The contribution of the soluble form of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) as a risk factor for chronic kidney diseases (CKD) is well known. Researchers from Rush University Medical Center, Harvard Medical School and collaborators have now identified D2D3, a suPAR fragment, as responsible for causing double injury, both to the kidney and pancreas, thus resulting in glomerular disease and insulin-dependent diabetes.
Mironid Ltd. has announced an extension of its series A financing round to support its development of small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The company will use the proceeds of the financing to advance its lead discovery program through IND-enabling studies.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. has disclosed apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and pancreatic cancer.
Wuhan LL Science & Technology Development Co. Ltd. has synthesized mannan-binding lectin serine protease 2 (MASP2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of lupus nephritis and IgA nephropathy, among others.
Maze Therapeutics Inc. has identified apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of chronic kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diabetic, hypertensive, HIV-associated nephropathy, lupus nephritis, pre-eclampsia and sepsis.
Scientists behind Purespring Therapeutics Ltd. have made progress in overcoming the problems of accessibility, complexity of structure and diversity of cell types that have held back the use of gene therapy in the kidneys, reporting success in treating nephrotic syndrome in a mouse model of the inherited form of the renal disease.
Gri Bio Inc. reported data on its type 2 natural killer T (NKT) cell activator GRI-0803 at the Autoimmunity Conference hosted by FASEB earlier in August. The company is developing GRI-0803 in autoimmune diseases, with an initial focus of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Biohaven Ltd. is advancing development of its first-in-class bispecific IgG degrader, BHV-1300, which has potential to treat multiple immune-mediated diseases. The pan-IgG degrader has demonstrated a competitive safety, manufacturable and pharmacodynamic profile, and BHV-1300 dosage regimens are expected to allow co-administration with existing standards of care. An IND submission is planned for the second half of this year.
Researchers from Anhui Medical University (AMU) presented data from a study that aimed to assess the role of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and its receptor GRPR in acute kidney injury (AKI).
The Hubmap consortium has released the atlas of three human organs, a cell-by-cell map based on overlaid images from microscopy and molecular data. Maps of the intestine, the kidney and the placenta, published in three simultaneous articles, have revealed the cellular morphology and architecture of these organs in healthy and diseased conditions.