In work at Shanghai Curegene Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., synthesis and optimization of a series of SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CLpro, Mpro) inhibitors led to the identification of compounds [I], [II] and [III] as lead candidates suitable for further evaluation, based on their enzymatic IC50s (14, 12 and 8.6 nM, respectively), cellular EC50s (36, 26 and 52 nM, respectively) and human liver microsome (HLM) stability.

Precision Biosciences Inc. has submitted its first clinical trial applications (CTAs) to initiate a phase I study evaluating PBGENE-HBV, an in vivo gene editing program designed to potentially cure chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV).

The spread of drug-resistant bacteria is a global health concern and could once again become a leading cause of mortality. The World Health Organization has flagged carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), which has a mortality rate of 25%-60%, as a top priority pathogen requiring innovative therapies for its management. Researchers from the HUN-REN Biological Research Centre in Hungary have published a paper in Cell in which they describe designing and developing phage cocktails that target the most prevalent CRAB strains within specific geographic regions by using phylogeographic analysis and mapping the pathogen’s genetic diversity.

Researchers from Moderna Inc. and affiliated organizations presented preclinical data for the novel mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccine, mRNA-1769, against mpox virus.

Noul Co. Ltd.’s Micro-Intelligent Laboratory, an artificial intelligence-powered diagnostic system, demonstrated superiority over microscopic diagnosis for malaria in a study presented at the 2024 International Congress for Tropical Medicine and Malaria.

Functionally active hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is open and accessible, while the action of an epigenetic editor turns it into functionally inactive DNA, which is closed and inaccessible. Chroma Medicine Inc. has presented data regarding their epigenetic editor CRMA-1001, which is delivered by lipid nanoparticles.