Immunity is not a function most people particularly associate with the liver. But because of its connection to the gut, the liver is exposed to bacterial metabolites as few other organs are. And when either the liver or the gut is not functioning well, it can adversely affect immunity as well. The liver is connected to the gut via both the biliary system and the portal vein. Those two conduits allow metabolites from the gut microbiome to influence what’s going on in the liver. Both liver and gut damage can affect this communication for the worse. And surprisingly, one of the consequences is immune dysfunction.

Planting seed money and “wishing” is not enough to claim “irreparable harm” to secure a preliminary injunction or to establish the standing required to appeal a patent board decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled May 7 in two decisions involving Incyte Corp. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Ahead Therapeutics SL has received positive feedback from the EMA on its way toward initiating regulatory toxicology studies for its lead program in myasthenia gravis. The feedback supports the company’s scientific approach.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an immunoregulatory cytokine produced by a variety of immune cells, including type 1 regulatory T cells and macrophages, as well as nonimmune cells such as epithelial cells and fibroblasts.

Researchers from the Access to Advanced Health Institute and collaborating institutions have developed a promising new bivalent vaccine candidate that can protect against both yellow fever and Zika viruses. The study demonstrates that the vaccine elicits robust humoral and cellular immune responses in mice and hamsters and provides complete protection against lethal viral challenges.

While current influenza vaccines primarily target the variable hemagglutinin protein, the slower-evolving neuraminidase presents a promising target for the development of new vaccines providing broader protection.

The U.S. FDA approval of Johnson & Johnson’s Imaavy (nipocalimab-aahu) for myasthenia gravis brings the monoclonal antibody into a treatment space that teems with competition, both approved and in-development candidates. The human Fc receptor inhibitor was approved to treat generalized myasthenia gravis in patients who are 12 years and older. Patients must be anti-acetylcholine receptor [AChR] or anti-muscle-specific kinase [MuSK] antibody positive. Anti-AChR and anti-MuSK antibody-positive individuals make up more than 90% of all antibody-positive gMG patients.

Scientists at Institut Pasteur have gained new insights into how some people control HIV-1 replication after interruption of antiretroviral treatment (ART). The investigators found a fingerprint involved in long-term viral remission.

Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. is the latest mainland China pharmaceutical company to seek a capital raise on the Hong Kong stock exchange, winning clearance April 28 from the China Securities Regulatory Commission to float new H-shares.