Two-step HIV vaccine induces broadly neutralizing antibodies
A designed chimeric virus induced broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against the macaque equivalent of HIV. The strategy works in two steps: first it uses an envelope protein (Env) with a mutation that reduces the glycan shield that makes it invisible to the immune system, and then it exposes the part of the protein most likely to generate these antibodies capable of blocking many variants of the virus. The macaques developed potent and diverse antibodies with this approach, which pave the way for the development of an HIV-1 vaccine.

Two-step HIV vaccine induces broadly neutralizing antibodies
A designed chimeric virus induced broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against the macaque equivalent of HIV. The strategy works in two steps: first it uses an envelope protein (Env) with a mutation that reduces the glycan shield that makes it invisible to the immune system, and then it exposes the part of the protein most likely to generate these antibodies capable of blocking many variants of the virus. The macaques developed potent and diverse antibodies with this approach, which pave the way for the development of an HIV-1 vaccine.
Hantavirus is ‘sentinel’ more than acute pandemic threat
News of eight infections and three deaths so far due to an emerging zoonotic virus has brought back unhappy memories of the early days of SARS-CoV-2. At a press conference on Thursday, officials from the WHO did their best to calm the public’s fears that the MV Hondius, the ship currently heading to the Canary Islands with its remaining passengers plus assorted medical, WHO and European Center for Disease Prevention and Control staff, is the 2026 version of the Diamond Princess.
Arrivent’s MUC16/NaPi2b-targeted ADC gains IND clearance
Arrivent Biopharma Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for ARR-002 (AV-P138-ADC), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) with an initial focus in ovarian and endometrial cancers and broader therapeutic potential across solid tumors. A phase I trial is expected to open in the second half of the year.
Seed financing at Parcelbio to advance mRNA medicines
Parcelbio has raised $13 million in seed financing to continue its development of a new class of potent and durable mRNA medicines. The financing will support development of Parcelbio’s proprietary APEXm (Amplified and Prolonged EXpression mRNA) platform and advance its pipeline, including its lead in vivo CAR T program for autoimmune disease.
FDA clears IND for Harbour Biomed’s HBM-7004
Harbour Biomed has gained IND clearance from the FDA for HBM-7004, enabling the initiation of a first-in-human phase I trial in subjects with advanced solid tumors.
New assay for drug discovery against chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy
A group led by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital established a scalable and reproducible model of paclitaxel-induced axon degeneration and neurotoxicity in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived sensory neurons.
Impact Therapeutics discovers new Wee1 inhibitors
Impact Therapeutics (Shanghai) Inc. has prepared and tested Wee1-like protein kinase (Wee1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.

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Conferences

ZMS-2195 is a potent multi-RAS strategy for RAS-dependent tumors
American Association for Cancer Research
Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has detailed the discovery and preclinical characterization of ZMS-2195, a multiple-RAS inhibitor designed to prevent both mutant and wild-type forms of KRAS, NRAS and HRAS from binding to the RAS-binding domain (RBD) of RAF, which is required to activate...
Biosion’s BSI-737 exerts strong antitumor activity
American Association for Cancer Research
Biosion Inc. recently presented preclinical data describing their B7H3/PD-L1 bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) BSI-737 for the treatment of cancer.
PLX-61639 shows efficacy in SMARCA4-mutant tumors
American Association for Cancer Research
Researchers from Plexium Inc. presented preclinical efficacy data for PLX-61639, a SMARCA2-selective degrader, in SMARCA4-mutant tumor models.
Kymera’s IRF5 degrader shows potential in IBD treatment
Gastrointestinal
At the recently concluded Digestive Disease Week, researchers from Kymera Therapeutics Inc. presented preclinical efficacy data on KT-579, a selective oral IRF5 degrader, in models of IBD.

Cancer

Innocare Pharma’s ICP-B208 gains IND clearance in China
Regulatory
Beijing Innocare Pharma Tech Co. Ltd. has received IND approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for ICP-B208, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting CDH17, which is highly expressed in gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal, gastric and biliary tract cancers and...

Infection

First measles treatment advances as vaccination rates drop
Science
Scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology have identified and characterized human antibodies that neutralize the measles virus by blocking its entry into the cell. This is the first time that antibodies have been shown to bind effectively to two essential viral proteins, creating a dual...

