Targeting the adenosine A2A receptor, a critical mediator of immunosuppression on the tumor microenvironment, has emerged as a strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy, and several A2A receptor antagonists are under clinical evaluation both as monotherapy and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.

The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to Nuvectis Pharma Inc.'s NXP-800 for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a cytokine involved in the regulation of inflammation in several autoimmune and inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, or psoriasis. Anti-TNF biological treatments in place are effective but there is a need for alternatives with novel pharmacological profiles to overcome their limitations.

Researchers working at the Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, have combined whole-exome sequencing (WES) from nearly 300,000 samples from the multiancestry UK Biobank, with ultrasound-derived heel estimated bone mineral density (eBMD) and genome-wide association (GWAS) data to identify potential future therapeutic targets for patients with osteoporosis.

Novarock Biotherapeutics Ltd., a subsidiary of CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd., has received FDA approval of its IND application for NBL-028, a CLDN6-CD137 bispecific antibody.

The study of six types of mental illnesses in a thousand brain regions has demonstrated the differences between individuals within each disorder. Using magnetic resonance images (MRI), scientists from Monash University in Australia analyzed the brain changes and built individual maps for each psychiatric disorder. Their results revealed differences between people with the same diagnosis, which could help refine assessments.

Emerging from stealth mode, new immuno-oncology company Dotbio Pte. Ltd. closed an oversubscribed $5.6 million pre-series A round to accelerate development of its multifunctional and intracellular antibody therapies.