The recent series A financing by Bambusa Therapeutics Inc. to fund bispecific antibodies for immunological and inflammatory disorders proved investor faith in the new approach with a proven mechanism.
At the recent AAAAI/WAO meeting, Blueprint Medicines Corp. presented the in vitro and in vivo characterization of BLU-808, a selective inhibitor of wild-type KIT, a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase involved in mast cell activation, proliferation and chemotaxis.
Researchers from Apogee Therapeutics Inc. and Paragon Therapeutics Inc. have reported the preclinical characterization of APG-333, a half-life extended monoclonal antibody targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a cytokine secreted by epithelial cells that acts as an alarmin in response to environmental insults.
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) is a member of the STAT family involved in the regulation of immune response and inflammation. The development of SH2 domain inhibitors targeting STAT6 may help prevent and treat allergic diseases, asthma, atopic dermatitis or other Th2-driven immune conditions. Researchers from Recludix Pharma Inc. have presented the preclinical profiles of REX-8756 and REX-4671, two STAT6 inhibitors being developed in partnership with Sanofi SA.
Akeso Inc. has received IND approval by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for AK-139, an IL-4Rα/ST2 bispecific antibody under investigation for a number of indications, including respiratory and skin diseases.
Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of upper and lower respiratory tract diseases, such as chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), allergic rhinitis (AR), and asthma (AS). In the current study, researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and affiliated organizations aimed to assess the role of the essential antioxidant enzyme, heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), in these airway diseases.
Beijing Primegene Therapeutics Co. Ltd. has synthesized Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor member X2 (MRGPRX2) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of urticaria and asthma.
Gilead Sciences Inc. and Leo Pharma A/S have established a strategic partnership to accelerate the development and commercialization of Leo’s small-molecule oral STAT6 programs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Windward Bio AG was established with plans to both license a drug and establish wet labs to create an internal pipeline of drug candidates. SR One, Omega Funds, RTW Investments, Qiming Venture Partners, Quan Capital and Pivotal Bioventure Partners funded the Basel, Switzerland-based company’s $200 million series A financing round.
Deepcure Inc. has discovered potent, selective oral small-molecule inhibitors of STAT6. These next-generation STAT6 inhibitors have demonstrated promising oral bioavailability, cell permeability and metabolic stability, and do not target STAT6 for degradation.
