{"title":"Investigational agents for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: what clinical progress have we seen in the last 5 years?","authors":"Paola Marino, Antonella Argentiero, Davide Quaresmini, Elena Sapuppo, Dalila Tessitore, Giuliana Ciappina, Massimilano Berretta, Dario Giuffrida, Mariacarmela Santarpia, Nicola Silvestris","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2552847","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2552847","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs), a group of endocrine tumors that arise in the pancreas from the hormonal cells of the islets of Langerhans, are among the most common gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The incidence of pNETs has increased in recent years to about 1.5 per 100,000 population and prognosis correlates with histologic grade.This review aims to provide an overview of the newly approved or currently developing drugs over the past five years that have shown a significant improvement in prognosis for patients affected by this rare disease.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>The literature search was conducted using PubMed, focusing on English-language publications from 2020 to 2025. Keywords included 'pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors,' 'new treatments,' 'targeted therapy,' and 'clinical trials.' Studies selected for inclusion comprised clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses reporting data on treatment efficacy, safety, and patient quality of life.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Future research holds great potential, especially in improving personalized treatment predictions. Therefore, it is not easy to define a 'definitive endpoint' for research, as discoveries and technological innovations continue to evolve.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":" ","pages":"717-731"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144948460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paolo Ossola, Claudio Mario Ciampi, Francesco Politi, Andrea Sultana, Andrea Farina, Gabriele Fragasso, Roberto Spoladore
{"title":"Investigational agents for ischaemic cardiomyopathy treatment: preclinical and early phase insights.","authors":"Paolo Ossola, Claudio Mario Ciampi, Francesco Politi, Andrea Sultana, Andrea Farina, Gabriele Fragasso, Roberto Spoladore","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2558655","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2558655","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Ischemic heart disease (IHD) constitutes the most prevalent form of cardiac disease in the general population. Although current therapeutic interventions have significantly improved both quality of life and survival rates, no available treatment can reverse the loss of cardiomyocytes resulting from ischemic injury. Existing therapies are limited to attenuating myocardial damage, reducing its extent, and mitigating its clinical consequences.</p><p><strong>Area covered: </strong>Advances in pharmacological and biomedical research have paved the way for novel therapeutic modalities. Tissue engineering, gene therapy, microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and stem cell-based approaches represent promising avenues for promoting myocardial regeneration. In the present review, we aim to provide a succinct yet comprehensive review of the principal areas of current scientific investigation in this evolving field.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Although current scientific evidence remains limited, primarily due to the lack of large-scale clinical trials in vivo, the prospects of these therapeutic strategies are highly promising, particularly for patients with limited conventional treatment options. It remains to be determined when and how these approaches may be effectively implemented in clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":" ","pages":"675-683"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145014398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of gene expression inhibitors for the treatment of cutaneous carcinomas.","authors":"Dhruv Sharma, Aniruddha Roy, Gautam Singhvi","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2533442","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2533442","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":" ","pages":"551-555"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144599873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Donatella Marazziti, Riccardo Gurrieri, Matteo Gambini, Gerardo Russomanno, Umberto Albert
{"title":"Promising experimental drugs for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.","authors":"Donatella Marazziti, Riccardo Gurrieri, Matteo Gambini, Gerardo Russomanno, Umberto Albert","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2536846","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2536846","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is a common psychopathological condition that generally causes a significant maladjustment in affected individuals. Despite its prevalence, there are no univocal and defined guidelines for the treatment of this condition, and the literature evidence on this topic is scant and controversial.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This narrative review synthesizes clinical trials, case reports, and experimental proposals for OCPD treatment in the light of the most recent neurobiological models. We aimed to review current therapeutic evidence for the disorder and evaluate their effectiveness, proposing potential rationales to guide future strategies.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Although no guidelines are available for OCPD, given the paucity of controlled studies, a possibility to overcome this gap might rely on identifying among the currently available and emerging therapies those that may appear most promising for improving the outcome of the disorder and suggesting novel therapeutic targets. In this way, this paper might represent a sort of 'call to action' to the scientific deepening of the mode of action of those treatments that could be of help to improve the detrimental quality of life of OCPD patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":" ","pages":"623-637"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144674269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Laura T Romanos, Dimitrios S Kontogiannis, Chara Tsiampali, Iva D Tzvetanova, Matthew E Falagas
