Thylacine Biotherapeutics Inc. has entered into a license agreement with Columbia University for worldwide exclusive rights to develop and commercialize a novel antiviral peptide platform invented and refined at Columbia.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. has exercised an option to obtain an exclusive license from Columbia University for the development of a portfolio of fully human (TNX-3600) and murine (TNX-4100) monoclonal antibodies for the treatment or prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Scientists at the University of Sydney have discovered a protein in the lung that blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection and forms a natural protective barrier in the human body. Leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 15 (LRRC15) is an inbuilt receptor that binds the SARS-CoV-2 virus without passing on the infection. The discovery opens a new area of immunology research around LRRC15 and suggests a pathway to develop new drugs to prevent viral infection from coronaviruses like COVID-19, but also to deal with fibrosis in the lungs.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Alvotech, Bellerophon, Medicinova, Mesoblast, Regeneron.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Artios, Awkn, Biomedical Research & Bio-Products, Cara, Celyad, Cognition, Eiger, Galapagos, Immvira, Kite, Kura, Nexcella, Redx..
Strong data for pegylated interferon lambda, Eiger Biopharmaceuticals Inc.’s experimental COVID-19 treatment, boosted the company stock (NASDAQ:EIGR) 23% on Feb. 9 as the company continues to seek regulatory approval. That approval path is blocked as interferon lambda is not currently approved by the U.S. FDA for any use. In October, the company said it would not submit emergency authorization use request after feedback from the FDA.
Japan's National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) has divulged 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections (COVID-19).
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Accutar, Biogen, Bioxytran, Egret, Endogena, Gilead, Hinova, Inmagene, Neogap, Neurosense, Sage, Sandoz, Takeda.