Insilico Medicine Inc. has divulged β-lactam derivatives acting as glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like protein (QPCTL) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's diseases, atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease, infertility, ischemia-reperfusion injury, schizophrenia and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, among others.
Upcoming catalysts from Annexon Biosciences Inc. put some joy into shares as the firm talked up its prospects during the recent J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, where attendees heard Jan. 8 about the news ahead with C1q protein complex inhibitor ANX-005 in Huntington’s disease (HD) as well as progress in Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and more. The stock (NASDAQ:ANNX) enjoyed a 43% stock boost in the days after JPM, rising from $4.79 on Jan 8 to $6.84 on Jan. 13.
A noninvasive method for administering monoclonal antibodies reliably and reproducibly to central nervous system (CNS) targets remains a significant unmet need. Researchers in Switzerland have reported making headway in bypassing the blood-brain barrier through the intranasal delivery of full-length antibodies in rodent models. They show this delivery route leads to rapid transfer of significant amounts of a mouse antibody targeted against Nogo-A, a membrane protein that inhibits growth of neurites in the brain and spinal cord.
In animal models, the experimental compound IkT-148009, an inhibitor of Abelson’s tyrosine kinase (c-Abl), prevented the accumulation of the misfolded protein α-synuclein, which is associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Treatment with the inhibitor prevented neurodegeneration.
Looking ahead to potential commercialization of its late-stage tau PET imaging agent, Aprinoia Therapeutics Inc. has chosen to go public via a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Ross Acquisition Corp. II in a deal that has an equity value of $280 million. The funding is aimed at getting candidate 18F-APN-1607 to the market in China.
Irlab Therapeutics AB’s phase IIb exploration of the dopamine D3-receptor with the Ipsen SA-partnered oral antagonist mesdopetam in Parkinson’s disease (PD) levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) fell short in terms of the primary endpoint, but the company is holding out hope. Mesdopetam missed the primary endpoint of change in daily hours of “on” time – periods of adequate PD control – without troublesome dyskinesia as shown in patient diaries, the company said.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc has patented sulfonamides acting as orexin OX2 receptor agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of hypersomnia, narcolepsy and sleep disorders.
Nervtex Co. Ltd.’s diagnostic assessment software Modas for movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease has been given NMPA approval in China. Using smart mobile devices, Modas can process video data collected from people with potential or existing movement disorders when they are in any specific motion state.
Malformations of cortical development (MCD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by malformation of cortical structures, which often lead to epilepsy, and include cortical dysplasia (FCD), hemimegalencephaly (HME) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).
A study in a mouse model of tau protein build-up in the brain, similar to that seen in later stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD), shows that changes to the microbiome in these animals can impact the degree and progression of neurodegeneration observed. As reported in the Jan. 12, 2023, study published in Science, the researchers found that mice that were germ free and those given antibiotics to change their gut microbiome early in life had significant reductions in brain atrophy compared with those with a standard microbiome.
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