Institutional investors are not in the market for now, but a survey of 104 firms on both sides of the Atlantic shows all but 6% have an interest in psychedelic medicines. However, only 23% say they are “very likely” to invest in the sector in the future, whilst the majority are sitting on the fence.
Actinium-226 (226Ac) has been previously proposed as a potential surrogate isotope for the development of 225Ac radiopharmaceuticals for targeted alpha therapy (TAT). The benefits of 226Ac include its theoretically superior therapeutic potency as well as a short half-life of its progeny, expected to minimize the toxicities. Researchers from TRIUMF, University of British Columbia and affiliated organizations recently reported the discovery of a novel matched 225/226Ac-radiopharmaceutical pair, [225Ac]crown-TATE and [226Ac]crown-TATE, and conducted studies aiming to compare the radiation dosimetry of these candidates.
The loss of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and their projections in the putamen cause motor disabilities, which are one of the main hallmarks in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
After 50 years of censorship, there is now growing pressure on EU policymakers to stand up and play a role in promoting the development of psychedelics as medicines and in preparing the ground to ensure equitable access once there are approved products.
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have reported findings from the preclinical evaluation of a novel cardiac targeting peptide (CTP)-based radiotracer – [68Ga]NOTA-CTP – being developed as a myocardial perfusion imaging PET probe.
The British Museum in London, steeped in history and tradition, sits alongside world class biomedical and clinical research centers, where numerous technological advances and scientific breakthroughs have originated. “This unique combination of tradition and innovation […] also defines our industry today,” said Rivki Stern, co-founder and CEO of Shortwave Pharma Inc., which is working to develop psychedelic drugs as approved medicines that meet unmet medical needs of patients with treatment-resistant depression, addictions and eating disorders.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent tumor of the liver, and in contrast to the reduction in the number of deaths in many common cancers, HCC’s mortality rates have gone up in recent years. One of the features that characterizes HCC is the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Recent preclinical testing in HCC models has shown a reduction in tumor growth using siRNA or ASOs acting as β-catenin inhibitors.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College reported on the development of a novel EDB-FN-targeted Gd-based contrast agent, named EDB-Gd-DOTA-Cy7, for imaging and treatment planning of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Researchers from Stanford University and affiliated organizations have provided details on the discovery and preclinical evaluation of [11C]MGX-10S, a novel PET tracer for GPR84, which is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) expressed predominately on myeloid cells.
With the approval of Aduhelm (aducanumab, Eli Lilly & Co.) and Leqembi (lecanemab, Eisai Co. Ltd.), there are finally amyloid-targeting drugs available for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). What’s not available, though, are rose-colored glasses of the prescription strength that would make these approvals look like AD’s happy ending. The biopharma industry is already well aware of the need for broader horizons. Roughly three-quarters of drugs now in clinical development for AD target neither amyloid-β (Aβ) nor tau. Still, the genetic evidence from familial AD strongly implicates Aβ processing in AD’s origins. In his opening plenary talk at the European Academy of Neurology 2023 annual conference, Thomas Südhof suggested new ways to look at the clinical data.