N4-Acetylation of cytidine (ac4C) is an mRNA modification that enhances cellular mRNA stability and translation. Most eukaryotic organisms catalyze ac4C using a homologue of human N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10). Recent work has suggested the involvement of alterations in NAT10-mediated ac4C in several diseases, including autoimmune disorders, infections, inflammation and cancer.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive cancer from the CNS usually characterized by a very bad prognosis. It is known that around 30%-35% of patients with GBM develop epilepsy as a comorbidity of the disease.

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. is delaying the phase III data readout from the X-tole2 trial with azetukalner in focal onset seizures (FOS) from the second half of 2025 to early 2026 but remains busy with NDA plans.

Capsida Biotherapeutics Inc. has gained IND clearance from the FDA for CAP-002, its first-in-class, intravenously administered gene therapy for syntaxin-binding protein 1 developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (STXBP1-DEE). Dosing in the phase I/IIa SYNRGY trial will begin in the third quarter of this year.

The U.S. FDA has granted de novo clearance for Epiminder Pty. Ltd.’s Minder implantable device for continuously monitoring brain activity in patients with epilepsy.

Iqure Pharma Inc. has received institutional review board (IRB) approval for a first-in-human study of iQ-007 in healthy volunteers. This follows recent formal approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) in Australia for the phase I study, which is expected to begin next month.