The development of an embryo in its early stages involves a series of processes in which cells interact and organize to form tissues. In humans, these stages are studied with animal models, stem cells and cell aggregates that mimic natural development phases, or with human embryos, depending on their availability and a strict protocol. Now, in back-to-back papers published online in Nature, scientists from Yale University and the University of Cambridge have two new embryonic models formed from human stem cells to study development after embryo implantation in the uterus. Read More
B cells that expressed a constellation of checkpoint inhibitors could be spurred into antitumor activity by deleting or blocking the checkpoint molecule T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1). The findings, which were published online in Nature on June 21, 2023, suggest ways to bring B cells into the antitumor fight. More broadly, Lloyd Bod told BioWorld, his laboratory aims to “break the dogma that B cells only produce antibodies.” Read More
Recent studies in chronic hepatitis B patients have shown that bepirovirsen, an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), may be considered a suitable option for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Read More
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and Lieber Institute Inc. have synthesized peripherally and luminally restricted inhibitors of the serotonin transporter (SERT) reported to be useful for disorders of gastrointestinal motility, including the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Read More
SARS-CoV-2 and influenza (flu) viruses share similar clinical manifestations, common transmission mechanisms and target tissues, often overlapping during seasonal outbreaks. In addition, co-infection of these viruses worsens disease severity, emphasizing the pressing need for a vaccine that effectively tackles both. Read More
Coimmune Inc. has obtained a license to target delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) with IL-18 armored chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology. The company exercised an option to obtain an exclusive license in the DLL3-targeted, allogeneic CAR-cytokine induced killer (CAR-CIK) cell therapy field to IL-18 armored CAR technology under an agreement with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Read More
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. has identified 4-phenyl-2-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)piperidin-4-ol derivatives acting as apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and renal disorders. Read More
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, where in addition to the accumulation of fat in the liver, there is also chronic inflammation and hepatocyte injury. With no therapy approved yet, selective thyroid hormone receptor-β (THR-β) agonism has yielded good results in ongoing clinical development. Read More
Marvel Biotechnology Inc. has divulged purine compounds acting as adenosine A2A receptor (ADORA2A) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, depression, anxiety disorder, multiple sclerosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, scleroderma, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Read More
One of the characteristics of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is T-cell exhaustion, which, in turn, is mediated by the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Researchers at Oligo Therapeutics Inc. reported on ALG-072571, a potent siRNA PD-L1 inhibitor active against HBV infection mouse models. Read More
Intergalactic Therapeutics Inc. has announced promising preclinical data with IG-002, its lead program addressing all forms of ABCA4-related retinopathies. Intergalactic’s nonviral gene therapy platform is designed to overcome limitations of standard adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy technologies, including vector capacity limitations and vector-related safety concerns. Read More
Researchers at Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) Pharma GmbH & Co. KG and Vanderbilt University have described proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising E3 ubiquitin ligase binding moieties covalently linked to GTPase KRAS (mutant) binding moieties through a linker. Read More
