An Icelandic genome-wide association study that linked variants in a gene which regulates retinoic acid synthesis to severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the hands, has led on to the discovery of an anti-inflammatory role for the vitamin A metabolite and pointed to a new class of potentially disease-modifying drugs. A proof-of-concept clinical trial of talarozole, a retinoic acid metabolism blocking agent, is now taking place to assess if increasing retinoic acid production suppresses inflammation in the joint tissues of patients with OA. Read More
A Harvard Medical School research team developed a bifunctional therapeutic vaccine strategy by transforming living tumor cells into a potent agent with direct tumor killing and immunostimulatory abilities. Read More
Researchers from Neoleukin Therapeutics Inc. have described NEO-TRA1, a novel CD25-targeted de novo non-α agonist of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) designed to selectively expand Tregs. Read More
National Institute of Pharmaceutical R&D Co. Ltd. has synthesized high affinity nerve growth factor receptor (NTRK1; TRKA) and its mutant inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Evidence has suggested free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1), also known as GPR40, as a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, since its activation in pancreatic β cells promotes insulin secretion in a glucose concentration-dependent manner. Read More
Tuojie Biotech (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. has identified mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Read More
Ajinomoto Co. Inc.'s Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services has announced a license agreement with Exelixis Inc. to incorporate AJICAP, Ajinomoto's proprietary site-specific bioconjugation and linker technologies, in the development of certain of Exelixis' antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) programs for cancer. Read More
Suzhou Spring-Sea Bio-Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has divulged prodrugs of N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) reported to be useful for the treatment of viral infections. Read More
Gruenenthal GmbH has described substituted pyrazole amides acting as sodium channel protein type 10 subunit α (SCN10A; Nav1.8) blockers reported to be useful for the treatment of pain. Read More
