Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which immune cells invade various organs and unleash harmful inflammatory responses. Estrogen may contribute to the condition, which would explain why it affects women over men in a 9:1 ratio.
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has entered into a strategic research collaboration agreement with Astrazeneca plc for the discovery and development of novel oral small-molecule candidates utilizing the group’s AI-driven, dual-engine efficient drug discovery platform.
Therapies involving B-cell depletion targeting CD19 or BCMA have shown efficacy in the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Recently, this approach has shown efficacy in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis, by repopulation and resetting of B cells and immunoglobulins.
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain immune homeostasis by inhibiting excessive immune responses. Dysregulation of Tregs, characterized by reduced cell numbers or impaired suppressive function, is implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy expands Tregs and enhances their suppressive capacity while minimizing the activation of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells.
Immunoprecise Antibodies Ltd. has discovered a highly conserved epitope across all four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4) using its proprietary Lensai platform powered by its Hyft technology.
Epimab Biotherapeutics Inc. licensed out a development-ready KLK2/CD3 bispecific T-cell engager (TCE) for advanced prostate cancer to Juri Biosciences Inc. through a potential $210 million deal.
Kangbaida (Sichuan) Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has synthesized pyrrolidine derivatives acting as Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and/or (TLR8) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of autoimmune disease.
A peptide with a dual mechanism of action – it dissolves the bacterial membrane and activates the immune system – could be an effective weapon against microorganisms that have evolved ways to evade antibiotics, as superbugs do. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) have designed stable synthetic peptides that activate mast cell receptors, which are cells involved in the innate and adaptive immune response. This dual approach eliminates bacteria and recruits neutrophils to finish the job.
Glycoengineering specialist Glycoera AG is preparing to take its extracellular protein degrader constructs into the clinic in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, after closing a $130 million series B.
Researchers have identified KpsM as a virulence factor in Escherichia coli that was responsible for liver damage in alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH). A small-molecule inhibitor of KpsM reduced liver damage in animal models of AH.