Circular RNA (circRNA) is not a new concept, but it is a novel strategy in the field of gene and cell therapy. While mRNA vaccines have revolutionized medicine, this RNA fragment without free ends surpasses their performance in both efficacy and durability, bringing it to the attention of several pioneering companies. The latest advances in circRNA presented at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) clearly surpass the performance achieved with linear mRNA. Read More
Far beyond indications like breast cancer, there are sex differences in incidence across a broad range of tumor types. Particularly in glioblastoma, there is a clear male-biased incidence compared to females. The mechanisms that drive this difference are not well understood, buy may include an androgen-related immune response. Recent evidence suggests a key role for androgens in antitumoral immunity and their impact on the response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Read More
AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals GmbH (AOP Health) has established a strategic partnership with VRG Therapeutics Zrt to advance a novel Kv1.3 potassium channel inhibitor for use in inflammation and immunology indications. Read More
Researchers from Beacon Therapeutics Holdings Ltd. reported the development of BTX-001, an intravitreal gene therapy designed to target the complement pathway through delivery of a C5 inhibitor. Read More
Foghorn Therapeutics Inc. has synthesized proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin ligase-binding agent coupled to a histone acetyltransferase p300 (EP300)-targeting moiety. As such, they are described as EP300 degradation inducers potentially useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Chinese researchers reported the discovery and preclinical characterization of a novel PROTAC degrader designed to target SAMHD1 and intended for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Read More
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG and Immunitas Therapeutics Inc. have signed a global licensing agreement for a preclinical antibody program being developed for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Read More
Aeovian Pharmaceuticals Inc. has divulged new ADP-ribosyl cyclase/cyclic ADP-ribose hydrolase 1 (CD38) inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of neurodegeneration, inflammation, fibrosis, systemic scleroderma, vascular disorders, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, liver and metabolic diseases, among others. Read More
Pheast Therapeutics Inc. has presented preclinical data on PHST-677, a novel bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting E-cadherin (CDH1) and Nectin-4. Read More
Shanghai Allink Biotherapeutics Co. Ltd. has discovered new bispecific antibody-drug conjugates comprising a bispecific monoclonal antibody linked to a cytotoxic drug potentially useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Phrontline Biopharma (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd. has prepared and tested bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (bsADCs) comprising a bispecific antibody targeting B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3; CD276) and EGFR (HER1; erbB1) linked to a cytotoxic drug. They are described as potentially useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Mesothelin (MSLN) is a highly expressed protein in several cancer types but with limited expression in normal tissues. Simcere Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has presented preclinical data on the characterization of SCR-A019, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) carrying a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload and an antibody that binds to membrane Mesothelin (MSLN) over soluble MSLN and has shown robust antitumor efficacy in several cell-derived xenograft models. Read More
