Vanderbilt University has synthesized metabotropic glutamate (mGlu2) receptor negative allosteric modulators reported to be useful for the treatment of depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum, obsessive compulsive and cognitive disorders.
Researchers at the University North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Florida have divulged triazoles acting as κ-opioid receptor agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of pain, pruritus, depression, inflammation and more.
The differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) into oligodendrocytes (OLs) promotes the remyelination in human brain. In multiple sclerosis (MS), dysfunctional OPC differentiation leads to remyelination failure and subsequent severe neurological disability.
High extracellular glutamate levels damage axons, myelin and oligodendrocytes in the context of inflammatory demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS).
To date, therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) focus on modifying or suppressing the immune system rather than on remyelination. Recent findings have pointed to the κ-opioid receptor (KOR) as a therapeutic target for remyelination, but several KOR agonists have undesired side effects that limit their use. Researchers from the Victoria University of Wellington have tested KOR agonists derived from U-50488 in the preclinical setting for the management of MS.
Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. has disclosed 1,3,4-oxadiazole-containing compounds acting as histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of prion diseases, asthma, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney, stroke, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and uveitis, among others.
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC has identified compounds targeting α-synuclein (ASYN; NACP) acting as positron emission tomography agents reported to be useful for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
Mabylon AG has been awarded three grants totaling more than CHF1.3 million (US$1.5 million) from Innosuisse Swiss Innovation Agency, Target ALS and the ALS Association.
The homeostasis of cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) is crucial for several physiological functions such as cell motility and neuronal transmission, among others. In this process, the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 3 (ITPR3) plays a key role in the release of intracellular Ca2+.