On April 28, 2025 Obsidian Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering engineered cell and gene therapies, reported the publication of an abstract with preclinical data from their cytoDRiVE platform for poster presentation at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2025 (Press release, Obsidian Therapeutics, APR 28, 2025, View Source [SID1234652289]).

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Obsidian will present novel applications of its cytoDRiVE platform, demonstrating the breadth and versatility of their regulation technology. To date, cytoDRiVE technology has been used to successfully regulate the timing and level of several different classes of therapeutic protein via fusion to drug-responsive domains (DRDs).1 In OBX-115, Obsidian’s lead clinical TIL program which has demonstrated promising activity in patients with ICI-resistant advanced melanoma2, this technology enables regulation of membrane-bound IL15 using the small-molecule drug acetazolamide.

The poster for abstract AMA30 expands beyond the direct DRD-fusion approach leveraged to-date, providing proof-of-concept for a novel approach whereby regulation of an artificial transcription factor is used to enable gene-ON and gene-OFF states with ligand binding. This approach unlocks numerous additional applications for cytoDRiVE, including the ability to regulate secreted proteins and expression of mRNA or siRNA. These capabilities become important in the context of gene and cell therapies where precise and variable genetic control is needed to manage disease, and where repeat dosing of other complex biologics is challenging.

Details of the poster presentation are as follows:

Title: Drug-responsive domains coupled with cognate small-molecule ligands drive synthetic gene-ON or -OFF circuits to regulate expression of therapeutic proteins (Abstract AMA30)
Presenting Author: Michael Gallo (Obsidian Therapeutics)
Poster: Tuesday, May 13, 6:00-7:30pm CT
Abstract: AMA30
1 Inniss et. al. Commun Biol 2025
2 Chesney, ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2025

About OBX-115
Obsidian’s lead investigational cytoTIL15 program, OBX-115, is a novel engineered tumor-derived autologous T cell immunotherapy (tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte [TIL] cell therapy) armored with pharmacologically regulatable membrane-bound IL15 (mbIL15). OBX-115 has the potential to become a meaningful therapeutic option for patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma and other solid tumors by leveraging the expected benefits of mbIL15 and Obsidian’s proprietary, differentiated manufacturing process to enhance persistence, antitumor activity, and clinical safety of TIL cell therapy. Obsidian is investigating OBX-115 in the phase 1/2 Agni-01 multicenter trial in patients with advanced solid tumors (NCT06060613).

On April 28, 2025 Crown Bioscience, a global contract research organization (CRO) headquartered in the United States and a part of JSR Life Sciences and Japan-based JSR Corporation, reported at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2025 its cutting-edge 3D bone marrow niche (BMN) in vitro models to advance hematological cancer research (Press release, Crown Bioscience, APR 28, 2025, View Source [SID1234652226]). Providing both the physical environment (cell-cell interactions), and the growth factor cocktail that hematological cancer cells require to thrive and proliferate, this innovative model provides a dynamic platform for studying liquid malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma (MM).

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The system incorporates key cellular components—stromal cells and endothelial cells—within biofunctional hydrogels seeded with patient-derived tumor cells, optionally supplemented with autologous immune cells. By accurately capturing the essential tumor microenvironment, the niche provides a physiologically relevant system that offers insight into tumor behavior, immune evasion, and drug resistance, outperforming classic suspension assays when it comes to cell viability, assay versatility, and clinical predictivity.

"Crown Bioscience is proud to unveil this high-content imaging-based 3D BMN platform that offers a unique and robust high-throughput drug screening in primary patient cells that allows testing of malignancies and toxicities at scale," said Ludovic Bourré, Vice President, Research and Innovation, Crown Bioscience. "Until now, bone marrow research has lagged behind solid tumor research due to lack of relevant in vitro models. With these BMN technological advances, we are now able to help researchers understand how cancer survives therapies once it reaches the bone marrow. This allows them to guide the selection of drug candidates with fewer off-target or bone marrow-related side effects and to overcome drug resistance mechanisms."

Researchers can realize significant benefits with the BMN models including:

The use of more predictive ex vivo data to increase accuracy in cancer cell response

The ability to screen compounds for hematological toxicity earlier in the drug development process

Enhanced translational insight for more informed in vivo studies, helping to reduce animal use and speed up drug development

Enabling the creation of more effective, targeted treatments through adhesion-mediated drug resistance modeling

Unlocking new potential in stem cell, hematological malignancy, and bone-marrow-specific oncology studies
The introduction of the BMN platform seamlessly integrates into Crown Bioscience’s expertise in 3D organoid-like cell cultures, drug resistance models, and AML mouse models and bridges a gap between in vitro and in vivo models.

