Cancer Research UK and Kisoji Biotechnology Inc. have signed an agreement to bring Kisoji's naked anti-TROP2 antibody, KJ-103, into a first-in-human trial. KJ-103 is a single domain antibody that binds to a unique epitope on TROP2.
Oblique Therapeutics AB has achieved a milestone within its research project on the Nav1.8 ion channel with the goal of developing innovative therapeutics for patients with chronic pain.
The anti-HER2 biparatopic antibody (bpAb) KJ-015 was rationally designed at Shanghai Bao Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. by leveraging published antibody-antigen structures to share common light chain with two Fab arms, resulting in functionally balanced high affinity for two HER2 nonoverlapping epitopes.
Claudin-6 (CLDN6) is a tight junction protein that has been found to be up-regulated in around 20 different types of cancer, among them ovarian, endometrial and germ cell tumors. Conventional T-cell engagers (TCEs), although effective, may be improved with costimulation to overcome T-cell exhaustion due to CDE3 stimulation alone.
Isomab Ltd. has nominated ISM-001 as a development candidate for peripheral arterial disease. ISM-001 is a potential first-in-class therapeutic antibody designed to neutralize VEGF-A165b, the anti-angiogenic VEGF-A splice isoform that acts as a brake on development of new blood vessels leading to chronic limb threatening ischemia.
Researchers from Nitrase Therapeutics Inc. recently presented preclinical findings on NTX-101, a murine chimeric antibody designed to specifically bind to nitrated tyrosine on α-synuclein (α-Syn). It was demonstrated that NTX-101 bound both chemically and synthetically nitrated α-Syn (n-Syn), with no binding to non-nitrated α-Syn or an irrelevant nitrated protein observed.
Continuing its streak of promising early clinical data, Jasper Therapeutics Inc.’s briquilimab impressed in a preliminary readout from a phase Ib/IIa study in chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), showing a clinical response of 93%. CIndU, an inflammatory skin condition causing hives that is often induced by physical or environmental stimuli, is commonly treated with antihistamines, though some patients are refractory. Beyond antihistamines, there is no treatment available globally, explained Edwin Tucker, Jasper’s chief medical officer, so briquilimab has the potential to be “a new treatment paradigm for patients,” both in reducing disease burden and in improving quality of life.
Insitro Inc. has signed three strategic agreements with Eli Lilly & Co. focused on advancing potential new medicines for metabolic diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), based on targets identified by Insitro using its artificial intelligence/machine learning-based platform.
The melanocortin MC4 receptor (MC4R), expressed in all brain regions, plays a relevant role in metabolism regulation and in the control of hunger and satiety. MC4R-specific agonist ligands such as setmelanotide have shown potential as antiobesity therapeutics, although reported off-target effects highlight the need for more specific compounds.
Shattuck Labs Inc. has announced a strategic shift to focus on SL-325, a death receptor 3 (DR3) antagonist antibody for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other inflammatory autoimmune diseases.