Alkermes plc’s decision to explore separating its commercial-stage neuroscience business from earlier-stage oncology efforts – forming a distinct, publicly traded company to investigate cancer therapies –  drove speculation about the launch of the firm’s Lybalvi (olanzapine and samidorphan), approved by the U.S. FDA in the middle of 2021 for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.

Researchers in China have discovered a new therapeutic target, and identified a rapid-acting lead compound that may overcome the drawbacks of current antidepressants. The research team, based at Nanjing Medical University’s School of Pharmacy, designed a fast-acting antidepressant that works by disrupting the interaction between the serotonin transporter (SERT) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the dorsal raphe nucleus. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of the midbrain influences a number of central nervous system processes, and the main transmitter of the DRN is serotonin, the primary target for most antidepressants. Neurons communicate with each other by releasing a series of neurotransmitters into the synaptic space, and these transmitted electrical signals ultimately determine feelings, thoughts and actions, explained co-lead study author Qi-Gang Zhou. The study was published in Science on Oct. 28, 2022.

Dystroglycanopathies are a subset of rare congenital muscular dystrophies (CMDs) caused by dysregulation in the assemblage of glycans on the α-dystroglycan (α-DG) transmembrane glycoprotein.

Recent findings have unveiled some integrins are associated with Mendelian conditions. In a recent study, researchers directed efforts toward studying integrin-beta 8 (ITGB8) and its association with pathology, especially with neurological pathology, as none of them have been linked to neuropathology to date.

Ariemedi Medical Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. has completed a series A+ round to further develop its medical devices for minimally invasive surgeries. The round was co-invested by Haining Hairui Investment Management Co. Ltd. and Haier Capital.