Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Biosenic, BMC, Camp4, Elsie, FSD, Fulcrum, Genethon, GSK, Hillstream, Innovent, Maxcyte, Melinta, Novartis, Novavax, Novo Nordisk, Nymox, Paratek, Remegen, Vittoria.
The search for novel therapies that complement vaccine-induced immune protection against SARS-CoV-2 continues. In previous work, researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and collaborators developed a cell-permeable and highly selective peptide called NACE2i, targeting nuclear angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In particular, NACE2i spans and targets the ACE2 nuclear localization signal motif, successfully inhibiting nuclear translocation of ACE2 and viral replication in human cell lines infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf has patented 3-((3-([1,1’-biphenyl]-3-ylmethoxy)phenoxy)methyl)benzonitrile derivatives that are radiolabeled compounds targeting programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1; CD274). They are reported to be potentially useful for the diagnosis and/or radionuclide therapy treatment of cancer and SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers at Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and the Wuhan Institute of Virology Chinese Academy of Sciences have prepared and tested cyclic bisbenzyl tetrahydroisoquinoline compounds reported to be useful for the treatment of fibrosis, viral infections and inflammatory disorders.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Iaso, Mediwound, Moderna, Nevakar, Injectables, Skyline, Systimmune, Zealand.
Scripps Research Institute has described nucleoside analogues acting as prodrugs reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Adicet, Aldeyra, Aveo, Bavarian Nordic, Biorestorative, Bioxytran, Black Diamond, Cassava, Edgewise, Eli Lilly, Freya, Harpoon, Idorsia, Inozyme, Lobe, Meiragtx, Minervax, Nkarta, Regulus, Sanofi.
SARS-CoV-2 and influenza (flu) viruses share similar clinical manifestations, common transmission mechanisms and target tissues, often overlapping during seasonal outbreaks. In addition, co-infection of these viruses worsens disease severity, emphasizing the pressing need for a vaccine that effectively tackles both.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently gave an emergency use listing for SK Bioscience Ltd.’s COVID-19 vaccine called Skycovione, a self-assembled nanoparticle vaccine that targets the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.