The envelope (E) proteins of Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) present a high degree of homology, which can lead to cross-reactive antibodies that exacerbate disease through antibody-dependent enhancement. This enormously challenges the development of effective ZIKV vaccines.
Tolerance Bio Inc. and Zipcode Bio have established a strategic research and development collaboration aimed at pioneering novel delivery methods for targeted thymus therapeutics.
IMU Biosciences Ltd. is working to transform society’s understanding of the immune system. The company’s platform maps the immune system at molecular, cellular and system levels, to unlock new insights into immune-related health and diseases, paving the way for clinical applications that could improve patient outcomes.
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.
Jynneos, a current vaccine against orthopoxviruses such as smallpox and mpox virus, elicits only modest antibody responses, highlighting the need to search for more immunogenic vaccines or treatments. The global outbreak of mpox virus infections in 2022 lent urgency to this challenge.
“The impoverished laboratory environment in which mice and rats are maintained has been very good at increasing experimental replicability,” Steven Austad told the audience at the 12th Aging Research & Drug Discovery Meeting (ARDD) in Copenhagen last week. “But at the cost of sacrificing translational relevance.”
Samjin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has synthesized Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor member X2 (MRGPRX2) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis and migraine.
Effective vaccines against Staphylococcus aureus remain out of reach: 10 candidates that showed promise in preclinical animal models have failed in clinical trials. Researchers at Third Military Medical University and collaborators reasoned that one of the reasons might be that 70%-80% of the population has developed antibodies to the pathogen.
Guangzhou Fermion Technology Co. Ltd. has described non-receptor tyrosine-protein kinase TYK2 (JH2 domain) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of allergy, autoimmune disease, cancer, dermatological disorders, dry eye, myelofibrosis, neurological disorders and transplant rejection, among others.