A recent paper has identified the enhancer ETS2, located in a so-called gene desert, as a contributor to five separate immune disorders. It also showed that one of ETS2’s target genes mediating this inflammation was the eminently druggable MEK, a kinase that is the target of the FDA-approved inhibitors Mekinist (trametinib, GSK plc), Mektovi (binimetinib, Array Biopharma Inc.), Cotellic (cobimetinib, Roche Holding AG) and Koselugo (selumetinib, Astrazeneca plc/Merck & Co. Inc.).
Ose Immunotherapeutics SA has presented preclinical data on its mRNA therapeutic platform for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The platform has been designed for the local delivery of mRNA into inflammatory tissue using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Interleukin-35 (IL-35) has been shown in preclinical studies to have a key role in controlling several immune-related disorders, including autoimmune diseases.
The search for an effective therapy for liver fibrosis continues. A recent study by researchers at Medical University of South Carolina and collaborators explored the potential of a new compound, LP-340, as a treatment for liver fibrosis.
Enveda Biosciences (Enveda Therapeutics Inc.) has announced a new series B2 financing round of $55 million. The drug discovery and development company uses artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technologies to translate nature into new medicines.
Abbvie Inc. and Futuregen Biopharmaceutical (Beijing) Co. Ltd. have signed a license agreement to develop FG-M701, a next-generation TL1A antibody for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. have described hypoxia inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α; EPAS1) inhibitors reported to be useful for treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Syntis Bio Inc. has announced its launch, with a focus on advancing a pipeline of oral therapies engineered for optimization in the small intestine and a portfolio of enzyme replacement therapies to treat orphan metabolic and broad digestive disorders.
Throughout the 2024 annual congress of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), held in Milan last week, almost all basic tracks included some reference to epigenetics, or changes to the chromatin that affect how accessible a gene is to the transcription machinery.
In metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) preclinical models, absence of the lipid droplet-associated protein hydroxysteroid 17β dehydrogenase 13 (17β-HSD13) has been identified as protective against liver fibrosis.
The ongoing European Association for the Study of the Liver 2024 congress in Milan opened yesterday with several presentations on cell plasticity and its role in liver function and regeneration in chronic liver disease situations.