EXPERT OPINION ON BIOLOGICAL THERAPY

Recent developments and industry interest in gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Moriyama H and Yokota T
Optimization of radiation target volume for locally advanced esophageal cancer in the immunotherapy era
Zheng J, Zheng Z, Zhang T, Chen X, Pang Q, Wang P, Yan C and Zhang W
Locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) has poor prognosis. Preliminary clinical studies have demonstrated the synergistic efficacy of radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy in EC. Adjusting the radiotherapy target volume to protect immune function favors immunotherapy. However, there is no clear consensus on the exact definition of the EC target volume.
Immunobiology of biliary tract cancer and recent clinical findings in approved and upcoming immune checkpoint inhibitors
Laface C, Fina E, Ricci AD, Guven DC, Ambrogio F, De Summa S, Vitale E, Massafra R, Brunetti O and Rizzo A
Recently, immunotherapy has offered new hope for treating biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, several issues are to be considered, including the lack of validated predictive biomarkers that could help to identify patient groups which are most likely to benefit from such therapeutic approaches.
Will zilebesiran, an RNA interference therapy, be effective, safe, and improve the treatment of hypertension?
Doggrell SA
Less than half of the subjects with hypertension have been diagnosed and treated, with only 21% having their blood pressure under control. Many of the subjects find it difficult to adhere to daily antihypertensives. Zilebesiran reduces hepatic angiotensinogen messenger RNA levels to inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and is being developed as a long-acting anti-hypertensive agent.
The future of cellular therapy for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma
Chaoul N, Lauricella E, Giglio A, D'Angelo G, Ganini C, Cives M and Porta C
Systemic treatment options for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have expanded considerably in recent years, and both tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors, alone or in combination, have entered the clinical arena. Adoptive cell immunotherapies have recently revolutionized the treatment of cancer and hold the promise to further advance the treatment of RCC.
Bispecific therapeutics: a state-of-the-art review on the combination of immune checkpoint ‎inhibition with costimulatory and non-checkpoint targeted therapy
Mortaheb S, Pezeshki PS and Rezaei N
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the field of cancer immunotherapy and have enhanced the survival of patients with malignant tumors. However, the overall efficacy of ICIs remains unsatisfactory and is faced with two major concerns of resistance development and occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) have emerged as promising strategies with unique mechanisms of action to achieve a better efficacy and safety than monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or even their combination. BsAbs along with other bispecific platforms such as bispecific fusion proteins, nanobodies, and CAR-T cells may help to avoid development of resistance and reduce irAEs caused by on-target/off-tumor binding effects of mAbs.
Pooled safety analysis from the VOLTAIRE clinical trials of adalimumab-adbm and adalimumab reference product in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and chronic plaque psoriasis
Cohen S, Bender S, Shaberman A, Vinisko R and McCabe D
This analysis reported the incidence of safety endpoints across five phase 3 randomized controlled clinical trials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn's disease (CD), and chronic plaque psoriasis (PsO) who received ≥ 1 dose of adalimumab-adbm or adalimumab reference product (RP).
An evaluation of risankizumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis
Johnson AM and Loftus EV
Risankizumab (RZB) is a recombinant IgG humanized monoclonal antibody which selectively inhibits interleukin (IL)-23 though high-affinity binding of the p19 subunit. RZB was approved for use in Crohn's disease (CD) in 2022 and received regulatory approval for ulcerative colitis (UC) in the United States in June 2024.
Endoscopic endpoints in biologic clinical trials and beyond: the case for Crohn's Disease
Adriaanse MPM, Löwenberg M and D'Haens GRAM
Standardized evaluation of endoscopic disease activity using valid, responsive and reliable instruments is crucial for optimizing the efficiency of clinical trials with therapeutic agents for Crohn's disease (CD). Achieving endoscopic remission and/or mucosal healing is associated with improved long-term outcomes, making it an important treatment goal.
