Synedgen Inc. has completed IND-enabling studies for its lead candidate, MIIST-305, which is being developed for ulcerative colitis and as a medical countermeasure for gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome. Within a year, Synedgen plans to file an IND application for MIIST-305 and initiate a phase I study to support both programs.
Palisade Bio Inc. has completed its analysis evaluating ex vivo bioactivation of PALI-2108, an orally administered, locally acting colon-specific phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor prodrug in development for ulcerative colitis.
The possibility for expanding Bristol Myers Squibb Co.’s S1P modulator, Zeposia (ozanimod), into Crohn’s disease took a hit on disappointing data from the initial analysis of its Yellowstone study, the first of two phase III trials. Results showed the study failed to meet the primary endpoint, defined as clinical remission as measured by the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index at week 12.
Benevolentai Ltd. is betting on its oral phosphodiesterase 10 inhibitor BEN-8744 as having first-in-class potential for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, after healthy volunteers in a phase Ia trial remained free of central nervous system-associated side effects.
The standard therapy for moderate to severe cases of ulcerative colitis (UC) is treatment with infliximab, but it is estimated that about 40% of patients with UC do not respond to it. An international team of investigators set out to study the causes behind this, which are not clearly understood.
Researchers from Sitryx Therapeutics Ltd. and affiliated organizations presented data from a study that aimed to assess the potential of selective salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Preventing the interaction between the cellular adhesion integrin α4β7 and endothelial ligand mucosal addressin cell-adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) is a validated strategy for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis treatment. Paragon Therapeutics Inc. and Spyre Therapeutics Inc. have reported preclinical efficacy data on SPY-001, a long-acting monoclonal antibody targeting integrin α4β7.
Investigators from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College presented data from a study that investigated the regulatory mechanisms of intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) death and intestinal inflammation.
The approval by the U.S. FDA in October of Pfizer Inc.’s Velsipity (etrasimod), an oral sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator for moderately-to-severely active ulcerative colitis, brought renewed attention to the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) landscape, where the hunt goes on for new alternatives. Among the promising soldiers in the march is Paris-based Abivax SA, which closed its IPO the same month.
Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) is an intracellular pro-inflammatory enzyme that is considered a therapeutic target in inflammatory disorders such as psoriasis, asthma or ulcerative colitis (UC), among others. Researchers from Palisade Bio Inc. have reported preclinical data on PALI-2108, a PDE4 inhibitor prodrug, in models of UC.
