The Novo Nordisk Foundation is committing up to DKK1.8 billion (US$260 million) to establish a research and vaccine development initiative that aims to create new or improved vaccines for respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis (TB) and influenza.
Seismic Therapeutic Inc. has closed a $121 million series B financing to support progression of the company’s two lead programs through clinical proof of mechanism.
Ebviously GmbH, a spin-off from Helmholtz Munich (HMGU), has presented new in vitro data for its Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) vaccine candidate EBV-001. Based on noninfectious virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from EBV, EBV-001 is designed as a highly immunogenic, multiantigen vaccine to prevent EBV-associated diseases, such as infectious mononucleosis.
Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune skin disease mediated by autoantibodies to desmoglein-3 (DSG3). Since the adult murine model of this disease is quite limited, researchers aimed to develop a novel active adult pemphigus vulgaris murine model.
Inhibition of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 2 (RIPK2) has been previously described as a promising strategy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, as RIPK2 is a key player in the signaling leading to bacterial peptidoglycan (PGN)-induced inflammation and it amplifies pro-inflammatory responses in the intestine.
Researchers from Abbvie Inc. have reported on the discovery and optimization of a series of selective tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitors that led to the identification of ABBV-712 as the lead compound.
Newco T-Therapeutics Ltd. has raised £48 million (US$59 million) in a series A to advance development of T-cell receptors generated by its transgenic mouse platform for the treatment of solid tumors, autoimmune diseases and infections. In cancer, the specificity of T-Therapeutics’ molecules will overcome shortcomings of immuno-oncology drugs such as checkpoint inhibitors that stimulate a response to some cancer neo-antigens but are unable to recognize cancer-specific self-antigens.
Researchers from Kyverna Therapeutics Inc. have presented data on their anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, KYV-101, for the treatment of B-cell-driven autoimmune diseases.
Emergex Vaccines Holding Ltd. has signed a contract with the U.K. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) for almost £1.8 million (US$2.2 million) to advance a CD8 T cell-based vaccine candidate against Chikungunya virus (CHIKV).