Germline variants that did not affect gene function nevertheless affected multiple aspects of breast cancer risk, via their visibility to the immune system and its reactions. Perhaps most surprisingly, the same genetic constellations that were protective at the very earliest stage of breast cancer, stage 0 or ductal carcinoma in situ, were associated with worse outcomes once a tumor had become invasive. Read More
Several cancer types are treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting agents (EGFR inhibitors), but this treatment is associated with dermal toxicity in up to 90% of cases, where 80% of cases have rash, among other issues. This skin toxicity is mainly driven by elevation of Staphylococcus aureus and the proinflammatory cytokine IL-36γ. Skin keratinocytes’ cutaneous immune defense is impaired by EGFR inhibitors. Read More
Kapoose Creek Bio Corp. has announced the identification and advancement of two lead compounds with potential in neurology, specifically for indications in neurodegeneration and mental health. The compounds, KCB-100 and KCB-200, have shown potent neuroplastic and neuroprotective activity in gold-standard tests of primary neurons. Read More
Actym Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA to begin a phase I trial of ACTM-838. The first-in-human study will enroll patients in the U.S. and Australia with advanced solid tumors who have failed prior lines of therapy and have no clinically beneficial treatment options. Read More
Gyre Therapeutics Inc. has announced IND clearance for Gyre Pharmaceuticals’ F-230 tablets by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). F-230 is a selective endothelin receptor antagonist, for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Read More
Avirmax Biopharma Inc. has received IND approval from the FDA to initiate a phase I/IIa trial for its gene therapy treatment targeting wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), including polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Read More
Bristol Myers Squibb Co. has identified proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising a E3 ubiquitin ligase-binding moiety coupled to a proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase receptor Ret (RET; CDHF12; PTC) targeting moiety through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a recessive genetic disorder caused by single nucleotide variants (SNV) in the SERPINA1 gene encoding for alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), with the most common mutation being the E342K mutation (Z allele) that introduces an amino acid change from glutamic acid (E) coding for M-AAT to a lysine (K) coding for Z-AAT. Read More
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC has disclosed diacylglycerol acyltransferase type 2 (DGAT2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, fibrosis, heart failure, hepatic steatosis, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia and obesity, among others. Read More
Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. has described dual NAD+ ADP-ribosyltransferase (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase; PARP) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of Ewing sarcoma. Read More
Almac Discovery Ltd. has nominated a new preclinical candidate molecule, ALM-401, a first-in-class bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting EGFR/ROR1. It is being developed for the treatment of refractory lung cancer characterized by dual expression of ROR1 and EGFR. Read More
The Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou Vigonvita Life Sciences Co. Ltd. and the Wuhan Institute of Virology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have divulged 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). Read More
Meliora Therapeutics Inc. has patented cyclin-dependent kinase 11 (CDK11) inhibitors and apoptosis inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of breast cancer and melanoma. Read More
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and highly prevalent skin disorder with multifactorial pathogenesis that includes mast cell (MC) activation as one of the main players. Read More