Bourré said, "This is a very exciting advancement for researchers and with this offering that integrates into Crown Bioscience’s existing solutions, we’re able to continually foster innovation and accelerate drug development."

Crown Bioscience will be presenting a poster at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), with details below.

3D Bone Marrow Niche: Scalable and Physiologically Relevant Ex Vivo Drug Screening Platform for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Multiple Myeloma
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Drug Discovery Assay Technologies
Session Date and Time: April 29 at 2:00PM CT
Location: Poster section 16
Poster Board Number: 21
Published Abstract Number: 5493

On April 28, 2025 PharmaMar (MSE:PHM), global leader in research, development and commercialization of marine-derived oncology treatments, reported that it is once again participating in the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper), being held in Chicago from April 25th to 30th, 2025 (Press release, PharmaMar, APR 28, 2025, View Source [SID1234652242]). On this occasion, the Company is presenting eleven new studies with results on the activity of its compounds: lurbinectedin (Zepzelca), ecubectedin, PM54, PM534, and trabectedin (Yondelis).

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This reinforces PharmaMar’s ongoing commitment to innovation and cancer research. "We continue to advance the study of the therapeutic potential of marine-derived molecules, both in well-established compounds and in those in earlier stages of development. Our participation this year in the world’s leading oncology research congress reflects our firm commitment to scientific innovation and the path we are building to provide potential therapeutic alternatives for patients," says Carmen Cuevas, VP of R&D at PharmaMar.

The main conclusions from the presented studies highlight the potential of two novel transcription inhibitors, PM54 and ecubectedin as innovative antitumor agents. Ecubectedin has demonstrated encouraging antitumor efficacy in both gastric and neuroendocrine-prostate cancer models. In collaboration with KU Leuven University (Belgium), data also confirm promising antitumor activity of both ecubectedin and PM54 in representative models of soft tissue sarcomas (STS).

Additionally, data on PM534 are being presented. PM534 is a novel tubulin-targeting agent, that may bypass the most common resistance mechanisms, limiting the effectiveness of standard microtubule-binding drugs.

Finally, the studies also show the antitumor activity of lurbinectedin in NUT carcinoma—a rare type of cancer that forms in the head, neck and lungs. Furthermore, new insights into the mechanism of action of trabectedin will also be shared.

The full list of all presentations supported by PharmaMar or its collaborators at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2025 Annual Meeting is as follows:

COMPOUND TITLE LEAD AUTHOR ABSTRACT
Ecubectedin (PM14) Ecubectedin’s role in targeting transcriptional regulators in neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Laura Almalé, PhD Location: Section 22
Board Number: 23
Published Abstract Number: 1771 April 28, 2025
Ecubectedin as a promising therapeutic agent against gastric cancer through Wnt/β-Catenin modulation. Alejandro Losada, PhD Location: Section 21
Board Number: 8
Published Abstract Number: 5630 April 29, 2025
The novel transcriptional inhibitor ecubectedin demonstrates strong antitumor activity in patent-derived xenograft models of soft tissue sarcoma. Daniël Gorgels, PhD Location: Section 21
Board Number: 1
Published Abstract Number: 6857 April 30, 2025
PM534 Overcoming resistance to tubulin-targeting drugs with PM534: an innovative microtubule-targeting compound. Pablo M. Aviles, PharmD, PhD Location: Section 21
Board Number: 8
Published Abstract Number: 6864 April 30, 2025
PM54 PM54, a novel transcription inhibitor with promising broad spectrum antitumor activity. Marcelo Lima Ribeiro, PhD Location: Section 22
Board Number: 25
Published Abstract Number: 1773 April 28, 2025
The next generation transcriptional inhibitor PM54 demonstrates strong antitumor activity in patient-derived xenograft models of soft tissue sarcoma. Daniël Gorgels, PhD Location: Section 21
Board Number: 2
Published Abstract Number: 6858 April 30, 2025
Pan-inhibition of super-enhancer-driven oncogenic transcription by novel synthetic ecteinascidins yields potent anti-cancer activity Julian Obid, PhD Location: Section 21
Board Number: 13
Published Abstract Number: 1738 April 28, 2025
Trabectedin (Yondelis) Redefining the Molecular Target for Trabectedin (ET743) as Stable Covalent Bonding to N2 of Guanine in Duplex Stem-Loops of G-Quadruplexes. Laurence H. Hurley, PhD Location: Section 19
Board Number: 2
Published Abstract Number: 2972 April 28, 2025
Lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) New therapeutic approaches in NUT Carcinoma: an unmet need. María Virgina Sáchéz-Becerra, PhD Location: Section 34
Board Number: 23
Published Abstract Number: 5996 April 29, 2025
Lurbinectedin-Induced Transcriptional Reprogramming: A Pathway to Sensitise SCLC to Immunotherapy J.S. Russo-Cabrera, PhD Location: Section 23
Board Number: 13
Published Abstract Number: 5837 April 29, 2025
Lurbinectedin Irinotecan as a new therapeutic combination for Small Cell Lung Cancer Miguel Ruiz-Torres, PhD Location: Section 34
Board Number: 13
Published Abstract Number: 5986 April 29, 2025

