The combination of impaired epithelial barrier function, mucosal inflammation and elevated oxidative stress is determinant for the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is an important transcription factor for modulating antioxidant defenses, inhibiting inflammatory pathways and regenerating the epithelial barrier. Montai Therapeutics Inc. has developed a potent and selective NRF2 agonist compound, MTAI-1025, for the management of UC using its proprietary CONECTA platform.

A major challenge in tissue engineering is not only achieving the correct cellular organization of an engineered tissue, but also expanding it to a clinically useful size after implantation. Researchers from the Wyss Institute at Harvard University have developed a synthetic biology platform that genetically programs tissues to grow large organ implants on demand. Building on a 2017 study suggesting engineered liver tissues could respond to regenerative signals released after injury, the researchers set out to identify and harness those cues.

“If we could figure out what those signals were, we could synthetically drive these factors locally in an implant to control its growth ourselves,” first author Amy Stoddard told BioWorld. Stoddard is a postdoctoral researcher at the Wyss Institute.

Researchers from Elpiscience Biopharmaceuticals Inc. hypothesized that dual targeting of the TL1A/DR3 and IL-23 signaling pathways with a single bispecific antibody would exert superior efficacy by reshaping the immune landscape in disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The company has developed a bispecific antibody targeting both TL1A/DR3 and IL-23p19 – ES-302 – for the treatment of IBD.

Daiichi Sankyo. Co. Ltd. will begin a phased sale of its consumer health subsidiary, Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare Co. Ltd., to Suntory Holdings Ltd., as the Tokyo-based drugmaker sharpens its focus on oncology.

Daiichi Sankyo. Co. Ltd. will begin a phased sale of its consumer health subsidiary, Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare Co. Ltd., to Suntory Holdings Ltd., as the Tokyo-based drugmaker sharpens its focus on oncology.

Spyre Therapeutics Inc. is off to a good start in its goal to create the best combination therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, a group of chronic, relapsing autoimmune conditions of the digestive tract that encompasses Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The Waltham, Mass.-based company estimates the market for IBD is currently at approximately $25 billion but will jump to around $40 billion in 2030.

The development of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, has been a game changer in the clinical management of overweight and obesity, but there is interpersonal variability in efficacy of these medications for weight loss, as well as in the incidence of undesired side effects. Investigators from the 23andMe Research Institute have shed some light on how variations in the GLP-1R and GIP receptor (GIPR) genes impact their effectiveness and the occurrence of side effects.

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2), predominantly expressed in bone marrow-derived cells or lymphoid tissues, is an essential regulator of immune homeostasis. TIPE2 acts as a key negative modulator of inflammatory signaling through the suppression of toll-like receptor (TLR) activity, with TIPE2-deficient mice exhibiting spontaneous systemic inflammation and premature death.