Targeting CD205 with the antibody drug conjugate MEN1309/OBT076 is an active new therapeutic strategy in lymphoma models.

Antibody drug conjugates represent an important class of anti-cancer drugs in both solid tumors and hematological cancers. Here, we report preclinical data on the anti-tumor activity of the first-in-class antibody drug conjugate MEN1309/OBT076 targeting CD205. The study included preclinical in vitro activity screening on a large panel of cell lines, both as single agent and in combination and validation experiments on in vivo models. CD205 was first shown frequently expressed in lymphomas, leukemias and multiple myeloma by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. Anti-tumor activity of MEN1309/OBT076 as single agent was then shown across 42 B-cell lymphoma cell lines with a median IC50 of 200 pM and induction of apoptosis in 25/42 (59.5%) of the cases. The activity appeared highly correlated with its target expression. After in vivo validation as the single agent, the antibody drug conjugate synergized with the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax, and the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab. The first-in-class antibody drug targeting CD205, MEN1309/OBT076, demonstrated strong pre-clinical anti-tumor activity in lymphoma, warranting further investigations as a single agent and in combination.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations Are Lower in Patients with Positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with a clinical outcome ranging from mild to severe, including death. To date, it is unclear why some patients develop severe symptoms. Many authors have suggested the involvement of vitamin D in reducing the risk of infections; thus, we retrospectively investigated the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in plasma obtained from a cohort of patients from Switzerland. In this cohort, significantly lower 25(OH)D levels (p = 0.004) were found in PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 (median value 11.1 ng/mL) patients compared with negative patients (24.6 ng/mL); this was also confirmed by stratifying patients according to age >70 years. On the basis of this preliminary observation, vitamin D supplementation might be a useful measure to reduce the risk of infection. Randomized controlled trials and large population studies should be conducted to evaluate these recommendations and to confirm our preliminary observation.

Coxsackievirus A6 and Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: Three Case Reports of Familial Child-to-Immunocompetent Adult Transmission and a Literature Review.

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral infection characterized by typical maculopapular or vesicular eruptions on the hands and feet and in the oral cavity. It affects predominantly children and/or immunocompromised adults. It usually follows a benign and self-limiting course. However, HFMD cases with severe or lethal complications such as encephalitis, meningitis, pulmonary edema and myocarditis have also been reported, mostly in children, but also in adults. High infectivity of HFMD has contributed to several large outbreaks of this disease in recent decades in East and Southeast Asia, the United States and Finland. The most common pathogens were Coxsackievirus A16, Enterovirus 71 and, recently, also Coxsackieviruses A6 and A10. Differences in the course of HFMD have been observed, depending on the virus type. Recently, many cases of atypical HFMD have been described in the literature with unusual morphology and/or localization of skin lesions. Atypical HFMD manifestations including vesiculobullous exanthema, often on the trunk or extremities, and perioral zone involvement were often caused by Coxsackievirus A6 infections. We present 3 cases of familial transmission of HFMD caused by Coxsackievirus A6 with some atypical features, benign course and complete recovery among immunocompetent adults.