Comparing anti-drug antibody signal-to-noise ratios to assess immunogenicity and interchangeability in adalimumab biosimilar studies
Lemke L, Blauvelt A, Brückmann I, Cohen HP, Fan J, Guerrieri D, Horvat M, Poetzl J, Torella C, Wang Q and von Richter O
To support an interchangeability designation for Sandoz adalimumab biosimilar (GP2017), antidrug antibody (ADA) signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios were assessed in the GP2017 ADACCESS trial to directly assess potential changes in immunogenicity.
Evaluation of orphan maintained biological medicinal products in the European Union between 2018 to 2023: a regulatory perspective
Caferra P, Fraisse T, Trincavelli ML, Marchetti L and Piras AM
Orphan medicinal products (OMPs) authorized by the European Union (EU) benefit from market exclusivity, fee waivers, and national incentives. Maintaining orphan status during a marketing authorization application requires meeting eligibility criteria, especially demonstrating significant benefit (SB), which is challenging. This study identifies key features linked to successful orphan status maintenance for biological OMPs approved in the EU between 2018 and 2023.
An evaluation of ravulizumab for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Balaban DT, Levy M, Borrow R and Anderson MR
Following the CHAMPION-NMOSD trial, the FDA recently granted approval for ravulizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against complement C5 protein in AQP-4 seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Similar to eculizumab, ravulizumab offers near-complete prevention of NMOSD relapses, but has a longer half-life, providing decreased infusion frequency and increased convenience for patients. While targeting the complement pathway has clear advantages, patients are at risk for infection with encapsulated organisms, in particular .
Emerging peptide-based technology for biofilm control
Osiro KO, Hashemi N, Brango-Vanegas J, Oliveira SMD and Franco OL
A systematic review of the efficacy and safety of anti-amyloid beta monoclonal antibodies in treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Chhabra A, Solanki S, Saravanabawan P, Venkiteswaran A, Nimmathota N and Modi NM
Alzheimer's disease can cause dementia through brain matter degradation. This study investigates the monoclonal antibody usage for AD treatment, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and aims to discern the monoclonal antibody that offers the optimal balance of efficacy and safety for individuals with AD.
Developing combination therapies with biologics in triple-negative breast cancer
Gaudio G, Martino E, Pellizzari G, Cavallone M, Castellano G, Omar A, Katselashvili L, Trapani D and Curigliano G
Novel compounds have entered the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment algorithm, namely immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs), PARP inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The optimization of treatment efficacy can be enhanced with the use of combination treatments, and the incorporation of novel compounds. In this review, we discuss the combination treatments under development for the treatment of TNBC.
An evaluation of mirikizumab for the treatment of ulcerative colitis
White C and Irving PM
Treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) aims to reduce symptoms and complications by decreasing intestinal inflammation. A proportion of patients do not respond to, do not tolerate, or are inappropriate candidates for current therapies. Interleukin (IL)-23 is a therapeutic target and mirikizumabis the first p19-targeted IL-23 antibody approved for the treatment of moderately to severely active UC.
The role of antibody therapies in treating relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a review
Witkowska M, Majchrzak A, Robak P, Wolska-Washer A and Robak T
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common types of leukemia in adult patients. The landscape of CLL therapy has changed in the last decades with the introduction of antibody-based therapies and novel targeted agents resulting in improved outcomes.
Dynamics of biological markets with multiple biosimilar competitors in the United States
Mouslim MC, Socal MP and Trujillo AJ
The dynamics of biological markets with multiple biosimilar competitors in the United States are poorly understood. Moreover, due to confidentiality issues, the relationship between originator biologic net prices, rebates, and biosimilar entry is largely unexplored.
Correction
Assessment of cell-binding capacity of shed rAAV particles after gene therapy vector administration: implications for environmental risk and hygiene recommendations
Fleischmann T
Currently, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are the most commonly used in vivo gene therapy (GT) vector platform. Risks posed to the environment, including the public, have not been well studied in the past. There is uncertainty concerning the necessary level of biocontainment and appropriate hygiene behavior for the handling of secreta/excreta of GT patients during the shedding phase.
Stem cell therapy for type-2 diabetes: keeping the pedal to the metal to deliver translation to the clinic
Yang N, Hickson LJ and Lerman LO