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.
Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics Inc. (BITT) has been awarded funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the preclinical development of BITT-101, its CD40 antagonist antibody for treating Sjögren’s syndrome. The award will help support steps toward an IND filing next year.
Twist Bioscience Corp. has established a drug discovery agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to discover and develop novel antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Mysthera Therapeutics AG has launched to develop first-in-class, oral therapeutics to treat complex autoimmune diseases. Seed capital will be used to advance its portfolio of preclinical stage, pan-PIM kinase inhibitors to modulate multi-lineage immune cell functions.
Georgiamune Inc. announced that the FDA cleared its IND application for GIM-122, a first-in-class dual-functioning monoclonal antibody designed to target a highly novel mechanism to overcome immunotherapy resistance.
Research at Blossomhill Therapeutics Inc. has led to the discovery of new macrocyclic compounds acting as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and reported to be useful for the treatment of autoimmune disease.
