Researchers have developed a new compound that can prevent long COVID symptoms in mice that could lead to a future drug for the debilitating condition in humans. Developed by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne, the world-first study found mice treated with the antiviral compound were protected from long-term brain and lung dysfunction, which are key symptoms of long COVID.
Compared to other forms of prevention, a unique issue for pandemic preparedness is that it is forever unclear what pathogen, exactly, the world needs to be prepared for. There are an estimated 300,000 viruses that infect mammals; add in birds, and the estimate grows to more than half a million. Some of those viruses are much greater threats than others.
Cutaneous melanoma nearly always arises on parts of the body that receive abundant sun but, rarely, it can arise on parts that do not, such as the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. These rare cases of acral and mucosal melanomas, which often feature mutations in the transmembrane tyrosine kinase KIT, do not respond to current melanoma therapies.
Biopharma happenings in Asia-Pacific including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Avernus, Evenus, Fresenius Kabi, Hengrui, Kalvista, Kaken, Oncozenge, Opthea, Pacira.
Radiopharmaceuticals, including 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-estradiol (18F-FES) PET/CT, are emerging as powerful tools with new diagnostic and therapeutic potential in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, Han Sang-won, professor from the department of nuclear medicine at Asan Medical Center, recently told BioWorld.
ABL Bio Inc. announced April 7 that it sealed a potential £2.075 billion (US$2.65 billion) license deal with GSK plc, granting GSK global rights to use ABL’s blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetrating bispecific antibody platform, Grabody-B, to develop multiple programs in the neurodegenerative disease arena. Under the terms signed April 5, ABL agreed to transfer Grabody-B-related technology and know-how to GSK, upon which GSK will assume responsibility for preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization.
China approved 48 first-in-class innovative drugs, as well as a significant number of medications for pediatric and rare diseases, thanks to measures aimed at enhancing review efficiency and accelerating patient access to novel therapies, according to a report released by China’s National Medical Products Administration.
Beigene Ltd. said it is shutting down development of its anti-TIGIT antibody, ociperlimab (BGB-A1217), after the humanized IgG1-variant monoclonal antibody failed a phase III trial in lung cancer. The move is one of many in a string of anti-TIGIT immunotherapy failures.
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