Ignite Biomedical Inc. and Liquid Biosciences have announced the discovery of biomarkers to diagnose substance use disorder (SUD). The set of biomarkers includes some that have not previously been associated with addiction and spans all 6 SUDs (opioid, cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, nicotine and cannabis use disorders).

Amygdala Neurosciences Inc. has selected ANS-858 as its lead clinical candidate for substance use disorders, that includes alcohol and cocaine use disorders. The selective, reversible, orally bioavailable, small-molecule inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is designed to reduce the rewarding effects associated with alcohol and other substances.

In the brain, molecular information is transmitted between cells through neural circuits. Synapses establish connections between the pathways that run from one area to another, allowing the most complex organ in the body to fulfill different functions. Cells and neural circuits are the basic biological elements in the study of mental illness. However, the scientific community still does not know how to interpret their role in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Exposure to high-dose radiation can result in gastrointestinal (GI) acute radiation syndrome, which is characterized by disruption of the mucosal layer, intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction, and abnormal inflammatory responses. Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies for the treatment radiation-induced GI injury.

Stimulating the body’s immune defenses against a tumor can reduce or eliminate it. However, in cancer immunotherapy, when immune checkpoint inhibitors unleash the immune system, severe autoimmunity can result. A hematological technique, extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), could offer a solution. It reduces the therapy-induced inflammation without altering antitumor immunity. According to scientists at the Universities of Basel and Freiburg, the key lies in adiponectin, a hormone produced by fatty tissue.

Following Nobel Prize-winning chemist David Baker’s recipe for cooking an antidote to cobra venom using artificial intelligence (AI) could be faster and more effective than currently available methods. The ingredients and steps can be found in a new study published by the University of Washington (UW) scientist in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark. They are ready for the next steps in preclinical trials.

The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research has been awarded a 5-year, $2.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate the potential of human ghrelin as a medical countermeasure against radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome.

In a recently published article, researchers from the University of Central Florida and collaborators reported developing a novel multiorgan microphysiological system (MPS) to simulate acute opioid overdose and recovery, addressing key challenges in opioid crisis research.

Sparian Biosciences Inc. has been awarded a $19.5 million, 5-year grant to fund development of SBS-226 from IND submission through phase I development. SBS-226 is a first-in-class dual μ-opioid receptor partial agonist and δ-opioid receptor full antagonist in development for opiate use disorder and opiate withdrawal syndrome.