Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic, progressive disease of unknown etiology, is the most common and fatal interstitial lung disease. Currently available treatments for IPF, such as pirfenidone and nintedanib, can slow disease progression and reduce mortality in patients who can tolerate them. However, these drugs frequently cause significant side effects and have been unable to improve quality of life in pivotal trials, which highlights the critical need for discovering novel IPF treatment strategies.

Although GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have significantly advanced obesity treatment, their limitations underscore the need for new therapies that promote weight loss while preserving muscle and supporting metabolic health. Researchers from Rivus Pharmaceuticals Inc. discussed the discovery and preclinical profile of RV-8451, a potentially first-in-class, oral, nonpeptide GLP-1RA.

Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. has received pre-IND regulatory feedback from the FDA on Calidi’s IND-enabling preclinical plans and clinical strategy for CLD-401. The parties agreed on key aspects of the CMC and nonclinical programs, as well as the overall design for the proposed first-in-human study.

Opus Genetics Inc. is advancing a pipeline of gene therapies to restore vision and prevent blindness in patients with inherited retinal diseases, with three programs expected to enter clinical testing over the next 12-18 months.

Vedana Therapeutics has emerged from stealth with $46 million in series A financing. The company is developing next-generation, preventive therapies for migraine by leveraging pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) biology, and highly selective combinatorial targeting of clinically validated pathways.