Researchers from Astrazeneca plc have presented a novel adeno-associated virus (AAV)-delivered human (h)IL-33 neutralizing scFv-based protein construct at the 2023 World Congress on Basic and Clinical Pharmacology.
The endogenous human protein annexin A1 (ANXA1) is a driver of inflammatory resolution and has shown protective effects in several models of diseases with inflammatory components, including myocardial infarction. Researchers from Resother Pharma A/S and colleagues reported on the preclinical cardioprotective role of RTP-026, a peptide derived from the ANXA1 N-terminal region that acts as N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) ligand. In vitro, testing of receptor selectivity and activation in FPR2-HEK-293 cells showed an EC50 value between 10 and 30 nM.
Given that monoclonal antibodies are so big, only 0.1% of a dose will cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). And that’s why their utility in central nervous system (CNS) disorders management is limited.
Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and affiliated organizations have provided details on the discovery and preclinical evaluation of [64Cu]NODAGA-PEG4-SL-022-GGS, a novel small peptide imaging agent for evaluating CD38 expression.
In brain research, be it basic or clinical, neurons have long hogged the limelight. But at the 2023 European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, neurons take a back seat to glia – cell types that have often been described as support cells and treated as an afterthought, but that play critical roles in all aspects of brain function, including information processing.
Researchers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and affiliated organizations have reported the development and preclinical evaluation of [18F]F-ZW-cinacalcet, a novel PET agent targeting the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) for parathyroid imaging.
Researchers from Ermium Therapeutics SAS have presented preclinical data for the novel chemokine CXCR4 receptor ligand ER-000145, being developed for the treatment of type 1 interferonopathies, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Evidence of mitochondrial and lysosome dysfunction underlying Parkinson’s disease (PD) was discussed during several talks at the World Parkinson Congress 2023 (WPC) held in Barcelona. Edward A. Fon, from McGill University in Montreal, explained how eyes turned to mitochondria as key players in PD more than 30 years ago and how the explosion of genetics was fundamental to advance the knowledge and research in PD.