{"title":"Antibiotics and non-traditional antimicrobial agents for <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> in clinical phases 1, 2, and 3 trials.","authors":"Laura T Romanos, Dimitrios S Kontogiannis, Chara Tsiampali, Iva D Tzvetanova, Matthew E Falagas","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2532443","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2532443","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Multidrug-resistant <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> infections have disseminated globally and are associated with high mortality due to the considerable virulence of the pathogen and the limited therapeutic options. This has led to efforts to develop new treatment options for such infections.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review evaluated the most recent literature on the relevant traditional and non-traditional antibiotics currently being developed in Phases 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials. We conducted a PubMed literature search, as well as a backward citation search of relevant studies. Traditional agents in clinical development include β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (funobactam, taniborbactam, QPX2014-xeruborbactam), aminoglycosides (apramycin), polymyxin derivatives (upleganan, MRX-8, and SPR741), fluoroquinolones (MP-376), and lipopolysaccharide transport inhibitors (murepavadin). Non-traditional antibiotics in clinical development include anti-virulence agents (fluorothiazinone), monoclonal antibodies (INFEX-702, TRL-1068, and CMTX-101), bacteriophages (AP-PA02, YPT-01, BX004-A, and WRAIR-PAM-CF1), and miscellaneous agents (AR-501, PLG-0206, SNSP-113, OligoG CF-5/20, and ALX-009).</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>A considerable number of antimicrobial agents, some with novel mechanisms of action, are in clinical phases of development for treating <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> infections. The urgent need for more therapeutic options necessitates the rapid optimization of progress to introduce new agents into clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":" ","pages":"639-653"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144599872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Investigational thrombolytic drugs for acute ischemic stroke.","authors":"David S Liebeskind","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2532445","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2532445","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":" ","pages":"547-549"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144590798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Endika Martin-Encinas, Maria Fuertes, Carme Masdeu, Asier Selas, Concepcion Alonso
{"title":"Investigational DNA topoisomerase I inhibitors for colorectal cancer: preclinical and early phase developments.","authors":"Endika Martin-Encinas, Maria Fuertes, Carme Masdeu, Asier Selas, Concepcion Alonso","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2532447","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2532447","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Colorectal cancer, a significant global challenge, requires innovative treatment strategies. DNA topoisomerase I inhibitors, which disrupt DNA replication in rapidly proliferating cancer cells, have shown great potential. Natural product derivatives, such as camptothecin (CPT), and emerging compounds for CRC treatment have made significant progress.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review article summarizes the state of the art in the development of selective topoisomerase I inhibitors, which show <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> activity against colorectal cancer in preclinical and early stage clinical trials. The compounds are classified into natural compounds and derivatives and new synthetic compounds classified according to their cyclic structure.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Despite the success of CPT derivatives like irinotecan, topotecan and belotecan (approved drugs), drawbacks such as lactone instability have led to the development of modified compounds. Structural modifications in CPT derivatives, like derived homocamptothecins, show enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity. Additionally, synthetic compounds like indenoisoquinolines and quinolines have emerged as potent TOP1 inhibitors. Dual inhibitors, combination therapies, integration with immunotherapy and personalized medicine further enhance treatment efficacy. Ongoing preclinical studies offer hope for improved CRC management.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":" ","pages":"591-622"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144667469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paul G Richardson, Elisabeth K O'Donnell, Peter O'Gorman, Lisa B Leypoldt, Jacob Laubach, Francesca Gay, Xavier Leleu, Thierry Facon, Philippe Moreau, Meletios A Dimopoulos, Hartmut Goldschmidt, Elias K Mai, Michele Cavo, Katja C Weisel, Jesus G Berdeja, Robert Z Orlowski, Meral Beksaç, Aurore Perrot, Joseph Mikhael, Thomas Martin
