Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a condition affecting the central nervous system characterized by both motor and sensory impairment. SCI causes lipid accumulation in the form of lipid droplets, which may contribute to the progression of other diseases.
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.
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded a $5.8 million translational research grant to a scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to further support the development of a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy to treat Angelman syndrome, including preparation of a pre-IND package submission to the FDA.
Recent Engrail Therapeutics Inc. patents describe new deuterated nemonapride analogues potentially useful for the treatment of depression and schizophrenia.
Researchers from Columbia University Irving Medical Center published data from a study that assessed GiGA1, a selective G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channel (GIRK) activator, in physiologically and clinically relevant ex vivo mouse models of tumor-associated and provoked seizures.
Harness Therapeutics Ltd. has raised fresh financing to further develop its technology for upregulating the translation of mRNA into proteins, and in particular to take on a previously undruggable target in Huntington’s disease.