FEDORA, a long noncoding RNA, regulates depression in women
Scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found a sexual dimorphism of depression based on the different expression of a molecule that could be developed as a therapeutic strategy. “There is a big sex difference in depression. Women are much more likely to have depression than men. They tend to have different subsets of symptoms. They tend to respond better to different antidepressants, and the depression tends to be more severe,” Orna Issler, the first author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told BioWorld. Their project, directed by Eric Nestler, a professor of neuroscience and director of the Friedman Brain Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, had the aim to understand the biology of these sex differences of depression and to find therapeutic targets for it.

FEDORA, a long noncoding RNA, regulates depression in women
Scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found a sexual dimorphism of depression based on the different expression of a molecule that could be developed as a therapeutic strategy. “There is a big sex difference in depression. Women are much more likely to have depression than men. They tend to have different subsets of symptoms. They tend to respond better to different antidepressants, and the depression tends to be more severe,” Orna Issler, the first author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told BioWorld. Their project, directed by Eric Nestler, a professor of neuroscience and director of the Friedman Brain Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, had the aim to understand the biology of these sex differences of depression and to find therapeutic targets for it.
Holiday notice
In accordance with the publishing schedule, BioWorld Science will not be published on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.
BioCryst reports discovery of plasma kallikrein inhibitors for treatment of HAE
Researchers from BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. have developed a series of plasma kallikrein inhibitors with potential for the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE).
A KK-LC-1-targeting PDC as a potent radiosensitizer for precision chemoradiotherapy
The high and specific expression of Kita-Kyushu lung cancer antigen 1 (KK-LC-1) in multiple types of tumors makes it an ideal target for drug delivery.
SARM1 inhibition may be a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2A
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2A (CMT2A) is a common hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy of the peripheral nervous system caused by mutations in the mitofusin 2 gene (MFN2). CMT2A is characterized by progressive axonal degeneration without myelin involvement, predominantly affecting the distal limbs, but the mechanisms underlying the axonal pathology remain unclear.

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Conferences

Neuroanatomy analysis of new mouse models of autism
Neurology/Psychiatric
Researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children have created mouse models related to autism. Nine novel models related to autism were produced in C57BL/6NCrl (B6N) mice using loss-of-function mouse lines with knockout of genes Katnal2, L2hgdh, Nexmif, Otc, Pah, Rab39b, Ranbp17, Upf3b and Ypel2.
SynB1-ELP-p50i NF-κB inhibitor peptide reduces infarct volume in MCAO model
Cardiovascular
Ischemic stroke comprises about 87% of stroke incidence. The nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB) cascade is a major regulatory pathway of inflammation and is activated in response to ischemic stroke in humans and in rodents during middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).
Researchers develop murine model of AD with late-onset cognitive impairment
Neurology/Psychiatric
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, with few FDA-approved treatments and many that have failed; further understanding of AD’s disease mechanisms is required. Investigators from Gempharmatech Inc. have developed a novel AD murine model (FAD4T) in which...
Novel TAK1 inhibitor alleviates inflammatory and neuropathic pain
Inflammatory
Researchers from Eydis Bio Inc. reported the discovery and preclinical characterization of a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 7 (MAP3K7/TAK1) inhibitor, EYD-001, being developed for the treatment of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

Cancer

Discovery of new derivatives with Wee1 inhibitory activity
Researchers from Shouyao Holdings (Beijing) Co. Ltd. presented the discovery of novel Wee1-like protein kinase inhibitors being investigated as agents for the treatment of cancer.

Infection

Bluejay set to advance BJT-778 for chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis D
Monoclonal antibody
Bluejay Therapeutics Inc. has received approval from the New Zealand Medicines and Medical...

Texas A&M University System divulges new SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and CYP3A4 inhibitors
Coronavirus
Texas A&M University System has discovered 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Biondvax reports in vivo data with inhaled NanoAb COVID-19 therapy
Coronavirus
Biondvax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has reported statistically significant efficacy results from an in vivo proof-of-concept study of its innovative inhaled nanosized antibody (NanoAb) COVID-19 therapy.

Neurology/Psychiatric

Ventus Therapeutics nominates brain-penetrant NLRP3 inhibitor as second development candidate
Ventus Therapeutics Inc. is advancing its novel NLRP3 inhibitor programs and announced...
In AD, neural network dysfunction due to plaque damage
Clinical
Researchers have identified a link between amyloid plaques and dysfunctional neuronal conduction in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Their study, which was published in the Dec. 1, 2022, issue of Nature, suggests new ways to think about AD, as well as badly needed potential alternatives...
Eikonoklastes and Forge Biologics partner on AAV manufacturing for ET-101 for ALS
Collaboration
Eikonoklastes Therapeutics Inc. and Forge Biologics Inc. have established a manufacturing partnership to advance Eikonoklastes' adeno-associated viral (AAV)-based gene therapy, ET-101, into clinical trials for the treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Merck Sharp & Dohme discloses new Nav1.8 channel blockers
Patents
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. has described 3-oxopiperazine carboxamide derivatives acting as sodium channel protein type 10 subunit alpha (Nav1.8) blockers reported to be useful for the treatment of cough, pruritus, acute and neuropathic pain.
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven discloses new compounds for epilepsy
Patents
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven has patented compounds reported to useful for the treatment of epilepsy.

Endocrine/Metabolic

Carmot Therapeutics patents new GLP-1R agonists
Patents
Carmot Therapeutics Inc. has divulged benzimidazoyl compounds acting as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Biomarkers

UBA6 gene mutation found in a patient with autism spectrum disorder
Conferences
Previous studies found that the neuronal loss of UBA6 led to decreased dendritic spine density and behavior dysfunction in murine models.

Novel intronic mutation in the COL4A5 gene reported in Alport syndrome
Conferences
Alport syndrome (AS) is a hereditary disease affecting type IV collagen that is caused – in 80% of cases – by the COL4A5 gene. In 10% to 20% of AS cases, a mutation cannot be detected.
Lower ApoJ-Glyc levels found in patients with ischemia
Conferences
Recent findings have suggested glycosylated apolipoprotein J (ApoJ-Glyc) levels to be a marker for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia. Analysis of this marker was performed in a cohort of patients with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (N=404). ApoJ-Glyc serum levels were...

Gastrointestinal

AGMB-101 seen to confer hepatoprotection in preclinical studies
Conferences
Acute liver failure (ALF) occurs when an acute injury to the liver is not compensated by the liver’s endogenous regenerative capacity, resulting in impaired liver function. Accelerating the liver’s regenerative capacity by activating the...
CLDN1 is a therapeutic target in primary sclerosing cholangitis
Conferences
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a disease affecting the bile ducts that can lead to end-stage liver disease and cholangiocarcinoma. Patients with this disease lack therapeutic treatment other than liver transplantation.
Preclinical data presented for TGR5 inhibitor SBI-319 in CCA and PLD
Conferences
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most common primary cancer of the liver with a median survival of 25 months. Therapeutic options for CCA are limited and the discovery of new therapeutic approaches is crucial for CCA management.
ID-119031166 improves NASH and liver fibrosis in hamsters
Conferences
ID-119031166 is a non-bile acid farnesoid X...
Yuhan has synthesized new AOC3 inhibitors
Patents
Yuhan Corp. has patented membrane primary amine oxidase (AOC3) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Collplant, Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center collaborate on gut-on-a-chip tissue model
Organoids
Collplant Biotechnologies Ltd. and Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center, have entered into a license and research agreement to codevelop a gut-on-a-chip tissue model for...

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