The neural and neuroimmune mechanisms behind myocardial infarction-triggered cardiac events, immune responses and activation of the nervous system remain largely unexplored. The heart and the brain talk to each other in what is known as cardioception. This communication between the two organs is orchestrated through neurons of the vagus nerve or the dorsal root ganglia, among others. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego have now shown that the dynamics of these interactions may play a crucial role in modulating inflammation, repair and cardiac functioning.

Insilico Medicine Cayman Topco has nominated ISM-5059, a peripherally restricted small-molecule NLRP3 inhibitor, as a preclinical candidate.

Solute carrier family 2, member 5 (GLUT5) is known to be upregulated in metabolic disorders and cancer, but its potential role in ischemic stroke is not well defined. Japanese researchers have now explored the association of GLUT5 expression with oxidative stress in ischemic stroke.

Affinia Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for AFTX-201, an investigational genetic medicine for the treatment of BAG3-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The phase I/II UPBEAT trial will begin in the first half of this year.

Genentech Inc. is paying $200 million up front and up to $1.5 billion in milestone payments to license one of Suzhou Sanegene Bio Inc.’s RNAi programs. Metabolic and autoimmune-focused Sanegene did not disclose specifics around the licensed candidate, except that it was derived from its LEAD (Ligand and Enhancer Assisted Delivery) platform.

Acute inflammation is a physiological and host defense response to cardiac injury after suffering myocardial infarction (MI), which programmes cardiac repair and wound healing. Leukocyte-mediated innate inflammatory response is crucial to clear ischemic injury during MI; whilst macrophages produce specialized pro-resolving mediators such as maresin 1, the therapeutic potential of exogenous maresin 1 in cardiac repair is not clear.

Scientists from the Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA, USA) recently explored adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors carrying the T-box transcription factor 18 (TBX18) transgene to produce a physiologically responsive biological pacemaker activity for the treatment of bradycardia.

Scribe Therapeutics Inc. is aiming to advance STX-1150, its lead product candidate for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, into the clinic around the middle of this year. Hypercholesterolemia is a major driver of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.