Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) is a chronic form of disease that occurs after relapsing-remitting MS, with a progressive disease course, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor that may be a useful marker of Eomes+ Th cells; the antigen has been shown to be expressed by cytotoxic Th cells and required for late-onset disease.

The Annual Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) meeting in Copenhagen this week is celebrating its 40th edition. In recognition of this landmark, the plenary session and opening lecture were attended by Queen Margrethe of Denmark. Afterward, the hot topic session on neuroprotective therapies set the stage for the subsequent discussions on the latest trends in the management and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Wall Street apparently wanted more from Prelude Therapeutics Inc.’s phase I data with SMARCA2 enzyme degrader PRT-3789 in cancer, which rolled out Sept. 13 during the recent European Society of Medical Oncology Congress in Barcelona, but hopes are still high for other prospects in the class pushed forward by various developers.

Innovent Biologics Inc. unveiled for the first time safety and efficacy data of IBI-354, an HER2 monoclonal antibody-camptothecin derivative conjugate that shows promising efficacy signals across a range of advanced solid tumors, during the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2024 Congress. An HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate developed using Innovent's topoisomerase inhibitor NT3 platform, IBI-354 combines a hydrophilic linker design with a hydrophobic payload to enhance the bystander effect, targeting adjacent antigen-low or negative tumor cells.

Strategics tend to invest in med-tech companies they are looking to acquire or could be acquired. Furthermore, companies like Medtronic plc and Royal Philips NV, which have venture arms, will continue to invest even through challenging times.

Amylin is a hormone co-secreted with insulin in the pancreas that has anorexigenic effects, since it promotes satiety and reduces food intake. Amylin analogs and dual agonists of the amylin and calcitonin receptors have been developed for treating obesity. Astrazeneca plc reported results with their AMYR3 agonist AZD-6234.

The increasing resistance to intravenous artemisinin therapy for malaria highlights the urgent need for new treatments that offer better patient compliance and a single-dose cure to address this global health threat. Novartis AG recently presented the discovery, development and evaluation of aminoisoquinolines as fast-acting intravenous therapeutic agents for severe malaria treatment.