Humanwell Pharmaceutical US Inc. has disclosed prodrugs of somatostatin SST4 receptor agonists described as potentially useful for the treatment of visceral and neuropathic pain.

DFNB16, a recessive form of mild-to-moderate human deafness, is caused by mutations in the STRC gene, which encodes stereocilin, a protein essential for the effective function of outer hair cells as cochlear amplifiers. Researchers from the Institut Pasteur and Sorbonne Université in Paris, France, have developed and evaluated the efficacy of an Strc gene therapy in a mouse model of DFNB16.

Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have identified oxyheteroaryl compounds acting as sodium channel protein type 10 subunit α (Nav1.8) blockers. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of pain, urinary incontinence, multiple sclerosis, cough, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and arrhythmia.

Janssen Pharmaceutica NV has identified compounds targeting TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TARDBP; TDP-43) acting as positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents. They are designed for use in the diagnosis of neurological disorders.