A peptide with a dual mechanism of action – it dissolves the bacterial membrane and activates the immune system – could be an effective weapon against microorganisms that have evolved ways to evade antibiotics, as superbugs do. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) have designed stable synthetic peptides that activate mast cell receptors, which are cells involved in the innate and adaptive immune response. This dual approach eliminates bacteria and recruits neutrophils to finish the job. Read More

Interferon (IFN)-α, on paper, should be quite effective against hepatocellular carcinoma, the most frequent form of primary liver cancer. IFN-α can suppress tumor growth directly by acting on tumor cells, as well as indirectly by activating cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. In addition, it can slow replication of hepatitis B virus, which is involved in 50% to 80% of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, IFN-α on its own has performed disappointingly in clinical trials. Read More

Shanghai Circode Biomed Co. Ltd. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for HM-2002 for ischemic heart disease. It previously received IND clearance in China in January this year. Read More

Preclinical findings have shown matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) inhibition confers antifibrotic effects and thus, is a promising therapeutic strategy to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Changchun Genescience Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has presented data on the siRNA technology-based MMP-7 inhibitor GenSciP117 for treating IPF. Read More

Inflamax Pharmaceuticals (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd. has disclosed proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-type 6 (PCSK6; PACE4; PC7A) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Read More

Bronchodilators are front-line weapons against asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. The search continues for next-generation dilators, which so far has largely produced compounds that are no better than existing ones and that often present safety problems. Read More

Several 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) agonists are approved for treating chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) by stimulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility. Traditional 5-HT4R agonists act systemically, causing central nervous and cardiovascular side effects. In contrast, gut-restricted agonists like prucalopride target the GI tract, reducing these risks. Read More

Scientists at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences have synthesized nonstructural protein 14 (NSP14) (coronavirus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of coronavirus acute respiratory syndrome. Read More

Researchers at Chongqing Pharmaceutical Research Institute Co. Ltd. and Yaopharma Co. Ltd. have identified glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH). Read More

The polarization of macrophages is crucial in modulating the tumor microenvironment and impacting cancer development. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as key regulators in this process. Read More

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a complex and heterogeneous blood cancer, and current risk assessment tools like the Revised International Staging System (R-ISS) have limitations in accurately predicting prognosis, especially for the intermediate-risk R-ISS II group. Read More

Treeline Biosciences Inc. has divulged proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) comprising cereblon (CRBN) ligands coupled to a Bcl-2-like protein 1 (Bcl-xl; Bcl-X; BCL2L1) targeting moiety via a linker acting as Bcl-xl degradation inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More

Among gynecological cancers, ovarian cancer is the deadliest one and with the worst prognosis primarily due to resistance to platinum-based therapies. Esculetin has been shown to exert antitumoral effects in some cancer types, but its effect on ovarian cancer is not well known. Read More

Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has described protein cereblon (CRBN) inhibitors and proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More