A method for parallel sequencing of single-cell extrachromosomal circular DNA (ecDNA) and full-length mRNA transcriptomes has enabled new insights into the roles of ecDNA in cancer progression, researchers from Charité hospital and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine reported in Nature Genetics on May 8, 2023. Circular DNAs are present in at least a third of cancer cells, and their presence correlates with poor prognosis in many cases. They can carry driver genes that have separated themselves from their chromosome of origin, and some research suggests that they serve as “reserve copies” of driver genes. Boundless Bio Inc. is in phase I trials targeting ecDNAs. Read More

Esophageal remodeling occurs during the development of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE); syndecan-1, also known as CD138, is a cell surface marker involved in extracellular remodeling and it has been shown to be differentially expressed in tissue from patients with EoE compared to healthy esophageal tissue. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers conducted studies to validate serum CD138 levels as a noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of EoE. Read More

Suzhou Genassist Therapeutic Co. Ltd. has announced its pre-IND application of its first base-editing product, GEN-6050, and acceptance by the FDA. GEN-6050 is an in vivo base-editing drug that targets exon 50 skipping in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene. Read More

Around 73,000 women are diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) every year in the U.S. and EU. TNBC grows and spreads faster than other types of breast cancer; moreover, it has less treatment options, and usually, a worse prognosis. Read More

Tango Therapeutics Inc. has patented histone-lysine N-methyltransferase EHMT1 (H3-K9-HMTase 5; GLP) and/or EHMT2 inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. Read More

Multivalent vaccines that could improve SARS-CoV-2 immunity while also preventing infections by other viruses, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses, constitute an urgent public health need. Currently approved vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are based solely on the spike protein, which provides limited immunity against variations in spike. Read More

New optically active benzodiazepines have been reported in a recent Kyonggi University patent as potentially useful for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Read More

Protein S-palmitoylation is a post-translational lipid modification that regulates the stability and cellular distribution of numerous cancer-related proteins. A family of 23 palmitoyl transferases, called zinc finger Asp-His-His-Cys-type (ZDHHC), mediates this lipid modification. However, the potential role of palmitoyl transferases in tumor progression and immunotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) remains unexplored. Read More

Researchers from Incyte Corp. presented preclinical characterization of a novel bispecific antibody, INCA-33890, targeting PD-1 and transforming growth factor-β receptor type-2 (TGF-βR2). Read More

Research at Vasa Therapeutics Sp zoo has led to the identification of diazabicyclooctane derivatives acting as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors and thus reported to be useful for the treatment of heart failure. Read More

A study comprising a total of 406 subjects, including both healthy individuals (n=54) and patients with dry eye (DE) disease was performed with the aim of discovering basal tear cytokine markers for disease diagnosis and severity. Based on guidelines, patients with DE were classified as predisposed DE (pDE, n=136), mild-moderate DE (mDE, n=185), and severe DE (sDE, n=31). Read More

Human natural killer (NK) cells play an essential role in tumor surveillance and can attack malignant cells in an antigen-independent manner. Because of this, allogeneic NK cells can be engineered as off-the-shelf therapies and may be used to target different hematological malignancies or solid tumors. Read More

Biosplice Therapeutics Inc. has prepared and tested pyrrolo[2,1-F][1,2,4]triazines derivatives acting as dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) inhibitors and reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, diabetes and neurological disorders. Read More

Researchers from Bliss Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. presented the discovery and preclinical evaluation of BB-1701, a new HER2-targeting eribulin-containing antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) being developed as a potential new anticancer agent. Read More

Jiangsu Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. and Medshine Discovery Inc. have jointly patented pyrimidine tricyclic derivative soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activators. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of heart failure and hypertension. Read More