Sunesis to cut workforce by 60% to concentrate on Voreloxin

Sunesis are cutting 60% of its workforce to concentrate on development of its lead compound voreloxin. Development of its CDK inhibitor SNS-032 currently in Phase I and and its Aurora kinase inhibitor SNS-314 will continue. Clinical data on these programs is expected later this year. Sunesis are seeking a development partner for SNS-314

Trastuzumab-DM1 shows efficacy in metastatic breast cancer

Data presented at ASCO show ImmunoGen/Genentechs Trastuzumab-DM1 immunoconjugate demonstrates efficacy in metastatic breast cancer. The median progression-free survival in these patients was 9.8 months.

Nerviano present data on kinase programs

Nerviano have presented data on their kinase programs at ASCO:
PHA 848125 – CDK2, CDK1, CDK4 and TRKA – prolonged disease stabilization in 2 patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumours
PHA 739358 – Aurora – disease stabilization observed in 10/50 patients with advanced solid tumors. The drug was well tolerated

Genmab initiate Phase I/II trial of zalutumumab (HuMax-EGFr) in colorectal cancer

Genmab have initiated a Phase I/II trial of zalutumumab (HuMax-EGFr) in colorectal cancer. The drug will be administered in combination with irinotecan

Researchers at Jacobs University Bremen describe kinase docking method

Researchers at Jacobs University Bremen  describe a new docking methodology using CDK2 inhibitors to demonstrate the method

Rigels Syk inhibitor R788 shows benefit in Diffuse Large B-Cell and SLL/CLL

Phase II data to be presented at the lymphoma meeting in Lugano, Switzerland show Rigel’s Syk inhibitor R788 (fostamatinib disodium) to demonstrate efficacy in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. R788 was well tolerated

MKC-1 Phase II data in breast cancer

Phase II data presented at ASCO show Entremed’s drug MKC-1 to demonstrate efficacy in metastatic breast cancer. MKC-1 is a cell cycle inhibitor that targets mTor and PI3 kinases and HIF-1