combined with bortezomib plus dexamethasone (DVd) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who previously were treated with at least one prior line of multiple myeloma therapy, with documented disease progression during or after their most recent therapy. The trial enrolled 494 participants who were randomised 1:1 to receive either BVd or DVd. Belantamab mafodotin was administered at a dose of 2.5mg/kg intravenously every three weeks in combination for the first eight cycles and then continued as a single agent. The primary endpoint was PFS as per an independent review committee, with secondary endpoints including OS, duration of response (DOR), and minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rate as assessed by next-generation sequencing. Other secondary endpoints include overall response rate (ORR), safety, and patient reported and quality of life outcomes.

PFS results17 were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Plenary Series in February 2024 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. OS results18 were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2024.

About DREAMM-10
DREAMM-10 is a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase III clinical trial in newly diagnosed transplant ineligible patients with multiple myeloma, evaluating belantamab mafodotin plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (BRd) versus daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (DRd).

(Press release, GlaxoSmithKline, OCT 23, 2025, View Source [SID1234656945])

On October 23, 2025 Genprex, Inc. ("Genprex" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, reported that it has entered into definitive agreements for the issuance and sale of 243,622 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $11.21 per share in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules. In a concurrent private placement, the Company will issue unregistered short-term warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to 487,244 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $11.00 per share that will be immediately exercisable upon issuance and will expire twenty-four months from the effective date of a registration statement registering for resale the shares of common stock underlying the warrants. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about October 24, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.

The gross proceeds to the Company from the offering are expected to be approximately $2.7 million before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The potential additional gross proceeds to the Company from the short-term warrants, if fully-exercised on a cash basis, will be approximately $5.5 million. No assurance can be given that any of such short-term warrants will be exercised for cash or at all. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The shares of common stock offered in the registered direct offering (but not the unregistered short-term warrants issued in the concurrent private placement nor the shares of common stock underlying the unregistered short-term warrants) described above are being offered by the Company pursuant to a "shelf" registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-271386) that was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on June 9, 2023. The offering of the shares of common stock in the registered direct offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the registered direct offering will be filed with the SEC. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained, when available, on the SEC’s website at View Source or by contacting H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC at 430 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, New York 10022, by phone at (212) 856-5711 or e-mail at [email protected].

The unregistered warrants described above and the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants are being offered in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder and have not been registered under the Securities Act, or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the unregistered warrants and underlying shares of common stock may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

(Press release, Genprex, OCT 23, 2025, View Source [SID1234656944])

On October 23, 2025 Genprex, Inc. ("Genprex" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing life-changing therapies for patients with cancer and diabetes, reported that its research collaborators will present positive preclinical data at the upcoming 2025 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-NCI-EROTC AACR-NCI-EORTC (Free AACR-NCI-EORTC Whitepaper) International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (EORTC-NCI-AACR) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) taking place October 22-26, 2025 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. The collaborators will present positive preclinical data from a study of Genprex’s lead drug candidate, Reqorsa Gene Therapy (quaratusugene ozeplasmid), for the treatment of ALK-EML4 positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"We are delighted to have our academic partners present this compelling preclinical evidence that supports the therapeutic use of REQORSA in ALK Positive NSCLC," said Ryan Confer, President and Chief Executive Officer at Genprex. "Our researchers found that REQORSA alone or in combination with alectinib was able to shrink tumors by 79 percent, suggesting that REQORSA may be active as a single agent and may also be an ideal companion drug for patients with advanced disease. These data support a pathway for a potential future clinical trial for REQORSA."

The featured Genprex-supported poster to be presented at the 2025 EORTC-NCI-AACR (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics:

Title: "Quaratusugene ozeplasmid mediated TUSC2 upregulation in EML4-ALK bearing non-small cell lung carcinoma induces apoptosis and is highly effective in preclinical studies"

Collaborator: The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Session: Poster Session C

Session Date and Time: Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. ET

The featured Genprex-supported abstract to be presented at the 2025 EORTC-NCI-AACR (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics:

NSCLC bearing the EML4-ALK fusion (Echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4- Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) occurs in approximately 5% of NSCLC. Tumors bearing the fusion are sensitive to ALK Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs), that form the first and second line of treatment for these patients. However, ALK+ lung cancers invariably develop resistance to ALK inhibitors, creating the need for newer treatment strategies.

