More than three months ago, investors first learned that ivonescimab, a PD-1/VEGF-targeting bispecific antibody from Summit Therapeutics and Akeso Pharmaceuticals Inc., bested Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in PD-L1-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer over the weekend, Summit rolled out detailed data from the phase III Harmoni-2 trial, which included a nearly doubling of progression-free survival for ivonescimab compared to Merck & Co. Inc.’s established blockbuster drug.

It has been previously demonstrated that the activation of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) contributes to processes that are central to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Researchers from Corteria Pharmaceuticals SAS and Université Paris-Saclay recently presented the preclinical results on a long-acting corticotropin-releasing factor CRF2 receptor agonist, COR-1389.

DNA polymerase θ (POLθ), repressed in somatic cells and overexpressed in several types of cancer, is crucial for DNA double-strand break repair during mitosis.

Novartis AG described the identification and activity of TAK-756, a novel, selective and potent TAK1 inhibitor, as a potential intra-articular therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Previous studies demonstrated that TAK1 appears to be a potential target for controlling inflammation and catabolism through NF-κB and MAPK pathways.

Immortality and eternal youth have been the stuff of myths and legends from ancient times on. Now, in the 21st century, real studies of current medicine could be applied to repair tissues and organs damaged by age. During the 11th Aging Research & Drug Discovery (ARDD) Meeting held at the University of Copenhagen at the end of August, scientists explained the molecular keys of rejuvenation, as many artists imagined in the past.

Cytokinetics Inc. CEO Robert Blum said his firm chalked “a watershed moment” during last weekend’s congress of European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in London, where further mid- and late-stage data were disclosed with the heart drug aficamten, a myosin inhibitor. South San Francisco-based Cytokinetics rolled out six presentations, including two late breakers, with four concurrent publications in medical journals.

Essential branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) such as leucine, isoleucine or valine, cannot be synthesized by mammals, making them an obligate part of the diet.

At the European Federation for Medicinal chemistry and Chemical biology’s International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC-ISMC) held this week in Rome, Novartis Biomedical Research reported the discovery and evaluation of NVP-EVS-459, a low molecular weight folate receptor (FR)-targeting radioconjugate, for the potential treatment and diagnosis of cancer.