Latest news with #pancreaticcancer
CBS News
4 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
Mayo Clinic uses AI to achieve breakthrough in diagnosing cancers
At the Mayo Clinic, the Nvidia SuperPOD is powering AI to a breakthrough in pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer is the 11th most common cancer in the United States, but it is the third deadliest. Half of all pancreatic cancers are first diagnosed when a patient is already at stage four and the five-year survival rate is just 13%. But with AI at the Mayo Clinic, it's a new ballgame. "The latest generation DPE that we just installed in our SuperPOD, working with Nvidia, allows us to go much more efficiently building models. We can work with much larger amounts of data to do those models," said Dr. Matthew Callstrom, director of AI strategy at the Mayo Clinic. The AI developed models that can detect cancer that the human eye and other machines cannot. The technology still has to go to clinical trials, but so far, tests have shown AI can detect cancers 438 days earlier than conventional methods, and that means catching the cancer earlier. "To compare how well it works, I am about 50% being able to pick up these early-stage cancers, whereas this model that developed can actually pick it up 97% of the time," said Callstrom. In the SuperPOD, doctors have trained the AI by having it analyze more than a million slides from cancer patients to develop its ability to see what humans can't. "Between the AI model running on the CT scan and the radiologist, we really have a much better opportunity to detect those early-stage cancers," said Callstrom.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pancreatic Cancer Phase 2a Study with Can-Fite's Namodenoson Achieved Over 50% Enrollment Milestone
Primary endpoint is safety; Namodenoson continues to demonstrate a favorable safety profile Ramat Gan, Israel, July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announced that it achieved the over 50% enrollment milestone in its Phase 2a trial of Namodenoson for pancreatic cancer. The Phase 2a study is a multicenter, open-label trial enrolling patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma whose disease has progressed following at least one line of prior therapy. The study is evaluating the safety (primary endpoint), clinical activity, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of Namodenoson in this patient population. Participants receive oral Namodenoson at a dose of 25 mg, administered twice daily in continuous 28-day cycles. Patients are regularly monitored for safety, and to date, Namodenoson has demonstrated a favorable safety profile. The study is led by Prof. Salomon Stemmer, a renowned oncologist and key opinion leader at the Davidoff Center, Rabin Medical Center, Israel. 'This milestone reflects the strong interest among both investigators and patients in exploring Namodenoson as a potential treatment for one of the deadliest and most aggressive cancers,' stated Pnina Fishman, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Can-Fite BioPharma. 'We are encouraged by the pace of enrollment and remain committed to advancing Namodenoson as a much-needed therapeutic option for patients with pancreatic cancer.' Namodenoson is a highly selective A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonist, which has shown a compelling safety profile and demonstrated anti-tumor activity in preclinical pancreatic cancer models. The drug is also being evaluated in clinical trials for advanced liver cancer. Namodenoson has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF) is an advanced clinical stage drug development Company with a platform technology that is designed to address multi-billion dollar markets in the treatment of cancer, liver, and inflammatory disease. The Company's lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson recently reported topline results in a Phase 3 trial for psoriasis and commenced a pivotal Phase 3 trial. Can-Fite's liver drug, Namodenoson, is being evaluated in a Phase III trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a Phase 2b trial for the treatment of MASH, and in a Phase 2a study in pancreatic cancer. Namodenoson has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and Europe and Fast Track Designation as a second line treatment for HCC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Namodenoson has also shown proof of concept to potentially treat other cancers including colon, prostate, and melanoma. CF602, the Company's third drug candidate, has shown efficacy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. These drugs have an excellent safety profile with experience in over 1,600 patients in clinical studies to date. For more information please visit: Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about Can-Fite's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. All statements in this communication, other than those relating to historical facts, are 'forward looking statements'. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as 'believe,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'may,' 'should' or 'anticipate' or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. For example, the Company is using forward-looking statements when it discusses the completion of the offerings, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offerings and the intended use of proceeds therefrom. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Can-Fite's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, among other things, our market and other conditions, history of losses and needs for additional capital to fund our operations and our inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and other product candidate development efforts; our ability to advance our product candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete our preclinical studies or clinical trials; our receipt of regulatory approvals for our product candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; the clinical development, commercialization and market acceptance of our product candidates; our ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competitive companies, technologies and our industry; risks related to not satisfying the continued listing requirements of NYSE American; and statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on our business. More information on these risks, uncertainties and other factors is included from time to time in the 'Risk Factors' section of Can-Fite's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 14, 2025 and other public reports filed with the SEC and in its periodic filings with the TASE. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Can-Fite undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws. Contact Can-Fite BioPharma Motti Farbstein info@ +972-3-9241114
CTV News
6 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Epic climb to raise funds for cancer research
Vancouver Watch Hundreds of cyclists will hit the road this weekend for an epic climb to raise money for pancreatic cancer research.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Hundreds of cyclists set for Cypress Mountain trek to raise pancreatic cancer awareness
