Increasing evidence exists regarding the involvement of methyltransferase 1, tRNA methylguanosine (METTL1) in cardiac repair and fibrosis. The search for new therapeutic targets for alleviating ischemic heart disease due to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is of vital importance.

The influenza virus undergoes rapid and frequent antigen shifts that usually force seasonal vaccine updating. The mismatch between vaccine strains and circulating viruses leads to limited vaccine effectiveness, mainly in immunocompromised and older individuals.

Researchers from Phoenixlab, The Scripps Research Institute and affiliated organizations presented the discovery of a novel bivalent protease-activated receptor PAR1- and PAR3-derived peptide, named biparetide, being developed for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Adcentrx Therapeutics Inc. has received FDA clearance of its IND application for ADRX-0405 for the treatment of select advanced solid tumors. A first-in-human phase Ia/b trial of ADRX-0405 in patients with select advanced solid tumors, including metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, will begin enrollment and dosing this quarter.

Patients receiving a kidney transplant and who are positive for BK virus (BKV) are at risk of losing their transplant due to BKV reactivation. At this time, there are no antiviral options available for the prevention of BKV-associated nephropathy. Researchers from Aicuris Anti-infective Cures GmbH presented preclinical data on AIC-468, an antisense RNA therapy that inhibits the splicing process of a viral mRNA encoding a protein critical for BKV replication.

Bioversys AG has joined the EU-funded RespiriNTM program that is exploring multiple approaches to determine new targets for antimycobacterial compounds, define and optimize novel inhibitors and advance these through the process of hit-to-lead up until first-in-human trials.