In general, tumor cells embody the idea of “the survival of the fittest” gone out of control. Tumor cells outcompete their normal brethren with their uncontrolled growth; and the inside of a tumor is a fiercely competitive environment where over time, the most aggressive clones take over. But research published online in Nature on Feb. 19, 2025, has discovered that cancer cells cooperate as well as compete. Read More
Patients with metastatic or unresectable gastric cancer are usually given 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and platinum-based chemotherapy, but patients with advance disease usually have a poor prognosis. The use of chemotherapy increased the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 in tumor cells, which in turn increase the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the tumor microenvironment. When PGE2 binds to their receptors EP1 to EP4 on immune cells, it triggers an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The use of the EP2 and EP4 dual antagonist OCT-598 was tested in the preclinical setting for gastric cancer. Read More
Kadimastem Ltd. and Itolerance Inc. have held a type B pre-IND meeting with the FDA regarding the development of ITOL-102, an investigational biologic for the treatment and potential cure of type 1 diabetes that would not require life-long chronic immune system suppression. It comprises Kadimastem’s allogenic human stem cell-derived pancreatic islets (Isletrx cells) combined with Itolerance’s immunomodulator, ITOL-100. Read More
Silexion Therapeutics Corp. has completed its initial study evaluating SIL-204 in orthotopic pancreatic cancer models. SIL-204 is a next-generation siRNA candidate designed to target a broad range of KRAS mutations. Read More
The most common form of hereditary deafness in humans is caused by mutations in the GJB2 gene, which encodes the gap junction protein connexin 26. That regulates the transport of potassium and metabolites between inner ear cells. The coding sequence of this gene fits in an adenovirus-associated vector (AAV), making it an attractive approach for gene therapy. Read More
The Clarivate Medtech Trends to Watch in 2024 report noted the resilience of the medtech sector in the face of changing macroeconomic factors and the preparation required to navigate the market’s many complexities. It is likely that 2025 will be no different. Read More
Researchers from Captor Therapeutics Inc. presented the preclinical characterization of CT-01, a first-in-class GSPT-1 targeted degrader under investigation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Read More
Merck KGaA has patented substituted bicyclic transcriptional coactivator YAP1/transcriptional enhancer factor (TEAD) and/or TAZ/TED interaction inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Researchers from Sunrock Biopharma SL presented preclinical data on SRB-1, a CCR9-depleting antibody aimed to restore immune homeostasis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Read More
CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) has announced it will award US$2 million to Immunethep SA to develop a conjugated peptide-based vaccine to prevent infections from all invasive serotypes of Escherichia coli. Read More
Astrazeneca has identified anthracycline compounds and antibody-drug conjugates consisting of an antibody covalently bound to anthracycline derivatives reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Previous research revealed that nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFAT1) is a novel regulator of the mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) oncogene, which acts by directly binding to the MDM2 P2 promoter and as such, enhancing MDM2 transcription independent of p53. Researchers from the University of Houston and Baylor College of Medicine presented preclinical data for MA-242, a dual inhibitor of MDM2 and NFAT1, being developed for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Researchers from Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Miramoon Pharma SL and affiliated organizations published the preclinical characterization of FKBP12 ligand MP-010 and evaluated its efficacy in models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Read More
Terremoto Biosciences Inc. has synthesized new 3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine compounds acting as RAC-α serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1; PKB-α) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc. has developed mast/stem cell growth factor receptor kit (KIT; c-KIT; CD117) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, fibrosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory, dermatological and respiratory disorders, among others. Read More
Bridgene Biosciences Inc. has signed a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to discover small-molecule drug candidates against targets in immunology and neurology. Read More
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd. has disclosed aza-ergoline derivatives acting as dopamine D2 receptor and/or D3 receptor agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, erectile dysfunction, substance abuse and dependence, restless legs syndrome, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, among others. Read More
