LONDON – New human brain organoids that precisely model the three hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease – amyloid plaque-like lesions, progressive neuronal death and abnormal accumulations of tau – are now ready to be developed for use in high-throughput drug screening.
Inmune Bio Inc. CEO Raymond Tesi told BioWorld his firm is taking an “oncology-style” approach to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as the firm tests next-generation tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor XPro-1595 against neuroinflammation.
HONG KONG – Tokyo-headquartered Eisai Co. Ltd. is targeting new markets for its orexin receptor antagonist, Dayvigo, to treat insomnia. The company launched the drug in Japan on July 6, alongside a new fine granule formulation for its antiepileptic drug, Fycompa.
Armed with intellectual property generated in the lab of Edgar Engleman at Stanford University, Tranquis Therapeutics Inc. has emerged from stealth mode through a $30 million series A round.
Exercise is a powerful way to keep the elderly brain working well, not just in individuals that are healthy, but also in those with neurodegenerative disease. Even individuals with familial Alzheimer’s, though they will develop dementia regardless of whether they exercise or not, will have relatively better cognitive function if they exercise than if they don’t.
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s stock was slashed nearly in half June 30 as the company’s pivotal Connect-FX study for treating fragile X syndrome behavioral symptoms failed to achieve statistical significance in its primary and three key secondary endpoints.
Two separate groups have recently shown that in mouse models, inactivation of a single gene was enough to directly convert other cell types in the brain into neurons.
PERTH, Australia – Melbourne-based Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd. will be able to progress NNZ-2591 to the clinic for three orphan indications after raising AU$20 million (US$13.75 million) in a placement to institutional and sophisticated investors in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the U.K.
Shares of Heron Therapeutics Inc. sank 27% in morning trading, after the San Diego-based firm disclosed a second complete response letter (CRL) for HTX-011 in postoperative pain. The CRL, received from the FDA on June 26, the anticipated PDUFA date, stated the agency was unable to approve the NDA in its present form and called for additional nonclinical information.
While the FDA approved Zogenix Inc.’s Fintepla (fenfluramine), an oral treatment for patients ages 2 and older with seizures associated with Dravet syndrome, a rare, pediatric-onset form of epilepsy, the company stock continued its months-long struggle.