Repeated RNA elements have a virus-like behavior in the cells that express them. Furthermore, they could confer a novel mode of tumor expansion based on changes in cellular states. “About 10 years ago, we had identified that these repetitive elements were highly expressed in pancreas cancer,” co-senior author David Ting, associate professor of medicine and assistant physician at the Mass General Cancer Center at Harvard Medical School, told BioWorld. Read More
Researchers from Kexing Biopharm Co. Ltd. have published details on the development and preclinical characterization of GB18-06, a novel nanobody, also known as variable domain of heavy-chain antibody (VHH), targeting growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and being developed for the treatment of cachexia. Read More
Bioversys AG has joined the EU-funded RespiriNTM program that is exploring multiple approaches to determine new targets for antimycobacterial compounds, define and optimize novel inhibitors and advance these through the process of hit-to-lead up until first-in-human trials. Read More
Patients receiving a kidney transplant and who are positive for BK virus (BKV) are at risk of losing their transplant due to BKV reactivation. At this time, there are no antiviral options available for the prevention of BKV-associated nephropathy. Researchers from Aicuris Anti-infective Cures GmbH presented preclinical data on AIC-468, an antisense RNA therapy that inhibits the splicing process of a viral mRNA encoding a protein critical for BKV replication. Read More
Adcentrx Therapeutics Inc. has received FDA clearance of its IND application for ADRX-0405 for the treatment of select advanced solid tumors. A first-in-human phase Ia/b trial of ADRX-0405 in patients with select advanced solid tumors, including metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, will begin enrollment and dosing this quarter. Read More
Researchers from Phoenixlab, The Scripps Research Institute and affiliated organizations presented the discovery of a novel bivalent protease-activated receptor PAR1- and PAR3-derived peptide, named biparetide, being developed for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Read More
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co. Ltd. has patented new tricyclic compounds acting as serine/threonine-protein kinase ATR inhibitors and thus reported to be useful for the treatment of colon cancer. Read More
Work at LG Chem Ltd. has led to the development of novel benzimidazolone derivatives acting as ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 2 (ENPP2; autotaxin) inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of cancer and fibrosis. Read More
The influenza virus undergoes rapid and frequent antigen shifts that usually force seasonal vaccine updating. The mismatch between vaccine strains and circulating viruses leads to limited vaccine effectiveness, mainly in immunocompromised and older individuals. Read More
Evotec International GmbH and Nosopharm SAS have jointly described odilorhabdin analogues reported to be useful for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Read More
Increasing evidence exists regarding the involvement of methyltransferase 1, tRNA methylguanosine (METTL1) in cardiac repair and fibrosis. The search for new therapeutic targets for alleviating ischemic heart disease due to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is of vital importance. Read More
A patent from Nanjing Mingde New Drug Research Co. Ltd. and Zhangzhou Pientzehuang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. details the identification of salts of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK-4) degradation inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Read More
Additional early-stage research and drug discovery news in brief, from: Mira Pharmaceuticals, Nanoscope Therapeutics, Revolo Biotherapeutics. Read More
