Apollo Therapeutics Ltd. has developed APL-4098, a small-molecule general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) inhibitor for the potential treatment of AML.

Rhinovirus (RV) infection is among the most common respiratory infections causing exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. The high antigenic diversity of RV is a barrier to the development of effective cross-protective vaccines for RV infection.

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.

In tumors with amino acid deprivation, eIF-2α kinase GCN2 is activated and triggers a signaling response to promote cell survival and proliferation. This is important in high metabolically active hematological cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

In the face of the short supply of venture capital, the U.K. biotech sector weathered the storm in 2023, raising a total of £1.25 billion (US$1.6 billion) across 69 deals. That was 6% down on 2022, but has to be seen against the backdrop of U.K. VC investment across all sectors falling by a massive 43%. With follow-on financing by quoted companies, biotechs raised £1.8 billion overall.

Patient Square Capital bankrolled a new portfolio company, Elevage Medical Technologies, with $300 million to provide capital and strategic expertise to promising medical device companies. Evan Melrose, founding managing director of Spindletop Capital and a practicing family medicine physician, will lead Elevage.