Investigators at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne) have identified a broad role for the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) in suppressing antitumor immunity, they reported in the Nov. 18, 2022, issue of Science. The results could lead to new ways to boost antitumor immunity. Scientifically, they also provide new insights into the link between tumors and the nervous system.
Mutations in FMR1, the gene that codes for FMRP, cause fragile X syndrome, a neurodevelopmental syndrome that is characterized by mental retardation and autism-like symptoms.Previous work in the laboratory of Douglas Hanahan, who is the senior author of the Science paper, as well as by other teams had shown that FMRP levels were increased in several tumor types, and increased the chances that those tumors would metastasize.
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Scientists from Orsobio Inc. and affiliated organizations have described preclinical data for the novel liver-targeted mitochondrial protonophore TLC-6740, being developed for the treatment of metabolic disease. In vitro, mild mitochondrial uncoupling caused by TLC-6740 had pleotropic metabolic benefits in multiple cell lines. TLC-6740 increased mitochondrial potential, oxygen consumption rate and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle flux, and it also inhibited de novo lipogenesis with EC50 values of 6.9 µM. Read More
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most common primary cancer of the liver with a median survival of 25 months. Therapeutic options for CCA are limited and the discovery of new therapeutic approaches is crucial for CCA management. Read More
Unicycive Therapeutics Inc. has announced key efficacy findings with UNI-494 in animal models of geographic atrophy (GA). UNI-494 is a mitochondrial potassium channel (mitoKATP) activator in development for treating diseases affected by mitochondrial dysfunction, such as kidney, liver and ocular diseases. Read More
Fochon Biosciences Ltd. has disclosed poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP-1; ARTD1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Researchers from Gilead Sciences Inc. presented preclinical data for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine candidates GS-2829 and GS-6779. Conservation analysis and functional immunogenicity screening were applied to identify optimized anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Read More
Scinnohub Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has synthesized S-adenosylmethionine synthase isoform type-2 (Mat2A) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Blue Water Vaccines Inc. has signed an exclusive, global license agreement for the development of a live attenuated, oral chlamydia vaccine candidate from The University of Texas (UT) Health San Antonio. Developed at UT Health San Antonio, the novel vaccine candidate utilizes a live attenuated chlamydia strain, Chlamydia muridarum. Read More
Animal models recapitulating the immune features of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are very limited. An Osaka University research team has developed a novel murine model of CHB and tested the efficacy and immunomodulating effects of interferon-α (IFN-α) therapy. Read More
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has identified molecular glue degraders comprising a cereblon (CRBN) ubiquitin ligase-binding moiety covalently bound to a zinc finger protein Helios (IKZF2) ligand reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a disease affecting the bile ducts that can lead to end-stage liver disease and cholangiocarcinoma. Patients with this disease lack therapeutic treatment other than liver transplantation. Read More
Sensei Biotherapeutics Inc. has entered into a sponsored research agreement with Washington University in St. Louis to support development of SNS-101, a conditionally active V-type immunoglobulin domain-containing suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA)-blocking antibody. Read More
Genfleet Therapeutics (Shanghai) Inc. has divulged pyridino- or pyrimido-cyclic compounds acting as GTPase KRAS (G12D mutant) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Umoja Biopharma Inc. and Nanjing Iaso Biotherapeutics Co. Ltd. have entered into a research agreement to evaluate Umoja's ICIL (induced cytotoxic innate lymphocytes) platform with Iaso's best-in-class chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Read More
Xuanzhu Pharma Co. Ltd. has described tricyclic ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 1 (USP1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