Anthony Thomas and his wife Carolyn are among the hundreds of cyclists tackling the Cypress Challenge this weekend to raise money for cancer research. Some 800 cyclists are preparing to trek up Cypress Mountain to raise money for pancreatic cancer research and care this weekend. For 18 years, the Cypress Challenge has taken place in West Vancouver and is said to have grown into the largest privately funded fundraising event for pancreatic cancer in Canada. On Sunday, dozens of teams will embark on the 12 km. journey up the steep terrain in an attempt to add to the more than $5.2 million raised over the years. The BC Cancer Foundation estimates around 800 British Columbians will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and it's projected that only 10 per cent of them will live another five years after that. West Vancouver resident and cyclist Anthony Thomas was diagnosed with the disease on Labour Day last year. Thomas explained to CTV News on Friday that he began feeling a sharp pain in his lower back while on a road trip back from B.C.'s Interior and was struck with nausea and felt ill. His wife Carolyn urged him to pull over and find care in Whistler, where they rushed to the emergency department. Thomas explained that after receiving tests, they found he had kidney stones, but also discovered masses on his pancreas and liver. After an MRI he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 'It's been a challenging year, for sure, because I felt completely normal and fine,' said Thomas. He was diagnosed with neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, a form he was told is rare but manageable. 'It's still bad, it's pancreatic cancer, but there are much better chances of getting through it,' said Thomas. 'When I found that out I really felt like I'd won the lottery.' Since the diagnosis, Thomas and his family have raised more than $50,000 for pancreatic cancer research and are looking to grow that number this weekend during the Cypress Challenge. Donations can be made on the Cypress Challenge website.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Akeso Announces First Patient Enrollment in Phase III Trial of Ivonescimab for Pancreatic Cancer
HONG KONG, July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Akeso, Inc. ( ("Akeso" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the first patient has been enrolled in the pivotal/registration Phase III clinical trial (AK112-310/HARMONi-GI2) of ivonescimab, a first-in-class PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody developed by the company. The trial is investigating ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy, with or without ligufalimab (CD47 monoclonal antibody), for the first-line treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging types of tumors to find effective treatments for. While immunotherapies have demonstrated significant efficacy in different types of of solid tumors, pancreatic cancer's unique immune evasion mechanisms and its highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) have rendered it resistant to current therapies. As a result, previous Phase III studies on using immunotherapies as first-line treatments for metastatic pancreatic cancer have mostly failed. To date, no immunotherapy has been approved for first line metastatic pancreatic cancer. Ivonescimab, in combination with chemotherapy and/or ligufalimab, has the potential to address the current lack of effective options in first-line immunotherapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer. This randomized, controlled, multi-center Phase III trial is a key component of Akeso's broader strategy to address the significant unmet clinical needs in global oncology. Pancreatic cancer is an extremely aggressive form of malignancy that often result in poor patient prognosis. Its global incidence is on the rise, and the mortality rate closely mirrors the incidence, resulting in alarmingly low overall survival rates. In 2022, approximately 511,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed worldwide, and 467,000 deaths were recorded. Early diagnosis remains challenging, with around 80% of patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Even those diagnosed with early-stage or locally advanced disease may see progression to metastatic pancreatic cancer within a year following surgery or other treatments. Current first-line treatments are predominantly chemotherapies and have showed very limited success, with a median overall survival (OS) of less than one year. PD-1 and VEGF are often co-expressed in the tumor microenvironment. As a PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, Ivonescimab can accumulate in the TME and effectively block both the PD-1 and the VEGF signaling pathways. While these pathways are independently active, they are also complementary. Inhibition of both PD-1 and VEGF enhances immune cells' ability to target and destroy tumor cells. In addition, ligufalimab binds to CD47 on tumor cells, disrupting the interaction with signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) on phagocytic cells. This process boosts phagocytosis and inhibits tumor growth. The combination of ivonescimab with ligufalimab is expected to synergistically enhance anti-tumor activity, offering a potential breakthrough in the first-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer. Professor Yu Xianjun, Director of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Professor Ying Jie'er from Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, and Professor Tai Sheng from Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital are the co-principal investigators of HARMONi-GI2 study. Forward-Looking Statement of Akeso, announcement by Akeso, Inc. ( "Akeso") contains "forward-looking statements". These statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of Akeso's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any decision to purchase securities of Akeso. There can be no assurance that the drug candidate(s) indicated in this announcement or Akeso's other pipeline candidates will obtain the required regulatory approvals or achieve commercial success. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Akeso's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the Akeso's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. Akeso does not undertake any obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law. About AkesoAkeso (HKEX: is a leading biopharmaceutical company committed to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of the world's first or best-in-class innovative biological medicines. Founded in 2012, the company has created a unique integrated R&D innovation system with the comprehensive end-to-end drug development platform (ACE Platform) and bi-specific antibody drug development technology (Tetrabody) as the core, a GMP-compliant manufacturing system and a commercialization system with an advanced operation mode, and has gradually developed into a globally competitive biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative solutions. With fully integrated multi-functional platform, Akeso is internally working on a robust pipeline of over 50 innovative assets in the fields of cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammation, metabolic disease and other major diseases. Among them, 24 candidates have entered clinical trials (including 15 bispecific/multispecific antibodies and bispecific ADCs. Additionally, 7 new drugs are commercially available, and 2 new drugs with 2 new indications are under regulatory review for approval. Through efficient and breakthrough R&D innovation, Akeso always integrates superior global resources, develops the first-in-class and best-in-class new drugs, provides affordable therapeutic antibodies for patients worldwide, and continuously creates more commercial and social values to become a global leading biopharmaceutical enterprise. For more information, please visit and follow us on Linkedin. View original content: SOURCE Akeso, Inc. 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