A small molecule could provide a new therapeutic approach against organ fibrosis. Using genome-wide association (GWA) assays, a group of researchers from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Sydney identified Mer tyrosine kinase (MERTK) as a candidate to study fibrosis and showed that its inhibition with the experimental compound reduced this condition in mouse models’ liver, kidneys and lungs. “There were some studies on the role of MERTK in liver fibrosis, but its therapeutic potential for various organ fibrosis has not been explored before. This study provides unequivocal evidence that MERTK is a potent nodal regulator of fibrosis supported by detailed mechanistic studies,” the senior author Mohammed Eslam told BioWorld.
China’s Visen Pharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. is targeting an IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange with three rare endocrine disease therapies licensed-in from Denmark’s Ascendis Pharma A/S, including U.S. FDA-approved Skytrofa (lonapegsomatropin).
The higher of two doses of Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s drug olezarsen for treating adults with familial chylomicronemia syndrome reduced fasting triglyceride levels by 44% from baseline at the six-month mark in a phase III study, but one case of pancreatitis in the trial paints a less attractive picture than top-line data the firm reported in September.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, shows different occurrence between sexes, being less prevalent in premenopausal women than in men or postmenopausal women.
China’s Visen Pharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. is targeting an IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange with three rare endocrine disease therapies licensed-in from Denmark’s Ascendis Pharma A/S, including U.S. FDA-approved Skytrofa (lonapegsomatropin).
It has been previously demonstrated that insulin-reactive B cells act as antigen-presenting cells to promote type 1 diabetes by stimulating pathogenic T cells and leading to destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of pancreatic islets.
Building D&D Pharmatech Inc. has been a rollercoaster ride, according to CEO Seulki Lee. The U.S. and Korea-based biotech is on another ascent, having scored U.S. FDA fast track designation for its metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) drug, ahead of its third attempt at a public listing.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. has described α1-antitrypsin (SERPINA1) (Z-mutant) polymerization inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of α1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency.
Repair Biotechnologies Inc. has reported new data showing that its lipid nanoparticle (LNP)/messenger RNA (mRNA) therapy rapidly reversed the progression of atherosclerosis in mouse models applicable to familial hypercholesterolemia as well as atherosclerosis in the broader population.
In a potential watershed moment for South Korea’s Hanmi Group, a hair-splitting vote at the 51st shareholder meeting favored the two sons of the late founder and Chairman Lim Sung-ki, effectively halting a merger between Hanmi and OCI Holdings Co. Ltd.
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