Using a near-atomic resolution cryo-electron microscope and imaging techniques that prevent loss of information, scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. have obtained the complete 3D structure of the glycoprotein of the Ebola virus and that of the drug that neutralizes it, Inmazeb, the first FDA-approved treatment for this deadly virus. “The challenge was embracing the inherent asymmetry, the heterogeneity that is really there in biology, understanding it and collecting enough data to get all the images without needing to force any symmetry averaging,” senior author Erica Ollmann Saphire told BioWorld. Read More
Researchers from Arkuda Therapeutics reported the discovery and preclinical evaluation of novel oxazoline enhancers of cellular progranulin (PGRN) secretion as candidates for cognition disorders therapy. Phenotypic screening of a diverse library of compounds was applied with the aim of identifying structures that effectively enhanced PGRN release. The lead hits were optimized and assessed in an immortalized murine microglial cell line (BV-2). Read More
Satellos Bioscience Inc. has reported results from preclinical studies in a disease model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The company's proprietary Myoregenx assay platform identified a protein kinase (K9) as a potential drug target to modulate polarity in muscle stem cells. Read More
Ferlins are a family of single transmembrane proteins with multiple calcium ion (Ca2+) binding C2 domains involved in Ca2+-mediated membrane fusion. Among other processes, ferlins participate in the acrosome reaction occurring before spermatozoa fuse with eggs. Mutations in ferlins have been shown to cause male infertility in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. Read More
Harbour Biomed Ltd. has received IND clearance by the FDA to initiate clinical trials in the U.S. with HBM-1022, a monoclonal antibody generated from Harbour's integrated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) platform. The antibody can enhance antitumor immunity by depleting CCR8 positive regulatory T cells, activating effector T cells. Read More
Atreca Inc. and Xencor Inc. have mutually selected the first program from their strategic collaboration combining an Atreca-discovered antibody with Xencor's Xmab bispecific Fc domain and a cytotoxic T-cell binding domain (CD3). Read More
Insulin secretion by pancreatic β cells is a fundamental component of glucose homeostasis. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A3 (ALDH1A3) is a molecule involved in pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation, leading to cell failure, and a marker of type 2 diabetes progression. Read More
Wigen Biomedicine Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. has disclosed fused ring compounds acting as Wee1-like protein kinase (Wee1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has synthesized hydrogenated quinoxalines acting as serotonin and/or norepinephrine and/or dopamine reuptake inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Read More
Previous studies have revealed that the microbiome plays a role in the development and progression of some cancers and gut microbiome has been linked with immune homeostasis as well as antitumor immune responses. In the current study, scientists at the University of California, Davis aimed to evaluate the intratumoral microbiome in patients with nonmetastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) and surgery. Read More
Novo Nordisk A/S has identified novel fatty acid modified urocortin 2 derivatives acting as CRF2 receptor agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Read More
Prelude Therapeutics Inc. has divulged proteolysis-targeting chimeric (PROTAC) compounds comprising a Von Hippel-Lindau E3 ubiquitin ligase (VHL)-binding moiety covalently linked to a SMARCA2- or SMARCA4-targeting moiety through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
The canonical Wnt signaling pathway participates in synapse function and stability, and previous research confirmed its impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Read More
Immunomolecular Therapeutics Inc. has described compounds targeting HLA-DQ2 reported to be useful for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, myasthenia gravis, Stiff-man syndrome, Addison and celiac diseases. Read More
