Scientists at the University of Washington have engineered human plasma B cells modified to express long-lasting bispecific antibodies that could be used to treat leukemia without requiring continuous dosing.

“We are trying to engineer plasma cells to make as a stable source for biologic drugs. One thing that is really unique about plasma cells is that they can live for a really long time … up to 10 years or even 100 years depending on the type of plasma cell that that you make,” Richard James, senior author of the study, principal investigator at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, and associate professor at the University of Washington, told BioWorld.

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Researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have hypothesized that LP-184 could synergize with the PARP inhibitor rucaparib, which avoids DNA repairing in tumor cells, for the treatment of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor. Read More

Researchers from Molecular Partners AG reported on the preclinical evaluation of MP-0533, a multispecific T-cell engaging DARPin (designed ankyrin repeat protein) targeting CD70, CD123, CD33 and CD3 tumor-associated antigens (TAA) simultaneously. Read More

Eleva is preparing a first clinical study in this indication, with dosing slated to begin in in the first half of next year. Read More

Researchers at Bioventures LLC and Yale University have disclosed dual inhibitors of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4; HUNK1) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and psoriasis. Read More

Researchers from Columbia University and collaborators described the mechanism used by mAb 77, a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) derived from monoclonal antibody (mAb 77.4) targeting MeV F peptide, to neutralize viral infection. Read More

Humanwell Healthcare (Group) Co. Ltd. has synthesized prostaglandin E2 receptor EP2 subtype (PTGER2; EP2) and EP4 antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, inflammation, neurodegeneration, autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases. Read More

Betta Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has identified proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising a Von Hippel-Lindau disease tumor suppressor (VHL) ligase binding moiety to pan GTPase KRAS (mutant) binding moiety through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More

Beijing Gensciences Inc. has developed a FVIIIa-mimetic bispecific antibody named SS-315 for the treatment of hemophilia A. SS-315 was developed by targeting FX with its upper Fab arms and FIXa with its down-side scFv arms, respectively; the hemostatic potential of SS-315 was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Read More

SRI International has divulged lipoxygenase inhibitors, particularly polyunsaturated fatty acid 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) and/or ALOX15, reported to be useful for the treatment of bacterial infections. Read More

NMD Pharma ApS has described chloride channel protein 1 (CLCN1; ClC-1) channel blockers reported to be useful for the treatment of myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, critical illness myopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, Guillain-Barré syndrome, post-poliomyelitic and chronic fatigue syndrome, among others. Read More

CLN-617 is a single-chain fusion protein comprising human IL-2, human IL-12, leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor 2 (LAIR2) and human serum albumin (HSA). It was designed for intratumoral injection to co-deliver IL-2 and IL-12 on a single molecule, with HSA and LAIR2 being used to retain CLN-617 in the tumor by binding collagen and increasing molecular weight. Read More