Arialys Therapeutics Inc. launched this month with $58 million in seed funding, an experimental compound it is developing for autoimmune encephalitis and autoimmune psychosis, and high aspirations for its field. “Yes, I want to treat these patients, I want these patients to have a better life. But I also want drug discovery and development folks to think differently about discovering new drugs for the CNS,” Jay Lichter told BioWorld.
Arialys Therapeutics Inc. launched this month with $58 million in seed funding, an experimental compound it is developing for autoimmune encephalitis and autoimmune psychosis, and high aspirations for its field. “Yes, I want to treat these patients, I want these patients to have a better life. But I also want drug discovery and development folks to think differently about discovering new drugs for the CNS,” Jay Lichter told BioWorld.
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder characterized by the formation of granulomatous inflammatory nodules mainly located in the lungs, lymphatic system, skin and eyes. In patients with pulmonary involvement, targeting IFN-γ has proven ineffective. Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and collaborators reported on the use of nonreceptor tyrosine phosphatase Src homolog-2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2) inhibition as a potential strategy to treat sarcoidosis-like diseases.
Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) causes difficult-to-treat infections due to its inherent resistance. Thus finding new strategies to overcome MRSA resistance is critical. Researchers from China Agricultural University reported on the discovery and optimization of a novel series of pleuromutilin derivatives containing benzoxazole-2-thiol.
An2 Therapeutics Inc. has received a research grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to discover novel, boron-containing small molecules for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and malaria.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase α (PI3Kα) inhibitors have been reported in a Synnovation Therapeutics Inc. patent as useful for the treatment of cancer, PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum, congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal naevi and skeletal abnormalities.
Researchers from Fudan University and affiliated organizations presented the discovery of novel PIM kinase inhibitors for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A literature-aided molecular hybridization strategy was applied to synthesize a structurally novel compound, based on an N-pyridinyl amide scaffold. Subsequent optimization showed that the positional isomerization of pyridine N toward to Lys67 resulted in a decrease of potency while increased freedom of solvent fragment toward Asp128/Glu171 led to an increase in activity.
Research at RIKEN has led to the identification of furanocoumarin derivatives acting as dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and viral infections.
Google’s Scott Penberthy joins the podcast for a visionary discussion that scans the horizon for startling changes artificial intelligence will bring to drug development in the relatively near future.
Researchers from Technische Universität München and Universitätsklinikum Augsburg recently presented the discovery of novel radiohybrid-based minigastrin analogues.
Researchers from Uppsala University and Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) have detailed the discovery and preclinical evaluation of [177Lu]BQ-7876, a novel prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting therapeutic for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Researchers from University Hospital Basel and Universitätsklinikum Ulm presented the discovery of novel radiotheragnostic candidates targeting C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), which is highly expressed in various cancers and has been linked to poor prognosis.
Glycotope GmbH and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association have signed an agreement to explore the potential of combining Glycotope’s antibodies against protein/carbohydrate combined glyco-epitopes (Glycotargets) with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology...
TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) serves prominent innate immune functions via complex interactions with adaptor proteins to affect phosphorylation of NF-κB (NF-κB). TBK1 is at the nexus of multiple pathways connecting interferon pathway activation and this is ultimately beneficial or...
Via Nova Therapeutics Inc. has received clearance of its IND application from the FDA for its influenza A nucleoprotein inhibitor, VNT-101. The novel investigational small molecule is directed against a novel target, the influenza A nucleoprotein, and is being developed for treatment of seasonal...
Researchers at Ningbo Combireg Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. and Versitech Ltd. have described benzothiazole compounds reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).
Acurastem Inc. has entered into a license agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. to develop and commercialize Acurastem’s PIKFYVE-targeted therapeutics, including AS-202, an innovative antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Scientists at the University of Chicago have discovered a signaling pathway guided by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that could relieve pain even when tolerance to opioids was present. This mechanism did not produce dependence after treatment and could be explored to develop new drugs.
A consortium led by Addex Therapeutics Ltd. has been awarded a €4 million (US$4.3 million) Eurostars grant to support its metabotropic glutamate mGlu2 receptor negative allosteric modulator (NAM) program for mild neurocognitive disorder.
Orionis Biosciences BV has established a multiyear collaboration with Genentech Inc., a member of the Roche Group, to discover novel small-molecule molecular glues for targets in major disease areas, including oncology and neurodegeneration.
Biohaven Therapeutics Ltd. has described potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily KQT member 2/3 (KCNQ2/3) activators reported to be useful for the treatment of epilepsy, pain, dyskinesia, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, stroke, Rett syndrome, substance abuse and dependence, among others.
Novo Nordisk A/S and Valo Health Inc. have entered into an agreement to discover and develop novel treatments for cardiometabolic diseases. The collaboration will leverage Valo’s Opal Computational Platform, including access to real-world patient data, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled...
“Change is the only constant” is an ageless truth. In the search for age-related biomarkers, it is also a prosaic confounding factor. Age-related biomarkers will be critical for the development of antiaging therapeutics. “Nobody is planning to do a life span study in humans,” Eric Verdin told the...
Despite continual investment in research focused on high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), the 5-year survival rate of ∼30% for most patients has remained unchanged for decades. While ≤20% of HGSOC patients present with treatment-refractory disease, therapeutic strategies have not changed...
To identify candidate therapeutic targets for cancers with SF3B1 hotspot mutations, drug-sensitivity screening of an in-house library of 80 small-molecule inhibitors resulted in the identification of a series of candidate SF3B1 mutant (SF3B1[MUT]) synthetic lethal drugs that led to significant...
Genflow Biosciences plc has received correspondence from Belgium’s Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAHMP) with a recommendation to initiate a phase I/II trial of GF-1002 in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH),...
Hepagene Therapeutics Inc. has received FDA clearance of its IND application for HPG-7233 for the treatment of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and dyslipidemia.
In the gastrointestinal tract, intraepithelial lymphocytes are tasked with protecting the epithelium against pathogens and participating in wound repair and correct mucosal barrier functioning. In a study published in the Sept. 15, 2023, issue of ...
Nexys Therapeutics Inc. has identified aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists and their prodrugs reported to be useful for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s disease.
Breakthrough medicines, billion-dollar deals, spectacular clinical successes and crushing failures all play a part in biopharma’s dynamic story. Developers make scientific advancements with the potential to change everything, only to face regulatory conundrums and ever-fluctuating markets. BioWorld tracks key events in the fast-moving sector every business day. Now, the BioWorld Insider podcast lets you hear directly from the movers and shakers whose collective work is changing how we all live. Join us each week for a new conversation.