Although physiological immune responses require increased tissue vasculature, many solid tumors simultaneously activate angiogenesis to meet the increasing demand for oxygen and nutrients while excluding immune cells. The exact molecular mechanisms by which cancer cells control this immune-refractory angiogenic process remain widely unclear.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly compromising the effectiveness of essential antibiotics, resulting in higher global mortality and morbidity rates. Despite this urgent need, few new antibiotics, particularly against gram-negative bacteria, are in development.
Gelmedix Inc. has completed a $13 million seed financing to support progression of the company’s lead program, GMX-101, a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell therapy to treat late-stage geographic atrophy.
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase that regulates signaling pathways controlling cell survival and proliferation. Dysregulation of FGFR2, through amplification or activating mutations, contributes to tumor development, making it an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in oncology.
Nektar Therapeutics Inc. has established an academic research collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to explore the role of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) agonism in models of multiple sclerosis (MS) with the aim of supporting progression of NKTR-0165, Nektar’s first-in-class TNFR2 agonist antibody.
Omeros Corp. has successfully completed its initial study in nonhuman primates evaluating the efficacy and safety of its Oncotox-AML cancer therapeutic platform for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Oncotox-AML is an engineered biologic designed to selectively kill both AML blasts and relapse-related leukemia stem cells.
Cue Biopharma Inc. has reported preclinical safety and tolerability data on CUE-401, the company’s lead asset for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. CUE-401 is designed to act mechanistically both as a regulator of pro-inflammatory mechanisms, and as a master switch for regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation to induce tolerance.
The variety of organoids that can be developed in vitro is enabling major advances. Depending on the type of tissues and the research goals, these small 3D cell-based structures that mimic real tissue offer certain advantages over animal models. Scientists at the University of Padova in Italy have created human neuromuscular organoids to reproduce cancer-induced muscle cachexia, a condition that murine models do not accurately replicate.
Ascentage Pharma Group Corp. Ltd. and Ascentage Pharma (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. have disclosed proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising E3 ubiquitin ligase-binding moiety covalently linked to a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK)-targeting moiety. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Merna Therapeutics Inc. has discovered polypeptides targeting sortilin (neurotensin NTR3; NT3; Gp95) receptor. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
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