Researchers from Apogee Therapeutics Inc. and Paragon Therapeutics Inc. have reported the preclinical characterization of APG-333, a half-life extended monoclonal antibody targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a cytokine secreted by epithelial cells that acts as an alarmin in response to environmental insults.
In8bio Inc. has unveiled INB-600, its next-generation γδ T-cell-based T-cell engager (TCE) platform designed to address one of the shortcomings of current existing γδ TCEs, specifically insufficient numbers of γδ T cell effector cells to deliver clinical impact. The platform could have applications across oncology as well as autoimmune diseases.
The FKBP5 gene encodes FKBP prolyl isomerase 5, a co-chaperone that modulates glucocorticoid signaling and that is expressed in T cells, neurons and in microglial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). The role of FKBP5 in the dysregulation of myeloid cells in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis was investigated in a murine model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
Bridgene Biosciences Inc. has signed a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to discover small-molecule drug candidates against targets in immunology and neurology.
CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) has announced it will award US$2 million to Immunethep SA to develop a conjugated peptide-based vaccine to prevent infections from all invasive serotypes of Escherichia coli.
Photys Therapeutics Inc. has signed a license agreement with Hangzhou Polymed Biopharmaceuticals Inc. for HPB-143, a phase I-ready IRAK-4 degrader. IRAK-4 degradation offers potential to treat various autoimmune indications, including atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa.
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) is a member of the STAT family involved in the regulation of immune response and inflammation. The development of SH2 domain inhibitors targeting STAT6 may help prevent and treat allergic diseases, asthma, atopic dermatitis or other Th2-driven immune conditions. Researchers from Recludix Pharma Inc. have presented the preclinical profiles of REX-8756 and REX-4671, two STAT6 inhibitors being developed in partnership with Sanofi SA.
Septerna Inc. has announced its decision to discontinue a healthy volunteer phase I trial of SEP-786, an oral small-molecule agonist of the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor being developed for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism.
In autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the function of regulatory CD8 T cells (CD8 Treg) is compromised, in part due to the expression of inhibitory KIR receptors (KIR2DL1/2/3) and insufficient inducible T-cell co-stimulator (ICOS) signaling. Mozart Therapeutics Inc. has discovered MTX-201, a new bispecific antibody targeting inhibitory KIR and ICOS that are co-expressed by CD8 Tregs.