The formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is a common feature in the renal glomeruli of patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) vasculitis. The use of a DNA repair antibody, such as PAT-DX-1 from Patrys Ltd., could inhibit NET formation by interfering with DNA damage responses in the neutrophil, which lead to the release of DNA.
Shasqi Inc. recently reported the discovery of novel candidates using their proprietary Click Activated Protodrugs Against Cancer (CAPAC) platform, which aims to selectively activate high doses of cancer drugs directly at the tumor site. To achieve this, CAPAC consists of two separate components: a tumor-targeted activator and an inactivated payload.
DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology is a promising new tool for identifying ligands for challenging protein targets, allowing for the preparation and screening of large chemical libraries with significantly reduced time, costs and material requirements when compared to HIT-finding strategy.
Pfizer Inc. has presented preclinical data on its first-in-class, selective cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitor compound, PF-07220060, that has shown 20-fold and 4-fold increased selectivity for CDK4 vs. CDK6 compared to palbociclib and abemaciclib/ribociclib, respectively.
It has been previously demonstrated that B7-H3 and EGFR are co-expressed in multiple solid tumors. At the ongoing AACR meeting in San Diego, researchers from Innovent Biologics Inc. presented preclinical data for their bispecific antibody (bsAb), IBI-334, against B7-H3 and EGFR.
Kinase inhibitors have emerged as crucial cancer therapeutics due to the involvement of kinases in cancer signaling. At the AACR, Neosome Life Sciences LLC has provided data on their kinase inhibitor NEOS-223 for the potential treatment of tumors. The compound was tested in several cancer cell types, as well as in in vivo cancer models in mice.
As with most common diseases of the developed world, aging is the major risk factor for developing cancer. Most of the half-dozen hallmarks of precancer that were published last week by investigators from Vanderbilt University and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center are also hallmarks of aging.
Unfortunately, scientists reported at the American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR) 2024 annual meeting this week that accelerated aging is increasing, and may be driving an increase in early-onset cancers.
Gram-negative bacteria require the metalloenzyme LpxC for their outer membrane biogenesis. Blacksmith Medicines Inc. has identified an LpxC inhibitor, FG-960, which has shown a robust in vitro and in vivo profile against multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales. FG-60 is currently being investigated for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA presented data for novel lung-targeted muscarinic M3 receptor antagonists/β2-adrenoceptor agonists (MABAs) as candidates for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Discovery of novel Nav1.8 inhibitors capable of achieving high levels of target modulation at low oral doses for the potential treatment of pain was reported by Merck & Co. Inc.