On April 28, 2025 Shanghai Juncell Therapeutics Co., Ltd. (Juncell Therapeutics), a clinical-stage biotech specializing in developing innovative IL-2-independent Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapies for cancer, reported it will present preclinical data on a feeder-free manufacturing process for IL-2-independent TIL expansion at the 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper), taking place May 13–15, 2025, in New Orleans, LA (Press release, Juncell Therapeutics, APR 28, 2025, View Source [SID1234652274]).

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The study highlights Juncell Therapeutics’ breakthroughs in TIL process development, demonstrating that its proprietary feeder-free system can generate robust, functional TILs from both "hot" and "cold" tumor tissues without relying on high-concentration interleukin-2 (IL-2). These TILs exhibited significant anti-tumor activity in syngeneic patient-derived organoid (PDO) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. By eliminating IL-2 dependence and removing the need for feeder cells, the technology paves the way for safer TIL treatment regimens and reduces manufacturing costs.

Presentation Details:

Title: Development of A Feeder-Free Process for IL-2-Independent TIL Expansion
Poster Number: AMA362
Session: Thursday Poster Reception
Date and Time: May 15, 2025, 5:30 PM–7:00 PM
Location: Poster Hall Hall I2

On April 28, 2025 Attivare Therapeutics, Inc., an innovative oncology company focused on the development of its ATTimmune biomaterial scaffold cancer therapies to treat patients across a range of solid and liquid tumors with significant unmet medical needs, reported it will present preclinical data for its novel ATT-01 and ATT-02 therapeutics in two poster presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2025 (Press release, Attivare Therapeutics, APR 28, 2025, View Source [SID1234652290]).

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ATT-01 uses its ATTimmune platform technology, a silica-based, biodegradable scaffold (mesoporous silica rod, MSR), loaded with GM-CSF and CpG to induce differentiation of AML blasts in vitro, a significant vaccine-like T cell response, and durable remission in syngeneic murine models of AML.

Intratumoral ATT-02 combines the ATTimmune scaffold coupled with Interleukin 12 (IL-12) to show potent anti-tumor immunity compared to IL-12 alone in multiple single tumor syngeneic models and abscopal syngeneic models. Complete responses were observed in two colon carcinoma models (localized and abscopal) after a single dose of ATT-02. Of interest, ATTimmune alone had anti-tumor activity with delayed tumor progression and in vitro, shows a repolarization of macrophages to an immunogenic phenotype capable of driving T cell activation with addition of IL-12 enhances this effect.

"We are excited to present our preclinical data for ATT-01 and ATT-02 at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting," said David Sherris, President and Chief Executive Officer of Attivare Therapeutics. "Here, we present ATTimmune, a novel silica-based platform to deliver potent immune agonists to combat cancer. ATTimmune has advantages over other drug delivery technologies as it can bind a variety of therapeutic agents with a high payload, be it biologics, small molecules, gene therapy or even cellular technologies to its surface without alteration of the therapeutic agents. ATTimmune controllably releases drug over time within a 21-day period. Due to size, ATTimmune remains at its injected location thereby keeping drug where activity is required, as in the tumor microenvironment. As such, ATTimmune has the capability of reducing or eliminating toxicity for drugs having systemic toxicity."

Details of the poster presentations at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2025 are as follows:

Title: Delivery of CpG and GM-CSF in a novel silica-based scaffold leads differentiation of AML blasts and T cell-dependent immunity in syngeneic AML tumor models

Abstract Presentation Number: 3467
Session Title: Local Treatments, Novel Tools, and Delivery Systems to Manipulate Tumor Immunity
Session Date and Time: Monday, April 28, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT (3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
Location: Poster Section 37
Poster Board Number 6
Title: A single intratumoral injection of Il-12 bound to mesoporous silica rods generates effective anti-tumor immune responses and tumor growth control in multiple syngeneic tumor models

Abstract Presentation Number: 3476
Session Title: Local Treatments, Novel Tools, and Delivery Systems to Manipulate Tumor Immunity
Session Date and Time: Monday, April 28, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT (3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
Location: Poster Section 37
Poster Board Number 15