Modulating G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is one of the major challenges in biomedicine. These are flexible proteins with small, deep binding pockets. The scientific community has explored small molecules, antibodies and nanobodies to develop ligands. Skape Bio Inc. is betting on creating miniproteins, a strategy that brings precise solutions for different functions.
Although CAR T-cell therapy has been highly effective in hematological cancers, its activity in solid tumors is still constrained by inhibitory checkpoints such as PD-1, LAG-3 and TIM-3, together with the lack of locally available cytokines such as IL-2 needed to sustain T-cell function. Anwita Biosciences Inc. and collaborators aimed to overcome these challenges by developing a strategy integrating an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) with a T-cell stimulatory cytokine.
Innovent Biologics Inc.’s efdamrofusp alfa (IBI-302) met the primary endpoint in the phase III Star trial in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), and the Suzhou, China-based company will submit an NDA to China’s National Medical Products Administration.
