The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an intracellular multiprotein complex that may be activated by exogenous or endogenous signals and is involved in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory disorders.

The risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) is nearly four times as high for women as it is for men. And that relative risk has increased sharply over time. In 1955, women were only slightly more likely than men to develop MS. A research team at the University of Toronto and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) has gained new insights into possible causes for this increasing disparity.

In its fifth year of transcription factor discovery, Talus Bioscience Inc. just raised $11.2 million in new venture funding. Seattle-based Talus will use the money to further develop its MARMOT (Multiplexed Assays for the Rational Modulation Of Transcription Factors) platform.

Cumulus Oncology Ltd. has announced key milestones, in partnership with collaborator Leadxpro AG, in the companies’ protein structure-driven GPR68 drug discovery project.

Immunesensor Therapeutics Inc. has received Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) approval and clinical trial notification (CTN) clearance by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to initiate a phase I study of IMSB-301, a novel, orally available small-molecule cGAS inhibitor that is being developed for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Kalm Therapeutics Inc. disclosed a $700,000 oversubscribed closing of its seed round, which will be used to complete regulatory activities outlined in Kalm’s pre-IND meeting with the U.S. FDA, fund personnel and transfer the company’s patch production to a manufacturer.

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a common leading cause of liver injury and is associated with several clinical conditions, including liver transplantation, liver resection surgeries and cancer, among others.

Liver fibrosis still lacks effective therapy; hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cell type activated during liver injury. To date, almost half of the drugs used for liver treatment are natural product derivatives.

AAT-076 was tested in the preclinical setting for its analgesic potential in COX-1 and COX-2 assays, as well as in in vivo rat models of air pouch inflammation, adjuvant-induced arthritis and neuropathic pain models. The compound was selected as a candidate analgesic compound due to its effective COX-2 inhibition within the central nervous system.