Researchers from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital reported findings from their evaluation of the role of NLR family CARD domain containing 5 (NLRC5) in post-stroke neuroinflammation. Immunofluorescence staining of mouse brains revealed that NLRC5 was mainly expressed in microglia.

Navega Therapeutics Inc. has received a $4 million Translational Science grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to support its work addressing neuropathic pain. The grant will fund the final preclinical development studies of NT-Z001 leading to an IND submission.

Researchers from Astrazeneca plc and Karolinska Institutet have described the positron emission tomography (PET) evaluation of [11C]AZD-2423, a chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) radioligand in non-human primate (NHP) brain imaging. CCR2 is essential in immune cell migration control. It is mainly expressed in microglia and monocytes and closely linked to the brain’s immune defense.

Researchers from the University College Cork have described the neuroprotective effect of TMP-269, a class-IIa-specific histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor in preclinical models of PD. Pan-inhibitors of HDAC have proven effective in models of Parkinson’s disease (PD) by preventing dopaminergic degeneration.

Aconcagua Bio Inc. has divulged calcitonin receptor (CALCR; CT-R) and amylin receptor agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of pain, neurodegeneration, metabolic diseases, bone and cardiovascular disorders.

University of California has described tropane derivatives acting as 5-HT2 and muscarinic receptor ligands reported to be useful for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, depression, neurodegeneration, substance abuse and dependence, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Pretzel Therapeutics Inc. has disclosed DNA polymerase subunit γ-1 (POLG) modulators reported to be useful for the treatment of neurodegeneration and mitochondrial diseases.

Recent Engrail Therapeutics Inc. patents describe new deuterated nemonapride analogues potentially useful for the treatment of depression and schizophrenia.