The three-dimensional analysis of cell types and their locations by spatial transcriptomics provides key information of their interactions within tissues or organs. Based on this technology, scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute have developed an AI tool called Nichecompass, which shows a comprehensive view of the cancer microenvironments, the different cells, their locations, and how they communicate with each other through different molecules inside the tumor. This AI could process data in an hour and compare samples before and after a treatment. Read More

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a kidney disease that leads to renal failure, and it affects individuals from different ancestries, the highest prevalence being among African and African American populations. DNA samples from 726 patients with FSGS were obtained and DNA sequencing was performed in the search of mutations tied to FSGS compared to a large pool of control populations. Read More

Prostaglandins induce the regeneration of muscle in rodents and humans through the prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 subtype receptor, but this therapeutic pathway's potential is limited due to systemic tolerability. Researchers from Mesentech Inc. recently presented new results on their prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 subtype receptor agonist irodanoprost trying to address this limitation issue. Read More

Hillstar Bio has successfully closed a $67 million series A financing round to support its development of next-generation precision immunology therapies for autoimmune diseases. The company’s approach selectively targets and depletes pathogenic immune cells with the potential to reset the immune system. Read More

Scientists from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. have patented NLRP3 inflammasome and interleukin-1β (IL1B; IL-1β) release inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Read More

Neuronos Ltd., a subsidiary of Beyond Air Inc.’s, has secured an initial $2 million in equity financing from private investors as part of a larger funding round. This investment will accelerate the preclinical development of Neuronos’s small-molecule drug for autism that leverages the regulation of nitric oxide (NO) levels in the brain. The company’s small-molecule therapy is based on research from Hebrew University. Read More

Asthma affects about 300 million people worldwide. Inflammation in asthma may drive irreversible airway remodeling due to subepithelial fibrosis, extracellular matrix degradation and increased smooth muscle cell mass levels, among others. In vitro and in vivo assays were performed to test MutT homolog 1 (MTH1) as a therapeutic target in allergic airway inflammation. Read More

Sineugene Therapeutics Co. Ltd. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for SNUG-01, a first-in-class tripartite motif protein 72 (TRIM72)-targeted gene therapy candidate for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A phase I/IIa trial will evaluate SNUG-01 in adults with ALS. Read More

Metabolic reprogramming in cancer involves glycolytic enzymes acquiring noncanonical functions and acting as protein kinases, which contribute to tumor progression and present new therapeutic opportunities. While hexokinase domain-containing protein 1 (HKDC1), a hexokinase family member, has been implicated in tumor growth and immune evasion, its nonmetabolic roles remain poorly understood. Read More

Shenzhen Zhongge Biotechnology Co. Ltd. prepared and tested cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, mitochondrial (CYP11A1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Read More

It has been previously shown that the nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A (NR4A) plays an important role in cardiovascular pathophysiology. Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University thus aimed to assess the expression profile of NR4A in platelets and the biological functions of this nuclear receptor in platelet aggregation. Read More

Researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry have divulged EGFR (L858R/T790M/C797S triple mutant) and EGFR (del19/T790M/C797S triple mutant) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More

Investigators from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and the University Health Network have synthesized triazolopyridopyrimidine and dihydroimidazopyridopyrimidine derivatives acting as eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha kinase 4 (GCN2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and peripheral neuropathy. Read More

Bladder cancers (BCs) that invade the muscle layer are classified as muscle-invasive bladder cancers (MIBCs). The MIBC subtype accounts for around 25% of all BC cases, with a significant proportion of patients presenting distant metastases. Read More

Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has described lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1; EDG2) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, systemic sclerosis, benign prostate hyperplasia, multiple sclerosis, neuronal injury and neuralgia. Read More