Kurma Partners has announced the first closing of its Biofund IV at €140 million (US$154.5 million) and is pressing ahead to a final close of €250 million this time next year. The fund will make 16 to 20 investments, with half the money due to be invested in novel science that Kurma teases out of academic labs and the remainder in established VC-funded companies. The Paris-based firm is agnostic about which fields or disease areas it invests in and will prospect for breakthrough research anywhere in Europe.
Research into the regulation of gene expression experienced a significant breakthrough with the discovery of microRNA, small RNA molecules that do not code for proteins but control their translation. This finding has earned its authors Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals Inc. has identified new TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TARDBP; TDP-43) aggregation and microtubule-associated protein tau (PHF-tau; MAPT) aggregation inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease.
Shanghai Synergy Pharmaceutical Sciences Co. Ltd. and Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have jointly disclosed new nucleoside prodrugs reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Cascade Pharmaceuticals Inc. has synthesized benzoheterocyclic compounds acting as free fatty acid FFA1 receptor (GPR40) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of diabetes.
A Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG patent describes new phenylpiperidine derivatives acting as glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase (QPCT; QC) and glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase-like protein (QPCTL; IsoQC) inhibitors.
Hyundai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has patented probable global transcription activator SNF2L2 (SMARCA2; BAF190B; SNF2-α) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
It was hypothesized that the MEK1/2 inhibitor ATR-002 could reduce inflammation and clear Staphylococcus aureus infection during cystic fibrosis, thus potentially showing a dual effect.
Khalifa University and The University of Queensland presented preclinical data for a novel acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1) inhibitor, Hi1a, evaluated in models of multiple sclerosis (MS).
The adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) modulates ionic conductance in neuronal membrane and contributes to the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective role of the endogenous neuromodulator adenosine. Because A1Rs are present all throughout the body, the development of A1R modulation as antiseizure strategy may face difficulties such as side effects in the heart or other organs.
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