Liss' Lowdown #28

Preclinical Breakthrough of the month:

New Treatment Approach Shows Promise Against Hard-to-Treat Breast Cancer

Researchers have discovered a breakthrough in treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a difficult-to-treat form lacking hormone receptors. Their study, in Frontiers in Oncology, shows that blocking aurora-A kinase (AURKA) and PD-L1 signalling simultaneously can effectively suppress TNBC tumour growth.

This approach targets ALDHhigh cancer stem cells resistant to standard therapies. Combining AURKA inhibitor alisertib with PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab in mouse models inhibited tumor growth and reduced vimentin expression, a marker linked to metastasis. This dual therapy could improve outcomes for TNBC patients who do not respond well to standard chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors, offering a promising new treatment strategy in oncology.

Clinical Breakthrough of the month:

Roche Reports Positive Phase I Data for CT-996 in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity Treatment

Roche has announced positive top-line results from the ongoing Phase I clinical trial of CT-996, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist aimed at treating type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. Known as the CT-996-201 trial, this multi-part study includes double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled segments assessing single and multiple ascending doses of CT-996 in overweight or obese adults, regardless of T2D status.

The trial has completed two arms, evaluating the tolerability, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of CT-996 in obese participants without T2D. The upcoming third part, set to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, will enrol 30 participants with both obesity and T2D.

Partnership of the month:

BARDA Partners with Allucent for Decentralized Clinical Trials Initiative

Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has selected Allucent for a five-year agreement in the US as part of the Decentralized Clinical Operations for Healthcare and Research (D-COHRe) initiative. This initiative aims to support medical countermeasure development and enhance public health emergency preparedness.

Under D-COHRe, Allucent will improve its decentralized clinical study capabilities, leveraging advancements in healthcare to build sustainable capacity and evaluate medical countermeasures in real-world settings. The focus will be on deploying hybrid and fully decentralized trials, utilizing home health, telehealth, mobile health, and alternative research sites. Allucent will support these trials with secure data collection technology, participant engagement tools, and research services to ensure the enrolment and retention of participants.