Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch have developed a novel tau immunotherapy delivered via intranasal route, able to enter the brain, and recognize and successfully clear tau aggregates in mouse models of tauopathy. Aberrant tau aggregates cause neurodegenerative symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Although these conditions present phenotypic differences, the fact of sharing tau deposits as a major hallmark tags them as tauopathies.
Hansoh Bio LLC has described MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2; MK2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, infections, neurodegeneration, autoimmune disease, immunological disorders, inflammatory conditions and cardiovascular disorders.
Denali Therapeutics Inc. has divulged NAD(+) hydrolase SARM1 (SAMD2; MyD88-5) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of glaucoma, spinal cord Injury, multiple sclerosis, Niemann-Pick disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and diabetic neuropathy, among others.
UCB SA has identified imidazotriazine derivatives acting as interleukin-17 (IL-17) modulators reported to be useful for the treatment of inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc. has synthesized molecular glue degraders acting as RBM39 degradation inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.
Immvention Therapeutix Inc. has disclosed benzimidazole-containing compounds acting as inflammasome inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
Large-scale human genetic studies have revealed that loss-of-function INHBE variants are associated with a lower abdominal to gluteofemoral fat ratio, improved metabolic profile, and reduced fasting glucose levels.
Myricx Bio (Myricx Pharma Ltd.), a spin out from Imperial College London and the Francis Crick Institute, has closed a series A financing raising £90 million ($114 million) to support its work focused on the discovery and development of a novel class of payloads for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
Targeting human glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransferase (QPCT) has emerged as a potential strategy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As the main substrates of this enzyme are involved in biological processes associated with neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson’s disease (PD) and others may be other options to explore as well.
Von Willebrand factor (vWF) plays a crucial role in hemostasis, and elevated levels are associated with risk of thrombosis. Gain-of-function mutations in the C-domain of vWF are linked to an increased risk of thrombosis. Previous work has shown that disrupting cysteine-rich C-domain in vWF led to reduced platelet recruitment in a shear-dependent fashion, making it a promising target for pharmacology. Apollo Therapeutics Ltd. has presented data on antibodies targeting the C-domain of vWF, including AP-21 as antithrombotics.