New research has filled in missing links between gene variants that have been implicated in disease through genome-wide association studies and how the variants drive disease pathology. The research involved using induced pluripotent stem cells derived from healthy donors and transforming them into macrophages. These were then exposed to 24 different stimuli mimicking infection and inflammation, and the gene expression profiles assessed six and 24 hours later, to see which genes were turned on or off in response. Read More
Fractalkine, when binding to its receptor CX3CR1, modulates leukocyte adhesion and acts as a chemotactic agent. The expression of cardiac CX3CR1/fractalkine is elevated in patients with heart failure and CX3CR1 antagonists may improve the cardiac function by modulation of this axis. Read More
Leal Therapeutics Inc. has raised $30 million in series A financing to advance its neuro-metabolic pipeline of therapeutics that aim to correct metabolic imbalances in the brain in patients with neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders. Read More
Spica Therapeutics NV has been awarded a 2-year €1.0 million (US$1.2 million) grant from Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) to accelerate the development of the company’s lead anti-CD163 depleting monoclonal antibody program in oncology, advancing it toward early IND-enabling studies. Read More
Merck KGaA has synthesized proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase-binding moiety covalently bonded to a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP4K1; HPK1; MEKKK1)-targeting moiety through a linker reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Immunoprecise Antibodies Ltd. is advancing its universal dengue vaccine program. Following the discovery and validation of a uniquely conserved dengue epitope using its Lensai platform, the company is now advancing to preclinical manufacturing for in vivo testing and virus neutralization analysis. Read More
BMS-986470 is a potentially first-in-class molecular glue dual degrader, targeting zinc finger and BTB domain containing 7A (ZBTB7A) and widely interspaced zinc finger protein (WIZ). Bristol Myers Squibb Inc. recently presented details on the discovery of BMS-986470, which is now in phase I studies for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) (NCT06481306). Read More
Les Laboratories Servier SAS and Vernalis (R&D) Ltd. have disclosed son of sevenless homolog 1 (SOS1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, immunological and genetic disorders. Read More
Ideaya Biosciences Inc. has identified protein arginine N-methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Minovia Therapeutics Ltd. has announced a $350,000 grant from Countdown for a Cure for a research proposal related to the development of novel mitochondrial blood-based biomarkers. Read More
Alicorn Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has divulged S-adenosylmethionine synthase isoform type-2 (Mat2A) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. Read More
Chengdu Kanghong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has described orexin OX2 receptor (OX2R; HCRTR2) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of secondary insomnia and major depression. Read More
Gilead Sciences Inc. recently discussed the discovery of emvistegrast (GS-1427), a potent, selective, once-daily oral α4β7 integrin inhibitor currently in phase II trials for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (NCT06290934). Read More
