When glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists entered the market for obesity and overweight indications in recent years, the uptake and enthusiasm drove investor excitement for companies advancing any of the new mechanisms in the space.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease characterized by the destruction of myelin sheaths, neuroaxonal damage, glial cell activation and formation of demyelinated plaques in the CNS. Since MS is considered a prototypic antigen-specific autoimmune disease, restoring immune tolerance to self-antigens is being explored as a therapeutic strategy.
In a threshold event in the U.S., Medicare is planning to break through its obesity coverage barrier with a voluntary test of a model designed to enable Medicare Part D plans and state Medicaid programs to cover GLP-1 drugs prescribed for weight management.
Needle-phobic obesity patients got their first workaround with the U.S. FDA clearance of Novo Nordisk A/S’ once-daily GLP-1 Wegovy (semaglutide) pill, the first of its kind.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a significant challenge in neonatal care, particularly affecting preterm infants with low birth weight who often require oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation to survive.
A team at the University of Macau aimed to develop a novel peptide targeting the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-TNFR2 interaction as a selective regulatory T cell (Treg) stimulator. Through phage display screening, they identified the peptide UMR2-705 that functions as an agonist that enhances TNF-induced Treg expansion.
Peptidream Inc. has announced progression of an oral dual IL-17A and IL-17F macrocyclic peptide inhibitor for psoriasis, with the program entering the company’s clinical development portfolio.
AC Immune SA plans talks with regulators based on positive interim safety and efficacy results from the phase II Vacsyn trial of its wholly owned anti-alpha-synuclein (a-syn) active immunotherapy ACI-7104.056 in early Parkinson’s disease (PD). The firm said that for the first time, data support targeting a-syn pathology via such a strategy. Disease-related biomarker results that suggest PD slowing include a-syn cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels and neurofilament light (NfL).
Eli Lilly and Co.’s latest phase III results for the obesity and overweight populations suggest its triple agonist, retatrutide, can deliver significant weight loss that, in turn, leads to reduced osteoarthritis knee pain.
In an alternative to small molecules, researchers at the University of Ferrara and Università degli Studi di Padova sought to create an NOP agonist based on peptides, specifically dimers of peptides derived from native nociceptin.
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