In autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the function of regulatory CD8 T cells (CD8 Treg) is compromised, in part due to the expression of inhibitory KIR receptors (KIR2DL1/2/3) and insufficient inducible T-cell co-stimulator (ICOS) signaling. Mozart Therapeutics Inc. has discovered MTX-201, a new bispecific antibody targeting inhibitory KIR and ICOS that are co-expressed by CD8 Tregs.
Bambusa Therapeutics Inc. has completed an oversubscribed series A financing of approximately $90 million to support its lead programs through phase I trials and advance its pipeline of long-acting bispecific antibodies for immunological and inflammatory disorders.
Stimulating the body’s immune defenses against a tumor can reduce or eliminate it. However, in cancer immunotherapy, when immune checkpoint inhibitors unleash the immune system, severe autoimmunity can result. A hematological technique, extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), could offer a solution. It reduces the therapy-induced inflammation without altering antitumor immunity. According to scientists at the Universities of Basel and Freiburg, the key lies in adiponectin, a hormone produced by fatty tissue.
Dealmaking in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region took off this week, with the latest showcasing Genome & Co.’s licensing deal with Ellipses Pharma Ltd. for GENA-104, a phase I-ready immuno-oncology asset, under undisclosed terms Feb. 11.
Biomissile Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. is developing multispecific antibodies that overcome resistance associated with antibody-drug conjugates via its next-generation natural killer (NK) cell engagers. “ADCs are very efficacious, but they do have a drawback with side effects and resistance, because ultimately ADCs are similar to chemotherapy because you bring toxins to the tumor site,” Biomissile co-founder and CEO Chao Tu told BioWorld.
Secondary lymphedema occurs when, after surgery or radiotherapy, the lymphatic system cannot drain interstitial fluid effectively, leading to inflammation and fluid accumulation in the limbs. Previous research has shown that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) contributes to the promotion of lymphatic remodeling through IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling.
Work at Greenstone Biosciences Inc. has led to the identification of dihydroartemisinin derivatives reported to be useful for the treatment of fibrosis.
Researchers from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital reported findings from their evaluation of the role of NLR family CARD domain containing 5 (NLRC5) in post-stroke neuroinflammation. Immunofluorescence staining of mouse brains revealed that NLRC5 was mainly expressed in microglia.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved CSL Ltd.’s Andembry (garadacimab) for preventing recurrent hereditary angioedema attacks, marking the first global approval for the drug that was discovered and developed in Australia by CSL scientists.
Inflammatory diseases specialist AB2 Bio Ltd. has signed a potential $686 million U.S. commercialization deal for its interleukin-18 neutralizing drug tadekinig. The agreement with Japanese pharma company Nippon Shinyaku Co. Ltd. includes an initial payment of $6 million, with a further $30 million due later this year.
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