Hangzhou Zhongmei Huadong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has described oxime-containing compounds acting as stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING; TMEM173) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, transplant rejection and neurodegeneration, among others.
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC has identified compounds acting as NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of atherosclerosis, nonalcoholic or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH), neuroinflammation, inflammatory skin, inflammatory joint and autoimmune diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, among others.
Synaptogenix Inc. has entered into a new collaboration agreement with LSU Health New Orleans’ Neuroscience Center of Excellence for preclinical testing of the company’s polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) analogues.
Cigarette smoke, the main cause of chronic obstructive lung disease, is considered a significant contributor of neuroinflammation, potentially leading to cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration. About 61% of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have neurocognitive dysfunction.
Muscle fatigue associated with brain inflammation could be prevented by modulating certain cytokines. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) have studied inflammation in the CNS in infection models of Escherichia coli, SARS-CoV-2 and amyloid-β toxicity, unveiling its impact on motor function, the role of IL-6 in this process and how to mitigate it in chronic disease.
Myogenica Inc., a University of Minnesota startup company, has obtained IND approval from the FDA for Myopaxon, an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived muscle stem cell product to regenerate skeletal muscle. A planned study will evaluate intramuscular injections of Myopaxon in non-ambulatory adult patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Adherens junction-associated protein 1 (AJAP1) is a transmembrane protein that inhibits tumor cell migration and is a susceptibility gene for migraine. Recent hypotheses have pointed toward the potential involvement of AJAP1 in epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
University of Copenhagen has described cyclic peptides acting as postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) protein inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Artelo Biosciences Inc.’s IND application for ART-26.12, for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, has been granted clearance by the FDA allowing the company to initiate a first-in-human phase I study. Results are expected in the first half of next year.
Korea Institute of Science and Technology has described diosgenin derivatives reported to be useful for the treatment of depression, multiple sclerosis, ischemic stroke, schizophrenia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, neuroblastoma, Alzheimer’s disease and post-traumatic stress disorders.