Ervimmune SAS has announced the first closing of its series A financing with €17 million ($19.8 million) raised to advance ErVac-01, Ervimmune’s lead candidate, into the clinic and through a first-in-human trial.
NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK), also known as MAP3K14, is the key kinase driving noncanonical NF-κB signaling and p100 processing. Researchers from China Pharmaceutical University reported the discovery and preclinical evaluation of a novel NIK inhibitor.
China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has cleared Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. to initiate a phase Ib/II trial of HLX-701 in combination with cetuximab and chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with advanced RAS/BRAF wild-type colorectal cancer.
Researchers from Merck & Co. reported the development of MK-7762, a novel oxazolidine with antitubercular activity designed to overcome the off-target effects of linezolid.
Neok Bio Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for NEOK-001, enabling initiation of a phase I trial for solid tumors. Dosing is expected to begin in the coming months, and initial clinical data are anticipated next year.
Oncogenic KRAS mutations are among the most prevalent driver events in solid tumors, with the KRAS G12D variant constituting the dominant allele in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and a frequent alteration in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Researchers from Ranok Therapeutics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd. and collaborators described the preclinical profile of RNK-08954, an oral KRAS G12D inhibitor, in both in vitro and in vivo models.
Cancer cells expand through mutations – but not just through mutations. They also change their behavior in the absence of underlying genetic alterations. Such plasticity helps the cells both adapt to the cellular stress fueled by out-of-control growth and resist targeted and chemotherapies alike. Investigators from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Huazhong Agricultural University have gained new insights into the underlying mechanisms of plasticity.
Nippon Zoki Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has discovered alkyne derivatives acting as GABA-A receptor subunit α1β2γ2 positive allosteric modulators. As such, they are believed to be useful for the treatment of sleep disorders.
Novacell Technology Inc. has identified oligopeptides acting as N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2; FPRL1; LXA4) agonists described as potentially useful for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory disorders.