Obesity is tied to airway hyperresponsiveness and lung fibrosis, which may lead to patients with asthma and obesity poorly responding to asthma therapy. Blocking proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is known to reduce serum cholesterol levels and to exert anti-inflammatory effects.
A new study found that nebulized mRNA therapy could be an effective approach to treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a rapidly progressing lung disease that can lead to respiratory failure and death. This work focused on two genes, nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) inhibitor α super-repressor (IκBα-SR) and superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3), previously shown to reduce the severity of pneumonia when delivered prophylactically by viral vectors.
Antibody specialist Jounce Therapeutics Inc. and Redx Pharma plc are to merge in an all-share transaction with a value of $425 million, in a deal that will see Redx’s small-molecule cancer and fibrosis drugs absorbing the lion’s share of the combined cash and its shareholders owning 63% of the combined company.
While it is known that differentiated myofibroblasts produce excessive collagens, which accumulate in tissues and cause hardening, the mechanisms involved in these processes are largely unknown. In a recent study, Kyushu University scientists aimed to assess the molecular mechanisms by which matrix stiffness increases fibrosis-related gene expression in myofibroblasts.
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen has identified histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, small cell and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Lung Therapeutics Inc. has divulged conjugates comprising epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) blockers (particularly, amiloride and benzamil) covalently linked to peptides to retain in lung tissues reported to be useful for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, primary ciliary dyskinesia, pulmonary emphysema, pneumonia and bronchiectasis.
Scientists from Sichuan University and affiliated organizations have discovered a new signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor, being developed as a potential therapeutic candidate against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Daewoong Pharmaceutical Ltd. has out-licensed greater China rights for its idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) candidate, bersiporocin (DWN-2088), to CS Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in a deal worth up to $336 million. Bersiporocin is a prolyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitor being developed by Daewoong for IPF and potentially other fibrotic indications.
Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a peptide hormone found predominantly in the gastrointestinal tract and throughout the central nervous system (CNS), and which has been also shown to stimulate the secretion of calcitonin, insulin and glucagon and to act as a natriuretic kidney peptide. Researchers from Harvard University and affiliated organizations aimed to assess the function of CCK in obesity-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and asthma.
A lack of available options for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is driving plenty of development into the indication. The latest data come from Pliant Therapeutics Inc., which posted positive 12-week interim data from 21 participants in the 320-mg dose group’s active arm and eight in the placebo arm in its phase IIa study of PLN-74809 (bexotegrast).
RSS
