Fledgling biotechnology company Automera has launched in Singapore with $16 million in series A funding to develop its autophagy-targeting chimera small molecules (AUTACs) platform technology. Automera co-founder and chief technology officer Loong Wang told BioWorld that he and his business partner, Taiyang Zhang, decided to move into the biotechnology space in 2021. Read More
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of muscles, resulting in muscle loss, mobility limitations and lately, mortal risk. DMD is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene (DMD) and about 80% of these are suitable for exon skipping, obtaining a functional dystrophin protein. Read More
Biolexis Therapeutics Inc. has reported the launch of Metabolexis, a new pipeline company developing three targeted oral small molecules for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Read More
Work at Praxis Precision Medicines Inc. has led to the identification of new compounds comprising an azaspiroheptane and acting as T-type calcium channel blockers, particularly voltage-dependent T-type calcium channel subunit α-1G (Cav3.1) blockers. As such, they are reported to be useful for the treatment of essential tremor. Read More
Seed Therapeutics Inc., a subsidiary of Beyondspring Inc., has reported the discovery of ST-00937, a new chemical entity molecular glue with IND candidate status that will be advanced for the treatment of cancers. Read More
Researchers from Exscientia plc presented preclinical data for the novel reversible LSD1 inhibitor EXS-74539, being developed as a monotherapy or in combination with standard of care for the treatment of oncology and hematology indications including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and small-cell lung cancer. Read More
Despite its promising therapeutic efficacy in patients with narcolepsy type 1, the previously reported orally available orexin OX2 receptor (OX2R) agonist TAK-994 has also demonstrated off-target liver toxicity. Now, researchers from Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have reported the discovery and early evaluation of a new OX2R agonist, TAK-861, being developed for the treatment of narcolepsy and other hypersomnia disorders. Read More
FL2022-001 Inc. has patented new 17-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17B13; 17-β-HSD 13) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of liver fibrosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Read More
The FDA has accepted Mustang Bio Inc.’s IND application of MB-109 for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) and high-grade astrocytoma. MB-109 is a treatment regimen combining MB-101 (City of Hope-developed IL13Rα2‐targeted CAR T-cell therapy) and MB-108 (Nationwide Children’s Hospital-developed HSV-1 oncolytic virus). Read More
Indolinone derivatives acting as mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP4K1; HPK1; MEKKK1) inhibitors are detailed in a recent Chengdu Baiyu Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. patent and described as potentially useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Yiteng Pharmaceutical Industry (Taizhou) Co. Ltd. has disclosed new inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), particularly CDK7, reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Protein bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is involved in transcription, DNA replication and cell cycle among other processes, and its overexpression has been linked to several types of cancer and immune disorders. Read More
A Hangzhou Highlightll Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. patent describes new NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, inflammation, liver and metabolic disease, neuroinflammation, immunological, cardiovascular and renal disorders. Read More
