Equillium Inc. is advancing EQ-504, a potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) modulator acquired through the acquisition of Ariagen Inc., a company that was majority owned by Equillium’s largest investor, Decheng Capital.
A recent study in Respiratory Research further investigated the expression and role of the myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) protein in a horse model of asthma.
Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. has gained IND clearance from the FDA for ATI-052, a bispecific anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)/interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) monoclonal antibody being developed to treat certain immuno-inflammatory diseases. A phase Ia/Ib trial, including a proof-of-concept portion in an undisclosed indication, will begin in the current quarter.
A large-scale study has revealed the impact of germline variants on proteins in 10 cancer types. Scientists from the National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) conducted a precision proteogenomic analysis in a pan-cancer study with data from 1,064 patients, identifying tumor heterogeneity and tumorigenesis associated with heritable genetic alterations. The results provide a broad view of cancer risk that could be useful for patient stratification and the design of prevention strategies.
Insmed Inc. has divulged cathepsin C (dipeptidyl peptidase I, DPP1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, asthma, metastatic cancer, chronic rhinosinusitis, heart failure, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and thrombosis, among others.
Shanghai Yidi Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has disclosed neutrophil elastase (ELANE; leukocyte elastase) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of pain and respiratory tract inflammation.
Compared to other forms of prevention, a unique issue for pandemic preparedness is that it is forever unclear what pathogen, exactly, the world needs to be prepared for. There are an estimated 300,000 viruses that infect mammals; add in birds, and the estimate grows to more than half a million. Some of those viruses are much greater threats than others.
As it prepares to advance its lead RNA editing candidate, AIR-001, into a phase I/II trial for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, Airna Corp. Inc. closed an oversubscribed $155 million series B financing less than a year after completing its series A round. The company, based in Cambridge, Mass., with research operations in Tübingen, Germany, focuses not only on repairing harmful genetic variants found in rare genetic disorders, but also on introducing beneficial variants that improve health in common conditions.
Biocryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. has described kallikrein 5 (KLK5; KLK-L2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of allergy, asthma, cancer, conjunctivitis, dermatological disorders, gastrointestinal conditions, inflammatory disorders and rhinitis, among others.
Tribune Therapeutics AB has raised €37 million (US$40 million) in seed and series A funding to advance a portfolio of therapies targeting central drivers of scar tissue formation.