Researchers have for the first time used human neural stem cells to print 3D brain tissues that mimic the architecture of the brain’s outer layer, the cerebral cortex. This breakthrough technique, developed by a team from the U.K.’s University of Oxford, could one day be used to provide tailored repairs to the millions of people who suffer from severe brain injuries, for which there is no effective treatment. Read More
G1 and G2 genetic variants of the human APOL1 gene have been previously associated with an increased risk of developing chronic kidney diseases (CKD) in the African American population, and recent studies have shown that inhibition of APOL1 ion channel function could represent a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with APOL1-like nephropathies. Read More
PYC Therapeutics Ltd. has announced the results of a study of PYC-003 conducted in human 3D models derived from patients with end-stage renal failure due to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Read More
A recognized link exists between oxidative stress, obesity and atrial fibrillation (AF). NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) serves as a significant contributor to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the heart, and it is known to be elevated in obese mice. Read More
Mindset Pharma Inc. has described indoline derivatives acting as 5-HT2A receptor agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of anhedonia, anorexia nervosa, epilepsy, fragile X syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, among others. Read More
Ray Therapeutics Inc. has been awarded a $4 million grant by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to help advance development of the company’s optogenetics technology platform and support progression of RTX-021 for the treatment of geographic atrophy, the advanced form of age-related macular degeneration. Read More
Inflammasome Therapeutics Inc. has received FDA clearance to begin a phase I/II trial of the company’s inflammasome inhibitor for the treatment of geographic atrophy, the most severe form of dry age-related macular degeneration. This is the first clinical trial of an inflammasome inhibitor to treat geographic atrophy. The company’s sustained-release implant contains the first of a new class of inflammasome inhibitor drugs, Kamuvudines, developed by the company and designed to halt the multiple processes that cause geographic atrophy. Read More
Glox Therapeutics Ltd. has raised £4.3 million (US$5.37 million) in seed funding to develop targeted therapeutics against antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria. The company was founded earlier this year as a spin-out from the Universities of Glasgow and Oxford. Read More
Certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), named high-risk types, are known to be clearly associated with 60% of invasive cervical cancer cases. Prophylactic HPV vaccines are highly effective, but there is a need for new treatment options other than surgery. Read More
Beijing Earthwise Technology Co. Ltd. has synthesized fused pyridazinone compounds acting as protein arginine N-methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Researchers from the University of Lausanne and affiliated organizations recently presented data from a study that aimed to identify novel candidate causative genes of visual impairment. Read More
The activity of the human drug-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 (hCYP3A4) can seriously compromise the therapeutic effect of several drugs. Although CYP3A4 inhibitors may improve the in vivo efficacy of hCYP3A4-substrate drugs, most of them trigger serious adverse effects. Read More
Nimbus Clotho Inc. has identified CTP synthase 1 (CTPS1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of psoriasis, lichen planus, lupus nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, and graft-vs.-host disease. Read More
Vectory Therapeutics BV has closed a €129 million ($138 million) series A financing to advance its vectorized antibody programs in neurodegenerative diseases. Read More
Rome Therapeutics Inc. has divulged didehydro-3’-deoxy-4’-ethynylthymidines acting as LINE-1 retrotransposable element ORF1 protein (L1RE1) and/or HERV-K reverse transcriptase inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease and neurological disorders. Read More
