Regeneration in mammals is controlled by environmental conditions
The loss of regenerative capacity in mammals over the course of evolution may be linked to certain environmental conditions rather than to a genetic limitation. Tissue stiffness around an amputated area, oxygen availability, or epigenetic regulation could determine this ability, according to two simultaneously published but independent studies published in Science, as reported by BioWorld yesterday.

Biologics in development outnumber small molecules for the first time
More than four decades on from the approval of the first biologic drug, the industry has reached a tipping point, and biotech drugs now outnumber small molecules in the global R&D pipeline. At the start of the biotech industry, progress was slow. Between 1983 and 1995, the U.S. FDA approved an average of two biologics each year. Now, biologics have taken the lead by the smallest of margins, accounting for 50.1% of drugs in development at the start of 2026, according to the Pharma Annual Review 2026, published by Pharmaprojects, a firm that tracks global pharma R&D.

Regeneration in mammals is controlled by environmental conditions
The loss of regenerative capacity in mammals over the course of evolution may be linked to certain environmental conditions rather than to a genetic limitation. Tissue stiffness around an amputated area, oxygen availability, or epigenetic regulation could determine this ability, according to two simultaneously published but independent studies published in Science, as reported by BioWorld yesterday.
Biologics in development outnumber small molecules for the first time
More than four decades on from the approval of the first biologic drug, the industry has reached a tipping point, and biotech drugs now outnumber small molecules in the global R&D pipeline. At the start of the biotech industry, progress was slow. Between 1983 and 1995, the U.S. FDA approved an average of two biologics each year. Now, biologics have taken the lead by the smallest of margins, accounting for 50.1% of drugs in development at the start of 2026, according to the Pharma Annual Review 2026, published by Pharmaprojects, a firm that tracks global pharma R&D.
DXP 006 reduces disease severity in psoriasis models
Researchers from Singlomics Zhuhai Danxu Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. presented DXP-006, a humanized antibody targeting IL1RAP, a shared co receptor required for IL 1, IL 33 and IL 36 cytokines.
Gilead exercises option to license Kymera’s KT-200
Gilead Sciences Inc. has exercised its option to exclusively license KT-200, a first-in-class, oral CDK2 molecular glue degrader development candidate discovered and characterized by Kymera Therapeutics Inc. under the parties’ strategic collaboration agreement.
PMP22-RNAi gives long-lasting protection in Charcot-Marie-Tooth
Researchers from the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and collaborators report the development of a gene silencing therapy for Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A.
Invivyd unveils measles monoclonal antibody candidate VMS-063
Invivyd Inc. has announced the discovery and advancement of VMS-063, a novel monoclonal antibody candidate for the treatment and prevention of measles.
Beone reports new GTPase KRAS inhibitors
Beone Medicines I GmbH and Beone Pharmaceutical (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. have identified new macrocyclic GTPase KRAS inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of cancer.

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Conferences

LCC-6 characterized as an antifibrotic and copper chelator agent
Inflammatory
Copper overload within the body may lead to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation or fibrosis, among others. Copper chelation is an effective strategy to counteract this potential overload; mitochondria play an important role, as they are the main copper-using organelles in the cells....
Selective CBL-B inhibitor with improved safety profile disclosed
Cancer
CBL-B is a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase that acts as a negative regulator of T-cell activation, contributing to immune homeostasis by limiting excessive immune responses. In cancer, however, this inhibitory role can impair the immune system’s capacity to detect and eradicate tumor cells....
VB-19055 exerts antihypertensive effects
American College of Cardiology
Chinese researchers from Zhejiang Yangli Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. have presented data on an aldosterone synthase inhibitor, VB-19055. Inhibiting aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) could lead to a potential treatment for cardiovascular-renal-metabolic disorders.
Next-generation anti-CD30 ADC outperforms brentuximab vedotin
European Society for Medical Oncology
Researchers from Mabqi SAS presented the preclinical profile of MQI-181, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a human anti-CD30 antibody (18D03) linked to the cytotoxic payload monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a cleavable MC-VC-PAB linker, with a drug-antibody ratio of 4.

Cancer

Sidewinder’s bispecific ADC approach draws $137M series B
Financings
Founded amid the booming next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) space, Sidewinder Therapeutics Inc. has emerged from stealth with an oversubscribed $137 million series B round and plans to advance a lead program into the clinic in 2027.

Infection

Dectisomes show potent activity against high-priority fungal pathogens
Drug design, drug delivery and technologies
In previous work, researchers from the University of Georgia developed liposomes loaded with antifungal drugs and coated with the carbohydrate recognition domains of mouse dectin-1 and/or dectin-2, called Dectisomes. The murine Dectisomes efficiently bound and killed pathogenic fungi in vitro and...

