BK polyomavirus (BKV) reactivation in immunocompromised renal transplant patients may result in BKV-associated nephropathy and hemorrhagic cystitis. There are no suitable animal models of BKV to date, and although there are several treatment options under development, none have reached regulatory approval so far.
Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum fur Infektionsforschung GmbH and Lead Discovery Center GmbH have identified α-hemolysin (Staphylococcus aureus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of staphylococcal pneumonia.
SRI International has divulged lipoxygenase inhibitors, particularly polyunsaturated fatty acid 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) and/or ALOX15, reported to be useful for the treatment of bacterial infections.
Researchers from Columbia University and collaborators described the mechanism used by mAb 77, a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) derived from monoclonal antibody (mAb 77.4) targeting MeV F peptide, to neutralize viral infection.
Pfizer Inc. has identified nonstructural protein 3 (nsp3; PLpro) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. has been awarded up to $34 million over 5 years under a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
Shigella flexneri is the leading cause of endemic diarrhea and dysentery in some countries with low-to-middle incomes. There is still a lack of a licensed vaccine against this pathogen.
Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute and the IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center are developing a novel experimental vaccine targeting the germline to stimulate precursor B cells and produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the gp41 protein found in the HIV-1 envelope.
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC has described 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).