Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, immunologically mediated disorder of the gastrointestinal tract in which tissue damage and sustained inflammation lead to long-term dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.
The long-anticipated top-line phase IIa study results for Morphic Therapeutic Inc.’s oral alpha 4 beta 7 integrin inhibitor, MORF-057, have surpassed even the company’s own expectations, with a significant decline in disease activity seen in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) patients combined with a safety profile consistent with phase I findings.
The role of G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) in gastrointestinal (GI) diseases has been genetically validated for some time, with several pharmaceutical companies advancing programs designed to tackle the target; however, most of these efforts to date have focused on increasing GPR35 activity. ThirtyFiveBio’s approach is different: The newly founded virtual biotech company believes that antagonizing the target and thereby blocking unwanted GPR35 signaling may be a more appropriate way to address GI conditions, including digestive tract cancers.
Captor Therapeutics SA has offered an update on its lead programs CT-01, CT-02 and CT-05. In the CT-01 program, CPT-6281 is currently undergoing IND/CTA-enabling studies with the first clinical trial expected to start at the end of the year. The first indication will be in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Boomerang Medical Inc. knocked out its first target with a U.S. FDA breakthrough device designation for its bioelectronic device for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The technology stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system to reduce inflammation for individuals with both types of IBD, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
