Current decolonization methods for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) face several challenges, including resistance development or microbiome disruption. Hypharm GmbH has presented data regarding their recombinant chimeric bacteriophage endolysin HY-133 for the potential treatment of MRSA infection. HY-133 targets S. aureus and its design combines the CHAP domain from phage K with the cell wall-binding domain of lysostaphin.
Scientists from the Lebanese American University investigated the role of acetyl-CoA synthetase short chain family member 2 (ACSS2) in inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Researchers from Universidad del País Vasco and affiliated organizations presented data from a study that aimed to investigate the role of macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Researchers from Medizinische Hochschule Hannover and affiliated organizations reported data from studies aimed to identify non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) with therapeutic potential against liver fibrosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Functional screening of patient-derived primary human hepatic myofibroblasts, followed by in vivo validation in mouse models of fibrosis, were performed in search of antifibrotic miRNAs.
A panel at Biocom California’s 15th Annual Global Life Science Partnering & Investor Conference covered the emerging use of artificial intelligence (AI) to discover and develop drugs. “We’re in a very different place than we were five years ago, or even three years ago, even two years ago, from our ability to harness AI to make advances,” Marc Tessier-Lavigne, CEO of South San Francisco-based Xaira Therapeutics Inc., told the audience, adding that the development is actually accelerating.
Researchers from Sunrock Biopharma SL presented preclinical data on SRB-1, a CCR9-depleting antibody aimed to restore immune homeostasis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Researchers from Captor Therapeutics Inc. presented the preclinical characterization of CT-01, a first-in-class GSPT-1 targeted degrader under investigation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
The most common form of hereditary deafness in humans is caused by mutations in the GJB2 gene, which encodes the gap junction protein connexin 26. That regulates the transport of potassium and metabolites between inner ear cells. The coding sequence of this gene fits in an adenovirus-associated vector (AAV), making it an attractive approach for gene therapy.
Patients with metastatic or unresectable gastric cancer are usually given 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and platinum-based chemotherapy, but patients with advance disease usually have a poor prognosis. The use of chemotherapy increased the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 in tumor cells, which in turn increase the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the tumor microenvironment. When PGE2 binds to their receptors EP1 to EP4 on immune cells, it triggers an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The use of the EP2 and EP4 dual antagonist OCT-598 was tested in the preclinical setting for gastric cancer.
Researchers from The University of Edinburgh have presented data from a study that aimed to investigate the mechanisms behind intestinal stem cell (ISC) dysfunction in ulcerative colitis (UC).