Genes associated with lysosomal dysfunction increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a study led by scientists at Northwestern University. The discovery also explains why some people who carry a pathogenic variant of the GBA1 gene develop PD or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and others do not. The key lies in the Commander complex, involved in the transport of proteins to this organelle. This discovery raises the need for combinatorial therapies that act on more than one pathway for this type of neurodegenerative disorder. Read More
Oral peptide delivery specialist Cyprumed GmbH is about to find out if the high bioavailability of its tablet formulations seen in animal models will translate across to humans, after signing a $493 million license and option agreement with Merck & Co. Inc. Read More
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals Inc. has presented preclinical data on their novel bispecific degrader BHV-1310 for the potential treatment of autoimmune disorders. To date, about 10% of the global population is affected by autoimmune diseases. IgG-lowering agents have suboptimal pharmacology and pharmacodynamic effects and have safety and tolerability challenges. Read More
At the recent European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) meeting in Vienna, Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics LLC presented data on the neutralizing antibody responses of LHNVD-202, an unconjugated composite peptide vaccine. Read More
Researchers from Eli Lilly & Co. reported preclinical data on LY-3954068, a MAPT small-interference RNA (siRNA) strategy in AD models. The therapy is designed to reduce tau protein synthesis by inhibiting the translation of MAPT mRNA, with the goal of effectively lowering all forms of tau. Read More
Elix Inc. has entered into a drug discovery collaboration with Prism Biolab Co. Ltd. to accelerate AI-driven drug discovery for challenging protein-protein interaction targets. The partnership will combine Elix’s AI drug discovery platform with Prism’s proprietary small-molecule peptide mimetic Pepmetics technology for controlling protein-protein interactions. Read More
Samjin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has disclosed stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING; TMEM173) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, allergy, autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders. Read More
Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has obtained clinical trial clearance from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for HS-10529 tablets. Read More
Researchers at Provincial Health Services Authority and University of British Columbia have synthesized radiolabeled peptides targeting gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) reported to be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Read More
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co. Ltd. has identified C-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CCR4) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and drug-induced rash. Read More
Xellsmart Biopharmaceutical (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. has announced IND clearances by the FDA for its XS-411 and XS-228 cell therapies, for Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), respectively. Read More
Insmed Inc. has divulged cathepsin C (dipeptidyl peptidase I, DPP1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, asthma, metastatic cancer, chronic rhinosinusitis, heart failure, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and thrombosis, among others. Read More
Momentum Therapeutics Inc. has described receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of systematic inflammatory response syndrome, autoimmune disease, cancer, metabolic diseases, neurodegeneration and pain. Read More
A new study published in Nature Cancer reveals a novel regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis resistance that may help overcome therapeutic barriers in cancer treatment.
