Korea Institute of Science and Technology has described nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2; NRF2) activators acting as nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitors and antioxidants reported to be useful for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney fibrosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Xiamen University has synthesized oligopeptides targeting β2-microglobulin (B2M) reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc has disclosed macrocyclic orexin OX2 receptor agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of hypersomnia, narcolepsy and sleep disorders.

Sudo Biosciences Inc. has closed a $116 million series B financing, with the funding raised to be used to advance two investigational TYK2 candidates into the clinic in 2024.

NZP UK Ltd. has divulged 3-azasteroid compounds reported to be useful for the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, acute radiation syndrome and neurodegenerative disorders.

Innovstone Therapeutics Ltd. has synthesized aromatic heterocyclic compounds acting as leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2; Dardarin) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

On-again, off-again investor enthusiasm for Uniqure NV’s Huntington’s disease (HD) gene therapy AMT-130 got another boost as the company followed this summer’s news from phase I/II trials with additional interim data. Shares of Uniqure (NASDAQ:QURE) closed Dec. 19 at $6.64, down $1.34, or 17%, as the company offered results on up to 30 months of follow-up from 39 patients enrolled in the ongoing U.S. and European experiment.