Wuhan Xirui Pharmaceutical Technology discloses new amphotericin B amide derivatives
Patents
Wuhan Xirui Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd. has synthesized new amphotericin B amide derivatives that are potentially useful for the treatment of fungal infection.
COVID-19 mRNA vaccine provides broad-spectrum protection
RNA
Researchers from the University of Naples Federico II (Italy) and collaborating institutions reportedd the design of a next-generation mRNA vaccine that leverages a phylogenetically informed consensus receptor binding domain heterotrimers representing the major variant lineages.

Neurology/psychiatric

Sononeu wins $5.2M ARPA-H grant for ultrasound-activated therapeutics
Newco news
Newco Sononeu Inc. has launched to translate more than a decade of basic research in controlling cells with ultrasound into novel, non-invasive therapies for conditions including peripheral and diabetic neuropathy. The underlying technology of sonogenetics provides the ability to manipulate...
Orexin OX2 receptor agonists disclosed in Vertex Pharmaceuticals patent
Patents
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. has patented new macrocyclic sulfonamide orexin OX2 receptor agonists potentially useful for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, obesity, hypertension, retinopathy, multiple sclerosis, narcolepsy, hypersomnia and Parkinson's disease, among others.
Acadia Pharmaceuticals presents GPR88 agonists
Patents
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. has reported new G protein-coupled receptor GPR88 agonists that are potentially useful for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia.
Optimization of brain-permeable SGK1 inhibitors for neurodegenerative diseases
Kinase inhibitors have shown success in disease areas such as oncology, but their application in neurodegenerative diseases is still limited. This is mainly due to several challenges, such as the complexity of kinase networks, limited blood-brain barrier permeability and the lack of biomarkers.
Korsana boosts Alzheimer’s work with reverse merger, $380M financing
Deals and M&A
Just over a month after emerging from stealth and disclosing a $150 million series A, Korsana Biosciences Inc. is making the leap to the public market via a merger with Cyclerion Therapeutics Inc. The agreement, which is backed by a $370 million private placement from Korsana’s investors, solidly...

Endocrine/metabolic

Ibio’s IBIO-600 cleared to enter clinic in Australia for obesity
Regulatory
Ibio Inc. has received clinical trial notification (CTN) acknowledgement from Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), as well as Human Research Ethics Committee approval, for IBIO-600, enabling the initiation of a first-in-human trial in Australia.

Biomarkers

Aberrant HORMAD1 expression in TNBC increases sensitivity to mitotic kinase inhibitors
Cancer
HORMA domain-containing protein 1 (HORMAD1) is a protein that promotes meiotic recombination and its expression is usually restricted to germ-line cells, although it has been shown to be actively expressed out of context in about 60% of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs). A team at The...

GWAS identifies variant associated with diabetic retinopathy and susceptibility to T2D
GWAS
Scientists at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and collaborators aimed to identify genetic variants associated with diabetic retinopathy.
IL-22 and TL1A, a robust couple for diagnosing hidradenitis suppurativa
Conferences
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with strong association with psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While some signaling pathways are well defined in HS, the role of TNF-like ligand 1 (TL1A) is not well understood. A group of researchers has...

Gastrointestinal

HHEX emerges as a potential IBD target
In recent work, researchers from Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Shanghai Colorectal Cancer Research Center reported that the transcription factor hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX) promotes tumorigenesis in...
KIST and Neocannbio report new NO production inhibitors
Patents
The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Neocannbio Co. Ltd. have jointly identified compounds acting as nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitors with potential for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
GPR68 negative allosteric modulator ameliorates ulcerative colitis
Conferences
G-protein coupled receptor 68 (GPR68) is an acid-sensing protein receptor that has been implicated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis by its modulation of the inflammatory response and fibrosis.
SIK2 inhibitor mitigates pathology in ulcerative colitis models
Conferences
Salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates transcriptional programs in myeloid cells by phosphorylating transcriptional coregulators. In macrophages, SIK2 promotes the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and...
Targeting OGFOD1 improves hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury
Cardiovascular
Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a severe pathologic condition associated with poor outcomes when individuals suffer from hemorrhagic shock, liver resection or transplantation surgery, leading to severe liver impairment and sometimes...
Spyre reports enhanced efficacy of anti-TL1A and anti-IL-23 combination
Conferences
Researchers from Spyre Therapeutics Inc. reported on the therapeutic efficacy of combining anti-TL1A and anti-IL-23 antibodies in preclinical models of colitis.

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