Metabolic health is at an odd juncture. With the advent of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) agonists, pharmacologically induced weight loss has matured into a viable therapeutic option at long last. And research into the drug class is continuing apace. Read More

Deka Biosciences Inc. has submitted an IND application to the FDA for its lead oncology asset, DK2-10 (EGFR). DK2-10 (EGFR) is the first of many experimental therapeutics developed as part of Deka’s platform of molecules, with each Diakine in Deka's platform consisting of two complementary cytokines coupled together via attachment to a single chain variable fragment, enabling the cytokines to accumulate more specifically in targeted tissues. Read More

Janux Therapeutics Inc. has announced that it has submitted an IND application to the FDA for JANX-008, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tumor-activated T cell engager (TRACTr) in development for the treatment of EGFR-expressing solid tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer (CRC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Read More

Peptidream Inc. announced a new multi-target collaboration and license agreement with Merck & Co. Inc., known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, as well as research collaboration and license agreement with Eli Lilly & Co (Lilly). Both agreements are focused on the discovery and development of novel peptide drug conjugates (PDCs). Under the agreement with MSD, Peptidream will provide peptide candidates identified from its proprietary Peptide Discovery Platform System (PDPS) technology for use as PDCs against targets of interest to MSD. Read More

A recent Epigen Biosciences Inc. patent describes ribosomal protein S6 kinase β (p70S6K) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of diabetes, autism spectrum disorders, fibrosis, fragile X syndrome, liver diseases and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Read More

Researchers from Scorpion Therapeutics Inc. presented the discovery and preclinical evaluation of a novel mutant-selective, allosteric phosphoinositide 3-kinase α (PI3Kα) inhibitor, STX-478. In vitro, STX-478 showed mutant selectivity, as it selectively inhibited the viability of cell lines with mutations in the PIK3CA kinase domain and helical domain. Read More

Pardes Biosciences Inc. has patented 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) inhibitors (particularly HCoV-229E virus and/or SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors). They are reported to be potentially useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections (COVID-19). Read More

Orexin OX2 receptor agonists have been described in a recent Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd. patent as potentially useful for the treatment of hypersomnia, narcolepsy and sleep apnea, among others. Read More

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by hematopoietic precursors arrested in early stages of development. Approximately 20,000 diagnoses and 11,000 deaths occur annually in the United States despite treatment advances. Read More

Research at Schroedinger Inc. has led to the development of son of sevenless homolog 1 (SOS1) and SOS1/GTPase KRAS (G12C mutant) interaction inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More

Macrocyclic compounds acting as induced myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein Mcl-1 inhibitors have been reported in a Zeno Management Inc. patent. They are reported to be potentially useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More

Previous evidence suggests that MEK/BRAF inhibitors targeting aberrant activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway can sensitize tumors to immunotherapy through different mechanisms. This occurs in NRAS/BRAF mutant melanoma, where kinase inhibitor treatment sensitizes tumors to immunotherapy, at least partly, through an increase in the average surface presentation of peptide major histocompatibility molecules (pMHC) molecules. However, the optimal combination, order and timing of administration of both therapeutic strategies remain unclear. Read More

Additional early-stage research and drug discovery news in brief, from: Chromadex. Read More