Zyversa Therapeutics Inc. announced it has selected obesity and its related metabolic complications as the lead indication for its ASC protein inhibitor IC-100. One consequence of high weight is chronic inflammation, which increases the risk of multiple metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.

Gigagen Inc., a subsidiary of Grifols SA, has received clearance from the FDA of its IND application to conduct a phase I trial of GIGA-2339 for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections.

Alkira Bio, a new spinout from Australia’s Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health has emerged from stealth mode thanks to seed funding from Curie.bio. Although the amount of funding is not disclosed, Curie.bio typically invests $5 million to $10 million in a founder company and then co-pilots the drug discovery program, deploying drug development experts to its portfolio companies to help navigate decision making as part of the deal, Florey researcher turned Alkira Bio CEO Daniel Scott told BioWorld.

Actinium Pharmaceuticals Inc. has received FDA clearance of an IND application to study Iomab-ACT for targeted conditioning prior to a bone marrow transplant (BMT) in patients with sickle cell disease. 

Increased life expectancy also comes with age-related diseases. But what causes one to age? Although there is no single answer, scientists at Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) have shown in mice that interleukin-11 (IL-11) promoted aging. Blocking it improved health and lifespan.

The 2024 meeting of the International AIDS Society (IAS), which is being held in Munich this week, began with the announcement of another curative bone marrow transplant. The new case brings the total number of patients cured of HIV via a bone marrow transplant up to 7 since “Berlin patient” Timothy Ray Brown became the first such person in 2007.

Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. has reported successful in vivo preclinical study results for its anti-IL-17A/F VHH antibody fragment (NanoAb) as a local intralesional biological treatment for mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. The NanoAb targets the two isoforms of the cytokine IL-17 (A and F) implicated in plaque psoriasis.

Researchers from Igyxos SA presented the preclinical profile of IGX-12, a humanized IgG4 antibody, in both female and male infertility models.

Glycoprotein VI (GPVI) is a platelet collagen receptor involved in platelet activation and an emerging target for treating thrombotic disorders such as ischemic stroke. Data have been presented by University of Würzburg scientists regarding a humanized anti-GPVI Fab antibody, EMA-601, with unprecedented potency in vitro and in vivo.