The major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequences A and B (MICA/B) are frequently expressed by cancer cells. In a recently published study, researchers from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai hypothesized that the therapeutic efficacy of anti-MICA/B antibodies could be enhanced through Fc optimization with three point mutations in the Fc region: G236A, A330L and I332E (GAALIE).
Researchers from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and collaborators reported the preclinical efficacy profile of mosperafenib (RO-7276389), a next-generation BRAF inhibitor designed as an MAPK paradox breaker. The compound selectively inhibits oncogenic RAF signaling while avoiding RAF dimer-driven ERK activation, thereby overcoming a key mechanistic limitation of first-generation BRAF inhibitors.
Incyte Corp. has developed and presented data for their CD70xCD3 bispecific antibody INCA-036873, which was designed to activate T cells and kill tumoral cells expressing CD70.
At the recently concluded meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, Synendos Therapeutics AG reported preclinical data from the pharmacological characterization of SYT-510, which is the first selective endocannabinoid reuptake inhibitor (SERI) to enter the clinic for the potential treatment of disorders affecting the CNS, such as anxiety or movement disorders. A new class of endocannabinoid system (ECS) modulators, SERIs potently and selectively inhibit endocannabinoid reuptake to help the ECS restore normal brain function under disease conditions.
More effective treatments are needed for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a heterogeneous group of myeloid disorders that frequently progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In a recent publication, Debiopharm SA and The Ohio State University demonstrate that MDS cells express CD37 and that both AML and MDS cells exhibit efficient internalization of this receptor. Debio-1562M, under development at Debiopharm, is a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting CD37.
DNA polymerase θ (POLθ) plays a central role in microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ), an error-prone DSB repair pathway. Under normal conditions, MMEJ acts as a backup repair mechanism. However, in HRR-deficient tumors, reliance on POLlθ-driven MMEJ is markedly increased, making POLθ essential for cancer cell survival. Researchers from Astrazeneca plc reported the discovery and characterization of AZD-4956, a POLθ inhibitor that can be used in combination with PARP inhibitors and other DNA-damaging agents.
New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for drug development are transforming biomedical research by replacing or complementing animal models. More than 90% of experimental compounds fail in clinical trials, underscoring the need for strategies that better capture human biology. Many of these techniques were showcased at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting.
Researchers in the U.K. have developed an AI-driven method of identifying viruses in wild animals with the potential to spillover into humans. The technique makes it possible to use the genome sequences of the spike proteins by which viruses enter host cells to assess the potential to infect humans without having to isolate an individual virus and tests its infectivity in the lab.
Researchers from Ruijin Hospital and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have patented molecular glue degraders, specifically eukaryotic peptide chain release factor GTP-binding subunit ERF3A (GSPT1) degradation inducers that are potentially useful for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease and inflammatory disorders.
Jiangsu Vcare Pharmatech Co. Ltd. has described interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis.
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