Peptide - Articles - Page 14

Tolerogenic assets at heart of Cour-Genentech $940M autoimmune deal

Dec. 3, 2024

During a busy day of dealmaking, Cour Pharmaceutical Development Co. Inc. entered a pact with Roche Holding AG’s Genentech unit to advance tolerogenic nanoparticle treatments for an autoimmune disease indication, garnering up to $940 million in up-front and milestone payments. Cour’s partnership with Genentech is its biggest to date, and the largest deal announced by a biopharma company on Dec. 3. A total of seven deals amounted to a combined single-day deal value of $3.67 billion.

Endocrine/metabolic

Newly identified signaling pathway affects both ends of energy balance

Nov. 27, 2024

By Anette Breindl

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have identified a signaling pathway that simultaneously increased energy expenditure and decreased food intake. In both human and primate studies, agonists of the tachykinin NK2 receptor (NK2R) led to both decreased food intake and increased energy expenditure. And in behavioral tests, they were not aversive, suggesting they do not cause the nausea that is a major side effect of GLP-1 agonists.

Historic or empty gesture? CMS proposes covering obesity drugs

Nov. 26, 2024

By Mari Serebrov

When U.S. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure announced Nov. 26 that the agency is “reinterpreting” the law in proposing a rule allowing Medicare and Medicaid to cover obesity drugs beginning in 2026, she called it a “historic step.” The rule, if finalized, could make obesity drugs like Novo Nordisk A/S’ Wegovy (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly and Co.’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) available to millions more Americans and further invigorate development of other obesity drugs. But given the lateness of the day in the Biden administration, the proposal may be more symbolic than historic.

Endocrine/metabolic

Pep2tango Therapeutics advances tetra-agonists for obesity

Nov. 22, 2024

Startup company Pep2tango Therapeutics Inc., unveiled with backing by Versant Ventures, is advancing unimolecular multireceptor peptide agonists that target GLP-1, GIP, amylin and calcitonin receptors.

Dermatologic

Protagonist Therapeutics selects IL-17 antagonist as development candidate

Nov. 22, 2024

Protagonist Therapeutics Inc. has selected PN-881, an oral peptide interleukin-17 (IL-17) antagonist, as a development candidate for the treatment of immune-mediated skin diseases.

Drug design, drug delivery & technologies

Aizen Therapeutics emerges from stealth to develop full D-amino acid therapeutics

Nov. 21, 2024

Aizen Therapeutics has emerged from stealth with a focus on early-stage programs powered by its novel drug discovery platform, Dax.

White tablets spilling out of white bottle, blue background

Protagonist, J&J’s oral IL-23 psoriasis data strong (but short)

Nov. 19, 2024

By Karen Carey

IL-23 receptor antagonist icotrokinra hit co-primary phase III endpoints in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, positioning the oral peptide at the forefront of a multibillion-dollar franchise for partners Protagonist Therapeutics Inc. and Johnson & Johnson.

3D rendering conceptualizing theranostics

Cancer

Artbio and 3B Pharmaceuticals to advance α-radioligand therapy for solid tumors

Nov. 14, 2024

Artbio Inc. and 3B Pharmaceuticals GmbH have signed a worldwide, exclusive license and research agreement to develop an advanced preclinical stage first-in-class peptide α-radioligand therapy for the treatment of solid tumors.

GLP-1s push into MASH as semaglutide 2.4 mg hits endpoints

Nov. 12, 2024

By Marian (YoonJee) Chu

Positive findings from a phase III trial of semaglutide in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is moving Novo Nordisk A/S to expand the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist’s indications in the U.S. and Europe, the Danish pharma said, as the MASH field sights more novel therapies.