In a presentation at the American Chemical Society meeting, Halda Therapeutics Inc. described its androgen receptor (AR)-targeting RIPTAC (regulated induced proximity targeting chimera) therapeutics as a new class of heterofunctional small molecules designed to selectively kill cancer cells that express tumor-specific targeting protein (TIP) into a stable intracellular ternary complex with a protein essential for cell survival for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Both casein kinase 1α (CK1α) and zinc finger protein Helios (IKZF2) are among the targets most recently evaluated for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A growing number of molecules against these targets acting as degraders or inhibitors are actively being investigated.

Lantern Pharma Inc. has presented new data on their novel acylfulvene compound LP-184 as a DNA-damaging agent that induces DNA double-strand breaks (DNA DSBs) in cancer cells and may activate immune responses by activation of the cGAS/STING pathway.

AAT-076 was tested in the preclinical setting for its analgesic potential in COX-1 and COX-2 assays, as well as in in vivo rat models of air pouch inflammation, adjuvant-induced arthritis and neuropathic pain models. The compound was selected as a candidate analgesic compound due to its effective COX-2 inhibition within the central nervous system.

Researchers from Alzecure Pharma AB presented preclinical data for ACD-137, a negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), being developed for the treatment of pain.

Researchers from Contineum Therapeutics Inc. have presented preclinical data for the novel brain penetrant lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1) antagonist, PIPE-791, being evaluated in models of neuropathic pain.

Researchers from Indiana University have presented data from a study that aimed to assess the potential of suppressing GABA metabolism through inhibition of its degradation enzyme, GABA aminotransferase (GABA-AT), as novel analgesic strategy. The effect of next-generation GABA-AT inhibitor OV-329 was assessed in C57BL/6J mice that were intraperitoneally injected with paclitaxel to generate neuropathic nociception. Treatment with OV-329 attenuated the development and maintenance of paclitaxel-induced mechanical hypersensitivity.

Researchers from Merck & Co Inc. have presented preclinical data for the novel Nav1.8 inhibitor MSD-199, being developed for the treatment of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

Cellular immunotherapy is the Lamine Yamal of cancer therapy. It is easy to forget how young the field is – and that as stunning as it is to watch in action already, it is still reaching its full potential. One aspect of doing so is working in a broader range of tumor types. The field made a giant step toward that goal with last week’s approval of Tecelra (afamitresgene autoleucel, Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc), the first CAR T cell to be approved for treatment of a solid tumor.