Heptares Therapeutics Ltd. has divulged pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide derivatives and morpholine-3-carboxamide derivatives acting as prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 subtype (PTGER4; EP4) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University and The Lieber Institute for Brain Development have identified peripherally restricted GABA(A) receptor subunits α3β2γ2S (GABRA3) positive allosteric modulators reported to be useful for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, lactose intolerance and abdominal pain.
Researchers from Nanjing Medical University presented data from a study that aimed to investigate the role of amphiregulin (AREG) in activating intestinal fibroblasts and driving fibrogenesis.
Max Biopharma Inc. and Metaba LLC are collaborating to study the effects of oxysterol drug candidates that target metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and atherosclerosis on metabolic processes.
The standard therapy for moderate to severe cases of ulcerative colitis (UC) is treatment with infliximab, but it is estimated that about 40% of patients with UC do not respond to it. An international team of investigators set out to study the causes behind this, which are not clearly understood.
Researchers from Sitryx Therapeutics Ltd. and affiliated organizations presented data from a study that aimed to assess the potential of selective salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Preventing the interaction between the cellular adhesion integrin α4β7 and endothelial ligand mucosal addressin cell-adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) is a validated strategy for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis treatment. Paragon Therapeutics Inc. and Spyre Therapeutics Inc. have reported preclinical efficacy data on SPY-001, a long-acting monoclonal antibody targeting integrin α4β7.
Researchers from Paragon Therapeutics Inc. and Spyre Therapeutics Inc. have reported preclinical data for SPY-002, a novel extended half-life, fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like ligand 1A (TL1A), being developed for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Plexin domain containing 2 (PLXDC2) is expressed on the surface of several cell types, such as macrophages, dendritic or epithelial cells. Its activation reduces oxidative stress and rebalances the immune response and decreases inflammation. Its activation has been seen to improve disease severity in models of rheumatoid arthritis, while its blockade or loss exacerbates the severity of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Researchers hence tested the PLXDC2 agonist PX-04 (Landos Biopharma Inc.) in a DSS-induced murine model of colitis.
At the ongoing European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO) meeting, researchers from Kangpu Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. presented efficacy data on KPG-818, a lenalidomide analogue, in a mouse model that recapitulates Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.