How severe a viral infection is depends on how much the virus is replicating, damaging cells as it does so, and on the response of the immune system. Or so one would think. “Some of the most severe cases of COVID-19 are happening in the absence of replicating virus,” Joseph Guarnieri told BioWorld. In work published in Science Translational Medicine on Aug. 9, 2023, Guarnieri and his colleagues have described how those severe cases unfold, even as there is no replicating virus to be found. Read More
Shanghai Yidian Pharmaceutical Technology Development Co. Ltd. has disclosed peptidyl nitrile compounds acting as cathepsin C (dipeptidyl peptidase I) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, infections, diabetes, respiratory, metabolic, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and autoimmune disease, among others. Read More
Impact Biotech Ltd. has entered into an agreement with Maastricht University to collaborate on research focused on eye treatment to arrest the progression of pathological myopia, also known as myopic macular degeneration. The project will use Impact's padeliporfin vascular targeted photodynamic (VTP) therapy platform. Read More
Bloomsbury Genetic Therapies Ltd. announced that the FDA granted orphan drug designation for its investigational liver-targeted gene therapy, BGT-OTCD, for the treatment of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD). Read More
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc has synthesized novel amine-substituted phthalazines and derivatives acting as son of sevenless homolog 1 (SOS1)/GTPase KRAS interaction inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Researchers from Antengene Biologics Ltd. and Shanghai Antengene Corp. Ltd. have identified ATR kinase inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Zumutor Biologics Inc. has received FDA clearance of its IND application for ZM-008 to enter a first-in-human phase I study for the treatment of multiple solid cancers. A phase I study is anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter, and will include evaluation of ZM-008 followed by pembrolizumab. Read More
Betta Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has divulged proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin ligase binding moiety covalently linked to a GTPase KRAS (G12D mutant) targeting moiety via a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Almac Discovery Ltd. has described heterocyclic compounds acting as ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase 7 (USP7; HAUSP) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Hebecell Corp. and Logomix Inc. have established a strategic partnership to research and develop gene-edited natural killer (NK) cells and discover genetic modifications that can create next-generation designer NK cells. Under the agreement, Logomix provides genome editing capabilities to Hebecell for development of next-generation designer Protonk cells. Read More
