Atopic dermatitis is a systemic inflammatory disorder where both innate immune cells such as dendritic cells (DCs) and adaptive immune cells, such as B and T cells, contribute to cutaneous inflammation. B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), highly expressed in mature DCs, is crucial to modulate the activity of all immune cells and acts as a co-inhibitory checkpoint receptor.

Researchers from Paragon Therapeutics Inc. presented the preclinical characterization of ORKA-001 (PR-035), a novel half-life extended monoclonal antibody targeting the p19 subunit of IL-23, designed to treat chronic skin disorders such as plaque psoriasis.

The FDA has awarded U.S. orphan drug designation to Eydisbio Inc.’s EYD-001 (formerly HS-276), a highly selective and potent, orally bioavailable TAK1 inhibitor for the treatment of systemic sclerosis. Eydisbio plans to initiate clinical trials in the near future.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at the NIH has awarded Resvita Bio a $2.03 million phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to advance RVB-003, a novel treatment for Netherton syndrome.

Phagocytosis – eliminating millions of dead cells every day – requires specialized cells such as macrophages, the true professionals, which migrate to engulf waste and dying cells. But they are not the only ones that can perform this task, as scientists at Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) discovered when they investigated hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs), a tissue in constant regeneration, to clarify how dying cells are detected and cleared in the epithelium and the mesenchyme.

Kalm Therapeutics Inc. disclosed a $700,000 oversubscribed closing of its seed round, which will be used to complete regulatory activities outlined in Kalm’s pre-IND meeting with the U.S. FDA, fund personnel and transfer the company’s patch production to a manufacturer.