Biogen Inc.’s IND application for BIIB-142 has been accepted by the FDA. BIIB-142 is a degrader of IRAK-4 that Biogen intends to explore for therapeutic use in patients with autoimmune diseases.

Onco3r Therapeutics BV has obtained clinical trial application (CTA) approval by the Belgian regulatory authorities for its SIK3 inhibitor O3R-5671. A first-in-human trial will be conducted in Belgium and is expected to open enrollment in the coming weeks. Final data are expected in the first half of next year and will inform subsequent patient trials across a range of autoimmune diseases, which are planned to commence next year.

Ideaya Biosciences Inc. has submitted an IND application to the FDA for IDE-892, an MTA-cooperative inhibitor of PRMT5.

The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s VGT-1849B, a selective peptide nucleic acid-based JAK2 inhibitor for the treatment of polycythemia vera (PV).

Arnatar Therapeutics Inc.’s ART-4, an upregulating antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutic candidate for the treatment of Alagille syndrome (ALGS), has been awarded U.S. orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations by the FDA. Approximately 95% of ALGS cases are caused by haploinsufficient mutations in the Jagged-1 (JAG1) gene, leading to insufficient JAG1 protein levels and impaired liver bile duct development.

Curasight A/S has received clinical trial approval from the EMA for phase I evaluation of Utreat as a new type of targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy in glioblastoma patients. The trial will enroll participants with newly diagnosed verified or suspected glioblastoma, and dosing is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of this year.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court handed the Trump administration another significant victory in its attempts to defund NIH-sponsored research. In a 5-4 decision, the justices paused the June 16 order of U.S. District Judge William Young to restore funding for hundreds of canceled NIH research grants focusing on gender and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The funding had first been cut through a series of executive orders shortly after President Donald Trump resumed power in January.

Shattuck Labs Inc. has reported that its IND from the U.S. FDA for SL-325 for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease is now in effect. The company expects to commence a phase I trial in healthy volunteers in the third quarter of this year.

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) launched a new industry-academia-research consortium to support the nation’s organoid industry, expected to grow in light of the U.S. FDA’s shift away from animal testing in the development of novel drugs.