Fochon Biosciences Ltd. has identified apoptosis regulator Bcl-2 (D103E mutant) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of autoimmune disease and cancer.
Researchers from Astrazeneca plc and affiliated organizations have described the discovery and preclinical evaluation of casitas B-lymphoma proto-oncogene-b (Cbl-b) inhibitors as novel anticancer candidates.
Plexin domain containing 2 (PLXDC2) is expressed on the surface of several cell types, such as macrophages, dendritic or epithelial cells. Its activation reduces oxidative stress and rebalances the immune response and decreases inflammation. Its activation has been seen to improve disease severity in models of rheumatoid arthritis, while its blockade or loss exacerbates the severity of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Researchers hence tested the PLXDC2 agonist PX-04 (Landos Biopharma Inc.) in a DSS-induced murine model of colitis.
Clearmind Medicine Inc. has received approval from Israel’s Ministry of Health to initiate a phase I/IIa trial of CMND-100 oral capsules for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The multinational trial in healthy volunteers and AUD subjects will be conducted in Israel and the U.S.
At the ongoing European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO) meeting, researchers from Kangpu Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. presented efficacy data on KPG-818, a lenalidomide analogue, in a mouse model that recapitulates Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Abbvie Inc. and Tentarix Biotherapeutics Inc. have established a multiyear collaboration focused on the discovery and development of conditionally active, multispecific biologic candidates against one target in oncology and another in immunology.
South China University of Technology and affiliated organizations have published data from a study that aimed to assess the role of the recently identified human hexokinase, hexokinase domain component 1 (HKDC1), in regulating tumor immune cell response in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Proto-oncogene Vav (VAV1) is a guanine exchange factor that is crucial for T- and B-cell receptor signaling. Assays in Vav1-knockout murine models had previously demonstrated diminished effector functions and resistance to autoimmune disease. Monte Rosa Therapeutics AG has presented data on the VAV1 inhibitor MRT-6160, a first-in-class molecule that targets VAV1 for proteasomal degradation, thought to potentially treat autoimmune diseases through the degradation of VAV1.
Alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2) is a glutamine (Gln) transporter that is required for cell proliferation and is overexpressed in tumors such as non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Researchers from China Pharmaceutical University have reported on the discovery and preclinical characterization of a novel series of ASCT2 inhibitors that led to the identification two lead compounds.