An experimental vaccine that contained antigens of both lytic and latent phases of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and induced both an antibody and a T cells response, was able to generate broad and long-lasting immunity against EBV in mouse models of infection. Researchers from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Elicio Therapeutics Inc. reported those results online in Nature Communications on Aug. 8, 2023.
For some viruses, the challenge to developing a vaccine is their rapid mutation rate. This is the major challenge to developing an HIV vaccine or a universal flu vaccine. EBV is different. Its superpower is its ability to hide. Read More
Researchers from University of Toronto and affiliated organizations have presented the discovery and preclinical evaluation of novel inhibitors of fungal fatty acid biosynthesis as potential antifungal agents. High-throughput screening of a library of natural products against representative isolates of four major human pathogenic yeast species (Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. auris, C. neoformans) resulted in the discovery of the triazenyl indole NPD-6433. Read More
Celmatix Inc. and Aché Laboratórios Farmacéuticos SA will study the role of melatonin receptors and their agonists in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The two companies announced a collaboration, with a separate license and development agreement upon conclusion of the research. Read More
The German Cancer Research Center has discovered cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12)/cyclin K inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Humanwell Healthcare (Group) Co. Ltd. has described new dual microtubule destabilizers (tubulin polymerization inhibitors) and proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, actinic keratosis, vitiligo and systemic lupus erythematosus, among others. Read More
Cocrystal Pharma Inc. announced the company has selected its broad-spectrum 3CL protease inhibitor CDI-988 for development as a potential oral therapy for norovirus. Read More
Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has divulged 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro) (SARS-CoV-2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of respiratory tract infections. Read More
Researchers from Infex Therapeutics Ltd. have announced the nomination of a clinical candidate for its in-house developed COV-X program. The novel first-in-class small molecule is an oral pan-coronavirus papain-like protease (PLpro) inhibitor, which was selected based on preclinical data that demonstrated in vivo efficacy of the candidate a murine model of SARS-CoV-2. Read More
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. has disclosed an antibody-drug conjugate consisting of exatecan covalently linked to the antibody trastuzumab targeting HER2 through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Viruses can evolve and mutate rapidly to establish resistance, making the development of durable and effective antiviral therapies challenging. The innate immune system has the ability to target pathogen membranes through the expression of short antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which exert direct antimicrobial activity and can therefore act as antiviral agents against enveloped viruses. Researchers from New York University and affiliated organizations have presented the discovery and preclinical evaluation of novel family of AMP mimetics, called peptoids, as potential new antiviral candidates. Read More
