Zongertinib, a HER2-targeted therapy made by Boehringer Ingelheim, demonstrated promising results in HER2-mutant lung cancer. These cancers are associated with resistance to standard therapies and poor prognosis. As an oral pill, zongertinib would be a more convenient option for patients. Trial data prompted a priority review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year and sparked a Phase II trial comparing it to the current standard of care; additional cancer types are under investigation.

Even well-known proteins can surprise us; some go beyond their recognised roles, stepping in to awaken latent viruses and trigger oncogenic pathways. A newly established team of researchers at Åbo Akademi University, led by Academy Research Fellow Silvia Gramolelli (Faculty of Science and Engineering), has discovered an additional function for Heat Shock Factor 2 (HSF2), a human transcription factor not previously associated with viral processes.

RO7589831, a new drug from Roche, is first in a new class of drugs called Werner helicase inhibitors. Drug works similarly to other DNA damage repair inhibitors, such as PARP inhibitors. This class of drugs is important because many solid tumor patients with microsatellite instability (MSI) do not benefit from currently approved immunotherapies. Encouraging early results in this first-in-human trial prompted additional trial cohorts to optimize recommended dose for future clinical development

Novel treatment allowed patients with colorectal cancer to successfully continue taking their cancer treatment with improved quality of life. Acne-like skin rash is a common side effect from colorectal cancer treatment, often causing patients to postpone their treatments. LUT014, a topical BRAF inhibitor made by Lutris Pharma, is the first agent to treat the cause of the rash without interfering with the treatment itself. Over two-thirds of patients had successful treatment with the higher dose of LUT014 compared to one-third with placebo.