The Ballad of TIGIT
The article discusses the challenges and disappointments associated with TIGIT drugs in cancer treatment. Initially seen as a promising advancement following the success of Keytruda, TIGIT drugs have faced significant setbacks in clinical trials. Despite their potential, the future of these drugs remains uncertain as they are currently viewed with skepticism in the pharmaceutical industry.
- ▪TIGIT drugs were developed following the success of Keytruda, a highly effective cancer immunotherapy.
- ▪Initial trials for tiragolumab, the first anti-TIGIT drug, showed promising results but did not lead to a cure for cancer.
- ▪The FDA granted tiragolumab a breakthrough designation based on early trial results, but further development has faced challenges.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
MiscThe ballad of TIGIT2.8k words, 12 minute reading timeAbhishaike MahajanMay 26, 2026ShareThere exist drug classes that seem, in retrospect, cursed. As these chemicals worm their way through the clinical trial system, they consume billions of dollars along the way, and squelch through thousands of sick patients. When finally it dawns on everyone how useless the whole endeavour was, the drugs life is at last cut short, nothing useful left in its destructive wake. The prototype here are amyloid-beta drugs. These are Alzheimer’s treatments that are widely perceived as immense disappointments, with the negative sentiment even leaking to the broader public. To be fair to these chemicals, the story here is a bit more complicated than the tabloids let on.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Hacker News (Front Page).
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