Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are crucial to maintain oxygen homeostasis by regulating cellular metabolic adaptation under hypoxia conditions. Depletion of factor inhibiting HIF (FIH), an enzyme that negatively regulates the activity of the HIF-1α isoform, has been associated with reductions in hepatic steatosis and body mass in mice.

Researchers from Fundación Jiménez Díaz and affiliated organizations have published data from a study that aimed to identify new genes involved in the progression of atherosclerosis, a chronic multifactorial inflammatory disease characterized by the accumulation of lipids and leukocytes within the arterial wall.

Seed Therapeutics Inc.’s ST-01156 has been awarded orphan drug designation for the treatment of Ewing sarcoma as well as rare pediatric disease designation by the FDA.

Allogene Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for a rheumatology basket study of ALLO-329.

Bioage Labs Inc. has nominated BGE-102 as a development candidate. The orally available, small-molecule NLRP3 inhibitor has high potency and high brain penetration.

Atalanta Therapeutics Inc. has completed a $97 million series B financing to support its investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapies for KCNT1-related epilepsy and Huntington’s disease toward IND filings this year and through clinical proof of concept.

The way the brain ages is not the same in women and men. A study in mice has observed differences in the expression of the maternal and paternal X chromosomes that could explain variation in brain aging between the sexes and a faster deterioration in some women. Another study has discovered different survival strategies in the microglial cells of females and males. Both studies highlight sex differences that could have implications for several age-related neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.