Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have identified a signaling pathway that simultaneously increased energy expenditure and decreased food intake. In both human and primate studies, agonists of the tachykinin NK2 receptor (NK2R) led to both decreased food intake and increased energy expenditure. And in behavioral tests, they were not aversive, suggesting they do not cause the nausea that is a major side effect of GLP-1 agonists. Read More
Seismic Therapeutic Inc.'s S-1117 was designed as a pan-IgG protease fused to an effector function silent human IgG1 Fc domain. The candidate, being developed for the treatment of autoantibody-mediated diseases, was engineered for chronic subcutaneous administration using a proprietary machine learning-enabled platform, with the aim of reducing immunogenicity while maintaining potency. Read More
Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd. has established a new collaboration with UK Biobank to create the world’s first comprehensive, large-scale epigenetic dataset. The project will utilize Oxford Nanopore’s DNA/RNA sequencing technology to map the epigenome of 50,000 blood samples from UK Biobank to unlock insights into disease mechanisms, with the aim of improving patient outcomes. Read More
NLRP3 inflammasome activation, pro-inflammatory cytokine production and pyroptosis are key features of inflammation that contribute to liver fibrosis progression, cirrhosis and end-stage liver failure. Pyroptosis, a lytic form of inflammatory-regulated cell death, is regulated by multiprotein complexes expressed in both parenchymal and nonparenchymal hepatic cells. Researchers from Genfit SA presented preclinical efficacy data on CLM-022, a synthetic pentacyclic triterpenoid derivative designed to target the NLRP3 complex. Read More
Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. has signed a licensing and collaboration agreement with Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. to obtain exclusive global rights to multiple clinical, preclinical and discovery-stage programs for rare genetic diseases of the muscle, central nervous system (CNS) and the lungs. The deal includes ARO-DUX4, ARO-DM1, ARO-MMP7 and ARO-ATXN2. Read More
Enveric Biosciences Inc. has completed preclinical pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of EB-003 in rats and dogs, further supporting EB-003’s oral bioavailability and targeted nonhallucinogenic profile. EB-003 is a neuroplastogen designed to promote neuroplasticity without inducing hallucinations in patients with difficult-to-address mental health disorders. Read More
Matchpoint Therapeutics Inc. has synthesized new diazepino-thieno-quinoxaline compounds acting as MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2; MK2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory disorders. Read More
Nimbus Saturn Inc. has identified proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) comprising an E3 ubiquitin ligase-binding moiety covalently linked to a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP4K1; HPK1; MEKKK1)-targeting moiety linked via a linker. Read More
Investigators from Duke University hypothesized that hirudin-like protease inhibitors could be generated by linking exosite-binding aptamers with small-molecule active site inhibitors, thus generating more potent “EXACT” inhibitors. Read More
Compared to normal tissues, where the expression of ULBP2/5/6 protein is restricted, in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), head and neck cancer and squamous urothelial carcinoma, the levels of ULBP2/5/6 remain high even following relapse from standard-of-care therapies and is retained in metastatic lesions. Besides, these squamous cell cancers showed a high proportion of CD2+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes compared to other co-stimulatory receptors. Read More
Genesis Therapeutics Inc. has divulged phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase alpha (PI3Kα) (H1047R mutant) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Investigators from the University of Turin have developed and characterized a new murine immunocompetent model of Usp18-knockout leiomyosarcoma (LMS). LMS is a rare malignant soft tissue cancer with limited therapeutic options when in advanced stages. Read More
