Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have tested a broadly neutralizing antibody that binds the stem of a protein against H5N1 avian influenza, which prevented severe disease in nonhuman primates and was effective for at least 8 weeks. The scientists remark on the potential of the design developed by Astrazeneca plc against a possible outbreak of the influenza A virus. Read More

A group of researchers in China have looked into the role of apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB100) in ovarian cancer following reports of excessive levels of ApoB100 inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell death in liver cancer and of a positive correlation between ApoB100 levels and survival time of patients with high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer. Read More

Chinese researchers and their collaborators have published data on the bifunctional antibody JS-201, which exerts dual targeting of PD-1 and TGF-β signaling, for the potential treatment of cancer and its protective role against radiation-induced lung injury. Read More

The absent, small or homeotic-like 1 (ASH1L) protein regulates the expression of HOXA genes, which are critical for the development of MLL1 translocations frequently found in leukemia patients. Knockdown of ASH1L leads to growth arrest and apoptosis of leukemia cells, thereby inhibiting leukemia progression suggesting that ASH1L can be considered as a therapeutic target in this setting. Read More

Pretzel Therapeutics Inc. has disclosed DNA polymerase subunit γ-1 (POLG) modulators reported to be useful for the treatment of neurodegeneration and mitochondrial diseases. Read More

Stargardt disease type 1 (STGD1) is an inherited retinal recessive disease caused by biallelic variants in the ABCA4 gene. One of the recurrent variants is located at the exon-intron junction of exon 6, c.768G>T. Due to its high prevalence, c.768G>T is an interesting therapeutic target for STGD1. Researchers from Radboud University developed a new antisense oligonucleotide (AON) therapy, designed to rescue the splicing defect caused by this variant. Read More

Researchers from Ocean University of China and Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center published data from a preclinical study that investigated the impact of the quinazolinone derivative MR-2938 on gut microbiota during colitis. A dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model was constructed, and the animals were treated with MR-2938 (50 or 100 mg/kg). Read More

Researchers from Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Universidade Federal da Paraiba and affiliated organizations presented the design, synthesis and bio-evaluation of new small-molecule candidates for the treatment of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease that affects approximately 12 million people in four continents. Read More

Beijing Primegene Therapeutics Co. Ltd. has synthesized Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor member X2 (MRGPRX2) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of urticaria and asthma. Read More

Nutshell Biotech (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. has identified eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eiF4E) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More

Forkhead box protein L2 (FOXL2) is a protein involved in ovary development and maintenance, among other functions. Mutations in its gene are involved in ovarian failure and granulosa cell tumors, being the latter a rare cancer type caused in most cases by the C134W mutation (c.402C>G) in the FOXL2 gene. By using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, researchers from Spain have aimed to remove this mutation in the FOLX2 gene from granulosa tumor cells. Read More

Tiumbio Co Ltd. has described bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BD2 domain) (BRD4 BD2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, fibrosis, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and renal and inflammatory disorders. Read More

Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. and Shanghai Hansoh Biomedical Co. Ltd. have divulged proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors acting as LDL-lowering agents reported to be useful for the treatment of stroke, hepatic steatosis, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis. Read More

Venetoclax, a selective Bcl-2 inhibitor, has proven effective in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but genetic mutations or adaptive changes over time can result in resistance to treatment and disease relapse. Researchers from Newave Pharmaceutical Inc. and collaborators described the preclinical efficacy of LP-118, a Bcl-2 inhibitor, in venetoclax-resistant models of CLL. Read More