Astrazeneca plc has added a novel target for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to its discovery portfolio through its collaboration with Benevolentai Ltd. The novel target was discovered using Benevolentai’s artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery platform and experimentally validated by Astrazeneca.
EG 427 SAS has received IND clearance from the FDA for EG-110A, a gene therapy for the treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with spinal cord injury. A phase Ib/IIa study is being initiated.
A recent paper has identified the enhancer ETS2, located in a so-called gene desert, as a contributor to five separate immune disorders. It also showed that one of ETS2’s target genes mediating this inflammation was the eminently druggable MEK, a kinase that is the target of the FDA-approved inhibitors Mekinist (trametinib, GSK plc), Mektovi (binimetinib, Array Biopharma Inc.), Cotellic (cobimetinib, Roche Holding AG) and Koselugo (selumetinib, Astrazeneca plc/Merck & Co. Inc.).
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC has described 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. has divulged orexin OX2 receptor modulators reported to be useful for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, obesity, hypertension, retinopathy, multiple sclerosis, narcolepsy, hypersomnia and Parkinson’s disease.
Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has identified molecular glue degraders targeting protein cereblon (CRBN) acting as eukaryotic peptide chain release factor GTP-binding subunit ERF3A (GSPT1) degradation inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Sage Therapeutics Inc. has synthesized sterol derivatives acting as glutamate receptor ionotropic, NMDA 2A (GRIN2A; GluN2A) negative allosteric modulators reported to be useful for the treatment of neurological disorders.