Even its name is a testament to how enigmatic the tingible macrophage has been. Tingible, which means stainable, certainly gives no clues to its functions – but was, at least, one thing that was known about the cells. Now, scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have tracked the lifecycle and function of tangible macrophages in the lymph nodes, with implications for understanding autoimmune disorders, which are still poorly understood. Published March 2, 2023, in the journal Cell, the study highlights intravital imaging techniques the scientists used to observe how macrophages formed within the lymph nodes and how they behaved in real time.
A multi-institutional team of researchers has reported the development of an anti-IL-8 antibody against endometriosis using recycling antibody engineering technology. The study confirmed the role of the inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in the development of inflammation and fibrosis in endometriosis and showed that administration of IL-8 antibodies in primate models improved endometriosis pathology.
Maxion Therapeutics Ltd. has raised $16 million in a series A to take forward a new method for drugging G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ion channels with antibodies. The technology brings together naturally occurring knottin peptides that are derived from sources such as snake venom and which can engage GPCRs and ion channels, with antibodies that deliver them to these notoriously difficult, shape-shifting targets.
Ymmunobio AG has secured ownership of neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPTXR) antibodies after the company signed a transfer ownership agreement with Nagoya University for a license to NPTXR antibodies.
Roquefort Therapeutics plc's ROQ-A1 and ROQ-A2 Midkine (MDK) antibody programs, targeting metastatic breast cancer and metastatic lung cancer, have successfully demonstrated in vivo safety in preclinical development programs conducted by cancer research groups.
Cantargia AB has completed a GLP toxicity study for its anti-inflammatory IL1RAP-binding antibody CAN-10, showing that CAN-10 was well tolerated when administered over 6 weeks.
Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has entered an option and research collaboration agreement with Monash University to discover and develop antibodies targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with the aim of creating novel therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Transgene SA has received clinical trial application (CTA) approval from the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) to proceed with a phase I trial of TG-6050, a novel oncolytic virus (OV) for intravenous administration in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Enrollment is expected to open in the first half of this year.
Abbvie Inc. and Immunome Inc. have announced a worldwide collaboration and option agreement for the discovery of up to 10 novel antibody-target pairs arising from three specified tumor types using Immunome's discovery engine.
Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co. Ltd. and Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Company Ltd. have established an antibody collaboration, assignment and exclusive license agreement. Biocytogen will provide a license to Hansoh Pharma for its selected fully human antibody molecules against a designated target for development, manufacturing and commercialization globally.