JAK1 signaling promotes skin inflammation and is a major therapeutic target for atopic dermatitis-related itching. But in a study appearing in the Jan. 4, 2024, print issue of Cell after earlier publication online, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, led by dermatologist Brian Kim, found that intrinsic JAK1 signaling in sensory neurons had an immunoprotective effect in the lung. The findings suggest a more precise and personalized approach is required to potentially expand JAK inhibitor use to a wider range of allergy and inflammatory disorders.
Elpiscience Biopharma Ltd. is out-licensing to Astellas Pharma Inc. two preclinical bispecific macrophage engagers – ES-019, an anti-PD-L1/SIRPα bispecific antibody, and another unnamed program – in a deal worth up to $1.7 billion. The deal marks the Shanghai-based company’s first out-licensing deal, Elpiscience CEO Darren Ji told BioWorld, noting that Astellas will have global rights to both molecules with a potential to in-license two more.
Echoing trends seen last year, the med-tech industry concluded 2023 with a continued surge in deal value juxtaposed against a more substantial decline in M&A value. Deal value for the year, including licensings, collaborations and joint ventures, reached $10.63 billion from 1,656 deals, the highest annual value in BioWorld’s records.
Kinoteck Therapeutics Co. Ltd. have prepared and tested new ribosomal protein S6 kinase alpha-3 (RSK-2; MAPKAPK-1b) inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of cancer.
Researchers from Epics Therapeutics SA presented preclinical data for EP-102, a novel small-molecule inhibitor of N6-adenosine-methyltransferase catalytic subunit (METTL3), being developed for the treatment of cancer.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapies targeted against CD19 have been widely used for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. However, the down-regulation of CD19 can lead to relapse, and autologous CAR T therapies have limitations that need to be addressed.
Researchers from Hibercell Inc. recently presented preclinical data for HC-7366, a first-in-class direct activator of GCN2 (general control nonderepressible 2) currently in phase I development for the treatment of solid tumors (NCT05121948).
MSD had a banner year at the ESMO Asia Congress earlier this month, presenting 14 abstracts on eight different types of cancers, including gastric, esophageal, colorectal, biliary tract, kidney, urothelial, breast and gynecological cancers. Ten of these studies were focused on Asian-related data. Roche AG, meanwhile, presented Asia-specific results from the phase III Alina study in patients with ALK-positive early stage non-small-cell lung cancer.
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