A recent study by researchers from Fudan University and Tau Cambridge Ltd. explored a novel therapeutic strategy that combines targeting CD47 with ANGPTL3, a key regulator of lipid metabolism, as a potential treatment for atherosclerosis.
Around the end of every year, the media reports on pregnancy and women who give birth on the last and first days of the new year. They tell their stories, the names of their babies and the cities where they were born. While 2024 was coming to an end, gynecologists and other researchers finalized their publications to improve the health of women and their babies. The formation of the placenta or the study of preeclampsia are some of the first and last stories that greet and say goodbye to 2024. Those of 2025 will be born soon.
Hangzhou Sino-US Huadong Medicine Co. Ltd. and Synerk Pharmatech (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. have entered into a strategic collaboration in which the two parties will jointly develop the small nucleic acid (siRNA) drug SNK-2726.
2024 was another banner year for GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on multiple fronts. They continued to expand into new indications, and provide their developers with both rich remuneration and scientific acclamation. There are now seven approved GLP-1RAs. Commercially, the most successful one so far is semaglutide, sold under the brand name Wegovy or Ozempic depending on the indication.
Xentria Inc. has entered into an exclusive license agreement with New York University (NYU) securing Xentria exclusive rights related to the development of a potential disease-modifying therapeutic for cardiovascular disease.
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has gained clinical trial approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for SYH-2062 injection, a double-stranded small interfering RNA (siRNA) drug to treat hypertension.
Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has synthesized sodium-bile acid cotransporter (SLC10A1; NTCP) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cardiovascular, fatty acid oxidation, liver and gastrointestinal disorders.
Merck & Co. Inc. and Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. have entered into an exclusive global license agreement for HS-10535, a preclinical oral small-molecule glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Hansoh Pharma has granted Merck an exclusive global license to develop, manufacture and commercialize HS-10535.
A gene therapy based on an enhanced lipid nanoparticle (LNP) loaded with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA could be developed for the treatment of preeclampsia, according to a study in mice in which it alleviated maternal hypertension until the end of gestation and improved fetal health. Preeclampsia is a disease that affects 3% to 5% of pregnant women, who suffer from hypertension and proteinuria, elevated levels of protein in the urine, during pregnancy.
Nanjing Mingde New Drug Research Co. Ltd. has identified cytochrome P450 11B2, mitochondrial (CYP11B2; aldosterone synthase; ALDOS) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of hypertension.