Selvita Oncology: Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment

Selvita Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the discovery and development of novel cancer therapies. The company is based in Poland and focuses on the discovery and development of new drugs to treat a wide range of cancer types. Selvita Oncology aims to develop new therapies that target specific genetic mutations and pathways involved in cancer growth, with the goal of improving treatment outcomes for patients.

One of the key areas of focus for Selvita Oncology is the development of small molecule kinase inhibitors. Kinases are enzymes that play a crucial role in cancer growth and progression, and inhibiting their activity can help to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. Selvita Oncology is developing a pipeline of small molecule kinase inhibitors that target specific genetic mutations and pathways involved in cancer growth.

In addition to its small molecule kinase inhibitors, Selvita Oncology is also working on the development of new cancer immunotherapies. Immunotherapies are a new class of cancer treatments that work by stimulating the body's own immune system to fight cancer. Selvita Oncology is developing new immunotherapies that target specific genetic mutations and pathways involved in cancer growth, with the goal of improving treatment outcomes for patients.

Selvita Oncology is also heavily involved in collaborations and partnerships with other biopharmaceutical companies and research institutions to expand its reach and capabilities. The company has multiple ongoing collaborations with other pharmaceutical companies, academic and research institutions, as well as biotech companies.

One of Selvita Oncology's most promising drugs in development is SEL24/MEN1703, an oral pan-fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor that is in Phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors. SEL24/MEN1703 targets the FGFR family of kinases, which play a key role in cancer growth and progression.

Another promising drug in development is SEL120/MEN1309, a first-in-class, oral, selective, and potent inhibitor of the protein kinase DDR1, currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors. This is the first drug targeting DDR1 protein kinase to reach clinical development. DDR1 is a protein kinase involved in cancer growth and progression.

Overall, Selvita Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel cancer therapies. The company is developing a pipeline of small molecule kinase inhibitors and cancer immunotherapies that target specific genetic mutations and pathways involved in cancer growth, with the goal of improving treatment outcomes for patients. Selvita Oncology's focus on collaborations and partnerships allows it to expand its reach and capabilities in the field of oncology.

Combining JAK2 Inhibitors with ERK1/2 Blockade: A New Hope for Leukemia Patients

By deactivating a part of the MAPK signaling pathway, specialists were able to reduce the number of leukemia cells in blood and bone marrow. According to a study published in Leukemia, combining Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitors with a targeted blockade of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 pathway improved therapeutic outcomes.

In myeloproliferative neoplasms, a type of chronic leukemia, the body produces an excess of blood cells, including erythrocytes, platelets, and granulocytes. This condition can lead to symptoms like thrombosis, an enlarged spleen, weight loss, bone pain, and fatigue. The condition is triggered by mutations that keep the JAK2 tyrosine kinase constantly active, signaling the bone marrow to produce blood cells continuously.

JAK2 inhibitors have been in use for nearly a decade, but according to Dr. Sara Christina Meyer, MD, PhD, attending physician in Hematology at the University Hospital of Basel, the treatment has not fully met expectations. "We are addressing the question of why this targeted therapy is not more effective," said Meyer in a press release.

The MAPK signaling pathway, which is involved in the development of various cancers, is regulated by JAK2 in myeloproliferative neoplasms. Researchers used three experimental models to determine whether deactivating both ERK1/2 and JAK2 would be more effective than targeting JAK2 alone. These models included leukemia cell cultures, mouse models for myeloid leukemia, and blood and bone marrow samples from patients.

According to the researchers, JAK2 inhibitor treatment was enhanced when ERK1/2 was also targeted. The treatment resulted in a reduction in spleen size in mouse models and decreased blood cell production across all three models. Additionally, the number of leukemia cells in blood and bone marrow was reduced, which could potentially alter the long-term course of the disease, an outcome rarely achieved by JAK2 inhibitors alone.

Due to the promising efficacy of this combination in early testing, the treatment is now being tested in a global phase 1/2 clinical trial. This combination therapy is currently being used in a small number of patients, and researchers hope to obtain results in the coming months. "As a clinician and researcher, my focus is on improving treatments. My main motivation is to find something that works in the lab and can truly help people with leukemias like myeloproliferative neoplasms," Meyer added.