Some autoimmune diseases are different in women and men. A group of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has found a strong female bias in the response of a neurotransmitter receptor that is involved in many neurological processes. Their study identified the hyperactivity of the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) in the intestine and associated it with the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) in female mice.
Trex Bio Inc. has announced its selection of a new development candidate, TRB-061, designed to selectively agonize TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2), a mechanism with potential across a broad range of autoimmune indications.
Viridian Therapeutics Inc. has disclosed a preclinical portfolio of neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) inhibitors designed for next-generation treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.
Nkarta Inc. is looking to return to the heady heights it hit three years ago when its shares were going for around $70 each. The company is reinventing itself as a cancer fighter and branching out as an autoimmune specialist. Nkarta joins at least four other companies looking at expanding their cell therapies into other autoimmune indications.
Immetas Therapeutics Inc. and GC Biopharma Corp. have entered into a research collaboration to discover and develop novel mRNA therapeutics for the treatment of a broad range of autoimmune diseases. The collaboration combines Immetas’ proprietary platform for modulating innate immune pathways with GC Biopharma’s mRNA therapeutic and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platforms.
Qyuns Therapeutics Co. Ltd. has filed to list on the Hong Kong Exchange to fund its autoimmune and allergic disease therapy pipeline, including lead assets QX-002N for ankylosing spondylitis and QX-005N for multiple indications including atopic dermatitis.
There are several pan-PIM kinase inhibitors in development for cancer indications, but startup Mysthera Therapeutics AG hopes to become the first biotech company to develop them in the autoimmune diseases space, having secured $3.5 million in seed capital from founding investor Forty51 Ventures.
Neuroimmune modulation using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) reduced Crohn’s disease symptoms and improved patient quality of life, a study published in the Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis found. The research by Setpoint Medical Corp. could provide a better option for patients with the autoimmune disorder than biologics, which often fail to work over time and can cause significant adverse effects.
Everest Medicines Ltd. is in-licensing Kezar Life Sciences Inc.’s phase II autoimmune disease candidate, zetomipzomib in a deal worth $132 million for greater China, South Korea and southeast Asia rights. Kezar’s lead molecule zetomipzomib (KZR-616) is a first-in-class, selective immunoproteasome inhibitor with broad therapeutic potential across multiple autoimmune diseases.
Everest Medicines Ltd. is in-licensing Kezar Life Sciences Inc.’s phase II autoimmune disease candidate, zetomipzomib in a deal worth $132 million for greater China, South Korea and southeast Asia rights. Kezar’s lead molecule zetomipzomib (KZR-616) is a first-in-class, selective immunoproteasome inhibitor with broad therapeutic potential across multiple autoimmune diseases.