Liposomes displaying Env trimers drive HIV apex-focused responses
Science
A new vaccination strategy designed to induce antibodies that recognize the apex of the HIV Env protein uses Env trimers displayed on liposomes to increase their density and orient them correctly. This presentation enhanced apex-focused antibody responses in macaques, and the monoclonal antibodies...
Aventera raises funding for streptococcal infection program
Financings
Aventera Antibodies AB has successfully raised SEK14.5 million (US$15.6 million) in a funding round to support the preclinical development of the company’s lead drug candidate for life-threatening streptococcal infections.

Neurology/psychiatric

Apertura Gene Therapy and TSC Alliance partner on gene therapies
Collaboration
Apertura Gene Therapy LLC and the TSC Alliance have established a collaboration to advance gene therapy programs designed to treat tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).
Alzecure’s TrkA modulator combines pain relief with joint protection
Musculoskeletal
Researchers from Alzecure Pharma AB and collaborators reported preclinical efficacy data on ACD-137, a selective negative allosteric TrkA modulator in models of peripheral neuropathy and osteoarthritis.
Elaaj Bio advances gene therapy for CDKL5 deﬁciency disorder
Collaboration
Elaaj Bio, a wholly owned subsidiary of the nonproﬁt Loulou Foundation, has entered into a partnership with Viralgen Vector Core SL to advance a gene therapy program for CDKL5 deﬁciency disorder.
NIH grant supports Quiver Bioscience’s QV-2421 for pain
Financings
Quiver Bioscience Inc. has received a multi-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance its lead Nav1.7-targeted antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), QV-2421, through IND-enabling studies and first-in-human trials for chronic neuropathic pain.
Coreterra Therapeutics patents agents for schizophrenia
Patents
Work at Coreterra Therapeutics Inc. has led to the discovery of new thienyl compounds intended for potential use in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Endocrine/metabolic

MYO technology enables DNA delivery of incretin agonists for durable weight loss
Medical technology
Researchers from Renbio Inc. and Louisiana State University investigated the delivery of plasmid DNA encoding new glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1)-based biologics with MYO (Make Your Own) technology as a new therapeutic strategy. This approach ensures the continuous production of GLP-1-based...

Biomarkers

Circulating sncRNA transcriptome in diabetic kidney disease and SGLT2 inhibitor treatment
Nephrology
Small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs), including miRNAs, piRNAs and snoRNAs, can provide further biological insights into the mechanisms of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in diabetes. Researchers from Leiden University Medical Center and collaborating institutions previously discovered that various classes...

Detecting the invisible: minimal residual disease at AACR 2026
Conferences
Minimal residual disease (MRD) has become a central concept in modern oncology, reshaping how clinicians evaluate response, relapse risk and treatment precision. As increasingly sensitive technologies reveal traces of cancer that persist after therapy, MRD is emerging as both a biological challenge...
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...

Gastrointestinal

Novel method BOOSTs organ growth after transplantation
Drug design, drug delivery and technologies
A major challenge in tissue engineering is not only achieving the correct cellular organization of an engineered tissue, but also expanding it to a clinically useful size after implantation. Researchers from the Wyss Institute at Harvard...
Mayinglong Pharmaceutical presents new 5-HT4 receptor agonists
Patents
Mayinglong Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has reported new 5-HT4 receptor agonists that are potentially useful for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, delayed gastric emptying...
Hubei Bio-Pharmaceutical Industrial Technological Institute divulges new VAV1 degraders
Degradation inducer
Hubei Bio-Pharmaceutical Industrial Technological Institute Inc. has identified new molecular glue degrader compounds acting as proto-oncogene Vav (VAV1)/protein cereblon (CRBN) interaction inducers for degradation of VAV1 reported to be useful...
GLP-1R drug response tied to variants in target genes
Science
The development of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, has been a game changer in the clinical management of overweight and obesity, but there is interpersonal variability in efficacy of these...
TIPE2 silencing attenuates colitis
Immune
The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2), predominantly expressed in bone marrow-derived cells or lymphoid tissues, is an essential regulator of immune homeostasis. TIPE2 acts as a key negative modulator of inflammatory...
Proqr Therapeutics expands early-stage pipeline
Endocrine/metabolic
Proqr Therapeutics NV has highlighted the continued progression and expansion of its early-stage pipeline of RNA editing therapies, including programs in cholestatic diseases, Hurler syndrome, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis and...

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