Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is an inflammatory myopathy causing proximal and distal muscle weakness. IBM’s cause remains unknown, lacking validated models, biomarkers and effective treatment strategies. Histopathological studies identified inflammatory infiltrates, rimmed vacuoles, and mitochondrial changes in the muscles of IBM patients.
For the first time, researchers have identified that inflammation – long associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) – appears to cause increased mutations that damage neurons linked to MS progression. Researchers at the Florey Institute and the University of Melbourne studied MS brain lesions, which are areas of past or ongoing brain inflammation that are visible as spots on MRI scans.
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. have identified new benzimidazoles acting as serine/threonine-protein kinase SIK inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), giant cell arteritis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes and glomerulonephritis, among others.
Bristol Myers Squibb Co. has patented new protein-arginine deiminase type-4 (PADI4; PAD4) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, among others.
Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, the leading cause of secondary osteoporosis, is characterized by diminished bone density and compromised osteoblast function. As current treatment options often have significant side effects, researchers are actively seeking new drug candidates to improve patient outcomes.
Xi’an Xintong Medicine Research Co. Ltd. has synthesized tyrosine-protein kinase JAK3 inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, alopecia areata, vitiligo, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
A paracrine hormone of skeletal muscle acts as an endocrine signal for the synthesis of a sex hormone. Scientists at McGill University have observed in mice how myostatin, which inhibits the development of muscle mass to control its growth, also stimulated the production of the pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), modulating ovarian function. The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis could include an additional element through a yet unknown role in muscles.
The largest analysis to date of patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) has investigated their effects on nearly 175 diseases, and found that compared to three other classes of diabetes medications, individuals with a prescription for GLP-1RAs had a reduced risk of 42 diseases, and an increased risk of 19. The findings, which were published Jan. 20, 2025, in Nature Medicine, provide a comprehensive overview of GLP-1RAs’ effects.
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