Tumor Suppressor Candidate 2 (TUSC2) is a tumor suppressor gene that is known to have low endogenous expression in NSCLC. REQORSA Gene Therapy, referred to as quaratusugene ozeplasmid (QO) in the abstract and developed by Genprex, is a gene therapy (TUSC2 plasmid encapsulated in non-viral lipid nanoparticles) that upregulates TUSC2 expression in cancer cells by delivering the functional TUSC2 gene.

Researchers evaluated TUSC2 expression in several ALK+ cell lines and patient derived organoids (PDOs), both before and after exposure to QO. The studies indicate that QO mediated overexpression of TUSC2 significantly induced apoptosis in ALK+ cell lines and PDOs, as demonstrated by increase in caspase 3/7 activity of the cells, increased protein expression of pro-apoptotic markers, reduced colony formation ability of the cells, and increased DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, researchers have observed a robust pro-apoptotic response in ALK+ NSCLC cell lines with acquired resistance to the ALK inhibitor, alectinib, resulting in reduced cell viability when treated with QO and alectinib in combination. To better understand how QO and alectinib work in combination, researcher subcutaneously injected NCI-H2228 ALK+ cells into nude mice and when the tumors developed to approximately 100mm3, mice were randomized into 4 groups. Mice from group 1 were treated with vehicle control, group 2 were treated with QO (25ug/mouse, i.v., every three days), group 3 were treated with alectinib (0.5mg/kg/mouse, oral gavage, every day) and group 4 were treated with QO and alectinib in combination at the same concentration and frequency of dosing for up to a month.

The results showed that alectinib shrunk tumors by 60% (group 3). However, QO alone (group 2) and in combination with alectinib (group 4) were able to shrink the tumors by 79%. This finding showed that QO has a 23% improved outcome than alectinib, leading to the hypothesis that QO may be an ideal companion drug for patients with advanced disease or a treatment for patients who cannot tolerate alectinib. Researchers are also currently monitoring the mice for survival, and tumor measurements recorded at 2 weeks after the end of treatment indicate that tumors in mice that received single drug treatment are regrowing faster than tumors in mice that received combined treatment of QO and alectinib, further emphasizing the clinical relevance of this novel combination in ALK+ NSCLC.

Taken together, the in vitro and in vivo data suggest that QO mediated overexpression of TUSC2 in ALK+ NSCLC is effective in decreasing growth and proliferation through the activation of apoptotic pathways, thereby paving the way for a potential clinical trial.

About Reqorsa Gene Therapy

REQORSA (quaratusugene ozeplasmid) consists of a plasmid containing the TUSC2 gene encapsulated in non-viral lipid-based nanoparticles in a lipoplex form (the Company’s Oncoprex Delivery System), which has a positive charge. REQORSA is injected intravenously and specifically targets cancer cells. REQORSA is designed to deliver the functioning TUSC2 gene to negatively charged cancer cells while minimizing uptake by normal tissue. Laboratory studies conducted at MD Anderson show that the uptake of TUSC2 in tumor cells in vitro after REQORSA treatment was 10 to 33 times the uptake in normal cells.

(Press release, Genprex, OCT 23, 2025, View Source [SID1234656943])

On October 23, 2025 Defence Therapeutics Inc. ("Defence" or the "Company"), a leading biotechnology company specialized in drug delivery technologies, reported that it will present new scientific data highlighting the performance of its Accum technology in enhancing the efficacy of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) at the 16th World ADC Conference in San Diego, CA, USA.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Defence’s proprietary Accum platform is engineered to improve intracellular delivery and endosomal escape of therapeutic payloads, addressing a critical limitation of current ADCs and enabling higher potency with reduced off-target toxicity. The new results to be presented build on a growing body of evidence demonstrating Accum’s ability to significantly improve the therapeutic index of ADCs.

"These findings further demonstrate how Accum can unlock the full potential of ADCs by enabling more efficient delivery of their toxic payloads directly into cancer cells," said Maxime Parisotto, Chief Scientific Officer of Defence Therapeutics. "We are excited to share this data with the scientific community and continue advancing our research toward next-generation targeted therapies."

