The development of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, has been a game changer in the clinical management of overweight and obesity, but there is interpersonal variability in efficacy of these medications for weight loss, as well as in the incidence of undesired side effects. Investigators from the 23andMe Research Institute have shed some light on how variations in the GLP-1R and GIP receptor (GIPR) genes impact their effectiveness and the occurrence of side effects. Read More

There are new data to chew over in the ongoing controversy about obesity being diagnosed as a disease from a study tracking 157,159 participants in the UK Biobank over 13 years. This shows that even in the absence of any metabolic disturbance such as elevated lipids, high blood pressure or diabetes, there is an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, heart failure and liver disease in people with a body mass index over 30. Read More

Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Abbvie Inc., granting Abbvie the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize novel medicines for the treatment of pain globally, excluding mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Read More

Vivatides Therapeutics Inc. has closed an oversubscribed $54 million series A financing to advance its work in extrahepatic RNA delivery technologies. Proceeds from the financing will be used to further advance the company’s extrahepatic delivery platform and accelerate pipeline programs. Read More

Solve Therapeutics Inc. has disclosed new antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprising antibody or antigen binding fragments targeting trophoblast glycoprotein (TPBG; 5T4) linked to a cytotoxic drug and therefore potentially useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More

Retinoid X receptor γ (RXRγ) is a key nuclear receptor that sustains androgen receptor (AR) signaling. In castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), RXRγ contributes to disease progression by maintaining adaptive transcriptional networks that promote therapy resistance and tumor cell survival. Read More

Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University and collaborators reported the preclinical efficacy of SGI-7079, an AXL inhibitor, in models of retinoblastoma. Read More

The Scripps Research Institute has identified new baloxavir analogues and their prodrugs acting as new influenza cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN) inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of influenza viral infections. Read More

Dovetree Medicines Unus Inc. has divulged new cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53) (Y220C mutant) stabilizers potentially useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More

SARS-CoV-2 utilizes the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor for cell entry and triggers ACE2 ectodomain shedding, which results in elevated vasoconstrictor angiotensin II (Ang-II) while depleting the protective Ang-(1-7). This effect can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypertension, acute kidney injury and organ damage. Read More

Chengdu Diao Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has patented new 1,2,4-triazole compounds characterized as apelin receptor (APLNR) agonists. As such, they are described as useful for the treatment of obesity, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Read More

Gluetacs Therapeutics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. has discovered new proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising a cereblon (CRBN)-binding moiety coupled to a SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily A member 2 (SMARCA2) and SMARCA4-targeting moiety. They are designed for use in the treatment of cancer, transplant rejection, infections, diabetes, autoimmune, neurological, inflammatory and cardiovascular disorders, among others. Read More

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a life-threatening autoimmune disease affecting the skin, causing painful erosions on the skin and mucous membranes. PV is caused by IgG4 autoantibodies that target desmoglein 1 (DSG1) and DSG3, which are involved in keratinocyte cell-cell adhesion. There is a high unmet medical need for PV, since current therapies rely on systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Read More