{"title":"Isatuximab for the treatment of multiple myeloma: current clinical advances and future directions.","authors":"Paul G Richardson, Elisabeth K O'Donnell, Peter O'Gorman, Lisa B Leypoldt, Jacob Laubach, Francesca Gay, Xavier Leleu, Thierry Facon, Philippe Moreau, Meletios A Dimopoulos, Hartmut Goldschmidt, Elias K Mai, Michele Cavo, Katja C Weisel, Jesus G Berdeja, Robert Z Orlowski, Meral Beksaç, Aurore Perrot, Joseph Mikhael, Thomas Martin","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2532446","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2532446","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The addition of the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody isatuximab to standard therapies is transforming the care of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), as previously seen in the relapsed/refractory setting. This is particularly important for patients with NDMM as early treatment with effective, well tolerated therapies may ensure better clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Here, we examine recent results from pivotal Phase 3 and 2 clinical trials that demonstrate efficacy and safety of isatuximab across multiple combinations, for both transplant-ineligible and transplant-eligible NDMM patients. We then evaluate long-term outcomes from the IKEMA and ICARIA-MM trials as well as real-world evidence emerging from analyses conducted in patients with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). Further, we address current approaches to optimize treatment with isatuximab-based combinations involving changes in bortezomib or dexamethasone dosing. Lastly, we review current findings with new administration modalities developed to optimize delivery of isatuximab in the clinic.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Supported by multiple lines of high-level evidence, isatuximab in combination with standard-of-care backbone therapies produces triplet or quadruplet regimens with enhanced efficacy and consistent safety for the treatment of patients with NDMM and RRMM.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":" ","pages":"571-589"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144625773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pasquale Vitale, Giuseppe Lamberti, Ilaria di Giovanni, Raffaele Addeo
{"title":"Investigational new drugs to treat brain metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer.","authors":"Pasquale Vitale, Giuseppe Lamberti, Ilaria di Giovanni, Raffaele Addeo","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2532449","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2532449","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Brain metastasis (BM) has a high incidence in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and represents a devastating complication associated with poor prognosis and symptoms that significantly reduce the quality of life (QOL) in patients. Managing and controlling BM is critical for prolonging survival and improving QOL. Surgical resection, stereotactic radiosurgery, and whole-brain radiation therapy are key treatment modalities for patients with NSCLC and BM.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Molecular targeted drugs developed against driver gene mutations and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown efficacy against BM. This review examines newly approved therapies by conducting a literature search on these topics. Therefore, it is essential to determine the most appropriate local and systemic therapies and the optimal timing to maximize overall survival and QOL.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Despite the effectiveness of new drugs, a high mortality rate persists. We discuss future strategies for overcoming resistance and progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":" ","pages":"557-570"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144607894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Juhye Yim, Chloe Hope, Justus M Huelse, Douglas K Graham
{"title":"Prospects of current AXL-targeting therapies in early phase cancer trials.","authors":"Juhye Yim, Chloe Hope, Justus M Huelse, Douglas K Graham","doi":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2511178","DOIUrl":"10.1080/13543784.2025.2511178","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>AXL, a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) family of receptor tyrosine kinases, controls pro-tumorigenic signaling cascades and cancer-immunological functions, and promotes drug resistance. Due to AXL's multifaceted role and therapeutic activity in preclinical studies, a variety of AXL inhibitors are being developed and tested in clinical trials for cancer treatment. Some clinical studies are showing promising results for AXL inhibitors as monotherapy and in combination with standard of care therapeutics. Currently, no selective AXL-targeting therapy has reached FDA-approval, but several compounds have entered phase II and III studies.</p><p><strong>Area covered: </strong>We elaborate on the role of AXL in cancer progression and suppressing anti-cancer immunity at both the molecular level and immune cell interaction level. Additionally, we review pre-clinical and clinical data of AXL-targeting agents.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Preclinical and several early clinical trials demonstrated the safety of AXL-targeting monotherapies with some evidence of efficacy. Additionally, multiple novel combination regimens including AXL-targeting agents to overcome resistance mechanisms are being actively examined with some promising results. However, patient selection and companion biomarkers may be critical for the success of AXL-targeting therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12313,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on investigational drugs","volume":" ","pages":"473-505"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144141807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}