Kronos Bio Inc. has nominated a development candidate, KB-7898, a p300 lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) inhibitor for the potential treatment of Sjögren’s disease. It is being developed as an orally available therapy for people with Sjögren’s disease, with IND-enabling studies set to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

The signaling of TNF receptor (TNFR) superfamily member 4 (OX40) and its ligand (OX40L) plays a crucial role in the development of immunological and inflammatory disorders due to triggering a subset of T-cell responses.

Gigagen Inc., a subsidiary of Grifols SA, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop a recombinant polyclonal antibody therapy for botulinum neurotoxins and a second biothreat of interest yet to be determined.

South San Francisco-based Septerna Inc. filed an S-1 with the U.S. SEC to conduct an IPO on Nasdaq about two years and eight months after launching operations with a $100 million series A led by Third Rock Ventures. The company is focused on G protein-coupled receptor oral small molecules derived from its Native Complex Platform, aimed at treating diseases within the endocrinology, immunology and inflammation, and metabolic diseases realms.

Inmagene LLC presented preclinical data for the novel noncovalent reversible Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor IMG-004, which is in phase I development for autoimmune diseases.

Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) is an enzyme known to play a role in inflammatory responses, and it has been pinpointed as an interesting therapeutic target for diseases like atopic dermatitis (AD), but limited efficacy and side effects have prevented the approval of oral formulations.

China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted NDAs for Innovent Biologics Inc.’s IL-23p19 antibody picankibart to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, and Lepu Biopharma’s antibody-drug conjugate MRG-003, to treat recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.