Researchers from Pilatus Biosciences SA recently presented preclinical efficacy data for PLT-012, a humanized IgG4 antibody targeting CD36, in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) models.
Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc.’s HLX-3902, a trispecific antibody targeting STEAP1xCD3xCD28, has received approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) in Australia and has been filed with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The T-cell engager is intended for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and other advanced solid tumors.
Ichnos Glenmark Innovation Inc. has announced a new development candidate, ISB-2301, a potentially first-in-class, multispecific immune cell activator for the potential treatment of multiple solid tumor indications. ISB-2301 is a multispecific antibody that targets three tumor-associated antigens to trigger tumor cell death and engages both T and NK cells to activate the immune system. Leveraging the company’s BEAT technology, ISB-2301 is designed to induce potent antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, checkpoint inhibition and a sustained type 1 immune response.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG and Immunitas Therapeutics Inc. have signed a global licensing agreement for a preclinical antibody program being developed for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Beone Medicines Ltd. gained an exclusive option to develop cancer immunotherapy HH-160 worldwide in a deal potentially worth more than $2 billion for Huahui Health Ltd., the developer of the trispecific antibody.
Aventera Antibodies AB has successfully raised SEK14.5 million (US$15.6 million) in a funding round to support the preclinical development of the company’s lead drug candidate for life-threatening streptococcal infections.
The major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequences A and B (MICA/B) are frequently expressed by cancer cells. In a recently published study, researchers from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai hypothesized that the therapeutic efficacy of anti-MICA/B antibodies could be enhanced through Fc optimization with three point mutations in the Fc region: G236A, A330L and I332E (GAALIE).
Amazon is extending the reach of its “everything store” into drug R&D with the launch of an artificial intelligence-powered Bio Discovery business. The company has compiled a catalogue of 40-plus foundation models that have been trained on extensive biology datasets and are able to generate and evaluate drug molecules in silico. For now, this covers antibodies only, but it is intended to move into other modalities.
SARS-CoV-2 utilizes the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor for cell entry and triggers ACE2 ectodomain shedding, which results in elevated vasoconstrictor angiotensin II (Ang-II) while depleting the protective Ang-(1-7). This effect can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypertension, acute kidney injury and organ damage.