A vaccine based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology against four surface proteins of the envelope and the inner membrane of the mpox virus (MPXV) demonstrated its efficacy in two animal models. Biontech SE scientists designed and tested two different combinations of antigens in mice and macaques for the two infective forms of the virus. One of them showed better results for its evaluation in clinical trials preventing the disease.
Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. inked deals with Shattuck Labs Inc. and Numab Therapeutics AG aimed at bolstering its pipeline in oncology and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Ono struck a drug discovery collaboration and option agreement with Shattuck Labs to generate bifunctional fusion proteins for pathways involved in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It also signed a global research, development and commercialization deal with Numab for its NM-49, a multispecific antibody designed to activate tumor-associated macrophage phagocytosis for treating cancers.
Alys Pharmaceuticals Inc. has launched with a focus in the field of immuno-dermatology. Supported by $100 million in financing from Medicxi, Alys was formed through the aggregation of six asset-centric Medicxi companies: Aldena Therapeutics Inc., Graegis Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Granular Therapeutics Ltd., Klirna Biotech Sàrl, Nira Biosciences Inc. and Vimela Therapeutics Inc.
Guangzhou Fermion Technology Co. Ltd. has received IND approval by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its TYK2 JH2 inhibitor, FZ-007-119.
In August 2020, Johnson & Johnson paid $6.5 billion cash to acquire Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc. That strengthened J&J’s immune-mediated disease portfolio and grew its interest in autoantibody-driven disease therapies by bringing nipocalimab into the fold. Now the investment is paying off with top-line results of phase II and III studies that hit their primary endpoints using the fully human glycosylated monoclonal antibody targeting the human neonatal Fc receptor. The studies were in treating generalized myasthenia gravis and in Sjögren’s disease.
Previous research has shown that the three isoforms of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) have distinct cellular expression patterns, with TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 expression being specifically elevated in human fibrotic lung and liver tissue. Since pan-TGF-β inhibition had proven to be toxic for chronic use, in recent work, researchers from Genentech Inc. aimed to assess whether specifically targeting one of the TGF-β isoforms could represent a novel therapeutic option for patients with chronic fibrotic disorders.
Japanese researchers have presented data from the biggest Asian genome-wide association study (GWAS) regarding susceptibility loci for systemic sclerosis (SSc), comprising a total of 1,428 cases and 112,599 controls and with an imputation reference panel containing more than 3,000 Japanese whole-genome sequencing data.
Graviton Bioscience Corp. has announced a strategic investment from Sanofi SA. Under the agreement, Sanofi receives a right of first negotiation to license compounds across various indications, including immunological and metabolic syndrome indications.
Cgenetech (Suzhou, China) Co. Ltd. has synthesized tyrosine-protein kinase JAK2 inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, myeloproliferative diseases and graft-versus-host disease.
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