An experimental tuberculosis (TB) vaccine with a dual mission – self-destruction after inducing immunity – improved the design of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy, a vaccine also used against cancer. Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh engineered this strain with a double break, which is effective and safer after an intravenous administration, according to their results in nonhuman primates and mice.
Odyssey Therapeutics Inc. has reported new receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 2 (RIPK2; RIP-2) inhibitors described as potentially useful for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, chronic granulomatous disease, neurodegeneration, inflammatory disorders and cancer.
The PD-1 receptor, a major immune checkpoint inhibitor whose signaling is the target of multiple blockbuster anticancer drugs, differs functionally between rodents and humans in previously unknown ways. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, and co-authors at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Cancer Institute reported these findings in the Jan. 3, 2025, online issue of Science Immunology.
Cyrus Biotechnology Inc. has selected CYR-212, an engineered next-generation reduced-immunogenicity and half-life extended immunoglobulin G (IgG) protease, as a clinical development candidate for chronic IgG-driven autoimmune disease.
Institut Pasteur Korea has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with four Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)-affiliated research institutes with the aim of pursuing joint research on mRNA vaccine and treatment development.
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare and severe condition following SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with intestinal manifestations. The most common clinical features include fever, abdominal pain, rash, myocardial dysfunction and elevated inflammatory biomarkers.
Novel vaccines that can effectively target both coronaviruses and influenza viruses would be desirable to counteract the significant health burden these respiratory pathogens pose.
The aberrant immune response against self-antigens occurring in autoimmune diseases involves dysregulation of members of intracellular signal transduction pathways such as interleukin-2-inducible T cell kinase (ITK) and Janus kinase (JAK). Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. has detailed the characterization of ATI-2138, a dual ITK/JAK3 covalent inhibitor.