Researchers from Tulane University identified NOX4, a ROS-generating enzyme, in epithelium near fibrotic foci in tissue biopsies of patients with IPF and linked its expression to epithelial cells senescence and persistence of aberrant transitional state leading to pulmonary fibrosis.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease in which several unique genes have shown expression in the lung tissue of patients with IPF. Previous findings had found the mRNA expression of band 4.1-like protein 3 (EPB41L3) to be 14-fold higher in lung fibroblasts from patients with IPF compared to control subjects.
Shanghai Rulink Biopharma Co. Ltd. has synthesized integrin αvβ1, αvβ6 and/or αvβ8 antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
With positive phase IIa data for ENV-101 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in hand, showing some lung damage was reversed, Endeavor Biomedicines Inc. said it’s ready to begin further phase II studies in the indication.
A small molecule could provide a new therapeutic approach against organ fibrosis. Using genome-wide association (GWA) assays, a group of researchers from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Sydney identified Mer tyrosine kinase (MERTK) as a candidate to study fibrosis and showed that its inhibition with the experimental compound reduced this condition in mouse models’ liver, kidneys and lungs. “There were some studies on the role of MERTK in liver fibrosis, but its therapeutic potential for various organ fibrosis has not been explored before. This study provides unequivocal evidence that MERTK is a potent nodal regulator of fibrosis supported by detailed mechanistic studies,” the senior author Mohammed Eslam told BioWorld.
With high hopes for its LPA1R antagonist program, Contineum Therapeutics Inc. has priced an IPO of 6.9 million shares of its class A common stock at $16 per share as it seeks to generate $110 million in gross proceeds. The San Diego-based company began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker CTNM on April 5, with shares ending the day at $15.40, down 3.8%. There have been nine other biopharma IPOs so far in 2024.
Deep learning algorithms have enabled the discovery of molecular structures of interest in biomedicine to design treatments against aggressive diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Scientists at Insilico Medicine Inc. selected a target for IPF using artificial intelligence (AI), then designed an inhibitor to block it, and tested it in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical trials.
Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc.’s IND application for HLX-6018, a novel anti-glycoprotein-A repetitions predominant (GARP)/transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) monoclonal antibody (mAb), has received approval by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Fibrocor Therapeutics Inc. has entered into a research and development collaboration with the Mcquade Center for Strategic Research and Development LLC (MSRD).
Max Biopharma Inc. and Metaba LLC are collaborating to study the effects of oxysterol drug candidates that target metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and atherosclerosis on metabolic processes.