Interested attendees are invited to visit the Defence Therapeutics poster presentation at the Conference Exhibition Hall Town & Country Resort in San Diego, CA, USA on Tuesday and Wednesday November 4-5, 2025, to meet with Defence’s CSO Maxime Parisotto, PhD, MBA, and Head of Quality & Operation Mark Lambermon, Phd, to learn more about the company’s ongoing research and development efforts.

(Press release, Defence Therapeutics, OCT 23, 2025, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=defence-to-present-new-scientific-data-on-its-adc-enhancing-accum-technology-at-the-world-adc-conference-in-san-diego-usa-november-4-5-2025 [SID1234656942])

On October 23, 2025 Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRNX) reported three abstracts from its clinical development programs will be presented at the upcoming North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Annual Meeting (NANETS 2025), taking place October 23-25, 2025, in Austin, Texas.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"At the 2025 NANETS annual meeting, we are excited to showcase the continued progress of multiple development programs focused on the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)," said Dana Pizzuti, M.D., Chief Medical and Development Officer at Crinetics. "For the first time, we will present progression-free survival data from our Phase 2 study of paltusotine for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome associated with NETs. Details of recently-initiated clinical trials for both paltusotine and our nonpeptide drug candidate (NDC) CRN09682 program will also be presented, demonstrating our deep commitment and continued momentum in the NETs space."

A preliminary analysis of Phase 2 data from the open-label trial of paltusotine in the treatment of patients with carcinoid syndrome due to NETs will be featured in a poster presentation, showing an overall investigator-assessed progression free survival rate of 74% following one year of treatment.

Paltusotine is approved as PALSONIFY in the U.S. as a once-daily oral for the treatment of adults with acromegaly who had an inadequate response to surgery and/or for whom surgery is not an option. Paltusotine is currently being investigated for new indications, including for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome; it is not currently approved in the U.S. or any other countries for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome.

Two additional poster presentations will feature study details from the randomized, Phase 3 trial of paltusotine in carcinoid syndrome due to NETs and the first-in-human study of NDC candidate CRN09682 in patients with somatostatin receptor 2-expressing tumors.

Details on the abstracts to be presented at NANETS are shown below:

Title: Investigator-Assessed Disease Progression in a Phase 2 Study of Paltusotine in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors and Carcinoid Syndrome
Date/Time: October 23, 2025; 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm

Title: CAREFNDR: Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Paltusotine in Adults With Carcinoid Syndrome Due to Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors
Date/Time: October 23, 2025; 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm

Title: First-in-Human Study of a Novel Nonpeptide Drug Conjugate (CRN09682) in Patients With Somatostatin Receptor 2-Expressing Tumors
Date/Time: October 23, 2025; 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm

About Paltusotine  
Paltusotine, a selectively-targeted somatostatin receptor type 2 (SST2) nonpeptide, is in Phase 3 clinical development for carcinoid syndrome associated with neuroendocrine tumors (CAREFNDR). Results from a Phase 2 study in carcinoid syndrome demonstrated rapid and sustained reductions in flushing episodes and bowel movement frequency, which are the most common symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. PALSONIFY (paltusotine) is currently approved in the U.S. for the treatment of adults with acromegaly who had an inadequate response to surgery and/or for whom surgery is not an option.

ABOUT CRN09682
CRN09682 is an investigational, potentially first-in-class, non-radioactive, nonpeptide drug conjugate (NDC) linking a somatostatin receptor 2 (SST2) agonist with the cytotoxic drug monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a spacer and a cleavable linker for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and potentially for use in other solid tumors that express SST2. The SST2 ligand on the NDC molecule binds to SST2 on the tumor cell surface and is internalized in the cell whereby enzymes cleave the MMAE and release it within the cell. MMAE is known to cause microtubule disruption leading to cell arrest and death. The NDC approach is intended to enhance tumor penetration, selectively bind to specific GPCR expressing tumor cells, induce internalization, and intracellularly release a potent anti-tumor agent, while minimizing systemic exposure and associated toxicities. Additionally, NDCs are manufactured by traditional chemical synthesis methods, avoiding the limitations of fermentation, bioconjugation, and heterogeneous manufacturing methods required by most ADCs. NETs are generally incurable when metastatic, regardless of tumor grade. Overall survival rates vary significantly by stage, grade, age at diagnosis, primary site, and time period of diagnosis.

(Press release, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, OCT 23, 2025, View Source [SID1234656941])