Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer, representing approximately 75-85% of all cases. Often considered preventable, primary liver cancer ranks as the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Through a multi-institutional effort, researchers have identified activated ATF6α as a driver of HCC that suppresses immune defenses, predicts response to immune checkpoint therapy, and represents a potential target for intervention. Read More

Galux closed a ₩42 billion (US$29 million) series B round Feb. 10, led by Yuanta Investment to bring AI-driven “rational design” to the protein drug development process, already heavily influenced by human engineering. Read More

Zhejiang Difference Biological Technology Co. Ltd. (Diff Biotech)’s proprietary nasal spray influenza attenuated live vaccine, DIFF-flu, has received clinical trial approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Read More

Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina report the development of novel genetic mouse models that enable pericyte chemogenetic modulation, which could reduce neuronal damage and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. Read More

Fatty acid lipoxygenase ALOX15 inhibitors have been disclosed in a joint Teijin Pharma Ltd. and Transthera Biosciences Co. Ltd. patent. They are reported to be useful for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, asthma, autoimmune disease, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and allergic rhinitis, among others. Read More

Nextpoint Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA to initiate clinical development of NPX-372, a first-in-class B7-H7-targeted T-cell engager (TCE) for the treatment of patients with solid tumors. Read More

Hubei Polytechnic University (Huangshi, China) scientists and collaborators aimed to develop potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors that may also synergize with immunotherapies for cancer treatment. Read More

Indiana Biosciences Research Institute Inc. and Indiana University have jointly identified tyrosine-protein kinase Lyn inhibitors described as potentially useful for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Read More

Impact Therapeutics Inc. has divulged heteroaryl compounds acting as ATP-dependent RNA helicase A (DHX9) inhibitors intended for use in the treatment of cancer. Read More

Almirall SA has submitted a CTA filing for a bispecific antibody targeting IL-13 and OX-40L for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. The company expects to initiate a first-in-human phase I trial during the first half of this year. Read More

Zhuhai United Laboratories Co. Ltd. has patented boronic acid β-lactamase inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of bacterial infections. Read More

China Pharmaceutical University and Chongqing Innovation Institute China Pharmaceutical University have reported tetrahydronaphthyridine compounds acting as stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING; TMEM173) antagonists. Read More

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) frequently suffer from sleep disorders, in addition to the neurodegenerative processes associated with the disease. These disorders affect both rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep, but the underlying mechanisms in PD patients remain largely unknown. Read More