Moderna Inc. once again emerged the winner in a court skirmish over claims that its COVID-19 vaccine infringed two Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. patents. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion May 4, agreeing with a federal district court in Delaware that Moderna didn’t infringe the patents. For both courts, the decision was based on a single issue of claim construction.

Prelude Therapeutics Inc. has described proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising a cereblon (CRBN) E3 ubiquitin ligase binding moiety covalently linked to a probable global transcription activator SNF2L2 (SMARCA2; BAF190B; SNF2-α) or transcription activator BRG1 (SMARCA4; BAF190A; SNF2-β) targeting moiety through a linker. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.

Altay Therapeutics Inc. has divulged signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, diabetes, inflammatory disorders, muscular dystrophy, neurodegeneration and thyroid disorders.

Sensorium Therapeutics Inc. has identified mesembrine analogues acting as serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of neurological disorders.

Shanghai Qilu Pharmaceutical Research and Development Centre Ltd. has synthesized cytochrome P450 11B2, mitochondrial (CYP11B2; aldosterone synthase; ALDOS) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney disease and primary aldosteronism.

Transition Bio Ltd. has disclosed YTH domain-containing protein 1 (YTHDC1; YT521-B) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Nanjing Synnocare Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. has described poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.

Galapagos NV has divulged probable global transcription activator SNF2L2 (SMARCA2; BAF190B; SNF2-α) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.

Astellas Engineered Small Molecules US Inc. has identified poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, particularly PARP-1 (ARTD1), reported to be useful for the treatment of neuronal injury.

Kangbaida (Sichuan) Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has synthesized pyrrolidine derivatives acting as Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and/or (TLR8) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of autoimmune disease.