Apogee Therapeutics Inc. emerged from stealth with $169 million in financing and a pipeline of four preclinical antibody development programs that take aim at major immunological and inflammatory disorders.
Low-dose administration of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies could potentially reverse conditions associated with aging such as the accumulation of senescent cells and inflammation, according to a new study conducted at the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Tokyo.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common inflammatory skin disorder with a complex etiology. On the other hand, autophagy is an essential process by which cells break down undesired components to maintain their homeostasis.
Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) are by themselves not enough to set off a full innate immune response to viral infection. Instead, structural changes to the actin cytoskeleton primed the activation of RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), a family of intracellular RNA sensors that detect many types of viral RNA. When primed RLRs then encountered viral RNA, they set off an innate immune response that led to the production of interferons.
Following a research program to identify inhibitors of protein kinases TBK1 and IKK-ε, Domainex Ltd. has nominated DMXD-011 as a preclinical drug candidate.
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies and mRNA-based vaccines represent two of the most significant new modalities to gain regulatory approval in the past decade. Capstan Therapeutics Inc. has emerged from stealth with bold ambitions to combine these two approaches in mRNA-programmed cell therapies that will be generated in vivo from patients’ endogenous cells. It has so far secured $165 million in equity funding to pursue that vision.
Melbourne-based Occurx Pty Ltd. announced a AU$16 million (US$11 million) series B round that will progress lead candidate OCX-063 to phase II trials in chronic kidney disease. The capital raise was jointly led by Brandon Biocatalyst and Uniseed and includes a AU$1.5 million grant from Australian biomedical incubator Cureator.
Microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES1) is a molecule belonging to the MAPEG superfamily and is involved in the conversion of PGH2 to excess PGE2 associated with pain and inflammation. Gesynta Pharma AB presented first data on the mPGES1 inhibitor GS-248 for the treatment of pain and inflammation. In their experiments, GS-248 demonstrated a human whole-blood assay (hWBA) IC50 of 0.4 nM, and hWBA activity about 1000-fold more potent than that of celecoxib. No cross reactivity was observed with COX1 or COX2. Moreover, the compound showed IC50 values for human, dog, rat/mouse and minipig mPGES1 of 2.5, 1.3, > 1000 and 23 nM, respectively.
Bristol Myers Squibb Co. has agreed to pay up to $1.9 billion plus royalties, plus an up-front payment of undisclosed value, for Gentibio Inc.’s expertise in engineered regulatory T cells (Tregs) to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The agreement follows soon after BMS’ $4.1 billion acquisition of cancer biotech Turning Point Therapeutics Inc., as well as an expansion of its oncology partnership with Bridgebio Pharma Inc. to the tune of $905 million.
